“My name is Tatiana. This is Dr. Wilson.” She threw a thumb over her shoulder and an older man with white hair followed her in, clutching a bag in his hand.
“Hello.” He nodded to me as he followed the broad-shouldered woman.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I turned to them, but I didn’t close the door. “I didn’t ask for a doctor—or a date that might be able to take a punch better than me.”
“We’re from Sin City Auction.” The woman spoke in a thick Russian accent. “We need to get a blood sample.”
“What? A blood sample?” I looked at her and then to the alleged doctor.
“Yes, this is very routine.” The white haired doctor put down his bag and opened it. “My nurse normally does this, but it won’t take long.”
“What the fuck do you want a blood sample for?” The doctor walked over with a needle and I pulled my arm away.
“You want to buy a virgin, yes?” Tatiana tapped her foot on the floor and glared at me.
“I mean, yeah—I signed up to go to the auction.” I narrowed my eyes at her. “I didn’t sign up to participate in some Russian experiment.”
“Our auction is extremely professional.” She huffed and tapped her foot even faster. “We have to make sure you have none of the whore diseases this town is known for.”
“Okay, whatever.” I held out my arm and the doctor quickly jammed his needle into it.
“You will abstain from sexual intercourse until the auction. If you cannot agree to that, you cannot participate.” She slowed her tapping foot when she saw the blood pouring into the doctor’s syringe.
“I don’t think that will be a problem.” I shrugged and waited for the doctor to finish.
“We will email you a time and location. Bring lots of money.” Her ice-cold face turned to a smile and they started walking towards the door.
“Thank you.” The doctor nodded and quickly followed her.
6
Madison
I spent two days feeling like Rapunzel in a tower without a window to stare down at the world beneath me—a Rapunzel with drugs and alcohol. I decided that I liked alcohol, but I liked the marijuana edibles a lot more. I nibbled on them periodically. It helped me forget the reason for the day and it did a lot to cure my anxiety. On the day of the auction, the door opened and a man walked in with a dress and matching shoes. He put it on the bed and left without saying anything. When I picked it up, I noticed a number had been stitched into the shoulder. I was apparently the sixth participant in the auction, if the number was meant to be my place in line. The door opened again a few hours later, and the large blonde woman walked in.
“Are you ready?” She put her hands on her hips and stared at me.
“I just need to get dressed.” I looked down at the black dress on the bed.
“Go ahead, I will wait.” She shifted her weight and continued to stare me down.
As soon as the dress was on, I was taken from my room and led down the hallway to an elevator. It took us to a higher floor and I was led to a chair where two women began to work on my hair, makeup, and nails. They appeared to be Asian and they both spoke in a language I didn’t understand as they worked. They were very effective. When they got done with my makeover, I didn’t even recognize the girl in the mirror. My hair had been curled, my nails had been painted, and my makeup looked like it was painted on by an artist.
“Now you will wait for your turn.” The blonde woman left the room with the two Asian workers and I was left alone in the chair.
Okay, this is pretty much it. There will be no backing out after they sell you.
I made peace with the last of my hesitation when the door opened again. I was led to a room close to where they did my makeup and when the door opened, I saw bright lights. I held my hand up to shield my eyes as I stepped inside, and then I realized I was next to a stage. There was a man standing on it with a microphone, motioning for me to come to him. I walked past the curtain that separated the stage from the door and stepped up onto the wooden platform. I was in a room full of people and it was clear from all of the eyes focused directly on me that I was the star of the show.
“Okay, ladies and gentlemen.” The man held the microphone up to his lips. “We have a gorgeous young virgin here. She’s only eighteen years old and you can see from this dress that she’s got it where it counts. She’s verified pure and still has her hymen. Can I get three hundred thousand for the gorgeous Madison?”
The room erupted with noise and I saw cards being held up from the front row to the back. I stared in shock for a moment as I saw how many people were actively bidding on me. The number went up and then up again. When it got to five hundred thousand there weren’t many people still bidding. It went to five-fifty and everyone dropped their cards except one man in the back. I narrowed my eyes and tried to focus on him. Most of the guys in the front row were dressed in tuxedos or suits. The guy that had apparently outbid them all looked like he didn’t belong there. He was wearing a t-shirt that stretched around muscular, tattooed arms, and a pair of blue jeans.
“Sold to Mr.—I’m afraid I don’t recognize you, sir, it must your first time here.” The auctioneer tilted his head.
“Ruckus.” The man spoke with a heavy voice that sounded almost like a growl.
“Sold to Mr. Ruckus!” The auctioneer motioned and then waved me off the stage.