I could tell my hands were strapped before my eyes flashed wide open. Fear washed through my body like ice water as I pulled against the restraints. My brain took a second to process the white walls that laid before me. Animal instincts took over - I was caged, restrained, restricted - and I screamed bloody murder into the empty room.
The totality of the space was quite small but echoed surprisingly loudly. The sound of pure horror that came out of my throat was unrecognizable to my own ears. My voice was scratchy and shrill, and only furthered my hysteria.
"Please!" I continued to scream, finally formulating words. "Please, someone!"
How had I ended up here? What kind of horrendous activity had I fallen prey to? Why was my memory blank?
I thrashed again against my restraints, this time as a sob wreaked havoc through my chest. "Please..." I muttered, my voice barely a scratch now.
I didn't know who I was begging. Maybe I was pleading with my captor to let me go, or maybe with my mind to stop playing tricks on me. Maybe I was bargaining with God.
I'm not sure how much time passed exactly from when I'd woken up to when I heard the faint sound of footsteps. But it was just enough time for my fear to slightly subside enough for me to gather my wits about me.
When the outline of a door glowed on the white wall, I straightened myself up just in time to catch eyes with a stranger. He stepped in calmly, and I wasn't able to make out anything in the hallway behind him except for more white walls.
My eyes focused on his dark ones, and I tried to read his expression to gauge how much of a danger this newcomer was. The lack of urgency and surprise at my tied up form confirmed to me that this man was not an ally.
"Madison," the voice said. It was deep and husky, but most importantly, entirely unfamiliar.
"And you are?" I spurted out, at a clear disadvantage.
"My name is Zeke," he responded simply. He took two steps to the wall on his right, where he placed his palm flat against the panel. Another glow, this time significantly smaller in area, and a glass keyboard popped out as what seemed to be writing appeared on the wall.
It was symbols I'd never seen before, maybe similar to some type of hieroglyphics.
"Why am I here?" I asked him. My voice trembled on the last word. I'd wanted my voice to appear strong and confident, but I faltered. I was afraid of the answer.
The room was chilly and my hands were almost numb from having been restrained for so long. I alternated my weight between my feet as I waited for him to respond. I was scared of provoking him.
Zeke typed some quick things into the keyboard and a tray with a box popped out on the other side of the room.
"Well," he began slowly, walking towards the box. He opened it and looked inside. His body was blocking me from seeing the contents. "You were recruited by the slave collectors, and soon we are going to do a live auction to find you an owner."
I can't say that slavery hadn't crossed my mind in the time I'd had to myself after waking up. But I definitely hadn't expected to be notified of this in such a banal manner. It almost felt like a joke.
That was, until Zeke turned around holding a little cup and began walking towards me. There was purpose in his stride.
"What are you doing-" I barely managed to get out before he raised his free hand to my face and pressed hard on both sides of my cheeks. The flash of pain caused my mouth to fly open, and he threw the contents of the cup into my mouth before clamping it shut with his hand.
I began thrashing again, trying to evade the iron grip of his hands around my chin and mouth while my tongue desperately tried to push out the pills he'd popped into my mouth. He struggled to adjust his grip before grabbing my nose tightly and holding my head in place as he cut off my breathing.
Tears flooded my eyes as I realized the pills were also quickly dissolving. The taste was horrendously bitter, which was causing saliva to pool in my mouth. I gagged against Zeke's hand before self preservation kicked in and I swallowed, hard. Zeke immediately released me, and after taking a deep breath, I spit on the floor, in a vain attempt to help minimize the effects of whatever it was that had just been forced down my throat.
"Why-" I rasped out. "What did you give me?" I sobbed.
Zeke was back at the box, rummaging through its dreaded contents. "It was a hormonal drug that affects female sexual libido. You will be feeling the effects in about five to ten minutes. After I finish preparing you, we will begin the auction."
"But - Please, why are you doing this?" I asked him, tears continuing to flow out of my eyes.
He turned to me, briefly pausing his ministrations at the box. "I know this isn't ideal for you right now. But we will find you a good master and you will be happy. The lords take good care of their own, especially if you please them. My advice to you is to give in. Don't fight your urges. Do you understand?" he asked as he began walking toward the keyboard again.
"No. I don't understand. Why me? Stop. Please, stop. I just want to go home," I begged.