Thoughts on chapter one? (WIP!)
The silence is louder than the screams that echo in my mind.
The factory smells like old metal and sadness. The hum of a machine, and the quiet sobs of the other girls is the only thing you can hear over the ringing they play so we can’t sleep. One thing to bring us joy and we can’t sleep. I can’t sleep.
Even with the ringing, it’s so quiet. How can it be quiet and loud at the same time?
I don’t know.
All of a sudden, every single girl looks to the door. They’re nervous. I am too.
The familiar stomp and tap of the king and queen’s shoes echo through the metal chamber. That noise that makes my breathing uneven every time I hear it. Everyone freezes. “Who should we pick today, my lovely wife?” the king booms in his gruff voice. The queen points to a selkie (one of the newer additions), an elf and… me.
Shoot.
Not again. “No no no no no no” I whisper under my breath. “What was that?” A guard asks, grabbing me by my waist.
I fight the urge to shove his hands off of me and scream.
“Glory to the royals.” I say instead.
We are led to another gray cold metal room. Before any real torture, we have to listen to the queen lecture us on why we are horrible and magic will be the end of humanity or whatever stupid thing she decides today. The Royals hate magic and anything that has to do with it because it makes them feel like they aren’t in control. That’s why I’m here. That’s why my parents aren’t. I still hear the laughter.
I still see the pitchforks and torches.
I still feel the heat as I press myself against the wall. I still smell the ash.
I’m a witch… and one of the king’s favorite toys. He likes to watch us step on hot coals or be locked in a bathtub filled with water. It brings the psycho pleasure. As we walk down the bright hallway to the torture room, the elf girl trips! I catch her just as a guard cocks his gun. No sudden movements are allowed because it seems like we’re trying to escape. As if we could even escape.
DING DING DING!
I snap my head up at the noise. It’s the auction bell! A sharp, memorable ring carries through the factory and the king rolls his eyes, disappointed he can’t torture us today.
We hurry to the auction room and are put in boxes like some kind of doll. Some kind of plaything that they can do anything they want with. I haven’t been sold yet. The king and queen sell us for gold because only young magic users sell well. Older ones aren´t as easy to keep and they have more experience with magic which makes them more dangerous. I haven’t gotten picked because people want more interesting magic users like fairies or elves. A few girls are bought, including Paige, an elf I made friends with before in the factory. She has muted blonde hair and freckles sprinkle her face like cinnamon. When she is sold she seems sad, putting on a broken facade, but there’s a special twinkle in her eyes. Defiant.
I see a man eye me and he writes something down. He smiles a sinister smile that shakes my spine and bids one hundred thousand gold to buy me. My heart drops to my stomach. A few others bid for me but he continues to up the amount of money. He ends up being the highest bidder, so I kneel next to him. I notice his maid glancing at me. Almost like she’s trying to get my attention.
I shake the thought out of my head as a few more magical beings are sold and the auction ends. The man chuckles to himself as he drags me outside. He drags me and I’m tired. So tired of being treated like an object. Like a toy with no feelings.
His maid stops, looks at me with distaste, and says with a snarl, “Can I warn the witch about you to put her in her place?” He nods, grumbling a yes and walks to the carriage. The maid turns to me and cracks her knuckles. I flinch, expecting a slap to the face or worse. “Hi I’m Caty! What’s your name?” She asks and tilts her head. The kindness in her voice…it startles me. I haven’t heard that in a long time. It brings a small tear to the corner of my eye. I want to say, I lost my identity so long ago that saying my name does nothing for me. I’ve been broken-in, used, abused and all I want is my little house, with my little family back. Where everything in the world wasn’t wrong and I smiled. I actually smiled.
“Luna.” I mumble instead.
“Hi Luna! Listen — I don’t have much time, but I’m gonna help you, okay?” Caty stares at me with kind eyes. She gives me an awkward hug and says, “Quick! Act like I was yelling at you!” I pretend to be scared of her as we walk back to the carriage. Two horses await at the front of the carriage. One of them has pure white fur whereas the others fur is as dark as the night sky. The man glares at us as we ride to who knows where.