The Slave Trade

"50,000!"

"57,000!"

The screaming voices of the Slave Market were deafening. Lukas didn't even know how he got here in the first place. All he knew was that he was taken from his home, and was going to be put up for auction.

"75,000!"

The Norwegian watched as many people fought over one little Asian boy. Each figure yelling out a price higher than the one before them. It was total and utter chaos. He felt horrible for the boy who was standing in the middle of the stage, with a spot light shining right on him. Who would the boy end up with? An abusive and horrible master? Or one that is gentle and kind? He looked out into the crowd and saw one man having a hard time watching the boy, who he believed his name was Kiku, being in this mess. The strange man stood up from his seat and slammed his hands on the table.

"100,000!"

Everyone sat there staring at him. Was he crazy? Going to a price that high for just a simple slave? But the Ringmaster didn't think it was bad. All the Turk did was smile and grab hold of Kiku. "You my good sir, have just bought this lovely boy! Auction closed!" The Turk waited as the Greek man came up to the stage and gave him his money, then without another word, grabbed a hold of the Asian boy's hand and led them out of the screaming crowd.

"Alright!" The Turk started yelling over the mass of people. "Do I have a special treat for you! Next, I have a beautiful young man that I found, deep in the forests of Norway." Once Lukas had heard the name of his country, he knew that it was his turn. "Now he's a bit feisty and a tad bit hard to control, but once you see what he's capable of, your choice will pay off!" The Turk walked behind the stage and opened a door, revealing the Norwegian on the other side. Lukas's eyes were widened in fear. He didn't want to be bought and treated like a slave. He just wanted to wake up from this horrible dream. Once the man walked into the room and grabbed a hold of him, he knew that this was no dream.

Once he was dragged out to the middle of the stage, the crowd went wild. They were shouting out amounts of money that he would only dream of making.

"I'll take him for 70,000!"

"78,000!"

"Nein! I bid 84,000!"

The Turkish man only smiled as the numbers continued to rise. He leaned into the Norwegian with a devilish grin and whispered into his ear. "My, aren't you popular." Once Lukas heard the man's words, he snapped. He broke the rope that tied his hand together, and pushed the Turk away. "I WILL NOT BE SOLD LIKE AN INANIMATE OBJECT!"

Everyone in the crowd grew silent as they heard the Norwegian speak. "IF ANY OF YOU ACTUALLY MANAGE TO BUY ME, I WILL KILL YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!" The mass group of people gasped as they listened to what he had to say. "Now who would want something that horrid." "I take my bid back!" "That thing is a monster!" The Turk's smile faded as he walked back to the Norwegian, putting an arm around him tightly. "Now, now. He obviously doesn't mean it. Now how about we go back to bidding on this lovely figure?" Everyone stayed quiet. This made the Turk furious on the inside. "If no one takes him, I'm going to have to kill him, you know?" Lukas gasped, but still no one seemed to come to his rescue. What was he going to do? He didn't want to be bought by a complete stranger, but he also didn't want to die!

Finally someone raised their hand. "I give you 126,000 for him." A few women started gossiping about this, and most people looked at the man in disgust, but Sadiq only smiled. "SOLD! You my good sir, have the liberty of taking this wonderful soul home with you. But, can you please state your name?" The strange man stood up from the crowd and fixed his suit. "My name his Mathias Kohler, and I am absolutely delighted to have this soul as a slave." Lukas's expression turned into one of anger. He got out of the Turks grip and stared at the Dane. "I am no slave." The Dane only looked back at him as he walked onto the stage, and gave the Turk his money. "Then explain why you're here." He then took hold of the Norwegians hand, and walked out of the Slave Trade Building.

"LET ME GO!" The Norwegian struggled to free himself from the Dane's grip, but only managed to end up in pain. "Hey, you should be glad that I stood up to buy you. If I didn't, you would have had a lead bullet in your skull." Lukas hit the man on his arm, and continued to do so. "I'd rather die than to be sold as a slave!" The Dane stopped in his tracks and turned around to face the other. "Alright, let's go back to your death then." Lukas's eyes widened. He didn't think the other was seriously going to take him back there. He hugged the man, and clung to him tightly. "No! No, I don't want to die!" Mathias stopped and looked down to the Norwegian who was hugging him. "You should at least have some respect." He cupped the Norwegians cheeks and made the other look up at him. "I'm not going to treat you like some dirty animal. I'm not that type of person." A wave of relief washed through Lukas's body as he heard that statement. "I promise to treat you like a real human being, and always be there when you need me, alright?" Lukas only nodded as the Dane walked them back to his car.

This was going to be a strange new life for him.