Chapter 1
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the TMI characters or the series!
AN: please read and review! I'm always looking for some feedback! **Italics is her thinking**
It's so dark in here… I… I don't know where I am… everything is just so foggy. Last thing I remember I was jogging in Central Park; and then I fell and… that's all I can remember. My body is jostled around the confined space that I'm in. It has to be a trunk because I can hear the sound of cars around me and I can feel the vibration of the vehicle I'm being held in. The car hits a bump and I'm thrown to the floor with a heavy thud, I groan as I try to maneuver my way back into a sitting position. It's a rather difficult task to complete when your hands are bound together behind your back. Regardless I force myself to sit back up and try to take in my surroundings, I don't hear any other cars any more, and this can't be a good sign. The car jerks to a stop and I plummet forward landing on my face.
"Son of a bitch!" I mumble just as the trunk is thrust open. I'm blinded by the sudden change in light, but when my eyes finally adjust I see a man reaching for me. He's tall and well built, I know I have no chance if escape when he gets a hold of me. He grips my arm and I shriek at the sudden pressure and brute force he's using to drag me out of the car. "Where are you taking me!?" I yell at him but he just tightens his grip and pulls harder on my arm. "OW!" I shout at him. He halts in his path. I see him turn but then I feel burning pain from my cheek, he slapped me across the face. He pulls my face inches away from his.
"Know your place girl!" he says deathly quiet. I look up at my captor but notice a great building behind him. The sign reads The Institute. Where am I? He drags me up the vast number of steps and proceeds to toss me to the floor like I'm mere trash. He bangs on the door and it's soon opened by a woman in extravagant robes and layers upon layers of sparkling jewelry.
"Blackthorn!" she exclaims "What a treat!" her eyes move to me "And you brought me another creature for my collection! How delightful!"
"I know you're always looking for fresh meat, I saw this lovely thing a few weeks ago and knew you would just love to get your hands on her. She'll be a nice addition to the collection." He said in an almost bored tone.
"You know me so well Blackthorn! What's the price for this trinket?" she asks excitedly. Price? She's buying me!?
"$15,000 for the girl." He says after little thought.
"Being generous I see!" the woman smiles deviously "You have yourself a deal! Come follow me and I'll fetch your wages!" she all but skips inside the building. Blackthorn, as she called him, grabs me once more and drags me inside the doors. I try to resist but he just grabs a fist full of my hair instead and continues walking and dragging me. Tears fill my eyes because of the pain but I refuse to let them fall. We pass a dining room filled with girls from various ages to body types.
All their eyes are trained on me, some watch on in pity other's eyes portray emptiness. It's as if actions like these are a daily routine and no longer bother them. My stomach sinks, I know what this place is, but I don't want to accept that this will soon be my fate. As we continue through the building my fears grow in a matter of seconds, I know exactly what this place is…
The woman walks behind a desk and she rummages through a drawer. Once she has what she came for she returns to my captor. She passes him a large handful of cash. He releases my hair and I collapse to the floor. He counts the cash to be sure everything is in order, I assume.
"Pleasure as always Dorthea." He nods and mumbles, he turns to leave but the woman, Dorthea, stops him.
"Since you've been so generous to me Blackthorn I've arranged for Jessamine to express my gratitude, she's in your usual room. On the house today as well. Take it as a thank you for finding me this angel." She says with a sickening smirk on her face. Blackthorn smirks in response and nods his head, as if to say thank you.
"I knew you'd like this one…" he walks down the hallway to a door dark as night, he knocks twice and the door opens. He moves inside the doorway. The door slams shut with an audible Bang!
"My dear…" the woman says to me, I look up at her "Dear sweet trinket, what is your name?"
"Clary…" I say quietly fearful that she'll smack me just as he did.
"Well my sweet Clary welcome to your new home!"
"Where… if I may… what exactly is 'home'…" I mumble fearful that she'll say exactly what I don't want to hear. She laughs.
"Trinket this is what people call a brothel… but that's such a filthy and outdated word. I like to call this The Institute… and this will be your home for quite some time. I suggest you get used to life here dear. I can already tell you're going to be quite a big hit…"
