The Cage

It wasn't long before I was getting frustrated with my own incompetency. How was the main character in the game able to get into trouble so easily! Here I am, fifteen minutes later, and I'm still unable to find the room with the briefcases, or even the gift from France to Japan. Instead, I'm feeling discouraged, as I'm walking around in circles. Didn't I just come from this direction? I thought to myself with annoyance.

I turn another corner, as tears start swelling in my eyes. At this rate, I'm never going to make it to the auction. I'll never have a bid placed on me, and I'll never be in the arms of the man I love! Aggravated, I hit the wall with my fist.

"That's not very lady like." A voice says emotionlessly behind me. "What are you doing here."

I turn around to see a taller man, with slicked back black hair. He's dressed in a gray suit, tailored perfectly to his body. Beneath his gray suit jacket, he's wearing a black shirt and a purple tie. Both his hands are in his pockets, as he regards me with cold, steely gray eyes. My gaze follows his arms, to his broad chest and shoulders. His build is definitely more muscular, than the other men I have met thus far. If I'm correct in my thinking, he must be…Soryu Oh, the mobster.

"I'm lost actually…" I exclaim, adrenaline pumping through my body, unsure if from the fear or the excitement of meeting another character from the game. "Could you give me directions?" I say again, apologetically.

He stands in silence for a moment. That's Soryu, always thinking thoroughly before speaking! I'm lost in my own thoughts, but not for long as I hear him approaching. His heels making a sharp noise against the marbled floor. "The IVC is back this way." He says, grabbing my arm, directing me through various halls.

Panic suddenly engulfs me. If he brings me back to the IVC, I'll never make it to the auctions! As I begin to panic, I feel my chest tightening, making it harder to breathe. How on earth will I be able to get out of this one? His hand isn't terribly tight on my arm, but this is the hand of a mobster. I wouldn't want to displease him, causing him to actually inflict any harm on me. I rack my brain trying to think of what to say to him. What should I do!

I glance sideways at him. He's rather rigid. Perhaps because of the nature of his job or…Because he is uneasy around women! I dig deep in myself and concoct a plan to distract and be-fumble Soryu. I decide to act as dumb and drunk as I possibly could.

"E-excussse me!" I glare at him through half hooded eyes. "Take your hands off me! Who exactly do you think I am! I-I am not just some girl, running off with strangers!" I shout ripping my hand from his grasp.

He stands silently, the shock on his face almost coaxing out a laugh in me. Poor Soryu! I spin on my heels, running away from Soryu as fast as I can.

I kick off my heels, so that I could run faster and make less noise through the hall, knowing well that Soryu won't be far behind. I propel myself forward, trying to run the fastest that I possibly could. After a few corners, I peek behind me to see if Soryu has caught up to me yet. Satisfied that he is nowhere in sight, I turn around, only to crash into something hard and metallic.

"Oh no! What have you done!" One voice shouted.

"Why are you even back here! You don't belong back here!" Another angry voice shouts.

"I-I'm sorry!" I manage to say, rubbing the back of my head, where it hit against the cold marble floor.

"Do you even realize what you just broke!" One man shouted angrily at me.

"N-No…"

"You're going to have to pay for this!" The other man shouted, hastily pulling me to my feet by the arm.

"O-Ow, please don't…" I begin to say, before I feel a rush pulse in my head, before everything around me goes black.

I awake, to jostling movements. My hand reaches around to the back of my head where the impact with the marble floor still causes my pain. I wince as I touch it gently. Attempting to push myself up from my sprawled position on the floor, I attempt to open my eyes. Before me is a blood-red curtain laced in gold trim. I made it…I wince, still in pain from the accident. Despite the pain, I feel some joy radiating deep inside my heart.

"And now, tonight's main attraction!" I voice rings out, "I present to you… A young Japanese girl!"

At the same time of his announcement the curtains swing open. Before me are thousands of theater seats, filled with spectators in masks. From the first row, to the balconies, the entire theater is full. The sight is overwhelming, causing my anxiety to return. Glancing around at my surroundings, I find myself in a golden bird cage. I'm torn between feelings of being held captive and feelings of being put on display like some show piece. Both feelings swell inside me, causing me to rise to my feet. Before I know it, I've got one hand on the bars in front of me. The heat from the spotlight, quickly warms my cold body, returning some of the color to my cheeks. With the spot light on me, I'm unable to see exactly who is in the balcony, but I already know who it is. I try with all my might to focus on the balcony, before the auctioneer brings me back to reality.

"Let's start the bidding at one million." I steal a glance at him as he orchestrates the bidding. Mad Hatter.

As the auctioneer of the black-market auctions, he dresses in apparel straight out of Alice in Wonderland. Perhaps he is the reason why I'm in a bird cage to begin with. Masked head to toe, there is no indication as to who this character is. He was mysterious in the game, but I never had given him much thought. I wonder, what life he lives, especially after having auctioned off so many illegal items.

"Are there any other bids?" The Mad Hatter drags me back to reality, as he continues, "going once, going twice?"

I move my gaze from the Mad Hatter to a gentleman with a stocky build in the front row. He's rubbing his hands together, pleased with his bidding. Even though his identity is concealed by a mask, there is no way I could begin to forget the grimy hands that had touched me earlier at the I.V.C. With disgust, I close my eyes. I open them, pleading, refocusing them on the balcony. Please, please don't forget about me!

"Hold on! We have a bid for twenty million!" The Mad Hatter exclaims! "Are there any other bids? Going once, going twice…" I hear the urgency in his voice, as he continues, "Sold to bidder #100 for twenty million!"

Relief washes over me, as I collapse to the ground, my knees buckling beneath me. Although I knew the outcome, having previously played the game, it felt like my life was really on the line. Could I have really gotten auctioned off to that sketchy pervert?

"Thank you all for attending. Enjoy the rest of your night!" The Mad Hatter bids farewell to the auction participants, retracting behind the curtain as it closes in on the both of us. "You're lucky, my dear." He whispers as he walks past.

"Thank you." I whisper, barely audible to my own ears, as I'm escorted off the stage to my bidder.