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Katniss's POV
The lights flashed onto Prim. She was clearly drugged and was looking around the room in fear. She was trying to cover herself with her hands. When she wasn't able to do that, I saw tears brimming her eyes. She was just a little girl. How could they do this to her? How could these people buy her? She was a child! She hadn't lived her life yet! I felt my own tears coming to my eyes as I watched Prim start to sob in embarrassment I was in agony. I wanted to scream for them to stop, but I knew I couldn't.
I was about to break down sobbing when Peeta saw me losing control of my 'indifferent façade' and took action. He wrapped his arms around me and took my mouth with his. His lips muffled my cry just as it slipped from my mouth. I managed to control myself enough to let the tears fall silently. Peeta adjusted me so my head was hiding in the crook of his neck. He sat me on his lap and cradled me in his arms. I felt Peeta's lips kissing my hair. His arms were stroking my body soothingly. I could hear the auctioneer open the bidding on Prim.
"With small supple breasts and soft pale skin, how could anyone resist such an innocent look. Although no longer an innocent, she has still kept herself taken care of and tight. Let's begin the bidding at $250,000."
The room was filled with loud noises and bright colors. The auctioneer was yelling price updates while bright red lights flashed rapidly in and out of the room. I kept my eyes shut and my face buried in Peeta's neck. I couldn't listen to this. I was going to be sick. The auctioneer kept throwing out little phrases that took all my power not to react to.
"Come on gentleman! Look at those big blue eyes filled with fear! Imagine staring into those beauties before taking your pleasure!" The auctioneer screamed.
More lights flashing.
"Her little back hole had never been touched! That's a nice little bonus!" He commented again.
More lights flashing. I was going to be sick.
I heard Peeta whisper into my ear a barely audible. "Breathe baby, just breathe." I took a deep breath and continued to listen.
"Do I hear 650 from bidder 14? Yes? Yes! Bidder 20 do I hear 700? 700? Yes 700! Bidder 14, are you sure you're not willing to got the extra mile for this piece of sugar? Think of what you're giving up bidder 14! Going once, twice, SOLD to bidder number 20 for $700,000!"
Please tell me that we were bidder 20. I felt Peeta relax his hold on me and lean his head back against the wall. He was breathing as though he had just won a race.
"Well, she'll be a lot of fun to play with. $700,000 was a good price and we can pay in cash!" I heard Damien say with forced enthusiasm. I looked up at that. Prim had already been taken from the room. That bid process had been stressful for all of us. Thresh was handing out shots of alcohol to all the guys. He brought me a juice and I took a sip. The guys took their shots.
"What now?" Peeta said
"Now we pull out of the auction and go inspect the merchandise."
Peeta's POV
We got her. I was still anxious as we walked down the corridor toward the review room. I wouldn't be calm until we had Prim with us and we all back safe in the America. I needed to remain calm and not let my inner anxiety show. My brave wife had managed to school her features into a blank expression as we walked.
Kallexia had met us in the hall and handed Damien and I a clipboard with documents to sign. One of the documents included optional cosmetic procedures you wished for your slave to have before being 'packaged' for transport. I read down the list in discuss.
Abortion
Birth Control – 1/3/6/12 month(s)
Breast Augmentation
Buttock Augmentation
Body Polish Full/Partial
Collagen injection
Chemical Peel
Eyelash extensions
Gain/loss of pounds
Hair highlight/dye
Hair extensions
Make up application
Skin highlight/dye
Teeth correction
Teeth whitening
Waxing Full/Partial
Ask about our multiple travel packages!
I looked up from the paper when I heard muffled screaming. "What is that noise?" I asked Kallexia anxiously. God, I hope that wasn't Prim. Before she could answer me, a naked woman ran out into the hallway. She was immediately followed by two capital guards. They sent a stunning dart into her back and the naked girl fell to the floor five feet in front of us. The poor girl shook violently, her cries still audible even though she was no longer in control of her body. The guards lifted her up and carried her through a side door out of view.
"My apologies for the small scene you had to witness. Some of our slaves require training before they go home with their new masters" Kallexia explained. "Here we are. If you will deposit your slaves in here, I will escort you gentleman into the next room to view your purchase." I was incredibly uncomfortable with leaving Katniss alone in here.
"I would be more comfortable taking our slaves with us," I said to Kallexia
"I'm sorry sir, but our policy requires no mixing potential slave purchases with current purchases." Kallexia explained
"Very well, I will remain behind with the slaves. My brother will go look at the purchase for me." Damien replied smoothly
Kallexia looked uncomfortable with this, but there was not much else she could do. "Very well sir. If you will wait in here, I will escort your brother to view the merchandise. I will return shortly," She said with a forced smile. Something wasn't right here but I couldn't yet put my finger on it.
I followed Kallexia into arRed circular room where I saw Prim standing on a podium. She had been chained to the floor by an iron cuff around her ankle and her body was visibly shaking in her high heels. I immediately felt protective over my scared little sister in law and wanted to do whatever I could to get her out of here as fast as possible. I walked around her making sure they hadn't physically abused her body. She let out a wheezy cough and I immediately got nervous. I looked over at Kallexia and said, "Is she sick?"
Kallexia looked nervous and answered "Sometimes our slaves come to us with a little kennel cough. It's nothing to worry about and we can treat them here in quarantine before we ship her to you."
Prim looked terrified at the word quarantine and I had to agree with her.
"That will not be necessary I would like to take her with me tonight and I would like antibiotics provided for us as well as travel clothes. Please make the arrangements and have her brought out to our car in ten minutes." I said and left back out through the door rushing back to the room where Katniss was.
"Sir! May I have one more moment of your time? Would you care for some cosmetic treatments for your slave? How will you be paying?" Kallexia's anxious tone and clear attempt to slow me down, I knew something was up. I moved faster towards the waiting room where Katniss was. I pushed open the door to see Damien passed out asleep and Thresh tied up on the floor. Katniss was screaming in the arms of a guard who was trying to pull her towards the doorway.
I pulled out my gun and pointed it at the guard's head. "Drop the girl you piece of shit. NOW!" The guard immediately dropped Katniss and ran through the portal without her. Katniss landed on her knees and I ran over to her. I kissed her hard on the mouth as her tears continued to fall from her eyes.
"Baby, are you okay? What happened?" I asked her quickly.
"I'm okay. A waiter came in here and asked Damien if he wanted anything to drink. When Damien said he was fine and wished to be left alone the guard sent a sleep dart into him. Thresh immediately took my leash and chained it to the cabinet before going and attacking the guard. The guard tied him up and came after me. You came in just as the guard was able to break my leash from me."
Kallexia walked in just as Katniss was finishing her story. When she came in, I stood up and pointed my gun at her.
"I don't know what kind of fucked up operation you people are running. But I do not do business with people who try to steal from me. In America, it's a capital crime to take someone else's property. It's punishable by torture and death. You deliberately made me leave my salves in here so your guards could kidnap them. What should keep me from taking you with me to America and having you tortured? What should keep me from pressing charges on your whole operation here?"
"Please sir, there must be some kind of miscommunication..." Kallexia babbled out.
"There was no miscommunication. Now here's what you're going to do. You are going to have a private car pick us up at the back entrance with my new slave as well as my brother and my two existing slaves. Then you will arrange for a private train to take us back to America. I will pay you the cash for the new slave once all the other arrangements have been made. If you do not follow all of my orders to my standards, not only will you not get your money, but I will press charges. I am an influential and wealthy man in America, I will begin a smear campaign and let my story be known. Some of your best customers are American and when I'm done with them they will boycott your operation and the Panem economy as a whole. You do not wish to make America your enemy. So what's it going to be?" My voice held nothing but menace while I stared her down.
"Of course sir, I apologize profusely for the mistake. I will have all of your arrangements made. I will have your brother revived and your slave untied as well." With the gun still pointing at her head I said, "I want the arrangements made in front of me."
I listened as Kallexia made all of the arrangements into her cell chip and Thresh was untied. Smelling salts were brought in for Damien and we were escorted out of the building. We were all loaded into the car and Prim was deposited blindfolded into the back seat. I had Thresh next to her because I knew Katniss would try to make contact to soon otherwise. Packages of gifts and food were loaded into our trunk as 'apology gifts' and then we were off. I watched as everyone boarded our private train car and literally threw the money at Kallexia who was asked (blackmailed) into escorting us to the train.
"You dare pull anything like this again and I will serve as witness in a court of law. That being said, you better wish our paths never cross again." I slammed the car door in her face and I boarded the train car.
Everyone was situated and Prim was still blindfolded in a seat. As I felt the train begin to move, I came over to Katniss who was waiting for me to get the okay. I nodded at her and took off Prim's blindfold. Katniss was right in front of Prim. When Prim's eyes adjusted to the light, she saw Katniss. Prim jumped into Katniss's arms and began to hysterically cry. Katniss hugged her sister awkwardly. Her round stomach keeping them apart just a little. Katniss began to cry, "It's okay little duck, I have you. You're safe now. You're safe."
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