Disclaimer: I do not own anything affiliated with Kingdom Hearts or Square Enix. This disclaimer also stands for the prologue and any chapter that follows this one.
Chapter One
A scream tears itself from my lips, and I'm woken from my nightmare by someone shaking me violently and shouting.
"Stop that screaming, girl! You're gonna wake up the whole damn market square!" Kelvin. Such a charming man. My eyes snap open, and I'm reminded, per usual, that while I may escape the nightmares in my head, I wake up into another. I shut my mouth and stare with emotionless eyes at the man in front of me. He releases me as soon as he sees I'm conscious. "That's better. Now get ready. Maybe today's the day I finally get rid of you," he says in a grumble before ambling out of the room.
I sigh and slowly get to my feet. Everything creaks, but I suppose that's what you get from sleeping on a floor, not as though I have any other choice. I survey the room around me: cold stone floor, cold stone walls, one dingy window that doesn't open, and no furnishings or comforts unless you count the beds of hay scattered about as comforting. I sigh again, knowing things could be worse, and grab my silken red robe. I suspect it used to be nice, but so much time without a wash or patching leaves me void of such memory. I wrap it around my body since it's the only clothing I own now and exit the room.
"About time, girl. Now get your ass out there," Kelvin shouts from the counter without looking at me. I glance around the small shop, taking in the sights of the boys and girls around me. All are around my age, or so I assume; I've never actually spoken to any of them. They're all shrouded in varying stages of filth, and I know I can't be much better seeing as how I've been here the longest. My eyes lock with a girl who arrived yesterday. I see the fear and terror in her eyes, and I'm reminded of how I must've looked in those first few days. She's looking at me with so many questions in her eyes, and I have no reassuring words or gestures to give her; I almost feel bad before remembering that I don't feel anything anymore.
"Hey! What did I just say?" Kelvin shouts again. I pull my eyes from the girl.
"Shut up; I'm going," I hiss. He wrinkles his nose and begins counting through a stack of money.
"Won't be sounding so high and mighty later tonight, eh?" he says. I wince inwardly, realizing I just signed myself up for another beating tonight.
"See if I care, you disgusting man," I practically snarl as I make my way towards the main entrance. I feel his eyes boring into my back.
"Me, disgusting? You should see yourself," he almost whispers. Anger flushes through me as I exit the shop. I slam the door as hard as I can and feel satisfied when a window breaks and I hear Kelvin swear.
I take my place on the sidewalk in front of the shop between two other girls. They're both shivering in their robes, but whether from the cold or fear, I do not know. I glance both ways down the street and see a number of other boys and girls looking much like myself. Some still wear looks of fright while others look still surprisingly hopeful that this is all a bad dream. Most of us have surrendered those notions long ago and know that this is simply what our lives have become. We aren't people anymore; we're merchandise.
Yes, it is best to simply accept what we have become. I've seen what happens to the hopeful bunch. They're the likeliest to make escape attempts, which I have never seen end any other way than with death. The ones who don't try to escape slowly lose their hope and their shop owners happily watch the light leave their eyes.
I lost my hope a while ago, but I never allow anyone to see that. I may have lost my home, my freedom, my rights, and my hope, but I refuse to sacrifice my dignity. I won't allow them to win.
I am pulled from my musings by Kelvin's hand on my wrist. My eyes snap up, shocked by his sudden appearance.
"You deaf? Been calling to you for five minutes. Need to talk to you, so get a move on," he says impatiently before dragging me back into the shop. He pulls me into his office, lets go of me, and sits behind his desk. He folds his hands on his desk and stares at me.
After an obnoxious amount of silence, I open my mouth: "Are you just going to stare at me all day or are you actually going to say whatever you need to say" His eyes narrow, and he sneers.
"It's that smart mouth that's keeping you here, girl. Nobody wants a servant with a smart mouth."
"Then it looks like you're stuck with me forever and ever," I reply with false sweetness in my voice. Instead of glaring at me, though, Kelvin smiles slightly.
"You see, girly, that's where you're wrong. How long have you been here now?"
I narrow my eyes before responding. "Ten months."
"Quite a while to be in a shop, yes?"
"As you constantly feel the need to remind me."
"Well don't you know what happens to servants who don't sell within a year?" I roll my eyes, annoyed by his game.
"No, I don't. Why don't you enlighten me?" His smile widens.
"They're killed," he says softly, waiting for my reaction. After a moment in which I don't bat an eye, his smile slips a little.
"So I have two more months here then? Fabulous," I deadpan. "Are we done now?"
His smile falls completely and he looks completely bewildered. "Didn't you hear me, girl? They're going to kill you. You'll be dead." I smile softly
"Oh, Kelvin, Kelvin, Kelvin. You've been in this business a while, yes? Haven't you learned yet that death is what all of us secretly want?" I respond quietly before turning on my heel and walking out.