The Trade

[pr]

Chapter 00


Darkness. All you see is darkness. Everyday, every night. Only time we ever see light, is that moment when one of us is taken away. No one here really knows where those poor souls go, only that they are never heard from again. Our chambers, our homes are tiny concrete cells that smell like decaying flesh and the food that is never eaten and goes bad. This is where we spend our lives until we are taken by the people with black cloaks and lanterns.

You never know when you'll be taken. You could be in this hell for years, and even die here. You might be in here for a few minutes before you are take away. Either way, once you are here, you're as good as dead. I've lost track of how many days I've been in this place. It could of only been a few weeks. Maybe it's been a month, or even a year. I'm not sure anymore. From the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep, I just sit on the thin blanket that is my bed. Listening to the sounds of screams, or singing. Watching, waiting for those lanterns to take me away to where ever they take us to.

I don't remember who I am. I remember what happened and why I was brought here...but for some reason, I can't remember..me. Who I use to be. That doesn't matter anymore though. Once they take me away, I'll be gone.

The floor is cold. The cold bugs me for some reason. Though, I am use to it. The sound of a metal door opening and something clanked on the floor on my cell. Food. They give us three meals, though, most don't eat it. I pulled the tray closer to me and felt for the bowl. They always give us some kind of soup. Though it always tasted horrible. That's why we usually don't eat it.

I saw the lanterns before the door opened. They were here to collect someone. Who was the next unlucky person? The shadows walked slowly down the hall, peeking into each cell. The lantern gave me a minute to look around. I see my bony fingers, and the pale, dirty arms they were attached to. I see my meal and the blanket I'm sitting on.

I see the man across the hall from me. They open his cell, and drag him out begging. Like always, I turn my head away, and finish off my little meal before sliding the tray through the slot in my cell. The light disappeared along with the screaming meal. Everyone was quiet now. To mourn for the man who is now gone.

But that silence ended quicky and the screams were back. Trays were being thrown, making the sounds echo. This was not how I wanted to live my life.

I might as well tell you what happened to me. How I ended up here.


((Gosh I haven't been on in a while...well here is a new story that I hopefully will update soon!))

[Amayasama]

o.o Oh wow, scary but interesting :3 And welcome back dear, it's nice to see you again~

[pr]

Chapter 01

Bare with me and my fading memory. Not everything is crystal clear anymore.

My parents disowned me when I was 13. Apparently 4 kids was to much to handle. So I left San Diego and went to live with my aunt in New Orleans. She tried to turn me into a 'proper' young lady. That didn't go over to well. I was more worried about my grades and the job I was trying to hold down. I ended up not caring about how I looked, gained a bit of weight and spent most of my time at work or studying.

By the time my 18th birthday, I was a size 18 and never accomplished the whole proper lady thing. So on my birthday she told me "Your are a sloppy excuse of a lady! Get out of my house and find someone else who will tolerate a ugly little girl. Because I sure cannot!" Isn't she charming?

So I took my ugly self and split a rent with a woman named...I think it was Bethany. She was almost like a mother to me.

I guess I should tell what happened to me now..

It was around my last year old college. Beth took me and a couple of her friends to go camping near the swampy area of Louisiana. I was about 22, 23 years old at the time. Beth left to get more food because one of her friends got a little bit to...hungry and ended up eating most of the food. So, I was left alone with the hungry friend...David!

David had fallen asleep inside the RV we rented out and I was alone outside being swarmed by bugs. The little battery powered fan went out, so I was sitting there trying to get it to work again.

This is the part where I get captured. All I remember is seeing a person in a black cloak standing not to far away. "Trespasser!" he hissed. I do mean, he really hissed at me. Then, they were everywhere. Clawing at me, yanking on my hair, ripping at my skin.

The next thing I knew I was thrown in my little cell, and left to basically starve. I don't know if they took the other, but I don't think they did. I use to scream their names. If they were here, they never answered. Over time, I went from a size 18, to a size..I don't know, sickly skinny? I just wait for that day, when they come with the lanterns to take me away.

-----

"Mr. Daniel, it's great to finally meet you." said a very perky woman with a clipboard in hand. She gripped his hand, shaking it while she talked. "We were very excited to hear that the soon to be CEO of the Daniel-Swantern enterprise was here to browse our products!" she said. Of course she was. Any company would be happy to have one of the richest families in the country to buy from them.

Elliot Daniel was a hard working business man who spent a good portion of his life dedicated to his work. Sadly, his father died about a month ago and the company was left to him. Sometime soon he is suppose to meet up with his father's lawyers and have the company signed over to him. His sisters think he is a workaholic that needs to calm down and take a breather. Mallory, the eldest, had finally convinced him to at least get some company for his life.

So here he was to buy a exotic creature from this high tech pet store. The woman led him to a computer and sat him down. "Now, browse through our inventory. It is categorized by planet, species, age and gender. When you find something you like, call me over and we set it all up." she said with a smile and leaving.

Turning to the computer he went through every file, writing down certain things that interested him. One folder in particular interested him. It was called, Earth. Clicking on the folder, he was given many smaller folders. Mammals, reptilians, and a file called Humans. He was given a shock when he clicked on the file.

The creatures where close to his race, but they were said to be smaller, more fragile. He spent sometime looking through this file when he came upon one of these 'humans' that sparked an interest.

It was a female with wild, curly auburn hair and bright, but very tired green eyes. From what little information that was given, she is 24 and lived in a place called New Orleans. "Uh miss?" he called. She came rushing over and examined the screen without even saying anything.

"Oh, what a lovely choice." She said reaching out and typing something into the screen. A thing popped up asking for information.


After he did the paper work she went over a few things. "Now, she won't be ready for about a week. We need to prep her of course. She doesn't speak our language, so I suggest signing her up for one of our language classes or I guess you could teach it yourself. You'll need to buy her a home and we will get measurements for clothes. Then you can come back whenever you want and get her new ones! Every girl loves shopping, I don't care what galaxy they came from." she said laughing. "Now, let's talk about housing and supplies for the little cutie!" she said excitedly.

----

The lanterns were back. They were coming for someone else. Or maybe they were bringing someone new down. Someone to fill in that empty cage across the hall. Once again, they were peeking into every cell, holding up something, and then moving on. No..they were looking for one of us.

They stopped outside my cell and gave me a disgusted look before looking at the paper in their hands. After a small discussion, one sat down the lantern and opened my cell.

Oh no, they were here for me! My feet scrapped against the stone ground until I was right against the wall. The cloaked figure grabbed my bony wrist and pulled me up before slinging me over his shoulder. I screamed and tried to get away.

The blood was pumping in my ears. The sound of my heart beating pounded in my ears. Right before the opened the big door at the end of the hall, they sat me down and put a pair of dark glasses over my eyes.

As the door opened, I hissed and cried at the light that pooled in.
---
((Ok! A longer post today...not the best in the world but eh))

[Amayasama]

;^; Aww she's so scared. :3 I have to say I'm curious about this man, if he's a workaholic I hope he doesn't forget about her

[pr]

Chapter 02


As soon as they opened the door a couple woman in scrubs grab my arms and lay me down on a table. A large machine was brought out and replaced the glasses. There was a bright light, and then, well, I could see again. The light didn't hurt my eyes like they should.

For the next couple hours I was scrubbed down, waxed ,plucked and then shoved into a white cubicle with a clear front wall. The area they put me in was like a prison. Except we wore white t shirts and white pants. The cells were single person and much cleaner than the cell I use to be in.

A bed was shoved against the far wall. Lumpy, but it was step up from where I use to sleep. On the wall, a electric schedule was in plan sight for today. Just touching it, I was able to see my schedule for the whole week. At the end of the week, It said...Trade Off. What the hell did that mean?

Not really caring anymore, I went back to exploring my new home. On the other side, 7 glass panels had been installed. Just with a light press on the panel, it opened wide to show a entire outfit for the day. The top one was empty except for a white night gown. Next to those panels was a hatch that opened wide with just a press. This must be a clothes hamper or something.

The sound of a ding went off and the schedule on the wall lit up. "Dinner time." I say aloud. A long table thing opened up above the bed with a plate full of food still hot on it. Slowly sitting down, I sniffed the food and my mouth started to water. It was real food! Not the stuff they gave us in the dark prison, but real actual meat and vegetables! There was even a bowl of fruit and a glass of some kind of clear liquid.

I didn't even hesitate eating. Before I knew it, the food and sweet drink was gone, and the panel slid back into the wall with my empty dishes. When I looked back up at he schedule, Dinner Time was crossed out. Next was a recreational time and then showers.

A question was lingering in my mind. Why this now? Why did they keep us locked in the dark. What really was troubling me, what was the Trade Off at the end of the week?

-----

The week was long..but it was nice. Everyday, they would pull me out and 'Prep' me for the day. The meals were great and the people were nice. Around the 4th day, they pulled me out and made me sit down. Then a video would play, showing the history of this place. It talked about all sorts of things. Sadly on the 6th day, it told me my job. It was that day I finally found out what Trade off meant.

I was gonna be a 'companion' (pet) to one of the locals who actually PAID for me. I was then escorted to a completely different area where they strapped me down so I would 'hurt myself'. Now, I'm still strapped down, crying, yelling, and well, it's not going to well at the moment. "Please!" I yelled trying to get the straps off.

Why this? I would rather be back in the cell than be some locals little 'pet'. I'd rather be in the dark. Who knows, maybe they would through me in a cage and leave me to die.

I would find out tomorrow...

((Another horribly written chapter! ))

[Amayasama]

Aw don't doubt yourself so much dear :3 The fact that you're writing is a good thing ; D It improves every day. D: I feel bad that she's so willing to die but at the same time I don't blame her, her life has been dragging.

[Natsuno]

I think it's great!

[pr]

Thank you to anyone that read my story and thank you Ama and Natsuno for the encouragement! ^.^

[pr]

((I caved and wanted to write another chapter :3 ))


Chapter 03


I am in darkness. It's kind of weird...I never really was scared of it..but now, I don't like being so alone strapped to a table waiting for tomorrow. I feel like crying, but no more tears flow. I have been crying for the last couple hours. Sleep won't come to me.

"Please, someone just let me go!" I yelled out. The door opened and light poured in. A older woman in scrubs came in with a needle. "You need to get some sleep kid, can't have you tired." she said with the same accent everyone here had. It was a bit of a..a hiss.

While I was busy trying to describe her accent, she plunged the needle into my arm. Pain spread through out my body making me groan in agony. Then, a soothing feeling followed by sleepiness.

The last thing I saw before I blacked out was the woman smiling and leaving me again.

----

Elliot ran a hand through his curly brown hair and let out a huff. Damn lawyers. The day before he was suppose to meet his human, they dumped a ton of paper work on him. Maybe he would call Ellie and have her go to the meeting for him. Then he could stay at the office and finish up this paper work. Mallory wasn't to happy with it.

"Are you nuts? The first meeting is the most important! It's when you gain trust. You don't think she's just going to be all fine with you do you?" she said pouring herself a cup of his hidden stash of coffee and sat on the couch. "Well I'm pretty busy." he said gesturing to the paper work. She rolled her eyes. "You can do that after the meeting. This is important!" she said.

"Mal, I have a company to run. I don't exactly have time for a little meeting. It's not like she's going to depend on me. The housing I got her will keep her happy." he said. She scowled. "You really are stupid." she said. "If you didn't have time, why did you buy one?" she asked setting the cup down. "Because you, Ellie and Heather have been bugging me to get some form of company." he said.

"And I'm glad you took my advice! But ignoring her is NOT going to gain trust." she said with a sigh. "Fine, I'll go to the meeting, but I'm bringing her here so you two can form that trusting bond." she said with a frown.

Elliot smiled innocently at her. "Thank you Mal." he said going back to his paperwork. She shook her head. "By the way, did you sign her up for language classes? And did you sign yourself up for the care class?" she asked.

"Yes and yes." he said not looking up. "So, why a human?" she asked. "I don't know, why did you get a over sized raccoon?" He asked. "Hey, Robber is a cutie, and this isn't about me." she said with a pout. "Uh huh."

"Fine. I need to go pick some stuff up. I'll swing by around 12 and drop her off. " said Mal with a wave and left.

Busy busy busy...Though, he did wonder how the little thing would react...

----

I woke up on the hard floor of a cell. Overhead, I heard a conversation, but it was in a language she didn't know. The room was dark and I could feel something around my neck. Automatically, my hands went to my throat to feel a chain hanging here. A charm was hanging off. The weird thing is, it didn't have a clasp, and even though it was semi long, it wouldn't fit over my head to take off.

Suddenly the room lurched throwing me on my back and hitting the wall, hard. "Ugh." I moaned trying to stand up. But the more the person caring me walked, the more I slipped and slid. "This is just great." I said trying to stand. Finally the room was sat down. Another conversation sparked up. This time, between a man and woman.
----

"Ok! Here she is. The lady there said she was a bit timid so she wasn't to excited to meet me. That means it's all up to you!" she said patting Elliot on the head. "Uh huh. Thanks Mal." he said nothing looking up. Not even looking at the little box. Mallory frowned and took the pen out of his hand. "Hey, give me that back!" he said frowning.

"Not until you check to make sure she's ok! Damnit, I didn't walk all the way over here for you just ignore her. Open the box I swear to god, I will break that chip and throw the motherboard out the window!" she said slamming her hand on the desk jarring the computerized screen that most things have built in. Elliot huffed and looked at the box.

"What am I suppose to say? She doesn't even know our language!" he said pressing on the panel and sliding it upwards. "There she can come out if she wants." he said snatching the pen back and going back to work. Mallory frowned and lightly tipped the container forward. There was a small yelp and a tiny creature rolled out.

Raising an eyebrow, she sat the container on the floor and examined the creature. She petite, even by human standards. The extremely mess auburn hair was in a sloppy ponytail and she wore a simple white t shirt and white pants. No shoes. She was scared. Very very scared.

"Aw, she's kind of cute." she said. Elliot didn't even bother looking up. Mallory frowned. "Stop ignoring me Elliot!" She said reaching over and pulling out the SD chip that contained the documents. "Hey!" he yelled standing up. She waved it mockingly at him. "Not getting it back until you at least look at your human." she said putting it in her pocket.

He frowned and looked at his desk. Crouching behind the weblink on his desk was a shaky little human with her hands over her head. "See what you did idiot? You scared her." She said taking the chip out her pocket and throwing it on the desk. "Enjoy your companion. And try not to forget she's there." said Mallory slamming the door behind her.


((Ok heres the next post))

[natalie]

This sounds neat and really interesting. I am hooked.

[Amayasama]

>D Yeah Mal! Kick his butt! >> Seriously this guy needs some time off, dear lord. And there's just a tiny mistake I saw in the writing :3 You said she was petite in one paragraph and then on the heavy side in the next, just thought I'd let you know dear ^w^

[pr]

@ama
Seriously...I think at the moment Mal's my favorite and this is my story XD

Well..oops..I guess I wasn't thinking when I was writing that ^.^; Thanks for catching that!

[Amayasama]

^w^ You're welcome dear! x3 Here to help after all~

[natalie]

This is a really neat good story!! I hope that you continue it!!