Chapter 2

Time passes slowly after breakfast for me, causing my restlessness to kick in. I was never one for sitting still for too long; I prefer moving about and doing something productive. When the Maid returns sometime after eating, she hands me a damp towel to clean myself as she clears away the dishes and the wet mess of the chair before leaving me once again alone and on display. As time passed, the pet shop became almost empty, with a few stragglers looking at what I learned was discount merchandise—Pets bought from poor families or used by multiple masters. These men and women were generally older than the usual pets, or so I’ve heard from the salesmen who handle the transactions. I felt pity for these people, but they all held an indifferent look when patrons would ask to look and handle them. They were used to this environment.

After walking three laps around the cage, rearranging the bedspread on the swinging bed, and sizing up the other pets in the cages before me, the Maid returns with a tray in hand. She places a platter of fruits down in the center of the table; she explains it’s a snack to munch on just before leaving me alone again. Another wave of customers enters the building, each more ostentatiously dressed than the other. I hated the rich and how they looked down on others of the common class. Men and women alike gawk at me through the bars, but none linger too long near the cage. I was a commodity to them, something they would love to touch but not own.

The first person who took a real interest in me appeared an hour after the snacks were presented to me. He is a short, balding fat man whose body waddles around the room, and all I could think of is how my poor body would be crushed if he bought me. Standing in front of my cage, I watch as this fat man’s Assistant reads information about me on a display screen while the fat man tries to wipe away the permanent sweat that glistens on his face. Every detail about me is read word-for-word by the Assistant, from my medical history to the schools I attended, to the drugs injected into me when I got here. The one tidbit of information that horrifies me is the fact that my virginity is listed as an “added bonus.” Hearing that causes the fat man to stare at me like a hungry predator who has just found his next meal.

Relief fills me when the Assistant reads out the price set to purchase me. I watch as the predatory gaze falls to one of sadness as the fat man lets out a dejected sigh and walks away from my cage. It seems like I am too expensive to purchase by that man, and I am okay with that. I could only imagine the horrible life I would live if left to the fat man’s “care.” I watch the two make their rounds around each cage until the fat man spots a girl cowering in the corner. She is about my age with dark skin and big brown eyes, definitely a descendant of the now-rare African American race. His Assistant vanishes for a moment before returning with a maid who unlocks the cage, places a collar around the girl’s neck and hands a leash to the fat man. He all but drags the young girl out of her cage and grabs at every inch of her skin. I can see the terror on her face as she is whisked away, begging for someone to help her.

The shop patrons ignore this show, probably used to a slave being dragged away, as they continue to shop around. A well-dressed man makes an appearance by my cage with the Maid who has served me and begins to talk in hushed tones as his eyes scan the crowd. With how respectful the Maid is, I assume he is this Shop’s owner and is here to keep an eye on me. The words “valuable merchandise” are spoken a few times between the two before the Maid disappears and the Shop owner sends me a wink. I guess this treatment means that I am the star of the show. It’s funny, I wanted my cakes and desserts to be the star, the masterpieces that people around the world flocked to. Now, I am stuck. I wonder what will happen to my scholarship position. Will another person gain entrance to the culinary school, or will I be able to escape and continue my training?

Deep in thought, I did not notice the Maid returning to my cage, her voice calling out to me to come and eat lunch. A salad with grilled chicken is placed on the elegant table, its aroma causing my stomach to grumble. Taking a seat, I decide that starving myself will not help my chances to escape. I need to keep my strength up. I wanted to give a big “fuck you” to the ones running this shop and eat like a slob, but years of my mother teaching me to eat like a proper young lady have me taking my time. The Shop owner walks around the floor, his eyes scanning each patron as they look into the cages. Many have begun to empty out with each new sale, but I have a feeling they will be full once again come tomorrow morning. Of course, my actions do not go unnoticed as the Shop owner looks at me, his eyes roaming my body and the lady-like etiquette I portray, approval clearly displayed for all to see. No one would let me free as a well-behaved slave, and I realized my mistake in how I ate as the Maid cleared away the dishes. The staring continued until a spectacle occurred in a large cage across the way from me, drawing the patrons into a large crowd.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the weekly Breeding Exhibition.” The Shop owner booms, a grin on his disgusting face.

“Today, we will be allowing anyone to come and enjoy themselves with our newest breeder after our male has had his taste of her.” He continues, a bed being wheeled into the cage. Tied to each post, a girl around my age stares wide-eyed at everyone, her orbs flicking to me with fear so prominent I have to turn and look away. If sex slaves, commonly known as pleasure pets, were the most sought after in the slave trade, breeders were the most frowned upon. They are worse than the common prostitute as their lives are dictated by whether they can produce new merchandise or not. A scream of terror hushes the crowd, a shiver running down my spine.

“Please, don’t do this!” Sobs follow the girl’s plea, and the shaking of chains indicates a pathetic attempt at freeing herself. The room fills with excited anticipation of the impending breeding. The sound of another cage unlocking catches my attention, and I watch as a young male with copper-coloured hair is led out of his cage by a pair of guards and past my own, where he sends me a flirtatious wink. I feel shudders of disgust as his lecherous eyes roam over me. I watch his figure enter the cage where the poor girl is stripped of her clothes, leaving her body for all to see. The male slave wastes no time getting to the prey offered before him, brushing off the guards and rushing to the girl’s body. Cheers from the audience roar around the room, followed by more sobs from the poor Breeder, the sound of flesh pounding against each other as the male lets out pleasurable grunts, his lips descending onto the delicate skin of the slave. Her fate is now sealed.

“Shop owner, will you let us breed with the girl in the bird cage?” My blood runs cold with fear, and my eyes meet that of a lanky man with graying hair, his tongue flickering out to lick his lips as his eyes undress what little fabric I have on my body. For once, I am thankful to be in this cage away from this man.

“No, Lyra here is special. If you have the money, you can purchase this pure slave.” The patron looks away in disappointment, shrugging his shoulders as I watch each of his steps lead him away towards the cage where the poor Breeder is being raped for all to enjoy. The rich are sick with their twisted entertainment. As selfish as this thought is, I am glad I was not deemed a Breeder.

“You should watch Miss Lyra, as your job will be to pleasure your new owner.” I jump in fright at the Maid now standing behind me, the woman silent in her approach.

“I don’t want to,” I retort, intending to ignore the scene across from me.

“It’s not a suggestion. The Shop owner told me to tell you to. Trust me when I say you will be better off watching.” My eyes move from the Maid to the Shop owner, who looks at me expectantly. The fear returns, knowing that even though I am “valuable” in his eyes, I am nothing more than an item to be sold. If I did not listen, then I would face the consequences. My gaze slowly moves away from the man who decides my fate in this shop, returning to the scene in the cage across from me. Tears stream down the girl’s face, her eyes gazing out at the crowd as she pleads for help, but none will come. I watch in horror as the male slave plows into her, knowing that this poor girl must be in pain. The pleading in her eyes is replaced with a sad acceptance before she lays listless on the bed, the male slave having an easier time with his conquest as his hips slam against the poor girl. Moaning from the male and the slick squelch of his cock slipping in and out of her causes a bubble of fear to well inside me. I now know why the Maid made sure I watched. If I wasn’t a good slave, I would be sold back to become a Breeder, especially with how rare my hair colour is, as I finally notice the unnatural way the light is reflected off of the Breeder’s hair. I hear the sound of men cheering as the male slave finishes his business, the satisfied growl from the male slave, loud and clear for all to hear, and the fight in the Breeder is now gone. I watch as the male pulls out, his cock now limp and light reflecting off the blood and cum coating him. If I ever get a chance to be free, I will fight for the abolishment of slaves.

“Thank you all for spectating this event. As promised, a signup list has been created for those who wish to participate. Please leave your name and contact information in case the child produced is yours. You will be able to enjoy her to your heart's content for one hour each.” As the Shop owner’s voice rings out over the crowd, I turn my attention away from the Breeder, her bed being rolled away from the sales floor to only God knows where. Her day will be long, judging by the signup sheet of sleazy males ready to give in to their carnal urges and fuck that poor Breeder senseless. This place is hell for anyone trapped here to be sold or used for the pleasure of the rich.

The Maid informs me that I am now free to do what I wish before bowing and taking her leave. Considering that I am trapped inside this gilded cage, there is nowhere for me to go but the table and the swinging bed. I am exposed just like that Breeder was for all to see. I want to run, be free and never return to this godforsaken place ever again, but even I know that this is a pipe dream. Sighing, I close my eyes and send a silent prayer to any god or deity watching from above that I am set free soon, that I will be far away from this hell, living a normal life once again.

"Hello little songbird, care to sing a song?" I stiffen in my seat, my eyes opening to see a man I can only describe as having Adonis-like features leaning on the bars to my cage. His cold and aloof emerald eyes stare into my own, with his dark chestnut hair falling over his eyes.

All I can think now is, “be careful what you wish for.”