A Broken Woman

[Pandora’s POV]

“Pandora! Pandora, wake up!”

My mother's panic-filled voice rings out, and my eyes fly open so I find her pulling my blanket from around me.

“Mommy,” I murmur, rubbing sleep from my eyes. “What's going on?”

“You must get up now.” My mother responds, grabbing me and pulling me roughly from my bed. “Before it's too late.”

As she speaks, she moves, leading me across my bedroom and out the door so that the scent of blood and smoke reaches my nose.

“Mommy!” I gasp while the sound of struggle from below reaches me. “What’s going on? Where's Daddy?”

“Shhhhhh,” my mother hisses as a howl rips through the air. “You must be quiet, my pet, otherwise…”

She doesn't get to finish her words before a large grey wolf rushes toward us, tackling her to the ground and pinning her there.

With wide eyes, I watch as she lifts her clawed hands and swipes at the wolf, desperately fighting to get him off of her to no avail.

“Pandora,” she hisses, turning her fearful gaze toward me. “You must go!”

Go. But go where? What was happening here? Who were these wolves, and what did they want with us?

“Mommy,” I gasp, attempting to take a step forward but stopping as my mother releases a snarl of warning.

“Go!” She repeats, her voice filled with urgency. “Go before…ugh!”

With wide eyes, I watch as the wolf she is desperately trying to fight off bites down on her shoulder, easily ripping through her soft flesh and then tearing so that she is left with a gaping wound.

“Mommy!” I shriek, watching her blood begin to pool on the ground. “No! Stop!”

Ignoring my mother's insistent pleas that I escape, I rush forward, ready to help in any way I can, but am stopped by a hand wrapping into my hair and then pulling.

“Well, well,” a deep voice rumbles as pain shoots through me. “What do we have here?”

“No!” My mother screams while she helplessly watches me get lifted into the air by my captor. “Let her…”

“Shut up!” The one holding me huffs, moving forward and pressing a foot against my mother's head. “You're too noisy.”

Slowly, he begins to step down while his comrade holds my fighting mother in place. Inch by inch, his foot moves as I flail, trying desperately to break free and help her until a sickening crunch fills the air and she stops moving completely.

Instantly, I feel pain rip through me, suffocating me as the reality of what has happened slams into me like a ton of bricks.

“No,” I rasp, my eyes filling with tears. “No, this can't be.”

At my words, a laugh rips through the one holding me, and when he turns me so that I can look into his eyes, his lips move, forming two single words.

“Wake up.”

Gasping, I shoot up, my eyes flying open so that I find myself in my cell in the auction house where I have lived for the past eleven years.

It's cold; it reeks of piss and shit, but it's the only home that I've known since that fateful night when everything was ripped away from me.

“Shit,” I hiss, brushing stray crimson hair from my sweaty forehead. “It's been a while since I've had that dream.”

Letting out a long breath, I pull my knees to my chest, trying to calm myself as my heart races and screams from the pain of the memories of that time, but before I can find any solace, a loud clanging fills the air as Geoffrey, the main guard that watches over not only me, but all the prisoners awaiting their fate in the auction house, bangs his Billy club against the bars of a nearby cell.

“Wake up, you pieces of shit!” He booms, making as much noise as he possibly can. “Today's the big day! Get your asses up! Stop dawdling.”

Covering my ears, I remain in place while those in the cells around me do as they're instructed, rising from their places on the ground and gathering by their doors to await the guards that will set them free and lead them to the bathhouses so they can be cleaned and prepped for the auctions.

In a way, I pity those fools, as some hold looks of hope due to the possibility of their being bought, but no good life awaited them if that happened. No, the only ones who attended the auctions were those in search of three things:

A toy to use as they pleased until they grew bored and threw them away.

An offering for another to gain something precious.

Or a breeder to help them continue their lineage.

None of these options were appeasing, and they all ended in suffering.

So far, I have been lucky enough to not be bought because those who lay eyes on me consider me an omen that will bring destruction to not only them but even their packs.

“Four,” Geoffrey growls, snapping me out of my reverie. “Get your ass up and prepare for the auctions.”

“Why?” I ask, staring at him calmly. “You know as well as I that I won't be sold.”

For a moment, he doesn't speak as he stares at me, his gaze narrowing due to my defiance.

“Are you backtalking me?” He growls, reaching into his pocket for his keys. “Should I remind you once more about the way this place works?”

Nodding, I slowly shift my gaze to my legs, which are covered in scars from the other reminders I received. Knowing they too played a part in my not being bought.

Keep beating me and destroying me. I think inwardly as the door to my cell is ripped open, allowing the fuming man to enter.

“Who the guck do you think you are talking back to me?” He growls, grabbing the collar of my ripped and sullied tunic so that I'm forced to my feet. “A piece of shit like you who no one even wants to…”

“Geoffrey.” The madam's voice rips through the air, ending any further insulting and ruining any chances of a beating. “What have I told you about damaging the goods?”

“But, mistress,” Geoffrey argues, keeping his rage-filled gaze fixed on me. “This one is known for causing trouble. I was simply…”

“Release her.” The madam snaps, causing the large man to tense. “Now.”

Smirking, I wait as Geoffrey continues to hold me in place, the desire to beat the shit out of me in his eyes.

“You heard her,” I murmur, wanting to push even more so that he would disobey his master and guarantee I couldn't attend the auctions in the evening. “Release me.”

Don't release me. I beg, hating that the madam ruined my plan. Disobey her and…

“Later,” he growls, doing as he is told. “Later I'll make you pay for your disobedience since we both know you won't be sold. Look forward to it.”

Finished speaking, he steps aside so I find the mistress standing directly behind him with a strange gleam in her eyes.

“Four,” she coos, using the name I was given when I was brought to this place. “You will be our star this evening.”

Star. What the hell was this woman talking about? Did she fall and bump her head? She knew as well as I did that everyone avoided me, so why…

“Geoffrey,” the madam continues, her gaze staying locked on me. “Make sure the maids prep her thoroughly for tonight's event. This will be the day that this parasite returns to me all that she has taken.”