Mr. Black Cloak

My heart throbbed as I stepped onto the stage. The circular spotlight focused on me, blinding me momentarily. I couldn't see a thing in the darkness that surrounded me. I squinted my eyes, taking a few moments for them to adjust to the illumination.

I almost lost my balance in shock when I saw the hundreds of curious eyes staring at me. They were analyzing my whole being like a strange specimen. Despite being fully clothed, I still felt fully exposed under their intense scrutiny. My fair skin reflected in their orbs, making me feel vulnerable and self-conscious.

I couldn't move from where I currently stood. The host, a cheerful horse, gestured for me to advance further in front, but I stayed put and didn't move.

All that my eyes saw were unfamiliar faces, not at all human. Everyone looked weird and downright otherworldly. It was as if I had been put into a well-guarded laboratory and was being shown new experimental mutants.

"Ladies and gentlemen, up next we have a truly remarkable item for bid. A young, beautiful human with long, lustrous black hair, captivating brown eyes, and a presence that commands attention. All yours before daylight for one hundred silver coins."

I could feel my blood rise in my face as the monsters began to whistle and smirk, their leering gazes unsettling. It seemed as though they were mentally undressing me, with intentions far more sinister than mere observation.

I crossed my arms tightly against my chest, seeking solace in my own embrace. Their demeaning stares made me feel small, degraded. I wanted to shout, to flee, to demand their silence, but my tongue refused to cooperate. A coldness washed over me, enveloping my entire being, and I felt the shiver of my weakened knees. For the hundredth time since arriving in this forsaken place, I was consumed by a familiar sense of hopelessness.

"Two hundred," a huge orc at the far end spoke, his grin stretching wide.

A cyclops roared from the left, his wet eyes fixated on a warped version of my figure. "Two hundred fifty."

"Three hundred."

"Five hundred."

"Seven hundred fifty."

"Eight hundred."

"Nine hundred ninety-nine."

I could only look down as they continued to bid for my worth, feeling utterly worthless. I was nothing more than a toy without agency, being traded like property.

"One thousand, gold."

There were gasps of astonishment, murmurs rippling through the crowd. Whispers filled the air, laced with doubt. "Gold? No way, she's not worth that much." "What else does she have besides beauty?" they questioned. "That's foolish."

In fury, I just cloaked my eyes. If only I could also shut out the sounds assaulting my ears. Was this truly the end? Was this all there was to my existence? What a life, I thought bitterly. I wasn't aware of what would happen if I were finally sold. I didn't know what fate awaited me. Based on their reactions, it seemed to lead only to my demise, and nothing else. 

To be food or a toy, Louise. A question, yes, but not a choice.

"Ten thousand gold," said the Bull, casually sipping his morning coffee as steam billowed to unheard-of heights. He grinned as a tense silence enveloped the surrounding. I glanced up at him, noticing his relaxed posture as he sat to the side. He had massive horns and fur cloak made of the softest textile. He was the one I had seen inside that room, drinking with the other bullshits.

His blackened eyes fixated on my exposed skin, lingering squarely at my chest, which I attempted to hide with my arms.

The auctioneer coughed and cleared his throat before proceeding. "Ten thousand gold," he repeated, his gaze sweeping eagerly over the crowd. "Going once..."

No hands rose up again. The auctioneer was deliberate, taking his time. "Going... twice." He then flashed a triumphant smile. "So—"

"Ten thousand..." a voice spoke stately amid the silence.

The auctioneer was confused, searching for the source of the voice, intrigued. "That's the same as Mr—"

"Diamond," clarified the voice from the shadows. "Ten thousand diamonds."

The crowd gasped in shock. The creatures were astounded, their eyes wide with disbelief. Even the auctioneer couldn't believe what had just happened and asked once more for confirmation.

"T-ten t-thousand diamonds?"

All eyes fell on the man who had spoken with authority. From my vantage point, I couldn't distinguish him as he was cloaked in darkness. It took a minute of silence before everyone realized that it was not a joke at all. They looked at him with envy and reverent admiration, as if he were the most powerful being in this world. 

Everyone's lips were tightly sealed. "Going once," began the auctioneer. The bull shot a bitter gaze at the unknown being.

"Going twice..." The gavel banged, its echo reverberating. "Sold at ten thousand diamonds to Mr. Black Cloak!"

The glasses sparkled like stars as cheers and applause rained down upon the crowd. Immediately, two figures with colorful butterfly wings approached me, securing locks on both my wrists and a cold metallic collar around my neck. It was so tight that each breath felt insufficient. They carried me gently down the platform and into a narrow passage.

At the end, I saw the Komodo engaged in a serious and virile conversation with a man wearing a black cloak. His face, however, couldn't be seen at all. He handed a black bag to the Komodo, who immediately opened it. Glints of excitement sparkled in his eyes as he surveyed its contents. He nodded approvingly at the mysterious man and they exchanged a final handshake. 

Left to my own devices, I approached them, and the Komodo cautiously grabbed my elbow. I immediately pulled my hand back and shot him a sharp look. He seemed annoyed, steam rising from his large nose. Then, he abruptly grabbed my face.

"You're lower than us, so you have to behave properly if you want to survive," he asserted firmly.

I felt the collar tighten around my neck, making it difficult to breathe. As he discreetly pulled my hair, I couldn't help but whimper in pain.

"Let her go," the man commanded with impatience in his authoritative voice, which resonated as deep as the abyss. My heart throbbed uncontrollably for reasons unknown. He possessed a stature that dwarfed all that surrounded him. He seemed invincible, and to some extent, immaculately handsome.

The Komodo furiously released my hair and instead grabbed my wrist. I glanced at my owner, wearing a black cloak that complemented his exposed fair skin. It was a shame not to see him with his mask on. What if it was all a facade, his humanlike figure? He could be a demon, a vampire, or something much worse. I cleared my throat as his penetrating gaze met mine, lingering for a long moment.

I wished it had been an Ogre who purchased me. It was an insane thought, for sure. But I had overheard from the guards who had been looking after me that Ogres, Giants, and Cyclops were the ones who treated humans as a fine delicacy. 

If he was one of them, at least I knew that my end would come in the most efficient and quickest way possible, sparing me from prolonged suffering. I didn't want to be played with either. Just the thought of this perverted Komodo made me feel as though I had been killed a thousand times already.

"My apologies, Sire," said the Komodo with a sense of terror. "This captive of ours is not accustomed to respect. Don't worry—"

"Let her go," the sharpened voice interrupted firmly. "From now on, I'll be responsible for her. She's now mine, my property."

My knees trembled as warmth fled from my body. His voice radiated coldness, demanding absolute obedience. 

The Komodo released me and lowered his gaze. "Indeed, Sire," he murmured, falling into silence.

I quickly moved away from him, feeling his gaze sweep over me from top to bottom before he left us alone, carrying the black bag containing the diamonds. I couldn't help but wonder how valuable it really was.

At first, I thought the man in the cloak would touch me, but he simply gripped the chains connecting my hands. He began to stride gracefully in silence. I couldn't hear his breathing, nor the thumping of his footwear against the ground. I followed his pace, cautious and precise, like an assassin.

When we stepped into the early morning light, we were greeted with curious, disgusted, and adoring eyes from numerous creatures. As we passed, they took second glances, and even their sniffing was audible. I walked closer to my owner, almost brushing against his arm. He didn't speak, his nonchalant gaze fixed firmly ahead.

His masculine voice was chilly, certainly, but interestingly, his body emanated a comforting warmth. It was enough to soothe my heart, although the fear lingered. Fear of the unknown, the uncertain. I could also sense danger, too much danger. Ten times worse than what I had felt inside that auction hall with hundreds of depraved beasts. It felt like he was pulling me inward, my fiery soul waning into oblivion.

Different scenarios filled my wild mind. Me being fried. Me being served in a soup bowl. Me sandwiched between bread. I shook my head and bit my lips, trying to dispel the disturbing thoughts.

A cold breeze caressed my sensitive cheeks as we walked. Along the way, two figures in different cloaks awaited us. I immediately noticed someone wearing a green cloak because it was floating midair, with no wings visible behind. That's what I wanted, too.

Before we reached them, a glint of light passed between my cheek and my owner's shoulder. He swiftly pulled me with his soft palm gripping my wrist. The dagger could have struck his chest. I heard him curse softly under his breath. 

We both glanced at the source of the dagger. My forehead knotted with fury when I saw that it was The Bull in his jacket, grinning sinisterly while staring at the man standing mightily beside me.

"Hand her over to me," he said in a warning baritone. "And you can walk away unscathed."

But this gentleman seemed to not hear the Bull at all. He didn't move an inch, nor speak. His breathing was as stable as a sleeping newborn. There was no tension in his arm. Even the hand in which he was loosely holding my wrist seemed unbothered. 

The Bull pulled out more ragged daggers from his pouch, and the others behind him followed suit. They grinned with triumph as, without hesitation, they rained us with daggers like arrows flying across the sky.

"Shit," I whispered.

The objects flew with precision. I was about to be hit head-on by one of them when suddenly, the man in the cloak stood before me and pulled me into his arms. We lost our balance and fell together onto the dusty ground, rolling over. I heard him groan as he quickly got to his feet. He pulled me up as he stood.

I focused my gaze on the Bull, noticing that he and his strange companions were already preparing for a second attack. They didn't really miss the chance to strike again before we could fully recover. 

I wondered, why did he want me so much?

Beside me, a voice of authority called out a name. "Alexa," he said, turning his blank gaze to the approaching figures. "Take this girl somewhere safe." He released me from his hand before instructing the other. "Deal with the others, I'll handle that one myself."

Before I could fully comprehend what was happening, the figure in the red cloak came towards me and grabbed my wrist. I tried to wriggle out of the hold, but before I could, there was an abrupt explosion in front of us. Dusty debris flew everywhere, and nearby trees caught bluish fire.

Chaos erupted, and everyone ran for their lives to safety. Before I could even think of my own safety, the figure in the red cloak began speaking in a language I couldn't comprehend. It sounded bizarre, like the hisses of the wind. I glanced towards the voice and saw a golden book floating, its symbols glowing on the pages. When she was done, she closed it with a thud, and on the ground appeared a spherical symbol, with glittering spirals of lavender at the center.

"Let's go," she said softly.

"Wait—" But before I could speak, she had already pushed me toward the hole. 

I suppressed my own breathing as the icy air enveloped my whole being. At first, I thought I was falling, but it was actually the opposite. Around me was utter darkness and a humming silence, as if I were at the edge of the universe or inside a black hole. I tried to shout, but I couldn't even hear my own voice. Nausea washed over me as I rolled over and over into eternity until light opened up and swallowed me whole. My shivering body fell onto something soft.

"Damn!" I reached for my throbbing temples, unable to open my eyes for a while. It took a moment before my dizziness disappeared. When my eyes finally opened, I found myself in the middle of nowhere. Above me stretched the clear blue sky and the illuminating sunlight. I looked around and smelled the salt-sharpened air. After much observation, I realized I was in a field of corn. I rose to my feet, squinting my eyes against the brightness. I was alone, surrounded by nothing but hotness and rows of corn, with nowhere else in sight.

"Where," I shouted with all my lungs, causing the crows to cry and fly away, "the fuck am I?!"