-The Tattoed Man-

Darkness.

A dull and empty pitch-black void.

All I saw, was the blackness that made me dread what was to come next. I opened my eyes to find more darkness. I felt something covering my eyes and the realization dawned on me.

The men last night. My escape. They killed the guy that tried to help me and then took me.

Anxiety rushed through my mind as I pulled on my wrist but they didn't budge and I groaned.

I'm tied up.

I bit down on my trembling lips as I held back my tears.

Oh my god, they're gonna kill me.

There were multiple footsteps and I stayed perfectly still as they spoke.

''Ona ustroila draku, glupaya suka. No ona stoit togo, chto, ty yeye vide?'' (She put up a fight, stupid bitch, but she's worth it, have you seen her?)

Me, they're talking about me. What do they mean 'worth it' ?

They're keeping me alive, but why? -They thought I was a prostitute, they carry weapons, speak Russian and aren't afraid to kill innocents.

The worst possible case floods my mind. Human trafficking, the Russian Mafia.

I bit back a cry to focus on listening.

''poluchit' yeye ochishchennym vverkh dlya auksiona I postavit' yeye s drugimi'' (get her cleaned up for the auction, and put her with the others)

Auction? Oh my god. -I let out an involuntary cry and froze as their talking ceased.

''One ne spit.'' (She's awake)

They walked over to me and I flinched when they took off my blindfold, I sucked in a breath and pressed myself to the wall behind me. They were massive men; their faces were hidden in the shadows of the dark room.

''Sweetheart, what is your name?'' the man closest to me asked as he kneeled before me. I flinched at his accent, it was Russian, strong Russian his face was stern and pale. This was, from what I assume the Russian mafia, I was born in France, but growing up around Russians I have picked up quite a few things, including their language.

''M-Marinette. My name is Marinette.'' I said slowly.

The man in front of me nodded in approval, ''and your last name?'' he asked.

I couldn't tell him my real name...

''Wang.'' I said, my body trembling as I pressed myself closer to the wall.

''Beautiful, little Marinette, will you come with me?'' he asked.

''Do I have a choice?''

A small amused smile appeared on his face, ''no, I suppose you don't.'' While his mouth formed a smile his eyes showed anger, rage and death. He pulled me up before I can even respond and I bit my tongue as the ropes felt to be cutting into my wrists. ''Can you untie me?'' I asked.

''I don't know... from what I heard, you put up quite the chase, you're a fast little girl, and you scaled a thirteen-foot wall and managed to get an innocent killed.

I bit my tongue from screaming back at him. I did NOT get that man killed.

''If you promise not to run because if you do, you will be punished, we don't need damaged goods.'' his demonic eyes warned.

I nodded slowly. Damaged goods? He pulled out a pocket knife from his pocket

''You need to get cleaned up; you have another man's blood on you.'' he said as he yanked me down the dim hall.

We stopped outside a metal door and he pushes me inside. It was a bathroom, poorly let with grey tiled floors.

''Strip,'' he muttered gruffly.

''Wha-''

''You need to shower; you smell like blood. Get in the fucking shower.'' I looked into the stall, there wasn't even a shower curtain.

''There's no curtain...'' He crossed his arms as he leaned against the door, his brow cocked.

''What are you? A fucking princess? Sorry to tell you, but if you're not comfortable with getting naked In front of me, you're in for a hell of a ride.''

He said, apparently finding this amusing. I've never been sexually intimate with anyone before. Sure, I was confident with my body, and I don't look anything like my age...

So no, I was not comfortable getting naked in front of a GROWN stranger, not to mention, this stranger was a murderer, rapist, thief, and in the MAFIA!

''You have three seconds to strip, or I will do it myself, and there's no promise I'll keep my hands to myself once I've stripped you,'' he said with his low cold accent.

My lip quivered as shrugged out of my tight dress, the thin material fell into a bloody pile at my feet, and I was left in a bra and lacy underwear. His evil eyes scanned me up and down, he made no attempt to hide the bulge in his pants as he nodded for me to take off the rest.

Tears welled in my eyes as I unhooked my bra, and slid off my underwear. I folded my arms in front of me and blinked away the hot tears as I stepped into the cold stall, I turned on the water and flinched as the cold water ran down my face. His bulge only grew and my tears mixed with the cold water as he stared at me.

I turned my back to him and trembled, my hands shook as I washed the blood out of my hair, the red mixed with the water as I scrubbed, the cold water seemed to be numbing my body as I silently cried.

Suddenly the water turned off and I was pulled out of the shower, my head slammed against the tile and my vision blurred.

He held me against the wall, the bulge in his pants was pressed against it, he stood so close to me that I felt his breath on my neck. He lifted me completely off the ground and his strength was frightening.

He roughly grabbed my throat, ''I could fuck you right here, and no one has to know.'' I coughed and sobbed as his boner pressed harder on me as if he was grinding himself on me.

No, please no.

''Virgin'' I coughed up. ''I-I'm a virgin.'' I hoped that would mean something, seeing that he's in the mafia, girls go for more if they're a virgin, and although I don't want to be sold at all I would do anything to prevent the situation that was about to unfold. His lust-filled glare faded and he let go of me and I fell to the floor gasping for air.

He threw a dinged white robe at me, ''Get changed now, do it fast, or I'll drag you out of here naked.'' He gave me another glance as I slipped into the oversized robe and tied the string around me.

He wasted no time, and yanked me out the door, my heart was racing as he led me down another hall. ''W-Where are we going?'' I asked. ''Shut the fuck up.'' He growled as he showed me into another room.

I stumbled into the room, it was a small space, with racks of clothes, with mirrors, and makeup. ''get her ready for the auction.'' He ordered. ''come here.'' a woman said in a monotone, her painted lips forming a straight line. I walked over to her as she looked at me, she pulled my arms straight out to my side as she looked at me.

She observed me, her dark eyes trailing from head to toe and back again.

''Good figure,'' she said as she motioned me to turn.

''Long hair'' she said as she held my dark wet hair in her hand, ''blue eyes'' she said piercing her nails in my cheek. ''Very exotic, where did you find her?''

''An alley.'' said the satanic man.

''Where are you from?'' she asked, her question directed to me this time.

''I-I was studying in America.'' I lied; my voice shaky. I held my gaze hoping they wouldn't see through my lie, but she didn't seem to care, she picked out a black dress and folded it on the rack. She snapped. ''Sit, now,'' she said pointing to the makeup chair.

My eyes flickered on the man in the corner and I flinched at his deathly gaze that was focused on me.

''Hey'' she snapped again. ''look at me'' I broke my gaze as she pulled out a brush and began painting my face.

''Your eyes are puffy, stop crying,'' she muttered. I bit my lip as she continued to paint my face. It was similar to when Brie was doing my makeup, but I swallowed down a sob. I closed my eyes. Brie. A tear threatened to escape my eyes but I swallowed down a sob.

She slicked eyeliner on my face and swiped a tube of red lipstick across my lips. Then she began drying my hair. Ten minutes later, she snapped again. ''Change.''

The man's gaze was still on me, she looked at him and pointed to the door.

''Out.''

He stood his place and gave her an icy glare.

''If you want this girl ready for the auction in time, you will leave. I don't think you would want to lose something worth so much.''

He gave me another death glare before walking out.

''Change, now.'' Her voice was less harsh as she handed me the dress and undergarments.

I nodded to her in thanks but she ignored me, I slipped out of the rove and slid on the bra and thong. I pulled on the flimsy fabric, it was short, revealing, and sleeveless.

I struggled as I zipped up the back and stood with my arms crossed.

''W-Where am I going?'' I asked slowly.

She rested her hand on her hip, look, little girl, if you want to survive this you need to shut up and take what they throw at you. Don't try to be better than it, you're not, don't try to escape, you can't, don't cry, not even a whimper or a trickle of tears, and certainly do not beg.'' she looked at me up and down

''don't try and be smart, brains aren't going to get you out of this, you're very beautiful, it's not a compliment, it's the truth, you have your beauty use that, and obey, but your tongue, be strong. It's your only hope.'' I felt tears well in my eyes but I sucked it back and nodded as I trembled.

''Put these on'' She shoved a pair of heels at me. ''Put these on, and sit down, you have bruises and cuts all over your legs.'' I sat in the seat and slid the stilettos on, and buckled the ankle strap and she covered the bruises with makeup.

I need to survive this.

I will survive this.

And cry later...

-The satanic man pulled me through the halls, his hand rough against my skin. He pulled me In front of a door and knock. ''What's gonna happen?'' I asked.

He seemed to be contemplating whether I was even worth an answer.

He finally spoke ''Just do as you're told, when you go in there, stand still, hands at your side, look confident and when you are asked a question, answer it. Don't lie. This is probably the last time we will ever talk.'' he said gruffly.

''A-Are you one of the men that took me?'' I asked.

He scoffed and gave me the 'do you really think I'm going to answer that' look.

''You s-said it yourself, you will never speak to me again. I just need some answers.'' I said, refusing to beg.

''You do know... that I'm not a prostitute, I was just walking home from my birthday party... It was supposed to be my sweet 16...'' I was trying to get this man to feel something, anything. I was trying to control the tear that was filling my stomach and I swallowed down a cry.

His eyes went a little wide with surprise, but he said nothing, he ramen silent and cold.

His eyes were dark and he finally looked away from me, almost as if he couldn't look at me.

I noticed a scar on his chin, it was faint, and fada, from a long time ago. Black ink covered his arms and neck drawings and symbols that I didn't know.

-except for one.

---

It was old Russian for ''You are a lie, and I am the truth.''

I frowned at the writing, wondering what it meant, but it was hard to concentrate, all I wanted to do was cry.

The tattoo had to mean something to him, even a man as cruel as him, had things that were important to him. Maybe I could hit a 'soft spot' and he would take pity on me.

''What's your name?' I suddenly asked.

It was a stupid question, I know.

Because why the fuck would it matter?!

But I guess I wanted to know someone, Anyone. It didn't matter that this man tried to rape me in a filthy bathroom almost an hour ago.

When I get sold to some murderous rapist, I want to have the knowledge that I at least knew someone from this hell.

He looked at me, his eyebrows pulled together, his jaw set, and nothing but pure evil in his eyes.

The door opened and he grabbed me, softer, with care, a little less angry.

His callused fingers gripped me a little lighter.

Before he pushed me in, he whispered in my ear.

''Afanas. My name is Afanas.''

With that... he pushed me in, shutting the doors behind him.