Chapter 3
Clover
I’ve said my goodbyes, found my spot on the train, and now I’m watching Rose say goodbye to her family.
This train isn’t like the one that usually brings food and other deliveries for the merchants in Troona. That one is old, rickety, and runs on coal. This one runs on something a lot more powerful than coal.
The exterior is silver and so shiny it reflected my tears when I was walking away from my family.
I hope Abigail didn’t see that. The interior is warm and luxurious.
My seat is made out of some kind of plush material.
It’s soft, like mattresses I’ve read about.
Nothing like the straw one I’ve slept on my entire life.
There’s a small screen in front of me, but it’s not currently on.
I don’t see anything that allows me to turn it on, so I’m guessing it’s not for entertainment.
Rose finally pulls away from her family.
Her father’s crying, and he didn’t even leave the bottle at home.
He’s clutching it like he was clutching his daughter a few seconds ago.
Her mother is in tears, too. So are her brother and sister.
They didn’t protect them from the horrors like we did with Abigail.
Her father rambles and blabs too much when he drinks for that to have even been an option.
“Rose!” I say, holding my hand up when she gets on board.
“Hey,” she mutters, staring at the floor as she hurries down the aisle. Like me, she brought nothing but the clothes on her back. “Your family didn’t wait to see you off?”
“I asked them not to,” I say, exhaling a long sigh. “For Abigail’s sake.”
“Bless that little girl,” Rose coos, wiping her eyes and sitting beside me. She looks around, studying everything just like I did earlier. “At least we’re not being shackled and carried away like prisoners, right?”
“They should be taking good care of us,” I mutter, folding my arms across my chest. “The government gets half of whatever we’re sold for.”
“Soon, we’ll get to see how they spend all that money,” she says, leaning back in her seat, and waving to her family. “Concord City. Built from the sales of thousands of second-borns.”
“Don’t say stuff like that too loudly,” I warn, patting her hand. “We’re not in the loft right now.”
“I know. Just having a shitty morning,” she sighs.
“We all are,” I mutter.
The horn sounds and the doors at the front of the train slam shut.
There are four of us now. All facing the same fate.
Everyone in Troona knows each other, but I wouldn’t say we’re all friends.
True friendship is as rare as clean water in a place where the rain is too salty to drink.
It’s been that way since The Salting, when the orcs and wolf shifters made sure our land would remember what humans did during The Great War.
Once the train starts moving, I watch Rose and the one other girl wave to their families. I’m not the only person who has nobody to wave to, but I wave to Rose’s parents, since I spent lots of time at their place growing up.
The girl a few seats ahead of us is named Jasmine.
She has sun-kissed skin a shade darker than Rose and black hair that always seems shimmery enough to reflect the sun.
The guy in the back of the train is named Cedar.
He’s tall, rugged from working outdoors his entire life, and has sandy blonde hair that is messy, but looks normal around Troona.
He always smiles when he says hello, like he’s happy to see you.
He didn’t smile or say hello when I got on the train, though. He didn’t even look at me.
As Troona disappears behind us, the train moves so smoothly it feels like we’re just floating along, everything around us a dusty, brown blur.
Then the screens on every seat flicker to life, and I see a man who looks to be around my father’s age.
He’s dressed in a charcoal suit with a red tie, and his tan doesn’t look natural.
He’s too orange, like it’s been painted on.
His hair is black and looks wet, but that seems to be intentional, based on how it’s combed back flawlessly.
He’s also clean-shaven, which is something you rarely see around Troona.
“Hello and welcome! My name is Winston Highton, and I hope you’ve heard that name, because I’m the President of Concord City!
” he says, some excitement in his voice.
“Soon, you’ll see me in person when you walk out on the stage at the Reparations Auction, but I wanted to go over a few things ahead of time. ”
“Wow, President Highton,” I whisper, glancing over at Rose. “He’s like our mayor’s boss.”
“Yes, I know how the government works, Clover,” Rose grimaces. “I’m not Beverly, remember?”
“Sorry,” I sigh, shaking my head. “Like you said, shitty morning.”
“First and foremost, once you get to Concord City, you’ll be taken to The Grand Hotel.
That is where the auction takes place, but until then, you’ll be honored guests,” he continues, his smile so wide it looks unnatural.
“Everything you need will be provided, but as honored guests, you are to remain in your suite until it is time for the auction. We don’t like to lose track of our guests, and your safety is our top priority! ”
“Nice way of saying we’re prisoners,” Rose mutters.
“Basically,” I acknowledge.
“Remember! Reparations are a good thing! It’s our duty to help make things right.
It is our honor to do so,” President Highton continues.
“Half the proceeds from your auction go directly to your family, so don’t forget to smile and wave to the bidders when I call your name.
You’ll be going home with one of them to begin a brand-new life!
In fact, I’ve got some testimonials to share! ”
President Highton smiles and the screen remains on his face a few seconds longer than it should before it switches to a woman who looks to be in her early thirties.
She’s wearing an elegant green dress, make-up, and her hair is styled with pins and clips in various places that allows her long, flowing blonde hair to cascade down her shoulders while staying out of her face.
“Hi everyone! My name is Monica! Ten years ago, I was right where you are! Sitting on a train, excited to do my part to make things right,” she chirps excitedly.
“But I’ll admit I was a little nervous. A tiny bit scared.
” She emphasizes it by holding up her thumb and forefinger, spaced less than a half inch apart, her long, polished nails nearly touching.
“I should have known better! I was bought by a wolf shifter named Rex, and… wow, the last ten years have been amazing.”
The screen immediately clips to another woman. She looks to be in her mid-to-late twenties. She has red hair that’s braided and adorned with trinkets. Her dress is simpler, but it’s clean, and looks a lot better than the rags I’m wearing.
“Hello, my name is Harmony. That’s my new name, anyway.
It used to be Azalea, when I lived with the humans.
” She smiles, her green eyes brightening a shade.
“When a big scary orc named Gruk bought me at the auction, I’ll admit I was a little unsure.
But then he brought me home, and I realized that other than being green, orcs are a lot like us.
Just be mindful of the tusks!” She laughs and shakes her head.
“Orcs don’t eat humans. They don’t even bite… well…”
The screen clips again, this time showing a guy who is a few years older than me. He’s wearing a long-sleeved black shirt and black pants, standing with his hands behind his back. His skin is paler than mine, there are circles under his eyes, and a haunted look in the light grey spheres.
“Right, hello. I’m Mark. When I realized I had just been auctioned to Lord Malphas, I had some reservations, but I’m…” He narrows his eyes like he’s reading. “I’m happy to tell you that possession isn’t that bad! It isn’t pain, it’s purpose!”
Mark keeps talking, but the screen clips back to President Highton.
“As you can see, your brand-new life will likely be so much better than what you’re leaving behind. One day, you may even sit down to record a testimonial video of your own!” President Highton says cheerfully. “Enjoy the rest of your trip to Concord City. I’ll see you soon!”
The screen goes dark after lingering on President Highton’s smiling face for a few seconds. I glance over at Rose. She’s already looking at me.
“Notice they didn’t have any testimonials from people who got bought by other humans,” Rose whispers. “Guess those are hard to come by.”
“That would make the entire thing too real,” I sigh, looking down at my hands.
I look around the train and see the same solemn expressions on Jasmine’s and Cedar’s faces. I don’t think those testimonials made any of us feel better about the situation we’re in. On a train, soon to meet the President of Concord City, so we can be auctioned to the highest bidder.
“Wolf shifter still seems like the best option,” Rose whispers. “If you see any of them in the audience, try to make eye contact and smile.”
“How will I know they’re wolf shifters and not just wealthy humans?” I ask.
“Look for guys wearing fur,” she says, shrugging slightly. “Just don’t make eye contact with any orcs or demons.”
“I don’t plan to,” I say. “I don’t care if orcs are just like green humans, they scare me.”
“I don’t think they’re anything like us. You’ve read a lot of the same books I have. They sound like savages,” she says.
“And demons? I don’t want to be worn like skin,” I shudder, a shiver running down my spine. “Even if they don’t do it all the time.”
“Agreed,” Rose whispers. “But I think I’d choose literal possession over being bought as someone’s slave.”
“At least the demons don’t have sex with the people they buy,” I say. “If we end up getting bought by anyone else, I’m sure we won’t be virgins for very long after they buy us.”