"What do you mean by indigo?" I asked in a raspy voice.
"Indigo cleans everything from your body, I had read it somewhere."
"You are sick and need help." I muttered bluntly.
"You annoy me, kid."
At that time, the doors opened and someone entered the warehouse. It was Shawn and he was panting heavily. Sweat was dripping down his brown hair as he took deep breaths at short occasions.
"Sir, it's... ready." He struggled to speak clearly.
"Have they reached here?"
"Yes. They are waiting in the living room."
Whatever their conversation talked about, I was certain it was a bad news for me. Something told me so.
The lackey brought the ladder once again and climbed up, tugging at my feet as he undid the knots on the rope. I could feel the ropes grip getting more loose by the passing minute. Eventually, it snapped and so did I. With due credits to the lackey, I was now hanging mid air, with my other feet clasped by half undone knots. I could feel my heart rise up my throat.
"I am so sorry!" He exclaimed as he rushed to grab me. His feet slipped off the ladder and he dragged me down along with himself as he tugged on to my injured ankles.
"Ahh...!" An almost inaudible scream escaped my mouth.
Touching the ground was not something anyone would get excited about, but that experience almost seemed unfamiliar to me. The rusty floor made my face beam with joy. A bright smile flashed across my face.
"What are you smiling for?" The boss asked me as he frowned. Maybe seeing people happy was not his cup of tea.
"It's true that you wouldn't know the value of something unless you lose it." I sat upright and wrapped my arms around my knees to protect myself from the biting cold.
"Are you fine, Shawn?" The boss rushed towards him and sat down to examine.
"Yes boss... I am fine." He muttered.
Something about them didn't seem in place. Then I realized.
"Are you both in love?" I shot up a straight, blunt question.
The boss didn't seem happy about this.
"Whatever we do, you have no rights to interfere. Just be what you are destined to be. A plaything. Nothing more than an object." He whispered in a low voice, as he looked up at me, square in the eyes.
"Even objects are maintained once in a while. You are pathetic!" I yelled out loud.
"Keep the screams for later." He blankly said.
There were two people on the floor, one who had tripped and hurt himself and the other who was receiving help even though he wasn't hurt. It was strikingly similar to the situation of the society. People who don't need help are given excess of it, but those who need it are deprived of it.
"Pick him up and take him." He commanded Shawn, who was now wrapped in his embrace.
Though I had seen him become a human for a short while, to me he was still a ringmaster of his circus and I was a trembling lion.
The lackey jolted upright, almost like a robot. He grabbed my ankle and started me dragging along the room, as I felt the floor burn my skin.
"What are you doing?" I yelled out loud.
"I was asked to do this by the boss. If I don't do this, he will not please me tonight."
I looked back at Allen, who seemed like a thirsty beast as he winked at Shawn. It was utterly disgusting to see that.
"Let me walk with you, I have no choice anyway." I said as I stood up, with my eyes at his face level. The atmosphere became awkward.
He grabbed my arm and said, "I hope you will enjoy this."
I walked with him towards the living room, which was situated quite far away from the warehouse. It had already been past dusk and the darkness was spread around. Even so, walking out naked was consuming from the inside. I wanted to dig a hole and bury myself.
We reached the foyer and he stopped by to search for the key.
"Ah found it!" He exclaimed as he moved the carpet and picked it up.
"Okay, that's weird." I muttered as I barely covered my private parts with my hands.
He unlocked the door and barged it open, revealing something that I hadn't even seen my nightmares before.
It was an unusual kind of gathering, something that one could compare to inappropriate movies. I had no idea what I was doing in such a place.
"Brother, what am I doing in this place?" I asked as my legs began to tremble.
"You'll know soon, kiddo. Enjoy yourself!" He pushed me into the room and shut the door behind my back.
I heard the locks click twice, as the clock of my destiny began to tick in the reverse direction. My time had finally come. Countless bells of despair rang in my ears as I cupped my ears to stop them, but nothing seemed to help.