Present Day - Kurt's Penthouse
Kurt with the police report and the court documents. It was pretty clear that Kyle had murdered Alannah's mother, and then killed himself. For a long time after that, Alannah was an elective mute, and she was placed in the care of her oldest brother, Duncan. A bright, engaging little girl became withdrawn and easily picked on as a teenager.
"Well, that was until she took judo, gymnastics, and self-defence lessons," Kurt thought, looking at her records.
Medical records allude to the fact that she was physically abused by her brother and was self-harming. However, this was not ever taken any further forward-a typical story of two kids falling through the cracks of the system. While Duncan got wrapped up in gambling and eventually the gang world, Alannah kept her head down at school and martial arts sessions. This was the story until Duncan sold his little sister...
14 years ago: - The Queen's Head, East London
"Please, Brother! Don't do this, I beg you! " Alannah pleaded. Duncan was standing there with three men dressed in black with large Gryffindor tattoos on their necks. Alannah was tied with zip ties.
"Here she is. Does this mean we even? " Duncan said, not looking at Alannah. The three men stared at her.
"How old is she?" One of the men asked.
"14, almost 15," Duncan said.
"She's a little young, isn't she? I mean, you do understand where she's going? She's probably not going to last very long! " One man dressed in black said.
"Yes, but that is not my concern now. I've done what you said. Is my debt now clear? " Duncan asked.
"Wh...what's happening Duncan?" Alannah stuttered.
"You are finally being useful, Cuckoo, now shut the fuck up!" Duncan said, slapping her hard across the face.
"Man, that is cold, even for us!" The third man commented.
"She is young and not bad looking. Her red hair and green eyes would mean she would fetch a good price. Our deal is done. Your debt is now clear, Mr Seaswell! " The lead man said.
"Duncan?" Alannah said as he signed some papers.
"Want a few minutes to say goodbye? I am feeling charitable today." The leader said.
"Why would I say goodbye to the stone in my shoe?" Duncan said with a shrug.
"Man, what did she do to piss you off so much?" The leader said.
Existing! " Duncan said coldly.
"Fine, fine. Right, you guys know what to do! " The leader said.
The two men nodded and walked towards Alannah. Alannah instinctively reacted and started to scream. One of the men injected her with a drug. "Take my advice, Cuckoo; it will be easier if you don't scream or struggle ever again!" That was the last thing Alannah's brother ever said to her as she slipped into unconsciousness.
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Alannah woke up to a room that was swaying back and forth. The room was dark, but the light broke in through several cracks, making it easier to see. "Where am I?" Alannah said, with a dry throat whilst trying to get her bearings.
"You are on a boat!" A voice whispered.
"What?" Alannah asked.
"Shh, don't get the guards' attention, you won't like what they do," Another female voice said.
"Oh hush Hannah, she is scared enough as it is!" The voice closest to Alannah said.
Alannah sat up and realised she was in metal chains.
"My name is Jenny, and here's some water," Jenny said as she handed Alannah a bottle of water. Jenny had black straight hair and fair skin.
"Thank you, my name is Alannah," Alannah whispered.
"So why are you here?" Hannah asked.
Alannah could tell that the woman had blonde hair and looked like she was in her early 20s. Alannah thought about her last memories before being drugged. "My brother... my brother had gambling debts. What is going to happen to me? " Alannah asked.
"Poor sweetheart!" Jenny said sadly.
"We are going to the market where they will sell us to the highest bidder," Hannah said simply.
"Hannah!" Jenny said
"What? She might as well know. We are heading to China, and it will take us six more weeks. The guards bring us food and water once a day. We are also permitted to exercise and wash once a day. The toilet is a bucket, and whatever you do, do not look the guards in the eyes! " Hannah advised. Alannah nodded. She was used to living in difficult conditions since her mother had died. Alannah held her locket in her hand and knew she had to stay strong.
The next six weeks went as well as could be expected. Alannah only managed to get a couple of beatings, and compared to Duncan's, they weren't too bad. Jenny and Hannah became friends, which made the situation bearable. They entertain each other with stories and talk about their lives. Hannah had come from Manchester and was at university studying art. Her boyfriend had gotten into trouble with drugs and had sold her to the gang. She was an orphan, so no one would be looking for her. Jenny had a similar story, except that it was her father. He was a leader of a smaller gang that offended a larger gang. She was given as payment for the offence. "It was either that or my family would have been killed," Jenny said.
"You have got a choice, don't you? Wait for a hero or be the hero yourself, "Hannah said.
"You are a good sister," Alannah said, holding Jenny's hand, and Jenny smiled.
"True, I could not let my youngest sister do this!" Jenny said with a sigh.
Eventually, the moment they had all been dreading came: they arrived in China. They were herded off the boat along with 30 other women and onto the back of the lorry. The fear was palpable on the lorry. Some of the girls were crying.
"It will be OK," Hannah said.
"I thought we promised not to lie to each other!" Alannah said with a weak smile, and Hannah smiled back.
Suddenly, the lorry stopped and the women were ordered out. They were separated into two groups, Jenny and Hannah were in one group, - Alannah was in another.
"Be strong!" Jenny and Hannah said, and Alannah nodded, trying not to cry whilst saying, "You too!"
The two groups of women were taken into two separate buildings that looked like old factories. Alannah tried to see Jenny and Hannah for as long as she could, but a guard slapped her across the face.
"Eyes front, whore!" The guard snapped and Alannah obeyed.
Once inside, there were sounds of delight from the women. There was one room full of showers, another filled with new clothes, and the last one was full of hair and beauty products. "You have two hours to get yourself freshened up. I suggest you use the time wisely, ladies. Any attempt to escape is punishable by death! " A guard said this while holding an AK47. The women were all running around trying to get the best clothes and products. All except Alannah.
Unbeknownst to the women, they were being watched closely by potential buyers. To keep their businesses going, leaders of the gang and syndicate groups were deciding which people they should bid on to get more money for their businesses. This included a middle-aged man, who was the current Triad leader. "What do you think, Tao? Looks like the normal standard! " The Triad Leader said with disappointment. He was looking for a fighter, but all he saw was a weak arsed woman.
"With due respect, I think there is one Hun!" Tao said, bowing his head to the Triad Leader.
"Oh? It is a rare gem indeed that catches your eye, Tao! Which one is it? " Hun asked, suddenly interested.
"The red-haired girl there," Tao said, pointing to Alannah on the screen.
"What? She is not doing anything! She is too scared! Maybe she will do as an exotic fuck in one of our establishments, but that is about it! " Hun expressed his dissatisfaction.
"Exactly, Boss, she is doing nothing. She knows that they are going to be sold, so she does not make herself pretty like the other women. I bet she is going to pick a fight soon as well! " Tao said.
"Why? She will be beaten! " Hun said, confused.
"Exactly! Being beaten will make her less attractive to any buyers who want her for any sex work! " Tao said.
"Hmm, clever girl, if you are correct, Tao," Hun said sceptically.
As if the girl could hear them, she went up to the largest woman in the group and punched her in the chest. The women instantly retaliated, hitting the girl in the face several times, before the guards intervened. Again, the girl struggled and threw some kicks and punches at the guards. She was dragged out of the room and beaten.
"It seems you are Tao, but is she a fighter? She just stood there and took a beating! " Hun said, watching the girl curl into a ball and take the kicks from the guards.
"Oh, she has already had some training, though she is trying her best to hide it. Her stance and the way she is deflecting the blows to parts of her body that are stronger show me that! " Tao said.
"Are you sure? I only want the best for my Nine-Tails! " Hun said as he watched the girl being dragged out and hung by her feet from a tree.
"She has to go through training like all the others, but I think she is an asset. Plus, you could probably get her at a bargain price too! " Tao said.
"Well, bidding does not start for a couple of hours. Is there anyone else catching your eye? " Hun asked.
"No boss," Tao said, feeling very sorry for them all.
"At least he could save one! "he thought.