I've always lived a miserable life of denial and suffering. It hurts to see others my age live freely while I lived as a slave. At birth, my village was raided and burnt down while all the children were held captive and raised as slaves, I was one of them.
We're forced to work miserable jobs for our owner so he could get paid while we get nothing but a meal once a day, we can't even call that a meal. Some people my age have passed away due to dehydration and being overworked.
"Eliana, you've worked so hard today, drink this", an old man who I've called father right from childhood has always looked out for me, he's also a slave but from another village they raided, he has been here for quite a long time, he's in his 70's, he said he's been here since his 40's.
"Father, where did you get this water? You know if you're caught you'll be punished, I'm tired of you being punished because of me",
This man has always cared for me since I was a little girl, whenever I looked sick or hungry or thirsty, he always provided something for me, I never really knew where he got them until he was caught one day. He was brutally punished and locked up in the dark cell for 2 days while receiving a daily dose of beating.
He still kept stealing for me and getting punished even when I kept begging him not to. He would say 'thats what a father is meant to do for his daughter' that was when I knew he was more than a father, he was a guardian angel sent down here to protect me from this cruel world. Whenever I was about to get punished, he stood up for me and received the punishments for me which I always cried about, seeing him in such a pitiful state was the worst feeling ever. I also took some of the punishments my self but majority was always taken by him.
I always worked hard so we could be fed. As girls here, we were all forced to wear revealing clothes and dance in front of rich king and high status people. This was one of the many ways our owners made money apart from selling us. I always put in extra effort to make money for my owner so my father and I could be rewarded. I always watch all the disgusting men laugh with booze in their hands as I danced seductively in front of them, it sickened me.
When would we ever get a break from these people? Can we ever be free? Will we ever? I want my father out of here, I don't want him doing all this hard work anymore, he's getting old. But there's really nothing I can do at this point. Some people stood up for their rights but they got beheaded by these cruel people claiming to own us. I guess we just have to keep living.
"Eliana what did Arnold say? Did he say you danced great?", father asked, he knows I'm a good dancer, we were harshly trained how to dance seductively right from a young age.
"He hasn't said anything yet father but I'm sure we'll get a good meal", I assured him even though I wasn't sure of myself. I'm glad we were given beaded materials to cover our faces while dancing if not they'd have beheaded me long ago, I just can't hold back my disgusted expression when I stare at those rich men who watch us being used like animals.
At 15 I was already tagged the best dancer in all the girls because I always put extra effort just to get rewarded. I'm 18 now and I still retain my position which I'm quite happy about. Whenever it's a good day our owner gives me a good amount of food to eat which I share with my father and some young girls who surround me and he always warns his men not to mess around with me like they do with other girls.
He said he could sell us virgins for quite a good price and I'll likely sell better than any other girl.
At 18, we already know we have little time left here because we could be sold at any moment.
*****
The door to the room which we were kept was forced open and a young girl was thrown in to join the rest of us, she clearly looks like someone who tried to escape, she was beaten quite badly and she had a lot of blood stains on her tattered dress. No one approached her because we've all learnt to care about ourselves, we have no one to do it for us. Everyone for themselves.
"Number 1", Arnold called from outside the door of the room. That's me, they never gave us a name, only numbers but father chose to call my Eliana because that was his daughter's name, his daughter which he missed so much.
"Yes sir", I walked outside in anticipation of what he had to say. I just hope he was going to reward me for my performance.
"You'll be dancing tomorrow for the slaves selection, I'm sure you know what that means, you're being nominated to be sold, you and a few others from other owners will be auctioned out, I regret it but I do need money right now, get me enough money", Arnold snapped with his cigarette lying in his mouth and walked away leaving me standing alone.
Did I hear him right? I was just told I would be auctioned out? Which means I'm about to get sold, I won't get to see my father again or help him get food for us? At this point I wasn't even thinking of myself but of how he would survive, he's going to miss me so much.
Will my owner be wicked? Who would he be? How would he treat me?
"Father.... I'm getting auctioned tomorrow"
His head snapped to look at me and he looked like he was about to break down in tears.
"Oh Eliana, you're old enough, we were expecting this sooner or later you know, you're a strong girl, you'll scale through and don't worry, you might even get a good owner who won't treat you like a slave", he said rubbing my hair. By this time tears had already rolled down his cheek and his lips were quivering.
A good owner who won't treat me like a slave.... Is there any rich person like that out there?