The auction stage lights dimmed. My body still trembled from being displayed and sold like property. Pride mixed with fear in my chest—I'd achieved a record price, just as Chloe wanted.
Two sorority sisters I didn't recognize led me backstage. The dungeon corridor felt different now. Final. Permanent.
"Here." One of them handed me a stack of folded gray clothes. Simple cotton t-shirt, plain pants, basic underwear. No designer labels or fancy materials. Just functional garments fitting for someone of my new status.
I dressed slowly. The clothes hung loose, intentionally ill-fitting. A clear message about my place now.
My eyes searched the shadows, hoping for one last glimpse of Chloe. But she was gone. No goodbye, no final words of encouragement. She'd completed her task—transforming me into what she wanted. My training was done.
I touched the collar she'd given me, the last piece of our connection. Everything else that defined my old life had been stripped away, replaced with these drab gray clothes. I was starting my new existence, just as she'd planned all along.
The sorority sisters led me through winding corridors, up flights of stairs, and finally to the main entrance. The heavy wooden doors opened to the cool night air.
This was really happening.
A black sedan idled at the bottom of the steps, its passenger door hanging open in invitation. The interior lights were off, leaving the driver's seat in shadow. I descended the stairs, each step taking me further from my old life.
I slid inside. The leather seat was cool. My hands trembled as I reached for the seatbelt, mind racing with possibilities of who had purchased me.
And there, illuminated by the dashboard lights, was Sarah. Her familiar face broke into a wide grin as she gripped the steering wheel.
"Ah, my new property! We're going to have so much fun together."
I looked at her, memories flooding back—our adventures, our trust, our friendship. The tears started flowing before I could stop them, but I was smiling through them. Pure joy overwhelmed me as I realized this was exactly where I belonged.