The Auction

I stop in front of a mirror. I look like a painted-up hooker. There is nothing beautiful about the way I look. I have on too much makeup and way too revealing clothes. This is ridiculous. I stand in the hall waiting with other people. Men, women, and creatures that I am not sure what they are waiting to have their picture taking for the auction. Every time I pass a mirror I look at myself.

"You look sexy hybrid," Horace says.

I cannot even stand the way he looks at me. He gives me the creeps. No worries Horace if I ever get out of this I will find you and send you far far away.

"Can't you even say thank you," he says.

I keep ignoring him.

"Hey, bitch. I am talking to you," he screams at me and gets right in my face.

A lady comes out of the small room. "Tatina, you are next honey. Come with me,” she says.

I give Horace a bite-me look and follow her into her office. "You okay?" she asks.

I nod. "Okay just stand on the X and I am going to make your picture. Smile if you can. I know this is stressful. So do your best," she says.

I stand on the X and smile while she takes my picture.

"There is nothing to worry about. We screen people very carefully. Do not believe everything you hear. Most of the people who come to us are looking for help. They need a nanny or a maid. It is very rare that it is something sinister. I can almost promise you that you will end up in a good place. You are the top-billed ticket tonight. We do not get hybrids very often. Especially one like you," she says.

"Thank you. That makes me feel better. I am very scared," I say.

"No reason to fret. You are beautiful and young. You are what 21? I hope your auction turns out well,” she says.

"I turned 21 yesterday. That is when the authority came to get me,” I respond.

"Oh yeah. I remember you are James's daughter. He had so much potential with the authority. Shame he wasted it and now lives in poverty. See this is a good thing. You can pay off his debt and be happy and far away from him," she says.

"Pay off his debt. You mean I am not trapped forever in this,” I ask. "No. Just until the debt is paid. Honestly, you should fetch enough to take care of it in just a few years. Honey this is going to be a good thing for you. Just smile. Be kind and obey whoever gets you. You can do this," she says.

This might be a blessing. Surely whoever buys me will be well off enough to treat me right. I am away from that idiot father and my mother. She has followed him around and allowed us to live like pigs for so long. This might be my saving grace. I need to be polite and perky.

I can do this. "Thank you. I feel so much better. I did not understand and no one explained anything to me," I tell her.

"Good Now why don't we retake your picture and you can smile a big beautiful smile,” she says.

I stand on the X again and this time I smile.

"That is perfect sweet girl. I know that you will land you a big fish,” she says.

I laugh. 1 just want to end up with someone nice. I do not mind cooking and cleaning or tending to kids. I just want to be able to eat and have a roof over my head. I can do whatever it takes to survive.

"You can go to the waiting room. When the auction is over, I will come to get you. It won't be long. I should have everything uploaded for the bidding to start within the hour," she says.

"Thank you for being so kind. Almost everyone had been kind except one person. Thank you so much,” I say.

"Don't pay Horace any attention. He is just mad he is stuck here after what he did," she says.

"What did he do?" I ask.

"Trust me. You do not want to know. Just be careful and stay with the group. If he gives you any trouble Scream loud,” she says.

"l will stay with the group,” I tell her.

"Good luck. Not that you need it. You got this in the bag girlie," she says.

I exit the office and walk past all the different people and creatures waiting to be photographed. I wonder how they ended up here. I am sure a lot of them have it worse than me. Everything will be okay. In a few hours, the auction will be over and I will be starting a new life.