Written on April 29th, 2017

Chapter 2: The Sphera

Aletta Castilo

The past two days have flown by for both Amada and Aletta. Which meant that today would be the day that both girls - women - had to say goodbye to their parents and Muffin.

It surprised Aletta that both Amada and her mother hadn't burst into tears yets. All four members of the family tried to stay strong - mainly so they wouldn't upset each other even more than they already were - and somehow, they managed to pull it off.

Everytime Aletta felt a burst of anger rise up, ready to take over, she willed it away as she blinked away the tears that were welling up in her eyes, not taking them off the white ceiling above her.

'I love you,' Calinda finaly breaks the silence that was looming over them. 'So, so much.' Arlo nods agreeingly. He opens up his mouth to add something to the words his wife spoke just now, but nothing comes out. Calinda then wrapped her arm around his waist, and rests her head on his chest.

'We love you, too,' Amada replies for both herself aswell as Aletta. This time, it's Aletta that nods in agreement, forcing a smile on her face. 'And we're going to miss you so much,' she added, a sob escaping her lips. The tears that Amada had tried so hard to keep at bay, finally escaped.

Aletta is the first one to hug the girl crying in the hallway, and whispers reassuring words in her ear. None of the parents made a move to console their daughter; it was something they all chose for.

In a few minutes, the Guards would show up and pick up Aletta and Amada, which would disable Arlo and Calinda from consoling their daughters when they were going through tough times. They had to learn to stand their own ground, and take care of themselves.

Silence was creeping up on them again, only to be broken moments later by the shrill sound of the doorbell ringing. Calinda gasps upon hearing it as Arlo is making his way to open the door to the Guards.

'I love you, Mom,' Aletta whispers to her mother, while gently pulling Amada along with her, towards the front door. Three rather intimidating men - Werewolves - were posted in front of it, waiting for the two nineteen year old girls, ready to take them to Domum.

The location where the Sphera would take place. . .

'Aletta and Amada Castillo?' one of the men speaks up, and Aletta nods. 'That's us.' The man, who was sporting way too many tattoos for Aletta's liking, nods. 'Good. I'd advice you to listen carefully to what I'm about to say. Do not speak unless you're spoken to. Do not even try to escape - unless you have a wish of attending the Sphera with your limbs no longer attached to your body.'

To make his threat a bit more viable, he bares his razor-sharp teeth as he growls softly, yet scarily at the girls. Usually, Aletta would have a comeback ready whenever someone felt the need to threaten her, only this time she chose to keep her mouth shut - something both her parents and sister were grateful for.

Who knows what kind of trouble Aletta could've landed herself into by just opening her mouth.

'After the Sphera, you're parents will be enlightened.' As the man said that, he turned his attention towards Arlo and Calinda. 'They will receive a friendly request to bring the items needed to the Domum - or the location where the Wolf lives, where the girl will belong to.'

Arlo and Calinda nod, and shortly glance at the men that were about to take their daughters away. For a brief moment, Aletta spotted the desire in her fathers eyes to tackle the three men, and free their daughter from the horrible faith that was awaiting them.

Luckily, Arlo managed to contain himself. Aletta sighed in relief, it didn't matter if she saw him as a hero, she just knew he would never win from a Wolf - let alone three Wolves, who all looked rather muscular.

'Time to go.'

Aletta and Amada nodded weakly, and meekly followed the three men to the black pick-up truck. Instead of hopping on to the backseat, they had to go to the back of the car. There, where the usual space was to load stuff in it, was a cage.

Amada glances at Aletta, her eyes wide, but Aletta just shrugs it off. Once again, she felt a burst of frustration, but she managed to hide it quickly.

It wouldn't help her in the least, if she were to create a scene.

'Hurry up, we don't have all day,' the shortest of three grunts. He looks the least dangerous out of all of them, something both Aletta and Amada agreed on. With his blond spiky hair and soft blue eyes, combined with the freckles on his face, they could almost call him 'handsome' - were it not for the fact that he worked along with bringing them to the Domum with great pleasure, where the girls would meet a nasty fate.

***

The entire trip to the Domum had gone by in silence. Every fifteen minutes, the truck would stop to pick up other girls that had reached the same age as Aletta and Amada. The iron cage at the back of the truck was getting rather full.

'We're here.'

It was the same voice that had accompanied a set of razor-sharp teeth about an hour ago. The truck comes to a halt abruptly, causing the girls to gasp in surprise. Amada sees this as her chance to sit closer to her sister, and even grabbed her hand.

That gesture was all Aletta needed to muster up some courage, especially since Aletta felt like she was responsible for Amada's wellbeing. She had to be the strong one. Not that she minded it one bit - Amada was younger than her after all.

'It'll be all right, Am,' Aletta whispered as softly as she possible could, hoping that no one else would hear. Aletta was pretty sure that the Wolves would start laughing if they heard it, and demolish the last string of hope Amada had.

Amada nods doubtfully upon hearing Aletta's words, but also decided that it would've been for the best to not reply - mostly because she didn't get the chance to do so. The girls are being pulled out of the cage rather violently, receiving a set of handcuffs that looked painful to wear. The handcuffs were connected with a chain, forcing them to form a line when walking, with the risk of losing their hands if they did not co-operate.

As soon as everyone was cuffed up, with the addition of seven other girls that came from another group, the group is being led to the Domum. Something that did not go as smoothly as Aletta had thought.

There was a girl three spots ahead of Aletta, that tripped and fell, pulling the entire line of girls along with her to the ground. The sounds of gasps and shrieks of fear and pain resonated throughout the area. Aletta felt the pressure on her wrists build up, but manages to set herself straight before it went too far - unlike some other girls, that got injured severely due to the handcuffs.

A string of curse sounds from the Wolves, who walk towards the line of girls, and start pulling the girls off the ground rather roughly. They swiftly ignore the cries and tears that are coming from the girls.

'Keep walking, damn it!' a man roars. Surprised by the sudden appearance of the man with the long, black hair that were tied in a fashionable bun, Aletta looks up. 'They are anxiously awaiting your arrival inside, and you have the guts to keep them waiting!' the man continues his rant. Aletta's only response to this is rolling her eyes, followed by a few cursewords.

Which, fortunately for here, weren't picked up by the Wolves.

The man lost his patience completely, and grabbed the girl in front of the line, roughly pulling her along with him. This caused the entire group having to walk faster to keep up so they wouldn't trip and fall again, hurting themselves in the process.

***

Aletta rubbed her painful wrists. Amada copied her movements, and then nervously started biting her nails. The fact that there was an auction going on right at this moment, was the only thing that stopped Amada from sharing the doomscenarios that were going through her head right now.

'It'll be all right,' Aletta mumbled to Amada. She wasn't sure if she said it to reassure Amada, or herself.

She felt as if hours had passed by, from the moment where they were taken in, one by one auctioned off as if they were some piece of furniture. Something Aletta had been getting worked up about, but unable to voice her opinion about the situation.

'How long before we have to get up there?' Amada's question pulls Aletta right back into reality, and she blinks a few times before the question really hits her. At first, she just shrugged it off.

'I have no idea.'

Amada nods, slightly disappointed but somehow relieved at the same time. Seeing Amada's look on her face, Aletta turns around on her chair so she could look her sister in the eyes.

'To be honest - I think that we're up next - after these girls,' Aletta whispers as softly as she could. Despite the fear that she could be punished for talking, she couldn't bare the sight of seeing her sister stress out so much.

'Going once, going twice-'

Amada bites her lip upon hearing Aletta's answer, and gently removes a lock of hair out of her face. Her hand then lightly touches the necklace she got from Aletta for her birthday, hoping that it would magically make the outcome of the Sphera something positive.

'Sold, to Béta Hughes!'

A growl resonated throughout the room where the Sphera was being held for a while now. People started to clap after hearing the loud words being spoken, probably because they were part of the pack that Béta Hughes came from.

Somewhere in the public, a man stands up. His beard is well kept, and to Aletta's surprise, he had a kind look in his eyes. With something that could be described as a smile, Béta Hughes walks towards the stage, where he takes his newly acquired possession, a slim brunnette with a scar on her right arm.

'Good, now on to Shipment F: Justine Franken, Rosa Waters, Amada Castillo and Aletta Castillo. Please, enter the stage and take your seats on the stools!'

Upon hearing her name being called, Aletta's heart starts beating faster. The fear that was surging through her body right now almost made way to her face, but she managed to hide her emotions right on time, and give Amada a reassuring smile.

Holding Amada's hand in her own, they walk behind - presumably - Justine and Rosa. The one had long, curly orange hair. Her eyes are some shade of seagreen, and had dimples on her cheek, making her a girl that anyone would fall for. The other girl had a black afro. Her dark skin made her look like an exotic goddes, that sported kindness in her brown eyes.

One by one, they took place on their seats, making Aletta feel all eyes on her. She feels Amada tightening her grip on her hand almost immediately.

'Justine Franken,' the commisioner of the Sphera called. It was a short, chubby man with grey frizzy hair. He had managed to get his body into a black suit, that eyed a bit tightly, along with a pair of lacquered shoes.

The girl stood up when she heard her name, it was clearly visible that she was barely keeping control of her nerves. Her legs are shaking, and look like she's about to give up.

It was right on that moment that a loud roar sounded throughout the room, making it clear that Justine was not up for sale. 'She's mine!'

Before the Sphera commisioner could comment on it, a tall, athletic guy stood up and made his way to Justine. His arm snaked around her waist possessively as he closed his eyes, inhaling her scent.

'Mine,' the unknown man keeps mumbling to himself. To Aletta, this seemed weird, so she kept watching the entire scene play out in front of her with wide eyes. To the Wolves in the room, however, this seemed like this was something that happened everyday.

Which is what explained the cheers of joy and felicitations. Justine was the second girl of the evening that had found her true Mate, saving her from a forced marriage with a male Wolf that bought her for the hell of it.

'Rosa Waters.'

As soon as Justine and her Mate walked off the stage, the next name was called. The dark girl stood up from her seat, and Aletta noticed almost immediately that Rosa had an air of confidence - she was more confident than Justine earlier.

Aletta felt nothing but respect for her, mostly because she knew she would never be able to stand there in front of a group of Wolves, as confidently as Rosa did.

'Fivehundred,' the Sphera commisioner repeated the words some Gamma had placed on Rosa. 'Going once, going twice-,' the commisioner pauses for a brief moment, thinking that the girl would receive a higer bid. But when it remained silent, he finishes his sentance. 'Sold, to Gamma Malcolm!'

Another round of cheers erupted, although this time it sounded less enthusiastic than before. Everyone was kind of through sitting here for today. Most of the people had been silent for too long, and Aletta noticed some of them looking bored as well.

This gave Aletta a slight bit of hope. Maybe now, no one would bid on her and her sister.

That little bit of hope was immediately lost, when she heard the commisioner call Amada's name. . .