I see him. At least, I think it's him that's handcuffed and standing next to a guard in the elevator. However, considering the distance I am standing from them, my eyes may be deceiving me.

As I near the figures, needing a closer look in order to confirm his identity, the guard quickly pushes the elevator buttons for the door to close, and the figures disappear before me.

I suppose this isn't the level he should be on, and the guard must've been deep in her thoughts to not realise she had brought him to the wrong level. Someone like him should be on Bunker Level Three. That's the only reason he, a person I likely should not have seen, would be here. He's about to be sold.

I make my way towards the elevator, preparing to go to Bunker Level Three, and wonder if all the staff members know of every person to use the elevator and walk through these halls. It may be the case that, on a regular day, a guard bringing someone to the wrong level isn't a major thing, but it may just be now that I'm here. I doubt that I'm supposed to know such information.

There's a good chance I'll regret my actions, but the possibility of this future does not stop me from pressing the button labeled with the number three.

This must be fate. Something kept telling me to visit Ms Mane, and it is for this reason that I think I saw Topaz. I would've never seen him if the elevator wasn't on the path to Ms Mane's room.

Ms Mane is Saga's mother. She's a staff member here that, despite her choice of business, I've grown fond of, and I can no longer bring myself to judge her. I've grown fond of Saga too. They provide good company as I wait for Aris to call me to discuss the plans of Mathea and Kane's escape. I'm also waiting for Aris to give me the cure.

The elevator doors open, allowing me to confirm Topaz's presence at this compound. He stands next to a guard that is talking to her co-worker. His eyes are the first to lock with mine and the shock to see me is clearly depicted in them.

"Willow," he says, drawing the attention of the guards and causing them to, as he does, look in my direction.

I'm not sure what I even intended to do after confirming Topaz is here, but now, everything in me tells me to run away. I try to leave this level as fast as the elevator can take me, slamming my hand into every button I see, but one of the guards uses her hand to stop the closing of the elevator doors.

There are various attacks I can use on the guard. However, I know I will not use any of them. It is best I don't hurt a guard working for the person I need help from, so I allow the guard to pull me out of the elevator and walk me over to where Topaz stands.

Honestly, there is probably no point in running away, and I begin to feel silly for ever trying to. There is nowhere else for me to go in order to receive everything I need to achieve my goal; bringing Mathea and Kane back home.

Topaz says nothing to me as I stand next to him. His eyes are focused on the gun held by one of the guards who clearly wants us to know that she is armed. The other guard walks away, and although it looks as if she is talking to herself, she is likely using an earpiece as she seeks instructions on what to do with me.

"Okay...yes...I understand." The guard repeatedly nods her hands and makes her way back to the rest of us.

"The boy will be joining today's event. Take him around the back, and I'll deal with her."

I watch as Topaz is dragged off my one guard, and he doesn't even look back at me.

"Come along." The guard pulls my arm, forcing me to walk alongside her.

"Where are we going?" I ask, and as expected, I receive no reply.

The hallway is dark, but there is a thin line of light shining from sides of the walls and lighting up the pathway for us. The walk isn't long, and we stop in front of a peach door. The guard opens the door and motions for me to walk inside, not taking a step into the room herself.

Hesitantly, I walk into the door, and the guard closes the door behind me. At the front of the room is a small stage, and there are about three dozen chairs surrounding it.

I notice a hand frantically waving in the air, and Aris, who sits in the first row from the stage, continues this motion as I walk closer to him. He pats a hand the chair next to him before looking a way, seeming unbothered at my presence here.

"Aris," I speak to him despite him not looking my way, "what is all of this is?"

Aris casually ignores my question and continues talking to a large woman sitting on the other side of him.

"I'm sorry..." I begin my attempt to apologize for snooping around, but I decide against it.

Topaz is here, so it only makes sense for me to be here as well. My curiosity should be expected. It's normal for anyone to wonder about the fate of their family. Topaz is family, and that means I can't sit around knowing he is supposed to be sold. That would ruin Aunt Ankah, wherever she is now.

However, I don't have much of a plan to help Topaz. When Aris decides to stop his silent-treatment, I'll ask if not selling Topaz can contribute to covering whatever debt he owes Saint. I'm sure Saint won't have a problem with this. I'm sure he would ask this of Aris if he were here now.

The lights in this room become brighter, illuminating this space with a yellowish sort of light which seems to queue the entrance of a man onto the stage directly before us.

"Greetings to you all. Before we proceed with the evening, I'd like to thank Sir Aris for joining us tonight. It seems even he has an eye out for a very special Gifted joining us today," the man I presume to be the auctioneer laughs as he says this.

Aris then stands up to speak and he takes a slight bow before doing so, "Who," Aris begins, but pauses as if he is thinking of what next to say, "says the boss can't have some fun."

At Aris' statement, the many others in the room laugh. I'm sure they're simply trying to be polite to the man who provides them with Gifted people.

"A great thanks to everyone joining us tonight at the very first auction of this month. I promise you that only the best have been collected for you fine people. Let me not continue to bore you with my speech. I'm sure you're all itching to spend your money, and we're itching to collect it."

The auctioneer smiles, seeming proud of his achievement as the guests laugh at his joke.

The curtains on the stage open for us to see about nine figures horizontally lined up. They're all handcuffed, and I think I see tears in one of their eyes.

"Aris, what is going on?"

"Watch," Aris finally says a word to me.

"I present package number one; a Mirror who has recently been registered as Gifted," the auctioneer begins, "We have tested him ourselves, and it seems nothing can break this young boy's spirit."

The Mirror the host is referring to then smiles to show the audience his pearly white teeth. I notice he is not handcuffed.

"As you know, he'll be happy in any line of work assigned to him, and he'll do it without question. Bidding starts at R800 000."

"R800 000," the large woman next to Aris is the first to bid.

The lady raises her bidder card and presses a tiny button on it. This results in the number of her bidder card, used to identify her as a participant, showing up and a small screen attached to the wall by the stage. The screen also shows everything the auctioneer said; everything concerning the young boy, as well as a headshot of the boy's pale face.

"Bidder sixty three with R800 000," the auctioneer says.

"R1 000 000," another man says.

"R1 500 000."

The bidding continues until a price of R3 000 000 is the price settled on for the Mirror.

"Package one sold to bidder sixty three at a price of R3 000 000. Next—"

The auctioneer is interrupted as another individual is rushed onto the stage; an individual I cannot allow to be sold. I owe him this much.

"It seems we have a late arrival," the auctioneer says.

"No," I turn to Aris in the hopes of stopping this sale, "you can't sell my cousin, Aris."

"Watch the show, dear."

"Please, not my cousin. That's my cousin, Aris."

"I do my research."

The auctioneer seems to notice Aris and I's debate and does not continue with the auction until Aris raises a hand to silence me, apologise for the interruption, and assure the auctioneer that he may continue.

"Well," the auctioneer says as Topaz's face suddenly shows up on the screen, "I think we can continue with him regardless of the order."

"No," this time I project my voice for the entire room to hear, and the auctioneer looks to Aris for confirmation on whether to continue or not. Aris looks to his guards and then at me, as if telling his guards to keep an eye on me. That won't help. I can't let them sell Topaz.

"Continue," Aris says.

This time, the auctioneer looks to the screen as he reads out Topaz's qualities. "Package ten; he is not officially Gifted, yet he shows abilities of being a Snap. We have not had the time to test him, but I'm sure you're all aware of our return policy that will be discussed again later this evening."

"No!" My shout seems scare those in the room, and I even notice Aris jolt. "That one is not for sale," I say.

Nobody says a word, but I notice guards moving closer to me as I stand up to take my cousin from the stage. Topaz, although seemingly still holding a grudge against me for wanting to help Kane rather than him during our stay at Isiah's store, now walks slowly towards me. However, a guard stops his movements before we are able to reach each other.

The pain in my head begins to worsen, and I'm sure Aris will soon regret not giving me the cure yet.

"Everyone remain calm. All guests should please exit through the far left."

"No," I laugh, "no one is leaving until he is brought off the stage and given a room on a different level."

"You're interrupting my auction," Aris closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before opening them again.

"In fact, I don't believe anyone is leaving until Topaz is driven home. That's his name for those of you who did not know it. It's more boring than calling him 'package ten'. Nevertheless, that's his name."

Aris then stands up to face me, but just before he says another word, I grab the chair I was previously sitting on and use all my strength to hit him across the face. In an instant, I turn away from Aris to run towards Topaz, but a hand grips my wrist. Aris holds me in place, unfazed by my prior attack.

"You're...you're a..."

Before I can finish my sentence, Aris pulls me closer to him and places me in a chokehold.

"My sincerest apologies. The evening will continue as scheduled, only without me and this loud guest," Aris addresses everyone, and the guests who did stand up from their seats begin to slowly relax and take their seats once again.

"Should I sell you or kill you, Ms Bare?" Aris whispers as he drags me out of the auction room.

I allow him to do so easily, knowing my struggles will not help. I can't really hurt him if I'm correct in thinking he is an Iron Rod, and I can't kill him if I still need his help. I suppose I shouldn't do that anyway.

"You're..." I am able to speak more clearly as Aris' grip loosens, "You're joking."

Aris only laughs, and I join in. Just as we are about to exit the room, I raise my hands to grip Aris's head, but he releases me before I am able to drive my fingers deep into his eye socket. I then turn to the guard closest to the door and raise my right leg to kick him hard in the face, but just as my leg touches the floor, I crouch down in pain as this familiar feeling fills me.

"Aris," I writhe in pain as I call out to Aris for help, "please help me. I can't do this myself. I don't want to—"

My pleas are interrupted by my scream, and Aris bends down to face me. I suppose it's good he's an Iron Rod. He won't really feel much when I hurt him. This way, I don't have to fight the pain in my head. Perhaps he deserves this; he's waited too long to cure me. That and he plans to sell my cousin.

Suddenly I remember why I'm angry; Topaz is about to be sold. I then lift my head to face my cousin, and he stares at me with pity. I hate that look, but I'll allow him to pity me this once. He'll pity me now then worship the ground I walk on once I get him out of here. I must get him out of here. I must rip this pain from my head and get him out of here.