The boy devoured the food he was provided, sitting in a small hall with yellow stained walls. The place, and people feeding him didn't matter since he hadn't eaten anything for hours and was in immense pain from everything that happened. He didn't like the touch of anyone bathing him, but didn't refuse because he was not in the state to even lift his arms. His injuries and bruises were treated with the medicines and ointment available. "Such a lovely boy" one of the ladies spoke, playfully hitting the other at the shoulder. "He's going to be handsome when he grows up" The other lady giggled looking at the boy eat. Both of them were suddenly silenced by the presence of an old day, with wrinkles on her face, wearing gold bangles, necklace and earrings. Her eyes squinted at the sight of the boy and her brows furrowed, her lips curled into a sly smile. "Such a looker, what's your name and age, little one?" The old lady asked sitting beside the boy and eyeing him. The boy gulped down the last bite of his food and hesitated before answering "Six....." he spoke in a whisper. The old lady took a drag from her cigerette and smiled. "perfect…I hit a jackpot this time" she giggled whispering to herself. Some of the ladies present averted their gaze from the boy after hearing the older lady's comment while some who were a lot closer to her, smirked.
The boy was confused and embarassed as to why he was dressed in a girl's clothing and had to wear makeup. "Why do I have to wear dress?....and put on powder…? What are you doing..? Where's my teddy....". Some ladies around him giggled at his innocence while some exchanged a rueful smile among themselves. "Why do they even have kids when they live here...." One of them spoke tracing our boy's cheeks. "We were his age once, get it over with. Not everyone has unicorns in their fate." Another lady snarked grabbing the boy by his wrists and forcing him outside. "He's the son of that hag. The father must be a looker, because he looks nothing like his mother. Such a shame, Augusta couldn't use this fortune" The old lady spoke, laughing and blowing out smoke. "Madame Rosa Maria, he's ready" one of the servant spoke and forced the boy to stand in front of the old lady - Rosa Maria. "Wonderful....put him at the front" Rosa Maria spoke tracing the boy's face with her old wrinkled fingers. What is happening…I don't get it…I don't like it here..they are all looking at me…why am I being put to the front…why is she touching me.
The boy flinched, taking two steps back in fear but Rosa Maria barely acknowledged it. "Go" She snapped her fingers and two ladies who previously dressed the boy took him to the front door which was wide open for passersby to look. He stood there confused, glancing at the sorrounding with his big innocent gray eyes. People were looking at him, he kept his gaze lowered and arms tucked together with his fingers tugging at the fabric of the dress he was forced into. "I want to go back to my mom..." The boy murmured, but no one paid attention to it.
"Silver hair? Gray eyes? He's like a doll! Who even has silver hair?" An old man grinned speaking to Rosa Maria with barely controlled glee. "Expensive" said Rosa Maria curtly to the grinning old man. He nodded instantly and took out a stash of cash, and handed it to her. She counted it and pointed to an empty room. The old man grabbed the boy's hand and dragged him towards that room, ignoring his cries and protests.
"No! It hurts....ple-" the boy's was cut off by a harsh slap to his face, the old man held both of his hands, his face was dangerously close to the boy's. He reeked of cheap alcohol, just like the man he encountered previous night. "Leave me-" another slap to his face, then another."I can't do anything, I couldn't get out of it..what do I do..save me, please. I don't want this. What do I do…". The man grabbed his legs painfully. The boy stopped crying, his tears dried on his cheeks. His face turned calm and his eyes felt hollow. Something snapped inside him. He felt anger and betrayal. He felt the need to escape, the need to take control, even for a moment, the need to punish and witness the punishment. For a second, he went blank. He wasn't afraid anymore. What's the worse than could happen. "Now or never....the eyes...I hate it....I hate how they look at me...". For a moment, everything stopped. The old man sat in shock, confusion and silence, so did the boy. "What happened just now....?" The old man said softly, bringing his palms closer to his eyes, touched them and then brought it back near his face to look at them. A gruesome scream escaped his lips, gathering everyone in the brothel to the door of the locked room. "What is the boy or that man?" Rosa Maria asked, hurring towards the room. "I hope it's not the man…I'll go out of business of something happens…" she murmurs to herself walking as fast as she could towards the room. "Motherfucker...son of a-" another loud scream followed the first one, the ladies banged at the door. The old man unlocked it with trembling hands. All the ones gathered gasped in unison, when they saw the man's face covered in blood, his eye shut close with punctures and the little boy holding a harmless appearing pen in his small hands sitting on the bed with tears in his eyes and blood smeared across his face. "Mom...will you forgive me...?" The boy whispered to himself with tears in his wide eyes, his mouth agape and little body trembling. All the ladies took a few steps back from his, holding their breath. Rosa Maria dared to step forward, clenching her fists ready to slap the boy.
"You! Dare you ruin my business?!" Rosa Maria snapped angrily at the boy, snatching the pen away from his hands. "Give me back my money! And pay for this! Or your business is done for!" cried out the old man still clutching his eyes painfully. "Please! Mister! He will obey! Dariya! Go get Francis and Edmund! They will beat some sense into this little rat!" Rosa Maria yelled at the maid, and gave an apologetic look to the old man, begging him to spare her business. Dariya hurried out to get the two goons who came inside laughing and cracking their knuckles. They were a little shocked seeing that they had to beat up a little boy, but soon grinned with sadistic eyes. "I need my money back, right now! with added sum for the damage!" yelled the old man again. In fear, Rosa Maria gave him double the amount he paid since the area was filled with criminals like him and no help of police could be expected since the red light area was a disgrace to society in everyone's eye. And even if a miracle happened and police did take their complaint, the first one to be arrested would be Rosa Maria herself. She was very well aware of this fact, and tried to please the old man as much as she could.
"I don't want pain.....I can not take it....it felt like someone was tearing me apart just like my ripped teddy bear.....I don't like their eyes...I want to be with mom...." the boy spoke in a hushed whisper to the ladies who were standing their clutching their chests in fear and shock. Francis and Edmund, gestured by Rosa Maria, moved forward to beat him. With a fight or flight response, the boy started frailing his little hands, targeting the two men eyes, and occasionally managed to scratch them. Rosa Maria, flushed with anger seeing the boy's resistance and attempts to hurt the men and ordered the goons to stop along with the orders to lock up the boy up in a dark room with no water, food, or windows. "I will make you pay for this" Rosa Maria spoke with gritted teeth, glaring at the boy with before the two goons dragged him away.