Note: this chapter contains non-consensual touching and in later chapters will contain non-consensual sex.
---
"Great news, Trevor!" Daniel declared as he walked through the door. "I bought you!"
Trevor blinked. He was sitting on the sofa, eating crisps and watching daytime TV - an ordinary break from studying on an ordinary day. He wasn't really equipped to process Daniel's announcement.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"I bought you," Daniel repeated, dumping his bag on the floor and throwing himself down on the sofa next to Trevor.
"No, you didn't," Trevor said. Was this some kind of joke? Sure, it was possible for one person to buy another, if they filled out the proper paperwork, but it meant paying tens of thousands of pounds to the government. Daniel didn't have that kind of money, and if he did, why would he spend it on Trevor?
"I did, though," Daniel replied. He bent forward and pulled a sheaf of documents from his bag. "My trust fund finally matured. Have a look," he said, holding out the documents, "it's all there!"
Frowning, Trevor took the papers, a sinking feeling growing inside. It couldn't be real, but...
"I don't believe you," he said, flipping through the documents and finding one that had his name... had Daniel's name... "Is this a prank? Did you fake these?"
Daniel laughed. "I know, I know - it's a bit out of the blue for you, but I assure you it's real. Here - let me show you where you're listed on the government website."
Trevor looked on numbly as Dan pulled out his phone and brought up the website that listed humans that had been legally bought and were now owned by other citizens. Most people didn't like to use the words 'slave' or 'slavery'. Owned people could still earn money and have bank accounts; most of their owners would allow them to have property and a certain amount of freedom, even if technically everything that belonged to an owned person also belonged to their owner.
Dan finished scrolling through the list and handed his phone over to Trevor. He took it and looked down. There was his name: Trevor Justin Bentham, property of Daniel George Hudson.
It still didn't feel real - maybe Daniel could have faked the website, but it was looking increasingly unlikely.
"Come on, Trev," Daniel said, standing. "I know it's a lot to take in, but I need to get you chipped, and I'm sure it'll help you adjust to get confirmation from an official."
"If this is a joke, you're taking it a bit far," Trevor said.
Dan nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, I can see how you'd feel that way. But it isn't a joke. So let's get you down to the HPC and sort it all out, OK?"
***
The Human Purchasing Centre was a twenty minute drive from their flat. Daniel let Trevor keep a hold of his purchasing documents on the way over. He wasn't sure why he wanted to hold onto them. Maybe so he could throw them in Daniel's face when all this was revealed to be a joke.
Dan had never mentioned having a trust fund before. Never talked about having plans to purchase someone - let alone Trevor. Owners usually at least had a conversation with their intended property before making it official.
Of course, Trevor could have refused to go. If Dan was serious and he really had bought Trevor, going to the HPC would be a point of no return. He'd be microchipped, trackable, obedient. But everyone knew it was a bad idea to run. With no time to prepare, Trevor would be easy to catch, and Daniel could order his accounts to be closed so he'd have no money. Owners were usually much harsher on property that had tried to run away than newly owned people who cooperated before their chipping.
As they pulled into the HPC parking lot, Trevor's heart beat hard with growing anxiety. But still, he followed Daniel into the building and waited with him in the queue.
"It'll be fine, you'll see," Dan said. "We're going to have a lot of fun with this!"
Somehow, Trevor didn't find that reassuring.
Their number was called, and they crossed over to a booth where a woman waited for them, sitting behind a desk. They each took a seat.
"Welcome to the HPC," she said. "Is this your first visit?"
"Well, I was down here earlier," Dan said, taking the documents from Trevor's unresisting hands. "But I'm afraid my friend doesn't quite believe that I own him yet. Can you confirm it for him, before we go on to the chipping?"
She smiled reassuringly. "Of course." Taking the papers from Dan, she found a serial number on the document of purchase and typed it into the computer.
"Trevor Bentham, is it?" she asked.
A shiver ran through him, and he nodded.
"And you're Daniel Hudson, I take it?" She looked to Dan.
"Yup," he said, grinning.
"Can I just see some ID?"
Dan clearly came prepared. He slid his passport across the table to her.
She examined it briefly, then nodded. "In which case," she said, smiling at Trevor, "I can indeed confirm that as of this morning, you are the property of Daniel Hudson."
He didn't believe it. He had to believe it. It wasn't a joke. The HPC woman had said those words using of her own mouth.
Dan slapped him on the back. "What did I tell you, buddy? You're mine!"
"I take it you'd like to get him chipped?" the HPC woman asked Dan, as if Trevor wasn't sitting right there, absorbing the worst news of his life.
"Yes, please," he said.
"OK, we have a slot free now. Property chipping takes about an hour. Did you get your owner's chip inserted earlier?"
He nodded and tapped his upper arm. "Yup."
"OK," she said. "Then you're welcome to wait here - there's seating over there, and free tea and coffee. Otherwise, you can go away and come back at 12."
