I remember the blue sky, the green grass stretching at my feet. I remember the softness of the wind caressing my face.
And suddenly... Back to reality.
The first lash wakes me up with a start. Half asleep, the burn on my buttock brings me back to my senses and to my fate.
-- Get up, my pretty, it's time to show what you're worth.
Without warning, the whip falls on my offered back. This is not the first time my skin has been marked by leather.... It won't be the last. With a sudden gesture, the guard pulls me by the neck and takes me out of my cell. As soon as I wake up, I can hardly move forward, and once again, the whip comes down on my buttocks which immediately turn red.
-- Faster, bitch.
I hurry, the irons on my ankles nearly trip me with each step. The slabs of the barracks are cold, I can hardly walk... And the whip hits my kidneys. This time I groan in pain, and I hear the guard sneering. I can't wait for this to be over... I will satisfy anyone to never again suffer the taunts and games of these perverts.
We cross a long corridor and finally arrive outside, in the hall. The hall is gigantic, with dozens of stalls that follow one another along the aisles. In the center is the stage of the human meat. I find my friends, my neighbors, those who a month earlier were enjoying a peaceful life, without suspecting for a moment that a fiery night would be enough to bring them to hell.
-- AAAAH!
This time I scream as the whip crack, my shackled feet miss a step and I collapse on the platform. Immediately the guard pulls me up by the hair. I don't hear his admonitions, I only see this long row of naked women hanging from a large beam, offered as a show. I hold back my tears and let myself be pushed under the whip to my place.
Without any gentleness or compassionate look, the guard binds the irons of my hands to a chain hanging from the beam of the platform. Like the others before me, I feel my body rise as the guard pulls on the chain. And soon I find myself on my toes, my body torn apart vertically, one of many butcher's pieces. Before leaving, the guard slaps my buttocks. Docile, I remain tied up, waiting for my fate. The sound of boots on the platform makes me thrill. The Master is here. He passes in front of us, the whip in his hand. He and his men used it so much on us during the trip, I will never forget each of these lashes: in the morning when we woke up, all day long during the walk, in the evening when I served the meal, when I danced for them, my shadow undulating with the flames of the campfire... And at night when I learned to my cost the carnal arts that a slave must master to survive.
-- Listen to me, all you bitches, the Master spits at us with a black look. I hope to get rid of all of you today. So don't be shy, put your forms in evidence. If I see one resisting, the whole line takes a lash. You'd better please, otherwise the unsold ones will end up in the galleys. Come on my pretty ones, let's see if your buttocks are used for something else than blushing.
And like a shepherd motivating his flock, the Master slams the leather snake on our offered rumps. I grit my teeth to keep from moaning. The others do the same.
At the bottom of the platform, the crowd is slowly forming. People come and go, free, satisfied to be able to eyeing us on the way. Attached to the beam, I feel their envious glances on me, as on the others. I should offer myself to them, I replay in my head all the postures, the good behaviors to adopt, everything to satisfy them... Everything to leave this stage.
Next to us, the Master is already bringing up the first customers. And so begins the review of the goods. One after the other, we are palpated, observed, gauged. I remain silent, and just nod to each comment about me when it is my turn.