Page 36 of Doxed

The silence used to calm me, the soft rustle of the pines moving in the wind, the gentle taps of rain on the windows. But now Briar’s laughter and moans, her sweet voice, and the beating sound of water from her shower fill the void, driving me insane.

She permeates my mind once again and my finger punches the volume up button angrily. “Demon Time” by Aaryan Shah pounds off of the soundproof walls in my office and beats against my eardrums. If I can't hear, then I can't think.

My computer dings with an email, and I gratefully accept the desperately needed distraction.

I’ve barely slept since Briar left. I’ve been working tirelessly, even taking jobs that are way below my level of experience.

For the first time in years, I’m the one reaching out to people for work.

I just need to fill every available moment.

But the email doesn't help at all. It’s from the man that I sold Briar to. All he sent was a link.

Lack of sleep must get to me, because I click it without a second thought and decode the puzzle that then sends me to a private website.

Their auction site. They're having an in person auction in two days. I couldn't even explain why I scroll through the girls up for auction if I wanted to, but I get to the bottom of the page and see a picture of Briar. She’s in a white bra that definitely isn’t hers.

Her makeup is darker than anything I’ve ever seen her wear, and her wet hair is limp and plastered to her beautiful face.

There are fingerprint bruises on her upper arm, but the most concerning thing is her eyes.

The once vibrant green, full of life and sass, is gone. They’re dull. No emotion is behind her eyes, no desires, no fire. Tears well at the bottom of her large eyes, but she holds them in as she stares up at the camera. Her plush, blood-red lips hold firm, and it stirs something inside of me.

Fuck that, it sends my entire being into a riot.

What have I done? Out of sight, somewhat out of mind, is what I thought, but seeing the consequences of my actions eats away at me. She didn’t deserve this.

It feels like my world falls apart as I lose the one thing that’s held me to this earth for over a decade.

I no longer want revenge for my parents.

The one that truly could have satiated that died years ago, and I transferred that pain and anger to Briar, but seeing her like this, suffering like this because of me, it doesn’t heal my wounds.

I have to get her back. No matter what.