You kneel in the dim, dark cell, listening to the sounds of the crowds outside cheering and shouting. It’s been going on for quite some time. The heavy iron collar around your neck is heavy, it presses down on your shoulders uncomfortably, the rough forged surface chafing every time you turn your head. You desperately want to remove the collar, but even if your hands weren’t tightly tied with rope behind your back there’s no way to undo the heavy lock keeping the two hinged halves of the collar firmly shut around your throat.

Not for the first time, you look around, bewildered, wondering how you got here. So much has happened so fast. Could it really have been five days ago you were just another passenger on that ill-fated schooner when the sails of another ship appeared suddenly from around the lee of that small, deserted island, the black flag flying at its mast? In those fateful hours, everything has changed. The happy future you thought you had awaiting you at your presumed destination is no more. A new, much harsher life lies before you now…

Outside, the crowd gives another loud cheer. You know what that means, having heard it several times before already. Sure enough, not long after, heavy footsteps tramp outside the cell. You hear the jangling of a key in the lock and then the door swings open on rusted hinges. Two pirates step inside. Their eyes instantly light on you. Not long ago, you shared the cell with a dozen other captive maidens like yourself. They were all taken away, one by one. Now it’s your turn.

Roughly, you are hauled to your feet. A rope is tied to a ring hanging from the front of the collar. When the pirates turn, tugging sharply on the lead, you have no choice but to follow after, stumbling down the long corridor, past other cells, some emptied, others full of other captives waiting their turn. As you pass through the large doors at the end of the cellblock, the sudden transition from gloomy dungeon to bright noonday sun leaves you temporarily dazzled. Yet the tugging of the rope on your collar remains, leading you on.

The noise of the crowd, which had stilled to a low murmur, picks up again as you mount the wooden steps leading onto the auction block. Your knees knock, your whole body shakes with frightful anticipation, but your captors give you no time to prepare yourself. With another jerk of the lead, your hauled up onto the raised platform and dragged to the front. Before you, a sea of faces look up at you, the tone in their din one of approval.

The auctioneer strides across the stage towards you, a riding crop in his hand and a large grin on his face. The auction today has been going good, profitable for him and his company of slavers. From the looks of things, you will continue that trend. He makes a show of looking you over before turning to address the crowd in a booming voice.

“Up next, we have this fine specimen for sale. Taken on the high seas just a few days ago, she is unbroken, unspoiled. Sure to please in whatever capacity you might have, whether it be in the fields, in the home...” He gives a leering grin, “...or in your bed.” He gives a nod to the pirate holding you. At this order, the man reaches with his free hand and takes hold of the few scraps of clothing you’d managed to keep through your capture and the dungeons. Now they’re roughly torn off and tossed aside to the lusty baying of the crowd. You feel your cheeks burn with shame as you stand before the multitude completely naked.

“Look at these fine breasts...” The auctioneer gestures with the crop, swatting here and there across your body, directing the crowds attention to each in turn. The worst moment is when you are forced to spread your legs, so the crowd can see your sex. You want nothing more then to run away and hide, but the guard keeps a tight grip on the rope lead, holding you in place, under the scrutiny of a hundred sets of eyes as the auctioneer works them into a frenzy, each eager for the chance to possess you, to do with you what they will…

“Now, let’s start the bidding at 100!” The auctioneer begins. Hands immediately shoot up and the bidding increases. You shut your eyes, trying to will yourself away from this place, away from what is happening, but you can’t shut out the sounds of the auctioneer and the crowd. It seems to go on forever, but at last the cry goes up: “Going once! Going twice! Sold!” The final word feels like a punch in the gut. Sold. You’ve been sold as a slave.

Numbly, you feel the tug on your collar and are led off down the stairs off the auction block. The crowd slowly calms down from its frenzied state, waiting for the next lot in the slave auction to the brought out. In the meantime, you are taken to a stand, where another slaver is counting out the payment from another man. The winner of the bidding. Your new master.

The price paid in full, he takes your leash from the slaver, pulling firmly on it until you stand before him. His eyes run up and down your bared body, examining his new purchase. “Yes...you’ll do.” Is his verdict. Without another word to you, he turns. Still held by the leash, you have no choice but to follow. Behind you, the crowd rises again as another girl is dragged up onto the stage to be bared and auctioned off...