“Please...just let us be sold together…” Wendy thought, silently. Truth be told, she’d prefer they not be sold at all, but the way things were going, that didn’t seem very likely. The 42-year old woman knelt in the cramped metal cage along with her two daughters, Linda age 18 and Beth aged 20. All three were completely naked, save for their restraints which consisted of shackles on their hands and feet, collars around their necks and thick panel gags holding rubber plugs thrust deep into their mouths. Through the bars of the cage, they could see the other row of cages opposite them, each holding one or more naked and chained figures. Between the rows, the crowd of buyers shuffled by, peering into the cages with intent, calculating looks.

 For the Blake family, things had been going perfectly until one awful day about three weeks ago. Wendy’s older Beth had just come home from college for a long weekend and all were looking forward to spending time together. Instead, three men with masks and guns had broken into the house and taken the family captive.

 Initially, Wendy thought they were just planning to rob and house and leave, but once they had the women bound and gagged, the men had informed their horrified captives they were going to be abducted and sold into the international white slave trade. The next thing she knew, Wendy was hogtied in the back of her van, struggling in vain as her daughters sobbed beside her.

 They were taken to a remote facility, far from any hope of rescue, where they joined dozens of other captives the slavers had abducted and brought here, to be prepared for the upcoming slave auction. The training had been short, brutal, but effective, driving home to the captives that they had no chance of escape, no choice but to submit to their captors and their future owners and learn to obey commands.

 Much as she hated it, Wendy had accepted the fact she and her daughters were going to be sold and in all likelihood spend the rest of their lives serving whoever bought them. But would they all be sold together? Or would they be split up, sold to different people and shipped off, never to see one another again?

 Outside the cage, a change rippled through the crowds of onlookers. They turned and began moving in the same direction, shuffling past the cages. The auction was about to start. From somewhere, not far off, Wendy could hear the murmuring of the buyers as they waited impatiently. They feel silent, Wendy imagined, as the first poor girl was dragged onto the stage. She did hear the sound of the auctioneer, his voice projected through loudspeakers so it echoed beyond the stage and into the cages where the other captives huddled, waiting their turn.

 “I know you’ve been eager for this, so let’s not waste any time. Here’s this lovely little thing, only 19-years old, a former nursing student and volleyball star now Lot Number 1, Chelsea! Bidding starts at 10K…”

 As the babble of the crowd, punctuated by the calls of the auctioneer told of the interest in the item of the evening, more of the slavers were busy at one of the cages, unlocking them and dragging the frightened occupants out. They seemed to be starting at the far end, so Wendy saw as a pair of girls who looked to be sisters were led past on their leashes.

 Sure enough, after Lot 1 had been sold for $45K, the auctioneer again called out. “Here we have Lot’s 2 and 3: this pair of lovely sisters Mai and Lin. Former high school cheerleaders now they can be yours! We’re initially offering them as a pair, starting bid $60K, otherwise they’ll be sold separately. Any takers for the two together?” Takers there were and a few minutes later both were claimed by some eager master.

 Half a dozen lots later, another small family, a mother and her three daughters were dragged past. Wendy listened, anxiously. “Any bidders for them all together?” The auctioneer called. There was a moment of silence from the crowd. “Alright then. Sold separately. We’ll start with this sweet thing, 18 just last summer, starting bid $12K.” Wendy felt her heart sink. Another family had just been split up, sold and soon shipped off to different masters. Would that be the fate of her and her daughters?

 They had the better part of an hour to wait, listening in agony as more and more of the lots were sold. Some of the pairs were sold together, others split up. At last, the cage to their left was emptied out, the struggling blonde woman in it dragged off and sold. Then it was there turn.

 “Out.” The slaver brusquely ordered, swinging the heavy barred door open. With a whimper of fright, Wendy crawled out on her knees, struggling to her feet, head cast down low, as she and the others had been trained. The slaver clipped a leash to her collar, then did the same with Linda and Beth as they followed their mother out. At the sharp tug, the three fell in line behind the slaver, shuffling past the rows of cages and their frightened occupants still waiting their turn.

 The small group detoured around the main doors to the auction room, following a side corridor which brought them around to a backstage area. Through the part in the curtains, Wendy could see the blonde standing on stage, trembling with fright as her price slowly rose. When it went no higher, the auctioneer boomed out “Sold!” The blonde was yanked out of sight be her leash. Another slaver gestured to the handler managing the three Blakes. Another sharp tug and they shuffled forward. Wendy’s breath caught in her throat. This was it…

 As the three emerged through the curtains, Wendy was blinded by the harsh stage lights which shown down from above. Beyond, the crowd was indistinct shadows, murmuring in appreciation as they examined the new lots. Wendy’s cheeks flushed red with shame, knowing hundreds of eyes were evaluating her and her daughters’ naked bodies, figuring what they would be worth as slaves. But would they be deemed more valuable together, or split up?

 The auctioneer gave a toothy grin as the women were dragged to the front of the stage and arranged in a line, Wendy in the center, with her daughters on either side. All three were trembling with fright. “And here we have another set, Lot’s 63, 64, and 65, the Blake Family, acquired three weeks ago.” The auctioneer started once more. “Reserve price for the whole family is $75K…” Wendy held her breath. “Any takers?”