~the colour of life, renewal, nature, and energy~

Finally, this book is getting somewhere!

[Heavily unedited]

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       It was the selection day.

Madeline stared quietly at a group of men coming into the hospital with grim looks on their faces. In their hands, held canes; specially designed for the people they were about to select.

"We may not have the best, but they are of good behaviour. But if they do give you any trouble, you have been provided with a cane."

The trader stood smiling as he repeated the words again like a mantra. This was meant to be the adoption day, where people could adopt any homeless person of their choice. Even with the house of madness, they think that they could tame them; that they could tame us, but they can't. Madeline stretched her neck with boredom, her back aching pleasurably in response.

The trader took off again. "In the hospital, we have five groups- A, B, C, D, and E. These groups are ranked according to their manner of ..." The trader bit his lip, his brows furrowing. "Severity or damage done to them"

The men raised their brows at this.

"The first group, group A is the most dangerous. Patients are treated with utmost harshness because they tend to get crazier than the rest. Hence, they have handcuffs attached to them for the prevention of harm to themselves and people around them."

Unconsciously, Madeline heard the scuffling of the men as they held their canes tighter to them; as though a threat was said.

"Group B is dangerous, but not as group A. Patients here are mostly those who talk to themselves, and sometimes, have more than one personality."

"How then are they more dangerous than group A?" a man with a tailored suit asked. Madeline turned her lips down in question.

What a fool.

The trader shrugged, his eyes glinting. "It's because they are all bark and no bite. They can't really hurt you, but they can make you believe they can. That is why they are dangerous. But for group A, they can hurt badly."

"Group C are known to be manipulators. Group D and E have the same personality. They keep to themselves and are not dangerous, but not normal enough to fit into society."

Murmurs suddenly echoed around the room and Madeline could smell curiosity among them. They wanted to know how we looked like; if we looked like dogs that could be kept on a leach.

One of the men cleared his throat noisily. "Is it all of them that are here?"

The trader shook his head. "No. There is a roll call for the ones selected"

"What if you're past the age of maturity? What happens to them?" Madeline turned towards a man who was sweating profusely. Maybe he was a servant who needed another to work for his employer.

"They are killed. If no one chooses them, they are sent to be killed since they are still a danger to society."

The sweaty man nodded stiffly. Madeline's eye twitched and her handcuff rattled.

The trader opened his arms wide, his smile crinkling the skin around his eyes. "Let the trading begin"

The rattling of the cages filled the room with instant excitement among the men. Their feet were noisily tapping the floor impatiently and Madeline was tempted to throw an axe on their feet and cut them off.

The door of her cage soon opened and the mocking face of Mr Gilbert greeted her. "Let's hope they buy you, kid. Keep your fingers crossed 'cause this may be your last sale."

Madeline pushed her head forward and hissed, slightly pushing the man away. "What are you waiting for?" She watched as he narrowed his eyes and dragged her collar forward roughly. Madeline bit her lip in pain and stepped forward into an anxious crowd.

The men silently scrutinised each of them, sizing up what they could take and handle. A man stepped forward and went to a girl. Madeline watched with hooded eyes as he raised his hands to her chin, roughly dragging it and pulling her towards him. He smiled crookedly, revealing a few missing teeth. "I'll take this one. She smells pure."

Madeline cringed in disgust. She hopes that if she does get chosen, it won't be by someone who looks homeless. Various people stepped forward, and with each quick glance to their wrist, which held their groups, they whisked them away. Sniffles were the only thing she could hear.

No one had picked her yet and Madeline knew it was because of the letter engraved into her wrist. She shifted on her feet and wondered when this was going to be over.

"I'll have my son choose". The trader laughed uncomfortably. Madeline turned towards them and saw a man scowl irritably.

"We can't allow that sir", the trader said.

"And why not?"

The trader took a quick glance at his son and Madeline found herself peering to look at him. She couldn't see much, but she could tell he was tall.

"Your son isn't eligible enough to choose. He's underage"

There was silence and for once, Madeline felt something akin to pity for the trader.

"My son will choose and that's final. Unless you want me to inform the head of the hospital about your scandalous activities regarding the patients?" the man said this with a tone of impatience and cleverness.

From her left, she could hear the shuffling of feet towards her and she bit her lips in anxiety. She knew she wouldn't get chosen, but there was still a sort of fear that crept into her veins. She didn't want to live in a house that was almost like her mother's. She didn't want to be scared.

The shuffling grew nearer. Madeline could see the tip of a blue canvas, smeared with paint. She looked up slowly and saw a tiny scar on his wrist. When the man's son caught her looking at it, he pushed his wrist backwards and stepped closer. He gripped her chin that was barely reaching his shoulders and with a cynical smile, his curly brunette hair shook with a shake of his head. "I choose this one"

Madeline's body turned cold as she stared at different shades of green eyes.

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-Ada