Lilac looked around the room. Just like any other day, Mrs. Kelly or the she-devil, a term of 'endearment' given by Lilac, sat on the chair in the corner of the room, yelling instructions at the people running around to get us ready. Lilac and seven others were sitting on the chairs in front of the mirror, not daring to move and make the she-devil any angrier than she was. Five of them were almost the same age as her, and the rest two, a year or two younger than her. They dreaded who would be called today but hoped no one would be.

The door was kicked open by Dmitri shouting, "You faggot, come on, you've got called."

"Girls, dress him up good now. He should be pleasing to see even if he is a disgusting faggot." Mrs. Kelly said in her usual tone of disgust.

Clem whimpered at the slur. Mrs. Kelly got off her chair and walked up to him, "We wouldn't want tears ruining the pretty look of yours now, do we?" she grabbed his hair in a harsh grip and yanked his head back to look into his eyes and said, "You better be good to them, or you know the consequences."

She jerked his head, which almost made him fall over. The girls went back to his makeup.

"Why don't you go instead of him, Dmitri? After all, we all know how you spread your legs for pretty blokes. I am sure they will be pleased with you." Lilac taunted Dmitri with a smirk even though she was freaking out inside. Here was the chance to prevent Clem from being thrown in front of those heartless monsters. Clem was brought just two weeks back, and after his first encounter, she knew he might not survive his second. She hoped they would take her instead. It doesn't matter to her anymore. They would use her body however they like, and she would never protest. It was as if she had lost the ability to feel anything. All she wanted was to save if not all, then at least some of them, so they don't become like her, hollow and cold, or don't end up dead like countless kids who were with her.

Dmitri quickly strode towards her and slapped her, the sound echoing in the room. She looked back at him, her smirk turning into a borderline maniacal grin. She wiped the blood from the corner of her lips with her thumb and laughed mirthlessly.

"Truth is always bitter, darling." She said in a sing-song voice.

Dmitri opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by Mrs. Kelly.

"Leave her, Dmitri. We'll deal with her later. You should go back to those people with this fag. They must be waiting." She said with an impassive look.

And Lilac knew they were not falling for it. But before she could think of any other way, something struck her, 'those people'.

"What the fuck do you mean by those people? How many are there?" she asked, trying to hide her panic but showing anger and resentment.

"Oh, Honey, don't worry. There are many to keep him entertained tonight. He is going to have fun today." Mrs. Kelly feigned excitement.

"Fun! He is 13, for fuck's sake." Lilac said, enraged. They can't possibly throw a 13-year-old in front of people, let them use and maybe kill him. But then, knowing them, all they really cared about was money.

"Don't scare him off now." Mrs. Kelly said, her voice clearly showing suppressed rage.

A man came and dragged a sobbing Clem out of the door.

"No!" Lilac shouted, trying to run behind them but was pulled back into the chair she was sitting in by her hair.

"You are going to sit here quietly." Dmitri looked straight into Lilac's eyes, daring her to say anything.

"Or what are you going to do?" she looked dead in his eyes and asked.

"You know the consequences." he shrugged before fishing his phone out of his pocket and calling someone.

Once he was done talking, he walked back to Lilac and grabbed her hair, tilting her head, "You'll regret talking back to me." He said with gritted teeth.

"You know I'll never," Lilac said with a fiery look.

There was another slap, this time his ring tearing the skin of her cheek.

Dmitri opened his mouth to say something when they heard a gut-wrenching scream, and Lilac flinched. A shadow crossed her face, and she looked at everyone else in the room. Everyone knew Clem would never come back. He was gone, forever. Blinded by fury and contempt for the man in front of her, she took the scissors placed in front of her and stabbed him in the stomach. But before the scissors could tear his tissues deeper, he grabbed her hand and threw her on the floor. He clutched his stomach, his hands covered in his blood.

Lilac got up and looked at him. She had a satisfied, almost relieved smile when she saw his eyes screwed shut in pain, hunched over demeanor, and blood-covered hands.

Suddenly some men entered the room.

"Take her away. Make sure she regrets doing all this, and don't stop until she begs you to." Mrs. Kelly snarled.

Two of them took hold of each of her arms and took her away. She went with them, the look still on her face. She turned around to glance at the other kids and then walked away.

The look on her face said it all. The six other kids knew they won't be losing one but two of them today, and they could do nothing but mourn.

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