The hidden door lets out a satisfying click as it is locked behind me, and I walk down the stairs into the basement. Finally there's some time to focus solely on my passion, my hobby-cum-business. Coming down, I can see just a single faint light. Three cells are lining the left wall and there's a desk on the right.

The two rightmost cells are empty and dark. I can see Jessica sleeping in the left one with yellow light coming from above. Especially at the beginning she was a bit of a pisser so I had to clean the floor almost every day. There's no worry of her trying to escape while I do it, after just couple of days of training they never even think of trying. Not to mention I always lock the door to the basement, just in case.

The cell itself is very spartan. I've learned it's easier that way; puts them in the right frame of mind: your former life is over. I scan the cell once more. There's just some cloth for a makeshift mattress, Jessica under the blanket, the piss bucket, and the stairs up. I mean, the stairs are on this side of the bars, of course. Damn, my delivery dayjob is killing me, it makes me all kooky.

Her turn to be sold is tomorrow. Luckily this time I got a buyer quickly without hassle. Based on my experience, smells like a middleman for yet another sheikh or sultan or what-so-whoever, but I don't really care where they end up, as long as I can have my fun and my money. Although, in this case it's a bit of a shame, I started to really like her. Even after all this, she's still so tight and tasty. Guess it's now time to sample the merchandise one last time.

"Hey mister?"

I'm unbuckling my belt as I hear the 6-year-old voice from inside the cell. Odd, usually they stop talking after two weeks the very latest. Maybe I should punish her, but... she sounded almost happy?

"Hey mister? What did you do yesterday?"

Is she trying to be friendly? Win me over or something? What kind of question is that, anyway? Besides, yesterday I was... huh, what was it. Weird.

"Uh, why would you want to know?", I reply, confused.

Maybe she needs more teaching after all.

"I don't, but maybe you would?"

I'm looking at her. Medium-length dark hair, red cheeks, cute as a button. Brown eyes looking straight at from me between the iron bars, strangely confident. She's just like when she first got here. How long ago was that? Hmm... this is really strange, suddenly all these things feel like they're in my mind, but just outside my reach. I'm starting to feel uncomfortable.

"What did you do yesterday?"

I have to look away.

"I was, uh, delivering? I have a dayjob. I just came back from my dayjob. Yesterday, also."

"Delivering what?"

What is this inquisition? Wasn't I supposed to punish her? But what was I delivering? It can't have been that important.

"Where were you born?"

What? What... is this? I bury my head in my hands. I can feel my breathing pick up. Why is she asking all this? Why... can't I answer? Beginnings of panic creeping up my spine. I don't know what to say? I want out of this. I don't want to think of this.

"Hey mister? Who are you?"

-

I wake up because my feet are cold. I throw the small blanket back on top of them, curling up to try to make the blanket cover my whole body. I'm still feeling sleep deprived from before. How long have I been here? It's been long. Sometimes I feel so bad I piss myself accidentally and I get punished. She's half my height but I'd never dream of trying anything.

Suddenly I hear the door open. She hasn't hurt me in a while, but deeply instilled fear reaction immediately kicks in. I pretend to be sleeping, hoping she's not interested in me today. I can hear the faint sound of her little bare feet on the stone stairs. Coming down.

-

My body jolts me awake. Holy shit. I don't remember what I was dreaming about exactly, but I know it felt so real. Is this acid flashbacks from decades ago, from college? Really?

I'm sitting in a chair behind the desk, with a view over the cells. Sometimes I come here just to watch. Sometimes I have to do paperwork that I obviously can't do elsewhere. I feel exhausted for some reason. The desk lamp isn't on, so the basement is almost pitch black and the only light is the small lamp in the left cell. I can see a hump under the blanket.

"Hey mister?"

A sweet, familiar voice behind me. Feeling of deja vu hits like a sledgehammer. The blanket in the left cell is on the floor. My brain is like a chunk of slowly exploding jelly mixed with dread. I slowly start turning my head.

Suddenly there's something in my neck. My flesh is cold water as her hand slides through it with ease, like a child picking up a rock from a puddle.

"No peeking! It's a surprise!"

With one tiny flick of a finger the nerve in my spine is severed and my limbs fall down, lifeless.

I feel something building behind me. There is no sound, but it's there. I can't turn my head. What's happening? What the fuck? Why? Why me? I don't... I want to go home. Where is home? Mommy? What does... my mother look like?

Like an electric shock, I feel a gaze pierce through me from behind. Then another, a javelin through my soul. Still all I can see is the faint light of the cell, but I can feel it, feel everything. I don't know... understand what is happening. Panic is replaced by something deeper, calmer. Primordial fear. I feel more eyes open. There are thousands of them. Millions. Looking at me in total silence. I am on fire. The eyes... are laughing.

-

I close the door behind me and walk down the stairs to the basement. I will miss Jessica, but tomorrow is the day of the transfer.

I feel like I'm forgetting something. Something very important. I'm a bit unnerved and my instinct is telling me not to think about it, but... what did I do yesterday?