Ordinary (Exceptional Book 3) by Jess Petosa

crawled over to Sabine. “I couldn’t sleep.”
    “You should get some rest,” Sabine said, rubbing her eyes and sitting up.
    An hour ago Ally would have argued with her, but now she agreed. She wasn’t sure what the day held for her but she at least needed her mind clear.
     
    Ally woke up some time later to Sabine shaking her shoulders.
    “Ally,” Sabine said her name. “Ally, wake up. They’re coming.”
    Ally shot up to her knees. “How long was I asleep.”
    “Hours,” Sabine said. “They brought us breakfast this morning but I didn’t want to wake you. You should eat some quickly. They’re coming. Luke said he can hear them.”
    Ally peered over at Luke. He was standing now, but was using the bars of the cage to support his body. He seemed to be listening through the wall intently. Stosh handed Ally a piece of hard bread. She chewed a small piece quickly.
    “You need to fight them, Al. Fight hard,” Stosh said to her.
    “No,” she said quickly. She made a point of looking directly at Sabine. “We need to do just the opposite. We need them to think we are going to cooperate. At least until we can think of a better plan.”
    “We?” Sabine hissed at her. “They are going to separate us and then we’ll probably never see each other again.”
    “For now, Sab. Please?” Ally pleaded.
    Sabine looked away but nodded her head. Moments later a door slammed open and heavy footsteps approached their cage. The man Ally thought might be called Big Earl appeared outside their cage.
    “Time to git up girls,” he said. “It’s biddin’ day.”
    Another man appeared behind Big Earl and opened up the cage. Stosh twitched beside Ally but she reached over and squeezed his wrist. She nodded at Sabine and they both stood together.
    “That’s right,” Big Earl said. “Listenin’ like you’re supposed ta. You’ll make fine women for some lucky men out there.”
    “Take care of Max, Stosh,” Ally looked down at her brother. “Keep him alive.”
    Stosh just nodded and then said, “Take care of Sabine for me.”
    Ally nodded and followed Big Earl and the other man through the building. Sabine held her hand as they walked, and soon they were through the main door and outside. Ally breathed in the fresh air, squinting slightly at the bright sun.
    “This way,” Big Earl barked.
    Ally noticed that the men didn’t even bother to cuff her or Sabine, or even carry them to where they were going. Either they were stupid or they didn’t think Ally and Sabine had a chance at escaping. They walked back to the area of town they had been in the day before. It appeared as though the whole town had come out for the occasion.
    A small wooden platform sat in the middle of the circle of people, and the man that appeared to be in charge stood atop it.
    “Big Eli,” Big Earl said. “The girls are here an’ ready.”
    Big Eli nodded his head and Ally and Sabine were pushed toward the stairs that led up to the platform. They clung to each other as they climbed up and onto the worn wood. They stood together next to Big Eli and Ally took this time to look around the crowd. Just as she had noticed last night, a lot of big, dirt covered men, and heavily clothed women. A few of the girls looked younger, and had desperation in their eyes, and Ally had to wonder if they had stood on this platform not long ago.
    “People of New Eden,” Big Eli shouted. “We have ‘ere two gals that need a proper home to care for, and a man to take care of. They looks to be ‘bout two years past their prime marryin’ time, but I still think they’re worth a good price.”
    A few of the men in the crowd cheered and laughed. Ally heard words and comments that made her want to first vomit, and then start swinging her fists. The women in the crowd started to look at the ground, and Ally realized why they weren’t treated with caution when taken from the cage. Women here weren’t respected or feared. They were objects to be possessed.
    “Get