The world has turned into a dark hole where every breathing human is ordered to serve as a slave to the devils. The cities were burning to ashes so that no human can go back to their homes. More than half of the people surrendered themselves and accepted their defeat. But there were still some brave souls who were going to fight till their last breathes.

In the midst of all the chaos, a girl kept running towards the jungle so that she can hide from the captors. All the living humans were going to be kept as a slave which then can be bought by the devils. She was not going to be someone's toy but fate had another plans for her.

Her bare feet couldn't handle the pain of all the thorns that were stuck under them but she kept running, until one of the captors snatched her dress collar from behind and pushed her to the ground.

She fell on the soil with a thud and passed out. The captor with a fake eye knelt down near her body and gave a devillish smirk.

"I will make sure that you get the most ruthless master so that you can learn your lesson...girl", the captor snarled at her and threw her body on the shoulder.

............................................................................................

The girl opened her eyes and saw one of the woman in her 40s washing her wounds with a wash cloth.

"Where am i?", the girl said and pulled her hands away from the woman.

"You are at the devil's shop....where else can you be?..", the woman said and gave a harsh tug to her elbow which made the girl hiss in pain.

"Please let me go....i beg you...i would die rather than being someone's slave", the girl said and sobbed but her eyes still held that fire which was beyond explanation.

"No one can even die against their will....you were sent to this shop to be bought....The only way you can be out of this shop is when a devil buys you....until then...stay silent....and consider yourself lucky....you are not going to be sold off to some common devils...your age and this delicate skin made you expensive....", the woman said and stood in one of the corner of the bathroom, tracing her body from head to toe and then smiled.

"What have you done to make karl so angry?...he is adamant to sell you to the coldest devils out there.", the woman rolled her eyes in disappointment and left the bathroom.

The girl washed herself carefully, looking at the wounds that will take months to recover and closed her eyes in pain. The fire that was evident in her eyes were now fading with each moment as if this whole place was eating her brave soul from the inside.

She came out and looked at the room. The room had only 2 beds, one for her and the second one was for the woman.

"Are you going to stay with me?", the girl said to the woman who was dusting the dressing table and keeping all the cosmetics properly.

"It's been years since a girl like you has entered the shop..i take care of the most expensive slave woman...i will make you submissive and a beauty for the bidders who will do everything in their power to buy you so that they can devour you my darling", the woman said and left the room.

The owner of the shop named Karl, came for her everyday to make her the type of slave every devil desired. Her life turned upside down the day she was forced to learn to be submissive. She was tortured mercilessly to a point where she cried all night, thinking of ending her life. But in this world, she was not even allowed to scratch herself against their will. She saw all other women in that chamber surrendering slowly after being hit by leather whiplash and covered with chains and handcuffs.

Time went by and she was never called on for the bidders. Every other woman were sold off to the devils out there but she wasn't even allowed to leave the chamber. Her pale and delicate body couldn't handle the suffocation as she wanted to get out of here even if she had to be tamed down by some devil.

After mustering a little bit of courage, she went near the woman and asked her.

"Why am i not allowed outside the chamber?... All the girls are getting sold off?... Why am i stuck here?", she asked, crouching beside the old woman's bed.

The woman kept the book aside and looked in her direction. There was a tinge of fear and concern for the girl. After living together for so long, they both started to connect in an emotional way but the woman had to pretend like she doesn't care.

"I told you a long time ago....he is preparing you for the worst devil out there....he is supposed to come for a human slave after the war ends....i don't know why karl hates you....but he seems determimed to sell you to that particular master.", the woman said and starting reading her book again.

"Who is this master?...and why is he keeping me for him especially?", the girl asked in a low tone, afraid to hear the answer.

"I think you must have heard about Commander Eli, the leader of the devil's army....He is the most feared devil out there....right now, no one has been elected as the king of this devil world....but everyone knows he is the most favorable candidate for that throne....Everyone wants to lick his boots....that's what karl is doing exactly.", the woman said and moved in the girl's direction, giving her full attention to what she's about to say, but the girl interrupted her in between.

"What?....he is a monster....am i being prepared so that i can be a bait?.....he has killed more than thousands of humans in the war..... and he has never kept a slave before....he kills and enjoys his food...so why now?", the girl plopped down on the floor like a lifeless body and hides her fearful face from the woman.

"No one knows how he looks or how old he is....the only thing we know is that he is the grandest weapon in the devil's army and now he is entering in the society as an honorable leader...and you are going to be his first slave...so be ready girl....live your last days to the fullest", the woman said and laid on her bed, closing her eyes so that this conversation can no longer go on.

The days went on and on but the old woman said nothing to the girl after the last night conversation. As for the girl, the only hope to survive and be free got crushed down after realizing that she's going to be the slave of the one everyone fears.

The girl never had the chance to learn more about the devils as she spent her whole life running away from the captors. The irony of this demonic world is that humans are torturing their own kin to sell them to the devils.

Karl and the old woman, both were human being, but they never showed any affections for the little girls and boys who were sold off.

The sun was setting down and everyone started to crawl into their chambers, suddenly a guard of the shop ran directly into Karl's office and after few minutes, karl also came out , mumbling some curse words and shouting at all the workers to get ready for what's about to come.

The girl had no intention to listen to any of this ruckus. She continued walking towards her room but suddenly karl shouted at the old woman.

"Get her ready now, the masters are coming", he said and ran towards the area where guests are shown the slaves.

The old woman grabbed the girl's elbow and pushed her into the room, stripping her clothes one by one.

"What's happening?...Who's coming?", the girl asked but old woman paid no heed.

But for the first time, old woman showed emotions for the girl, as if she cared for her.

She stopped stripping her clothes and paused for a moment. Her trembling hands reached her soft cheeks and it stayed there. There was no words and communication but still, the girl understood that it was her time to go now.

"I know my time has come....i won't annoy you", the girl said and sat in front of the mirror, looking at the old woman through the reflection and trying to accept the fact that even god can't help her now.

The woman dressed her in a gown that had slits and laces everywhere. The gown was black and had silver sparkles all over. She insisted the woman that she would do her own make up as it was her last moments of freedom.

After getting ready, she turned around to see old woman crying silently. She understood that whatever bond they shared together, she was concerned for her.

"Can i know you name?", she asked the old woman.

"kayla", the old woman answered.

"Well...Kayla...it was nice knowing you...and don't cry...this is my fate and neither of us can run away from it...", the girl smiled at Kayla.

"What's your name darling?", Kayla asked, wiping her tears.

"My name is Zira.",she said and hugged Kayla tightly, knowing that it would be the last hug from someone she cares.

They both sat down on the bed, turning their face at each other, trying to remember every ounce of detail they can muster.

"Your name suits you Zira...you are a moonlight that will show the path to people who are lost at night...i know i can't help you in anyway...but do you wish to know anything before you go?", Kayla said and put her hand on Zira's lap.

"Tell me everything about devils...from their history to their weakness...i need to prepare myself for the worst", Zira said and looked in her eyes.

"Devils are monsters that survives on human blood...they were made by humans to fight human's war but the day thy realized their power, the world turned upside down and here we are, slaves to them. Devil keeps slaves for hunger as well as for their entertainment...you are the rare one because girls your age either died due to wars....and you are young....as you see, all the other girls were older than you...and mostly were used and tortured before...but you are not...today five masters are coming for the bidding, all known for their wealth and monstrosity...Master Eli is also coming....even if he doesn't choose you....it's sure that someone else will take you ...."the woman said and sighed in frustration.

"I think you are hiding something important from me...Kayla ....please...i can take everything you have to say", Zira pleaded.

"Devils can't conceive...so it's most probably that they'll use you for their desires...don't give them any reason to be mad at you...do you understand?", Kayla said and pressed her hands on her shoulders. Zira nodded in response and gave her a last beaming smile.

Suddenly the door opened slightly and Karl snaked his neck into the room.

"Take her out...they have come...and chain her in shackles", karl said and went off to greet the masters.

"I am ready..", Zira said and head out to the stage.