𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐋 || 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐇𝐎

i. the beginning

THE UNBEARABLE SOUND of metal grinding against metal rang in Cleo's ears as she huddled herself in the corner of the metal cage, clutching her head tightly as the metal cage continued to move upwards to the unknown. Trying her best to be courageous, the girl stood up in an attempt to figure out where she was. From the limited light that strewn into the cage, Cleo could make out the outlines of some boxes though they were sealed tight. A bleat from a goat caused her to jump and back away into the corner she was previously tucked into.

It was all too much for Cleo as she shrunk into a ball. Cold metal brushed against her arms, probably leaving scratches as the cage continued making its way up. Showing no signs of stopping at all. Cleo made an attempt to calm herself down by trying to remind herself of who she was but the harder she tried to think of her name, the further the knowledge seemed to slip away.

She brushed it aside, blaming it on the overwhelming feeling of being trapped in a metal cage. Then, Cleo attempted to remember information about her family. Nothing came up. Cleo didn't know her name; her siblings' names if she had any; her parents' names or anything about herself. Fuck. Her memory was wiped.

Something strange was going on and Cleo had no idea what. All she knew was that she needed to get help right away. Without another second wasted, Cleo began kicking the metal all while she screamed.

"HEY! SOMEONE HELP ME!"

There was a high chance the girl's knuckles were bruised badly but Cleo couldn't care less. She screamed her throat raw but still, nobody had come to save her. She was on her own. Cold metal bobbed against her chest, Cleo assumed it was some kind of necklace, and she held it tight in her hand. It brought her comfort, almost a sense of normalcy as though she wasn't about to die in a metal cage.

The metal continued to clash and grit against each other with horrible screeching sounds. Cleo just sat there in her corner as she held herself tightly, praying silently to whoever would hear. After what felt like her lifetime, the metal cage jerked to a stop and it was a miracle that it didn't drop right back down with Cleo in it. Two flaps were opened and immediately, light poured into the cage. Cleo squinted her eyes, letting them slowly adapt to the harsh and sudden light. All around the cage were boys, the oldest seemed about 18 at most.

" The shank looks like a girl," Cleo heard one say.

"You're the one who looks like a girl," another retorted, "Does look like a Slopper though."

"Hey! Shut your traps, all of you! Angelo , check it out."

The unfamiliar voices were soothing compared to the sound of grinding metal but at the same time, they scared her. Who knew what they would do to her? The cage shook under a black-haired boy's weight , whom she assumed to be Angelo, as he jumped down into the box. His eyes widened as he took a good look at her. Angelo turned his head slightly and yelled to the rest of the group, "Guys! It's a girl!"

"I call dibs!"

"No, Chad, we don't call dibs on people."

"Is this a mistake?"

Many of the boys turned to each other, whispering among themselves while some were whooping and cheering in delight. Cleo figured that they must have been deprived of female contact and that may not exactly be an ideal situation for her.

Cleo backed herself into the wall behind her, raising her hands in tight fists. Angelo approached her slowly, nervously glancing between Cleo and a light -skinned boy right in the middle of the group who Cleo assumed was the leader of some sort. He reached out his hand and slowly lowered her fists. "I'm not gonna hurt you, okay? I know you're scared. I was too when I got here but you'll be fine."