The Auction

In his dimly lit basement apartment in Seattle, RavenX9, real name Alex Rivera, sat hunched over three monitors, energy drinks and snacks scattered across his desk. The ChronosVault auction interface was open across all screens, refreshing every few seconds. The auction had been live for four hours, and the bidding was intense.

He had his eye on several lots, constantly switching between tabs like a stock trader during market volatility.

Listing #014 – Brooke Callahan, White, Female

Current Bid: 47 BTC

Alex had been in a bidding war for the last twenty minutes. He upped his Max bid again.

RavenX9 bid: 52 BTC

A few seconds later:

Bid raised to 54 BTC by another user.

“Fuck you,” Alex muttered, quickly countering.

RavenX9 bid: 58 BTC

He leaned back, heart pounding. Brooke’s photos stared back at him, her wavy chestnut hair, bright hazel eyes, athletic legs. He needed to have her.

He quickly switched tabs to another listing.

Listing #027 – Zara Khalid, Pakistani American, Female

Current Bid: 44 BTC

Zara’s elegant features and long straight black hair had caught his attention early. She was posed gracefully, almost regal. Alex decided to place a strong bid. It was clear Zara had been friends with Brooke, and it would be a shame to break up that dynamic.

RavenX9 bid: 51 BTC

No immediate counter. He smiled. “Good. Stay down.” Switching again.

Listing #039 – Riley Morgan, goth, Female

Current Bid: 38 BTC

Riley’s goth aesthetic — black and purple hair, pale skin, piercings all appealed to a darker part of him. He liked the contrast. He guessed the other’s did not share that sentiment.

RavenX9 bid: 39 BTC

The counter came fast, but he topped it immediately.

RavenX9 bid: 42 BTC

Finally, he checked the fourth listing he was watching.

Listing #022 – Diego Morales, Latin, Male

Current Bid: 35 BTC

Diego had a sharp jawline, messy dark curls, and a lean, toned build. Alex saw potential for both solo display and pairing. He placed a solid bid.

RavenX9 bid: 43 BTC

Alex leaned back, cracking his knuckles. His eyes darted between the four open tabs. The auction timer showed 47 minutes remaining. He refreshed all four pages rapidly. Time flew by.

Brooke Callahan– Winning bid: RavenX9 – 58 BTC

Riley Morgan – Winning bid: RavenX9 – 42 BTC
Diego Morales – Winning bid: RavenX9 – 43 BTC
Zara Khalid – Winning bid: RavenX9 – 45 BTC

A rush of adrenaline hit him as the system updated. He had won all four. Alex let out a shaky laugh, running his hands through his hair.

“Holy shit… I actually got them.”

He opened a new message to ChronosVault:

RavenX9: Payment being sent now for Brooke Callahan, Zara Khalid, Riley Morgan, and Diego Morales. Please confirm and provide shipping/escrow details. Extremely satisfied with this purchase.

He transferred the cryptocurrency immediately, then leaned back in his chair, staring at the photos of his four new acquisitions. Brooke’s bright, cheerful expression. Zara’s elegant beauty. Riley’s dark, look. Diego’s sharp, handsome features. A dark, possessive smile spread across his face.

“They’re really mine now.”

In the quiet of his basement, Alex Rivera raised his energy drink in a mock toast to the four frozen students on his screens.

“Welcome to your new life.”