Chapter 1 - prologue

She wasn't really sure what had happened - exactly what sequence of events had led from her working behind the bar for a normal business, to her and the rest of the staff finding themselves in this predicament. Surely it was against the law? But then as soon as the thought entered her head, she shook it away. Blasted government. The re-establishment of slavery laws had taken the whole of the UK by surprise yet, while there were protesters out on every corner, parading the streets of Parliament and sending email after livid email... nothing had been done. Nothing could be done, certainly not be the class of those involved in the protests. As usual, it was only those of a less fortunate financial state who were affected negatively.

By UK law, the rich folk of an elite section of society could legally purchase another person so long as they weren't married. Not only that, but the owner of a business now owned all of his or her employees, as well as sharing in their personal assets. And unfortunately for Sarah, this meant she, her home and all her belongings were now possessed by a large, mean misogynistic man strongly resembling a penguin who only saw people as their monetary value. And unfortunately for Sarah and her fellow members of staff, there was a rapidly expanding new business venture that had caught Stephen's eye - one he believed could make him even more money than the not-so-successful bar he ran...

'Ok ladies,' Neil's voice rang out in the office where all the female members of the business were gathered together in both fear and anticipation. 'Stephen has asked me to clarify the situation and go through exactly how things are going to work.'

Neil was a tall, slender young Scotsman of 27. Sarah had known him to date women, although now he was partnered with a slightly older man named Adam; a coupling Sarah completely adored. Being a manager and a personal friend of Stephen, rather than be forced into the same future slavery as the other employees Neil was instead appointed to help run Stephen's scheme. Sarah was relieved at this; Neil was gentle, affectionate, very sweet and always looked out for her - surely he wouldn't allow her to suffer?

He picked up a slip of paper from the desk behind him. 'I'm sure everyone has heard rumours - little bits and pieces here and there alluding to different fates. I can assure you that most of this is not true.'

The relief in the air was palpable, but the young Scotsman wasted no time.

'Has Stephen increased your hours to unreasonable amounts? No. Has Stephen scrapped your minimum wage? No.'

His brow furrowed as he read the next rumour - 'Has Stephen... sold you all... to a... farm? No. Of course not.' His tone was slightly disbelieving as he glanced about the room. 'I'm not even going to ask who started that one... Now; has Stephen found a new business venture he'd like to try that involves you? Yes.'

He paused here, taking in the reactions of the group before him. Sarah watched him thoughtfully. His body language as more tense than it had been mere moments ago when he had been joking about the rumours; his whole demeanour had taken on a serious temperament, and this made Sarah wary...

'You're probably wondering what this new business venture is. Before I tell you, I do have to remind you all that unfortunately you have no choice - Stephen owns you and as such controls you.'

The combination of his bleak declaration and sorrowful tone sent a whispering ripple through the group. Sarah glanced to the two girls nearest to her: Ann - a tall, curvy dark-haired girl of the same age as herself who she had become fast friends with, and Dani, just one year older at 23 with short strawberry-blonde hair and a plump frame, who again had become one of her best friends. Both sent back a fleeting, worried look in her direction before focusing again on Neil.

'It's not as bad as it seems,' he continued, but judging by the look on his face he knew he wasn't being honest.

'Neil just tell us what's going on!' Dani suddenly burst out; heads swivelled in her direction, then swiftly switched back to Neil in heavy anticipation. The young man sighed, put down his sheet of paper, and stared back at them.

'Stephen's new business venture,' he began, 'involves the selling of women to both men, other women and other companies - not simply as slaves - but as... well, as a particular type of pet.'

Silence.

Sarah's heart felt like it was thundering in her ears, yet she could not release a single note of protest. How could Neil go along with this?! Of course in her heart of hearts she knew he had no more freedom than the rest of them, but it still made her so angry...

'Now comes the part which you'll object to - some more than others,' His eyes rested briefly on Sarah before travelling swiftly round the rest of the group. 'The type of pet Stephen's associates desire is rather a niche that has only very recently been opened up as a valid fetish. More and more people are coming out of the woodwork to claim they are after a 'human pig' of sorts.'

Sarah's mind was whirring - a human pig? What on earth could that mean? The room was still silent, though it was a silence of disbelief and dread rather than anticipation. Neil picked up his sheet and began to read from it to avoid the stares of his former friends.

'Many perfectly respectable men and women are looking to purchase human pigs of both the male and female variety, however we have chosen to specialise in female. Our business role consists of a female being plumped up, or made fatter in her own individual room - for this we will use the staff rooms backstage - in comfort. When we feel she is fattened enough to be eligible for purchase, we shall use the theatre downstairs to display her to those interested in purchasing a human pig.'

Neil lowered the sheet to finally return the stares of his shocked companions.

'Stephen has requested that I personally see to the... fattening... of each of you. Essentially I am in charge of you all. I have no more choice in this than you - I can't refuse his request. I'm sorry.'

Uproar. Sarah seemed to find herself surrounded by instant uproar, from behind, side, front - everywhere... Neil was trying to calm everyone down, then eventually he was shouting just as much as the rest of them. At some point she thought she saw Adam enter with a couple of security men who forced her friends out of the room and presumably downstairs to their new rooms...

A gentle touch to her shoulder seemed to send her spinning straight out of her daze and smack into the present. Neil stood before her, a concerned face looming above with one hand resting near the base of her neck. She shook her head and glanced about the office; only herself, Neil, Adam and two other girls remained. Jennifer was a tall girl of twenty-one with a slender frame and dyed red hair - the first girl she had met at work. The second girl was Mimi, a twenty-year-old Japanese girl with a similar height and physique.

'I'd like you three to take a seat please,' Neil gestured to the discarded chairs. Reluctantly, Mimi sat. Jennifer stood, arms crossed and hip jutting out to one side, with a scowl on her face.

'Jen, please,' Neil asked once again, the authority in his voice sounding more forcefully now. She sat, still scowling.

'Sarah...' Startled, she looked to him only to realise she was still standing. She hurriedly took the nearest chair, feeling his fingertips graze her throat before he moved to stand in front of them and address them once again. Her mind was in such a tangle it was all she could do to listen and obey - at least, for the moment...


A/N: This is my first story to do with weightgain. I promise things will start moving a little faster in the next couple of chapters! For now, patience is a virtue... ;) Let me know what you think!