Chapter 1: The Betrayal

The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the quiet suburban street. Lily stood in the doorway of her modest home, her heart pounding with a mix of confusion and fear. Her husband, Thomas, stood beside her, his expression cold and distant. Behind him, two stern-faced men in crisp, corporate uniforms waited impatiently.

“Thomas, what’s going on?” Lily asked, her voice trembling. “Who are these men?”

Thomas avoided her gaze, his voice devoid of emotion. “They’re from the Dairy Collective. You’re being transferred.”

Lily’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Transferred? What do you mean? I’m not a hucow, Thomas. I’m your wife.”

Thomas finally met her eyes, a flicker of guilt crossing his face. “I can’t do this anymore, Lily. I need to move on, and you ... you’re holding me back.”

Lily’s mind raced, pieces of the puzzle falling into place. The late nights, the secretive phone calls, the distant behavior—Thomas had been having an affair. And now, he was selling her to the Dairy Collective to be rid of her.

“Thomas, please,” Lily begged, her voice filled with desperation. “You can’t do this. I’m a person, not livestock.”

But Thomas had already made up his mind. He turned to the men from the Dairy Collective and nodded. “Take her.”

The men stepped forward, their expressions impassive. They took Lily by the arms, their grips firm but not unkind. Lily struggled, her pleas falling on deaf ears as they led her to the waiting van. She was still wearing the casual clothes she had on when she was taken—a simple blouse and jeans—a stark contrast to the sterile, controlled environment she was about to enter.

As the van pulled away from the curb, Lily caught one last glimpse of Thomas, standing in the doorway, his face a mask of cold indifference. She felt a wave of betrayal and heartache wash over her, tears streaming down her cheeks.

The ride to the Dairy Collective was a blur of shock and disbelief. Lily tried to process what was happening, her mind racing with questions and fears. She had heard stories about the Dairy Collectives, about the hucows and their lives of regimented routine and constant surveillance. But she had never imagined that she would become one of them.

Upon arrival at the Dairy Collective, Lily was led through a series of sterile, white corridors, the sound of her footsteps echoing off the polished floors. She was taken to a small, windowless room, where she was stripped of her clothes. She hugged her arms around herself, feeling vulnerable and exposed. A stern-faced woman entered the room, her eyes scanning Lily with a critical gaze.

“I’m Overseer Martha,” she said, her voice brisk and efficient. “You’ll be assigned to Section C. You’ll be given a number and a schedule. Follow the rules, and you’ll do just fine.”

Lily’s mind reeled, the reality of her situation sinking in. She was no longer Lily, a free woman with a life and a husband. She was a hucow, a number in a system, a commodity to be controlled.

Over the next few days, Lily was introduced to the regimented routine of the Dairy Collective. She was awakened each morning by the automated systems and led to a medical wing where she underwent a series of hormonal treatments. The treatments were designed to stimulate lactation, preparing her body for the milking process. The injections were painful, and the side effects—nausea, fatigue, and emotional volatility—were overwhelming.

Lily struggled to adapt to her new life, her mind and body rebelling against the strict routine, the constant surveillance, and the invasive treatments. She found solace in the company of the other hucows, women who had been through the same transition and understood her pain and confusion.

One such woman was Eva, a young hucow with a fierce determination in her eyes. Eva took Lily under her wing, guiding her through the complexities of life in the Dairy Collective and offering words of encouragement and support.

“It’s hard at first,” Eva said, her voice filled with empathy. “The hormones, the treatments—they take a toll. But you’ll get used to it.”