Chapter 4
Trafficked
Kitlyn
A jolt from the van woke me from my nap. We must have hit a pothole or something. Startled, I looked around, dazed at first, but then I remembered what fresh hell lay ahead.
Becca whispered, grabbing my attention.
"Kit?" Her voice was raspy, like she had a bad sore throat. "Do you think…do you think they are gonna kill us when we get there?"
I looked at her. My stomach tightened as I swallowed. "I don't think so, Beck. You heard them at the facility. They want to sell us to some rich men."
The truth hurt, but make-believe was over. I had to be as honest as possible with her. I know what awaits us under Hector's rule. We are nothing but commodities to him. He will sell us off to a couple of crazy, wealthy psychopaths.
The type of men who buy women on the black market are cruel and violent, and that was what we had to look forward to, if we didn't find a way out of this hell.
Becca didn't look convinced that we weren't driving to our deaths. I don't think I was a hundred percent positive, either. Her eyes welled up, but she held back the tears. Her jaw tensed as she wrung her hands in her lap. She turned away, staring out the window again.
I wanted to reach out and reassure her, promise that things wouldn't be so bad, but I couldn't.
I know we are fucked, and she knows it, too. Hector was cruel to me in the cell. She wasn’t aware of what he had said and done because she was still passed out. He's likely to treat us even worse than Juan treated her.
I rested my head against the window, which is sealed shut. I assume it’s to prevent anyone from escaping.
Sweat ran down my neck, pooling under my collar, which irritated the hell out of me.
The engine hummed in my ears.
No music, barely any conversation between Beck and me, just the two assholes in the front speaking in Spanish to one another. We'd already been driving for about half an hour, and I had no idea what part of Mexico we were heading to.
My stomach growled, and I felt nauseous.
Beck and I hadn't eaten since noon.
I'm sure she felt the same. We needed nourishment, even if our appetites were only subpar. If we grow too weak, we won't ever be able to escape.
The van slowed down to a crawl. I glanced out the window and spotted a brightly lit checkpoint up ahead. A weathered chain-link fence surrounded the area, giving it the appearance of a maximum-security prison.
Becca turned and looked at me with trembling lips. Her voice was barely audible.
"This is it, Kit. We're almost in Mexico. I'm scared!"
My voice was calm as I whispered back.
"I know Beck. I am, too, but at least we have each other. We'll get through this together, I promise, but we must be on our best behavior, so we're not separated."
She nodded, but remained silent. I hope she doesn't break down. The last thing we need is to rile the tempers of the two slugs in the front seat.
Juan turned his head toward both of us, eyes slanted into evil slits, spit stuck in the corners of his mouth.
"One sound from either of you, and I will knock you the fuck out. Trust me, Hector won't care if you end up with two black eyes for disobeying. Keep your traps shut!"
Becca flinched. I didn't move a muscle. It’s not that I wasn't scared. I was terrified. I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing the power he had over us. Fear kept us subdued; otherwise, I would have screamed my head off once we hit the checkpoint.
We didn't have to say a word. Anyone who looked into the van would see Becca was frightened out of her mind. We looked like two deer caught in headlights, and we’re wearing robes, for Christ’s sake.
If no one noticed something shady was going on once we stopped, then I might as well give up on life right now.
We were finally in front of the guard. Like the rest of them, he was armed with an assault rifle slung over his shoulder, looking like a badass. Glancing back at us, he smiled and started talking to Juan and Julio in broken English.
"You got yourself a couple of good-looking girls back there, amigo. Pull over behind the building so I can get a sample. Then I'll let you through."
What the fuck???
My heart pounded in my chest, and my palms were sweaty. I couldn't believe my ears. The scumbag was in on it!
Juan was only testing us to see if we would make a scene. I am glad we kept quiet; otherwise, he would have taken great pleasure in bashing our heads in.
Becca gasped and squirmed in her seat. I didn't react because I was pissed off and wanted to punch the motherfucker right in the mouth!
Juan's evil laugh filled the van.
"I'd love to give you a sample of these two bitches, but Hector has strict instructions not to mark them, and we have to get them delivered asap. So sorry, man, no pussy tonight."
The guy shook his head, refusing to take no for an answer.
"I won't leave any scars on the girls. Can I just finger them and jerk off on their tits?"
Juan and Julio looked at one another and shrugged.
"Let's call Hector to see if he will allow it, but first, get rid of the rifle. You know Hector’s rules if you want to play with his girls.” Julio said.
The man smirked as he removed his weapon, handing it to another guard. “I’ll be right back. Hold this for me.”
The other man just nodded, taking it from him. Becca was almost sobbing at this point.
"Shut the fuck up!" Juan yelled.
She quieted down, but still fidgeted in her seat.
I looked out the window quickly. There were two other vans behind us.
I bet they were full of trafficked women, too.
There was no doubt in my mind. Juan pulled behind the building as instructed, hiding us from the checkpoint, with the guard following quickly on foot.
It didn't surprise me that no one considered us as we drove behind the premises.
The other guards were just as crooked. They completely ignored us as we passed through.
I'm positive I could have been screaming bloody murder, and they would not have cared, nor intervened, to save us.
I was starting to believe the cartels ruled Mexico.
Juan pulled out his cell as the uniformed creep jumped into the back of the van with us. He plopped his ass down on the seat next to me. He was also Mexican, with a face full of acne. The asshole was licking his lips as he stared at us.
Becca shook uncontrollably while my heartbeat echoed in my ears. I wanted to comfort her, but there was no way any of the men in this van would allow that.
I was so lost in my own head that I didn't hear a word of Juan's conversation with Hector before he hung up. He glanced back at us from the front seat. The twisted grin on his face said it all. We had lost. My skin crawled as he spat out the words I didn't want to hear.
I didn't cry or make a sound.
I only listened.
"You're lucky Hector was in a good mood. He OK'd your request. His words were, and I quote."
"I appreciate them letting us cross with our girls, so yes, but fingers only.
You can all have a little fun, but don't go overboard with the merchandise.
No marks or fucking either of them. Be extra careful with green eyes.
I want to sample her before she is sent to a new owner.
I have a buyer interested in both, so make it quick. "
The guard smiled from ear to ear. My stomach did triple somersaults, and Becca had the hiccups.
The stranger unzipped his pants, releasing his erection. Juan and Julio jumped in the back, already stroking their cocks. Julio shot me an evil grin.
"Okay, girls, open those legs. We all have permission from the big boss to take turns on those pretty cunts."
Before Becca or I could move, the man got pissed off and started yelling at our tormentors.
"No fucking way! I'm not sharing. You fucking guys have so many whores at your beck and call. I only want ten minutes alone with them.”
Juan didn't like the guy's attitude and yelled back. One of Julio's legs was still hanging from the van's side door.
The entire vehicle was in an uproar over mine and Becca's genitals. Julio pulled his other leg into the truck and jumped on the guard. All three men were fighting.
Becca and I moved away from the bodies flying all over the back seat—kicks and punches connected with the guard's face and stomach. No one paid attention to us, which was the break we needed.
The side door was wide open. This was our chance to escape from these lunatics. I grabbed Becca by the hand and pulled her from the van before the three morons killing one another realized we were gone.
Our boots hit the pavement, and we were off. We removed the leashes and threw them on the ground. I reached out and grabbed Beck's hand again. We held on to one another while we ran for our lives.
Our feet kicked up dust as we continued running along the dirt road.
In the distance, I could still hear the low hum of engines fading as we disappeared further into the brush.
We had no food, very little water, and no cell phones. I wasn't sure we would survive the night out here, but it was better than what Hector had planned.
We ran for cover among the trees and shrubs lining the dark road. I had no idea what time it was, but I knew it was late. Becca started limping as we continued.
She suddenly stopped, out of breath.
"Kit, please…I need to rest. I feel weak and tired."
She looked at me with terror in her eyes.
"We aren't going to make it, are we?"
Her voice was shaky, and she was shivering.
I put on my best smile for her benefit. It's anyone's guess what we may encounter out here in the desert. I kept my tone positive, not wanting to terrify her more than she already was.
"Becca, look at me."
Her blue eyes stared into mine. I saw the fear in them. I squeezed her hand tightly, reassuring her the best I could.
"We are going to make it. We have to make it. You and I didn't come this far just to give up. I need you to keep walking with me. Let's see if we can find shelter somewhere until morning so we can rest."