Chapter 5
Trafficked
Kitlyn
The sun crept through the dirty windows of the van, its warmth caressing my cheek. I squinted, shielding my eyes from the glow. My body feels like I ran a marathon. Stiff and achy all over.
The seat we slept on wasn't a five-star hotel, that's for sure.
I squeezed my knees together tightly. My bladder is full.
I need to pee. I stretched my aching bones and looked over at Becca, still asleep.
Her snores echoed through the small, cluttered space.
I didn't know what time it was, and had no idea how many hours I slept.
Regardless, I don’t feel rested enough.
My friend looks so peaceful.
I feel bad about having to wake her, but we need to get the hell out of here before someone finds us. I shook her gently, trying not to startle the sleeping beauty.
She slowly opened her drowsy lids, gazing at me while stretching her arms. Her eyes scanned the van before she spoke. "Ugh. This hellish nightmare wasn't a dream? We really are in this bucket of shit?"
She wrinkled her nose and rolled her eyes.
"How long do you think we slept, Kit?"
I shrugged, a slight smile lifting the corners of my mouth. "Three or four hours, maybe. We don't have any time to waste, though. We need to leave right now, but first, I have to pee." Beck looked at me, lifting her brow.
"So do I. Where are we going to go?"
I pointed toward the cooler.
It was the safest place for us to relieve ourselves.
"I am going to grab the rest of the water bottles and the last sandwich. We can eat it later while we trudge through the desert in our Sunday best."
She actually smiled at my weak attempt at being funny. We definitely fit the description of either being nuts or poverty-stricken. Both our robes had seen better days.
They were covered in dirt from walking through the barren land half the night. I didn't give a shit, though.
This wasn't a fucking beauty contest.
My focus was on getting back to the States.
I put my hands together in prayer.
"Hopefully, we can find someone who will assist us, fingers crossed." I breathed.
Making my way through a small pile of garbage, I walked to the back of the van with Becca not far behind. Removing the lid, I stuffed the sandwich and two bottles in my pockets, then squatted over the cooler. This wasn't one of my finer moments, but under the circumstances, it was my only option.
My voice was barely above a whisper.
"I'm sorry we have to use this to pee in, but I don't want to take the chance of getting caught going outside. Throw me something so I can wipe myself, please."
Becca nodded and did as I asked. I cleaned myself the best I could with a fucking taco wrapper, then walked back to the front while she took her turn on the makeshift toilet.
The person who came back to retrieve the cooler was in for quite a surprise. I giggled to myself. Imagine finding it full of piss? I wouldn't want to be the person who had to clean it out. Making her way back up to the front, my friend sat next to me on the cracked leather seat.
"Do you have a plan, Kit?"
I nodded, trying to look as positive as possible so I wouldn't upset her, because the truth was, there was no definitive action in place. I spit out what came to mind, because that's all I had.
"Yup. The plan is to keep walking away from this crappy area and find some decent people who can help us."
Beck clapped her hands lightly, then stood up.
"Okay, then let's go before the entire village wakes up and finds us."
Before I stood, the crunch of cans outside stung my ears. My heart raced as the noise crept closer.
I heard squeaky doors opening and closing.
We're screwed!!!!
My eyes widened.
I didn't move.
Couldn't breathe.
I sat still, frozen in fear.
Becca took a seat next to me, shaking. Her eyes fluttered, a frown pulled across her brow as the low hum of voices reached our ears, muffled but familiar.
Spanish.
Male.
Juan and Julio!
FUCK!!!! They found us.
The sweat clung to my skin like a wet towel. My body shook because we were in deep shit now! There would never be another opportunity to escape again. We were doomed.
There was a loud thump along the side of the truck. We both flinched, barely breathing. There was nowhere to hide.
Then another bang. This one was louder and closer to the door. I clutched Becca's hand tightly, bringing my finger to my lips.
"Shhh." I mouthed.
Too late.
The passenger door flew open with the same loud screech it had made earlier. We both jumped to our feet, gasping. I drew Becca into a bear hug, my heart hammering in my chest.
We clung to one another for dear life. Juan grinned evilly, while Julio shook his finger at us; his voice controlled.
"Oh, naughty, naughty little bitches. We have been looking for you all night. It's a good thing there are only a few houses in the area. We knew you wouldn't get too far out here."
So, there aren't trackers in the collars.
At least not yet.
I noticed a set of expensive black shoes resting at the entrance of the van—polished to perfection.
Shit! I'd recognize them anywhere.
Hector stood at the threshold, holding a rag over his nose, gagging. His black slacks and blue button-down shirt hugged his muscular frame.
I saw the firearm tucked into the front of his pants. My stomach twisted in knots. I hope he doesn't kill us for running, but then again, maybe death would be a better option than what lies ahead.
He trained his cold black eyes on me.
His expression wasn't rage, not yet.
"You girls must have had quite the adventure." He murmured, stepping fully inside the vehicle.
"Now, I am afraid your little escapade ends here."
He walked toward me, lifted my chin with his fingers, and forced me to look into his dark, vacant eyes.
"You made me leave the comfort of my home to come out and chase you," he whispered.
"And now…I'm going to make sure you never run again."
His thumb gently brushed my cheek, like a familiar lover, but his eyes told a different story.
They were cruel and empty.
He released my chin, barking orders at Juan and Julio.
"Bring them to the car. The goddamn stench in here is disgusting. I refuse to spend one more minute in this fucking pigsty."
He spun abruptly and stepped outside.
Beck and I still held onto one another, our bodies trembling with fear.
Juan stepped behind Becca and seized her by the back of her collar. He pulled so hard her head snapped back. She howled like a wounded animal, clawing at the front of the thick metal, trying to loosen his grip on her.
His laugh was wicked and cruel, his voice full of fury.
"If you think this is bad, little whore, wait until we get you to the compound. You ran away, making us look like fools. You don't know how this works, but you’re going to find out. We’re all going to pay for what you did.”
He looked at me.
His calculated stare sent a shiver down my spine.
"The same goes for you, too, green eyes. You both don't know who you're fucking with."
Still gripping the back of Becca's collar, he violently yanked her from my hold while she struggled against him.
My legs shook uncontrollably while Becca coughed and choked as she was dragged away.
I just stood there, unable to move. I was terrified.
Julio grabbed my sweaty hand, squeezing it tightly before speaking, with an evil smirk plastered across his lips.
"Running was a big mistake, Chica. You and your stupid little friend are lucky you have something to offer Hector; otherwise, you both would have been fucked by every man at the mansion, tortured, and then slaughtered like pigs."
My legs buckled, but the monster caught me before I hit the floor.
He held me up, bringing his nasty lips to my ear. His breath smelled sour, and it made me want to hurl what little food I had left in my stomach.
"If you want to survive, Chica…I suggest you behave and do as you're told, because Hector will not think twice about beating you and your little friend until your bones snap.
Now, we are going to walk out of this van.
You are going to be a good little prisoner because if you give me one ounce of trouble, I am going to fuck you up real bad. "
His tongue slid into my ear, making me flinch.
"Do you fucking understand?"
I just nodded, allowing him to lead the way.
The last thing I remembered was being thrown into the back of a black Escalade beside Becca. One of the bastards shot us up with something, and after that, nothing.
My memory has no recollection of how we ended up here. I woke up in a spacious, oddly warm, decorated room. The walls were white, the bedding all frilly and pink like a little girl would have. Beck and I were tucked in beside one another like two toddlers on a massive king-size bed.
The four-poster frame was carved from dark wood, its odd design giving off a strange medieval vibe.
White cotton sheets covered the mattress.
None of it made sense. Why were we being treated more like guests than prisoners? I turned toward my friend. She was still out cold, snoring lightly.
I wasn't surprised. She never handled drugs well. The last time they doped us up, she was out much longer than I was. I guess my body tolerates that shit better.
Stretching and yawning, I peeled the comforter off and sat up. Someone had removed my robe, leaving me naked and exposed. A wave of disgust rolled over me. I still felt gross from sleeping in that filthy van and running through the desert all night like a frightened wild animal.
I scoped out the room, taking in my surroundings.
A single bureau stood in the corner, and a dark leather chair sat directly across from it. The floor was made of white ceramic tile—no throw rugs, nothing cozy or warm.
I stepped onto the cold floor with my bare feet, needing to find a bathroom. Three steps away, just past the only window, was a closed door. My hands trembled as I reached for the knob. My palms were sweaty, and my heart raced.