Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
“I miss salt and vinegar chips,” Jenny said.
“Burger Rings,” another shouted.
There was a moan close by. “Choc-chip cookies.”
“Barbeque Shapes,” a new voice added.
I groaned, my mouth watering. What I wouldn’t give for any of those right now. “Yes. They’re the best, but I love chicken ones too.”
Cal, who was on my other side, gently slapped his hand against my leg. “The cheese one.” We all groaned.
“I miss showers,” Iola said. She was tucked between Jenny and me to keep her warm. We were supposed to be sleeping. It was our turn, but my stomach was eating itself, and we couldn’t stop daydreaming about the things we wished we had.
I hummed. “A nice warm shower with soap and shampoo and conditioner.”
“And clothes that don’t stink of sweat and other things,” Cal added.
Laughing, I nodded. “At least we’re used to the smells now.”
We’d been on the ship for twenty days and were all going a little stir-crazy.
“I’d give my soul to have a nice, juicy, fat steak,” someone else said.
I licked my dry lips. “Oh God, or a hamburger with cheese and tomatoes and lettuce.”
“And onions,” someone called.
“Don’t forget the sauce,” Cal said.
There were a few laughs around the container.
“You lot need to sleep. If you’re not going to, we will,” Pamela called from up near the door where she and others were on guard duty. All of us couldn’t sleep at the same time, so it was their turn to listen near the entrance in case something happened and then they could wake the rest of us.
Sighing, I sat up. “I’m not ready to sleep anyway.”
“Rommy, you need to,” Jenny said.
Standing, I moved out of the way. “I’ll be okay. Cal, you move over to Iola.” She was still shivering a bit so she needed all the body heat she could get. “Does anyone on watch want to nap?”
“Lessa, you go get rest,” Pamela ordered.
“Glad to,” Lessa said, and we swapped ends.
I sat on the steel floor near the doors.
There were nine others, and we’d be the next to go out to the bathroom when the masked men came to get us.
Though, with the amount of water we drank, which was hardly any, we didn’t need to go often.
But still, it was good to stretch our legs outside with some fresh air.
I often thought about my family. About how they were dealing, what were they doing, and what did they have for dinner or lunch or breakfast.
God, I’d sell a body part for an iced chocolate.
So far, the masked men had been manageable to deal with.
They still needed to be punished for taking us, for putting us through this vile ordeal that made me angry and sick and confused and upset and feel too much all at the same time where I had to take big gulps of air to control the anger burning under my skin, pushing me to lash out.
But I couldn’t.
It wasn’t the time.
Will it ever be the time?
Yes, it would. I had to have faith.
Something would happen, and that was when I’d act.
So even though the masked men never touched us—they just leered or threatened or shoved us if we moved too slow—they’d still pay for being involved.
Great, now I’d worked myself up. I needed to burn off some energy to stop all the thoughts rushing through my mind. I rolled, slapping my hands to the steel floor and straightening myself out into a plank.
“One,” I muttered to myself, counting each push-up to settle my mind.
Pamela scoffed. “Don’t you ever stop?”
No, I didn’t.
I couldn’t.
If I stopped, I’d be lost to all my thoughts, and my mind wouldn’t shut up. I’d overthink something too much, which could lead to a mistake.
Working out helped keep me fit and calmed my mind.
I didn’t exercise for whoever my buyer was.
The guards had been talking the other day just outside the doors when we’d learned that a lot of us did have “owners,” in America. I was one of them, and the owners had somehow seen a photo or a newspaper article or a website and had wanted to own us for whatever perverted reason they had.
We’d never see them, though.
I’d make sure of it somehow.
Still, I hoped that the organisers and whoever these buyers were got taught a lesson. One that involved a lot of pain.
I could be vicious when I wanted to be. When certain times called for it. Like this situation.
But most of the time I was as sweet as pie. I loved life and people and food.
God, I wanted food.
Mashed potatoes.
Carbonara.
Chicken schnitzel.
Pizza.
Vegemite on toast with cheese and melty butter.
But for now, I just had to keep staying strong.
I stilled for a moment when I heard footsteps approaching. I stood as the door rattled and then swung open.
“Bathroom” was snapped.
I helped the others around me to stand, and we filed out in one line.
Drawing in a deep breath, I followed Pamela at the front as we walked silently through the piles of shipping containers to the door that led us inside the ship.
So far on this trip, I had counted twenty masked men lingering around with guns. Watching us like they were waiting for us to act up. But I’d made all the others promise no one would step out and risk harm to themselves or anyone else.
Even Pamela and Trevor had agreed to that.
We took turns using the toilet, but while waiting, I saw at least another ten guards I hadn’t noticed before, each with something different to the others we’d already made mental notes about. I was sure there were a lot more manning the ship too. So, for a rough guess, I’d put the count at fifty.
Fifty men.
If I had their weapons and took some hostages, I could possibly pull off a takeover.
And hopefully survive it all at the same time.
My belly twisted in fear, but I wouldn’t let it stop me from doing what I had to.
There would be help on the other end. My family would have figured out that we were headed for the US, and they’d either be there waiting for me or have someone they knew and trusted there to help all of us to get free.
I believed it.
Which was why I’d be fighting on my end, too, no matter how nervous or scared I’d be.