20
Xavier
“I swear to God if she’s not here I will kill your entire family. I will kill your entire—”
“She’s going to be here. It’s where I left her.” Emerson’s dark eyes bounce into mine.
I’ve nearly killed him. I’m surprised he has the strength to walk if I’m being honest. His sister did the trick. She’s fourteen. Carl said it would be too risky. That’s why I asked another one of my men to do the job. You'd think that if your brother was high up in a sex-trafficking ring, you'd be more careful and have guards securing your entire family around the clock. I guess some people think they are untouchable.
We’re surrounded by a heavily wooded area. It’s like out of a movie, not a soul in sight—at least in about a fifty-mile radius. We continue walking through the brush. I swear to God if he’s pulling any shit, I will torture him for fucking years.
“Here.” He pants as he falls. Emerson’s malnourished. He hasn’t eaten in days or had any water. But still, he’s led us here. He’s kept his end of the bargain to save his family. I owe him a little respect for that.
“Here? What the fuck do you mean here? There’s nothing fucking here!” I hiss as I look around in all directions. My men are scattered around these woods. I’d know if someone else was here. He points to a large boulder. “Behind that.” He says out of breath. I walk towards the boulder and see it’s on top of something. I usher Carl over and the two of us grunt loudly as we slide the rock away. I see light. I see a latch and I see light. I quickly shove all of the debris and leaves out of the way. Dirt flies all over the place as I uncover a rigid old door. The metal latch shines under the moonlight perfectly. I slide it over as my heart hammers against my chest. I lift the wooden planks up and just like out of a movie, in the middle of nowhere, I’m led into an underground bunker. Gas-lights light up the tunnel. “Stay here, Carl,” I order as I make my way further in. For all I know I could be heading straight for death. I could be walking straight into a booby trap. I don’t care. I will search every inch of this God-forsaken world to find her. To find my Nora.
My eyes bounce all over as I continue to make my trek further in. The dirt walls drip with water. There is nothing here. Just a long hallway. I continue walking as hope slowly fades from my body. Disappointment and rage begin to quickly fill me with each step I take. She’s not here. Nobody is here. “Fuck!” I yell loudly as tears fill my eyes. My body goes numb in disappointment.
“Hello?” I hear a woman’s faint voice. I run as fast as I can down the hallway towards it. I run and run and run until finally I see another dim-light.
My shoes sink deep into the muddy ground as I continue to run towards the light. My heart races uncontrollably. My legs feel like boulders as I continue towards the light.
I break the door down and I swear my heart skips a beat. I see Nora lying on the muddy ground, tied to a metal twin-sized bed that’s sunken in. I sob loudly as I continue to run towards her. Her wide eyes hold mine as her mouth parts in utter disbelief.
“Xavier—you.” She bursts out in a loud and hysterical sob. I cradle her in my arms as emotion overcomes both of us. “You—” Her hand cups my face. I kiss her forehead as tears stream continuously down my cheeks. I pull out the knife that’s in my back pocket, then I cut her free from the bed.
This can’t be happening. I thought she was dead for years. I hold her tightly as I completely lose all self-control. The two of us cry loudly as we make our way out of this eerie nightmare. Raw tears of joy and heartache slid down my face. I’ve finally found her. My Nora.