Chapter 30 Laynie
Ithink I laid on the floor for hours until someone started shaking me and I peeled open my eyes.
“Get up, we have somewhere to be.” Alek yanked me to my feet, and I winced. Everything hurt: my nails, my face, my ribs, my leg.
“I need you showered and ready to go in 20 minutes. We have a party to attend.” He laid a black dress and heals next to the sink.
Why would he choose me to go to this party? My state resembled that of a walking zombie, but I didn’t have a choice but to obey. I stumbled into the shower, where he left me alone. Thank God. I had to be quick, as the water felt like ice against my skin. Trying to prevent them from getting wet, I held up my fingers until the end. I had no choice but to use the other hand since those wounds were a few days old now. I fumbled around in the shower, trying to avoid getting soap in my wounds. When soap dripped onto my finger nail beds, I hissed with pain. I took a few deep breaths and forced myself to finish. I turned the water off and wrapped myself in the dirty towel he left me. It felt thin and scratchy, but it was better than nothing. I didn’t want to wash my hair, but I had to. I had blood and vomit on it. Washing your hair meant you were going to be more cold even after you had dried off.
I slipped into the dress he left for me and brushed my hair with the only brush on the sink. It was a miracle we all didn’t get lice. I brushed my teeth and thankfully we got our own toothbrushes. How kind of them? I wiped my face one last time, and I peaked at myself in the mirror. I looked awful. My right eye was almost swollen shut, and I had enormous bruises on my cheeks. I looked like a lost a boxing match with Mike Tyson. My nose felt broken, but it looked normal. I slid on the heels he left and when I tried to step forward; it made the pain in my calf three times worse. Slowly, I limped back to my bed in the warehouse and sat down. I wanted to lie down and sleep. I wanted to sleep and never wake up.
“Let’s go!” I heard Alek call from the bay doors.
In the car Alek was on the phone the entire way, speaking in Russian. At least his focus wasn’t on me. I leaned my head against the window and realized Alek wasn’t covering my eyes when we left, nor was he making me kneel on the floorboard. I took in my surroundings. Noting every single store and sign I could remember. Part of me knew he wasn’t hiding my eyes because he was going to kill me, so it didn’t matter if I saw where the warehouse was or not. As terrified as I should have been, that little piece of knowledge gave me peace. At least there would be no more suffering.
We pulled up to a large iron gate and a man on the large speaker allowed us in. It looked like a mansion in the heart of NYC. It was the mayor’s house. We stepped outside the car and I saw the yellow painted house and the white porch. I had been here a few times. He was a scumbag, just like the rest.
The sun was setting, and I realized all my days were blending together. I didn’t know when it was night or day unless I went outside. There were 50-60 people lined up outside the door, but we walked past them and into the house. No one even questioned Alek or approached him. I stood by his side while he mingled with other guests, feeling like my head was going to explode from the headache pounding against my skull. I got a few glances and odd looks, but everyone knew why I was there and what I was. No one cared about the poor battered girl who was following Alek around like a sick puppy dog. Alek hadn’t spoken to me the whole evening, but he would pinch my arms if he felt I wasn’t paying attention or starting to doze off. I tried to keep my fingers down, but they hurt so bad, I wanted to cradle them against me.
Alek eventually poured me a drink of something strong. It tasted awful, but I drank it anyway. Alcohol made everything less intense. I knew it was only a matter of time before my imminent demise and I would prefer to be drunk for it.
Finally, Alek had made his way to a seat on the sofa. I gladly sat next to him and had to fight the urge to doze off. I looked at the faces in the crowd. It was full of rich old men. Of course, their wives weren’t here, but there were woman walking around in little skirts and tank tops serving drinks as the men would slap their ass or grab their tits. All they did was giggle and walk away. Disgusting. Alek put his hand on my thigh while we sat there. It was like his leash on me and his way of letting me know I would never escape him. Every few minutes, he would squeeze my thigh so hard it made me wince. I kept drinking the red juice in my cup, hoping for some relief.
The last time we came to an event like this, I remember a girl was murdered in this very living room and I wondered if that’s what was going to happen to me. Maybe tonight I was their victim and I would be free from all this misery and pain. As much as I wanted Linc to find me, I knew it was impossible. Alek would cover his tracks and make sure I was never found, even after I was killed. The liquid burned my throat as it slid down.
Alek turned to me and put a tiny blue pill in my cup. I watched it fizz as hit the liquid. Sometimes he would give me pills to make me relax or more compliant and I knew that’s what he was doing now. I swallowed it with ease, welcoming the feelings it would bring. Sometimes I would wake up from being drugged and not remember a single thing. I couldn’t ask for anything better in a situation like this. I leaned myself back against the couch, trying to ignore his hand squeezing my thigh.
I opened my eyes as the world became a bit more clear. Sounds sounded louder than they were and nausea filled my stomach. For a second, I thought I was dreaming when I saw a familiar face in the crowd. It took me a few minutes to remember where I knew him from. He’s the guy from the apartment. The one where Linc found me. Oh, my god he knows Linc! I kept my eyes glued on him while I struggled to keep myself coherent. When I saw him move to another room, I knew it was time to approach him.
“Can I use the bathroom? I feel sick.” Technically, this wasn’t a lie. I felt like I was going to vomit all over his alligator shoes.
He removed his hand from my thigh and pointed towards the back of the house. I nearly collided with two people trying to keep my eye on that guy and remain on my feet. When I turned the corner, he was standing there talking to a woman, but luckily out of sight of Alek.
“Excuse me,” I whispered.
He stopped talking and eyed me. “What?” he said. He looked nervous. He knew I was there with Alek.
The girl seemed to take the hint and moved on to the next guy.
I was trying hard not to panic and keep my composure when I spoke, but my words were spilling out of my mouth like vomit. “You remember me, right? I’m the girl from the apartment. You hung me up. Lincoln came in. Do you remember?” I felt like the world was spinning.
“Uh yeah I do…” he looked past me, confused. “What is this about?”
“Linc is looking for me. Please call him. Tell him where I am. Please, right now. Help me. Please, I promise he is looking for me.” I was going to run out of time soon and my legs were wobbling.
“Why is he looking for you?” he asked.
I didn’t really know how to explain this to him, nor did I have the energy. “He’s my friend.” It was all I could say before I felt Alek grab the back of my hair and yank me backwards.
“What is this?” he snarled in my ear.
Oh God. How much did he hear?
“She was asking me where the bathroom was,” he said.
“I told you where the bathroom was, you dumb bitch.” He shoved me towards the bathroom door and went inside with me.
“Don’t you dare vomit in here,” he threatened.
I nodded as I leaned into the sink and took several shaky breaths.
“Pull yourself together. You have a long night ahead of you,” he said in a clipped voice.
I stood up and walked out of the bathroom. He followed close behind. I knew he wouldn’t leave me unattended again. I just had to hope that guy would call Lincoln.
As we sat back down on the couch, I could feel myself losing my grip on reality. Things were becoming a blur, and the last thing I remember was laying my head against Alek’s shoulder before I blacked out.