Emily
"I…" I tried to think of what to say. It was scary the way he stood there, all big and strong. I gulped in fear not knowing how to ensure that I was safe. There was no way I could know that; standing in a place I did not know only made my fear grow worse…
"C'mon, don't be scared. I do not bite. Where are you heading to?"
"I do…not know," I told the truth. It was only a matter of time before I might be in danger as he stared at me like a huge snack.
"I am trying to go to the American embassy here. I just want to get you out of here. First, I need a route to a friend." I thought of my phone, showing him the address. I had to look for Dad because he was the only one who could explain to me why I was in this mess. There didn't seem to be a way out.
"You are very far from this route you have given me." He relaxed, seeing how helpless I was. He breathed. "If you are okay with it, I can show you to the place leading to where you are going, but you have to follow me." I hesitated, but I was in the middle of nowhere, not knowing how well I would be able to find the place to Dad's house. I didn't think I would be able to find him there since he had always had a way of dodging my calls and my questions. It was the saddest thing that I had to rely on the help of a fucking stranger.
"Fine." I trailed behind me as he looked at the side of his eye if I was still with him, trailing behind him. The good thing was that he could speak English. I didn't know how I got to be in a country where French was the primary language. I turned to see where I came from, but there were buildings far back. I couldn't pinpoint where I came from.
"Can you tell me where you are taking me to? I can't seem to find where we are coming from?" He gave a small smile.
"You worry too much, I am taking you exactly where you need to." We followed several back alleys until we came into an open space. Several guys with leather jackets came out from several hidden spaces, with their eyes lit in excitement.
"Boss is going to be thrilled. This one is different from the previous one we've hunted." Confusion reigned on me,
"Did Cedric send you guys?! If he sent you guys, then you must be out of your fucking mind!"
One of them spoke with excitement in his eyes, cigarette in his hands. "She's a fighter. Where did you see her?" He asked, a bit inquisitive about where I was before I had found myself in the middle of a gang.
"She was just wandering. Luckily for us, unfortunately for her." My heart's rhythm became uneven as I scanned the area for a way out. I tried to use my memory to fix a road map.
It was futile. They were closing in on me. "Don't you dare come close to me?" I tried to turn and turn, but one of them grabbed me by the foot, dragging me until another placed a bag over my head. It was dark and there was no air.
"Help me please!" My mind went to Cedric. "I know that Cedric sent you, please tell him that I am willing to go willingly. Please!"
They all laughed. I felt my weight become very light, and I couldn't place the location, but I heard the door shut and the movement of the car. There was only one place where I knew I would find myself, and it was the last place I wanted to be. I became sick to my stomach, and all I wanted to do was empty the contents in my stomach.
Everything felt blank, I couldn't make out what was happening until I was dragged into a room. They removed the bag hanging on my head. "You run and you are dead."
"I want to speak to Cedric?!" I yelled back at him.
"Oh, mon cheri, who the hell is Cedric?" I was shocked until I heard the whimpering from the corner of the room. I turned to see a small number of girls clinging to their bodies and their half-tattered clothes.
"Who are you guys?" I asked them as they stared at me with their sunken eyes. Another approached from beside me.
"You are the new one. I think it would be any time now when they would rally us as a token for an auction?"
"A what?!"
"You heard me, are you dumb?!" I could tell the frustration leaning close to their anger. It was clear that these men were from a different part of town. I didn't think I would be a victim of this twice. I was sold to a billionaire for something as flimsy as freedom, and now I was going to be showcased like designer clothes for a thousand bills.
I admitted that I was unlucky. Everything about France has been nothing but bad luck to me. I didn't know how to get out of this; was this my reality now? I asked myself trying to stop the tears from falling.
"What now?!" The young girl sighed.
"It seems you are from money. From the way you are dressed, I can tell that you were just unfortunate." I began to hate the word. It was clear that I was unlucky, even those that haven't met me before knew just how much bad luck had been with me. It was the aura around me. "I think rich men who just want a plaything are who we are given to. Very soon, they will need us and we have to do as they have said."
I sighed. I knew my time here was going to be long, but I was too stubborn to do as I was told. Too stubborn to witness that I might die here and no one would know where I have been.
The panic drove my attention to the other side of the room where they had gathered. The girl, who was just like my age, continued convulsing.
"Please, please, we have to help her. Call for help." I tried to turn her to her side, waiting for the seizure to stop.
"There is no need, no one is coming. I think it was the drug they gave her or she was an addict before she came here."
I became confused. Watching the light snuff from her eyes.
"It is too late. She is dead."