CHAPTER 4

 My eyelids feel heavy as I struggle to open them. I feel soreness in my wrists and see that they have been bound together by a rope. I sluggishly try to sit up but am pushed back down by the roughness of the road which keeps causing the vehicle to hit bumps. 

 I look around and see that I am in the back of a van. I try to feel for my phone in my pockets but realize that all the things that were in my pockets had been removed. I begin hitting the walls of the van hoping it would at least draw some form of attention. I keep on doing this until an irritated voice filters in from the seat. "I will break your hands if you don't stop doing that."

 "So sassy for what?" I scoff and say under my breath with a dramatic eye roll. "Can you at least tell me where you're taking me?"

 I'm met with silence. "Pussies." I pick at my nails boredly, trying to use my teeth to even them out. I realise that I'm not going to get any information or answer out of them, so I lay back down and hum quietly. 

 I am a hundred and one percent sure that none of my family members will notice that I am missing, and even if they do, it'll probably be good riddance for them. Whatever I am about to face will definitely be better than what I've had to live through in that household so I'm basically so indifferent toward whatever that is going on right now. 

 The van drives to a halt and I feel relieved that I can finally get out of this cage-like space. I hear the doors open, and the dull shine of the moon that comes into view when they open the trunk makes me wonder how long I have been passed out and in here for. And really how far is this place from civilisation?

 I recognise the man who kidnapped me from school and I glare at him, but he remains expressionless. Before I can make a witty remark, a black bag is thrown over my head and I am enveloped in darkness. I let out a gasp as I feel myself being hoisted and thrown over someone's shoulder. The trunk of the van is slammed shut and I assume we begin heading inside wherever they brought me to. I didn't even get a chance to look at the building.

 The footsteps come to a halt, and I hear keys jangling, as though he was trying to unlock a door. The door is pushed open and I take the liberty to give whoever was carrying me a tight pinch on his left butt cheek. Definitely a bad idea because he throws me roughly on the concrete floor and I land butt first. Well, tit for tat I guess.

 The black bag is yanked off my head and I am greeted by an unfamiliar face. He is dressed in all black as well but this one has a bald shiny head and a scar that stretches along the length of his right cheek. What's with these people and black?

 He points to a bucket across the room and it is then I am able to look around. The room is purely concrete but I spot a pathetic little bed, pillow and duvet at the corner, and look back at the bucket scar-face pointed to, assuming that was in case I needed to use the toilet. Yuck.

 There is only a little square hole bound by bars to serve as a window, and light from the room reflects dimly into what looks like a cellar. The door is more like a tiny gate, and I stare at the open padlock which is obviously meant to secure it. This place is just like a prison cell and my mind is going into overdrive trying to understand why I was brought here.

 The other guy, who I assume his name is Raph because that's what I heard scar-face call him when we got down from the van walks towards me and bends down. He is eye to eye with me and I send a wink his way, to which he grimaces. So much for trying to be friendly, I guess.

 He unties the ropes on my hands and leg and only then am I able to stretch properly. I get up, stare at the two men for a few seconds and walk to the bucket. "Well, aren't you going to turn around? Have some manners." I say to them, and they turn in unison, rather awkwardly. I bend down to pee, and when I'm done, I walk over to the bed and plop down on it.

 The two men look at me with a confused expression, and I just shrug indifference. This may be the most peace ive had since I was seven and I'm not going to go into overdrive panicking. Although it does sting coming to the realisation that my parents and sister may not even notice I'm gone, and this thought causes me to have that tight feeling in my throat, but I swallow it back.

 Tears have never changed anything, so it will make no difference now. The two men walk out of the room, locking the door behind them. I roll over to my side, facing the concrete wall, and I do not know when sobs begin to rack through my whole body.

 The possibility is that I may be raped, killed or trafficked, and the thought of going through any of those made me blow up into full hysterics. I chastise myself for being so weak. I haven't cried like this in so many years, and for the first time, I allow myself to let all the buried pain out. 

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 The sound of keys jangling and someone fumbling with the padlock causes me to stir awake. I open my eyes halfway, the light shining through the barred windows indicating that it was a new day. I groan and try to sit up, but still feel so tired.

 I look towards the direction of the door to see which entity had come to see me in this cell. Home doesn't look too bad anymore after spending a night in this place.

 I see a face that sends my body into overdrive. His tall, muscular frame exudes power, accentuated by a tight black shirt which hugs his body in all the right places. His chiselled jawline and stubble add a hit of ruggedness to his otherwise refined appearance. With piercing eyes that seem to hold a thousand secrets, he looks at me, and gradually walks towards me. I notice a bowl and spoon in his right hand, a bottle of water in his left.

 He squats in front of me and places the bowl beside me. "That's breakfast." He says. I look into the bowl and see a gooey mixture. It looks like oatmeal mixed with something I don't think I want to find out. I poke it with the spoon and it's even thicker than I thought. I look at him dead in the eye. "Ew."

 He drops the bottle of water as well and stands up as though he was about to leave, but instead goes to close the door and walks back to me. He sits across me on the floor with his knees up to his face, the light hitting his face from that angle. In the little minutes of silence, I properly take in his facial features. His eyes are almost black, covered with long almost perfect lashes. His high cheekbones accentuate his features. His black hair seems slightly wet, as though he had just taken a shower, and a sword tattoo runs around the side of his neck. I see a bit of ink peeking through the hem of his shirt which makes it obvious he is also inked on his torso. He doesn't look like he would be older that twenty-two, twenty-three, maximum.

 "Hello Ava." He says, the only emotion evident on his face being boredom. "Why am I here?". No answer. "I will run away and report you guys to the police." I threaten. His face lightens with amusement. Oh, now he's amused. "My parents will realise I am missing in no time", I press on further. He bursts into laughter. What's the joke though? I narrow my eyes.

 "You're not leaving here anytime soon Ava. With time, we'll get to know each other better, but for now, you stay here so that you don't do anything stupid." He replies. "Though you smell terrible, so I think it's best you have a shower. But first, eat. You'll be allowed a bath later in the day."

 I scoff and say under my breath, "not like you smell any better." But on a serious note, what is this place, and who are these people? I hear voices in the distance, all deep, gruff voices. I begin to think I'm the only female here, and that thought incites fear that causes my eyes to sting again. No, Ava. What did we talk about.

 He stands up and begins to walk away. "Is this meant to be a mafia or drug ring or something?" I ask. No response. "Can I at least get your name?" My response is the sound of the door shutting, and once again, I'm left alone.

 I pick up the bowl with what is meant to be food, and sniff it. It has no smell. I attempt to give it a little taste, but that was a very bad idea. The taste almost made me throw up in my mouth and I push the bowl to the side and gulp down the water to wash away the taste. Starving it is then, I guess.