16. A TRIP DOWN THE MEMORY LANE

I was walking down the street, returning from Ellie's house after a group study session. Winter season has just begun and I felt the chilling breeze making me shiver. I wrap the scarf  tightly around my neck and fish my phone out of pocket to text Elijah that I will come home by myself.

"Holy choco pops!" I groan looking at my dead phone.

I forgot to charge it even though I saw that it was at only six  percent when Elijah texted me to inform that he would be late so I should catch a ride with one of my friends but they decided to stay over for the night at Ellie's and I promised mom that  I would be home since it was a school night.

I felt somebody's eyes on my back and I turned my head around, without pausing the walk, only to find no one there.

Maybe, I'm just paranoid. After all it was the first time that I was walking home, alone and that, too, at this time of the night. It was almost ten pm.

A few seconds passed in silence, without any fear, and I internally sighed. But I guess it was too soon because the next moment, I heard the sound of footsteps echoing through the empty street.

My heart begun to pound wildly against my rib cage as I heard the boots hitting against the pavement. From my peripheral vision, I saw a man walking just a  few feet behind me with a hood covering his head but he was busy typing something on his phone so I brushed it off and increased my pace.

I was now only five minutes away from my house. And that thought provided me some sense of comfort. Soon, I would be home.

But I guess, fate had something else in store for me that night. When I faced in the straight direction again, I bumped into someone and my head collided with their chest. I nearly shrieked and stepped back in hurry, rubbing my forehead in the process.

I looked up at the buff guy, whose entire body was covered in tattoos, in a mix of shock and fear.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled and side stepped him to walk away but he caught me by my upper arm.

His grip was tight, vice like and I whimpered in pain. He smirked looking up and down my body. Something in his gaze made me shrink back in fear but he didn't let me move, not even an inch.

"Let me go." I managed to breathe out.

I felt another presence behind me and craned my neck to look at the same hoodie guy who I thought was using his phone but was actually following me.

The buff guy chuckled displaying his yellowish teeth and shook his head in amusement, "You ain't going nowhere, kid. You're coming with us. Boss would be happy to see what a tiny, gorgeous piece we have brought him." he spoke in a deep voice.

Tears gathered in my eyes as I made a fail attempt to free myself but they didn't even bidge.

"Please." I pleaded softly.

Before he or I could say anything further, the guy behind me brought a rag to my mouth and I started struggling once again, digging my heels in the pavement hoping that they will somehow stop and leave me alone but I started feeling lightheaded after a couple of seconds.

They had sprayed something on the rag and I knew I wouldn't be able to put up a fight anymore.

Darkness clouded my vision and I felt myself being lifted in the air before I lost all my senses and fell into deep slumber.

***

"Nick!" I gasped jolting awake.

I felt something binding my wrists and I fell back on the bed with a light bounce. I turned my head to see white ropes wrapped tightly around my wrists and the other end was tied with the nightstand.

My breathing picked up as all the events registered in my mind. I was kidnapped!

The first tear fell, followed by many more until I was full on sobbing and trying to break free from the restraints. The ropes brushed brutally against my soft skin, forming bruises. I hissed in pain but didn't stop.

Amidst my failed struggle, I heard the click of the lock and my head snapped so fast in that direction, I almost had a whiplash.

A man walked inside dressed in a white button down shirt with a grey vest over it and grey slacks. His brown hair were gelled back and his cold blue eyes stared at me.

I cowered away in fear and pushed myself against the headboard. My wrists swiped against the ropes sending a painful vibration in my wrists. I looked away from the tall, intimidating guy to see small droplets of blood falling on the floor. The once white ropes were now painted red and I could feel them pierce my skin, the more I moved. I froze on spot and kept looking at them like a crazy person.

When I felt the bed dip, I cautiously moved my gaze to the man who was now sitting at the foot of the bed staring at me in... shock.

"Princess?" he whispered looking at me oddly.

"Huh?" I asked with a small frown.

He blinked and snapped out of whatever trance he was in before speaking once again, "You really do resemble her, Cameron was right."

"W-who?" I asked in fear as a whole new wave of fear and dread washed over me.

I wanted to be away from here, as soon as possible.

"That's none of your business!" And just like that, the man snapped making me flinch back.

He's bipolar, I thought.

Then he leaned towards me and I clenched my eyes shut, preparing myself for the worst but I was left dumbfounded when I felt him cutting the ropes.

He was freeing my wrists!

"Are you- are you letting me g-go?" I asked with a glimmer of hope.

He leaned back with a loud, obnoxious laugh and I cradled my wrists to my chest. It hurt so bad.

"You're so naive." he whispered.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to stop the tears from falling down, once again.

Keyword, tried.

My shoulders begun to shake slightly and I buried my head in my legs as I sobbed. I just wanted to go home and feel the comfort and warmth of my parent's arms around me.

"Ssh, you'll be alright." he cooed.

"Why am I here?" I asked looking up.

He gazed at me intently, as if contemplating whether to tell me or not, "Well, you were brought here for a purpose." he announced.

"W-what?" I asked in fear.

"I am a businessman." he stated casually.

I frowned at him in confusion thinking why is he telling me all of this especially right now.

"Oh, you must be confused as to why am I telling you this right now. I'll clear it up for you, I am businessman and I make millions by selling humans. Girls, more precisely." he talked about it as if he was discussing weather with me.

My eyes grew twice their size as my brain processed this information, "Wha?" I asked hoping for it to be a joke but the man looked like he could not joke even if his life depended on it.

"You heard me, Eliza." he called my name.

I choked on air as soon as he spoke my name. How did he know?!

"Your driver's license." he answered my unasked question.

My skin crawled in horror and I felt paralyzed. This man was going to sell me like some piece of furniture. And he was going to get money in return.

Bile rose up my throat but I, somehow, pushed  it down and opened my mouth but he cut me off, "But I changed my mind. You will stay here, in my mansion, and work as a maid with the rest of the staff." he spoke as if he was doing me a huge favor and shrugged.

And that was the first time, I felt disgusted with myself and everything and everyone around me.

***

The next day, I was given a knee length black dress which had a white lace around its collared neck and black pumps to go with it.

A lady who was in her late forties came to my room and provided me with the toiletries I needed to shower and some undergarments, as well. She sat me down on a stool in front of the mirror after I had showered and dressed and begun to comb through my dry hair before gathering them in a high ponytail, all the while I kept crying.

I looked at her from the mirror and sniffled, "Let me go, I beg you." I whispered.

Her lips turned in a frown and a look of pity came over her face, "Listen child, you have to follow the boss' orders or face the consequences. I'd much rather you follow these orders than be raped or beaten by his goons." she spoke quietly.

I gulped audibly in terror and looked down at my intertwined hands in my lap. From that day, I became a maid there. The boss, whose name I later found out was Carlos, made me do double shifts; day and night. One evening, I asked Marie, the head chef and the lady who helped me here my first day, that why did the boss keep me here instead of selling me to which she answered that I resembled his sister who was murdered a few years back by one of his enemies.

I saw girls being dragged out of the house everyday, wearing dresses so short and tight that they barely left anything to the imagination, and never come back. It became crystal clear that they were being held against there will.

That place gave birth to my anxiety and panic attacks. The male workers touched my butt and slapped it whenever they liked it and if I flinched, they would do it again. They would try to invade my personal space or sometimes follow me around for hours.

It gave them some sense of satisfaction whenever I jumped in fright. Carlos had specifically instructed them not to touch me in any inappropriate way but they always did it in his absence. Carlos, himself, was never a bother except for the fact that  he did not let me leave.

The screams of the girl often woke me up during nights. Those fourteen days were hell for me and I just wanted to escape so I decided one morning that I would jump from the window. My room was on the fifth floor and there was no way that I would ever make it but I didn't care. If that meant being free, I was ready to die.

But luckily when I woke up next morning, the first thing I heard was, police sirens and the blue and red lights surrounding the big mansion.

What is happening? I felt my chest begin to tighten and I could feel another attack fighting it's way up.

The door to MY room burst open and my eyes widened when I saw Elijah standing at the threshold.

I screamed and ran in his arms, at once, before my dam broke loose and I cried for the umpteenth time in his shirt.

"You're safe, princess." That's the only sentence I heard before I lost consciousness.

Hi, hope you're all doing well and staying indoors.

What do you think about this chapter? Let me know. :)

Stay Safe. ♥️