CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER 3

MEL

“Please, please, please.” The girl screamed as she was being dragged by her hair, off the big stage. I couldn’t make out her face because she was blindfolded. They were all screaming and blindfolded.

Except me.

I was placed on a small stage away from the main crowd, my knees bent to the ground and my hands bound together. I didn’t make a sound because I was frightened at the sight before me. A long line of blindfolded girls were being dragged or carried into a truck.

“Capo said to keep her away from the others and to not rough her up.” I heard a woman’s voice.

 “Guess, he has found his play toy.” another voice said.

“No, no, no, let me go.” I cried, screaming as if I just realized what they were doing.

“You are home, my precious.” His voiced boomed above others. The monster walked to me, sat on the chair placed before me, his eyes dead and said “WELCOME HOME.”

A gunshot fired.

 “NO!!” I screamed, waking up from the floor, sweating, even though I could feel the cold air coming from the AC in the room. “It’s just a nightmare.” I had cried myself to sleep on the floor and my head ached from last night.

“Uhh, last night.” I laid back on the floor with my hand covering my eyes to shield against the incoming headache as I recalled the events of last night.

“It was for the best.” I announce loudly to myself.

My phone buzzed. It was a text from Angie.

I got up and walked to the shower while I called her.

“I had my phone ready to call the freaking cops if you hadn’t called me.” She complained.

“I was sleeping.” I put her on loud speaker and placed the phone on the cabinet.

“Ouhhhhhhh, you little she-devil.” Angie giggled. “So, how was it?”

I turned on the shower and hot water hit my skin. I moaned with gratitude.

I relay what happened last night to her.

“No freaking way, that bastard.” Since all I could feel was pity for myself, I accepted Angie’s anger with joy. “Ohhh, if I ever see his face around the bar again, he’s gonna get it.” 

“No worries though, I won’t be seeing him again.”

“Not exactly how you dreamed of your first time, uhh?” She said sadly.

“I will be fine.”

“Angie!!!” I heard Scott scream over the phone. “I pay you to work not talk.”

“I got to go. Text me when you get on the train, Bye.” She went off.

I got out the shower, dressed up, picked up my already packed bag and then took one last look around the place I had made home for the last two years since I had moved out of my adopted parents’ house.

“To my next chapter.” I smile to myself and walk out the door, locking it for the last time.

 My phone rang. It was Jack. Might as well tell him I’m leaving, I thought.

“Where the hell have you been? I have been texting you non-stop.” he said angrily.

“Lemme guess, you missed your little sister or you missed your personal cash app.” I replied.

“Don’t act childish, Mellisia and tell me where you are. I have already checked the bar, so don’t lie to me.”

 “I’m leaving Jack and I’m not coming back, so forget it.” I cross the road to a nearby alley.

‘Don’t joke with me, you bitch.” He yelled. “After all I have done for you, now you want to leave me all high and dry.”

“I think you mean after all I have done for you, Jack.” I say, slowly losing my temper. “I am tired of covering your ass and you using me as a bank to pay your gambling debts. So, you can go cry to Mum and Dad for all I care, I am done.”

 “Listen Mel, I know you are probably angry we didn’t celebrate your birthday yesterday. I am sorry, okay.” He sounded calm. That’s weird, I thought. Jack never backs down easily. “See, your location says you are at Queen Street, just stay put.  I’ll come pick you, take you to the house and we can talk about this calmly, okay?”

The Bastard.

“Are you tracking me, what the f***?” Shocked, I screamed through the speaker of my phone. “Go to hell.” I switched off my phone.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a man, standing at the end of my street, staring at me. I ignore him, thinking he probably heard me screaming on my phone.

Refusing to cry because of Jack, I wipe my eyes dry and run down the alley, rushing to reach the train station before the train I booked leaves. I reached the end of the alley, about to turn the corner when I see two men, dressed in all black standing at the end the corner.

Shit, I thought, one of the men looked familiar. I have seen him harassing Jack for debts he owed them. ‘It’s only a coincidence”, I said, trying to ease my nerves. The men looked up, saw me and started walking towards me.

Scared, I walked back into the alley, to get away from them.

Biggest mistake of my life.

The man I saw earlier stood there at the entrance, as if waiting for me. I turned to go back the way I came, but the two men were already there blocking the exit. I was cornered.

“Look, I don’t want no trouble, just let me pass.” I said, trying to sound tough.

 I was scared shitless.

“Neither do we, just follow us gently.” said the man I recognized.

“See, I have 300 dollars with me, and there is more where that came from.” Dropping the contents of my purse on the floor. “I even have some jewelries you could sell, just please let me go.” I beg.

 The man at the entrance laughed and walked to me saying “Keep your trinkets, pretty face. You are coming with us.”

“Help, someone help me.” I screamed at the top of my lungs. I felt a needle prick my skin. “No, no, no, please.” I pleaded desperately. Not this, I think to myself as I lose consciousness.

*****************

I hear distant voices as I struggle to open my eyes. Looking around the small dark room, I see two men both dressed in suits talking to themselves.

 “Think he will be angry that we drugged her?”

“She wasn’t exactly willing to come with us now, was she?”

“I just hope the bitch wakes up before he comes.

 “Hey, don’t call her that, she looks so peaceful and pretty sleeping.”

“You always had a soft spot for pretty faces.”

“Who are you?” I say trying to sit up on the sofa.

 “Oh, she is awake.” A tall, bald man said, getting to his feet.

“I’ll go tell him that she is here.” The other yelled, walking out of the room.

The bald man walked towards me slowly, as if trying to attack me.

“Get away from me.” I shout, holding out the knife I had stashed in my shorts. “Or I swear I will cut you.”

The man just smiles and says “Drop that thing and sit down. I don’t want to hurt you but I will if I have too.”

I launch at him with the knife but he steps sideways, tripping me off my feet. I hit the ground with a loud thud, groaning in pain.  

“You cut me.” The man said with anger in his eyes. He raises his hand as if to strike me. I hit him in the groin and he falls to the ground. I quickly get to my feet, run to the exit and down a flight of stairs.

“You bitch, get back here.” The man shouts, getting to his feet.

“Get her you idiots.” Turning back as I run down the stairs, I see two men chasing me. I open a back door that has the sign EXIT on it, but I fall into hands that hold me firmly.

“No, let me go, let me go.” Screaming, I squirm to wiggle free from my captor.

“Hey, hey, calm down, you are safe.”

That voice. I turn to see the man holding me captive in his arms.

 “It’s you.”