1. Catalina

"Mama, papa, I'm home. And let me tell you that I am now a proud..." I screech to a halt, my eyes going to the three men in our living room. One is seated while the other two are standing. I wonder if they're Papa's friends because he never brings anyone around "Oh, we have visitors. Hi"

"Run Catalina. Run" Andres yells from the other side of the room. I furrow my eyebrows, wondering what has gotten into him.

"Quiet. Can't you see we have visitors?" Papa snaps.

"Is she the one you were talking about?" One of the men asks turning to look at me. He gives me a once-over and then nods. As if he approves of what he's seeing "We'll see if the boss accepts her"

"She's pure. Untouched" Papa rushes to say. For the first time, I notice that he is kneeling and Mama and Andres are standing in a corner, hurdled up together. These men don't look friendly at all and despite their size, they are too young to be Papa's friends. A feeling of foreboding creeps up my spine. Who are they? What do they want? What did Papa mean by pure and untouched?

"What is going on?"

"He's selling..." Andres starts to speak but Mama slaps a hand over his mouth. Cutting off whatever he wanted to say.

"If we find out you're lying, Ramon..."

"I'm not. I promise I'm not lying"

"Let's go then," The man says. The one still sitting gets up, grabs my arm, and roughly spins me around.

"Wait, what is going on?" I cry trying to yank my arm away but the man only grips me tighter "Let go of me. Papa, what is going on? Mama? Mama?"

"Careful Anibal. Don't leave bruises" That from the first man. He's taller than the rest and has to be the meanest-looking person I've ever met. We're already at the door but neither Mama nor Papa is stopping them. Where are they taking me? Why isn't anyone saying anything?

"Don't force me to knock you out"

"Where are you taking me?" I ask, stopping the struggle to see if they'll answer me "At least tell me what's going on"

"Your father borrowed money from us. You are the payment"

"What?" I croak out realizing we're already outside. What do they mean I'm the payment? Andres said something about selling- surely they can't be serious. Looking over my shoulder, I see Papa getting up and following us. A small part of me feels relieved that he's changed his mind. I am his daughter. Of course, he wouldn't let anyone take me because of a debt. I just finished high school today and that means I'm a grown-up. Instead of going to college, I will get a job and help him pay off the debt. I don't mind taking a year off. Santiago will understand. He will also help me because we love each other. When Papa is at the door, he stops, looks at me for a few seconds then says,

"Just take it that you're getting married, Catalina. After all, you're already of age and you were bound to get married sooner or later"

And to my shock and horror, he closes the door on my face...

"Move it. We don't have all day" One of the men pulls me to a car, shoves me inside, and bangs the door close. I'm too stunned to even react. What is happening? Did Papa really sell me and did Mama just watch it happen? As if I'm not their daughter? How could they do this? No, it must be a dream. I am definitely dreaming.

Papa doesn't show his feelings but I know he loves me. Of course, he loves Andres more and is always buying him stuff but that is only because I'm older and I can earn my own money. Last summer, I got a job at the cafetería in town and bought everyone gifts. Papa even complimented me on what a good girl I am. There's no way he sold me. Yet here I am, sitting in a car with three strange men. The car roars to life then we're speeding away but no one is following us. Did they forget? I'm right here. They can't just buy me. Who even buys people in this day and age? Snapping back to reality, I turn to the guy driving.

"Stop the car. I need to get out" He doesn't even act like he heard me. So I reach out and touch his shoulder "Hey, I said stop the car"

"Shut the fuck up before I stuff a sock in your mouth," the one sitting next to me says without looking up. He's scrolling through his phone. The driver adds

"I wouldn't mind getting a blow job while I'm driving. Why don't you switch seats with her, Julio?" He glances at me then looks ahead, scoffing "Pure and untouched my ass. Wanna bet how many high school dicks she's sucked?"

"The boss comes first" The guy in the passenger seat answers. I ignore what they're saying and ask again,

"Where are you taking me? This is kidnapping. The police will arrest you and put you in jail"

"Why don't you try calling them?" He lifts his eyes and the look in them sends a shiver down my spine "Do you have a phone or would you like me to lend you mine?"

I can hear the threat in his voice. He will let me call the police but I will also pay for inconveniencing them. It dawns on me that these are not ordinary people. Back at the house, they said something about seeing if their boss liked me. I don't know who they're working for but I hope it's not who I'm thinking. Then again, they just accepted me as payment for a debt. Who takes humans when they don't get their money back? Swallowing, I rack up the courage and ask?

"Who are you people? How much money does my Papa owe you?"

"A lot of money. Even if we sell all your organs, I doubt we'll be able to get it all back"

My heart skips a beat. Sell my organs? Is that what they're going to do to me? Suddenly, I'm afraid for my life. My eyes bounce around, trying to see if there is a way for me to escape. We're in a moving car. Unless I jump out and risk breaking an arm or leg or both, there's nowhere for me to go. It occurred to me that I didn't even pay attention to where we were going. How will I go back home? I don't have any money on me and even if I did, I'm sure it wouldn't be enough to get a taxi. From what Mama told me, taxis are expensive. Poor people like us will never be able to afford them. I don't have a cellphone either. The only option I have is to plead with them. But they are... Dios mio. Please don't let them be that. Anything but that.

"Who are you?" I ask again because I need an answer. The man replies without missing a beat.

"The cartel"

I fall back, my heart sinking. Of course. Only the cartel will buy people. They're the only ones who aren't afraid of the police. On top of selling drugs and illegal firearms, they also traffic people and sell their organs. Before we left school, our teachers told us repeatedly to stay far away from them. They're criminals who will eventually end up in jail. No one told us what to do when we end up getting kidnapped by them. What do I do now?

How could my own father sell me to the cartel?"

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