2. Catalina

                 The car pulls up in front of a large gate guarded by several armed men. The driver nods to them and one of the guys speaks into a small radio. They're all big and look like they could crush me under their feet effortlessly. How will I be able to escape from this place? The wall surrounding the house is so tall. Not just that but these men have guns. What if I try to run and they shoot me? But I can't just sit still and wait for them to take my organs. I'd rather be dead when that happens. The car starts moving again, making me snap my eyes up.

The gate opens up to the biggest and most beautiful mansion I've ever seen. My breath catches in my throat at the breathtaking sight. It looks like a castle and for a moment, I forget everything. Wondering what it would be like to live in such a house. To have money, nice clothes, and cars at my disposal. To have so many servants that I didn't have to lift a finger to do anything. I picture my life with Santi here. He always said he was going to let me live a queen. Is this what he meant?

"Get out!" The command startles me. I turn to find three pairs of eyes glaring at me. Swallowing, I push the door open and step out of the car. The tallest one does the same and then points to the front door "You better hope the boss likes you or today will be your last day"

Despite knowing what he means, I still ask because I'm hoping I misinterpreted what he said: "Last day to do what?"

"Breathe" He starts moving. I know I should follow him but fear roots me in place. Are they really going to kill me? Then again, they're the cartel. Of course, they can kill me and dump my body in the forest and no one would dare ask them anything. In this country, stories of the cartel are told to children to scare them. Boys know not to mess with them and girls are told to run and hide if they meet any of them. Papa knows what they do but he still sold me to them? Is he even human? I'm suddenly shoved forward, the action making me trip on my feet. Just when I think I'm going to fall, someone grabs my wrist and jerks me upright "Fucking hell, Anibal. No bruises, remember?"

"As long as they're not on her face, I think it's fine"

"Fucking cunt" The tall guy murmurs pulling me ahead. If I didn't know who he was, I'd mistake his actions for kindness. But like he said, I can't have any bruises before meeting the boss.

"Damn Julio, she your type now?" Another man asks coming out of the house "You robbing cribs?" Tall guy, Julio, clucks his tongue and pulls the door open saying,

"Don't think I've forgotten what you did"

"C'mon, I didn't know you wanted her too..."

I'm sure the man outside said something else but I couldn't hear him. My heart is beating so fast that I'm afraid I'll have a heart attack. Can 18-year-olds have heart attacks? I've never heard of it but it's not impossible. Then again, if that happens, will they take me to the hospital or consider it their luck and take my organs? Dios mio, how did my life take such a sharp turn? Yesterday, all I was worried about was leaving Santi behind while I went to college. Today, I'm praying that a boss I've never met likes me so these people don't harvest my organs and sell them illegally.

We pass through a living room that has two doors to one side then go down a long hallway with several more doors. I'm scared but I also wonder what's behind those doors. Are there more girls like me? Prisoners? Dead bodies? At the end of the hallway, Julio knocks on a slightly opened door and then sticks his head inside.

"Boss, we're back"

"Julio, come in," A voice says from inside. Instead of going in, he steps aside and indicates for me to go first. I could refuse and try to run away but I wouldn't get far. Since we arrived, I haven't seen a single woman around. Can I outrun two men alone? Even if I did, they have guns. Taking a deep breath, I walk into the room. It looks like some home office. There's a bookshelf in one corner. In front of it, two couches face each other with a coffee table in the middle. Then there's the large desk where the man I assume is the boss is sitting behind. He's older than Papa with white hair covering half his head. My first thought is that he looks kind. Dressed in a three-piece brown suit and a tie, he can pass off as one of those rich business tycoons. Except he's not. He is the boss of the cartel. He might be rich but his money comes from other people's misery.

"And who is this?"

"This is the payment Ramon Garcia gave us"

"Is that so?"

"Yes, boss. He says she's pure and untouched. I thought you might want to see her before we open her up. Just in case..." Julio trails off scratching the back of his neck.

"Just in case what?"

"Well, she's pretty and look at those curves, boss" They're talking about me as if I'm not in the room. And what did he mean by open me up? The boss stares at me, his eyes sliding down my body. Then to my horror, he says,

"Strip," I think I've misheard him and wait for him to say he's joking but he nods to Julio. I watch as Julio bends, takes a knife out of his boots, and straightens.

"You heard the boss, take off your clothes"

"Y...you can't be serious"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

I hope he is. I've never been naked in front of anyone. Of course, I've made out with Santi but he only touched me through my clothes. I told him to wait until I was ready before we made love. How can these strange men expect me to undress in front of them? I open my mouth but nothing comes out. How do I convince the cartel to let me go? I wish I was prepared for this kind of situation.

"She's a bit slow this one," Julio says and then pounces on me. I scream thinking he's going to stab me but he slides the knife into the collar of my dress, pulls it outward, and rips it in half. The same dress I saved for months so I could buy. I'm enraged but that rage soon turns into fear when he does the same with my bra and panties. Again, shock roots me in place as he pushes the torn clothes down my arms. Just as they hit the floor, cool air hits my skin and I remember to cover my breasts. The man sitting behind the desk looks bored. As if he's seen better. At this point, I think maybe I'm better off giving them my organs willingly. That is better than this humiliation. Better than what I think they're planning to do to me.

"Not bad for a virgin"

"Are you keeping her or should we open her up?"

I don't know where I get the courage but I blurt out "Open me up"

The boss leans forward, resting his elbows on top of the desk. His eyes slide down and I rush to cover the triangle between my legs. One side of his mouth lifts in a smirk "Do you even know what that means?"

"Of course I do. I'm not stupid. What do you want? My kidney? Lungs? Spleen? Take whatever you want and consider your debt paid. But only if you promise to send me home after you're done. Do we have a deal?"

Julio places his knife on my throat and gets in my face "We will take all those and so much more without your permission. Your stupid father owes us a lot of money plus interest. I doubt selling your organs will pay off the debt"

"W...what are you saying?"

"That the moment you stepped into this house, you were as good as dead"

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