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NEXT MORNING..

The pain was unbearable, a constant, throbbing pain that killed her. Her body ached from the countless bruises and cuts, her hands throbbed from the torn nails, and her lungs burned from the waterboarding. Each breath was a real struggle, she could barely swallow her own spit.

She was barely conscious when she heard footsteps approaching again. This time, there were more of them, and the sound filled her with dread. She assumed someone else had come along. Was this it? Was this how she was going to die, just because of money? Who were these people even? The questions swirled in her mind, making her almost question her existence. How had it come to this? She thought of Carlos and Lily, and a pang of sorrow shot through her heart. Would she ever see them again?

The door creaked open, and though her vision was blurred and her eyes hurt too much to see clearly, she sensed the presence of someone else. Fear gripped her, more intense than any physical pain she had endured. Sh