“Soph! You ready, girl?”

Having dropped off to sleep, she shot straight up when she was awakened by Marcel’s voice.

“Yes!”

She scooted off the bed and shoved her feet into her sneakers. Grabbing her backpack, she gave one last look around and then shut the door behind her.

Marcel led her to the garage, which was pitch black dark. He yanked a string by the entrance, and a light bulb shone enough brightness for her to see a rusted truck that looked like it belonged in a junkyard, not on the streets.

“We’re going in that?”

“Uh-huh. Go on, now. Climb in and keep your head down.”

“Okay.”

Dodging boxes, car parts, and oil stains, Sophie went to the passenger side and climbed into the cab. She laid down on the bucket seat, gripping the top handle of her bag.

Marcel got in on the other side and stuck the key in the ignition, and after a bit of sputtering, it fired up. Reaching above him, he clicked an old remote covered in grime, and the garage door shuddered as it lifted.

“Let’s get you to the airport,” he said, as he backed out.

When he shifted into Drive, he pressed the button once more and then slowly drove away.

From where she lay, Sophie could only see the buildings they passed with quick flashes of open space in between them. Marcel’s window was down, and the heady scent of the trees and flowers mixed with the smell of the Mississippi at dusk filled the car.

“Despite everything, I’m going to miss being here. Before Gregor took me, I struggled, but I still had some good times.”

“You gonna make new memories, Soph. You ain’t never comin’ back here. Ya hear me?”

“Yeah.”

“We’ll be there in 20 minutes.”

“Okay.”

After a few stops at traffic lights, the road opened up to the highway, and they traveled on… until Marcel pressed the brake.

“What is it?” Sophie shrieked.

“It’s okay. Somethin’s up ahead. Traffic’s bein’ diverted. Maybe it’s construction. They always got these streets tore up.” Wailing sirens came from behind them, and Marcel flicked his eyes to the rearview mirror. “Police and an ambulance. Must be a bad wreck.”

A chill went up Sophie’s spine, and with it, the feeling that she wasn’t going to be on that plane to Boise.

“Marcel, I’m—”

“Officer up there’s motionin’ for me to stop.”

“Oh, no!”

“Sssshhh!”

The whirling lights of a cop car screeched to a halt beside the truck, and she heard two doors open.

“Oh, my God!”

“Stay down, girl. Let me do the talkin’.”

“Step out of the car with your hands in the air!”

“Okay, officer. Just a minute. Let me get my old bones to move.”

“Now!”

“Yes, sir. I’m followin’ orders. You won’t get no trouble outta me.”

Then Sophie’s door jerked open, and a gun was pointed at her head.

“Get the fuck out, bitch,” said the man holding the weapon.

“Please don’t do this!” Sophie yelled, seeing her escape being ripped away from her.

Her reply was the cock of his gun.

Marcel shouted, “I didn’t give you permission to search my truck! You, let her go!”

Sophie scooted out, and when her heels landed on the ground, the officer grabbed her and flipped her around, throwing her against the truck.

“Just stop, Marcel! Be quiet! Maybe they’ll release you!”

He didn’t listen to her.

“I want the name of your superior! I’m gonna get him on the phone and straighten this out!”

“Looks like he’s resisting to me,” said the officer behind Sophie, as he laced handcuffs around her wrists and snapped them closed. “And now, the fun part. Frisking you to make sure you’re not hiding anything,” he growled into her ear.

He grabbed her breasts and squeezed, before moving lower. He slid his hand into her pants and cupped her pussy, and as he brought it out, he slid a finger through her lips. Turning her around, he stuck it into his mouth, gave her a smirk, and then wagged it in front of her face.

“Nothing to say about that, huh? Using your right to remain silent?”

She looked at the ground, not taking the bait. Nothing she could say would’ve mattered. They’d proven that they were in control of the situation. Struggling, fighting, or mouthing off would’ve only made it worse.

“What’d you do to her? Sophie! Are you okay?”

She mumbled, “Yeah.”

“I told you to stand there and be quiet!” the officer yelled at him.

“Marcel! Please!” Sophie shouted. “I’m fine! Please, just let him go! He didn’t do anything!”

“Harboring a fugitive is a serious offense.”

“I’m not a fugitive!” she shrieked.

“Oh?” The policeman grabbed her backpack and unzipped it. Pulling out a wad of cash, he sneered down at her. “And where’d all this money come from? What’d you do for it? Or did you steal it?”

“She ain’t no thief! I gave it to her! I’m takin’ her to the airport, so she can start a new life in Boise!” Marcel yelled.

“Now, listen here,” the other cop said. “If you don’t calm down, you’re not gonna like what’s gonna happen.”

“Is that a threat, officer?” Marcel asked, as he took a step forward. “I’m a tax-payin’ citizen. I pay your salary.” His voice took on a commanding tone. “You s’posed to protect and serve, not abuse ya power. Now, you, listen to me—”

“Do it now, Vance! He’s trying to use his voodoo power like he did before!” yelled the guy with Sophie, as he began dragging her to the police car.

“Do what?” Sophie screeched, as he shoved her into the back of the vehicle and shut the door. “Marcel!”

When the gun fired three shots into his chest, she screamed. Marcel dropped to the ground, and blood bloomed onto his shirt.

“No!”

The officer who shot him reached for the radio on his shoulder and said, “Get the ambulance up here and pick him up. Yeah, make sure he’s DOA.” He then withdrew his cellphone while staring at her through the window. “Yeah, we got her. We’re on the road on the way to your place.”

Sophie put her face in her hands and cried, as the car drove away.

When they pulled through the gates of Gregor’s estate, Hans was waiting with a broad satisfied smile on his face, bare chested and clad in his leather pants. She’d seen him wearing them once before, when another woman who had crossed Gregor had been brought to kneel in front of him. When Sophie saw her a week later, she was a shell of the person she had been prior to that night.

“No!” She shuddered, as one of the cops yanked her out of the car. “No! No! No!”

Jerking and kicking with all her might, she tried to get out of their grasp, but she couldn’t.

“Take my money! Please! Don’t let him have me! Somebody, help me! There’s almost six thousand dollars in my backpack! Take it all! Please!”

Gregor stepped out of the house and went to stand by Hans, as they pulled her up the stairs. When he took her by her shoulders, the cops let her go.

“Thanks, boys,” Gregor said. “Look for that $20,000 bonus to hit your bank accounts tonight or in the morning. Take whatever she offered you, too, and split it between you. She won’t need it, where she’s going.”

“Thanks. Let us know when you’ve got another job.”

As they went back to their car, Gregor looked down at Sophie and shook his head.

“You knew what would happen, but still, you defied me.”

“Please! Don’t do this to me! Don’t give me to Hans! I won’t try to leave again! I’m so sorry!”

“Yes, you will be.” Passing her over to him, he said, “She’s all yours, Hans. See you when he’s done, Sophie.”

She screamed, as Hans dragged her through the house and down to the basement. She didn’t stop until her voice was cracked and hoarse… until she couldn’t make another sound.