Chapter 1
Avidya
Thump. Thump. Thump.
My heart beat widely in my chest, almost to the point of pain. I had no idea where the pain began nor ended. Maybe the pain did generate from the thumping organ inside my chest. I could feel each beat in my rib cage as my thick dark red blood flowed through my body.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
My body roughly rolled against metal as the vehicle turned sharply around a corner. The force caused my head to thunk against the cold metal. It aggravated the pounding within my skull to skyrocket. I don’t think it could hurt anymore, as it already felt as though my skull was going to explode.
I had no clue where I was, nor who I was in the hands of. I couldn’t recall how I got in this predicament at the moment. Was I possibly just dreaming? It wasn’t possible to simply be still asleep through all this banging and thumping around.
The scratchy blindfold that was tied too tight blocked out all light. Although I was sure it was dark outside, even as the material forced my eyes to stay closed. My hands were bound by something rough, digging into my wrists behind me. My shoulders cried out in pain from the position. Was is necessary to tie up in such a way?
There was no possible way of escaping, even if I could get my body to sit up, let alone move. I felt weak as if I had just gotten over the worst case of flu known to mankind. My mouth was dry as a desert, my head pounding as if there was a hammer inside. I was confused as I ever have been in my life.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The last thing I could remember was being at a friend’s house. We had stayed up late watching a movie that we had seen countless times before. Her parents went out to dinner, knowing that we wouldn’t dare cause any trouble. We never did.
While we sat on the floor at the end of her bed, we ate organic popcorn and drank bottled water. It wasn’t often I was allowed to stay the night while her parents were out on a date, but my parents had gone out of town for a week. I thought it would be fine, and that my parents would feel better knowing I wasn’t home alone on a dark rainy night.
After the late movie, we went to bed like any other night. We talked about the ‘what ifs’ of life. We both knew, but never spoke about what would come. It was how our lives had been lined out from the day we were born into this life.
We were born to two sets of parents that controlled everything. From the way we dressed, to what we ate, and who we talked to. Though Becca’s parents weren’t as strict as my own. She was allowed to have her black hair cut shorter than what my parents ever deemed respectful. Her dark eyes hide secrets, even as she promised to keep me up to date on her ideas. She wanted out of this life; I knew that. She hated being controlled, and she was searching for a way out. I just had no idea what that was; she refused to tell me.
She hated the idea that we would both be married off to whomever our fathers deemed worthy. I feared more than she did about being shipped off to some other country because my father thought that was best for me. It wasn’t. I didn’t want to go anywhere. I also didn’t want to stay where I was at, either.
Becca knew something that I didn’t, and she hid it well. No matter how much I pushed, she refused to budge. I just knew something was up.
I had just begun to drift off to sleep when I heard a door open and close downstairs. That small squeak was always noticeable. I swear that Mr. Wrights put it there on purpose to catch Becca sneaking out. I thought nothing of it, assuming it was Becca’s parents arriving back home.
It was hard to miss the sound of the door handle being turned before it opened. Whomever it was opened the door to Becca’s room quietly
I was farthest from the doorway, my back facing it as Becca slept soundlessly next to me on her queen bed, so I didn’t see who came in. The footsteps were heavier as they neared the bed in the glow of the moon from the window. I could feel the presence of the person, and that alone rose the hair on my arms. I kept my eyes shut as tight as possible as my heartbeat quickened.
This intruder was not Becca’s father, nor my own.
All of a sudden, Becca let out a gut-wrenching scream that made my blood run cold. It seemed to echo off the walls.
Then . . . . nothing. No sound but the rain and my breathing were left.
Next thing I knew, I was in a vehicle. I wasn’t sure how I had got here; my mind was blank. What had happened? Where was Becca? Where was I?
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Trying not to panic, I took deep labored breaths through my mouth, hearing myself gasp each time. The vibrations of the vehicle jostled me over each bump, doing nothing to help my sore body. I refused to breathe through my nose, knowing that the scent of bile and urine would assault me underneath the strong aroma of bleach.
So many scenarios went through my mind. I had heard the horror stories about kidnapped girls and women that ended up missing. Either they were never found again as if they had never been alive, or they turned up dead in dumpsters and in abandoned buildings that drug addicts took to.
Would that happen to me? Would I be chopped up, begging for death, to be found by some homeless dude in a month’s time? Would Becca be in the same fate as me?
What would my family think? Would they even care? Would they search for me? Would they know I was missing?
I knew I wasn’t on the best of terms with my parents, as religious as they were. Would our parents put out search parties for us? Or would they give up and let us end up wherever fate took us?
Oh God! Why me? What had I done to be tested this way?
Thump. Thump. Thump.
I fell back into the darkness that was caused by some sort of drug. Time held no meaning. It could have been five in the morning or ten at night. I had no idea. Did I want to know? Not really.
Later, I only aroused because of whatever type of vehicle I was in came to a rough screeching halt. My limp body jolted me back onto my stomach and I groaned out. Could they make my death quick? I already felt like I was dying a slow death. Or was that the plan all along?
Two car doors were slammed, causing my head to echo the sound.
Please, I prayed. Was there really a God out there? Surely, he wouldn’t let this happen. I was a good girl; I obeyed my parents even though at times I didn’t want to. I never broke the ten commandments.
A gust of humid air whooshed in before a man grunted. I held my breath, trying to keep my body limp. I guessed I was in some sort of van, as someone entered. Maybe if I didn’t move, maybe he’d think I was dead, or at least leave me be. Give me more time for my thoughts to clear, so I could fight. At least I didn’t think I had on purpose.
After what seemed like a moment of hesitation, the man bent down and picked me up as if I weighed nothing. I was flung over his broad shoulder, my pounding head hanging behind his back. I couldn’t help but lose my breath as my stomach pressed against his shoulder. At this position, I had to guess he was a bigger man, even with his tight hold across my knees to keep me in place.
Where was Becca?
~oOo~
“This it?” a gruff voice asked out. He seemed to not care about what item he was asking about like it was normal.
Was it me, he was referring too?
“Yes,” one-word answer by a voice I vaguely recognized.
“Any others?” the first asked, as what sounded like papers being shifted.
“The other was not fit for the qualities we are seeking,” replied the second man. “It was disposed of.”
“Where?” barked the first, his voice deadly.
“Left to be found where I took care of it,” answered the second. I could mentally see him shrug like it was all in a day’s work.
“She alone, then?” the first asked again.
Did they go through these same questions every time?
“Yes, sir,” the second replied, his voice dry, kicking my leg lightly.
That light kick felt like knives stabbing me a million times over. I couldn’t help but groan out. At the small movement, I knew I was bound as before with no hope of escaping. I was otherwise completely ignored as I was forced to lay on the cold floor.
“Take her to room seven,” the man said with a snap of his fingers.
This time, I was lifted with no care and in the process, my stomach lurched. I had no way to stop what little I had in my system, throwing up down the man’s back.
“Son of a bitch!” he cursed, tossing me roughly back to the ground. I gave out a strangled, choked cry of protest as I heard, and felt, my body slam to the floor.
“She’s worth a lot,” the man that seemed to be the one in charge spoke in warning.
“So?” the other man huffed out with disgust.
“I’ll take care of it,” spoke the first man again, sounding tired of the same attitude.
I was then lifted a tad gentler this time. Each heavy step he took echoed down what seemed to be a hallway. It was much cooler here than it had been in the van. It wasn’t as humid and I didn’t feel as sweaty. Though it smelt just as bad, if not worse.
The man walked until he reached what I assumed was a room. I still couldn’t see, therefore I had no way of knowing where I was.
I was laid much softer than I expected to be on a flimsy mattress that was felt as though it was part of the floor. The cool, clean bleach scent assaulted me. Was everything cleaned with bleach here by these people? Who were these people?
“Please,” I cried out. Just kill me. Make this all end. Anything!
“I can’t,” the man said, almost sadly as he ran one of his beefy hands down my arm in what could have been a gentle manner. “You are here to help repay a debt.”
Who’s? I wanted to shout, but only a sob escaped my parted lips.
“Looks like you’ll have a sore head for a while. Probably have a concession. I’ll pray that your death will happen before you are taken by the collector,” he stated while untying my wrists. Then he snapped a chain handcuff around them instead. The sound echoed around the room where I was being kept like a caged pet. Was that what I was now, a pet to be played with? God, I hope not.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
I had no fight left in me as my body once more fell into the darkness. Maybe I would be lucky to not wake up again.