I’m not sure how long I’ve been in here; it feels like hours. I can’t tell what time it is because there are no windows.

There’s also no furniture. Just me, four walls and a dirty linoleum floor. I’m afraid to sit down because of the mouse droppings.

I lean myself against the wall and close my eyes and think about tacos.

I’m so hungry.

My plan had been to meet this lady for the babysitting job interview at the library, and then stop for tacos at the Hacienda on the way home. It’s the cheapest in town but so, so good. I can’t keep food in the apartment to make myself a home-cooked meal because of the pest problems in that dump.

I was really looking forward to those tacos. I visualize salsa verde, jalapeño peppers, spicy roasted carne, a squeeze of lime. My mouth is watering.

I sigh and open my eyes. “Why am I doing this to myself, it’s not helping at all.”

Suddenly the door opens and I’m in fighting stance.

I bum rush the door, but an ugly dude dressed in an overpriced suit slams the metal door all the way open and blocks my way out. With him is Amber, the so-called single mom who lured me out of the library with a sob story about her baby being asleep in her car. When I met her downstairs, some thug stepped out of her car and grabbed me. Amber snatched my phone away from me in the struggle, and the guy forced me into my car and made me drive here to this hell hole.

Right now, Amber is holding a hypodermic needle.

”What the hell?” I say when I see the gigantic needle in her hand.

The man blocking the door sneers at me. “Just a little medicine to help you go down easier.”

“No fucking way!” I shout as Amber approaches. I put up my fists and start flailing. No way she’s coming at me with a needle full of god knows what.

Slate laughs maniacally.

“I like this girl. She’s feisty. We’ll have to make sure our buyer is up for a little rough play.”

Amber drops the dope when I kick it out of her hand.

I rush at Slate again, and I bounce off him. His evil smile fades and yells for someone named Morty.

In seconds, a beefy bald man in a bomber jacket appears in the doorway and swiftly comes at me as if he already knows what to do.

Clearly, they’ve done this before.

Morty grabs my arms behind my back. I summon up a big ol’ loogie and launch it right in Slate’s face.

Amber gasps because she must know what happens next. Slate wipes off my spit and raises the back of his hand. Then he stops. “Nah, better not damage the merchandise.”

It’s not a fair fight.

Morty is holding my arms. Slate grabs hold of my legs. I’m struggling as best I can, but they are big men. Still, I don’t stop squirming and spitting and howling. Amber plunges the needle into my arm and I can almost instantly feel the tranquilizer working.

Before the lights go out, I can feel Slate’s grip on my leg relax a bit. I use the last of my strength to wiggle one leg free. I surprise the big ugly asshole with a swift kick to the head, which catches him off guard and he stumbles backward.

As I see stars and things go dim, I manage to slur out the words, “Don’t ever forget it took three of you to take me down, asshole.”