* * *

Now I’ve awakened here in the belly of a dark, dank container, and every depraved act man had perpetrated against man since the beginning of time played itself out in my head.

That’s the flip side to having a daddy who protects you from everything and tries his best to give you all the tools you’ll need to stay safe. Some day he’ll have to tell you just what the hell it is he’s keeping you safe from. My daddy, being who he is, never sugar coated shit for his only daughter.

I wanted to scream, throw up and go back to sleep so I could wake up from this nightmare, but there was no shying away from reality. This shit is happening in real time and if I don’t come up with something, my life is never going to be the same again. I know the odds though, and they’re not good.

Is this it then? Is this the end of the line for me? But why? Isn’t there supposed to be some kind of logic to life? Why should these people, complete strangers no less, get to decide what course my life takes?

This isn’t fair; I refuse to let this happen, to be a victim. I will not be a victim. DADDY! I screamed for him in my head as tears of frustration gathered in my eyes when I tried once more to free my hands and legs that were tied, without success. I hate these zippy tie things, they seem so innocuous but they sure are very fucking useful at doing this shit.

To think that I’m going to die because of something that cost less than a freaking quarter. I rubbed my skin raw against the hard plastic before slamming my heels into the steel bottom of the container in abject frustration.

Life isn’t meant to be interrupted like this. People don’t have the right to fuck with you just because. I used my usual mantra to keep that rage of fire burning as I tried fruitlessly to free myself.

Once I’d tired myself out with my efforts and could no longer hold myself upright, I slumped against the side of my prison and fought back whimpers. I swallowed around the lump in my throat, which was raw from my earlier screams, and willed my useless tears away.

I needed to preserve my energy anyways for whatever was going to come next and tears are very exhausting. Suck it up little girl. What’s done can’t be undone and this is your new reality. Some asshole has thrown you in the back of a metal coffin like he owns you. What’re you gonna do about it?

My mind was full of all the shit I could do to an opponent, if my hands weren’t tied. In my head I wreaked all manner of vengeance against my enemies, but really I’d like to be home raiding the refrigerator and being a regular pain in the ass as I’m fondly known around my house.

Do my parents even know that I’m gone yet? How long have I been here? There was no way to gauge the time from within the deep darkness and my hands were tied behind my back so looking at my watch if it was still there was out of the question.

The thought of my parents and what I was leaving behind had the tinny sickening taste of fear returning. I vacillated between bouts of unadulterated rage and back to the scared little girl who just wanted her mommy and daddy to keep her safe.

One minute I wanted so badly to crawl into a ball and cry my heart out, but in the next I knew that wouldn’t get me out of here. Think, Kelly, think. I kept telling myself over and over while fear nipped at my heels and clawed its way up my throat.

I did my best to push it aside, and try to remember everything I’d ever read, or heard about abductions and the best way to react. Over the years daddy had drilled into my head everything I needed to do if such a thing should occur.

I’d always felt that I was prepared for anything from all his teachings, but now realized that the mind and body doesn’t necessarily work that way when you’re in actual danger. What a time to learn this shit.

* * *

In between the bouts of fear that burned a hole in my gut, my mind wandered to all the things I had put off doing. All the things I’d been too afraid to try or told myself there was plenty of time to try later; so many lost opportunities.

I’d watched my friends over the years, starting in middle school, through high school and now college, take risks, spread their young wings and try new things, while I always stayed in the shadows.

Because of who my daddy is it was hard for me to get away with half the shit my pals did, and I learned at a very young age not to even try. The one constant in my life from my earliest memory to this, is my need to make daddy proud of me in all things. My behavior has always been exemplary where it counts.

So while the others were being wild, untamed teens, I’d relied on my wild overactive imagination, and had enjoyed many an adventure there in the recesses of my mind. But not once have I ever had the courage to try, to dip my toe in the waters of rebellion. Now it may be too late.

My heart raced sickeningly in my chest at the thought, and the bitter taste of bile lingered on my palette. I wanted to rage at the unfairness of it all. What had been the point?

Weren’t good little girls supposed to be absolved from things like this? Doesn’t it say that if you live your life a certain way you will never face some of life’s more horrible atrocities? What a load of crap.

All those years of being the good girl had led me here. All those times I’d been overly cautious and bore the brunt of my friend’s jokes when I was once again the voice of reason, trying to talk them out of whatever hijinks they were plotting to get up to.

And tonight they were all at home, safe in their beds, while I was the one in the clutches of who knows what.

My mind shifted to thoughts of my family again, my mom and daddy, aunts, uncles, cousins. And the fact that I may never see them again. Tears streamed freely down my cheeks as I saw my mother’s face in my mind’s eye.

Will I ever see it again in this life? Will my daddy ever tease me, pull my hair and call me pumpkin again in that way he has that always made me feel safe and loved?

It’s amazing what you think about when your life is in imminent danger. But I think those are the things I would miss if I never get back to them. Like hell I won’t see them again, I will not let them take my life.

I forced myself to think positively, not to give in so easily to despair. Whoever my captors were they’re still just men. Men can be bested if you use your head. More of daddy’s tenets.

I tried to boost my spirits, telling myself that I will find a way out of this once I got rid of the shakes and could think clearly again.

I psyched myself up and told myself to fight whatever this is with all I’ve got and not just give in. There had to be a way out, there always is if you think hard enough.

My mind flashed to a story I’d read years ago when I was too young to understand the severity of the situation. It was the story of a young girl, one much younger than I am now.

A girl who’d been taken from her bed in the middle of the night. A family torn apart, a city on edge as the nation watched. That girl had found her way back home. I too can do the same.

The thought gave me solace and I held onto it for as long as I could, keeping the fear at bay. I’ll bide my time until I get the lay of the land so to speak, and then I’d go from there.

I won’t fight them until I was sure I’m in a position to win. Any opportunity that arises I’ll take it, no matter what I have to do to escape this horror.

That’s a girl Kelly, keep thinking ahead don’t look back. I felt my inner strength build and left the defeatist attitude in the dust. My daddy has been preparing me for this day ever since I got a firm grasp on the English language. Both mentally and physically.

I can hold my own in a fight, fair or otherwise. Right now I couldn’t use my physical strength since the enemy was not in sight, so I’d have to rely on my brain.

With that thought in mind I tried to sort out the situation. They’ll have to untie me at some point, unless they planned to kill me right away. My pulse raced with that new horror until common sense prevailed and I convinced myself that had that been their intent, I would be long dead.

No, this was something else and I didn’t need too many guesses to figure out what that something was. The news has been full of trafficking stories in the last few months. I never imagined I had to look out for anything like that because of my lifestyle. And for all I know I could be way off the mark.

Bottom line, it doesn’t matter what awaits me at the end of this ride. I’m in a fight for my life. It’s me against them, and who the fuck, is them? Oh that anger was boiling away now and I was ready to throw these hands, but the fuckers were out of reach.

I decided it was best to preserve my mental energy and get some rest for as long as I could so that I could spring into action when the chance arose. I settled back against the side of the container and closed my eyes.

Instead of my horrible circumstances I let myself imagine a time after this, when this was all over and done. First thing I’m gonna do is live.

I’m going to find me a guy just like my daddy. Strong, kind and honorable. We’ll settle down in a small town like the one I grew up in and have a million babies.

He’s going to love me the way my daddy loves my mom and our little girls are going to be his joy. I’m never going to know a moment’s fear again and our lives are going to be picture perfect.

I held that picture in my head and it became so real I could almost believe it. It had the added benefit of slowing down my heart rate and I actually felt the excitement of falling in love.

The little daydream gave me hope. The only problem was I had yet to meet anyone that came even close to living up to that image. But for now it was enough that I hold onto the hope that it might still, be possible.

My heart was no longer beating in my ears and maybe that’s why I finally heard it. I held still and stopped breathing again trying to hear it more clearly, to make sure it wasn’t just my imagination.

The sound was faint but I thought I heard something other than the rushing of the wheels beneath me. It took me a moment to realize there was someone else here with me.

At first I thought it might be one of my captors left here to keep watch over me, but as I strained to listen, it sounded more like weeping.

“Who’s there?” Why am I whispering? They must know no one can hear me since they removed my gag. The body on the opposite side moved as if to get away from me.

I tried to see in the dark interior, but my eyes refused to adjust. I started to shake, I don’t know why. Maybe because the presence of another human being brought it all home.

The sound was coming not too far from my left, soft pain filled moans. I’m guessing they’d been drugged same as I and was now waking up. I turned in the direction of the noise and strained to hear more.

The person had stopped at the sound of my voice and I imagined someone biting into their lip to stifle the sound of their tears. Heartbreaking.

“Hey, are you awake?” I kept my voice nice and calm even though inside I was screaming. My only answer was another moan and then as if the floodgates had opened up, I heard more movement coming from my other side and all around me. There were more than two of us in here.

Shit! Please don’t let that be Connie or any of my other friends. The thought of my girly friends being caught up in this sent new fear racing through my heart.

I knew that even if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t be able to leave whoever was in here with me behind to face a fate I didn’t want for myself. That was something else daddy had taught me. Never leave a man behind. Crap!