He pulled me into an embrace, crushing my body against his own. He leaned in and whispered, “Got to make it look realistic now!” he sneered, “Smile” he said, pulling me tighter. Meekly I did as I was told. The crushing pain relented and he put his arm tightly around my shoulder, before sherpherding me out of the slowly rising glare of the street lamps, down steps to the side of the street and down to the tunnel that ran under the road.

A white van was waiting. My abductor checked over his shoulder both ways before opening the doors at the back and ushering me in before locking it securely. It was uncomforable and cramped with nowhere to sit, just metal walls and floor. I sat down on the floor, clutching my legs to my chest, eyes closed, in prayer.

Through the metal I could hear my abductor talking to someone.

“Got one?”
“Yep, and she’s a beaut”
“Don’t. This is purely business”
“I know, if I didn’t know what she was worth I’d have had some fun with her you know!?”
I heard laughter. A tear ran down my cheek.