The van slowed now, before speeding up again, bumping over rough ground.With each jolt and jar, Selima’s fear rose.What was she going to do?What was she going to say?How could she successfully plead for her life?Normally she would invoke her children, appealing for clemency, but she knew that would cut no ice.Should she offer to work for free?Or debase herself in other ways to ensure her survival?But these ideas withered as soon as they were born.There would be no reprieve, no salvation, tonight.
The van shuddered to an abrupt halt, the engine dying.A moment’s silence, the tension thick in the van, then the rear doors were flung open.The security lights that flanked the perimeter of the site flooded the interior, revealing the hostile expressions of those around her, but Selima’s attention was not focused on them.Instead, her gaze came to rest on the statuesque presence that now filled the doorway.The woman who housed them, controlled them, degraded them.A few months back, Selima had heard one of the guards let slip her real name – Leyla – but in the camp everyone called her “Boss”.
‘Everybody out,’ Leyla barked, gesturing angrily at the van’s inhabitants.
Immediately, the other workers sprang into action, hurrying to obey.Hoping her tormentor hadn’t yet heard about her failed escape attempt, Selima complied, labouring to raise herself from the floor.
‘Not you,’ her captor hissed.
‘Please … please … I not mean any harm,’ Selima garbled.‘I … I am … lost, confused.’
But she received no reply, Leyla leaning in and grabbing her by the hair.Selima cried out in pain, but her attacker barely responded, grunting angrily as she hauled her from the van.For a moment, the cool air was a relief, but Selima had no time to enjoy it, as she was now being force-marched across the dusty yard.
‘The rest of you, follow me,’ Leyla barked, picking up the pace.
Selima couldn’t see anything, her face pointed to the floor in an agonizing headlock, but she knew the others would obey.This woman, this cruel, savage woman was the Goddess of their world, the architect of the numerous indignities they endured and the few crumbs of comfort they enjoyed.
‘Please, I’m sorry … I’m sorry …’
Selima knew she had to say something, to beg for her life.
‘I do anything … anything you want.’
‘It’s too late.’
‘Forgive me …’
They came to a sudden halt.Now her tormentor raised Selima up, clasping her ponytail with an iron fist as she held her face to hers, their noses just inches apart.
‘You ungrateful bitch,’ Leyla snarled.‘You could have done well here, could have earned some money for your mongrel family, but you blew it.I offered you a home, a wage, a future, but you threw it back in my face.Now you must pay the price.’
Leyla broke into a wicked smile, prompting Selima to cast an anxious glance over her shoulder, taking in the bulky machine directly behind them.Immediately, terror arrowed through her, whole being consumed by fear.
‘Please, I beg you …’
Shoving her head down angrily, Leyla was on the move once more.Now Selima was screaming, twisting violently in her vice-like grip, but it was no good.She was powerless to resist, her fate all but sealed.She saw Leyla reach out, pulling down the lock lever, before wrenching the battered metal door open.
‘No, no …’
Selima was digging her feet into the earth, determined to save herself from a fate worse than death.But a savage stamp on the back of her calf loosened her grip and she now found herself being bundled inside the hulking metal contraption.Stumbling on the lip of the doorway, Selima pitched forward, landing with a thud on the filthy floor inside.Aware of her terrible predicament, she struggled to her feet clumsily, turning to try and escape through the open doorway.But before she could move, the heavy door slammed shut, the lock lever descending sharply, trapping her inside.
This time the darkness was total.
Chapter 6
‘You’ve got to let me out of here.’
The paramedics looked up at Helen, incredulous.
‘Do youunderstand?’Helen persisted fiercely, trying hard to stop the interior of the ambulance spinning.‘There’s a … a situation I need to deal with.Something that can’t wait.’
‘The only situation you need to deal with is yourself,’ the older paramedic replied, a kindly twinkle in his eyes.‘Let’s focus on that shall we, my love?’
In truth, Helen was finding it hard to focus on anything.She knew she was concussed and had lost blood, though beyond that, the details of her ordeal remained vague.She couldn’t recall how many times she’d been hit, only that her attackess’ metal chain had struck hard and true.
‘Forget me,’ Helen choked, dismissing the paramedic’s intervention.‘There’s a young woman in real danger.She’s just been brutally attacked and bundled into a van.Weneedto find her.’
She just about managed to gasp the words, before running out of breath.Once again, however, her pleas were met by a mixture of surprise and alarm.
