“Just do as they say!”
Her small, bird-like limbs finally go limp between them. They adjust their grip as they carry her ahead of us, leaving Diego to drag me behind. His chuckling feels like needles stabbing into my brain tissue.
“She looks up to you,” he hums. “Perhaps I’ll make you watch when she’s packaged up and shipped off. Make you understand who’s in charge around here.”
The red haze intensifies.
“I’m going to kill you.”
He guffaws loudly. “Sure.”
“You can watch while I cut your dick off for hurting her.”
Yanking me into his side, the stench of his sweat and cheap aftershave creates a noxious cloud.
“As entertaining as this is, we have somewhere to be. Shut up and smile, or else I’ll fuck that tight asshole of yours until you can’t walk straight.”
I seal my lips shut while we ascend, leaving the greyscale gloom behind. Small details enter my awareness as we enter a cluttered space above ground.
Two wooden desks, overloaded with scattered paperwork. A half-full bottle of tequila. Overflowing ashtray. Next to a gun holster, there’s an outdated mobile phone.
These pigs are living like slobs. The air is so stiflingly hot, it causes sweat to dribble down my exposed spine.
We’re dragged across the office then through various rooms, all mirror images of the last. Cigarettes, booze, weapons. Bright lights blind me in the confusion after so long spent in half light.
Ascending another flight of stairs, I’m leaning heavily on the asshole yanking me along by the time we emerge into a room with tall ceilings, blacked-out windows and an array of widely spaced chairs.
At the front, a raised platform made from glossy, black wood boasts several floor-to-ceiling steel poles. We’re handcuffed to our individual poles when the situation becomes clear.
This is a viewing stage.
A place where cattle are paraded.
Each chair sits empty but will soon house an occupant with cash to burn and a desire to acquire new property. The living, breathing kind.
Head lolling forwards, Gracie spits blood on the floor. “Oh, God.”
“It’s okay. Breathe for me.”
“We’re going to be sold! That’s what this is!”
Dismissing his two men, Diego observes us from below, hands braced on his hips.
“You’re right,chica.” He chortles in amusement. “Now smile and behave. You’re going to make us a pretty penny.”
“Or what?” I challenge.
Hand moving to grip the weapon at his hip, he lifts a silvery brow. “Customers will still purchase you with a bullet between your eyes. Just think about the things they’ll do to your corpse.”
With a wink, he turns to leave the room. It won’t be long before their precious customers are escorted in. Frenetic energy clouds my thinking, throwing too many obstacles at me.
My head spins with dizziness as I flash between hot and cold. Pinned against a pole, I sag in defeat. Powerless to help Gracie. Powerless to do anything. I can’t run. Can’t hide. Can’t escape. And we’re out of time.
What was my fucking plan here?
Footsteps echo above us. Each thump feels like a knife being pushed into my gut, finding new organs to pierce and rupture. If we don’t die here, we’ll die soon enough once we’re sold.
The steps grow louder as company arrives with Diego. Several men are all dressed in varying degrees of finesse. Tailored suits. Pressed shirts. Gelled hair. Clearly wealthy.
