Chapter 17
“Yes, if I remember correctly she said her name was…Karla.” One of the workers announce and I stare wide eyed and breathlessly at them.
“Fuck.”
Lauren’s POV:
Karla. That has to be her. But why is she going by her first name again? Why was she so small and quiet? She’s usually the toughest and loudest person in the room. Someone I’ve known for half my life, someone I was once almost married to, and I couldn’t tell it was her. Something in her changed so much that I didn’t even recognize the one person in this world I promised never to forget.
My first thought when I found out it was her, was to runaway. Runaway from the possible pain that she could cause. The possible breakdown that I would have if she decided to leave me again. I wanted so badly to reverse time so I never went into that coffee shop.
“Yeah yeah I know!” I tell Dinah after she finishes yelling at me for scaring her. “I’m sorry. I-I just saw a bee..” I lie. I don’t know exactly why I didn’t just tell her I saw Camila. I guess it’s because, if I did she’d be on the first flight out here and I don’t think I’m ready to jump back in this mess.
“whatever girl. I gotta go. But I’ll check up on you after work.”
“Dinah, you don’t have to keep checking up on me like I’m a 5 year old. You don’t have to call. Go out tonight girl! Get it with your boo thang!” I try to act happy to convince her and it apparently works, because after a moment of silence she finally agrees that she could use a night out. “Have fun Dinah! Get some tonight for me, okay?” I joke around with her and she laughs before hanging up.
Now I just have to find something to keep me from thinking of herto the point of insanity.
Camila’s POV:
“CamEEEElaaaa! You have to eat something.” Abdu pokes at my face. I pull away from his cold touch and groan. “You’re a stubborn one, aren’t ya?” He laughs and I open my eyes just slightly to see his devilish smirk. “Well if you aren’t going to cooperate, we’re just going to have to do it my way.” I hear him walk away and I sigh in relief, but as soon as I do I scream in pain.
“You’re not quiet either!” Abdu get his men to lift me up on the metal table, after dropping me from the chains. “So..this is going to hurt. But remember! I at least tried to be nice before.” He says as his men strap me down and begin putting a small tube up my nose. At first I’m confused and slightly uncomfortable. But then it hits me, the little dripping fluid that stings the back of my throat.
No…not just stinging. It’s like fire. The amount of pain is almost worse than all of the other forms of torture. It’s on the inside of me. The burning, the sharpness. Every breath feels like I’m engulfing fire.
“PLEASE!” I scream even though I know it’s not going to make it stop. It just keeps going. The men’s laughter grows louder, Abdu’s smile gets bigger, the little bit of strength that I had disappears.
“NO!” I jump up out of bed and hit the cold hard floor below me. “fuck” I hiss. I slowly sit up on my hands and knees and go through my usual routine to calm down. After about 30 minutes of labored breathing and dripping sweat, I lift myself off the floor and walk out into the kitchen to get something to drink. Grabbing my phone, I press the call button and it rings a couple of times before someone answers with a groggy morning voice.
“Camila?” Ariana asks after not hearing anything but heavy breaths on the line.
“Hi” I breath out and set my water down and set my face in my hand. “Sorry..I didn’t mean to wake you. I guess when I called I forgot it’s 4:30 am.” I try to fake a laugh.
