Ripple Effect

-21-

Clank, clank, clank

Gabby opens her eyes and sees some of the other girls getting up and dressed in uniforms.  

"It's time to get up. We eat and then we get ready to go to work." 

"I don't have one of those." Gabby indicates a uniform. 

"They have plenty of them, just find one in your size. You need to get lined up if you want to eat. Also, ask for Marcia and tell her you need a bag." 

"A bag?" 

"They don't want us to look sloppy on the job, so, each one of us gets a bag that has a toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush and deoderant. There is soap and shampoo in the shower area; we shower in shifts and it should be our turn once we back from work. It's an open space and some of the guys like to watch." 

Lucia looks at her, "Come on, get up; they're coming." 

Gabby puts her shoes on and lines up as the group makes their way towards the same area where they ate last night. She grabs some juice, cold toast and eggs before sitting down and eating. 

A woman approaches her and sets a Ziploc bag in front of her, "Lucy, said you needed this."

"Thank you." Gabby feels the tears beginning to fall and an arm wraps around her. "I know you're scared, we all are; but, the only way to get through this is to try and turn your emotions off and fall in line with the other girls. Don't act out or respond, just follow orders and you'll be okay." 

"I'm not going to be here long; I have people that care about me and they aren't going to stop looking for me." 

"A good portion of the girls here once thought the same, but, have long since given up hope of being rescued. The cartel is an extremely well organized and protected network, they move us around all the time, so that we don't get comfortable or too familiar with the regulars. You should eat, you're going to need your strength."  

Gabby watches on as the woman, she assumes to be Marcia speaks to one of the men before being allowed to leave the room. 

As the women stand and clear away their dishes, Gabby watches them before standing up and doing the same. Making her way to the door, one of the men with a gun stops her, "Come with me, the boss wants to see you." 

Knowing she has no choice but to follow his instructions, Gabby does just that. They enter into a smaller room, where she sees Marcia and another girl along with Feo. 

"You know what to do; make her look presentable." Feo leaves the room and Marcia approaches her. "You're going to need to take off your clothes. They want us to take pictures of you made up and dressed all nice for the auction, so, get on with it before they come back." 

Gabby nods and hangs her head as she removes the layers of clothes that until now were her only form of protection. 

They spend the next while washing, preparing and dressing Gabby in fresh clothes before then having her stand in front of the wall and taking a bunch of pictures along with video of her. 

"What now?" 

"They're going to take you away and keep you in a location until the auction takes place. Afterwards, you'll most likely be brought back here and put to work with the rest of us unless ..." 

"Unless? What's unless?" 

"The last girl they auctioned was bought by someone who beat and choked her to death, but, they've gotten stricter with who they allow to be apart of it, and what they're allowed to do with the girls, so, you should be okay."