Trapping His Monster

20. Good Riddance

"Do you hate people?"

"I don't hate them...I just feel better when they're not around."

― Charles Bukowski, Barfly

"On a sadder note, the search for Sha'Kera D'Aquilla, a.k.a. Black Spade, is still ongoing. No one has come forward with any new information about the missing pop star. She was reported missing by her husband, Derek D'Aquilla. Reports from Astoria say she was last seen running and disappeared well before nightfall."

"Fans all over New York yearn for her speedy return, but what can anyone do without any leads? We can only pray she's safe and nothing terrible has befallen her."

"Everyone loved her. Some of them may not admit it, but she was proving to a lot of children that anyone can be great. Anyone can overcome the challenges they face during their childhood and make a difference."

"She even took a three year hiatus and was working on a new album upon her return. She must have really missed her fans."

"I was looking forward to her new song with King. Now we're going to have to wait. I'm sure everyone is praying she returns, so we can all hear that song."

"Yes--"

The screen went black. I didn't move. Wayne came to stand in front of me. I only sighed. He got what he wanted. No one was really looking for me. No one was suspecting him, because they thought he feared the thought of returning to prison. Like that was going to stop him from doing anything illegal.

We hadn't done anything for the past seven months. Well, I hadn't. Wayne had gone home to his wife and kids on multiple occasions. It's a wonder Paige hasn't put two and two together. Maybe she stopped caring about the crap he's getting himself into. Or maybe he has her preoccupied. If she heard I was missing, then she probably asked him about it and he told her he had nothing to do with it.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"It's time for you to leave me," he said. "Someone else wants you. I no longer have to deal with your BS anymore. Thank God."

"...You're a human trafficker."

"No, sweetheart. Even if that were true, I wouldn't be able to sell you for much. No one would want you."

"Someone is going to find me and you're going to go back to prison."

If looks could kill, Wayne would have done it so flawlessly. He yanked me up from the couch and dragged me into my room. I didn't struggle, because I knew there was nowhere I could run. I'd tried it before. Now I was used to roaming a house I knew I'd never have any chance of escaping from.

"Where are we going?" I asked as he began throwing clothes into a suitcase.

"...None of your business," he mumbled.

"I have a right to know."

"You lost your rights the minute you got yourself lost."

"I wasn't lost."

"Well, you sure as heck weren't touring the place."

I sighed and waited for him to finish. I guess I was the only one staying where he was taking me. I didn't like that.

"Turn around."

"Why?"

"I've been holding back from hitting you, Sha'Kera. Don't make me mess up your pretty face."

I turned around without another word. Wayne blindfolded me and took my arm. I heard someone else join us, but I didn't know who. If they were communicating, it had to be some unique way, because they didn't say a word to each other until we got outside.