Silent Emily

Memories

I couldn't sleep.

A soft rain tapped the window that I aimlessly stared out of. Axel had been asleep for a couple hours, his snores vibrating through the room as one of his arms sat on my waist.

Did I do something that put me here? Was this my destiny? It was my fault for trusting him but was there something else?

My belly twinged again when the image of the diner sausage popped into my head. I wrapped one arm around my middle before forcing it out of my mind. Axel was deranged. Those poor people had no idea what they were eating.

I closed my eyes as my stomach pain increased. Darkness was welcoming but sleep did not graze me. Instead I wracked my brain, searching for anything that I did that could've led me here. I had done some bad stuff in Chicago. Shit, everyone did. Survival was tough enough without doing anything illegal. It had been so much better when Arnya and I met.

She was beautiful. Her red hair wrapping around her shoulder in a braid. Her large red heels matched a little heart that dangled from her white lingerie set. Stockings covered perfect supermodel type legs as she made her way toward me. She was extremely thin but she didn't look unhealthy.

"Are you lost, my sweet?" She had asked, stepping to stand beside me in the alley. She pulled a cigarette out of her pocket along with a lighter. I watched as her thumb ran along it as a blue flame danced in the night. She pressed the cigarette into the fire and it lit, tobacco falling through the air and onto the ground at our feet.

"Are you okay, my sweet?" The beautiful woman pushed. Her eyes were focused down on me. They were caring, nice.

"I-I'm okay," I started. "I'm a little nervous."

"Why are you nervous?" Her accent was so thick that it was hard to make out some of her words. She was Russian.

"I'm alone out here. I don't know what to do." I replied. My fingers clasped together in front of me. They were cold as the chilly air wrapped around me like a blanket.

"Oh, my sweet. I'm Arnya. How old are you?"

"16." I answered. My foster parents had always told me how bad it was to share your age with a stranger. Where were they now?

"You're so young. I will help you. We will be sisters." Her voice was endearing, enchanting. She slid her arm around me, pulling me against her body. We were in sync as I followed her to wherever she was leading us.

After a bit we entered another alley and came to stand in front of a tent. It was small and quite dirty but I was appreciative nonetheless.

"Go inside, my sweet." Arnya said, pushing her arm into the fabric so the flap opened. I slid my body inside the tent, holding it open for her as she followed.

It was pretty homey for a tent. Arnya had a small collection of heels, makeup and lingerie. A few pocket knives dangled from fishing line on the side, open and ready to be used in defense. A few big blankets scattered the floor along with some pillows. It smelt like cinnamon.

"I know it's not much. I will live lavishly one day though," She paused. "We will live lavishly one day. Sister."

My heart thumped. Surely I shouldn't have come with this random woman this easily. I was the perfect victim for a kidnapper or human trafficker. I felt so close to Arnya already. I trusted her already. She felt like home.

"Sister?" I asked. My eyes found hers. They searched my face, digging into me before one of her hands settled on my arm.

"Yes, sister. Sisters. I will care for you and you will care for me. We watch out for one another. We share all we have."