NURA

Chapter 5

Nura

Feb. 2013, New York

Nura was sitting on a park bench partially hidden from view by the live fence, watching the entrance to the club from across the street. There was a long line in front of it, men and women all dressed nicely, standing there laughing and conversing while waiting to be allowed in, and once again, she couldn't keep her eyes off them.

She had been living in New York for the past six months, studying graphic design at NYU. Balancing school and work was hard, but she had never felt happier. The last year and a half had been crazy, and just thinking about it made her head spin since she still couldn't believe that she was there, alive and, for the most part, well.

~

"America, of course." the man said as Nura's head whipped around to look at him so quickly that she almost got a whiplash.

The man had a smirk on his face, not saying anything else, and the brunette barely managed to keep her cool as her head buzzed with a million questions that she refused to voice, not wanting to aggravate them, even though something told her that they wouldn't hurt her.

The car stopped after an hour or so, and the one that had given her the blanket motioned for her to get out. Once she did as she was told, she felt her mouth hit the ground at the sight that greeted her.

A sleek, private jet, like the ones she only saw in movies she secretly watched, was standing there on the deserted stretch of land, and she could see Mr. Potato already halfway up the stairs.

"Come on, little one, the freedom is waiting." Mr. Bond said and grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the plane.

Freedom? Is he serious?

Nura was desperate to believe him, but after everything that had happened to her, she could not. It was simply too good to be true because who in their right mind would pay so much money for you, only to turn around in the next moment and set you free?

She climbed in and took a seat, the soft leather beneath her feeling like a dream. She sat as stiffly as possible while trying not to touch anything, fearing breaking or dirtying it.

She couldn't even remember the last time she was allowed a proper bath, and she tried to not let it bother her, but it was hard. She felt dirty and disgusting at that moment, surrounded by such wealth, so she lowered her eyes to the ground in an attempt to calm down and not start bawling like a little girl.

After a few minutes, she felt the jet start to move and squeezed her eyes shut while grabbing the armrests in a death grip. It was her first time flying in an airplane, and she was absolutely terrified.

Soon enough, they were in the air, and she slowly relaxed enough to open her eyes. Mr. Bond and Mr. Potato sat across from her, their eyes focused on her, making her tense again.

Is this when they'll drop the act and make her do nasty things?

Nura started to shake and tried to make herself appear smaller than she was as she watched them through her long eyelashes.

"What is your name?" Mr. Bond asked her, his voice and stature reminding Nura of a person talking to a wounded animal, trying to help it but still ready for it to strike at any moment.

Nura thought about just ignoring him, but she was too afraid to do that, so she cleared her throat and looked anywhere but at them, as she whispered,

"Nura."

"And how old are you, Nura?" Mr. Potato asked, the act of a sleazy, old guy from the warehouse suddenly missing that it almost made her think that she had imagined the whole thing. Now, he looked and sounded the picture of a suburban dad with a wife and three children.