Stuck In Traffick

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

They drugged me. I should have expected that. I don’t know how much time has passed. What I do know is that there’s no one in the hall. I try to move my legs in an attempt to save them from cramp but when I look I see I’m tied tight to the ground, my arms and feet bound by coarse, frayed ropes, a welcome change from the metal chains that I’ve been used to. I try to move my arm and notice that the bonds aren’t terribly tight. I decide test the waters somewhat, and I try to pull against them. Sadly, I find their tight enough to prevent my desired escape.

            I wasn’t ready to give up. I could almost smell freedom. This was the closest I had ever come to being able to escape, I was only being held by worn out ropes, I could do this. I steal a glance at my tied hands coupled together, I see that the ropes are secured on top of my bandaged wrists, fairly loosely, I notice. In a further test of the bonds, I pull my arms down and I have to bite back a shriek of unfathomable pain. I stop for a moment to gather myself and to catch my breath, letting the remnants of my hasty actions run their course through my body. I could slip out of the bandages, I think to myself, but the pain would be unimaginable and if I fail to hold back a cry of pain then it would certainly send bodies charging at me. Bitterly, I begin to contemplate my fate. I’m going to die if I don’t get out of here, it’s inevitable. Gritting my teeth, I pull hard on both arms, wrenching the ropes and the bandages at the same time, taking skin and tendons with them. My scream tears through the hall, echoing, reverberating over and over into one long, hideous humming of agonising terror and torment. Pressing past the pain as it continued to flow through my body, I quickly reach for my feet and untie them. Unsteadily, I push myself up onto my feet. Quickly, I steal a glance behind me and only see two guards blindly stumbling towards me, I turn and stagger towards what I have been hoping and praying for. An exit. Freedom.

            As I draw nearer to the exit, I see one last obstacle I have to overcome, a large wooden door. As I contemplated what I would do, I never stopped running, not doing myself any favours, I think to myself. I have a meagre few seconds to decide what to do. As I continue my sprint towards the door, the light reflects on a shiny bolt on the door, revealing my way round, what I hope, is the only barrier between me and freedom. I continually draw closer and closer to the door and I slip one last glance behind me, my pursuers were slower than me, I have time.

            I cleared the remainder of the corridor faster than I expected, and in no time at all, I arrived at, what I hoped, was my last obstacle. I quickly reached for the oversized bolt and with all the might left in my, using all my strength, pushed the bolt aside. As I pushed, I heard the rough metal grate against the shiny varnished, oak wood door. With the remnants of my might, I heave the door open and slide through the small gap I had made.

            Clean air hit me like a speeding train; I rounded the corner of the building and collapsed onto the gravel underfoot. Relief came over me like a flood. I lay there on the ground weeping for a moment as the realisation of what I had done came to me. I’ve just escaped a certain death. I’ve escaped captivity, I’ve saved myself, no one had to do it for me. I’m free.

            Quickly, I begin to re-gather my thoughts and try to figure out what I should do next. As I attempt to formulate a plan, I stop for a moment to feel the joy that I was trying to hold inside. I take a deep breath and feel the cool, fresh, evening air rejuvenate me, re-ignite my fire, restart my desire for life to begin again. Clumsily, I clamber to my feet and as my eyes have adjusted to the light, I can see the gravel track lead into a thick forest. Immediately, throwing caution to the wind, I begin to run, as silent as a mouse, towards the thick, unrelenting forest. Apprehension began weaving its way into my mind, unsure of what I will find, or where I will end up. I stop for a moment to catch my breath. I fall to my knees in exhaustion, breathlessness and the sharp sting in my wrists, slowing me down, and the pain enough to leave me feeling despondent and helpless. I look up to the sky and begin praying a silent prayer, but I don’t see any sky, the dark murky tree’s simply loomed far above me, at dizzying heights, vertigo beginning to make me feel sick, quickly I break my stare and stand up again, ready to go once again.

            After what felt like an age, I reached a small clearing, obscured by some trees and thick brush. I’m lying in the small clearing, blood from the wounds on my arm, making passage on my arm and down my fingers, the stinging sensation sending pain through my entire body. I sit down at the side of the clearing, hiding myself beside some thick foliage, I feel my mind racing into overdrive, considering my options, and wondering where my pursuers are. I feel myself fading fast, in and out of consciousness. My head begins to spin. Innocently, I lie down, the spinning intensifies. My long matter hair tumbles over my shoulders and around my gaunt figure as I lie down, allowing a bizarre, alien sensation of warmth. In my half asleep haze, I begin to hear voices, however they don’t bother me. They sound distant. I feel myself slumbering further and further into limbo, when suddenly one small noise awakens me and alerts all my sense. I hear twigs snapping as if underfoot and I panic. Unsure of what to do I sit still in the hope that if I remain still I will go unnoticed. I glance up at the sky, and shudder at the thought of what would happen to me if I got caught. Then… darkness.