Breaking Britain (Completed)

Chapter 52

  52
Sunday 6th January 2030
02:20

             Gulab Kaul sat in the back seat of the car, with James. Even though she was blindfolded, she could tell it was James, when he had blindfolded her, after she had kissed Lucy and Saburi, she had smelt him. There was a refreshing smell of something familiar, which she was unable to place. That smell was still hovering in the car. Gulab wasn't the first to leave, another two women and a man had left separately, just before her, it had helped ignite her optimism and although she was reluctant to separate from her friends, she was also keen to get home.

              She had felt even more optimistic, where James hadn't tied her hands or feet, which turned out to be an immense relief, as she found the clothes she was given quite itchy. She wanted to say something to James, maybe thank him for his hospitality or tell him she hoped he'd get struck down by lightening. The thought shifted the corner of her lips upwards and she had to stifle down a giggle.

              The journey lasted longer than she'd expected. The three men remained silent apart from the odd directions being relayed from the passenger seat. 'Next right', 'stay in the left hand lane'.

              Eventually, the car pulled over. Gulab was itching to get out, but waited patiently until James directed her to do so. Her patients was tested, as James got out, along with the driver. After what seemed like an age, her door was opened from the outside.

                'Get out', James said aggressively. Soon as Gulab stepped out, she knew something was wrong. Instead of pavement under her feet, there was gravel. The smell was wrong too. There was the smell of wet pine. She felt a large drop of water hit her head and listened to the sound of other drops near and far, as the wind drifted by.

               'Stand still', James ordered, as he stood behind her and untied the knot that kept her blindfold in place.

               Gulab prepared herself for the blinding light that she thought would follow. Instead, she was surprised to find darkness. This confused her, she was convinced she had been held captive for around ten to twelve hours, yet it was night time. She searched her environment, deciphering what surrounded her. She was in a woods. She stood on a small patch, which the car had somehow managed to drive down.

              Fear crept through her.

              'You're going to kill me', she spoke with certainty, acceptance and deep sorrow.

              'If it was up to me. Yes. We would be killing you. But it isn't and the boss is one to keep his word', he looked at her, her expression changing from devastating sorrow to optimism. 'So piss off'

              He stepped around her and closed the door she had exited from.

             'Where are we? I thought you were taking me home', she asked nervously.

               'You are home, you stupid bitch. What did you expect us to do with the information we got from you. Unfortunately, for us, your home had already been raided before we got there. We couldn't even ransom you, your fucking family were already dead.'

                She stared at him, dumbfounded by what he was saying and his callus inconsideration. Her family were gone, she was alone, without a home.

                'What do I do?', she managed to mumble, through the ensuing tears.

                He looked at her in disgust. The driver had returned to the driver's seat and started the engine.

                'You just don't get it. It's all over for you', he said leaning into her face, spittle flying from his mouth. 'If you head to town, you'll be dead before the morning, if you stay out here, you'll rot away or freeze, either way. I don't care'

                 He turned away from her and got into the back of the car, barging into her as he passed by her again. He shut the door. The car went into reverse. Gulab stood there watching the cars headlights, until the car stopped, turned and drove off with speed. As the car disappeared in the distance, darkness enveloped her.

                 Gulab remained standing, tears running down her face. She was free, but at what cost.

                 A few minutes had passed and she was becoming acutely aware of the noises surrounding her. The leaves rustling, the drops of rain pounding the various surfaces around.

                 Her feet were bare and the cold had already seeped into them. A breeze circled her, prodding her and poking her, which triggered memories of the subtle bullying she had been forced to endure at school. The woods whispered in sinister tones, they growled at her, teased her. She shivered and took off in a run, up the path the car had taken.

                 She lasted three hundred meters and was struggling to breath through the tears and fear that was choking her wind pipe. Her feet had gone numb, yet she still felt pain emanating from them. She dropped to her knees, after a minute she dropped to the floor and curled into a ball.