ILL-FATED JOURNEY™

Chapter 2

I woke up in chains and not the blinging kind. Also, there was a Latina next to me, rapidly firing off her Hail Mary's. I had no idea where I was, except that I was in a vehicle of some kind. How long was I out? I don't know. Where was Brian? I don't know, but something told me he was unharmed and had something to do with this.

Oh my God! My mother! She was probably losing her mind! I was her only child, her reason for doing all that she did, as she constantly reminded me, now I wasn't home from my supposed movie hang out with Malika. Oh shit, Malika! She was going to be in a world of trouble because of this! Then my brain finally got around to me and it said "Stupid, you're in chains! I think you have more pressing concerns!"

Right! I interrupted the Latina's prayers asking, "How long have we been here? Do you know where we are? Can you speak English?"

She started to cry murmuring in a mixture of Puerto Rican and English "Si, I don't know but I want to go home! The men...they have..."

"What?" I asked innocently.

The vehicle stopped and when the door opened I realized it was a container. Bright sunlight greeted me, and now I had a new problem – I needed to pee.

"They're awake." One man said tiredly. He wasn't even wearing a mask. I was black despite what my skin tone and eye colour said so I knew when you went out to make a hit with no masks, you expected no survivors.

"Knock Ms. Lopez out." The man complained when the Latina wailed as they touched her. "Those fuckers almost ruined a good product. At least this one's still intact. Are you gonna make a scene or come quietly?" He asked me.

I showed him my chains and he said, "Those stay on."

"I need to ...use the bathroom." I whispered.

"Good," He chuckled "you know your place. What's the magic word?"

"Please."

He laughed. "Where did he find you? How old are you?"

"Fifteen."

"Seriously? I thought he lied. Especially when the virginity thing checked out." He replied astonished.

"What?" I asked in shock. How the hell did that check out? I wondered.

"Come I'll show you where you can go." He told me, leading me out.

As I stepped out of the trailer, I saw I was in a busy port. There were workers rushing everywhere but they ignored my chains as if they were an everyday occurrence. I wanted to call out, but something told me they would continue to ignore me.

"As you can see, screaming for help here will get you nothing. They know who they work for and it's not you!" He told me as he took off the chains.

I finally looked up and got a good look at him. He was average height with non-descript brown hair and hazel eyes. He looked like he could be a little league coach. Completely harmless. I wondered if his family knew where he was and what he was doing.

"Up through there." He pointed, and it was to a ship. He took me to the captain's quarters and handed him some money. "See that this one gets there undamaged. You'll get the rest there." Turning to me he said, "Be good and you'll survive the journey, act like Ms. Lopez and using the bathroom won't be so comfortable." He tossed the chains on the narrow bunk beside me. "Smooth sailing kid." Then he shook hands with the captain and left.

"The bathroom's through there." The captain pointed gruffly and when I had finished and returned to the room he was waiting with the chains. He eyed me strangely then stooped down shackling my ankles to the cot.