The Mercedes moved far faster then it should have as we cut through traffic, sliding across the wet ground. Perhaps, we hadn't been moving that fast. Perhaps the world around us had just slowed down enough to allow me to register what had just happened. But, what happened exactly?
"Meet us at the safehouse now!" My father yelled into the phone as I pushed myself deeper into my seat, hoping to not somehow fall out of the car as he took a hairpin turn under the off-ramp of the Verrazzano bridge, only to speed off again.
"On my way," Cassidy responded from the other side of the phone – she sounded rushed as her voice boomed through the speakers of the car.
My father slammed onto the breaks, throwing me forward into my safety belt before he killed the engine, stepping out quickly before rushing to my side. "Dad, what the hell is going on?"
"There's no time to explain, Dawn," He spoke panicked as I got out the car, walking towards the safe-house – an old abandoned factory placed so far from any life that not even rats would bother to inhibit it. "Just go inside and wait for Cassidy to show up, okay?"
"You're not coming with?" I asked, tugging away from his grip.
"I can't, Dawn. Just wait for her and don't step outside until she gets here," He answered whilst looking over his shoulder. "I'll explain everything when I get back, okay?"
"Okay... " I spoke, stepping backwards before turning to the safe-house, seeing his car speed off just before I slipped inside. The factory was seemed a lot bigger than I first made it out to be – the first, and the largest room seemed to be about half the size of a football field, surrounded by sturdy brick walls littered by graffiti that glowed under the light that filtered through the rusty rafters above. Two belongings stretched along the sides, too rusted away for use.
I shook my head, walking over the steel support beam and placed my back against it before sliding down against it, sitting down on the filthy ground. The graffiti around me may have impressed me if it hadn't been for my mind still running through what happened in the office, desperately trying to make sense of anything that just happened. How does my dad, the CEO of a modelling firm, know anyone that seems as dangerous as Delta had. And why had he been so frightened? I shook my head, trying to put aside the thoughts, but it had been useless. The faces spray-painted on the walls still stared at me mercilessly.
I shot up as the sudden noise of screeching tires sounded from outside the factory, knocking me out of my daze. My eyes widened as I grabbed hold of steel rod laying on the ground – it felt impossibly cold in my hand as my knuckles turned white around it. I stepped forward as a woman rushed through the doorway. "Dawn?"
"Thank God," I spoke, dropping the rod before walking over to Cassidy. She looked concerned, instantly checking if I got hurt anyway.
"You alright, kid?"
"Alright?" I asked, slightly out of breath. "I want to know what the hell is going on here and you're asking if I'm alright?"
"It's okay, Dawn," She grabbed hold of my shoulders. "Tell me what happened."
"Stop treating me like a scared little kid!" I yelled – my voice slightly higher than it usually is, more panicked. She sighed, taking her hands off from me before apologizing.
"Okay," She sighed. "Damien told me about this place. Said there's a latch on the floor, somewhere. Help me find it."
I took a deep breath before nodding, kicking empty cans of energy drinks about as I walked to the centre of the room – my eyes locked onto the ground at my feet. Cassidy ran the light of her torch towards me — illuminating a single patch a few feet ahead of me. I stepped forward, shifting up the dirt with my feet until I saw the latch.
"It's locked. I hope you have the key." I spoke, looking back at Cassidy.
"Something like that." She crouched down, inspecting the lock before nudging me back and drawing out her pistol – a jet black M9 with a suppressor screwed onto the front. I stepped back further as she aimed for the lock, pulling the trigger. The gun sounded with a hollow pop, followed by a loud metallic clank as the lock sprung free. I walked forward, grabbing hold of the latch and opening it.
"I take it this isn't a random factory," I spoke, staring down the dimly lit shaft as Cassidy threw a torch to me.
"No, your father set up this place after we learnt you were still alive," She spoke, lighting up the shaft. I hopped onto the steel ladder and started descending downward. I hit the bottom, shinning my torch upwards so that she could get down. "He put it together in case anything happened."
"Great, my father has a doomsday bunker." I rolled my eyes, turning off my torch as she pulled down on a lever that lit the bunker to a near daylight white. We continued down the corridor until we reached a room at the end – a small living room, complete with a couch and television. On the sides of the room were two doors leading to the bedrooms and bathroom. I walked over to the couch, dropping down, turning in the television to an episode of SpongeBob. Cassidy sat next to me.
"What's going on, Cassidy?"
She sighed leaning further into the couch. "Do you know what your father does for a living?"
"Yeah. Why doesn't?"
"What he _really_ does?" She asked again, catching my attention. I shook my head, turning down the volume of the television.
"After today, I'm not sure," I admit.
"Do you remember what he said back at the museum? Grace Industry helps more families then it has staff?"
"Yeah, kinda overwhelmed me so don't bring it up."
"I'm sorry," She sighed as my phone lit up with a message from Arti. I ignored it. "He smuggled them into the country, Dawn. The models."
"Wait," I stopped her, laughing with uncertainty. "You're telling me that my father not only has some dangerous associates but runs a trafficking syndicate?"
"Not exactly..." She trailed off. "He brings them over and gives them a decent shot at a new life."
"Would explain why they love him so much, not much more," I stood up, turning the TV off before heading to the bathroom. "I'mma go wash my face."
I shut the bathroom door behind me, leaning with my back against the wood before drawing out my phone to read Arti's message.
"Your friend came looking for you."
YOU ARE READING
Vertigo
ActionDawn's life has always been privileged - best schools and even better clothes, yet she had always felt as if something were missing. Until, it all fell apart, forcing her to spend the rest of her life running. But, she can't run anymore.
