Hold Tight |Jason McCann|

Chapter 31

| Savanna |

We had found a way down from the roof, we used a thin ledge which ran along the back wall and stepped on to someone's roof, slowly getting down the ground.

My leg had been cut by a broken pipe which had a sharp edge and when I was yanked by Eva on to the ground behind the barrel, I slid against it and cut it. The adrenalin within me allowed myself to carry on walking and it was only until we stopped that I had remembered the pain. I had blood staining my leg and so we had to stop, finding some sort of cloth to wrap around it in attempt to have it stop oozing with blood.

We had been walking for hours.

And we were exhausted.

The sun had set, the streets were dark yet people roamed around, not a care in the world as two rough looking girls with blood on them walked around.

As we continued walking, I kept feeling this ache in my stomach and at this point, it made me double over in pain feeling as if I was going to be sick. "Are you okay? What's going on?" Eva asked as she held on to my arm.

After catching my breath, I stood up properly again "I'm okay... let's just keep going" ignoring the pain and continuing to walk.

"I don't know where we are, I was taken from my hometown Brasilia but I can't make out where we are right now" Eva spoke as she looked around our surroundings. We had walked so much, I could collapse.

"I need to ring Jason."

She turned to look at me, frowning as if I had said something crazy. "Your man can't help you here honey, we don't even know where we are. He can't find us" she responded turning around again.

"Well clearly you don't know my man." I snapped, turning around I walked towards a small store, it looked like a cell repair store which was even better.

"Follow me" I told her as I walked in. There was one man sat behind a counter, newspaper in hand and legs up, his eyes diverted to us as I approached the counter.

His eyes shifted from our bloody clothes and messy hair to our faces, looking more than shocked.

"Hi, is there any chance I can use your phone to make a phone call please? It won't be long" I told him. He raised his eyebrows which told me he didn't understand what I was talking about, that's when I remembered not everyone here could speak English.

I looked back at Eva who had her arms folded, with a look of sadness, she sighed moving me to the side and speaking to the man in Portuguese.

After a couple moments, he handed me the small phone and continued talking to Eva. I walked over to the far corner not wanting anybody to hear me on the phone and what I was about to say because I couldn't risk being taken again.

As I dialled the only number I remembered off by heart, I noticed my hands were shaking.

I took a deep breath and pressed the green button before raising the phone to my ear, closing my eyes and crossing my fingers in the hopes that he picked up. Jason almost never answered the phone to unknown numbers because of his business and so I just hoped he answered now.

As the ringing continued, I almost believed it was going to cut off until on the final ring, he answered.

"Savanna? Baby, please tell me this is you"

He knew straight away, that was why he answered.

My heart broke at his voice. It was so tired and raspy as if he had lost so much sleep and I could only imagine him forgetting to eat or forgetting to even look after himself.

"Jason" my voice cracked, it sounded like I had a sore throat but I didn't, it was just from the lack of food and water I had consumed so far- a very little amount, and the bruised rib didn't help with breathing.

"Please tell me you're okay Savannah, where are you? Are you hurt? How are you calling me? Who is with you?"

"Please come and find me Jason... I don't know where I am" I sobbed, tears rushing down my face as I remembered the horrible situation I was in.

"I'm going to find you Savanna, wherever you are, find a safe place. I will be with you soon." He sounded serious and stern, the only Jason returning where he remained cold to bring control.

I paused looking back at Eva and the man who were now no longer talking and the man seemed to be very impatient.

I wiped my tears "I don't have much time, all I know is that I am in Brazil. Your- your dad took me, h-he works with other men... the-they take girls and-" I couldn't finish and didn't want to and I'm sure Jason knew that and so he cut me off.

"I am coming Savanna, listen to me carefully, I want you to find some place safe, anywhere. Just please be careful right now. I am going to be with you soon sweetheart, don't lose hope" His words made me close my eyes, stopping myself from crying further.

I had to have hope.

"I love you Jason" my voice cracked as I felt my body shake,

"I love you so-" I felt the phone being taken away from my ear and I turned around to see it was the same man who was now yelling at me.

"I'm sorry" I didn't even know why I was saying sorry but he clearly seemed annoyed and so Eva and I were quick to leave. "You took a long time and calling America isn't cheap. Took the mans coins" Eva chuckled as she continued walking.

"So, what did he say?" She asked, turning to look at me.

"We have to find somewhere safe to stay, do you know anywhere?"

"It would help if I knew where we were... can you walk a little longer?" She asked me as she looked down at my leg, the cloth had been changed 4 times and was now seeping blood through again.

"I'll be fine. Let's go"

With that we continued walking.

All I could think about was Jason. He sounded tired and helpless, something that was uncommon for him. I missed him so much and wanted nothing more but to be in his arms again but I knew I had to stay strong, for me, for Eva,

For Jason.