Conflicted // SAMPLE

Chapter 2

VANESSA POV

I stare out the window trying to memorize the highways they are taking. I know if we escape we can't return to Ms. Grimes, but I at least need to know where we are and the route the kidnappers took. I need to know so I can tell the authorities. They need to make sure she never does this again. I take a break from my pointless task, to check on a now sleeping Rosy.

She fell asleep about an hour ago after bawling her eyes out. I feel so bad for her. I know we are in the same situation but she seems to be collapsing. She has been so stressed lately due to our living situation. This has definitely sent her over the edge. I sigh and Mr. leader turns back to look at me.

He cocks his head to the side while actually showing an emotion. Curiosity.

"You are a odd one Sugar," he says lowly while looking at his sleeping companion and Rosy. The third stooge is driving.

"How so," I ask sarcastically not truly caring about how I differ from their normal girls.

"Most girls cry or beg. They don't calmly sit trying to plot an escape," he explains anyways.

My eyes shoot to his and he smirks.

"Of course I know you are planning. And trust me sugar, you will fail. You will fail and you will probably get your little friend killed," he says with a sly smirk that I want to slap off his face.

"Okay, so what? I was planning," I say trying to appear unbothered by his statement.

Fear for Rosy's safety pierced my heart when he said that though. Should I try to escape? Should I drag Rosy into an even more dangerous situation?

"Well I suggest you stop," he growls out like an animal.

My eyes widen and I shift uncomfortably in my seat. I have no idea what these men are but if they are cannibals, I need to tread lightly.

"Okay. Fair enough. Can I ask you a few questions then," I ask hiding the nerves from my voice.

His eyebrows raise before he nods.

"How many girls have you bought from Ms. Grimes," I ask trying to find out if the three girls who aged out before us suffered the same fate.

The driver laughs and Mr. Leader smirks as he answers me.

"We don't purchase merchandise from Ms. Grimes. She is purely what you would call, a middle man. We purchase young human girls through the human Government," he says and pauses.

He smiles at my shell-shocked reaction. He is enjoying this far too much.

"You and your friend were probably selected at a young age. After selection, you would have been removed from the foster care system's database, so you would no longer be up for adoption. From that point on Ms. Grimes is supposed to train you. There are many homes set up like this all over the country. The U.S government makes a huge profit selling young women to the supernatural community. But to answer your direct question, you and your friend make 23," he finishes with happiness in his voice.

My eyes fill with tears as understanding dawns on me, there is no saving us from this. Even if we escaped, the authorities would not be on our side. Shoot, they would probably return us. I force my tears away. I need to focus, how can I make this better for us?

"So Ms. Grimes is the middle man, what are you? How are you paid in this OH SO great setup," I ask trying to see if he will give me more information.

He chuckles.

"We are what they call collectors. We collect the products meant for sell from our region. Our pay can decrease depending on how roughed up your are," he says with an underlying dare in his voice.