Chapter 3 : No Escape

It was dark.

As in, ang nakikita ko lamang ay purong kadiliman habang mulat na mulat ang aking mga mata. Ilang beses ko nang kinusot ang aking mata, pero wala, ganoon pa rin. And I had no idea what was waiting for me next.

and then I realized, the men from last night.

Pinatay nila ‘yung lalaking tumulong sa akin… pero bago pa ako makatakbo, may dalawang lalaking lumapit sa akin at may matigas na bakal na tumama sa aking ulo. At ang huli ko na lamang nakita ay ang katawan niyang nakahandusay sa lupa, and with one last desperate gasp, my world went black.

Kinabahan ako, lalo na nang pilitin kong igalaw ang mga kamay ko. Doon ko lang naramdaman may nakatali. At noong pinilit kong gumalaw, lalo lang humigpit ang pagkakatali nito.

Napasinghap ako.

I’m tied up.

Kinagat ko 'yung labi kong nanginginig. Pinipigilan kong maiyak sa sitwasyon ko ngayon.

Sht. Oh my god... papatayin nila ako.* ani ko sa aking isip

Napatigil ako nang may marinig akong mga boses.

May mga yabab, sunod-sunod. agad akong natigilan nang marinig ko silang nag uusap habang papalapit sa aking pwesto.

"ona ustroila draku, glupaya suka. No ona stoit togo, chto ty yeye vide?"

[She started a fight, stupid bitch. But she’s worth it, you saw her, didn’t you?]

Ako? Ano kaya ang pinag-uusapan nila? What the hell do they mean?

They still have my life in their hands… pero why?

They think I'm a prostitute. May mga armas sila, Russian ang wika nila, at wala silang takot na pumatay ng mga inosenteng tao.

Bigla na lang pumasok sa isip ko yung pinakamasamang maaaring mangyari sa akin, saka baka human trafficking na ito, halatang-halata naman sa mga kilos at salita nila, jusq, paano na kaya ito!

Pinipilit kong pigilan yung pag-iyak ko habang mariin akong nakikinig nang mabuti sa pinagsasabi nila.

“poluchit’ yeye ochishchennym vverkh dlya auktsiona i postavit’ yeye s drugimi”

(Linisin siya para maihanda sa auction, tapos ilagay siya kasama ng iba.)

Auction?! Holy sh*t.

Napasinghap ako, at medyo napalakas panga tangina talaga, at biglang tumahimik sila.

“Ona ne spit.”

(Gising siya.)

Narinig ko ang mga papalapit na yabab. Napahikbi ako nang biglang may humawak sa akin at tinanggal ang piring sa mata ko.

Kumurap-kurap ako habang unti-unting nasasanay ang paningin ko sa liwanag.

Isang malamig na silid ang bumungad sa akin. Magaspang at mamasa-masang batong pader ang nasa paligid, parang lumang kulungan o silid na matagal nang hindi nasisikatan ng araw. Mabigat ang awra ng paligid, may halong amoy na hindi ko maipaliwanag, luma, malamig, at nakakapangilabot.

Napaatras ako, halos mapagdikit ang likod ko sa pader sa takot.

The Russian accent around me was heavy, every word hitting my ears like it carried weight straight into my mind. Pale faces, but what really made my chest tighten were their eyes, sharp, cold, and way too used to seeing fear in other people.

"Sweetheart, what is your name?" tanong ng lalaking pinakamalapit, habang lumuluhod pa siya sa harap ko

This is it. Russian mafia. I’m done for.

And then it hit me yung tumulong sa’kin nung gabing ‘yon… sila pala ang pumatay sa kanya.

But me? I’m Russian by blood. I just moved to America a few years ago. I’m fluent in Russian, and I know exactly how the Mafia works—ruthless, bloodthirsty, zero hesitation when it comes to killing.

But what they don’t know… I understand everything they’re saying. And if I keep my accent controlled enough, they won’t suspect a thing.

“My name is Calla,” I said slowly, keeping my voice calm even though my insides were already tense.

He nodded like he was satisfied. “And your last name?”

My throat tightened for a split second.

Volkov. My last name is Russian.

If I told them the truth, they’d know. They’d dig into my past. They’d assume the worst right away.

I can’t risk that.

“Evans,” I answered, my voice slightly shaking as I pressed myself closer to the wall. Please… let them believe it.

He hummed like he was weighing me up. “Beautiful, little Calla. Will you come with me?”

I glanced past him. The other two were staring, silent, observing me like I was something to be analyzed.

“Do I have a choice?” I asked, forcing my accent to stay flat, controlled. Thank god I still sounded American enough.

A faint smirk tugged at his lips.

“No. I suppose you don’t.”

But the smile never reached his eyes. His eyes were cold—filled with anger, rage, and something darker… something like bloodlust.

He didn’t wait for my answer. In one quick move, he pulled me up even though my hands were still tied behind my back. His grip on my arm was so tight I already knew it would leave bruises.

I bit my lip hard as the rope dug deeper into my skin.

“Can you untie me?” I asked slowly, carefully. I was scared that if I spoke too fast, my Russian accent might slip out.

He looked at me, eyes full of suspicion.

“I don’t know… from what I heard, you put up quite a chase. You’re a fast little girl. You climbed a thirteen-foot iron gate—and got an innocent killed.”

Hindi ako ang pumatay. Hindi ako ang may hawak ng baril!

Napakagat ako sa dila ko, pilit pinipigil ang sigaw na gustong kumawala sa dibdib ko.

“If you promise not to run… because I swear to you, little one, if you do, you will be punished. We do not need damaged goods.” His eyes flashed with something devilish.

Dahan-dahan akong tumango.

Damaged goods?

Nanigas ang labi ko sa takot. Niwalang lumabas na kahit isang salita sa bibig ko at parang naipit lahat sa lalamunan ko.

Bigla siyang dumukot sa bulsa ng jacket niya at inilabas ang isang maliit na blade. Isang kisap lang ng mata, marahan pero walang alinlangan, pinutol niya ang tali na nakagapos sa akin.

Nangalay ang mga braso ko sa sobrang higpit ng pagkakatali. Napatingin ako sa pulso ko puno ito ng maiitim na pasa,

Hindi man lang ako bigyan ng pagkakataong makabawi, agad na naman niyang hinablot ang braso ko at marahas akong hinila palabas ng kwarto.

“You need to get cleaned up,” sabi niya habang iginiya niya ako sa isang madilim na hallway. “You have another man’s blood on you.”

Huminto kami sa harap ng isang metal door. Tinulak niya ako papasok.

Mahina ang ilaw, at kulay-abo ang mga tiles na lalong nagpapalamig sa buong paligid.

“Strip,” malamig niyang utos.

Nanlaki ang mata ko. Nanigas ang buong katawan ko.

Hindi. Please no.

“Wha—”

“You need to shower. You smell like blood. Get in the f*cking shower.”

Napatingin ako sa shower stall. Walang kahit anong kurtina.

“There’s no curtain…” bulong ko, halos hindi lumabas ang boses ko.

Nakatayo siya sa may pinto, nakasandal, naka-cross arms, nakataas ang kilay na parang bang aliw na aliw pa ito sa reaksyon ko.

“What are you? A fcking princess? Sorry to tell you, but if you’re not comfortable undressing in front of me… you’re in for a hell of a ride.”

Natatawa pa nyang ani.

I’ve never been sexually intimidated before. Yeah, may mga guys na na-attract sa’kin, pero iba ‘to. This is not that kind of situation.

Hindi ako ready. And definitely not with someone like him.

"You have about three seconds to strip, or I'll do it myself. And trust me, you don't want that."

Nanginig ang mga labi ko habang hinuhubad ko ang suot kong dress.

Marahan itong bumagsak sa sahig. at puno ito ng dugo. Naiwan ako naka-bra at undies.

At talaga namang dahan-dahan pa niya akong tiningnan mula ulo hanggang paa, walang takot nitong ipinakita ang bumukol sa pantalon niya. Tumango pa siya, senyales na hubarin ko ang lahat.

Tumulo ang luha ko habang marahan kong tinanggal ang aking bra at sinunod na hinubad ang aking underwear.

Ni-cross ko agad ang mga braso ko sa dibdib, pinipigilan ang luha habang pumasok ako sa malamig na shower stall.

I turned on the water. Cold water crashed onto my face, making me gasp. Along with my tears, blood kept running down from my hair as I tried to scrub it off.

My hands were shaking when I turned my back to him, hoping—just hoping—he wouldn’t see all of me, wouldn’t see how exposed I was.

And then—

The water was shut off.

In an instant, he yanked me out of the shower. My head hit the tile hard. My vision blurred, everything spinning as I tried to make sense of what just happened.

He pinned me against the wall, the impact knocking the air out of my lungs at agad naman niyang hinawakan ang leeg ko ng madiin. "I could f*ck you right here. “No one would even know what happened to you.”

“No… please…” my voice came out weak, barely holding together.

Fresh tears streamed down my face.

"V-Virgin," bulol kong ani. "I-I'm still a virgin."

Alam ko, mas mahal ang presyo ng mga virgin na babae sa black market. aba ayoko maibenta, alam ko rin sa sarili ko na wala akong magagawa para pigilan ‘to. Pero hindi pa rin puwedeng basta na lang akong sumuko.

His expression changed. Whatever darkness was in his eyes a moment ago was gone. He released my neck. I collapsed onto the floor, gasping and coughing, struggling to breathe.

He threw a white robe at me.

“Get changed. Now. Do it fast, or I’ll drag you out naked.”

My hands shook as I quickly put it on, covering myself and tying it shut like it was the only thing keeping me together.

But even then, I could still feel his gaze on me like I was still exposed, even when I wasn’t being touched.

Pagkatapos kong isuot, hinila niya agad ako palabas ng kwarto. Halos mapatid ako sa sobrang lakas ng pagkakahila niya sa akin.

"W-where are we going?" tanong ko,

“Shut the f*ck up,” he growled, shoving me into another room.

I stumbled as I was shoved inside. The room was small—clothes racks lining the walls, a mirror stand cluttered with makeup and styling tools.

In the center stood a tall woman with a tight ponytail, her face completely unreadable.

“Get her ready for the auction today,” the man said coldly before stepping back into the shadows of the room.

"Come here," sabi ng babae.

Nilapitan ko siya. Hinila niya ang braso ko, pinatayo nang tuwid at sinipat ang buong katawan ko.

Sinipat niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa. Dumaan ang malamlam niyang mga mata mula sa mukha ko hanggang sa binti.

"Good figure," sabi niya habang sinisipat ang buong katawan ko. "Very slim." Tumango siya.

"Long hair," hinawakan niya ang basa kong buhok, "blue eyes." Tumingin siya sa mukha ko. "Very exotic. Where did you find her?"

She asked the man who looked like he came straight from hell, like I wasn’t even in the room.

“An alley,” the man replied flatly, like it meant nothing at all.

“Where are you from?” the woman asked, this time turning her attention to me.

“New York,” I lied. My voice came out shaky, barely steady as the words left my lips.

Pinilit kong tumingin diretso, hoping na hindi niya mapansin yung kasinungalingan sa boses ko. Pero mukhang wala naman siyang pakialam, like I didn’t even matter in that moment.

She wasn’t even looking at me anymore, busy scanning the clothes on the rack, like I was just another task on a list.

Then she grabbed a black dress and set it aside, preparing it without saying a word.

She pointed at the chair in front of the mirror stand, and my knees almost gave out as I sat down.

My gaze flicked to the man in the corner of the room—he was still watching me, his stare cold and suffocating, like he could end me just by looking.

I flinched.

"Hey!" singhal ng babae. "Look at me."

Agad kong inalis ang tingin ko. Kinuha niya ang makeup brush at sinimulang make up-an ang mukha ko.

"Your eyes are puffy. Stop crying," bulong niya.

Kinagat ko ang labi ko habang tinutuloy niya ang pag aayos sakin

Naalala ko si Brielle. Gano’n din siya—pushy, bossy, always acting like she knew everything.

Brielle… I felt tears threatening to fall, but I swallowed the sob before it could escape.

I closed my eyes as she applied eyeliner, then lipstick. She blow-dried my hair, leaving it long and wavy, reaching all the way down to my waist.

Ten minutes later, she snapped her fingers, and she said, "done"

Binigay niya sa'kin ang dress. at sinabing mag palit na

Pero nakatitig pa rin ang lalaking kanina pang nasa gilid.

"Get out," utos ng babae.

Nanatili lang siya ro'n na para bang walang naririnig, nakatitig pa rin ito.

"If you want this girl ready for the auction, you will leave. Unless you want to lose something worth so much."

Nagbigay siya ng huling malamig na titig bago lumabas ng kwarto.

"Change, now," ulit ng babae, mas malambot na ang tono nito kumpara kanina. Iniabot niya ang dress at undergarments.

I gave a small, weak nod—like a silent “thank you,” but she didn’t even acknowledge it.

I took off the robe, my hands trembling. I put on the bra and thong, then slipped into the dress. It was thin, short, revealing, sleeveless, and it barely covered anything at all.

In-zip ko yung likod at tumayo, yakap ang sarili kong mga braso.

“W-where am I going?” mahina kong tanong.

Nagkibit-balikat siya, diretso ang tingin sa’kin.

“Look, little girl. If you want to survive this, shut up and take what they throw at you. Don’t try to be better than it—you’re not. Don’t try to escape, you can’t. Don’t cry, and certainly don’t beg.”

Tiningnan niya ulit ako from head to toe.

“Don’t try to be smart. Brains won’t save you here. You’re very beautiful. That’s not a compliment. That’s the truth. Your beauty is all that you have now. Bite your tongue, and be strong. It’s your only hope.”

Namuo ang luha sa mata ko, pero pinigilan ko. Tumango ako kahit nanginginig.

“Put these on,” abot niya ng stilettos. “Then sit. You have bruises and cuts all over your legs.”

Nanginginig ang daliri ko habang inaayos ko yung buckle ng heels. Umupo ako, at sinimulan niyang takpan ng makeup yung mga pasa at sugat.

I need to survive this.

Even if I lose everything that makes me human… even if I break on the inside beyond repair, I will survive this.

I’ll survive now, and cry later.

I’m smarter than this. I’m not who they think I am.

I can endure beatings, pain, torture, whatever they throw at me because I refuse to be reduced to what they assume I am.

Maybe, for the first time ever… the Russian mafia will miscalculate.

Because I am not what they think.

I am not a prostitute.

And the moment they realize that… will be the moment everything changes.