Chapter 5

⚜ Taken ⚜

When I woke up I tried to figure where I was since the surroundings were unfamiliar. The sharp pain in my head couldn't go unnoticed and the ropes on both my hands and legs made it worse. Suddenly the door was opened and in walked two men who by guessing were probably in their early twenties.

"Hey cutie, enjoying your holiday? ", one of them asked.

I didn't respond.

He stood up and ordered the other one "Pacho, get her some food and water immediately. Remember what boss man said?"

After few minutes Pacho walked in with some food on a dirty plate and said, "I will feed you"

I shook my head telling him, no but he seemed not to care as he took a spoonful and forced it into my mouth. I felt like throwing up but the other man shouted in his grating voice. "If you don't chew this food, I will open your intestines if I have to and put the food in" I chewed quickly while tears ran down my cheeks.

Later an old lady arrived and poured cold water on me. Then she said something in a language I couldn't tell and spat before leaving. I was confused, what have I done to deserve all these? I realized that these people abducted me and have no mercy whatsoever.

I felt cold.

Then an idea struck me and I began to gnaw at the ropes on my hands and after a while, it came off. Using my hands I let loose the rope on my legs. I struggled up and tried standing but stumbled. I was like a baby learning how to walk. I tried once more and I was able to move up to the door which was unlocked. With baby steps, I hobbled out and noticed there were two more rooms next to where I was.

With curiosity and hoping to find the exit, I peeped inside one of the rooms and saw some women both young and old. Some were sewing clothes while others were counting huge bundles of money. No one seemed to talk to the other. I slowly moved to the next room and peeped too. Inside were young women almost my age that was sleeping on the floor. A man holding a gun was standing near them. I tiptoed away trying to find an exit only to find an empty room that looked like an office. Piles of papers and files were scattered everywhere. I noticed some boards on the wall which had pictures of men crossed ❌ on their faces. I took a closer look and read their names. Most were DEA officers and some agents in the American government.

Whatever was going on here was nothing good and I had to find a way out as soon as possible. As I turned to move, a fat man stood in front of me. I recognised him from the previous night as the boss man. The look in his eyes confirmed the worse. He slapped me hard that I fell which he took advantage of and started beating me in the stomach. I cried and screamed in pain but he didn't stop. He removed a syringe from the drawer then injected me on the neck. I was so weak and in pain. Even so, I tried speaking and asked. "Why are you doing this? What have I done to you?"

"You saw something that you shouldn't have seen yesterday. I also happen to have issues with your meddling gringo government" he scorned.

I pleaded. "Please...please.I beg you. Let me go and I won't tell a soul. I will leave and never come back"

"No Mami, I can't. Here we don't trust gringos. Now it's best you rest so you can be strong for what's awaiting you Bonita" he said.

I felt myself drifting away slowly by slowly till darkness took over.

I didn't know what the time was when I woke up but I groaned in pain while touching my stomach. I tried moving and I couldn't. I noticed I wasn't alone but in a room with young women of my age. I glanced around and everyone was asleep. This time my hands and legs were not tied but still, I couldn't move. Lying down there with tears in my eyes made me think of home.

"Ally has called a thousand times by now," I told myself.

I thought of my future, the apartment I wanted to move in, my siblings and even my cranky mum too. Somehow I felt that I would never see them again.

Some boys holding guns interrupted my thoughts when they started waking people up. One lady who didn't want to stand was slapped. When the others saw they all stood up. I was helped up by one of them(maybe the boss had told them to). Then the boss walked in with an emotionless face.

"Good job boys! Now examine the packages except for this blonde here I already did".

The boys started searching everyone except me from clothes to shoes and some of their bags. I wondered what they were looking for. They handed him cell phones, money and ID cards. That's when I realized my passport was not with me. I always carried it in my cardholder since I arrived in Belize and even though I forgot my phone I remember vividly I had my passport with me that night.

"Let's see, what do we have here? Two more gringas? hahaha...my lucky day isn't it?" He spoke cheerily.

"Yes, boss man. The big enchilada will be happy"

"How many in total Pacho?"

Pacho cleared his throat and spoke. "Catorce boss!"

"Good. Bath them and have the doctor check them too"

Following the boss's orders, they splashed water using pipes and ordered us to remove our clothes and wear the ones Pacho brought. One of the girls helped me put on the dress. She was beautiful with her electric blue eyes, brunette shoulder-length hair and perfect smile. "I am Elena" she whispered.

I smiled replying. "Chloe"

Pacho loud voice disrupted our socializing. "Follow me!"

We were taken to the same room I was before the boss caught me but only the notice board and piles of paper were not there. Guess they had cleaned up well. An old man walked in and whispered something to one of the boys.

"The doctor will examine you, please cooperate", He said.

After the check-up, I was given some meds to help with the pain. The doctor confirmed my internal organs were okay but externally I had bruises on my stomach. He disinfected the bruises on the skin of the stomach and injected me with antibiotics which for real helped ease the pain.

After everyone was done with the check-up, we were taken to a different room and brought food to eat. One of us raised her hand and was asked to speak.

"Can I use the loos? I am pressed"

The boys found that humorous, as one spoke. Hahaa ha...whom do you think you are? What's your name?"

The girl was scared. "V-v-Vanessa"

"Well, Vanessa in here I give the orders not you. I say when it is time to pee or shit. You got that?"

Vanessa started crying while the boys just stood and laughed at her. Then one of them whose name I heard was Ricarlde said,

"Don't cry. Wait I will see what to do"

"B.u..u..t...am pressed. Can't hold any longer", Vanessa uttered.

The rude man from before interjected. "Stop being easy on her, Ricalde. If you don't act like a man, this bitches won't respect you" he paused and turned towards Vanessa as he continued. "I told you I call the shots and to show you my good side, I will fulfil your wish but over there" he was pointing the corner.

He spun to look at us as he shouted. "Anyone else who has similar wishes do it at the corner or in your panties" With that he left raged.

I couldn't believe my ears. Apart from been abducted we also have to sit and eat where we peed. Vanessa did as she was ordered which made most of the women who were still eating uncomfortable. Luckily, I had finished eating way before the drama began. I saw others do the same. By now the urine was flowing towards where we sat but that didn't bother the boys. They left the room and locked it from outside. Ten minutes later the room stank. Most of us puked and started shouting for help which no one came. Guess that's how we ended up abducted somewhere unknown, in a dark room suffocating with the stench of urine and poo all over.

I was so sure I would get ill after this.