Chapter 19
It's cold in here. We've been driving for days now and i'm starving.
My wrist ache from the tight chains. I feel the truck slow down and then come to a complete stop.
The men that purchased me are walking around to the back.
"Rise and s.h.i.+ne, sweetness."
I squint as the sun beams on my face. He pulls out a key and lets me out of my chains and slips something on my neck.
"Let's go."
I hesitate at first but it seems I have no choice.
"This is her?"
The man grabs my face.
"She's a cutie alright."
He smiles at me with his crooked teeth.
"How much you want for her?"
"Well, I bought her for $54,000, so gimme 60 and we're good."
"60?! She's just a kid! What could she possibly do at this age?"
"She was being trained by the woman in white."
"Oh, that makes some sense but she's a toddler-"
His words are cut off by a gun shot. Blood runs down the hole in his head and he falls to the ground.
"What the h.e.l.l?! Show yourself!"
Without a second thought, I run. I run from that truck, from the scary men that kidnapped me, from everything.
I ran until the sun started to set. I ended up running into the next city over.
'Where can I go now? What will I do?'
I wander around town, lost in the crowd of people until I walk into a hotel.
"Hi, welcome to-"
The man behind the counter looks down at me,
"Um, where's your mom? Are you lost?"
My legs shake and I fall the ground. Tears fall from my eyes.
My walks from behind the counter and picks me up.
"Please done cry child. There, there. It's alright."
He pats my back and comforts me till I fall asleep.
***
"Good morning. I bought you some breakfast from downstairs..."
He pushes the plate of food to me. I grab the food and stuff my face. Within seconds the plate is empty.
"Wow,"
He chuckles,
"You want more?"
I nod. He gets up and walks to the door, I run to him and hold his hand.
"Oh? What's the matter?"
"I..."
My throat hurts from all the screaming and crying.
"I don't wanna be alone."
"Alright, you can come with me, sound good?"
I take his hand and nod. We walk down a long narrow hall. He opens the elevator door and we step inside.
"You wanna press the b.u.t.ton?"
I nod my head excitedly and jump to hit the b.u.t.ton but i'm too small.
"C'mere,"
He puts my on his hip and lets my smack the b.u.t.ton.
"Ok kiddo, let's get you some more breakfast."
***
The man taking care of me is named Montana. He worked for the owner of the hotel and lived there too.
"Monty, you gotta go work now?"
"Yeah. You remember what I told you?"
"Don't leave the room, don't open the door for anybody, and listen out for our secret knock."
"Very good. There's some food in the fridge. I'll be back later."
I wander to the fridge and grab a juice box. Monty's room was small so he didn't have a lot of the things the other ones did.
"I wanna read."
I grab the book Monty reads to me before sleep and open it.
"What is dis?"
*knock on the door*
I push a stool to the door and look though the peephole.
"Monty!"
I open the door and hug his legs.
He picks me up and lies on the bed,
"Monty, sleepy?"
He sighs,
"Like you wouldn't believe,"
I crawl next to him and lay on his chest. He smells sweet, like flowers.
"Listen kid, i'm came back kinda early today because I have something important to tell you."
"Huh?"
"Do you know the lady in white?"
"IS SHE HERE?! CAN I GO HOME?!"
I jump up and down on the bed excitedly.
"She's downstairs, c'mon i'll take you."
I hop off the bed and wait by the door. I jet down the hall when he opens the door.
"Hey l, slow down!"
He pulls my arm,
"Sorry, i'm just 'cited, Monty! I getta go home!"
"Yeah, home..."
We get down to the lobby and he sets me down. She's right there. I'll been lost for weeks now, but it doesn't matter, she cane for me.
"Mommy!"
I run to her with open arms and she pick me up and spins me.
"Oh my baby! I'm so happy that i've found you. Let's go home."
I turn and look at Monty's sad face.
"Monty,"
He squats down,
"You come too?"
"I can't hun."
My lip starts to quiver and my eyes sting,
"Why not?!"
"They need me here..."
"We must hurry now, we mustn't miss out flight."
I hug him one last time before I leave.
'Bye, bye Monty. I'll miss you.'