Driving down the road, out of
nowhere she came. I was terrified, worried if she were going to hurt me. But I proceeded
to stop and ask if she was okay. Before I could even finish she jumped into the
back and begged me to drive as far away from this spot as I could. I was a bit
worried but more for her than myself because she seemed petrified of something
or maybe even someone. So I did as I was asked, I drove. After about an hour of
silence with a stranger in the back of my cab I asked,
“Miss, are you okay?”
“I am now.” She replied short and
quick
Unsure how to keep things going I
went ahead and asked “What’s your name?”
“Rebecca” she mumbled
“I’m James” I returned
We went on talking
for a little while, she told me what had happened to her and why she was so
scared. She said that some friends of hers, as well as herself went down to Cancun
for a vacation, and they met a few guys down there that seemed really friendly.
So rather than staying in their hotel they decided to go stay with these guys.
I thought I sounded like a dumb idea when she told me but I remember being in
my twenties as well, so I kept my mouth shut. Rebecca was a pretty girl and couldn’t
have been a day over 23 so I figured I probably shouldn’t act like a parent
after all she has had to deal with. So I just let her go on. She said her and
her friends went down there to celebrate her friend Jessica’s 21st birthday.
She went on to explain that after about a week of staying with them she
starting dating one of the men. She said he told her his name was Matt, and that
at first she was practically in love with him. He showered her with affection
and gifts for not only her, but her friends as well. They all were supposedly
staying at Matt’s mansion. She explained it to be extravagant, large towers and
a huge pool that her and her friends were at daily. But she said that after about
3 months Matt began to act strange. Lots of late night hours as a construction
worker, she said some nights he wouldn’t even come home. She wasn’t really upset
just curious but didn’t give it much of a second thought. Until one day Matt
brought his “clients” home, and that’s when she realized things probably weren’t
going to be good. These men took her friends and beat them repeatedly. She yelled
for them to stop and they did, they shot her friends right in front of her.
Then they ran for her, she bolted. Still in her bikini as they had just came
from the pool she ran as fast as she could, but then she tells me that all she
remembers from then on is waking up in what she describes as a cage, where she
says she was for what likely seems like forever. She was supposed to be sold
into the sex trade. But she says that one night they left the key close enough
to where she could reach. And now she was with me.
“That’s all I remember”
I told the officer.
“Thank you for
your help” he said as he turned to leave
“Wait!!” I
exclaimed
“Yes?” he
replied
“Is she okay”
He looked at the
other officer and told me the worst news imaginable
“No, she didn’t make
it. I’m sorry son”
I then rolled
over and proceeded to cry.
The men I thought I
was helping her escape from rammed our car and caused us to roll. Ejecting
Rebecca from the car resulting in this young lady who had nearly escaped
impossible odds to lose her life.
What a nightmare. And sadly, one I could see playing out in real life. I like your use of dialogue to advance the story and the near escape at the end is heartbreaking. Thanks, Jordan.
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