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Julie
An explosion of anger and anxiety overtakes me as I lay in the back of the van. The blindfold over my eyes envelopes me into darkness, ropes now binding my wrists replacing the handcuffs. Boris’ goons also tied my ankles, making me feel even more vulnerable and helpless.
I can't believe I fell for Calvin's trap. The thought that he went so far as to lying about Barb being in danger stings, but what hurts even more is knowing I walked right into his scheme. I should have been more cautious, more skeptical. But the possibility of Barb being hurt blinded me to the risks.
I'm angry at Calvin, of course, but I'm even more furious with myself. I let my emotions get the better of me, rushing off without a second thought. And the worst part? I left my phone behind. Ivan can't track me, making it more difficult to find me quickly. It's a rookie mistake, and now I'm paying for it.
Alone with my thoughts, I try to wrap my head around everything. Ivan must be out of his mind with worry by now. I curse myself for not thinking things through, for putting myself and ultimately him in this dire situation.
The van has been moving for what feels like an eternity, jostling me around with every turn and bump in the road. The lack of vision is disorienting, making the passage of time feel even more drawn out. My mind races with possible scenarios of what awaits me, none of them calming.
Finally, the van comes to a halt. The back doors swing open, and a rush of cool air hits me, a stark contrast to the stuffy interior I've been confined in. Rough hands grip my arms, pulling me out of the van with little regard for my comfort. I wince, biting back a cry of pain as my knees hit the hard ground.
Something primal and fierce surges within me as hands grasp my arms again. I'm not going to let them take me without a fight. My body coils, every muscle tensing as I prepare to strike. My heart is racing, adrenaline pumping through my veins like determined fuel.
With a burst of energy, I lash out, my leg shooting up in a swift, powerful arc. I can feel the contact, the solid thud of my foot connecting with the assailant's chest. The satisfaction of landing a solid blow courses through me, a fleeting triumph.
Almost immediately, a crushing force slams into the side of my head. The impact is staggering, a brutal, blinding pain that radiates through my skull. It feels like my brain has been jolted, my senses thrown into chaos.
The sudden sharp pain that explodes in my head is like nothing I've ever experienced. It's a searing, blinding agony that sends my senses reeling. I've never been struck before, and the shock of it is almost as bad as the pain. The world tilts and spins, a dizzying rotation of light and shadow.
I'm reeling, fighting to stay conscious, refusing to give in to the darkness that threatens to engulf me. My head throbs with every beat of my heart, a relentless drumming that makes it hard to think, hard to focus. But I know I can't afford to pass out. I need to stay alert, need to be ready for any chance I get to escape or fight back.
Despite the pain, a part of me is fiercely proud of the blow I managed to land. It might have been a short-lived victory, but it still feels significant.
Lifted roughly to my feet, I'm disoriented and stumbling, my balance thrown off by the blindfold and the blow to my head. Every step is a precarious dance, a struggle to stay upright. The fabric over my eyes feels suffocating, a barrier not just to my vision but to my understanding of everything happening around me.
Determination surges within me, and I manage to work the gag out of my mouth with a defiant spit. My voice rings out, raw and loud, screaming for help.
"Help! Somebody help me!" I scream at the top of my lungs, my voice echoing with terror and urgency. "Please, anyone! Help!"
I continue to shout. "I'm being kidnapped! Please, help me! "
But my cries for help are met with a brutal response. A hard strike lands on the side of my face, a force so sudden and intense that it knocks the breath out of me. Pain explodes through my jaw, a deep, wrenching agony that causes me to double over. I want to keep screaming, to keep fighting, but the pain is too much.
“Hush up, you little bitch.”
My hand instinctively goes to my stomach, a protective gesture for the precious life growing inside me. I have to protect this baby, no matter what. I can't risk another blow like that, there’s no telling what it could do to my unborn child.
My screams die in my throat, replaced by a silent, steely resolve. Every instinct in me shifts to preservation, to shielding the tiny, fragile being depending on me.
As the blindfold is abruptly yanked off, my eyes take a moment to adjust to the dim lighting. I find myself in an environment I didn't expect, a deserted strip club. It's a bare, eerie place, devoid of any club-goers, waitstaff, and dancers.
The club has three stages, each with its own pole standing tall. The space feels haunted, a shadow of its usual vibrant self. The air is thick with the distinct smell of cheap perfume mixed with the lingering scent of sex, a combination that makes me cringe internally. The whole ambiance of the place is unsettling, a blunt reminder of the predicament I'm in.
Every surface seems to hold memories of countless nights, and there's a part of me that recoils at the thought of touching anything. The floors are sticky underfoot, and the chairs around the stages are haphazardly arranged, as if left in a hurry.
Settling uncomfortably onto a couch that reeks of alcohol and bad decisions, I grimace, trying to find a spot that feels less disgusting. It's like being on the set of a sleazy movie, and all I can think about is taking a long shower. I glance warily at Boris sitting across from me with an air of smug assurance.
"So, what's the big plan?" I ask, injecting a hint of sarcasm into my voice in an attempt to hide the terror I feel. "Ivan runs an errand for you, and I get a free pass out of this charming establishment?"
Boris chuckles, a sound that grates on my nerves. "It's simple. Ivan follows the instructions I gave him, and you're free to go."
I snort, unable to help myself. "Ivan doesn't do dirty work anymore. You've got the wrong guy."
His laugh this time is more of a scoff. "You'd be surprised what a man will do for the woman he loves."
I roll my eyes, trying to mask the unease his words stir in me. "Love's great and all, but it doesn't turn a legit businessman into a criminal overnight."
