“Shopping?”
I nod once. “I found out it was my boyfriend’s birthday. I wanted to get him something.”
Nina’s expression softens with something that looks too much like heartbreak. “That sounds nice,” she whispers.
“It was supposed to be.”
Nina’s eyes move to the collar at my throat. “Do you think they really work?”
I don’t want to answer. Lying feels cruel. “I think we should act like they do.”
She nods quickly, face paling. “Sorry,” she whispers. “Stupid question.”
“No,” I say. “Nothing about this is stupid.”
She presses her lips together.
The van turns, and both of us sway against the restraints. My shoulder bumps the wall, pain shooting through muscles that still haven’t forgiven me for being tied down so long.
Nina notices. “How long were you there?”
“I don’t know.”Time doesn’t work in that place. It stretches, collapses, disappears.
“I heard…” Nina stops. I look at her. She shakes her head. “Never mind.”
“What?”
She swallows. “I heard a gunshot yesterday.”
My chest goes hollow again.
Eli.
I look down at my hands. “They killed someone,” I whisper. Nina goes still. “He tried to help me.” Or maybe he tried to refuse them. Maybe both. “He said no to them.” The words matter. I need them out of my mouth.
Nina’s eyes shine. “I’m sorry.”
I nod once, but I don’t say thank you because that feels too normal and nothing about this deserves normal.
The van keeps moving. I don’t know how long. The roads change beneath us. Smooth pavement, then rougher, then smooth again. Turns. Stops. Acceleration. I try to count them at first, but my head is too exhausted, my body too sore, and eventually the pattern blurs into motion.
Still, I listen.
I gather what I can.
A train horn somewhere far away. Rain starting lightly against the roof. The driver cursing about a gate.
A man in the front saying, “Vittorio doesn’t like delays.” That name again.
Nina hears it too. Her eyes widen. “Who is that?”
“I don’t know.”
“Buyer?”
My throat tightens. “Yes.” The word barely comes out.
Bought. Sold. Delivered.
