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I didn’t like it, but what other choice did I have? Mason should have set me up better before he locked me in here. Keeping my head down, I quickly made my way to the corner where I thought I had spotted the drug store. I opened the door, and quickly realized it was a small eatery, and my mouth watered, and my stomach growled as I realized I hadn’t eaten more than a nibble of a shortbread cookie for breakfast. I sighed and stepped back to the street, knowing I didn’t have much time, and I needed the toilet paper most. I looked around and walked another block up, and felt a surge of relief when I spotted a small convenience store.
I stepped into the cool air of the store and nodded to the cashier, who looked me up and down before going back to whatever he was doing before I’d disturbed his peace. I stood on my tiptoes and surveyed across the shelves in the middle of the store, hunting with my eyes for what I needed. My gaze swept over snacks and drinks, and I eyed them hungrily. I walked around one of the shelves and on the bottom; I spotted what I needed. I quickly grabbed a pack, and decided if I was here, I might as well get a few snacks. Because why not?
Some of the packaging was in English, some not, and even still I could recognize what the chips and snacks were. I reached for a bag of what looked to be similar to a sour cream and onion chip, and I felt my pulse quicken as I became aware of a second man in the store. He stood nearby, looking at an item, but I suddenly realized he’d been watching me, and for how long, I didn’t know.
A shiver went up my spine and I felt a pulse of anxiety shoot through me. I left the chips and as I approached the cashier, I’d already dug out a wad of bills to pay for the toilet paper. As I stood there, I felt the man's shifty gaze on me and my anxiety bloomed a bit more; I waited just long enough to see that the money covered the amount for the toilet paper, and I quickly moved for the door, leaving the cashier with whatever amount of change he was counting to give back to me.
I whipped the door open and stumbled onto the street, not daring to look back. I walked quickly with purpose, and crossed to the other side of the street as I got back onto the block we were staying on. Only then did I sneak a look over my shoulder, and what I saw made my chest seize up, and my limbs go numb. The man was definitely following me, and I panicked as I neared the apartments.
I needed to get away from him as fast as possible, but I also didn’t want to lead him straight to where we were staying. I veered around the far side of the building I’d originally come up yesterday and sprinted up the steps, my thighs burning with the frantic exertion as I pounded down the hall and finally stumbled into the room.
I froze.
Someone was bent over Mason’s bag, rifling through it.
Rifling through our passports, and money, and whatever other secret things Mason had in there. They stood up and spun around hearing me, and I felt the tiniest tinge of relief at seeing it was a young boy, maybe thirteen or fourteen. His eyes went wide, and he threw his hands up.
Suddenly, I became aware of pounding footsteps, and before I could whirl around, my headscarf was yanked off, and someone was yanking me back by the hair, as I was shoved to my knees.
I screamed out in terror, praying that Mason was close by. But knowing that this might be it for me.
12
MASON
Armeenand his associate moved to an area of the warehouse that the microphones I planted couldn’t quite pick up. I groaned to myself as I peered at them through the scope. Where they were standing, I couldn’t hear a damn thing, from up here, or through the ear piece I had in my ear.
My phone buzzed in my pocket in a specific pattern I’d set up as my alert to see if Emma was on the move. I gritted my teeth.
Damn it. Why couldn’t she just stay put?
I softly set my rifle down and eased my phone out of my pocket. I tapped on the notification and quickly saw that she was two blocks up from the apartment. I zoomed in and looked at the location. I shook my head. She was at a convenience store. She’d no doubt given up on the eggs and decided to take matters into her own hands. While I understood that the eggs didn’t make the most appetizing of meals, I’d eaten them for years and learned to put up with it.
I swiped out and saw a slew of messages from Emma.
Emma: There’s no toilet paper here!!!!!!
Oh shit,I chuckled, realizing I hadn’t remembered to tell her there was extra toilet paper in one of my bags.
Emma: I don’t want to drip dry for the rest of the day, you know. When will you be back??
Emma: I’m going to run up the street for TP. Is there a key????????
Oh fuck.
I’d locked her into the room this morning. There was an extra key, but I didn’t specifically think to mention it to her because she was instructed to not leave. But she’d left anyway, and she’d left the God damned door unlocked, it seemed. With all our valuables, allmyvaluables inside.
I flexed my jaw and swiped over to the GPS. She was headed back to the apartment. I sent her a quick text.
Me: Sorry about the TP. I had some in my bag. Text me when you’re locked back in the room, please. I’ll be back soon, hopefully.
I flipped backover to the GPS and watched as the dot quickly moved back over the apartment. I waited for a moment as the dot stopped feeling my chest loosen, but still no text response from her. I felt my chest tighten as I watched the dot move back up the street and then quickly,too quickly,up the next road. I quickly texted her, not sure what I expected.
Me: Emma?
Me: Emma, please respond and let me know where you’re going.
I swallowedhard as I watched the dot move too fast for her to be on foot, and I tried to steady my breathing at the realization that she was in a car.
