CHAPTER 3- ABANDONED BRIDGE

It was not my reason to disobey what my parents and other elders had said, but if I choose to ignore the scream, then my dreams would be compiled of them and I will never have a peaceful sleep worrying about whether I did the right thing ignoring it.

Instead, I try to confront the situation although it will never turn out to be good, at least it will hurt my conscience, less. I snuck close, taking the wide tree trunks as cover. At a distance, were few cars and I heard loud shouts, it was too blur to see anything and my concentration wasn't stagnant.

I had to go further, to analyze the situation, I knew I had to call the police, but it always took an hour for them to arrive, so it was never an option to begin with.

Probably a few photos or videos would help me later to register a case. I pulled out my phone from my sling bag, the low battery sign glowed shutting it off. Cursing the ill-fated night, I proceeded down the dangerous path.

Now it was up to me to be the brave warrior and fight them head-on or sneak around like a mouse, I would be lying if I said I wasn't afraid because the people before me were dangerous. I could see them moving, 2 men putting a body over the truck. I controlled my tears. My steps were with caution so as to not arouse any suspicion. I started ambling towards the truck; I wasn't sure if she was dead or alive, but I had to know.

There were 8 men in total. 4 of them guarding the grounds with what seemed like AK-47 in their hands. I tried my best to shut my mouth tight, so it will strain all my sobs in the throat.

As I inched further towards the truck, a man appeared out of nowhere, his smile wicked. He had good muscles framing his body, a scar near his cheek. I just hoped I wouldn't be killed on spot looking at the gun near his waist and one in his hand. I stood there frozen, unable to move, my entire body paralyzed.

' look what we have here' he said coming towards me with heavy footsteps. I was too scared to even swallow my saliva. My eyes watched his every movement, I knew if I made a run back, I wouldn't even make it pass a foot.

' come with me, Boss will be excited to see you' he said ' no... ple' I begged unable to speak, but he threw me over his shoulder and went towards a car.

' Sir, I guess we can use her, she was searching the grounds, when I found her,' he said dropping me on the ground.

It scared me to lift my head up, ' move her' I heard a man command, guessing by his voice he was the head. I wanted to run away but my legs were limp and my body was too scared to resist.

They put me inside the truck, it was dark and I stumbled upon something ' be careful, there's a dead person' the driver shouted and I could only scold my stupid self.

This is what it means when they say curiosity killed a cat.

After 15 mins the truck started moving through humps and rocks, shaking the metal cage they trapped me in. I am guessing they were crossing the bridge, although I have heard people say it is unsafe to cross a bridge, because of the metal corrosion and stability issues. I appreciate their daring behavior to do so.

After an hour they hit the cabin, opening the locks. Only to put a sedative cloth over my nose, making me feel drowsy.

I can only remember brief glimpses of being taken down through a tunnel and towards an old ..hm....seemed like an opera house. I sank deep into slumber, only to be awakened by shrill voices.

It was a white-plastered room, with some paint falling off because of fungus. Naked women surrounded me, some wearing dresses, others removing them.

' what is happening?' I asked a woman who was rushing towards what seemed like a community bath area.

' we have to take a bath, hurry up' she said passing a towel over to me. I was lying on the floor, huddled up across a wall a few feet away from people who were noting down names, and checking weight and heights of the girls.

' why am I here?' I asked, following the women who had passed me a towel. She looked at me with terrific eyes, ' You don't know?'....

' No' I said frightened. ' how are you here?' she asked ' I don't know, I was kidnapped,' I said my skin trembling as I remembered the sight at the bridge.

' you are not supposed to be here, only girls willing to be bought come here,' she said looking at me with sympathy.

' what...why' I asked as my heartbeat rose. 'What is this place?' I asked although the answer I would be hearing would make my state worse.

' This is where slaves are sold,' she said, and I was at a loss of words.

' Slaves?' I questioned her after a long pause.

' yes we are sold here in auction' I felt my entire world collapse. I am going to be sold? My mind was still. The dark side was truly DARK.

' what do I do, I don't...' my words got stuck in my throat. I was afraid.

' I'm sorry dear, I can't help you, but I hope you get a good Master,' she said closing her bathroom door.

' Can I not escape' I asked hearing her shower turn on, and the door suddenly flung open.

' don't you dare do that, they will kill you the moment you escape,' she said in a platonic tone that I started crying.

Yes, I know it was bad going near the voice, but I wanted to help, I went inside the shower area locking the door behind, the shower silently numbing my pain. I cried as my tears mixed with the water droplets. What had I gotten myself into?