Unbroken

Ihavea plan.

“This is classic ransom shit,” I try to tell her, despite the fact I’d never been held in a room with another woman before. “They want money—”

“I don’t have money.”

“But you’re close to someone who does.” That’s the way it usually goes, right?

“No, no, I’m not close toanyonewith money.”

I still as strange emotions flit through my chest. “That’s not how this works. In a ransom situation, the captor knows there’s money to be made—”

“I work a fucking corner!” she shouts now. “I amnobody.”

I don’t respond straightaway, but my body feels itchy now. I have to swallow back that familiar wave of nausea. I shake my head, stubborn. “No, no, you’resomebodytosomeone.”

Because that’s how it is.

She’s wrong.

“I’m somebody to more than one someone,” I say now as my chest warms. I nod, reflecting. “And my boys are coming.”

“You’re crazy,” she retorts. “We’re going to get murdered—”

“We’re ransom—”

“You’re not getting it. I HAVE NO MONEY.”

I ignore her—she’s wrong.

I wonder how long we’ll be in this shithole. The jeans I’m wearing feels tight, and the dark t-shirt I’m in is soaked through with sweat. I have to pee and I’m hungry. I’m hoping the exchange happens soon—

“The guy that took me said he’s going to carve my eyes out like all the others if I don’t behave. Said if all goes according to plan, I’ll be someone’s trophy.”

Okay, Skye, breathe.

I breathe, but my feeling of panic suddenly sets in.

“It’s fine,” I whisper. “It’s fine.”

This is ransom shit, I remind myself.

But then I hear another groan and a soft cry sounds out. “Hello?”

Another girl.

What is happening?

“Britney?” the first girl asks. “Is that you?”

“Fay?” the second girl responds. “Where are we?”

I tense, the rope wrapped around my arms digging into my skin now as I ask, “Does Britney work the corners too?”

“Yes, she fucking does,” Fay retorts.

Britney sobs now. “I don’t know what happened—”

“Was it the blue pick-up truck, Brit? With the guy in the cap?”