Page 9 of Pushed

“Pop the trunk, Z.”

“No. No, no no,” I mumbled as I tried to drop to the ground and back away from the rear of the car. “Don't do this, you don't want to do this.”

“You're right. . .” Lifting me up by the hair at the base of my neck, Machi curled his hands under the back of my legs and swooped me off the ground. “This wasn't meant for you, but I don't have much of a choice now, do I?” Dropping me into the trunk, his eyes stayed heavily trapped on mine. “Tie her up.”

Tears continued to fall effortlessly as I was driven away from the alley, away from home, away from safety. A blindfold covered my eyes and my wrists were tied behind my back, wrapped repeatedly in nylon rope.

The hot and stuffy trunk made it hard to breathe, forcing me to take slow deep breaths. I tried to wriggle free, rocking my hands back and forth with as much force as I could, but all it did was turn my skin raw.

What the hell is going to happen to me?

Where are they taking me?

What are they going to do with me?

There were so many unknowns, so much I couldn't possibly understand about the men who stole me, who had packaged me up in the trunk like a piece of luggage.

I had no idea who they were or what they were doing. I didn't know if they were going to rape me, kill me, or. . .Both.

All I could do was cry, allowing the blindfold to suck up my tears before they stained my cheeks.

I just want to go home.