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ALLISON

A llison wakes to find she’s still in the dank, musty smelling room where, to her best estimate, she’s been for the last three days. Her stomach rumbles loudly, protesting at the lack of substance. She’s been given two small meals each day along with a couple of bottles of water, just enough to sustain her, but not enough for her to keep up her strength. At this rate, she’ll be too weak to escape.

She’s spent the majority of her time looking for a way out, but she hasn’t been successful. The room is completely secure. The single door is always locked and despite the old worn appearance of everything else in the room, the door, its handle, and the hinges are all in excellent condition.

The first time they’d brought her a meal she’d hoped to use the utensils as a weapon, but apparently her captors are smarter than she’d given them credit for. They’ve only brought her meals that didn’t require so much as a spoon. Sandwiches, cold soup in a cup, and a few chips have been the staples she’s received. Nothing other than a full bottle of water to use as a weapon.

She’d tried that once, hiding behind the door when the fake Uber driver had returned to collect her wrappers from her meal. She’d had the bottle raised high when he entered the room, she leaped from behind the door and tried to bean him over the head, but he was taller than she’d remembered. Her aim had been off. She’d hit him in the upper back, but her hand with the bottle clutched tightly just bounced off him causing her to stumble.

The man had spun around, anger clear on his face. He’d grabbed her wrist roughly and twisted it painfully. She’d cried out as he dragged her to the bed and flung her down. “You’re damn lucky, the boss said we aren’t allowed to touch you bitch,” the man had growled at her. “Because without that order, I’d teach you the proper place for a cunt like you.”

He’d leered at her suggestively. His gaze had raked over her, undressing her with his eyes. She’d felt the bile rising as she’d realized his intention. He had then loomed over her. His hand had gripped her hair, jerking her head to the side painfully. “I’m hoping you keep defying the boss,” he’d whispered as he’d leaned closer, his breath brushing against her face.

“When he orders your disposal, I’m going to volunteer for the job.” He had chuckled dark and low. “I’ll take my time, get something I want before ending you.” He had grinned then, a cold, calculating grin that had sent shivers down Allison’s spine.

“Yes, I’m looking forward to fucking your cunt. Is it as tight as I’m imagining?” Allison had stared at him in horror, too shocked to reply. “Hmm?” he had questioned when she didn’t respond. “No matter, I’m sure you ass will be tight enough to please me if your cunt is too worn out. Although, I’m thinking a do-gooder like you, will have been limited in your sexual experiences. You’re not a common street whore, are you cunt?”

“What the hell is taking so long?” a male voice had yelled, as a newcomer had pushed open the door. “Get the fuck off her, you dumbass! The boss said not to touch her! I’m not going to take a beating for your inability to keep your dick in your pants. There is plenty of pussy for you to fuck upstairs. Now, let’s go!”

Fake Uber driver had released her hair and lifted off her then, giving her a rough shove as he’d heaved his massive body up to stand. “Don’t try anything like that again, cunt, or orders or not, I’ll take it out onyour ass, you understand?” Allison had nodded as she’d struggled to contain her emotions. She hadn’t wanted the bastard to see her cry, to let him know he’d gotten to her.

When he and the other man had left, she’d broken down and cried her eyes out. Memories of Russell flashing behind her eyes, increasing her pain. She’d wallowed in her fear that she’d never see him again, but after a few hours, she’d replaced her fear with new emotions, anger and determination. She would get free and she would see Russell again. She’d decided she’d do whatever it took to get back to him.

That had been two days ago. So far, Fake Uber driver has not come back. A different man wearing a mask has been bringing her meals and taking her to a bathroom across the hall.

She is beginning to think they are going to keep her here for the rest of her life, which might not be very long. They could kill her in an effort to kill the story. She’s been working everything through in her mind since she has nothing else to do during her captivity other than think about Russell and her family.

Those memories only make her sad, so she’s tried to focus on everything she’s uncovered about the sex trafficking ring. Someone very powerful has to be helping them operate so openly in the city without getting more attention. The news of each abduction has hardly been reported, if even mentioned at all. Over the last two years, she has submitted several stories to her usual outlets, but only a couple in the beginning had been aired.

Since then, they’ve all been rejected. She’s gotten several replies that the stories aren’t relevant enough, something more important took the air time, or the story needed more evidence before they’d consider it, but she knows they’re just trying to placate her.

Someone, with the power to do so, is preventing her stories from making the airways, but who could it be? Someone in the police department? Someone higher? A judge, a city Councilman, or a Senator?

That last one is sticking with her. The more she thinks about the masked man who had threatened her the first day she’d been taken the more she is convinced she knows him somehow, but every time she feels like she is about to figure out who he is she hits a mental brick wall. The answer eludes her.

The opening of the door draws Allison’s attention away from her musings. She is hoping for food. Her stomach has been grumbling all morning, or night, she has no idea what time of day it is with no windows and no way to mark the passage of time.

She looks up to see the masked man from the first night entering the room along with the man who has been bringing her food lately. “Well, good to see you’re awake,” the masked man drawls. “I trust you’ve been well cared for in my absence?”

Allison doesn’t answer, just glares at the man. He chuckles as if she’s said something funny. “I see you’re just as stubborn as you were the night we brought you here.” He clucks his tongue several times. “I’d hoped the solitude would have brought you around to my way of thinking, but no matter. I suppose I can let Bruno have his way with you. He’s been wanting you from the moment he laid eyes on you.”

Allison’s eyes widen. She knows he must be talking about Fake Uber driver. She swallows hard to chase down the vomit she’s holding back. Masked man laughs when he notices her discomfort. “Ah, I see you’re acquainted with Bruno. Now I know why my associate here has kept Bruno away these last few days.” He studies her for a moment. “Is that what you want? For Bruno to have his fun with you before he kills you?”

“No! Please…” Allison begs, immediately regretting it, but the mere thought of Fake Uber driver, uh Bruno, touching her again is repulsive. She doesn’t want anyone to touch her that way, except for Russell.

Allison just hopes that Russell wants more with her than the time they shared at the wedding. She has no idea how they can make it work, but she’s had a lot of time to think while she’s been held. She’s come to the conclusion that she felt something special with Russell. Yes, the sex was incredible, but it’s more than that.

Allison had been able to be herself with him. She hadn’t tried to be something she wasn’t just to please him like she’s done so many times in the past to keep a guy’s interest. Perhaps it was because she went into it thinking it would only be a fling for the weekend, or maybe it was that she hadn’t been planning to meet anyone while she was there. Whatever the reason, she’d just been Allison Simpson and the most amazing thing had happened. Russell had liked her. The real her, not the people pleaser version of herself that she’s found herself being in her past relationships.

The more she’s thought about the time she’d shared with Russell the more she realizes she wants more. More time with him. A relationship that might someday lead to marriage, children, and growing old together. Her eyes begin to sting at the longing these thoughts invoke in her.

“So, you’ve decided to cooperate?” masked-man’s question draws her from her thoughts. Allison contemplates his question. Can she give up on those poor kids? No, but she can lead this man to believe that she will. She gives a single nod of her head.

“Excellent! Now I am going to need you to give me all of your information on the trafficking ring. Once I have it in hand, with your guarantee that you will forget all about it and those involved, then I will let you return to your life. But know this, if you look into this any further, or release any of the information you’ve gathered, you won’t live to regret it. Do I make myself clear?”

Allison nods, too afraid to speak. She tries to not get her hopes up that they are going to let her go free. She doesn’t believe they will let her go, but she doesn’t really have any other options. At least she has a backup plan in place. If something happens to her, she has a friend who has a copy of all her information and will send it to Emma along with a detailed explanation of what to do with the information.

“I will need you to hand over all the information including all copies that you’ve made,” masked-man continues. “Don’t think you can fool me by keeping copies, because we have been watching you for a long time. We know everything about you, Allison Simpson, including your extended family who you just returned from visiting during your cousin’s wedding. It would be a shame if something were to happen to your cousin…or her man. She made a beautiful bride, despite her size. Her Marine, special forces husband has a dangerous job. Anything could happen to him or his teammates when he is out on deployment.”

Allison stares at him open mouthed in shock at his veiled threats. He laughs when he takes in her expression. “Never underestimate my reach, my dear. I have associates far and wide. There is no way a little nobody from Hicksville, USA is going to take down or dismantle the empire I’ve built. I’m offering an exceptional opportunity here, Allison. I’ll give you everything you need to take down my competitors and I’ll let you live. However, if you don’t cooperate fully, I will end your life, but not before I eradicate everyone who has ever been important to you. Your parents, your siblings and their spouses, your cousin, Emma, her husband, and even Russell Chapman, your Marine boyfriend. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand,” Allison manages to say despite the anger and fear running through her from his threats. She doesn’t want to give in to him and let him and his associates get away with kidnapping and exploiting children, but he is right. He’s just too powerful. There is no way she can out maneuver this man or his allies.

Emma, Russell, and anyone else she cares for will pay the price for her defiance. She has no other choice, but to give in and give him what he wants. She just hopes he keeps his word about not hurting her family if she gives him what he wants. She has no faith that he will actually let her go free, but if her family can be spared then that’s all she can hope for.

A few hours later, she finds herself back inside her apartment with her suitcase and her cell phone in hand. Masked-man had actually kept his word and freed her after she’d turned over all of her documents related to the missing kids.

The masked man had surprised her. He knew a lot of information about her, and how she stored her information, but it seemed he didn’t know everything. He never mentioned anything about her secret insurance policy. The one that will leak all of her information to the authorities and press, who would get the word out despite mainstream media’s opinion on the story, should something happen to her.

Somehow, she’d been able to keep that bit of information from him. She still isn’t convinced he won’t have her murdered in the days and weeks to come, making it look like an accident, but for now she is home and safe.

Masked-man had ridden in the backseat of the car with her, when Bruno had driven her back to her apartment. A fact that frightened her more than being taken in the first place. They knew where she lived without her telling them.

When they had pulled up in front of her building, masked-man had turned to her. He had handed her cell phone to her. “I trust this is the last I’ll be seeing of you, Ms. Simpson. Don’t forget our agreement. If you do, I’ll be forced to let Bruno have his fun.” He had glanced up to the man in the driver’s seat which had drawn Allison’s attention.

Bruno had turned in his seat, leering at her. “I’m coming for you,” he’d mouthed with a sickly grin. Allison had felt all of the color draining from her body at his threat. Masked-man had glared at Bruno.

“You will only touch her if she breaks our agreement. Is that understood?” Bruno had dragged his disgusting gaze from her to his boss.

“Yes, sir,” Bruno had conceded. “I understand.” He had turned his attention back to Allison, who had had the feeling he was only telling his boss what he wanted to hear. Bruno would come after her, sooner or later.

Allison shivers as she remembers the look in Bruno’s eyes. He fully intends to do her harm, of that she has no doubt. She makes sure to secure all of her locks and checks every window, even though she’s on the eighth floor it isn’t like someone could easily break in through a window, but after what she’s just been through, she isn’t taking any chances.

Unlocking her phone, she wonders how masked-man had been able to get into it and use it. She is going to need to change all her passwords and maybe even get a new phone. The man has likely installed tracking software on her phone so he can monitor her to ensure she is following their agreement.

Opening her message app, she sees the messages between her and Emma, or the fake her, who had texted Emma back to keep Emma from worrying and sending someone to search for her. Then she reads the messages to and from Russell. Those bring tears to her eyes. Whoever had responded to his messages had made her sound like a raging bitch. She is certain Russell will never speak to her again.

She presses Emma’s contact information on her phone. It only rings once. “Hello? Allison?” Emma’s frantic voice comes over the line. “Where are you? Are you okay?”

Allison takes a deep breath to keep the tears that have formed at hearing Emma’s voice. “Hey, Emma. I’m at home. I’m okay. I’m really sorry about the last few days,” Allison manages to keep her voice even and clear. “Please forgive me. I’ve just been tied up in a story. You know how I get when I’m on a hot lead.” She forces a chuckle out, but her voice cracks. Tears slipping down her face.

“Allison! You don’t sound okay,” Emma accuses, “and I know you would never leave me worried and freaking out like I’ve been, if you could help it. What happened?” Allison muffles the phone to keep Emma from hearing her sobs. She forces herself to get control.

“I really am s-s-sorry,” Allison stutters. “I have been wrapped up in a story.” She sniffs, swallowing hard. The silence over the line, tears her up as much as the kidnapping. “I just wanted to call and apologize. If you can’t forgive me, I understand.”

“Stop! Just stop!” Emma exclaims. “You know I could never stay angry with you, even when you’ve done something to deserve it. I know you didn’t do this on purpose, Ali. Something happened to you. Please, just tell me.”

“N-nothing happened,” Allison lies. Masked-man had warned her what would happen to those she loved if she revealed what had happened to her in the last few days. “Look, I said I’m sorry. I can’t—, uh, don’t have anything else to say. I gotta go. I love you, Em. I’ll talk to you later.” Allison ends the call with her heart breaking. She’s never lied to Emma in all of their lives, but it is necessary in this situation.

Allison takes a deep breath and heads to her room. She drops her suitcase on the floor in front of her closet. The knowledge that she lied to Emma is weighing on her, but it had been necessary. She couldn’t take the chance that masked-man wouldn’t know if she told someone what had happened. He’d been very graphic about what would happen if she told anyone.

She forces herself to undress and take a shower. Tomorrow will be a better day. She repeats this over and over in her head, willing it to be true.