Page 13

13

Niki

My eyes were swollen shut—I couldn’t see a thing. I tried to force them open, but the pain and pressure made every movement a struggle. It felt as if a heavy weight was sitting on my chest. It hurt like hell when I raised a hand to push it away. I encountered a solid surface, and my other hand brushed against a side. My arms hurt so bad they must be broken.

I was trapped in a small box, unable to breathe. I tried kicking my legs free, but the space was so cramped that I couldn’t even move them. With every shallow breath, I felt as if I were smothering in this tiny prison. At that point, pain no longer mattered. I had to do something about breathing.

I focused inward, trying to shut everything down and reach inside my body for control. Concentration was nearly impossible as my mind screamed in protest, desperate for air. I attempted to stretch my neck, only to be reminded of the rope burns—a cruel souvenir from that monster dragging me around with the rope tied tightly around my neck. The memory made swallowing even harder.

Just as my mind began to drift into a calm, meditative state, a brutal kick shattered the silence. “Are you still alive in there? I want you to die slowly for killing one of my men. Do you hear me, bitch? Die painfully and slowly.” He kicked the box again, and I screamed in agony.

“Good, you’re dying slowly. Can you even breathe in that box?” he taunted, laughing like a madman. “I’m going to bury you in a grave. Don’t worry about a funeral—I’ll say a few words for you,” he added with a cruel chuckle.

I heard his footsteps receding as he walked away, leaving me with the grim certainty that he’d return to finish what he’d started. Was my life over? Would he be the one to bury my body in this small box?

It took another hour before I could manage to slip into a meditative state. In that dark moment, I clung to the hope that Jackson had managed to tell Joseph who had taken me. I held onto the thought of the relief and happiness I would feel when they finally rescued me.