His mom… I need to get out of here, need to help them, need to get to Rebel.
Panic forms a lump in my throat and my breathing becomes ragged. This can’t be the end. I pound my fist against the door behind me. Damn it. God, please. If there’s anything up there, please. Let me see my daughter again.
We’ve been driving for a while. I have no concept of time; it feels like an eternity, yet also as if we’ve only traveled a short distance. After making a turn, the truck slows down and comes to a stop. Will the doors open? I get up and pound on the door again.
“Layne,” Norah whispers. “I don’t think…”
As if I don’t know, but what am I supposed to do? Sit there like a good little lamb? I swallow the lump in my throat with some effort. Sighing, I sink to the floor and pull my knees up to my chest.
Suddenly, something bangs against the top of the container, and a few of the women scream. I dive to the floor and wrap my arms around my head. What the fuck was that?
The sound repeats a few times, and then the container moves. We sway slightly before coming to a sudden, jarring halt, as though… as though the container has been set on the ground. Taken off the truck.
Shit, is this it? Are they going to sell us here?
My heart’s pounding in my throat. All I can think about is Rebel, and I start to hyperventilate.
“Shh, Layne,” Norah whispers, pulling me close to her. Bel’s still shaking like a leaf against me. “Breathe, come on.”
“My little girl,” I mumble. “I’m the only one… My little girl.” A sob escapes my throat.Rebel.
With a pounding heart, I stare at the door. Why isn’t anything happening? Why is it so quiet? The air inside is stuffy, and I haven’t got a clue how long they want us to stay in here. Or if that’s even the plan. I lower my head onto my arm and close my eyes.
In the distance, a loud bang makes me flinch. Is that another container?
Suddenly, more explosions ring… Like someone setting off fireworks. I lift my chin and try to listen.
Fireworks? Or…
I concentrate on the sound instead of my thoughts.
Or like gunshots. My heart races.
Gunshots.
As soon as the thought crosses my mind, the women in the container become restless. There’s whispering and some of them start to pray. Could it be…
I squeeze Norah’s hand. “Do you hear that?” I whisper, wiping away a tear.
Her gaze slides to the door, and a few seconds later, her eyes widen. “Are those gunshots?” Fear is written all over her face.
I nod. “I think so. God, I hope so.” Anything’s better than this. Meanwhile, I take Bel’s hand in mine and squeeze it too. “Something’s going on,” I whisper to her. “We need to get up.”
I don’t know why, but something deep inside me tells me it’s important. We were among the last to enter, so we are near the exit. The air was already stale when we got in, but now a faintsmell of urine is starting to permeate the air. I push all my thoughts away, except for that one.
Kyler.He’s coming. He has to be. This is my sign. Please let me be right.
I get to my feet and turn toward the door. Norah and Bel follow my example. They stand next to me, and each take one of my hands again.
Behind us, there’s a murmur of voices, sobbing, and prayers. Outside, I can still hear the gunshots and now screams as well.
My heart’s pounding faster and faster, like it’s gonna burst out of my chest. My breathing gets shallow as I listen closely. Fear wraps itself around my heart. My eyes dart across the steel doors. I raise my fist and bang repeatedly on the door. “We’re in here.”Bang, bang. “In here. Please.”
Norah’s gaze slides over me before she focuses on the door. She starts banging on it wildly, too. “Please. We’re in here,” I weakly call out again, but nothing happens.
What’s happening out there? I turn my back to the door and slowly lower myself to the ground. Just as my ass hits the floor and I rub my face with my sleeve, something hits the side of the container with full force. Everyone inside gasps or screams at the same time. There’s more crying and praying. My eyes fix on the spot where the bang came from, and a few seconds later, a smaller bang echoes through the space. I immediately jump to my feet and start pounding wildly on the doors. “Here. We’re in here. Help us, please.”
Norah does the same, and now Bel also rises and raises her fists.
