Second Spirit -9- by Melanie Brown

Second Spirit

By

Melanie Brown

Advisor: Lisa Charlene
Copyright © 2024

Part 9

 CAUTION: This is a rough chapter and is behind the paywall because of Patreon rules. Things like that in this chapter do happen but this is not meant as any sort of glorification of such things.

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I felt the point of a knife poke my skin. I tried to squirm away, but the seat wouldn’t allow it.

“Sit still, little girl,” growled Carl. “If you scream, it’ll be the last sound you make. I might get caught, but you’ll be dead. I have friends, so I don’t worry about jail.”

I turned and spat in his face. He grinned, picked up my hand and wiped the spit from his face using my hand. He then licked the palm of my hand.

“I’m so glad I found you. Jack and I have big plans for you.”

“I won’t let you sell me,” I hissed.

Carl laughed. “Oh baby, you have no choice in what we do to you. We plan to exact our loss on you. You cost us a ton of money, and we’ll never get that customer back. And while by then you’ll be used, we have customers in Turkey who would love a pretty little thing like you. I hope you like to travel.”

I tried again to wriggle away from him, but the knife point just dug in deeper.

“Don’t worry, little girl. We’re getting off in Las Vegas. Jack already has a room for us. He’ll be happy to see you.” He tugged a cell phone from his pocket. “That reminds me. I need to let him know. We’ll be there soon.”

He punched a few buttons on his phone and put it to his ear. After a few moments, he said, “Hey Jack. Yeah, I just left Santa Fe. Guess what, buddy? I have a special guest.  No, it’s not the whore from Santa Fe. It’s better. It’s that little Indian chick. I know. It shocked the fuck out of me too. I’ll ask her.”

He turned to face me. “Hey bitch. Your boyfriend didn’t fuck you, did he?” He turned his attention back to Jack. “She’s not talking, but I’d bet money he didn’t. Okay. See you soon, bud.” He clicked off his phone.

Las Vegas was the next bus stop and not very far from Santa Fe. This wasn’t the glitzy gambling town.  This was the small, poor town in New Mexico with houses made of adobe. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. Okay, that might be a bit unfair to the denizens of Las Vegas, but I’m in a sour mood.

“So, where’s your boyfriend? You two didn’t have a lover’s spat, did you?” I stared straight ahead, not saying anything. Carl laughed. “Don’t want to talk about it? I don’t blame you.”

I wondered if Kajika was back in Window Rock. I didn’t know what he’d be facing there, but it’ll sure as hell be better than what I’m going to face at the hands of Carl and Jack. Why the hell did I have to be such an asshole to that crazy witch doctor?

I felt the bus slow down, and looking out the window, I could see that we were pulling off the highway. My mind raced. How am I going to get away?

Carl poked me with the knife again. “Stay quiet. I’ve got a gun, too, and I’ll shoot as many as possible to get away. We wouldn’t want that, would we?”

He’s right. I wouldn’t.

Carl squeezed my arm hard. It hurt a lot. “Get up, sweet cheeks. If you have any luggage, too bad. It stays here.” He took my hand in a tight grip. “No screaming unless you want to be the cause of others dying. If I get arrested, Jack and I have a politician in our pocket.”

As I stepped off the bus, I could see Jack hurrying up to the bus. He waved and shouted, “Hey Bob! It’s great to see you. And you brought your niece! Cool.”

Carl grinned. “Come along, dear. Let’s go meet Bob.”

Jack, aka Bob, took my hand in a tight grip.”I’m so glad you could join us. We’re going to have fun now that you’re here.”

The knifepoint in my side reminded me not to call out. I tugged hard to free my hand but to no avail. Is this how my life ends?

I was rushed through the rather small crowd of passengers waiting to board the bus, the knife point always in my side.

Jack turned to Carl and said, “I got us a motel right on the highway heading north. We can have fun with her until tomorrow morning, then drop her off at the gas station at Sapallo.”

As Jack opened the door to the back seat, Carl asked, “That’s  not our hideout?”

Jack laughed, “At a drop zone? No way. We go on to Mora and wait for the heat of our escape to die down. I’ve rented a house there.”

Carl grinned at me as he strapped me to the back seat. “Honey, I can’t wait until we get to our motel.” He sat next to me and stuck his knife in my side again.

                    *

“There. That ought to hold you.” Jack tightened the knot of the bedsheet he used to tie me to the bed. I was tied spread eagle, naked on the bed.

My hands and feet were securely tied. I couldn’t even move them at all. I had no hope of wriggling free. I could see the wad of money we’d stolen from these clowns lying on top of the dresser.  We should have rented a car.

Carl tested the tightness of the knots. “Ready for some fun”

“Don’t do this. I’m begging you.” I whined. I’d never been more scared in my life. I couldn’t help but think I was approaching the end of my life. And no one would ever know what happened to me. I wanted my mom.

Jack laughed. “It talks. Keep begging, honey. Makes it that much more fun.”

I tugged on the tie. “My nose itches,” I whined. Carl just laughed.

Jack held up a quarter. “Okay. Coin toss time. For who goes first…”

I watched in horror as Jack tossed the coin in the air. This was just a game to them.

Jack slapped the coin onto the back of his hand. “Call it.”

Grinning, Carl said, “I call tails.”

Jack lifted his hand up and looked at the coin. “You son of a bitch! Hey bro, save some for me.”

Carl wiggled his fingers at Jack. “Give us some privacy, dude.” He kicked off his shoes.

Jack laughed. “Yeah, right. This chick will make us a fortune. Have fun.” He turned to look at me. He left the motel room and closed the door. Carl tossed his shirt onto the other bed.

Carl grinned evilly at me. “I’m so going to enjoy this.”

I didn’t say anything aloud.

He dropped his pants.

I started crying. “Please don’t.”

He laughed as I felt his hot breath on my face.

Oh God, no.  Noooo!

End of Part 9