The room was silent.
Too silent.
A faint light flickered from the corner, casting weak shadows that danced across the cold walls.
The air felt heavy, suffocating thick with dampness and decay.
Sandra sat curled up on the floor, her back pressed tightly against the wall as if she could disappear into it.
Her arms wrapped around herself, trembling.
Every small sound made her flinch the distant echo of footsteps, muffled voices, the faint creak of metal somewhere far away.
Her breathing was uneven.
Shaky.
Tears slipped quietly down her cheeks, one after another.
Her eyes stayed fixed on the door.
Waiting.
Dreading.
Her heart pounded softly.
God… please…
Then footsteps. Closer now, Slow, Deliberate.
Sandra's body stiffened instantly.
Her breath caught. The handle moved, the door creaked open.
Sandra was crying when David entered.
"Aww… is baby girl in pain?" he mocked.
Her breath hitched. She quickly wiped her tears with trembling hands, but they wouldn't stop falling.
"Please… just let me go," she whispered, her voice breaking.
David chuckled darkly.
"We haven't even started. The boss is done… now it's our turn."
Her heart dropped.
No…
Not again…
She shook her head weakly, taking a small step back, but her legs felt too weak to carry her.
"Please… I'm begging you…" she said again, her voice more desperate now.
He didn't listen.
He grabbed her arm roughly.
"Move."
Sandra cried out softly as pain shot through her body. She tried to resist, but her strength was gone. Her feet dragged against the floor as he pulled her along.
Her mind raced.
God… please… help me…
The room they entered was thick with smoke and laughter.
Two men sat drinking, their voices loud and careless until they saw her.
Their expressions changed.
"Well, look who's here," one of them said, a slow grin spreading across his face.
Sandra's chest tightened.
Her breathing became uneven.
Her eyes darted from one face to another, searching hoping for mercy.
But there was none.
They stood up.
And began to circle her.
Sandra froze.
Her body trembled uncontrollably, her hands clenching into fists at her sides as if that could somehow protect her.
"Please…" she begged, her voice shaking badly now.
"Please… don't…"
No one stopped.
They moved closer.
Slowly.
Step by step.
Sandra's legs trembled as she stepped back, her movements small and unsteady.
Her heart pounded louder faster until it drowned out everything else.
Her eyes widened, panic flooding through her as she shook her head weakly.
"Please…" she said again, her voice breaking completely.
Sandra stood in the middle of the room, her body trembling.
She could feel their eyes on her.
It made her skin crawl.
One of the men stepped forward slowly.
Sandra instinctively took a step back, but there was nowhere to go.
Before she could move again, he grabbed her arm and pulled her closer.
Her breath caught in her throat.
"No… please…" she whispered, her voice shaking.
He didn't respond.
Instead, he lifted his hand and brushed it lightly against her face.
Sandra flinched immediately.
Her whole body stiffened, her shoulders tensing as fear shot through her.
She turned her face away, squeezing her eyes shut, as if that could make it stop.
Her heart pounded loudly in her ears.
Every part of her felt frozen trapped between wanting to fight and being too afraid to move.
"Please…" she whispered again, weaker this time.
Her hands trembled at her sides.
She felt small. Helpless.
And completely at their mercy.
The man's lips curled into a smirk.
Without warning, he shoved her away.
Sandra stumbled, her weak legs failing her as she nearly fell but another hand caught her.
Rough.
She gasped as she was pulled into someone else's grip.
Her body tensed instantly.
"No… please…" she cried, her voice breaking apart.
The man leaned closer.
Sandra turned her face away quickly, but it didn't stop him.
She flinched sharply, her whole body recoiling as fear surged through her.
Tears streamed down her cheeks now, falling faster, uncontrollably.
Her hands trembled violently against his grip, her fingers curling slightly as if searching for something anything to hold onto.
"Please…" she whispered again, barely audible.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her breathing uneven.
Her heart pounded so hard it hurt.
She felt trapped.
Surrounded.
Every second stretched painfully, her fear growing heavier, suffocating her.
Her knees weakened again, her strength slipping further away.
He finally released his grip.
Sandra staggered slightly but didn't move.
She couldn't.
She remained in the middle of the room.
Surrounded.
The men began to step closer.
Slowly.
One step at a time.
Sandra's breath caught in her throat.
Her legs trembled as she stepped back, her movements small and uncertain.
"Please…" she whispered, her voice barely holding together.
No one stopped.
Another step.
And another.
Her heart pounded louder, faster so loud it drowned out everything else.
She kept moving back until her leg hit the edge of the bed.
She froze.
There was nowhere else to go.
Her eyes widened, panic flooding through her as she shook her head weakly.
"Please…" she said again, her voice breaking completely now.
"Sweet, innocent girl," David's voice came, almost amused.
Before she could react, he shoved her.
Sandra fell onto the bed, a soft cry escaping her lips as fear surged through her.
Her hands immediately pushed against the mattress, trying to move, to get away but her body wouldn't respond fast enough.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
Her vision blurred with tears.
She felt trapped.
Completely.
And utterly.
Alone.
And then a scream tore from her throat, echoing through the room.
The sound rang in her ears.
Loud.
Too loud.
Everything around her began to feel distant.
The laughter.
The voices.
Even her own breathing.
It all started to fade.
Sandra's vision blurred, her tears mixing with the dim light until everything became unclear.
Shapes moved around her
but she couldn't focus.
Her body felt heavy.
Numb.
Like it no longer belonged to her.
Her fingers twitched weakly against the bed, but she couldn't feel anything properly anymore.
Her heart still pounded, but even that began to dull.
"Please…" she tried to say.
But her voice barely came out.
It was like she was slipping falling into a place far away from the room…
far away from them…
Her thoughts scattered.
And then, through the haze one thing remained.
God…
Her lips trembled.
Please…
Darkness slowly closed in.
And the world disappeared.
Sandra lay on the cold floor, her cheek pressed against the rough surface. Tears slipped silently from her eyes, disappearing into the darkness beneath her.
Her body trembled.
Weak.
Drained.
"Mummy…" The word barely left her lips, fragile and broken.
The door creaked open.
She flinched.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Unhurried.
"Aww… still crying?" David's voice drifted through the room, laced with amusement.
Sandra's fingers curled weakly against the floor as he stepped closer.
"I guess I went too rough," he added with a low laugh.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
His footsteps faded.
The door shut.
Silence returned.
Heavy.
Pressing.
Then a faint glint caught her eye.
Sandra's lashes fluttered open.
Something lay on the floor, just a few inches away.
Small.
Metal.
A key.
She stared at it, her vision blurred with tears.
For a moment, she didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Hope flickered weak, fragile… but there.
Time passed.
Slowly.
Painfully.
Sandra dragged in a shaky breath and pushed her palm against the wall.
Her arm trembled under her weight.
Still she forced herself up.
Her legs shook violently, barely holding her.
She stood there for a second, swaying.
Then took a step.
Pain shot through her body.
She gasped softly but didn't stop.
Another step.
And another.
Her hand trailed along the wall for support as she made her way to the door.
Her fingers fumbled with the key.
Shaking.
Slipping.
"Come on…" she whispered under her breath.
The lock clicked.
Sandra froze.
Then slowly pushed the door open.
Cool air brushed against her face.
Freedom.
She stepped out then ran. Barefoot, Unsteady, Desperate.
Her breaths came fast and uneven as she moved through the dim corridor.
She didn't look back until, voices.
Her heart slammed against her chest.
Men.
Close.
Too close.
Sandra darted to the side, pressing herself behind a pillar. Her hand flew to her mouth as she held her breath.
Footsteps passed.
Voices faded. Silence.
She waited.
One second.
Two.
Then she moved again.
Faster now.
Ahead a door. Her chest tightened.
This is it.
She rushed forward and grabbed the handle it didn't move.
Locked.
"No… no…" she whispered, panic rising.
She shook it harder.
"Please…" her voice cracked.
"Need help with that?"
Everything inside her went still.
Slowly, she turned.
David stood a few steps away.
Smiling.
"I told you," he said softly, stepping closer.
"You're not as smart as you think."
The Boss sat at the bar, a glass in his hand, laughter and low voices surrounding him.
The noise faded when David stepped in.
Sandra was dragged forward and forced to her knees.
Her legs trembled beneath her.
"Who do we have here?" the Boss asked calmly.
"I caught her trying to escape," David said.
A pause.
Then the Boss stood. Slow, unbothered.
He stepped closer and lifted Sandra's chin.
She flinched.
"So… you tried to escape?" he said, a faint smile forming.
Sandra's lips trembled.
"Please…"
He studied her for a moment. Then let go.
"Do what you're supposed to do."
He turned away as if she meant nothing.
"Sure, boss," David replied.
"No please!" Sandra cried as David grabbed her arm and dragged her out.
The next room was thick with smoke and noise.
Four men. Watching, waiting.
They all turned as she was pushed inside.
"Well… look who's back," one of them said, rising slowly.
"Boss said we should handle her," David added.
"Please…" Sandra whispered, shaking.
"Aww… she's begging," another mocked.
Hands grabbed her.
Rough.
Unforgiving.
They dragged her toward the center of the room.
Sandra struggled weakly, her strength already failing her.
A rope tightened around her wrists.
She gasped as her arms were pulled back and bound against a wooden pole.
The rough surface pressed against her back.
"Please… don't…" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Silence fell for a brief moment.
Then a sharp crack cut through the air.
Sandra's body jerked violently.
A cry tore from her throat.
Another strike followed.
And another.
Each sound echoed, filling the room.
Her fingers curled tightly, her whole body shaking as she tried to endure it.
"Please…" she sobbed, her voice breaking.
But the sound didn't stop.
The room blurred with noise laughter, movement, the repeated crack splitting the air.
Time lost meaning.
Everything blended together.
Eventually they untied her.
Her body sagged instantly, her legs barely holding her up.
"Move."
Sandra tried to stand. Her knees buckled. They forced her forward.
Step by step.
Her vision swayed.
Then she felt it.
Heat.
Rising from the ground ahead.
She froze.
Fear tightening in her chest.
A shove.
Sandra stumbled forward.
The heat met her instantly.
She cried out, her voice raw, her body recoiling but another push forced her onward.
Step.
Another.
Her legs trembled violently beneath her.
Tears blurred her vision.
She stumbled and fell.
A broken cry escaped her lips as she struggled weakly, trying to move away.
But they forced her again.
And again.
Until she stopped resisting.
Not because she wanted to but because she had nothing left.
Meanwhile...
Mrs. Halen moved from one house to another, her steps hurried but unsteady.
She knocked on doors.
Waited.
Watched faces appear.
Some confused.
Some sympathetic.
Some already shaking their heads before she could even finish asking.
Her hands trembled as she clutched her wrapper her eyes searching every face for something anything.
Hope.
But each moment passed the same way.
A pause.
A look.
And then disappointment.
She moved again.
Another house.
Another door.
The sun had begun to dip, casting long shadows along the street, but she didn't stop.
Dust clung to her feet.
Her breathing grew heavier.
Still, she kept going.
Her eyes were red now, swollen from tears she could no longer hold back.
People watched.
Some whispered.
But none had answers.
None had seen her.
Her steps slowed eventually.
Not from lack of will but from exhaustion.
She stopped in the middle of the road, looking around helplessly, as if her daughter might suddenly appear.
But nothing changed.
The street remained empty.
Her shoulders dropped.
Still she turned. And walked on.
Back at the lair...
they dragged Sandra back to her cell.
Her body felt heavy.
Unresponsive.
She hit the floor weakly.
For a moment, she didn't move.
Didn't even try.
Tears slipped slowly down her face.
"God…" she whispered faintly.
Her lips trembled.
"Please… save me…"
In the quiet of a church, Mrs. Halen sat alone.
Her hands were tightly clasped.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as her shoulders trembled.
"God… please save my daughter," she prayed softly.