Page 31 of Lexi, Property of Rhyder

Just when I’m about to ask him what’s wrong, a loud bang sounds from beside us, and I notice that the enchilada stand has rolled down their window and is locking it causing a large bang to sound out.

All of a sudden, out of nowhere, a black van with tinted windows flies down the highway, then stops right in front of us, causing dust to storm everywhere. Before I even know what’s happening, I’m being dragged by someone who has his hands linked under my arms. I begin to scream and kick and cry out, but they don’t stop.

I can hear Paige beside me screaming too and calling my name, but it’s no use, all our efforts are for nothing because they are too strong. I kick some more and try to get my feet to dig into the dirt, but then another person lifts my feet to keep them together.

I cry out like a wild cat, begging them to let Paige and me go.

Abruptly, I’m thrown into the back of the van with Paige, where two men are there waiting for us with duct tape. They quickly bind our feet together to keep us still then do the same with our hands tied behind our backs.

As one of the assailants gets close, I reach out with my head and bite down hard on his ear. He screams until I can taste blood in my mouth and then let go.

“You fuckin’ puta.” His hand comes out and slaps me across my face with so much force, it makes me fall back and hit my head hard. I groan in pain and immediately feel my cheek burn with the hit.

“Lexi, are you okay?” Paige cries out.

I sit up slowly trying to balance myself with my tied hands, ignoring the pain in my cheek, then beg, “Please, let her go. Take me, but please let her go.” Desperation reaches my voice, and I try hard to be strong and not cry. They don’t respond, continuing to bind us and place us up against the van wall.

Paige cries, breaking my heart that I can’t comfort her, and I focus on her trying to gain some control. “Paige, look at me,” I demand, and she does. “Focus on me, Paige. Only me.” Paige continues to cry as tears stream down her face, and when she finally focuses on me, I say, “It will be okay, I promise.”

“You talk too much, bitch.” I hear a man say behind me with the now bleeding ear.

“Shut them up,” a voice says beside him.

It’s so dark, I can’t make out his face, but his voice is familiar,it’s Mario.Before I can say anything further, he wraps a cloth around my mouth and ties it behind the back of my head. I try and scream, but it’s too muffled, and my words don’t come out clearly. I watch on as they do the same to Paige and cover her mouth.

I try to be strong for both of us, but it’s so damn hard. At this point, I’m freaking out and trying to work out what’s going to happen to Paige and me and what their plans are for both of us.

Dammit! I knew there was something off with Pepe, but rather than listen to my instincts, I decided to make my sister happy and go with her. It was either that or let her go alone. I knew, either way, she was going to go, and if I was with her, then I thought I could protect her.

Boy, was I wrong.

Why was I so stupid?

The van takes off at full speed causing the tires to screech. We roll around on the floor with nothing to keep us balanced. I can hear the men talking in another language, and I’m guessing it’s Spanish. One of their cells rings, and Mario answers.

I’d give anything to know what they are saying.

Two men are squatting at the back of the van, and I can just make out guns tucked into the inside of their jeans.

My God, who are these men?

Are they going to kill us?

One of them reaches out and rubs the back of his hand down Paige’s cheek causing her to flinch. Trying desperately, she pushes herself backward, but all it does is corner her to the back of the van.

The man laughs and says, “Pepe did good. You will bring us good money.”

Wait! What? Good money?

Oh my God, they’re going to sell us.

Fear hits me hard in the pit of my stomach as I imagine being sold to a total stranger. Paige cries out when the man reaches into his belt and unbuckles his blade. He traces the point of it against the side of her face and down her cheekbone.

I try to scream to leave her alone, but no one can make out my words. The man with the blade looks at me with a snarly smirk. I notice a scar on the side of his face, and one of his eyes looks odd. It’s a strange color making me think it’s a glass eye.

“Don’t worry, puta, I’m not gonna hurt your sister. I just want a look.”

A look? Oh no, oh no.

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