Page 71 of Unleash You

19

Shell of a Human Being

Anabelle

I slammed the toilet seat again. Not that it made a difference. No one outside the plane bathroom had the ability to help me out. But it at least helped me release my frustration. For being so stupid, for thinking that blood meant something. The tears and self-pity stopped about two hours after we took off, after we left Wesley in the place that still haunted his dreams at night.

I closed my eyes and saw the bouquet of images from earlier today: Wesley running toward us along the riverbank, the fear in his face, and the desperation in his voice when he jumped in the water to swim after us. Charlie asked me to ignore Wesley if I wanted him to live. His cold and cruel demeanor told me he meant every word, that he wouldn’t have a problem shooting his childhood friend.

The hours I’d spent in the jungle didn’t make me an expert on what either one of them went through when they were stationed there. But I did get a good taste of how hostile life could be, and how lonely. My heart ached for Wesley. He never wanted any of it. How much of his decision to join the marines had to do with Charlie?

I banged on the door. “Charlie.”

On the other side, the rustle and hushed whispers of the people on board the plane froze me in place. I glanced over my shoulder at my reflection—the bloody smudges on my face, my matted hair, and the crazed look in my eyes. I swallowed the lump in my throat, refusing to believe what my brain had already figured out. It was too much. My brother couldn’t be doing this to all these people. I’d counted twenty of them, mostly women. The boy I’d met the night before was here too.

Dear Anabelle,

I hope your semester finals are going well. Life here hasn’t changed much. I’ll spare you the details. Suffice it to say, I no longer look forward to summer days. Not like I used to do when we were kids. I miss the simple days. When we weren’t responsible for the shit that goes on in the world. Maybe I should wait and write to you when I’m in a cheerier mood.

Love,

C

I buried my face in my hands and let the tears flow again. Wesley had written that letter shortly after they’d been honorably discharged. Did he know about Charlie then? Did he lie to spare my feelings? How the hell did he not know that Charlie was helping Rebecca’s boss? Though, if I were being honest, I’d fallen for it too. For an entire night, I believed Charlie meant to help me.

His boyish charm that was hard to dismiss. When he wanted to, he could talk anyone into doing just about anything—like joining the marines, turning on your own boss, or agreeing to fly to the other side of the world to be sold off like fine cattle.

After this morning, and the brutality he displayed with me and the other people on board, I had no doubt this entire operation had to do with the human trafficking scheme Wesley had told me about, the one Rebecca helped uncover.

I sat on my hands to stop the shaking. I had to figure out a way to get out of here. But how could I just walk away and leave everyone behind? I kicked the door again, and it flexed open a little. Peeking through the small gap, all I could see was a sea of faces. The stench of sweat and body odor crept in. Trying not to think of the weight limit of the plane, I smelled my own clothes and winced.

“Fuck off.” Charlie’s voice boomed to my left. I pushed the door some more, but the opening didn’t get any bigger. “You wanted a faster delivery. You have it. Don’t tell me now you expected free shipping. I’m not fucking Amazon.”

The people on the other side of the door shifted away from him and closed the door shut. I pushed back again to catch more of his conversation. If I knew where we were headed, I might be able to call on someone to help.

“It has to be tomorrow. I can’t take these people to Atlanta with me. They’ll cross at the Mexican border with the other group.” He paused. “Yes, I know we lost a few. We’ll still meet the number we agreed to. From the beginning, you knew transport was going to be an issue. If my plan works, your next shipment will be delivered within the month.”

I let go of the door to rub my temple, and it shut on me. We were going to Atlanta but not taking anyone with us. Made sense. How would he explain all the people he brought with him? I didn’t think any of them had a passport or even an ID. Shit. Come to think of it, neither did I. Did he plan to drop me off in Mexico too? It wasn’t as if he needed me to enter the Cole estate. All he had to do was show his face and Lilly would welcome him with open arms. If anything, I was the only one who could ruin his plans by telling everyone what he’d been up to since he was discharged.

The hours wore on, and I still had no escape plan, let alone a rescue one. I wanted to punch Charlie in the face for even thinking that he could do this to people. Suddenly, my stomach dropped as if we’d lost altitude. I sat on the toilet and braced my arms on the walls on either side of me. Without a window, the landing was very disorienting. It felt as though we were spiraling down rather than just aiming for the runway.

After a few bumps and a loud whoosh, the jet slowed down and eventually stopped. Shouts in Spanish and sounds of people shuffling away came from the other side of my door. I’d lost all concept of time. I had no idea how long we’d been in the air or if it was light or dark outside.

“Charlie.” I banged on the door, and it swung open.

“Shut up already.” Charlie glared at me. “I swear if you don’t stop, I will forget you’re my sister and leave you here too.”

Several insults flitted across my mind, but nothing came out of my mouth. I hugged myself to stop the shaking and glanced away from him. Outside, the afternoon sun beat down on the people who’d come here with us. We were in the desert, in the middle of nowhere.

“We’ll be able to leave in a few minutes.” The pilot who wasn’t the man who flew us to Maracaibo came out of the cockpit. “Unless you want to wait and make sure they catch their ride.”

“No need. I trust my guys.”

The pilot nodded and went into the bathroom. I moved out of the way, trying to meet his gaze, but he simply opened the door and pretended I wasn’t there.

“How am I getting back into the country if I don’t have my passport?”

“I have it.”

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