Page 10 of Haze of Obedience
"Zoe, out!" the man yells.
"Just do what they say. I'll see you at dinner, and we'll talk in the pit with the others after."
Please do what they say, Vanessa.
I've always liked Vanessa, and I don't want her to get hurt. Her fiancé, Carlos Garcia, is a Belizean Cabinet member and one of the Global Leaders. Several times, I've seen him get nasty with her, and I've always wondered what happened to her behind closed doors.
When I see her and Santiago eating dinner together, I sigh in relief. I sing during their meal then have to put on a concert for the rest of the cartel.
It's nighttime when we get into the pit, and I introduce her to Penelope and Julieta, but she already knows Penelope from embassy events.
Things stay normal for about a week until two more women show up—Naomi Salazar, an investigative reporter in Belize, and her sister Emilia.
Naomi arrives first and is called out of the hole. Instead of coming back, her younger sister Emilia climbs down. She's distraught and cries out, "My sister Naomi is with Santiago."
Penelope tugs her into her arms. "Shh. She'll be okay."
Julieta and I exchange worried glances.
They call Emilia out of the pit again.
There's screaming and crying from both women. The three of us sit against the dirt wall, holding hands, and praying that Naomi and Emilia are safe.
When they come down, Emilia's shirt is torn. They sit together, and Vanessa and I get called out.
A thug hands me a gold sequin mini dress, and Vanessa a formal evening gown. We change, and she goes to dinner with Santiago. I sing as usual and return to the pit last.
Emilia is still distraught, and Naomi is whispering to her and stroking her hair. Penelope sifts dirt through her fingers, humming a song she told me is her daughter, Millie's, favorite. Julieta rocks back and forth, as if in a trance. Vanessa sits in a corner and waves, so I plop down next to her.
"Hey. Everything okay tonight?"
She shrugs. "I keep wondering what happens when I'm out of secrets."
"Maybe a knight in shining armor will save us," I joke.
"Do you think we'll get rescued?"
I'd love to believe that. More than anything, I wish it were true. But no one can save me. I'm too far gone.
And the Global Leaders rule everything. Besides, the only one who might be looking for you is Jonas Torres.
I shudder, thinking about going back to Jonas.
Don't douse any hope Vanessa has.
I force a smile. "Let's dream some scorching hot men find us and kill all these assholes."
She softly laughs. "I'd be okay with that dream."
If only.
"Hey, why didn't they make you change?" Vanessa asks.
"Something about new wardrobes arriving tomorrow, so it didn't matter. Santiago is sick of seeing me in this dress, his thug said."
"Well, you look nice."
"Thanks. Jungle sequins...who would have thought?"
