Hope for Laila

Chapter one:
His cold thumb pressed down on my air way. His spindly fingers, wrapping around my neck. My body started to panic, this stranger wasn’t joking, with the pressure increasing with every second; breathing soon became a thing of the past. My mouth gasping for breath, but no air filling my desperate lungs. As a last ditch attempt to save myself, my left arm shot out, aiming for his face, I’m still unsure of what I aimed to achieve, but it seemed a good idea, better than standing there, staring at your killer, waiting to die. He brushed my arm to one side, like it was a fly or a falling leaf, pinning it to the wall beside my head. My fingers curled, digging into his, trying to free the pressure.

There was no hope.

My eyes were filling with tears. I could feel my body slowing, I gave in, dropping my fighting hand to my side, there was no point. Tears now rolling down my face, I looked deep into the murder’s eyes which seemed to glow in the surrounding darkness. I could feel the desperation in my body, pleading him to let me go with the look I burrowed into him.

A pang of guilt shot across his face.

The pressure lessened, allowing small amounts of oxygen into my dying body. I gasped, taking in as much air as possible. He released my left arm, allowing it to fall heavily to my side. With just enough oxygen to stay alive now circulating my body, he moved in close. Pressing his body against mine, pinning me tight to the wall. I looked into his eyes, why me? He stared back. He swooped his head close to mine. Breathing heavily against my neck, “Are you listening…Laila?” he whispered through clenched teeth. How did he know my name? I immediately nodded my head, no hesitation, “Good. Now you better listen, cos’ I’m only saying this once. Now, you’re gonna’ pick up your bag, walk over to your car, where you can see Mark and Omar are already waitin’. They will give you your next instructions. Got me?” my head nodded, not making a sound, “Oh and you tell no one where your goin’ or what your doin’. Right” Again, my head nodded, part of me confused, and intrigued, the rest, terrified.

He backed off, moving away from me, leaving his hand clenched around my neck, he smiled, dropped his life threatening hand. “What if I don’t” the first words to spring to mind, fleeing my mouth without thought. My hands clasped to my mouth, shocked that I had spoken. He laughed, still smiling, “You will. Now get walkin’, I’m right behind you so don’t even think about trying anything.” Still trying to catch by breath I inhaled the cold night’s air deep into my lungs. I grabbed my bag from the pavement where I had dropped it in surprise.

I couldn’t stay, if I did who knows what would happen, and there was no way I was giving that man a line to attack me again. I slung my bag over my shoulder and followed my orders, almost jogging across to the car parked on just the other side of the street, I didn’t even stop to think or look back.

Reaching the car, my hand hovered over the door handle. Looking back across the road, I could just make out the silhouette of a figure, standing where he had just pinned me against the wall, leaning against the bricks. I needed to go. Looking through the window I saw two figures, one in the passengers seat, the other in the centre of the back seat, leaning forwards. They were talking, laughing. Then in perfect sync they both looked at me. The corner of their lips turning up, slowly spreading into a toothy smile highlighted by the moon light, it sent a shiver down my spine and made me even more unsure. The man in the passenger seat lent over, opening the drivers door, pushing it open with just one finger. I stood open mouthed unsure of what I was doing or what I should do next. Slowly he placed his hand on the drivers’ seat, patting it; “Jump in” his voice was low yet strangely soothing and familiar. I did as I was told, lowering myself into the drivers seat. I turned to shut the door behind me but found it to be already in motion to closing, being pushed by the man who had just held my life in his hands. The door shut with a bang which echoed around the car. I heard the car lock. There was no turning back, no escape.


Chapter two:
I looked at the guy sitting next to me, his skin was dark and his hand was extended, I looked at his empty hand expecting to see, well I don’t know, a gun I guess, “Omar” he said coolly and smoothly as if he was a new student in my class. He seemed to mean no harm. I extended my shaking hand, “Lai…” I started but before I finished or my hand met his he interrupted, stopping me dead in my tracks, “Ah! Actually I think you’ll find that’s who you used to be. Now, I think you’ll find you are someone completely different.” Withdrawing his hand he leant down, rummaging in a bag at his foot, he pulled out a brown A4 envelope and handed it to me. The outside was completely blank, no name and no indication to its content. I opened it carefully, sliding out a wad of paper. Looking at the top of the sheet placed on top of the pile and all became clear, well clearer, my new identity. Written in black and white, Hope Price. Looking through the rest of the pile, a passport, driving licence, credit cards all with Hope Price printed on. Finishing the pile of papers was a cream sheet of typed writing, “Look!” he snatched the pile form my hands, “you’ll have time to read and get up to speed with that later, but now we’ve got to make a move, we’re going to have unwelcome company in a minute if not. Start her up.” He motioned his head towards me, looking at the steering wheel. I started rummaging around in my bag for my keys, where were they? Hearing a quiet cough behind me I turned round feeling irritated by the pressure that had been put on me and the urgency created by the situation I had been launched into in such a short space of time. Dangling from the man’s finger were my car keys, clinking together with key rings and house keys. He extended his arm forwards to me, “Thanks” taking them from Mark I put them in the ignition, flipped them round. With my left hand resting on the gear stick and my right at twelve o’clock on the steering wheel. I looked over to Omar, he gave me an encouraging nod, “Well, lets go then.” with a slight hint of inpatients brewing. Guess I had no choice in the matter. Putting the car into reverse it roared into life, like the screaming voice in my head asking me exactly what I was doing, I tried to ignore it as frankly I didn’t have an answer. My foot fell heavily on the accelerator. We were on the move.

“Turn left off the end of the road.” Omar ordered. With no idea where I was expected to drive to but followed the slim back roads which traced the outline of fields. Negotiating the winding back roads which were only too familiar to me, I pulled left, my front wheels slid with a crunch on to the gravel drive of the place I had lived for most of my life, and where I called home. I looked up at the huge cottage which stood in the shadows of old trees. I must have driven on auto pilot to the place I felt safest. I looked at Omar questioningly, “Well Hope, you came to the right place.” I sat waiting for my next set of orders whilst still wondering and slightly confused about how exactly I had know to come here with no directions and on-one telling me where I should be going, “Get out.” Omar stated. I slowly got out of the car, looking around for someone, anything that could help. The street was quite, not humming with life like normal, “Follow me.” Omar was now starting up the drive, looking around as he walked; I followed behind, not wanting to fall behind in fear of what he would do if I did. We reached the front door and he started fishing around in his pocket. Whilst he searched around in his pocket I a caught a glimpse of something tucked into his belt, I peered in closer, trying not to make it obvious that I was looking. Before I could get a proper look at what it was he started pulling his hand out of his pocket he held out a key, extended it to me, “Hope, you’ve got precisely, mmm,” he looked at his watch, “eight and a half minutes. You need to grab a load of cloths and whatever you’re gonna’ need and be back here, or, lets just say there will be trouble. Oh and give me your phone please, we don’t want you ringing anyone now do we?” sliding my phone out of my trouser pocket, I literally threw in his direction. I didn’t even hang around to argue. I was of my mark in a shot, I knew he was not playing some practical joke (and if they were, let’s just say they were doing a dam good job!). I put the key into the lock and pushed open the heavy front door to the abandoned house, my parents were away for the weekend so there was no-one in to help me. I headed straight to the phone, lifting the handset and pressing it to my ear, nothing. Then a slight crackle of hope came fuzzing down the line, abruptly interrupted by a male voice, “Nice try, but don’t think we didn’t think about that one missy.” With a sigh I replaced it to the base. Turing my back to the phone, I headed to pack some stuff, the phone rang. Surely not? Then again, I pounced on it, like it was the last drop of water in a drought. Holding it to my ear, with my fingers physically crossed, “Hello?” I felt sick, praying that this phone call could help me, “Hope, you’ve got six minutes and forty seconds, happy packing.” This time I slammed the phone down to the receiver with some force, sighing again and feeling agitated by the clear fun these people were having messing with my life, did they think this was some kind of game, or just have a really really sick sense of humour?

I raced to the kitchen draw, opening the tub where we kept all of the spare keys to the house, the lid flipped of and keys fell to the floor scattering and sliding across the tiled floor. I threw myself to my hands and knees, searching, looking frantically for the back door key. Where was it? Found it! I pulled my self to my shaking legs, headed to the back door, shoving the rusty key in the stiff lock which was used on rare occasions, I put all my strength behind it, pleading for it to turn, come on! The key clunked to the right and the handle fell of in my hand. No! I threw it to the floor and it bounced across the floor, ringing with every leap. I kicked the door in frustration, with a click it glided open. I stood there for just a second, my heart pounding. I opened the door further and edged out into the dark sheet of night. I looked left and right, checking for lurking shapes in the dark garden. Treading quietly I slowly headed to the back gate that linked our garden to our neighbours’. My hand extended, my finger tips reaching the cold metal handle, sending a cold ripple through my skin as it touched. My breath caught in my throat as I slowly started to pull the gate towards me, the gate let out a small grown, thankfully covered by the hooting of an owl in the nearby apple tree.

I felt a large hand clasp around my mouth, muffling my scream which became a murmur and hardly noticeable even in the soundless surroundings. His arm slithered around my waist, folding me into his huge frame. Something cold pressed against my stomach where my top had been lifted from his grasp, I looked down, seeing his fingers smothering a gun. He pulled me away from the gate, lifting me completely off the floor. I kicked my legs, squirming, desperately trying to free myself. I threw my arms at his head and tried to free this hold. He carried me back into the house, and didn’t seem affected by my fight. He lowered me back to the floor but kept is hold on me. He lent over my shoulder, “Scream, and you’re dead.” I didn’t move, “Did you hear me?” he sounded irritated, I nodded my head slowly. I could feel my whole body shaking and my palms and brow clamming. He pushed me away, “Now I suggest you get packing!” I glanced over my shoulder to see Mark silently shutting the door. He raised his eye brows as if warning me not the challenge him.

Racing up the stairs, I nearly missed out the last step, falling over in haste. Gathering myself I burst into my room. Dragging out a huge bag I started emptying draws, jeans, tops, a couple of pairs of shoes, hair brush, shampoo, underwear, hair dryer, straightens. Running to the bathroom, I grabbed my toothbrush, toothpaste, make-up bag. I didn’t know what else I would need, and more importantly… I froze. I hadn’t thought about this before, how long would I be gone for? Forever? With that I grabbed a recent family photo off the unit on the landing, my mum and dad smiled at me through the glass of the frame, me and my sister sitting on the floor in front of them, smiling and cuddling. I shoved everything into my bag. Struggling to do the zip up with my shaking hands, my frustration started to grow. Tears started to build in my eyes. I took a deep breath and caught my reflection in the mirror on my wall. Look at me. My eyes were red, mascara all smudged, lines down my blusher from tears and my hair was a mess. This was not me, this was someone who was a complete stranger, and someone, I feared who I would have to get used to. Holding back tears, my eyes caught the glisten of the necklace which fell around my neck. A beautiful golden chain with a perfect heart shape, painted immaculately with the Chinese symbol of hope next to a stunning red butterfly. A present from my grandmother for my sixteenth birthday, she passed away just weeks after she had given me the gift. I looked at it, jealous that it didn’t have to change, jealous of its simplicity and elegance. My hands ran over the smooth surface of the heart. Hope. My eyes were drawn to the symbol. Or should I say name. What a coincidence. When my grandmother gave it to me she had said it was so that hope was always close to my heart and would give me the power to help get through any situation. They said that I should wear it all of the time as I would never know when I would need it. Now it would seem I needed it more than ever. What a coincidence. I smiled, feeling slightly better that I had something so close to me that meant something special.

Having grabbed my over flowing bag, I didn’t even bother with the zip. I went out of the front door and locked it behind me. Aware of the time scale I didn’t make a big deal out of potentially locking the door for the last time, but slipped the key into my bag with the hope that I wouldn’t be gone for too long. I turned around to see Omar in exactly the same position as I had left him in, but now, he looked agitated. I bit my lip and felt myself cowering backwards. His face said it all; I knew I was in trouble.

He started back down the drive having not said a word which in some ways seemed more chilling than if he had laid into me about what I had done. I suddenly realised that I should have left a brief note to my parents saying I was safe (at the moment) and not to worry, it was too late now, if I went back I probably would be able to bring myself to leaving again. Whilst Mark climbed back into the back of the car Omar opened the car boot, and I threw in my bag, some of the content flew out. But due to the fact that I already felt physically, mentally and emotionally drained by today’s events so far, it seemed irrelevant and didn’t really bother me. Instead I backed away, looking at the floor. He closed the boot, “Drivers seat” he said coldly as he climbed through the passenger’s door.

Chapter Three:
I looked over at Omar who was staring straight out of the window. The car was silent and suddenly I understood the expression, “you could cut the atmosphere with a knife” however I think a spoon or even a finger would have done in this case. Everyone remained still, with the only movement being the rise and fall of everyone’s chest as they breathed in slowly and non-appreciative of the air that freely filled their lungs. He looked at his watch, the tick tick ticking of the second hand now filling the car. He stared at it although counting the seconds, he turned his head to me with urgency, “Let’s go, reverse off the drive and head back the way we came.” He pulled down the sun visor in front of him and slipped back the little window to reveal the mirror. I slowly reversed the car back, slipping it onto the quiet lane. Meanwhile he rearranged the sun visor, although trying to get it into an exact position. As I pulled forward, I automatically looked in my rear view mirror; simultaneously Omar looked into the sun visors mirror. A car pulled around the corner, an electric blue colour, with blacked out windows and a noticeably huge dent in the bonnet of the car. I could just make out the outline of two figures in the front seats but the windows were too shaded to even tell if they were male or female. I thought nothing of it, “Turn Left at the end of the road, then take the third exit at the next round about.” Omar stated matter of factly, whilst still keeping a keen eye on the road which lay behind.

I indicated left, pulling out onto a busy main road, mingling with other cars and traffic I felt slightly claustrophobic, every where I looked there seemed to be traffic. The mysterious car behind followed. Keeping close on my tail and pulling out of the junction in spite of fast approaching vehicles. My heart started to beat faster and faster, “Why are the people behind following us?” I said trying to say it as if it was no big deal, but even managed to shock myself at how concerned I seemed to sound. The car remained silent. No one responded to me.

The roundabout quickly approached, I followed the route instructed, two seconds later of my fingers tapping the indicator, the car behinds indicator joined mine in synchronised flashing. I took a deep breath, trying not to panic myself, maybe it was just a coincidence, yes course it was, it had to be. Didn’t it? Having just cleared the round about, Omar started to look shifty, “erm, right, ok..”
“What’s going on?” my voice high pitched and uneasy.
“err, I’m not sure at the min. Just keep driving.” By the look on his face, he meant business. Breathing in deeply, I drove on, trying to focus on the road ahead. He cleared his throat, “Mark, Run a trace on the on the reg number.” Mark immediately started searching around followed by tapping of his fingers moving quickly across laptop keys, “What have you got for me?” Omar sounded inpatient.
“It’s loading boss, give it a min. Err ok, got it. Its one of ours.”
“Ok, get on the com, get the code word and find out what they want, there must have been a change in the plan if they’ve sent a car.”
“On it. This is car Price, are you receiving me? Over”
“We are receiving you car Price.” A female voice crackled down the line.
“I need a code word.”
“Code word, Hope. I repeat, Hope.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I stared at Omar, he stared back. I completely forget about the road, he leant over, grabbing the wheel and pulling it back straight to the middle of the road, “Watch where you’re going!” he sounded a bit panicky as we narrowly missed a lorry. I retuned my attention to the road, still confused but I tried to force myself to concentrate.
“That is correct, What is your purpose?”
“I have a new location for you, there is a lay-by situated 200 yards on your left, pull over and we will give you the envelope.” Omar nodded to Mark confirming this.
“Confirmed, Over.”
“Pull over in this lay-by Hope. And I think well swap, you need a break.” Omar sounded calm and seemed almost apologetic. Swinging open the driver’s door, I jumped out. Stomped round to the passenger’s door, I had kicked up a dust cloud which rose like steam from a kettle spout, it followed me like a trail snapping at my heals like the car who had followed us down the lanes. I looked at the floor. I just felt like crying. Omar was holding the door open, “Come on, let’s get you home.” I looked up at him, shocked and hopeful, “Sorry, I mean your new home.” My mood dropped again, and my eyes returned to the floor, my eye lids felt physically heavy. After sliding into the car, Omar shut the door silently behind me and wandered around to the back of the car where he talked to the female who I guessed the voice belonged to. After just a short time he returned to the car. After getting himself comfy in the driver’s seat, he opened the envelope and moved his eyes quickly over the content, then he looked at me, “I know how you feel, and I’m sorry.” He started the car whilst handing the envelope over his shoulder to Mark. He pulled out, driving through the calm lanes. I looked out of the window, trying to hold back tears, “How, how on earth do you know how I feel?” tears now running feely down my cheeks, “Is this some kind of game to you? Hey? I’ve been nearly strangled to death, kidnapped by two strange men and then when I tried to get myself free I was dragged back into my house by him,” I pointed at Mark aggressively before continuing, “who threatened to kill me and yay, I’m having loads of fun!” I waved my arms above my head, trying to exaggerate my point, “Look, Hope, I really wish I could help you, tell you to go home and forget everything that’s happened and return to your old life, I really do, but I can’t! We need you Hope!”
I sighed, “Let me get this straight, you, need, me? Why?” I said with sarcasm in my voice my shoulders rising and falling dramatically as I sobbed and tried to catch my breath. Omar sat there silent. From the back of the car, I heard Mark inhaling deeply; I turned around to him, raising my eyebrows, “Do you have an answer for me Mark?” my patients running really thin. He looked at me, thinking, “Well” I snapped, inpatients raising in my voice, he nodded his head, “I’m gonna get into so much trouble for saying this-“
“What the hell are you doing?” Omar interrupted him, alarm in his tone.
“Look man, she really needs to hear this. Hope, you’re special.” He said rapidly, trying to avoid interruptions from Omar, “We need you in ways you can’t imagine. Like a key to a locked door, you’re the key, and we need to unlock the door.”
I laughed out loud, “Me, special? Ye right! You’ve got the wrong key” Mark looked serious, shrugged. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing “How am I special?” everyone sat there silent, “How am I special?” I repeated louder, I could feel a lump crawling up my throat and my hands were shaking, I wanted to hear their explanation, but there was part of me that felt I was better off not knowing.
“I’ve said far too much already.” He said putting his hand to his head and leant back in his seat, “I really wish I could but I can’t tell you anymore. But I can tell you that it won’t be too long before you start getting the answers you’re looking for.”
“That’s no good to me!” I spun round and stared out of the window, crossing my arms I sighed loudly, feeing frustrated, confused and exhausted. I really wanted to go home. Back to normality. Back to my life which I used to wish was more exiting, but now seemed really appealing.

Omar drove along lanes which I did not recognise, winding in and out of junctions, passing built up areas followed by abandoned cottages and building with sad expressions. We must have been driving in total silence for a few minutes short of an hour when we slowed to a stop. From what I could see we were parked in a quite car park, there were a few old rusty cars dotted around the farley empty space. There was just one street light, situated in the middle, leaving a clear rim of darkness fallen over the far edges. I peered out of my window. There were tall buildings surrounding us, towering high over our heads. Omar clapped his hands together, sending me shooting out of my skin, my hand clasped my chest as I caught my breath, bringing my shaking body out of hibernation. I slowed my breathing down, trying to calm myself from such a silly fright. He looked directly at me, the corners of his mouth quivering and forcing themselves to avoid turning up in to a smile. His hands were still clasped together in front of his chest, “Right!” he beamed, “tie your hair up and put this cap on, were gonna’ go into this hotel, I’m gonna’ book us in, and you,” he pointed at me, and I jumped back, slightly startled and unnerved, he chuckled before continuing “are not gonna’ take your eyes of the floor, and don’t say a word. Got me?” I nodded taking the cap out of his hand. I pulled the cap over my head, low down over my eyes.

I had so many questions bouncing around my head, where are we? What were we doing here? What did these men want? Why me? Why was I special? As soon as I thought of a couple of questions I thought of ten more, I closed my eyes and shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I climbed out of the car, looking around, my eyes darting from one place to another, looking for a way out, but my legs were rooted to the spot, exhausted and heavy. My shoulders were hunched over and I felt defeated. Completely defeated.

Omar marched out in front, leading the way. Mark followed to my right, falling in step slightly behind me. The men pinning, cornering me against the external hotel wall, restricting my exits, blocking my paths.

Omar’s extended arm pushed open the glass entrance, raising a loud screech. There was a young boy behind the counter, he didn’t stir or move. Just sat there, with his chin on this chest and his eyes shut like he was in a deep sleep his skin was ice white, a shiver ran down my spine and I gasped, “Is he-“ I was about to say dead, when Omar and Mark both took a step towards me, “Shhh” they put their fingers on their lips, telling me to shh like I was three. I rolled my eyes, shaking my head. Both of them stood, staring at me. Slowly Omar turned around. Looking at the young boy, he raised his left hand so that it was level with his ear, using two fingers he beckoned us forwards. Mark took his place behind me once again, but when I didn’t move, he grabbed my arm and started pulling me along with him, I shook my arm, yet again trying to free his grasp. All of a sudden I felt a sharp shooting pain in my arm, just below Marks clutch. My eyes felt heavy, my body felt like it was somewhere else. My eyes started to shut, but I fought it, forcing them to open again. My knees gave way and I felt Mark grab me, lifting me into his strong, blurry silhouette. I gripped his arm, trying to steady myself, trying to stop the room from spinning. I couldn’t fight it any more.

Chapter four:
My eyes flickered open; they still felt heavy but feeling more like small pebbles than bricks. I looked through the slits which I had managed to hold my eyes open at. Peeking at the ceiling, thank god. A plan white familiar ceiling. I was all a nightmare, I was back in my room. A gush of relief literally washed through me, I could feel every muscle in my body relax and un-knot. Sinking into my cosy matrace. I started to move my arm down from above my head. Clink. My eyes shot open. I took a deep breath before looked around the room. I immediately tensed. I was on my own in what looked like a hotel room. There were piles of files, computers, electrical equipment, guns and who knows what else scattered around the room. I looked at my arm. Seriously? Around my wrist was a thin silver bangle, attached to a metal chain and another identical band to the one around my wrist, but this one was wrapped around the handle on the bedside cabinet. I pulled at it, but as I had guessed it didn’t open, only dug deep into my skin. I rolled back onto my back, and looked at the ceiling once again. I chuckled to myself. The ceiling wasn’t even white, it was a warm shade of cream. I was seriously loosing my mind.
I laid there for a few minutes, what was going on, and how was I going to get out of this? Without thinking, I opened my mouth “Hello” I screamed, surely someone would hear he, “Hello, help, help, please help.” I shouted at the top of my voice, praying someone could hear me, “Who’s there?” a female voice sounded faint, but friendly. “Help” I hollowed again, my voice becoming weary, “Help, please you have to help me!” I paused, catching my breath. Silence. I couldn’t hear anything, “Can you hear me?” I walled with desperation. I was just about to give up, “Honey, hello, where are you?” I smiled slightly, she sounded like she would believe me. “Help, I’m in here, please, please you have to help me!” I watched the door, the handle turned, I held my breath. The female walked in, she was tall, slim and beautiful with long brown hair which hung past her shoulders. “Here you are.” She said, bringing a cold chill to the room. Her face like thunder, she looked my way, fixing her eyes onto mine, I knew trouble was brewing. Still fixed to my eyes like her life depended on it, she swallowed, “Now Laila” her tone was steady and monotone, “you can either play ball, and we will play nice.” She clicked her fingers and a large built man entered the room, he was decorated with varies different firearms. I Swallowed. Hard. “Or we can do it his way,” she pointed over her shoulder to the general direction of the new entry to the room, “your choice sweet.” Her tone was sickening. I thought quickly whilst watching her carefully “My name isn’t Laila” I stated, holding her eye contact. She was first to break the visual glue held between us. She smirked. Then broke into full laughter. What was so funny, had I missed something? Then she stopped dead, letting silence fall over the room. She inhaled deeply, although readying herself to say something, looking around she took in his surroundings looking irritated. She hooked her left hand around her unzipped jacket, and moved it back, resting her hands on her slender hips, revealing a small gun, but neither the less a gun, “ Look little Miss Clever Cloggs,” she said sarcastically, pointed a perfectly manicured finger at me, “I couldn’t care less if your name was bloody Ben, Jane or Mary-“ She froze. Cocking her head to the door, “The Girl!” she snapped, taking her eyes of the door for literally just a mille-second to spit out the words at the wooden man. He didn’t move. She rolled her eyes and sighed lightly. Turning to the man she was talking to, “GET.THE. GIRL!” she spoke evenly and slowly, although her words were physically winding him up like a clockwork toy. As she stopped, he nodded in acknowledgement before moving surprisingly elegantly from his mark. He moved towards me. His fingers slid around the handle of the gun resting on his right hip. Clutching his fingers around the trigger as he removed it from the safety of his waist band. He pointed it at the thin chain, I tensed covering my eyes with my free arm moving my body as far away as possible. My heart pounding against my chest, each collision like someone punching my chest, leaving me short of breath and light headed.

An almightily “BANG” was followed by the clinking of chains falling to pieces. I relaxed slightly as I wiggled my fingers- just to make sure they were still intact! He grabbed me by the top of my arm, pulling me vertically. Ringing ran through my ears. The room started to spin. My hand clasped my head. I stumbled, tripping over my own feet, but was held up by the man attached to my arm who supported all of my weight. He dragged me over to where the lady was standing. I steadied myself, focusing my eyes on hers, helping the room to become stable once again. Her eyes did not meet mine, instead they were focused lower, I looked down, realising what she was staring so intently at. My hand flew to my neck, wrapping my trembling hand around my necklace.

She looked up at me, brushed my hand to once side and smiled.