by Jordan Ervin
Adam closed his eyes tightly and coughed up a mouthful of river water before gulping in air. After a few seconds of more coughing and gasping, he opened his eyes to search the river for his friends. As soon as he did, he felt something seize him by the collar and slowly drag him up out of the water.
Two firm hands hauled Adam up the low side of a boat before throwing him to a wooden flooring. He lay on a swaying deck, coughing and barely able move. His muscles ached and he couldn’t feel his legs. Despite his exhaustion, he looked up as a man approached. Adam glanced to the man’s side, watching as someone else was pulled over the side of the boat and cast to the deck. He shifted his gaze back to the man who now knelt down next to him. The unknown man smiled as he leaned in close, whispering and unable to mask his dangerous enthusiasm.
“My, my,” the unknown man said softly, “What do we have here?”
Chapter Fifteen
Wrath Awaken
Judah jumped from the bed of a truck, ignoring the men beside him as he looked south toward the river, searching for signs of the distant gunfire that now echoed through the night. The mulling crowd that had parted before the truck approached the men, shaking hands and laughing as they greeted friends who were returning to the city of sin.
“What do you think is going on down there?” Judah asked as he turned to the bearded man next to him named Saul.
Saul looked back with a smile and shook his head.
“Judah, you are one tense son of a bitch. How the hell you survived on your own for months is beyond me.”
“I survived by paying attention to gunfire,” Judah replied, trying to keep up with the ruse he had begun that morning.
“There’s always gunfire at night,” Saul replied as he glanced south. “The trick is to make sure you’re too far away to care.”
“That or make sure you’re the one doing the shooting,” one of the other men replied with a chuckle.
“I say don’t worry about it,” Saul said, patting Judah on the shoulder. “I’m sure some prick probably tried to cross the Mississippi by boat. Those bastards across the river have been trying to take what little we got going on for ourselves. They’ve been patrolling those waters, watching our shores, and capturing whoever tries to cross. But it’s all mutual for now. They keep to their side and we keep to ours. So long as our boys at the blockades are safe, we’ve got nothing to worry about.”
Judah nodded his head, sparing one more look south before following Saul and the others.
Earlier that day, Judah had been jogging down a country road, heading north toward Memphis, when the low rumble of a diesel pickup approached from behind him. Despite his best attempt to hide in a shallow ravine next to a forest, the truck had stopped and twelve men proceeded to exit, calling out for Judah to show himself. Judah had thought about fleeing into the woods, but he knew that doing so could cost him his life and would certainly delay him in reaching his family before nightfall. So instead of running, he had dropped his gun and approached the men with his hands up. For Judah, the time to flee danger had passed early that morning when the people he loved most were taken from him.
The men had approached Judah cautiously, confiscating his pistol and knife while berating him with a hundred questions. Judah remembered hearing once that the trick in making a lie believable was to infuse as much truth into it as possible. So Judah built his lie carefully, telling them he was a refugee who had survived Montgomery and he was fleeing north alone. He had said he heard there were men in Memphis who were set up nicely and he had wanted to see if he could join them. Judah had also claimed he heard about what was going on downtown and wanted to find himself a few girls.
A horrible lie…yet so close to the truth.
It pained him to act like one of the men looking for nothing more than a night with a helpless woman. Still, he knew his ruse would be the only thing that would lead him to his family and Alexandra. He simply hoped it didn’t cause him to lose his soul in the process.
After nearly half an hour of questioning, the men had decided to take Judah under their wing, joking about how young and green he was. They had given him his knife back, though they said they’d take his pistol as a down payment for a night with their women—as though they owned them. Judah played along the rest of the day as they traveled north to a base at the old International Airport. They joked around while a truck of women had been brought in from southeast of Memphis. Judah scanned the faces of a dozen terrified women, his soul breaking for each of them.
The other men had told Judah to take his pick. Judah had said no, telling them he was pretty particular for his first time. They had all cackled and laughed at Judah, telling him they’d take him to the main complex in Memphis that night and see if they could figure out a way to help him with his partiality. Before long, an unknown man had arrived, telling them the time had come for them to go to Memphis. By nightfall, Judah had found himself downtown, so close to his family and the evil that wanted to devour them all.
Judah looked up at the overcast night, hoping the darkness would hide the anxiety that filled his face. He had been told they had over six hundred women and children at the glass pyramid next to the river. Though the thirty thousand residents that had decided to remain in Memphis had inspired many different enterprises, the massive prostitution ring had sadly become the main attraction. The entire region knew Memphis was a hub where food would be found, goods could be traded, and the darkest of desires were ready to be fulfilled.
What had been a respectable area of Memphis six months ago had turned into a den of all sorts of evil. The crowd grew thicker as Judah and the others approached the building. Everywhere he looked he saw druggies, pimps, prostitutes, and the wide-eyed men who had decided to venture into the city for a night of unrestrained wickedness. Judah frowned, realizing those men who looked out of place were the ones funding the entire enterprise. Judah prayed quietly as he joined the crowd and began his search, beseeching God to be with him as he walked into the valley of the shadow of depravity.
Figuring they’d never let him anywhere close to a girl with his knife, Judah had used Eric’s duct tape to attach his knife to his back beneath his shirt and tactical vest while at the airport. He followed Saul and the others north toward the complex, casually looking at the different women mulling about as he searched for a familiar face. Some girls were being taken away while others were just coming back to the display line with down trodden faces. It all made Judah want to vomit. He wanted to pull the pistol from Saul’s holster and drop every thug and pimp that were selling what wasn’t theirs to sell. Still, that wouldn’t save his family and he’d pay for such actions with his life. He knew to free those he loved from the darkness that enveloped them, he’d have to play the part of a monster.
“Alright Judah,” Saul began, turning around as they approached a line of scantily clad women. “Take your pick. We’ll keep that pistol of yours from earlier and call it even. After that, you’re going to earn your own keep.”
Judah glanced up as the men snickered and hooted. He forced a convincing smile and laughed with them while he temporarily loathed himself. He scanned the line of downcast women quickly before shaking his head.
“I…was hoping for something else,” Judah said.
“Something else?” Saul said, shaking his head as he approached the row of women. “And what the hell is wrong with these fine women?”
“They’re women,” Judah replied meekly.
Saul’s eyes went wide before they all burst out into laughter, nearly doubling over. Saul wiped away the tears from his eyes as looked back at Judah—still shaking with amusement. “Shoot boy, I didn’t know you were looking for some men. Tell me, which one of us do you think is the cutest?”
“I’m not looking for a man,” Judah replied, firming his jaw. “I’m looking for some girls. Young girls.”
Saul’s laughter died down and he stepped closer, eyeing Judah curiously. He shook his head and let loose one last chuckle.
“Young girls? So that’s your thing, huh?”
“The younger the meat, the better.” Judah’s words stung like fire as they left his mouth. He had always hated hearing anyone refer to a girl as nothing more than a piece of meat. He had been raised to respect, honor, and cherish women—not talk about them as though they were in league with the produce at a grocery store. He loathed these men. He wanted to murder every last one of them and free those they had enslaved.
Just find them and get out, he told himself quietly, his voice an unsteady shout inside his racing mind. It’s all a ploy. It’s only a show. You’re almost there. Don’t mess it up!
Saul gazed back at him quietly, his eyes searching Judah—probing him as though he were nothing more than a tool. Eventually, Saul smiled and glanced over at his friends.
“Fellas,” he began, “I think Judah’s going to fit in with us just fine.” They chuckled as Saul turned back to Judah, brandishing a dangerous grin. “Come on. We keep the special requests inside.”
Sarah huddled in the corner of a shadowy room with her daughters, nervously watching the door. She shivered as the frigid water slowly dripped from her hair onto her cold skin. Ten minutes ago, an old woman accompanied by an armed man had stripped her of everything but her underwear before dousing her with soap and buckets of water. A pair of buckets sat idly in the corner, waiting for two new women to arrive with more soap and new clothing. Fortunately, the old woman had been relatively kind to Eva and Grace for the time being, giving Sarah hope that whoever intended to rape her had not yet sunken to the level of violating children as well.
It was the first time Sarah had been left alone with her daughters since being abducted the previous night. Despite all her hopes and prayers that she would figure out a way to get them to safety, she couldn’t help but tremble with panic as the seconds ticked away.
“Alright,” Sarah whispered. “Can either of you reach my ropes?” The two girls didn’t reply. They merely whimpered as they held one another. “Girls, I need one of you to try and undo these ropes before they get back. Please, you have to hurry.”
“What did they do to Alexandra?” Grace asked, looking up with a heartbreaking gaze of sorrow and dismay.
Sarah glanced over at the far wall, breathing heavily as she silently prayed for Alexandra. The men who had captured them had taken Alexandra into the adjacent room two hours earlier. Sarah had been tied up and gagged when they first arrived, unable to do a thing to stop them. She could hear Alexandra’s muffled screams through the walls—haunting her as she prayed for the girl that had started to feel like kin. As Alexandra’s screams and protests continued, Sarah had bottled her rage and tried to focus on getting her daughters to safety.
“Girls, we have to act quickly,” Sarah said. “I know you’re afraid, but—”
“What are they going to do to us, Mommy?”
“Nothing if I can help it,” Sarah said. “I’ll rip their heads off before I let them touch you. But first, you have to try to free my hands.”
Eva sniffled as she shuffled over to Sarah, her own hands tied behind her back. Eva lay down behind Sarah, trying to position herself so that she could reach the rope. Sarah felt her nimble fingers as they began touching the cord. Eva tugged and grunted as she tried to loosen the knot.
“That’s it,” Sarah said, shifting in an effort to aid Eva. “Just keep—”
The door banged open, causing Sarah and her daughters to jump. Sarah looked up, hoping beyond reason that it would be Alexandra. Instead, two unknown women entered with an arm full of thin, silk dresses.
“Rise and shine, ladies,” a dark-haired woman said as she walked over to the bed. “My name is Cate and this is Jen. We’ll be taking care of you tonight. First thing’s first…time to burn those old clothes of yours.”
“Wait!” Sarah said. “Don’t burn them yet.”
Cate and Jen paused, glancing over at the pile of filthy clothing on the bed. Cate glanced back at Sarah, confusion in her eyes.
“Why in the world would you want to keep those old rags?” Jen asked. “I can smell them from here.”
“There’s a small Bible in the back pocket of my jeans,” Sarah replied. “Burn the clothes if you need to, but please don’t destroy it. My late husband gave it to me and—”
“While I hate to part you with a keepsake,” Cate replied as she set the clean dresses on the bed beside Sarah’s old clothes. “I’m not sure there’s going to be any room for God in your life. Trust me, I’m doing you a favor.”
Jen shook her head as she joined Cate beside the bed. They laid the dresses out, holding each dress up one by one.
“Wait,” Jen said. “Doesn’t that dress belong to…um, what’s her face? The girl from down in room eighteen. The farm-girl. Blue eyes and freckles. You know, the biter.”
“No,” Cate, holding up a blue dress. “She died last night.”
“She try to escape?”
“In a roundabout way,” Cate replied. “It was an overdose. Did it on purpose.”
“How the hell did that happen?” Jen asked, as though she actually cared.
“A client fell asleep when he was done. He had two eight balls in his pocket and she ate them both. Died of a stroke, or so the doc said.”
“Huh,” Jen replied, glancing over at Sarah with a frown. “That’s a shame. She was pretty. They should make sure to search clients in the future. I hate when they die young.”
“You’re sick,” Sarah said, her eyes pooling with tears.
“Do you think we weren’t sitting where you were two months ago, crying out for help?” Cate asked, stepping closer with a thin white dress draped over her arm. “We struggled at first, just like everyone else. They had to drug me just to shut me up and keep me from fighting back that first night. After a while, when you get hungry and sick of the beatings, you too will be the one laying out dresses that have been used by the five dead girls before you. Besides, it’s always easier on everyone when you don’t fight and try to enjoy it. If you want to help those little girls of yours, I suggest you stand up and get ready to crawl into the deepest corner of your mind before they arrive. Now stand up and turn around.”
“Why?” Sarah asked, gritting her teeth as she envisioned bashing the woman’s skull in.
“Just do it,” Cate replied. “I can’t dress you with your arms tied up like that, now can I? And know that if you struggle, we might just have one of the guys down the hall cut off a pinky toe on one of them two pretty girls of yours. We’ll even make you pick.”
Sarah whimpered quietly and nodded as she stood and turned around. Cate drew a tiny knife and severed Sarah’s bonds quickly.
“Good girl,” Cate said. “Now face this way.”
“Please,” Sarah said, turning around as tears streamed down her face. Cate folded the knife up and handed it to Jen. “Please help us. We can all get out of here if you’ll help—”
“Help you?” Cate said with a quiet laugh. “Do what? Escape? Listen, no woman leaves this place unless she’s being put on display out front or dropped in the river. It’s a pretty penny to buy your freedom and there’s only one way you’re getting paid. Now, whatever hopes you had of getting out of here, burn them away from your mind now. What’s coming is coming and there ain’t no avoiding it.”
“Okay,” Sarah said, turning to her girls. “I’ll do anything. I’ll do whatever you ask to whoever you want so long as you don’t let them touch my daughters.”
“Honey, we don’t have any say in that,” Cate replied.
“Please!” Sarah said, begging. “Just help them!”
Cate gazed back at Sarah silently, her face bordering on concern. The woman opened her mouth to speak, but the radio at her hip blared out.
“Hey Cate, it’s Saul. Hank brought in a batch of girls this morning, right?”
Cate glanced over at Jen before unfastening the radio from her hip.
“Does any morning go by without Hank bringing in new girls?” Ca
te answered.
“Don’t get bitchy with me now,” Saul said. “Those four girls he brought you—that woman, the fighter, and those two girls—they with you?”
Cate eyed Sarah, hesitating with the radio at her mouth.
“Please,” Sarah said, stepping closer. “Help me.”
Cate paused a moment longer before sighing and shaking her head.
“They are. I’m looking at the woman and her two little girls right now.”
“Good,” Saul replied. “What room?”
“Twenty-seven,” Cate replied. “But they ain’t dressed yet.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Saul replied. “We got a young gun looking to get a taste of some young girls. They won’t stay dressed for long. You can dress the woman later. We’ll be there in a few.”
“You want me and Jen to move the mom first?” Cate asked. “The two girls are her daughters. I don’t think she’d—”
“Keep her there,” Saul replied quickly.
“You sure you don’t—”
“Backtalk me again and I’ll backhand that mouth of yours,” Saul growled over the radio. “Hank told me that group put up quite the fight. This will be good to break ‘em.”
“Fine,” Cate replied, turning to Sarah.
“No,” Sarah said, stepping back between her daughters. “Cate, please, let us go.”
“Honey, if you want those girls to live you better not try anything.” Cate tossed the dress to Sarah. “Now put that on and—”
Sarah lunged forward with a roar. Cate quickly raised a black stick twelve inches long that had been hiding behind her coat. The buzzing tip of it lit up blue just as Sarah’s chest struck it. Electricity coursed through her, causing her muscles to seize up as she dropped to the ground convulsing.
