"Our lives begin to end the day we become
silent about things that matter."
~ Martin Luther King Jr.

Bob held on to her wrist and pulled her through the doors of the house.

As the cool night breeze slapped Chantal's face it was as if her spirit and voice just caught up with her body.

"I thought you were just a photographer!" she screamed at him. This just made him pull harder on her hand.

"Where are you taking me!" she screamed even louder.

"Put this on," Bob said in a low, commanding voice to Chantal. He had thrown her a pitch black blind fold.

Chantal immediately complied losing the short burst of bravery she had moments ago. She quickly tied the blind fold over her eyes.

"Get in," Bob said while pushing her to the open door to the backseat of the car.

As if some determination was on reserve she asked, "How am I to get in and I can't see bafoon!"

At that she felt her side smashed onto a hard surface. She held her hands out to grab on to something to steady herself. She felt and cold hard surface and held on to it tightly as if her very life depended on it.

"Exactly! You are going to search and feel your way around!" Bob growled at her.

After some fumbling around, trying to get into the car, Bob slammed the door and quickly walked around to the driver's side. He backed out from the front of the house slowly and as soon as the wheels touched the asphalt, he quickly swerved the car in a U and headed down the road.

As the car swerved around other vehicles, Chantal fell to the ground and bumped her head.

Bob made another swerve turning down an intersection and a camera stand that was on the seat beside her fell on top of her head.

Black spots started to appear in her vision.

"God save me," she whispered quietly as darkness took over the little light left in her.

♦♦♦

Chantal slowly opened her eyes to see sunlight streaming through the green curtains at a window. Her memory of last night slowly came back. At that she quickly got up only to fall on the ground.

She looked up to find that she had fallen from a couch that she had apparently slept on. She held on to the seat of the couch and helped herself up. When she rose from the ground she held on to her head, as it felt as if it was swimming.

After she was steadied, she heard some mumbling coming from a closed door. Curious she walked towards the sound. As she approached, it sounded like two voices - two male voices arguing. Without thinking twice she pushed the door open.

She looked in and saw a counter in the center, a stove with some pots hanging over it and a silver sink. She then looked towards the back and saw Bob from last night and the man that had not wanted her picture taken staring at her.

Chantal quickly took an involuntary step back.

"Oh! So this is what has been keeping you! For what? Three days!" Ryan shouted, "What's she doing here any way!"

"Sir… please help me," Chantal pleaded with Ryan when she realized he must be upset with Bob.

Ryan looked at her then Kabe.

"Oh! She doesn't want to be here! And you're keeping her hostage! For what exactly?" Ryan questioned fuming.

"He's going to use me! He's a trafficker!" she blurted all out without even thinking twice.

Ryan looked him straight in the eyes and shook his head taking some steps back from him.

"I can't believe you Kabe. All this time you didn't want to help her when you saw the news reports. You were already using her. All your sudden disappearances without explanations make sense now. It's all clear now Kabe. Don't come near me again," Ryan demanded in a low calm voice, "And don't call Lizzy ever again or you'll know what's coming to Kabe Slater!"

With that Ryan quickly walked out the kitchen and seconds later they both heard the door slam. Chantal turned and looked at Bob and he looked back at her.

"How does your head feel?" he questioned her.

"Why do you care about how my head feels? Why does that man call you Kabe?"

Then as if it just dawned on her that the man had left without helping her get away, she ran out the front door to see that he was long gone.

She started shaking her head.

"Not again. What is wrong me? Every chance at escape I get I lose it."

"Hey! Get back in here!" shouted Bob or Kabe? She wasn't sure what to call him anymore.

"No!" she shouted back defiantly.

"Please just get back in! I just want to help you!"

"Where's the closest bus stop?"

"I'll come and show you," he then started to walked over to Chantal.

"No just tell me," she responded backing up from him as he came closer to her.

She looked behind her and saw a police car that must be on patrol slowly headed in their direction. She frantically fanned at the car but then decided to run towards it.

The officer then rolled his window down, "He kidnapped me and he's going to sell me," she reported without giving the officer a second.

"Ma'am please remain-"

Chantal interrupted the officer, "Is that all you American police can say to someone in distress! You may as well shoot me for being black! That man," she then pointed at Kabe, "is holding me hostage - against my will!"

"You're talking Kabe Slater?" the slightly balding officer questioned raising an eyebrow.

"Whatever the bottle stopper his name is I don't care!" Chantal shouted becoming frustrated.

By then Kabe had caught up to her.

"Good morning Slater," the officer greeted him.

"Morning Officer Hanks. Thanks for catching her."

"No problem. Just hold on to her. I smell trouble already, trouble you won't want. You're lucky it was me here and not someone else."

"Tell me about it," Kabe replied holding onto her hand firmly.

"You can't be serious officer! He's a kidnapper, a trafficker for peanut butter's sake! White people are real stupid!" Chantal shouted as Kabe pulled her away from the patrol car.

"What is wrong with you? I'm trying to help you and you're running away," Kabe scolded her through clenched teeth.

"More like help your desires!" she cried out as he pulled at her.

"Kabe? What are you doing with her?" Lizzy questioned as she slowed down in her car beside Chantal and Kabe.

"Ahh…" Kabe replied in shock.

Wooooh what a wait! But I hope it's a wait worth the chapter you all have received.

First off I in no way intend to be offensive with some of Chantal's last comments.

Second as you have all noticed updates have gotten slower but I still try my very best to get you all chapters for you to see Chantal's journey here. So pleeeease don't be hard on me when there aren't any updates and thank a balloon for being so patient.

So thoughts anyone? What does Kabe mean by he wants to help Chantal and by is he even in the human trafficking ring after seeming to want to help out Chantal? And did Ryan disown his friend?

One fun question - What do you think was Chantal's name before I named her Chantal ❓ ~ Gabriel, Chantal, Jane or Keisha?

Please don't forget to…
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Until next update see ya!