Chapter 22 – Trading Games

JONDA

I came to in darkness, hands bound behind my back and mouth gagged. The effects of the drug the stranger smothered me with had left my brain feeling foggy and my body groggy. Even though I could hardly move, it still felt like a ten-ton weight was pinning me down.

I couldn’t see, but I knew I was in a car, specifically in the trunk. The vehicle bounced over the road and I with it. I laid here for what seemed like hours, breathing through my nose, the smell of the exhaust making me want to hurl.

Finally, the vehicle came to a stop, and I listened to the car door open, and slam shut. Then the trunk was being opened and light flooded through temporarily blinding me. A stark contrast to the freezing air that whips at my bare arms. I squinted against the bright sun and looked up at the figure who stuck a hand out and roughly grabbed me, dragging me from the trunk.

I stumbled to stay upright and, on my feet. Tripping over when I was shoved forward. “Keep moving.” the stranger said.