I was walking through to Central Park when it happened. I still had my second waitressing job back then. It was some small restaurant downtown that was pretty busy during the late hours. It got lousy tips, but some thick-billed ones if you winked at the right customer. Felt like a whore job, charming dull-witted idiots for money rather than taking their God-damn order for some freaking cheeseburgers and French fries. Soup or salad, honey? How bout some shake! Bakas! Bakas bakas!
It was…cold. February? Yeah. Yeah, it was Valentine's Day. I remember because of all the overly-obvious mushy crap that had been going on at the restaurant. Couples coming and buying dinner for two before eating face. Ugck! I made crappy tips because of it. I wandered over to Central Park to stroll around and sort my thoughts…but I couldn't. I tried sitting down on the benches and thinking. I couldn't do it that way either. It was too cold. Everything was gray and white and cold.
I turned around to go home. I had no one to…to make the day special…it made me…I don't know…I just wasn't looking and…
Well, well, well! If it aint's Jorge's grrrl!!! Why aren't ya wich cha babbbbby on V-day, suga?
I looked up. In my dream they––the five black monstrosities with enough bling-bling around their necks to sink the Titanic––were even fatter and taller than when I had really met them. They were hideous, drenched in cologne, and full of tattoos and bullet holes. One flashed a gun at me. Silver chrome caught the lamplight next to the bench I had just been sitting on. Their smiles rang out in unison. There was no one else there. I couldn't fight.
I ran. I ran and screamed and ran and cried.
They caught me.
Hey! Hey! Hey! The one with the large baseball cap shading his face grabbed a hold of both my shoulders and dragged me into the center of the five men. He ripped off some duct tape he'd conveniently found in one of his elephant-sized pockets and put three layers of it on my mouth. The sticky side tasted disgusting on my lips. They were too strong. Soon all of them had their hands on me. Nothing was sacred. My coat was ripped off; leaving me shivering in the freezing cold while they all stared at my cheap-ass waitress uniform. Mentally undressed me would be a better term.
Look at this gal's's goods!!! Wooooo mama!
Jorge done pick a might fiiiiiiiine one! Didn't 'e?
Mighty fiiiiiiine they all agreed, still all grinning like hostile maniacs.
I didn't know what to do. I panicked.
Mai oh my God Mai don't let them take you anywhere oh my God run away and get help oh my God find Jou and run and don't look back they're gonna rape you run away don't find Jorge he'll kill you or rape you oh my God run away please God Jou save me this isn't real I want to go back home where is home?!!
So I tried to run again. I kicked and I screamed through the duct tape. I even got one of the guys right in the balls. They must have been made of diamonds because he sure as hell didn't notice. His smile waned, though. Slightly.
Bitch!
Wha you tryin' to do girllllll?
We ain't gonna do nuthin to Jorge's girl!
Yah! Jorge's girl's's gotta be his! We won't touch no girl that's his!
Yah! We wouldn't damage nuthin! We gots orders from 'em!
Yah! Yah! That's right! We got orders to––
Enough.
They were silent. Their hands left me and buried themselves in pants pockets.
She's not for sale. Forget past orders. Bring mine here! Mine…
No! No, don't! Leave me. Kill me. Don't take me to him…
They dragged me, screaming silently. They dumped me at his feet so that when I looked up I saw this face illuminated by the moon. The ash of his cigarette fell down into my eyes and I squirmed until he kneeled down by me. He looked at eyes; my violent eyes that were stabbing through him with rage and hatred.
Not broken yet, huh? Fine. Time to speed up the process.
Jorge clicked his fingers and they beat on me. Beat me like there was no tomorrow; scars and bruises only months would take away with painkillers. Boots were jabbed into my stomach and hands punched into the back. I had no insurance; no way of getting help anywhere. My face became a painting of black and blue splotches. What they dealt me was mine to fix. If they killed me, I'd have no grave save the water running through New York Harbor. And what peace that would have brought upon my soul!
When he snapped his fingers again, they picked me and tried to make me stand. My arms went numb and legs were no longer able to support me. I fell to the ground, my constant place. Then he grabbed my chin. He saw the anger that flashed through my eyes, not fear but rage, and he laughed horridly.
That's what I want to see. You're a tough chick, babe. Now if I could only get you on my side. HAHAHA! Know this Mai…
"Mai?"
If you ever give yourself up to another…
"Mai? Wake-up."
…you will pay…
"Oh, dear! That little lady looks like she's sick! Is she okay?"
…with much more than you're life.
"Mai! Wake-up! Can you hear me?"
Won't you be mine?
……
I'd rather die.
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A/N: Honest opinion, what do you think? I'd love for you to review! Thanks for reading, more is to come soon!
