Manny POV

I sat at the farthest end of the van, with Emma's head lying in my lap, and cried to myself. She was still unconscious from the blow to the head. How could I have been so stupid? Why didn't I listen to Emma? She was always the reasonable one when it came to situations like this. She's been in situations like this, so was I so blind?

I ran my fingers through her hair and looked down at her face. The bruises on her cheek were becoming noticeable, and her eye was swelling. I couldn't believe someone could be so cruel. A tear from eye fell onto her face and I quickly wiped it away. I didn't want to cry anymore. I couldn't. I had to stay strong. For Emma and for myself.

I tried to stay quiet. I didn't know where we were going or where we were. All I wanted to do was to go home.

I intently listened as "Sam" talked on his cell phone.

"Yeah Ted, I got two of 'em... yeah," he looked back at me and winked, "they're cute... they'll be really good for business."

Business? What kind of business? What was he planning on doing with us?

"I'll be there shortly, so be ready for me when I pull up...yeah, whatever... bye."

I didn't get it. What would someone like him want with us? What satisfaction did he get from kidnapping us? I kept thinking for a motive, but no logical explanation came to my mind.

I was thinking to myself when I felt Emma shift her head. I looked down at her and smiled. She looked back up at me, half-smiling.

"I feel like shit," she said.

I laughed, trying to contain my tears.

Finally noticing her surroundings, a look of confusion quickly came across Emma's face.

"What happened?" she asked, now sitting up.

I didn't know what to say. How could you tell your best friend that you'd been kidnapped? There just wasn't a manual for this sort of thing. I looked into her eyes and stated bluntly, "We've been kidnapped."

Her eyes widened and tears formed in her eyes.

"It's all my fault. I never should have ditched. Why did I do that? I'm so stupid. I-"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP! I'M SICK AND TIRED OF LISTENING TO ALL OF YOUR GOD DAMN WHINING!"

Emma and I jumped at the sound of his voice. I looked up at him and saw him glaring at us from the rear-view mirror. I looked over at Emma and saw her glaring right back at him.

The van came to a stop and Sam got out of the van.

My mind started racing. Where are we? Where is he going? I shifted uneasily in my place.

It was a couple minutes before the sliding door to our right opened. I could feel Emma start to shake next to me. Two men came into the van and grabbed for Emma and myself.

We screamed and held onto each other as tight as we could. I wasn't about to let her go. No one was going to take her away from me.

I screamed in pain as one of the men grabbed me by my hair. I tried pushing him off me, but he grabbed my arms and twisted them behind my back.

"Ow! You're hurting me!" I screamed.

I tried releasing myself from him, but I couldn't. He was too strong.

I looked over at Emma and watched her try to fight off the other man. He had his arm around her neck and was holding her hands behind her back.

She was crying uncontrollably.

Somehow the men managed to get us out of the van and they were now pulling us into a building. At first it looked like any old where house, but once we went further into the building I noticed several beds. They pushed us into a separate room where I saw many girls around our age. Some even younger.

The men finally let go of us and left the room. I looked at Emma, and then turned to the door.

"I wouldn't bother," one of the girls said, "It's locked."

I turned around and studied the girl that stood before me. She had long red hair, and looked as if she hadn't slept in weeks. She wore long black high- heels, a skimpy black skirt, and red shirt that showed a lot of cleavage.

"Oh yeah?" Emma said, "Why should we listen to you?"

"Because I've already tried that. We've all tried. It's no use."

The girl sat down on a couch and took out a cigarette.

"I'm Jade by the way," she said, blowing smoke from her mouth.

I just stared at her, and eyed her suspiciously.

"Why don't you take a picture?" Jade laughed.

I laughed awkwardly. Emma just rolled her eyes.

Emma nudged me and motioned for me to follow her. We walked over and sat down on the couch next to Jade.

"Why are all of you guys here?" I asked.

The girls all looked at each other.

"I guess you could call us," Jade paused, trying to look for the right word, "an escort service."

An escort service?

"I don't understand," I looked over at Emma, "what does she mean?"

I hated looking like an idiot, but I had to ask.

Emma rolled her eyes, "They're hookers."

But aren't hookers...

"Yeah, what else did you think we were?" another girl said.

"I didn't know." I said, my voice cracking. I didn't want to cry, not in front of these girls.

"Yeah, well, you do now."

There was silence for a couple of minutes before Jade spoke up, "So, what are you girls running away from anyway?"

I looked over at Emma and noticed her become uneasy in her seat. I looked back at Jade.

"Running away? We're not running away from anything."

Jade put her cigarette in an ash tray and got up, "Oh yeah? Then why are you here?"

"We were taken here against our will," Emma stated matter-of-factly.

Jade looked at her and started laughing.

"Are you trying to tell me, that you were kidnapped?" Jade asked between laughs.

"Well, yeah," I nodded.

"Yeah, like that's possible."

"Well how do you think I got this black eye?" Emma yelled, pointing to her face.

Jade just rolled her eyes and sat back down on the couch.

I was scared, confused. So many emotions were running through me. How were we going to get out of here? Do my parents even realize that I'm gone?

I wanted desperately to get out of here, so I went over the window and tried opening it.

Jade looked at me and laughed, "You're so dumb. You think you can get out so easily? The windows are nailed shut, the doors are always looked, and I highly doubt that there's an underground railroad."

All the girls in the room laughed, except for Emma and I. I just glared at her.

Who the hell did she think she was? Just because she gave up trying to get out, doesn't mean I will.

The door opened and Sam came through the door. He pulled out some clothes from a bag, and through them at Emma and me.

"Get ready," he said, "We're going out."

Sam then left the room.

I had made my decision right then and there. I was going to get Emma and myself out of here. Even if it meant doing the unthinkable. Even if I had to become one of "them."