Chapter 24
I huddle up next to Gemma, trying to block out the freezing weather, ignoring our chattering teeth and shaking bodies. Gemma has been sick the past few days since we got out of that hell, she was pale and constantly shaking, I had to get her out of here. But we had no money, begging wasn't working, I didn't know what to was no point in speaking to each other, we already knew what the other was were usually thinking the same.
I sigh loudly as I look across the street at two large men walking towards us, Gemma closes her eyes and puts her head on my shoulders. I just stared at them, watching as they looked at us, grinning at us. I shook my head and looked away, hoping they would get the hint. Maybe if I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep then they would leave us alone. "Hey beautiful." I opened my eyes again and looked at them, shooting them a dirty look, telling them to leave us alone. I watched as Gemma opened her own eyes, and then shifted uncomfortably, looking at me nervously. I could already see the tears in her eyes, I shook my head and squeezed her hand gently, telling her everything was going to be alright.
They were right in front of us know, staring at us, winking, grinning, moving closer. I retreated further back into the wall I was sitting against.
"Leave us alone."
"Come on. You both must be starving, just a quick something. Anything you want." I watched as they reached into their pockets, bringing out their wallets, filled with money. I shook my head,
"We don't do anything like that, sorry." I mutter, Gemma was shaking. She didn't. I did.
"Just one of you then, come on." I sighed and then looked across the road at their car,
"Fine then, but she comes and stays in the car.... okay?" She looked at me wide-eyed and shook her head,
"Don't do this please Rikki, we don't need the money badly."
"We need that bus ticket, we ain't going to get it through this alone," I lifted up the small bowl we had for collecting money from begging,
"We need more money, we only need $50 and then we can go, I promise I will be okay. I have done this before, remember?" Referring to all the times I would do whatever I could, whatever they wanted, just for some money. No, not money... drugs. Everything was about drugs, more drugs, had to always have more, forget my feelings, be someone else. Drugs. Drugs. Drugs.
Now it was about getting out of here, running away from the life that I had once enjoyed. Running as far as I could - Well, we could - from that prison, we didn't belong there. I know I needed help, but I got that help and now I should be home and Gemma never should have been there. Her Dad should have believed her and helped her, but instead he ignored her pleas for help, he told her she was a liar. I would have turned to drugs as well, anyone would have.
I shake my head at my own thoughts, pulling myself out and trying to ignore the urge to run away from the two men in front of me. I feel Gemma's hand getting tighter, clammier in my own. I can feel her breath quicken, keeping up pace with my own heartbeat. I am no longer shaking through the cold, instead I am nervous, almost crying out with fear but I get up because I know that Gemma, or I, cannot last longer in these conditions. We need to get away, where one day we can forget about all the bad things I have done, and move on from it all. So many bad things...
I pull Gemma up with me and lead her behind the two men towards their car,
"You don't have to do this," Gemma whispers to me, I nod as tears roll down my face,
"I will be okay..."
"No you won't. Before when you did all this you were high or drunk, you didn't actually want to do anything like that.. you wouldn't have done it if you were sober, just like you don't want to actually do it right now. You only feel like you have to Rikki, but I promise you that you don't have to." I shake my head and turn away from her, sighing when we get to the car. They open the back door and Gemma gets in, a worried look on her face. I look around for a moment before climbing in, not seeing the five men running towards us until the car door is slammed.
I grab Gemma's hand, closing my eyes, ignoring the greed and lust in the two men's eyes in the mirror, I had to do this for Gemma, for me.. I had to get out of here.
"Stop!" I shake my head as I see a man run in front of the car, about to pull out. I look at Gemma in surprise, not knowing who they were. I could feel tears rolling down my face once more as I thought about what men could possibly want from two teenage girls, two desperate teenage girls, homeless and cold. I shrugged as one of the men in front of the car looked at me, questioning me. Thinking this was all my fault.
I look down at my shaking hands as one of the men opens my side of the car door, they look at Gemma and I, shaking their heads and grabbing my arm.
"Rikki Evie Chadwick and Gemma Paula Winters? Step out of the car please." I stop shaking at the authority in their voices,
"We are taking you back." I shake my head at them and pull my arm back,
"No please." Gemma pleads with them next to me but I can tell they have already won this battle. But it won't stop us leaving again.
Nothing can stop us from getting away.
Nothing or no one.