After a few hours I couldn't help but fall asleep, being locked in a sound-proof room with nothing but the vibration of the van to entertain your senses is far from stimulating.

I tried to stay awake, knowing that Dana would need the support when she woke but I could no longer fight my body as the adrenaline wore off after my last interaction with the men.

As I slept, I dreamt of all the horrific things that these monsters had planned for me.

Ransoming me for money, auctioning my body, mutilating my body or simply raping me then leaving me somewhere to rot, just to name a few options.

I refuse to share these scenarios with Dana, if any of these scenarios happen then I will fight with every fibre of my body to make sure that Dana does not experience a single thing.

I know what I can handle, my body is a tool that I know how to use and I will do so to protect the ones I love.

After roughly another three to four hours I'm suddenly jolted awake, erasing the ghastly grins of the men and their greedy hands instantly.

"Katie! Katie, please! Please, wake up!" Rising from my half slouched position from the wall I waste no time in opening my arms and clenching Dana in my embrace.

I shake off the fog of sleep and clutch her tighter, hating the way her sobs sink deep into my flesh.

"Shhhh, shhh! It's alright, we're alright. We're together." I whisper softly, glad to have her conscious and with seemingly no mental damage from the trauma to her head.

I need to calm her down as much as possible to ensure that when she has the chance to run that it's the best chance.

"I tr-tried to run, but he caught us! I h-helped Flynn over a fence but then he got me!" I nod my head and whisper how good of a job she did and begin slightly rocking, not just to calm her down but to quench my own need to burst out.

Suddenly the van begins shaking erratically and striking a guess I assume that we are driving over gravel.

Clenching my fists behind Dana's back I hold her even tighter and keep her pressed against me until the van finally rolls to a stop and the engine is shut off.

"Dana listen to me, we are going to be okay. I'm going to keep you safe. When the doors open I want you to stay behind me at all times, do not look or speak to them unless I tell you to.
If at any point I say to run, you run towards the nearest exit and promise me not to look back."

I release my torrent of instructions so quickly and lowly that even I couldn't hear all the words but our time was running out.

Dana whimpers in reply and taking that as a sign of verification I softly pull her back and stare into her bright blue eyes, glimmering with tears.

An imaginative clock is ticking down in my head and I press my lips to her forehead and quickly pull her up and drag her behind me.
Just as I go to release my hands from her shoulders I finally hear the doors unlocking, coinciding funnily enough with the clock in my head.

The doors creak as they open and vaguely I can hear the whistle of the wind and a lone bird cawing for its life.

Dana's eyes grow wide and she begins dragging her eyes over my shoulder but one quick shake of my head quickly causes them to latch onto my own blue orbs.

I channel a strength from deep inside me and muster a smirk in her direction and mouth the words 'It's okay.' 
Dana can't manage a smile back but I see a light behind her eyes that assures me that she's prepared.

"Don't make me get in there girls, you're acting like you want to stay in here." Judging from the cockiness of the tone I'm assuming that it's Axel that spoke.

While both men are terrifying and both motives are unknown, I for some reason feel better equipped at handling Axel.
Something about Rosik sets me on edge, but perhaps that's due to me having spent more time with him.

I hold my chin high and turn around, squaring my shoulders and face Axels large form.

He isn't unfit by any means, he could snap me like a twig if he so desired however his body mass is big which lets me know that running could be his weakness.
It would also explain why it took him so long to catch Dana and then fail to grab Flynn.

As I suspected Axel is smirking at our forms but as the seconds tick by and I still refuse to budge I notice a slight tick in his jaw, close to the bruising that I caused earlier.

"Get out." He grits through clenched teeth and I make a mental note that both men seem to get angry very easily. That's a weakness that is extremely easy to exploit.

"Take ten steps backwards and then we'll get out." I reply stiffly, feeling the need to prove my bravery to my cousin in hopes that her own courage would soon follow suit.

Behind Axel the landscape is hard to determine through the night sky but vaguely I can see fields and a forest further back.

The night chill has already seeped into the van and I fight the urge to rub my arms to fight back the goosebumps. Weaknesses are not allowed.

"Hell no. Get your asses out right now!" I was so busy making out the scenery that even I jumped slightly when Axel yelled directly into the small space.

Poor Dana is practically shaking against my back and I fight the urge to comfort her.
It worries me that Axel is yelling already, obviously he has no fear of being overheard.

Another pestering thought that won't stop spinning in my mind is the whereabouts of Rosik.
He could be lurking behind the door, ready to separate Dana and I the moment we leave the van.

"Take ten steps back." I repeat, this time my voice betrays me as it rises barely above a murmur however I don't alter my stance.

Cursing to himself, Axel runs one hand through his long brown hair, pulling the bun out in the process.
His other hand dips into his jacket and I feel my heart stop as he pulls out a gun casually and cocks it in our direction.

Not having a death wish I nod my understanding and reach behind to clasp Dana's hand.

Guns were not meant to be part of the situation.

Sure, hand to hand I could at least distract them for a little while but now that weapons are involved our chances have become near non-existent.

Even if I did distract them and use my body to protect Dana I would go down instantly.
My body can handle a few punches, getting shot is something that I never thought I'd have to deal with.

Thankfully, Dana's shaking hasn't gotten worse so I'm assuming that she hasn't seen the weapon yet.
The less she sees the better.

Each step closer to Axel and the gun causes my need to dash grow stronger and stronger.

I shuffle my way to the edge of the van, the front of my shoes dangling over the edge and glance at Axel who is now an arms length away.
He raises his eyebrows and deliberately raises the gun until it's aimed just over my shoulder where I'm assuming the top of Dana's head can be seen.

I muster the deadliest look that I can before stepping off the van and onto what I can now confirm to be gravel.

Quick as a flash I spin around to face Dana as she is about to jump down herself, trying to cover her the best I can but Axel quickly interrupts my plan.

Stepping forward I hear the gravel crunch beneath his boots before I'm harshly shoved onto the incoming rocks with enough pressure to take my breath away.

Thankfully, my hands leap into action and I'm able to protect my face from the shards, unfortunately however sacrificing my hands by ripping them on the hundreds of rocks.

I gasp loudly, not only from the flash of pain but also from the shock.

Rolling quickly onto my feet I forget the pain instantly as I stare at Axel holding my cousin in a headlock with his gun pressed against her temple.

I feel all my adrenaline seep from my body as I witness the horrific scene and I raise my now bloody hands in surrender.

"Please, please, please just give her to me." I beg, honestly considering dropping to my knees but I know that I can't afford to get hurt further by the gravel.

"Ah, so there is a pleasant side to you." Axel taunts as I fight to control my breathing, now is so not the time to pass out.
I give no answer, purely because I know that anything I say will aggravate him and right now there is too much at stake.

Relishing in my submission Axel begins casually dragging Dana to the left which I can now see a small farm house with a large barn next to it.
The walls appear painted in a now flaked green and a rickety white fence surrounds the front of the property.

I take a step and reach my hand out to grab my cousin but all Axel does is shake his head and continues to drag Dana to the house.

Dana is now sobbing and that's all that can be heard over the wind which is beginning to pick up.
I feel my red locks begin to fly across my face but I don't dare to swat them away.
I don't dare to move an inch.

Axel is now a few steps from the gate and I flicker my eyes back to the house as the lights suddenly all turn on.
The front door is shoved open and for a moment I feel my heart soar, thinking that it could be a local willing to help but my hope is quickly melted as I recognise Rosik leaning against the door-frame, watching the situation with bright eyes.

Dana's sobs are now bordering hysteria and what Axel says next I barely catch over her wailing and the winds.
But when I do I see red.

"Mind getting the gate for me sweetheart? My hands are a little full." Each time Dana sobs I feel my heart constrict more and more.

Needing to save her I jog quickly to the gate and swing it open, stepping inside the property and wait by the gate like a Goddamn dog.

I clench my fists tightly, feeling my blood drip down and bite the inside of my cheek to stop from screaming out in rage.

I want to glare at Axel but as my eyes dart in his direction I latch onto Dana's eyes which are red and puffy and once more all the energy leaves my body.

Dana is dragged painstakingly slow across the footpath and now dropping my head I follow behind.
Enough steps back to remain out of reach but close enough to strike quickly if need be.

Once we reach the porch the winds now turn ferocious and not expecting a particularly strong gust I'm flung sideways towards to column holding the roof and I clench my eyes shut.

A part of me, an extremely small part of me wanted to hit the column and part of me desperately wanted to be knocked out.

I wanted out of this situation, I wanted to be having dinner at my cousins and enjoying a family night out.
Not being forced to endure this disastrous and degrading situation.
But that would have been too easy, by now I should know that I have rotten luck.

An already familiar grip latches onto my arm and tugs me into their body.
Shielding my form from the winds and for a brief moment I'm thankful until I notice the arms then wrap around my shivering body in a cobra like grip.
I begin thrashing madly and finally begin yelling obscenities, trying to pull my face out from Rosik's shirt to see Dana but I can barely move an inch.

I panic as Dana begins screaming louder as well but all I can do is shove the seemingly steel body and allow Rosik to drag me into what I presume to be the house.

My shoes run over wood and then brush over carpet as I'm led inside.
The winds are still screaming their protest until a loud bang echo's around us, silencing the outside and quelling Dana and I's screams.

There goes my plan of jumping them as soon as we got out of the van.

Rosik uses one of his large hands to press my face into his chest and then the other to wrap around my waist, I feel my own hysteria climb further up my throat and my flailing arms become sharper.

I can hear him shushing me but that only causes my fear to double, why can't he see how wrong this is?!

"Calm down and I'll let you go."
Rosik grunts as my hand yet again smacks what I'm assuming to be the side of his head.

"Let me go and then I'll calm down you asshole!" I manage to murmur, but as soon as I begin murmuring I regret it. With my face being pressed so tightly against Rosik my lips brush against his shirt with each syllable.

Rosik stiffens as soon as I begin speaking and with a sudden thrash I'm finally able to shove his hands away from my body and I take a handful of quick steps away from him.

Rosik continues to just stand there, arms hanging by his sides and even though my eyes are scanning the room for Dana I can still feel his gaze taking in every inch of me.

Once I realise that Dana is no longer in the hallway I immediately go to walk around Rosik, determined to knock down every door in this place until I find her.

But Rosik steps in front of me with each new direction that I turn.
Still standing limply and with a glazed look.

"Name?" The brute questions and I fight the urge to roll my eyes at the question repeating itself.
Surely he doesn't think that I'm that stupid.
I don't want him getting even more members of my family.

"Rosik. Your name is Rosik." I reply with a straight face and feel a sense of pride as colour begins to creep up his neck.
Poor little Rosi is getting mad.

"I said a name. Now let me go to my cousin." I finally say after a few more moments of heavy silence. Throughout this time the colour has continued to climb and now it's well and truly covering his cheeks.

As much as I'd like to see this pathetic man throw a temper tantrum I'm anxious as to why I haven't heard a peep from Dana yet.
She must be terrified.

"Your name, otherwise I'll just have to think of my own." Rosik finally replies and I let a sarcastic laugh burst though my lips.

"Call me whatever the hell you want, get creative. I won't be around long enough to care."
I expect that to be the final blow before his fuse breaks but his reaction simply confuses me further.

Rosik laughs loudly, mimicking my own with a much deeper and colder laugh, setting goosebumps along my flesh.

I never want to hear that sound again I quickly realise and as Rosik begins walking towards me I glance around desperately for something to hit him with.

Looking around I see absolutely nothing.
A coffee table along the wall next to me holds a newspaper, some pencils and an unlit candle without a holder. On the other side is a coat rack which looks too heavy to lift and is only holding an assortment of hats.

Now doesn't seem the time to spice up Rosik's fashion so I continue backing away until my back hits the door that I was just dragged into.

I want to open it and flee.
Rosik knows this as well and finally stops his stalking and reaches a stop right in front of me, looking down with a sick grin.

Rosik opens his mouth undoubtedly to say something foul but arriving footsteps interrupt him.

"Rosik let her go to the room. We're all tired and need to rest." Axel commands and at the word rest my mind immediately instructs me to yawn which I quickly hold in.

Of course this then makes my eyes water which must give Rosik the power trip that he's looking for because he quickly backs off and storms off down the hallway then out of sight.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and drag myself behind the now silent Axel.
Wordlessly he leads me to a door across from what I can make out to be the lounge room and shoves me in before I can look further.

"See you ladies in the morning."
He mutters with a final grin before slamming the door shut and locking it from the outside.

Spinning around I'm enveloped by another body this time one that I actually want and I hug Dana tightly as she continues to cry.

Now it's just tears of sadness, the dull situation hitting her with full force.

I feel my own walls begin to crack and not trusting my voice I simply lead her to the double bed, lie down and stroke her hair until we both pass out from exhaustion.