Chapter 31

Escape Plans

Sllllllaaaaaaapppphhhhh

Iris was thrown on the floor with her nose bleeding and elbow throbbing with pain as it hit the wooden plank of the door.

She ignored the pain.

She had to.

She was stronger than this.

"Hey guys listen we can talk" Iris offered politely.

The shorter one gave it a thought but the taller one revolted impatiently.

"You bitch! Brent has already warned us to beware of your big mouth so keep it shut" the taller one said as he pulled her hair hurting her.

"Look I volunteer to go but please leave her. She doesn't know anything about our profession." Iris begged.

But he hit Iris with a shot immediately after which her vision got blurry and she blacked out.....

######.....

Iris's eyes were squinting with the bright light but her head and elbow were throbbing with pain and her memory was blank.

She tried to get up and stand on her feet but it felt that she weighed hundred pounds and couldn't lift her own body.

She gave up struggling and instead tried to recall, "Where on holy earth am I and why?

Later after which felt like ages and more when she happened to get her vision back, clear vision the first thing that she saw was the beautiful face that was sleeping besides her or was unconscious bringing her into sudden realization.

It felt like she experiences a huge blast and her memories came haunting her starting from when Stella was at her place from where both were kidnapped.

'No this cannot happen to her and all because of me. Bloody F##kers!' she cursed.

She looked around to scan the place to find out where actually they were and what chances she had to sneak out of the damn place.

"This surely is about the trafficking thing that Brent had offered me and I flatly refused" Iris analyzed "and what I can conclude is that since he was short of the number of girls and big money and big people being involved in it, it is surely going to be a tricky thing.

Shall I add Bad too!"

Something fiercely wrong was happening.

Iris looked around to find other girls in the arena some talking, some sleeping others simply wondering in this huge dockyard as it appeared to be because she could hear sirens of the ships; their arrival and departure. The cool breeze also signified the sea around.

She thought of waking Stella but before that she decided to move around and find a way out of the place.

"I cannot fall into Brent's trap, my family needs me" she sniffled at her situation 'and this beautiful girl also has a family of her own. It's my sole self-proclaimed responsibility to safely send her to her house to her husband and my lov.... '

Iris walked around to nowhere. She didn't see any doors or outlets till an intimidating guy erupted all of a sudden from one of the metallic doors announcing that it was lunch time and it would be served soon.

Only after it was opened Iris realized it was a door as it was alike all the walls of the place that were made of huge metal boundaries.

They were thrice the size of a normal wall with no rooftop.

Everybody stood up ushering to god knows what? Few glad that they were starving since last night.

Iris had lost track of time.

All she remembered was it was early morning when Stella had dropped in at her place and after few of the clarification about Edwin's loyalty towards her about which she wasn't sure yet if she was convinced or not.

She remembered calling Edwin in haste hoping he'd make it in time and save them but at the instance she was slapped and thrown on the floor and after that her memories were blank.

She wasn't sure if the message reached Edwin, if he knew Stella was with her or where on earth had she disappeared?

Otherwise he would have no idea about them as Stella's absence would be biggest matter of his concern right now.

He'd surely be head over heels thinking that he lost her all over again especially when Stella spotted both of them at the mall behaving like toddlers.

'Damn me! Shit ! Shit! Shit!" Iris hit her foot on the ground in frustration hurting and blaming herself for putting innocent Stella in unwanted trouble.

Stella has least of the ideas of the life beyond the rich and respected societies that she had been brought up with.

"Wake up Stella." Iris shook Stella for the only chance to move out of this closed place was when the staff brings in food and doors are left open for a little extra while.

Squinting Stella opened her eyes with sudden gasp of light that reached her blues."Where are we?" she asked

"I am sorry Stella" Iris meant every word "We have actually been kidnapped" guilt pouring in her with Stella's confused expression "Actually they were looking for me and you got into their paws for no reason." she sobbed bitterly.

She felt so vulnerable, she could barely hold her fear and tears "What will we do now." Stella gasped "they looked dangerous."

Iris was helplessness and hugged Stella to comfort her.

"I promise everything will be alright" Iris murmured as Stella snug into her arms shivering.

"I want Edwin. I want to go home" Stella cried bitterly, "I shouldn't have doubted him. I should have loved him unconditionally, trusted him" she was hiccupping "I am so stupid, so so stupid

When Iris could no longer take her crying and her admitting her love for Edwin and how sorry and stupid she was Iris stood straight pulling her to look into her eyes "Listen I Know you shouldn't be here at the first place neither of us should be here but I promise I'll help you rescue and I mean it even if it is at the cost of my life"

Stella stopped her sobs immediately after she took in her convincing words looking into her darks reaching her soul taking in the truth of her words and nodded.

Iris explained "I would distract the guy bringing food and let her you of this place" she held her hands tight to stop them from shivering "I will follow after you and then we can find a way out of here."

Though she acted strong but Iris knew Stella wasn't thinking any longer she had given full submission to her fully trusting and believing in words of assurance.

The guys were about to enter because Iris heard the screeching and opening of the only door.

They were already sitting besides the door waiting for the right moment and ready for the escape.

One guy arrived with almost ten packets and he distributed them to the girls around who in panic were jumping to get their supplies.

The overdressed whores were a bit enthusiastic about the whole thing, few silently sitting in the corner obvious that they didn't want to be here at the first place and were forced accepting the fate sadly.

Iris ignored the ambience as she saw the door left half open and was about to move out when she heard a loud yell

"Rosieeeeee..."

She pounced at her hopping and glad to see her as if they were childhood buddies; bringing all the limelight to Iris and Stella.

Needless to say that their first attempt of escaping was ruined as other two guys entered the place with remaining packets and closed the doors behind.

"What happened" she waved in front of her eyes which were now filled with tears that the escape plan was all in the dune.

"Lizzie what are you doing here" Iris asked.

"I told you I have got a chance and then I can move out of this prostitute stuff. But you never told that you too were planning on the same." She stated excitedly as if it was one of the best opportunities that life had offered to her.

"Liz..... Lizzzie" Iris shrugged her shoulders trying to talk and bring into her realization but she excused to get her packet of food, instead she brought three of them for Iris and Stella too.

Iris went closer to the guys to absorb in maximum information she could from their conversation leaving Lizzie with Stella not knowing whether it was a right decision or not.

All she got to know from their discussion was that they were taking them to some Arab country next night at 3:30am by ship which was safer due to change of duties of the officers at that time.

So Iris had a day and half to escape from this deal.

If that was possible?.

'I am going to make it possible for Stella, for Edwin and for....' She made a firm decision

She needed to chalk a plan on her next move. The first one was a complete disaster with Lizzie bumping into me.

Iris wondered if Lizzie knew what she had put herself into.

She wanted to be an independent , successful model and here she is trapped taken to place god knows where and there is no future after that..

NO I cannot let this happen.

Iris walked towards Stella and Lizzie who was continuously blabbering about anything and everything.

Iris was irritated because Lizzie's continuous speaking was not letting her think in the first place and then she was talking nonsense about dreams that could never come true if they were stuck in this situation.

Her frustration and anger was replaced by pity on her half knowledge about what lay in the contract that she had hopefully signed with Brent.

"Shut up Lizzie" Iris shouted "and listen to me"

She was quite, shocked and scared at her sudden outburst so she kept staring at Iris with her mouth open.

Without waiting for her any reaction or speech Iris continued "this is no damn an opportunity. We are held. F##k we are taken. Do you understand? This is human trafficking."

"Human trafficking" Lizzie murmured shocked like suddenly very one around had grown three heads altogether.

"Yes have you heard about it and the atrocities accompanying them?" Iris asked still frustrated with the entire situation.

"I have but why us?" Lizzie was baffled "what do you know about trafficking?"

"I had learnt about trafficking last few years in my line of prostitutes." Stella gasped and Iris continued since the talkative Lizzie was all ears "The person who purchases us are our owners who claim to be our masters using us in whatever way they like exploiting us assaulting, raping and lot more stuff the thought of which would tear the desire of being alive"

Lizzie's mouth was hung open like a fish opening and closing, talking to herself, struggling with the facts and tears blemished her eyes.

Stella wasn't good either. Iris could see her fighting tears with lot of pain, grief and fear of the time to come.

"We have to chalk out something" Iris suggested "I am not going to give up on this. I will find a way out. If not that I'll at least struggle out of it. I will never give up my life like this"

Stella flinched on it. "Struggle" she uttered worryingly, her milky white face was now pale with stress and worry.

Iris took her aside and fed her with whatever crap they had offered as lunch.

"We can move out through only one door which is there." Iris directed them towards the door which was now closed.

"Isn't it better to talk to them about our disapproval of his contract? May be they'll let us go" Lizzie offered expectantly.

"I have been trying the same to get Stella out of this crap but they are not at all considerate." Iris rejected her idea. "Damn Stella doesn't have any idea about the prostitute thing also. She is a clean soul."

"Now if we ask them for the same we'll get into their observant eyes and sneaking out would become even more difficult" Iris explained to them as she was the professor and they were students taking notes.

She also explained "I have learnt from their conversation that they are short of number of girls, so force or offer whatever they can use they'll to suffice their number of girls needed." She dismissed "So no point."

Iris and Lizzie were discussing options and different plans about escape but Stella was lost in her own world of despair.

Iris let her talk to a little girl who was not more than 14 but it wasn't a wise thing to be done as it upset Stella further when she learnt that the girl had been sold by her own step father against some money lying to her mother that he put her into some hostel where she could study for rest of her high school.

The moment this girl protested, her so called father hit her maniacally leaving a bruise on her face and hands which were still visible.

"We will take her along" Stella said looking at the girl sympathetically.

"No we are not taking any body." Iris denied immediately.

"How can you be so selfish?" Stella snapped back at her obviously angry.

"Stella they are all going to be safe but for that we have to escape first and then we can always call for help from the police. Once we are out, help would come at ease. And my prime focus is to let you out from here Safe" Iris emphasized on the last word making Stella look at her in an unbelieving expression.

She would never know how close they have we come although they have just met as all she had been doing last couple of months was talking and hearing about her from Edwin

How he loved to surprise her when she'd work in the kitchen holding her from behind lifting her from her waist and then taking her to their bedroom doing the expectable of married couples.

How her blue eyes turn wider when he nibbles on her neck and praises her beauty leaving her hopelessly moaning and longing with desire.

How she gets more turned on when she looks at his face when he reaches climax begging to do one more time.

How her smile in the morning lightens up his day.

How he calls from the office from his cell simply to hear her charming voice, which is like soft rhythmic music to his ears.

How she ties and unties her hair just as a habit taking his breath away,

The way she moves her neck while she talks making him fall for her all over again.

And how he'll be disturbed once he knows that Stella is kidnapped.

Would he have the same concern about me too....? Iris couldn't help wondering.

"So we have to wait till next meal is served.?" Lizzie asked bringing her out of self-talk

"I think so because there is no other outlet as I have rummaged to the place." Iris added

Stella was stressed with worry gauging all the negatives

"What if they did not come again?

What if the three of them arrived together?

What if we missed the chance?"

Iris calmed her down "Relax Stella." She kept her hands comfortably on her shoulders "think of best of the times spent with Edwin"

She closed her eyes, she tried but ended up crying "I miss him so much" she sniffled" I am so scared. What if I am nvere able to meet him?".

Iris tried to convince her "Edwin loves you" she said "he loves to such an extent that he would even dig the hell's core and find his wife from it."

'Only if he could catch what I meant in my phone call....' Iris wondered.

'''''''''''''

"What the f##king speed you are driving?" Edwin yelled at the police officer whose name he did not remember

He was freaking out "it was better I drove off my vehicle"

"Relax Mr. Edwin" he stated with his strong accent. Authority was natural in his tone for the kind of work he was involved in.

Edw could see him criss crossing the wheels of his jeep with his sirens on to let the co-drivers know that was an emergency.

He himself was struggling with the traffic to reach the destination.

If Edwin read it right, he saw the same concern in his eyes. Probably he takes his work too seriously.

Edwin was getting impatient every passing second.

The twenty minute ride to Iris's house felt like hours and he kept on dialing Iris's number which was now out of coverage area and Stella's number which was switched off as answered by the recorded message of the company.

He was practically jumping in my seat wondering what to do.

He was about to call one of my uncles who was in the political department of the country but this damn officer restricted him from doing so "please don't" he requested "This is a matter of social security and highly confidential too as it involves illegal trading between two countries."

Though he was casually using all those stupid technical terms but with realization of every fact one by one, Edwin was getting more restless about the fear of loosing his love all over again and it was worst this time.

His dear friend whom he also loved was also in danger and he wanted both of them back and safe in his life again.

"Will you mind telling me what is this all about?" he asked the officer agitatedly.

"This is what I was here for." He answered "and the way you are reacting at the entire situation it is clear that you are not involved." He said his eyes glued on the road. He was even cursing on the flow of the traffic, which was higher than usual being the office timing making roads busier than normal.

"In what am I not involved? Would you be precise?" Edwin asked punching on the dash board not breaking the thing but hurting himself. "This is the property of defense department so it had to be stronger." The officer commented whne Edwin started rubbing his hurting knuckles.

Edwin ignored the pain and waited for his answer.

Ben took a deep breath making a huffing noise and uttered "human trafficking, I mentioned it earlier"

"So what you mean is...." Edwin asked not believing in what he was actually going to ask shrugging his shoulders in dismissal.

He patted Edwin's shoulder sympathetically "yes I am sorry but if what you mentioned about your conversation with Iris on the phone the word 'taken' means..."

He took a sharp turn reaching the narrow lanes of Iris's residence.

Edwin jumped down ignoring his concluding words when and saw Stella's car parked in front of Iris's house.

He ran to the car to find it locked with Stella's phone lying on the passenger seat and no sign of Stella.

He now followed The officer who reached Iris's house and was shocked to see the entire house upside down things fallen here and there, the centre table had also been upside down with the corner of the glass broken into pieces were scattered everywhere on the floor.

Soon few more people joined in with gloves and were scanning the place like detectives collecting things randomly.

Suddenly his eyes caught on two black rectangle plates fallen on the floor.

He bent to pick it when I was stopped by one of the assistants who picked it themselves carefully with gloved hands.

It was Iris's mobile phone broken into pieces. They tried to mend it but it was in vain.

"May be when she tried to contact Mr. Edwin, she got caught and was thrown on the floor along with phone breaking it" Ben discussed his assumption with the other officers who were collecting all possible clues to reach the kidnappers.

"How can you say that?" Edwin asked trying to put things together and verify how on earth are they going to help find both of them.

"There were traces of blood on the floor" he directed towards the doorframe making him sick.

His assistants immediately started working taking the sample of blood to be sent for a test.

Edwin was getting restless and nausea tic with the passage of time with no investigation was directed towards finding the location of Stella and Iris.

"So they were sipping coffee" one of the assistants said as he picked the cup kept on the side table.

"Both of them were having it. It's only we who are starving since morning." The other one said

"Lucky bitches. They had their morning gossips" one of them murmured mocked.

"Dare you say a word about them. One of them is my wife and the other one is my friend" Edwin barked as he punched on the table where coffee was kept spilling some of the coffee.

This actually freaked all the assistants.

"Easy guys easy" the officer interfered giving his death glare to his assistants who continued their work immediately after that.

He tapped me on Edwin's shoulder "my apologies. I understand" he said feeling disappointed.

"Wait... Wait.. Her brother. Where is he? He might have seen who took both of them"........