I shouldn't have come to the hospital. As much as it pains me to say this, the demon was right. I should have stayed at home and called off sick. Regret filled every ounce of my body once again, having realised my hands were tied down to the chair alongside my legs.

The rope was tightly wrapped around my mouth too, giving me a headache each second I turned my head the slightest to inspect the dingy room.

I could pick up a dreadful smell, nothing short like that of the gutters. The only light shining was through a block, directly across me. I was thankful for this. It was still day time.

Frustrated tears lined my vision the more I thought of what I should've done instead! Oh Allah. What did I get myself into? Would I even make it out of here alive?

Images of my parents flashed through my mind. My little brother. The Mukhtars. When they'd find out I didn't return from the shift, they'd be horrified. No, they would be absolutely petrified. They'd blame themselves for my disappearance.

Oh no! What did I get myself into? I found myself asking that for the hundredth time.

All of a sudden, a cranking of keys could be heard from behind me. Goosebumps erupted across my body, making the atmosphere ten times colder. This is where it all goes down. This is where I'm inevitably going to face death.

I shut my eyes in horror as the footsteps got closer. Dread overtook every one of my senses, making me stare stupidly at the intruders face. Oh no! Oh hell no! It was none other than those white men, which Rafael so clearly told me to steer away from.

Oh no! Did they find out about me being linked with him? About Itzel?

"Well well well" he sneered in a thick Spanish accent. I looked at him as if it was the first time meeting him in order to not arouse any suspicions.

"What do we have here?" His sweaty hand snaked around my mouth, his rough fingers gripping it into a pout. He then made sure to roughly pull down the rope, I'm sure leaving a scar on my chin. If he saw the disdain on my face, he didn't show it.

"Let go!" I tried to pull my head back, but to no avail did any of that have an effect. My actions were still groggy, from whatever they'd made me inhale.

"Tell me, doll. Why would I do that, after having only got you? You see, this pretty face will cost a lot in the ring, too bad there's none left since a couple of hours ago. You wouldn't have anything to do with their disappearance, would you?" My mind was hazy and thoughts even hazier. Why would he even assume that I'd be involved in something illegal.

He didn't give me any time to respond, as with a vicious look given I'm my direction, he let go of my face harshly, causing my brian to rattle to the side. My eyes shut in pain as I made a poor attempt at toning it down by shutting my eyes tightly. It only made the slow emerging headache worse.

"I know everything about you Laila" resonated his voice from afar. I opened my eyes, seeing him prance about infront of me, back and forth. Back and forth. But that sentence, that sentence that escaped his mouth fueled my terror to no end.

"Don't look so frightened, my dear, you see, I'm a very calm man. I won't do anything harsh to you, not if you provide me with some simple answers"

"W-what? I'm j-just a student, I don't know anyone here" I tried to reason, my voice sounding foreign to my own ears. He eyed me with amusement, the look not settling well with me.

"Of course you are dear, but you see, you've done something very, very bad. Bad students like you should get a punishment. A severe one at that"

My eyes widened, not knowing what he meant. What did I ever do to him. I don't recall ever crossing paths with this man before. But you did cross paths with him before Laila, perhaps not intentionally.

"Now, I'm going to ask you of something and if I don't like your answer, I'll punish you. Do you agree?" He didn't wait for me to answer, but then again I'm sure he wouldn't care what I said either way.

"Let's start easy. Red file" Red file... red file... What red file? Could it be? Oh no! Oh please God, not that red file which Rafael made me steal from their office. Oh no.

"Bien!" Came his applause, as he clapped his hands in mock victory. "You remember! Now tell me where it is!" Came his instant demand. I couldn't say! I couldn't let them know I was alligned with his so-called-enemy.

"I-i don't know what you're talking about"

"Cut the bullshit, girl! I know damn well you have the file, and if that's not enough, there's even proof. Now tell me, where did the file go!" He brought his hands around my shoulders, leaning them against the chair, rocking it back and forth.

My heart palpitated in my chest at a hundred miles per hour. Oh god. What do I do. Frustrated tears lined my vision.

"I-i don't know-" my sentence was cut off by a harsh slap. I didn't register what had happened until after my face whipped to the side. My cheek burned from the hit as fresh tears blurred my vision. I didn't even have a free hand to rub the cheek, Ya Allah.

"Don't lie to me" he seethed, his stench making me forget all about my pain. I needed to breathe, but it didn't seem like a task I'd be able to do right now, not with his yellowing teeth infront of my vision.

"I-im telling you-" another slap. This time harsher than the previous one. My sobs wrecked havoc in the room, but the man before me didn't care. My face whipped to the left this time, burning. I could feel blood in my mouth from the impact.

Never before had I been treated like this. I'd been sheltered my entire life, and just a slap was enough to bring me immense pain.

"You lying bitch!" Came his sudden growl, his hands fisting around my hijab and jerking it backwards painfully. The rope which was once placed in my mouth now lay loose across my neck, teasing me.

Life and death. That was the fine line.

"Don't test my patience. I know you were the one who stole it. Where is it? Who are you working for?!"

"Please" came my broken reply. "I-i don't know about any red file" if he was angry before, his expressions drastically turned to fury. I never knew a human could hold so much anger in until now. Not even the Mafia leader had ever gotten this angry in front of me.

I was scared. So very scared. I had no one here right now except my thoughts. Suddenly the pressure around my head decreased, I'm guessing he decided to show me mercy.

How wrong for you to think Laila.

"If you're not going to speak, I have other ways for you to do so. Too bad you didn't open your mouth now. I'm sure, for what I'd put you through next would keep you talking for your entire life. You should have obeyed my words Laila, now you shall seek the consequences of your actions" my body shook with fear. How would I get out of this alive. Oh God. Please show me a sign!

I didn't have time to think as his filthy hands grabbed the rope from around my neck, and placed it across mouth. The friction of this burned my skin. Tears rolled down my cheeks as he tightened the rope from behind. My eyes shut in pain, a slow headache forming.

He left without a word slamming the door shut behind him. Once again I was alone, a feeling I was slowly becoming to hate.

Ya Allah. What is this trial you are putting me through? I pray you keep my family safe, my friends safe, Allah. Send help for me my Lord.

I guess from the tiredness or from stress, my eyes closed and my head lulled backwards. My eyes shut on their own accord, no longer fighting to stay awake. Hell, I didn't want to stay awake. I wanted to wake up and think this all a nightmare.

A sprain in my neck woke me up. I guess I should've found a better sleeping position. Wincing slightly, I attempted to roll my head around in order to ease the pain. I guess it worked until other parts of my body awoke fire.

My mouth was severely raw and hurt. I could smell and taste blood seeping into my mouth. The tears which escaped my eyes left a burning sensation as they mixed with the raw skin. To make it worse, I couldn't do anything to rid the feeling, as both my hands were tied.

I was utterly defenseless.

All of a sudden my stomach growled. Being hungry should have been the last think you're feeling, Laila. When was the last time you had a meal? Hours ago? Perhaps days ago? Nothing made sense now that it was dark twenty-four seven.

Once again my pesky stomach growled, this time leaving a painful sensation travelling to my heart. I grimaced quite obviously disliking the feeling. Gosh. I'm so ungrateful.

Whilst sat there, my mind wandered off to any and every type of food I'd ever ate in my life. Mmm, Biryani, Kimchi the list could go on, but I stopped myself before I could get too carried away. No one died from not having food for a long time, right? Right.

Gosh, I must've been insane to be speaking to myself as my voice echoed into the dark room. And there it was again. The all too familiar clanging on keys and the ping of a lock.

Dread surged throughout my entire body. I don't think I would be able to go through the man's questioning without breaking down or being unable to lie.

But my heart eased at the sigh of a timid looking woman. She wore clothes which resembled that of a maid, with the typical black dress and white apron. Her hair was tied back into a tight bun, making her seem professional.

But I saw the tremble in her fingers and the way her eyes made more contact with the floor than my face. She was scared. I could tell. And to prove my theory, her frightened stammer gave her away.

But what scared me even more was her nonchalant attitude upon witnessing my bruised and helpless state. Who were these people and how dangerous were they really.

"P-privet Misses Bakhash" I instantly stilled. "I-i was asked t-to g-give you this w-water" her eyes were downcast, as she held out the tray in front of her. The glass was placed on top, occasionally the content inside moving about due to her nerves.

Something was wrong. I could feel it!

But most of all, how did she know my name? Could it be that the men had already known who I am. And that I was connected to Rafael? What if they reach my family? The Mukhtars. Back home?!

Since my mouth was tied, I couldn't say anything that she'd understand. I guess noticing my state, she looked behind her, sweat breaking out across her forehead as she did so. She placed the tray on the floor and worked around the rope. Thankful, I sighed in relief and took a deep breath in.

Alhamdulillah.

"Where am I" my hoarse voice reached out, as my eyes glanced the water. My mind was begging me to drink it then and there, but my restricted state made the task impossible.

Her actions seemed to be on alert, her eyes occasionally wavering to the door behind. Unease settled deep within, wary of her nervousness.

"Moscow" In a quiet voice she revealed, meanwhile my heartbeat increased ten-folds.

"M-moscow? As in Russia?" My tone wavered, just thinking how I was literally on the other side of the world. No wonder why I was freezing in this room. Ya Allah!

"Yes, Misses Bakhash. Now, I cannot tell you anything else otherwise I would get into a lot of trouble" now that my mind was awake, I'd realised how the young women before me did have an accent. She seemed to roll her R's and heavily pronounce her L's.

"O-okay" I said quietly. My parents would be so worried. And moreso the Mukhtars. It must've taken me a day to arrive. That means at least two or three days must've went by!

"Excuse me!" I called after the maid, who was about to lock the door. "H-how long have I been here for?"

"Four days" she answered, a look of pity passing by her eyes upon seeing my state. Oh no. Tears erupted from my eyes. How? How was that possible? Was I drugged that strongly?

I was in a completely foreign country, full of foreign people, miles away from home. My tears didn't stop. My body couldn't handle the news that I was alone. It's been four days! Why am I not being saved. Why do I have to go through this. Why did I steal that bloody file!

These thoughts vanished once again, as the maid from earlier entered the room. I did not know what time it was except that there was no light shining through the block, aswell as my eyes going restless. Five days. Or soon to be five days...

Where was the Mafia when you needed it! Rafael, you demon, where are you. Shouldn't you rescue your fiance?!

The keys crinkled and the door slammed shut. I could see an unfamiliar man entering the room with a large box. He placed it across the floor and opened it to display liquids in small glass jars and...needles. Wait. What type of needles.

Was he going to drug me. My body instantly trembled with fear. No. They cannot drug me. God knows what they're injecting into my body. No!

I didn't realise in my struggling fit that two men from outside were called in, whom harshly held my shoulders down. Fear clawed at my heart, tears running down along with any hope for freedom.

The doctor had accomplished his task, a pain building up in my arm before gradually decreasing. My tired eyes from before lost their battle to stay awake, and so, with regret filled tears, I shut my eyes.

My last vision, the maid and her guilt filled expression. It's okay though. We all have a role to play in life. And I guess mine was just the victim... always the victim.

___