Call of Water (Madame Tan's Freakshow #1) - Marina Simcoe Page 0,32
out my cell phone.
“Lock her in the griffin’s cage and load it into the truck with the animals,” Radax ordered, tossing my phone onto the ground and crushing it under his boot.
“But Madame—” Trez glared at me.
“Madame trusts me to make my own decision,” Radax snapped at him. “Hurry, we’re leaving at sunset.”
Chapter 12
IT WAS A HUGE BIRD cage, tall enough for me to stand up at my full height of five feet and a half. The round base allowed me to lay down with my legs bent.
Trez had shoved me inside, glaring silently. He locked the door and threw a large dusty rug over the entire thing, plunging me into a nearly complete darkness.
The moment I was left alone, I rushed to the door and inspected the lock by touch—the narrow rectangular box fitted between the bars of the cage. It didn’t appear to have any movable parts I could attempt to manipulate in order to unlock it.
Next, I patted the floor of my prison, which was a piece of plywood thrown over a metal grate. No way to get out that way either. The bars of the cage were as thick as my finger, unyielding when I tried to shake or bend them.
A little later, the cage was lifted and carried off, probably to load me onto a truck as per Radax’s instructions. I briefly contemplated starting to scream again, in hopes that someone unrelated to this freakshow would hear me.
“If you scream again, you’ll die.” Radax’s words came to mind.
He must be around somewhere. Chances were, he would get to me before anyone else would if I screamed. The memory of his rough fingers gripping my neck made me rub my sore throat. I had every reason to believe he’d kill me this time if I disobeyed his instructions. Madame wanted him to, after all.
Sooner or later, they would have to let me out of this cage to feed me or at least to let me use the bathroom. I would use any opportunity to escape then.
Madame also said that they were about to leave the country, I recalled. I needed to get the attention of border control.
Sitting on the floor, I kept quiet as they loaded my cage. A short while later, the truck moved, taking me to some unknown place.
I WAITED FOR THE TRUCK to stop, for any noise outside to let me know we were at the border crossing, but none came, even after hours of travelling.
After a while, I must have fallen asleep.
When I woke up, the rhythmic sound of train on track could only mean that they’d loaded my cage into a train car.
I had no idea how much time had passed and how far from Toronto I was.
A scary thought that we must have successfully crossed the border by now sank heavily in my stomach.
How could I have fallen asleep?
The late hour of the night, the receding rush of adrenalin after having Radax nearly crush my windpipe, the rocking movement of the vehicle afterwards—all combined proved to be enough to lull me to sleep, even as my life and freedom were at stake. Now, I couldn’t shake the heavy feeling that I had missed a chance to end this nightmare.
Staying awake might not have helped me. Radax must have been confident he could smuggle me across the border without an issue. Otherwise, why would he defy Madame’s orders, keep me alive, and take me along? Chances were, I wouldn’t have been able to get any help at the crossing, anyway.
My focus switched to what was to come now. I had no idea to what purpose Radax had spared me. Madame obviously saw no value in my life. What was he planning to do with me behind her back?
Despite the stifling heat inside the train car, shivers ran through my body. I was still wearing only my bra and denim shorts, feeling even more vulnerable half-naked, miserable, and alone.
Curling up on the plywood floor of my cage, I let the tears out as fear vibrated deep inside me. Crying for as long as it lasted helped me to calm down somewhat, enough to be able to think again.
My thoughts drifted to the people who caught me. I wondered what kind of an organization Madame was running. She called Radax her slave without him protesting it or taking offence. She gave orders, obviously expecting a complete obedience as if the people working for her were indeed her slaves.