Page 2 of Tank

Seven years. Seven long, brutal years trapped in this hell, surviving by grit and sheer determination. I bear scars from the beatings, cigarette burns from the nights when they wanted something more than just my body. My spirit, once fiery and bright, has been smothered under the weight of despair.

"Another day, another dollar," one of the men chuckles as he throws me back into my cell. I collapse onto the mattress, my body aching and bruised, as the door slams shut behind him.

"Fuck you," I whisper, though I know he can't hear me. My voice is raw, my throat sore from screaming and begging for mercy. I've learned that mercy doesn't exist in this world, not for girls like me.

Each night, I stare at the peeling wallpaper and dream of escape, of a life free from their control. But as the days blend into months and the months into years, the hope that once burned within me dims, flickering like the dying light bulb overhead.

"Please," I whisper to nobody in particular, tears streaming down my face, "please let this end."

The door creaks open, and a small, fragile-looking girl is shoved inside. She stumbles, catching herself on the grimy wall. My heart aches at the sight of her – so young, so innocent, yet already consumed by this darkness.

"Hey," I whisper as she looks up at me, fear evident in her eyes. "I'm Sophie."

"Chloe," she murmurs, barely audible. The vulnerability in her voice draws me towards her despite my own weariness.

"Come here, honey," I say, offering her the corner of my thin blanket. Chloe hesitates but eventually moves closer, curling up beside me. We huddle together for warmth in the frigid room, our breaths mingling in the stale air.

As the days go by, we form an unbreakable bond. In whispered conversations while the captors sleep, Chloe tells me about her family, her dreams to become a veterinarian, and the favorite stuffed animal she left behind. I share my stories too, letting out the memories that have been festering within me for so long, poisoning my soul.

We find solace in the smallest acts of kindness - sharing a scrap of bread when one of us is hungrier than the other, or gently braiding each other's hair, a tiny gesture to remind ourselves that we are still human amidst this depravity.

"Promise me something, Soph," Chloe says one night, her voice trembling. "If you ever get the chance to leave this hellhole...promise me you'll come back for me."

"I swear on my life, Chloe," I reply, my voice thick with emotion. "And not just for you, but for all of us. I won't forget."

A new shipment of drugs arrives, and our captors are distracted, greed and excitement clouding their judgment. Chloe, sensing the rare moment of chaos, seizes it with a fierce determination.

"Fuck you!" she screams, hurling a makeshift weapon at one of the men. The room erupts into disarray as she charges forward, her small frame a whirlwind of fury.

"Go, Sophie! Now!" Chloe shouts, and my heart pounds in my chest. Adrenaline courses through me as I bolt for the door, my legs carrying me faster than I ever thought possible.

As I sprint down the grimy hallway, I can't help but think of Chloe – the girl who became my sister in this hell, the girl whose bravery gave me a chance to escape. And I know, deep in my soul, that I will do whatever it takes to keep my promise and bring us all to freedom.

I stand at the threshold of freedom, my heart pounding in my chest like a caged beast. The door looms before me, cracked open just enough to reveal the dark night beyond. It's a fucking miracle I've made it this far. But fear grips me, freezing me in place.

"Go, Sophie! Now!" Chloe's voice echoes in my mind, her last words before I slipped away. How can I leave her behind? How can I abandon the girl who saved my life?

"Fuck!" I hiss under my breath, forcing myself into motion. My legs are shaking, but there's no time for hesitation. I shove the door open and step out into the cold night air.

"Get it together," I mutter to myself as I sprint down the dimly lit street. My breath comes in ragged gasps, each inhale tasting like sweet freedom after years of suffocating captivity. I can't let them catch me now. Not when I'm so close to escaping this nightmare.

"Please, please, please," I whisper, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my footsteps on the pavement. Each step takes me further from the hell I once called home, but I can't shake the feeling that danger still lurks around every corner.

"Shit!" I curse as I spot the shadowy figure of a man up ahead. Is he one of them? Have they found me already? My heart threatens to burst from my chest as panic sets in.

"Keep going, keep going," I chant in my mind, willing my body to move faster. I dart down an alleyway, praying that I can lose him in the maze of narrow streets and dead ends.

"Almost there, almost free," I repeat like a mantra, my vision blurred by unshed tears. The weight of my past bears down on me, threatening to drag me back into the darkness. But I can't let it. I made a promise to Chloe–to all of them.

"Fuck this," I growl, pushing myself harder than I ever thought possible. If I can survive what they did to me, I can survive anything. For Chloe. For all of us.

As I round another corner, my legs threatening to give out on me, I know that there's no turning back. It's now or never. And as the night swallows me whole, I disappear into the shadows, determined to keep my promise and find the help we so desperately need.

My lungs burn, my legs ache with each pounding step, but I force myself to keep running. The cold air stings my cheeks, the only reminder that I'm still alive in this godforsaken place. It'sbeen hours since my escape, since the promise I made to Chloe and the others echoed in my ears.

"Fuck!" I gasp as a sharp pain shoots through my side, making me stumble. My vision blurs, the world around me spinning, but I grit my teeth and press on. Just a little further, a little longer. I can't let them find me, not after everything I've risked.

As I round a corner, I spot a small, darkened alcove between two buildings. My desperation pushes me towards it, seeking a brief refuge from the relentless pursuit that haunts my every step.

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