Page 14 of Romania
Pizza.
Vegemite on toast with cheese and melty butter.
But for now, I just had to keep staying strong.
I stilled for a moment when I heard footsteps approaching. I stood as the door rattled and then swung open.
“Bathroom” was snapped.
I helped the others around me to stand, and we filed out in one line.
Drawing in a deep breath, I followed Pamela at the front as we walked silently through the piles of shipping containers to the door that led us inside the ship.
So far on this trip, I had counted twenty masked men lingering around with guns. Watching us like they were waiting for us to act up. But I’d made all the others promise no one would step out and risk harm to themselves or anyone else.
Even Pamela and Trevor had agreed to that.
We took turns using the toilet, but while waiting, I saw at least another ten guards I hadn’t noticed before, each with something different to the others we’d already made mental notes about. I was sure there were a lot more manning the ship too. So, for a rough guess, I’d put the count at fifty.
Fifty men.
If I had their weapons and took some hostages, I could possibly pull off a takeover.
And hopefully survive it all at the same time.
My belly twisted in fear, but I wouldn’t let it stop me from doing what I had to.
There would be help on the other end. My family would have figured out that we were headed for the US, and they’d either be there waiting for me or have someone they knew and trusted there to help all of us to get free.
I believed it.
Which was why I’d be fighting on my end, too, no matter how nervous or scared I’d be.
CHAPTER FIVE
It was time. I bounced on my feet and stretched my arms in front of me while waiting with Cal and Jenny by the doors for the right moment.
We’d been in this shipping container for forty-seven long days. But that would end today.
A few of us had heard the masked guards talking about the ship docking to pick up the last of the “merchandise” before moving on to our final destination.
Final destination. I liked those movies even though they scared me.
But back to the matter at hand. I knew with every bone in my body that if we reached the place where our “owners” were, we’d be shit out of luck trying to save ourselves.
This was our only chance, and I was pumped for it.
I was tired of sitting back and waiting and pretending to be compliant.
I wanted to bring the hurt.
I wanted to war with all these men who thought they were allowed to take us, push us, starve us, and sell us.
They’d pay. I’d make sure of it, and then I could get home for that family dinner at my brother’s so he could announce Maya’s pregnancy. He’d better not have told anyone without me there. I wanted to see Mum’s face. I knew she’d be over-the-moon happy with a grandbaby.
That was if Maya was pregnant.
I was at least 80 percent sure she was.
