In Rio's Shadows

CHAPTER 1 THE CORRIDOR Wearing only a flimsy nightgown, she crept down a dark, narrow corridor which grew smaller with each step forward. The air was dank, damp, and the floor was cold on her bare feet. A draught made her body and lips quiver. In the distance was a door. She stopped in her tracks, waiting. For what, she didn’t know. The tangy, rich smell of blood filled her nostrils. A murmur of voices made her jerk and turn around. The sound came from behind another door at the other end of the long corridor. Blanca swallowed. She could not take her eyes from the floor as the corridor filled with blood. Soon it covered her feet. She screamed, holding her head in her hands. She couldn’t move her feet. A bullet whizzed past her and penetrated the door ahead. Panting, she stared down at the thick blood, which began to congeal, sticky. She waded forward, the thick matter sticking to her legs, slowing her down. When she finally reached the door, she found it locked. She turned and ran, blood splashing as she raised her feet over the surface. When she turned the knob on the opposite door, it refused to open. She was stuck in this small, cramped space. Cold penetrated her core. “Please help me, help me,” she begged. “Open the door. Let me out. Please.” A bead of sweat slid down the back of her neck. Her body quaked in the chill, dense corridor. The doorknob turned slowly. Hope rising, she stepped back as the door opened towards her. From beyond the door, a faceless man with large hands threw bodies into the corridor. They landed close to her feet. Blanca screamed. The young bodies floated in the sticky blood. She pressed her back against the wall to avoid contact. From beyond the door, she heard voices. “She knows too much. The boss said not to touch her. Leave her alone.” The faceless man shut the door again. Blanca froze on the spot, fighting against the smell of death. More blood oozed out of the door. She cried and shook her head in a futile attempt to shut out the scene. Another gunshot cracked as she stared down at her hands. Little hands. Her eyes roamed her body. It was a girl’s body, not a woman’s. What the hell! The door opened again, to reveal a man about to come out. She jerked, to find herself in her own adult body again, in her bed, in her dark, familiar bedroom. Her heart pounded and her sweat drenched her whole body. Just another nightmare. When will they stop? She shook off the dream, taking deep breaths as she reminded herself of the special day head. She pulled the cover off and got out of bed, promising herself she would make time to reflect on the nightmare later. She got dressed, collected her baggage then headed into the kitchen for breakfast.