Love on the Run: Adaora

Midnight Run

Sihlwald forest 10 KM from Zurich city

Adaora

Despite everything that has happened so far, I am still in disbelief; a part of me is in total denial. How did I get to this point, where I have been all dressed up in the less covering outfit I have ever had on my back, set to meet my first client? Madam gave me what I guess was her version of a pep talk. I should not fight back or resist anything the client would want to do to me, I might not like it this time, but eventually, I will get used to it. A helpful tip is to set my mind on something positive while it happens; she said getting enough money as quickly as possible is a good distraction. By 'it', I suppose she refers to s*x. You would have thought with her line of activity, she could be more explicit in her language.

Even though I never really thought about doing 'it', I knew more or less what 'it' was about. Seeing my parents being in love for many decades shaped my view of relationships. I wanted to wait for that particular person. I even never kissed a boy. It seems now that what made me the odd girl in high school is the reason for my trouble. The client paid to have a busty virgin for his birthday.

Here we are, at the meeting point—a wooden cabin in the middle of nowhere. I try hard not to shiver, but the illusion of the skirt I am wearing with a minimal crop top does not protect me from the fresh breeze of this April night. Cassius was designated to drive me. On our way, I considered jumping out of the car, hoping to die in the process. Nobody would miss me; I could be reunited with my parents. Also, Cassius and Madam would have to justify my presence. My death could even trigger an investigation, and these criminals could be stopped; who knows.

But the thought of my parents stopped me. Till his last breath, my father never lost hope. He believed in miracles and saw himself as a recipient for one. With my mother by his side, he made plans for the future. As long as he could, he kept speaking about what he would do when he got his health back. He used to say that as long as there is life, there is hope. The memory of my parents love and resilience in facing adversity stopped me from trying to kill myself. It also kicked a revolt inside me. How could they dispose of me like a good and get away from it?

Cassius must have felt a change in attitude because he dragged me out of the car and pushed me towards the doorsteps of the wooden cabin. I hate him with passion. For the pain he inflicted me and the pleasure he seemed to derive from it. Even now, he seems to enjoy crushing my wrist in his orangutan-like hand.

Before we got to the doorsteps, a guy came out of the cabin. The client, I guessed. It was a full moon so that I could see his face. He looks like the Penguin, Batman' enemy. He is wearing a robe, and his expression tells me that he intends to recover in nature every penny of the 20,000 euros spent to have the privilege of deflowering me. I could see behind him through the opened door two other men, also wearing a robe and watching our arrival with anticipation.

- Cassius, my friend, said the Penguin, I see you came with my birthday present.

- Special delivery!

And they both laughed like there was an inside joke. Maybe there was. The familiarity between both means this situation has already happened. Cassius brought an innocent girl here under the same circumstances. The simmering revolt against this injustice suddenly erupted into a volcano. I was not going to their next victim.

Coincidentally, Cassius grip on my wrist had loosened. Without a second thought, I jumped out of reach and ran towards the forest as fast as possible. I practised athletics in high school. The 800 m was my speciality. But it has been months since I trained. I heard growls of discontent behind me and cursing. I increased my stride.

I suppose Cassius went after me since I could not picture the Penguin running. I pushed my body to its extreme, ignoring the branches slashing me, my lungs burning. I remembered we left the highway for a byway before driving through the forest. I was not sure if I should try to hide, wait for the morning to seek help or try to get to the highway. As I emerged from the forest, I found myself on an asphalted road. Probably the byway. I decided to run along the road, hoping to get some help from a driver.

I was close to fainting when I saw the lights of a car coming close, I motioned to the driver to stop, but he either ignored or did not see me. I continued to run; I could not imagine what would happen to me if Cassius caught me. I am out of breath, but I must continue.

Finally, I see coming closer the lights of another car. I cannot leave this chance of rescue bypassing me. I decided to stand in the middle of the road to be sure not to be missed. What I did not expect was for my body to be overwhelmed and to seek refuge in darkness. For the first time in my life, at the worst possible timing, I fainted. In the middle of the road, trying to stop a car to escape Cassius and the Penguin. My last thought before sinking was for my parents. I am glad they are not around to witness what is happening to their only child for the first time. It would kill them.