Screams emanated from the room directly below. Lana crawled forward to the grilled air vent, only to find her comrade captured and tortured by the rival syndicate. She had to keep going. She had to stay alive. She had to escape. She crawled and crawled, trying to ignore the screams of pain from her friends below. Blood ran down her face and her clothes were ripped. She was shaken by the ordeal that played out before her very eyes.
Then a gunshot came.
Lana fell into a distorted vortex full of her violent past. She was paralysed and desperately tried to break the bound. She kicked and punched but found herself held down by an invisible force.
Then she opened her eyes to see the concerned face of Ray, who held her firmly.
Lana stopped her movements and eased down. Ray responded by releasing his grip.
"It's alright," he said in a comforting tone, "you're safe."
Lana did not answer. Instead she reached down her body and felt the her smooth skin. She immediately gave Ray an incriminating glare.
"You were gonna freeze to death if I hadn't taken those clothes off you."
The glare was not satisfied with that answer.
"Do you really think I had the energy to do anything to you last night?" Ray reassured Lana with a chuckle.
Then he returned to the desk and grabbed his tracking device. He headed out of the hotel room, leaving a remark.
"There are clothes in the wardrobe, food will be sent up shortly and I'm away to scout the area."
Maybe there's still hope for that man - Lana thought. As soon as the door closed, she removed the covering blanket and got up. Opening the wardrobe, she found some dull, drab coloured clothing. She picked out a pair of tight fit jeans, a loose t shirt and a hooded sweater then quickly put them on. Lana made her way to the window and peered through a small gap between the curtains. She saw a typical view of a ghetto near the far side of capital city. A hubbub rose from the makeshift market places people walked by run down buildings that surrounded the area. Then she spotted Ray by his tall build and followed him with her eyes until he disappeared in the crowds.
"Room service, breakfast." A voice came from the other side of the door.
Lana went and opened the door. She was treated to a large variety of refreshing drinks and tempting foods. She felt her stomach grumble at the sweet smell of strawberry jam on toast. She laid the tray on the bed and began to go through the delicious food.
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