Stolen Girl (14 page)

I wanted Tali to be with me, not his wife, and I knew he did
too. Then it dawned on me: I was sleeping with Wadi on the nights I wasn’t with Tali, and then there was Dean. In many ways, I had three men fighting for my attention. I never told him but I cringed every time Wadi came near me. His bulging belly and badly-dyed hair repulsed me and the bald spot at the back of his head seemed to get wider each month. It was a sign of age but it revolted me because I was still so young.

I thought if I slept with Wadi then Tali might get jealous, leave his wife and live with me. But then if this was love, why did we have to hide away and have sex in secret on the back seat of a car or on a dirty mattress above a shop?

When I was with Wadi, we had sex on the floor just as I’d done with Sam. Only now it was in the back of a shop and not a restaurant. As far as I knew Sam didn’t know the others but it seemed they all wanted me. I wondered if, perhaps, Asian men were attracted to me for some reason – maybe I was special.

Even though I didn’t recognise it then, my life was in freefall. But things were about to get much worse, for soon I was going to meet the Devil himself.

M
y mobile buzzed on top of the dressing table. I presumed it was Dean, Wadi or Tali calling but when I glanced down I saw another number – one I didn’t recognise.

‘Hello?’ I answered, my voice so low it was barely a whisper. Whoever it was, I didn’t want Mum to hear.

‘Is that Katie?’ a man’s voice asked. I didn’t recognise it.

‘Yes, who is this?’ I was confused; I didn’t recognise either the voice or the number.

‘That doesn’t matter,’ the man laughed. I was annoyed. It was a reasonable thing to ask – he’d called me.

‘It does,’ I replied.

‘No, it doesn’t. Listen, Katie, I want to meet you,’ the man said.

An alarm bell rang inside my head. I didn’t know this man yet he seemed to know me.

‘Sam?’ I guessed, even though I knew it wasn’t Sam’s voice.

‘No, it’s not Sam, but like I say, that doesn’t matter. Hey, do you like going to the movies?’ he asked, suddenly changing the subject.

I loved going to the pictures but I wanted to know who this cheeky man was.

‘Depends who’s asking,’ I said, trying to catch him out. But he wouldn’t tell me.

‘Me, I’m asking. Now, you haven’t answered my question, do you want to go to the cinema, maybe have a bite to eat before?’

It was a tempting offer. I never went out for meals unless it was a birthday or a special occasion. It was the same for the cinema too.

I thought of Wadi. He’d been kind, but he’d never offered to take me to the cinema or for a meal. Maybe that’s what was wrong with our relationship. This stranger, whoever he was, sounded much nicer than him, offering to take me places.

‘Err…how did you get my number?’ I asked, as soon as the thought occurred to me.

‘That doesn’t matter.’

‘Just like your name,’ I quipped.

The voice laughed and this time I laughed along too.

‘Yeah, something like that. Now when are you going to let me take you out?’

‘I’ll think about it,’ I replied and with that, I hung up.

I thought the man, whoever he was, would give up but the fact that I played hard to get made him call me more.

The following day, my mobile rang again. It was him.

‘When am I taking you out, then?’

His sheer gall made me laugh and the more he flirted with me, the more I flirted back.

‘I said I’ll think about it,’ I giggled.

‘Well, don’t take too long!’

After that the calls and texts increased until I felt under pressure to meet up with this stranger.

‘Come on, I just want to chill out. Do you like chilling out?’ he said.

‘Yeah…’

‘Well, we can chill out together then.’

I liked the attention this perfect stranger was paying me. I didn’t stop to think why he’d be asking me out.

At first I presumed he knew Sam, Wadi or Tali, but he said he didn’t. I was baffled. But still he persisted and called every day until finally I felt as if I knew him.

‘I like you,’ the voice admitted, ‘and I want to get to know you better.’

In the end, after a couple of weeks, I relented.

‘Okay, okay,’ I sighed. ‘I’ll meet you. Where?’

The man suggested the same parade where Wadi’s shop was.

‘Do you know the shop on the corner?’ he asked.

Of course, I knew it well – it was where I met Wadi and Tali.

‘Great, I’ll meet you at the back of there tomorrow, about 5pm. We’ll go out, to the cinema and then for a bite to eat.’

I was excited. The man sounded really nice – I was looking forward to being spoilt for a change. He noted the excitement in my voice, and suddenly his tone changed.

‘Don’t wait at the front, meet me at the back. I’ll be in a car,’ he insisted.

My heart lurched at the word ‘car’. I tried to shake off the awful feeling from the back of my mind but I couldn’t. He was a stranger after all.

‘Maybe this isn’t such a good idea…’ I said.

‘Nonsense, I’ll see you then. I’m looking forward to meeting you, Katie, and chilling out with you. Now don’t be late and don’t forget,’ he told me.

He was very persuasive and forceful; he made me feel like he was in charge and now I felt too scared to back out.

The following night after school I pulled on a pair of jeans and my pink hoodie top and some trainers. I told Mum I was going to Vicky’s so she wouldn’t worry but she was off to work so I knew she wouldn’t know how long I’d been gone. I walked to the back of the shop but as I approached, I spotted two people sat inside. Maybe I’d got the wrong car? I was just about to turn and walk away when a familiar voice called.

‘Katie, over here.’

And that’s when I saw him – my mystery caller. He was Asian and much better-looking than I thought he would be. He was younger than Tali and Wadi but older than Sam. He was a man, not a teenager. I guessed he was in his early twenties.

Apprehensively I walked towards him but as I did, he began to smile.

‘I didn’t think you were coming!’ he laughed, trying to lift the tense atmosphere. My eyes darted from him to the other man, who was sitting in the driver’s seat.

‘I…I…I thought you’d be alone,’ I stammered.

‘Oh, him,’ he said, pointing at the other man. ‘This is my friend Aban. He’s driving so I can have a drink, with you.’

It made sense. But when he asked me to get in the back of the car something made me hesitate.

‘What’s the matter, Katie?’ he said, his voice mocking me as if I was a silly little girl. ‘I’m not going to hurt you. I told you, I’m taking you out. You’re a pretty girl and I want to chill with you.’

I thought about the meal he’d promised, the trip to the cinema. I’d come here tonight and I didn’t want to back out now. Not only would I look stupid, I’d miss out on the treat too.

‘Okay,’ I agreed and with that, I climbed into the back of the car.

Aban put on some loud music and I noticed they were smoking something.

‘Want a drag?’ the man asked.

‘I don’t know your name,’ I said. Even though I’d asked countless times, he’d still not told me.

‘It’s Zebadiyah,’ he replied, taking another drag on the cigarette. He blew the smoke in my face and smiled. It smelt sweet. I looked at the roll-up in his hand – it was dope.

‘Zeba-di-yah,’ I said slowly, trying to repeat it but it made him laugh. I felt young and foolish.

‘Just call me Zeb, that’s what my friends call me for short.’

‘Zeb?’ I replied.

‘Uh huh,’ said Zeb, passing me the joint. ‘You want some? It’ll relax you.’

I took it from his fingers and slowly inhaled the sweet dope. As soon as I did so I felt my body relax and melt into the seat of the car: this was strong dope.

‘Better?’ asked Zeb.

‘Yeah,’ I sighed, trying to stay cool. I allowed my head to roll back against the headrest.

Aban started up the car engine and we drove off. I glanced out at the dreary town. Familiar sights passed by in a blur as we whizzed along. We drove past my school and up towards the main town; we passed shops, take-away restaurants, a large pub, supermarket and garage. Finally, the town gave way to fields as
we accelerated along a dual carriageway, far away from the town centre. As the car gathered speed I watched as the familiar landmarks disappeared behind us. Then it hit me – I didn’t have a clue where we were going.

‘Where are you taking me?’ I asked, beginning to panic.

The dope had numbed me for a while but now I was back with it – my senses were on full alert. I sat bolt upright and anxiously looked out the car window for something I recognised. But we were out of town and I didn’t know where we were.

‘Don’t worry, Katie,’ Zeb replied. ‘We’re going to chill, that’s all.’

He leaned forward and turned up the music.

His friend shot him a glance – Aban looked anxious, which made me feel even worse. By now my heart was pumping on adrenalin.

‘But I thought we were going to the cinema…’ I said, the words sounding ridiculous as I said them.

Zeb took a long drag on the spliff.

‘Relax. Chill, Katie, I’m going to look after you. We can go to the pictures anytime.’

My throat constricted with fear. I tried to gulp but my mouth felt bone dry. As the fear rose, my stomach knotted and twisted with anxiety.

Oh my God
, I thought,
they’re going to kill me!

My mind raced with every possible scenario. What if they killed me and dumped my body in a field? What if they strangled me? Maybe they had a knife, or even a gun? Why had I been so stupid? I was only fourteen years old – why had I climbed into a car with two strange men? How could I have been so stupid?

I thought of Mum waiting back home for me and furtively glanced down at my handbag. My mobile phone was inside – I knew exactly where it was. If I was careful I’d be able to sneak it out and call someone. But how would I speak without them hearing? Also, my bag was zipped, so I’d have to undo it first – they might notice and hurt me more. I was too terrified to try anything, so instead I remained frozen to the spot. I looked out of the window and prayed they wouldn’t kill me.

I pictured Mum looking at her watch, wondering where on earth I was. I imagined my body buried somewhere remote – abandoned, where no one would ever find me. I’d be dead in a field or a wood and no one would ever see me again.

I cursed myself. What the hell had I been thinking? I knew I needed to do or say something to survive.

‘Where are you taking me?’ I demanded.

I tried to sound confident – I didn’t want these men to sense my fear. If I sounded strong enough, then perhaps they’d let me go. But they didn’t answer.

After ten minutes of dual carriageways and fields, we turned left off a roundabout and headed into another small town. I felt reassured by the presence of other people, buildings and houses. My eyes searched for a road sign – I needed to know where I was. I recognised the town. It was the next one along from mine but not one I knew very well at all.

As we passed by more streets and houses, I slowly began to feel better. I’d let my imagination run away with me. Maybe there was a cafe or a restaurant here they were taking me to.

‘Is it far?’ I asked hopefully, waiting for them to tell me where we were going. But neither man replied.

Without warning, we turned into a narrow street. It was
lined with terraced houses. The car slowed down, the click of the indicator signalled and we parked up. But there was no restaurant here, just houses.

‘Where are we?’ I asked again.

Zeb twisted the windscreen mirror between his fingers so he could see my reflection.

‘You’ll see.’ He grinned.

His words, the look on his face and the way he spoke unnerved me. I didn’t want to be here with two strange men on my own. I was fourteen years old – I wanted to be safe with Mum and Phil.

Zeb unfastened his seatbelt and opened the car door at the side of him.

‘Where are you going?’ I asked, my voice full of fear. By now I couldn’t hide it.

I looked out of the window and saw a small terraced house with a plain white plastic door. It looked like every other one in the street.

‘What are we doing here?’ I said.

Zeb turned to me in his seat. He had one foot on the wet pavement outside and one foot still inside the car.

‘I’m going to get out of the car and go to that door,’ he said, pointing over to the white uPVC door of the house. ‘I’m going to unlock it and I want you to wait a few minutes and then follow me inside.’

‘But I thought we were going to the cinema? That’s what you said…’ My voice cracked and I realised just how small and frightened I really was.

‘I said we’re going to chill and we are,’ he said, pointing back at the house. ‘We’re going to chill in there.’

‘But I don’t want to…’ I protested.

Zeb raised his hand in mid-air to shut me up.

‘Listen, stop being paranoid! Nothing’s going to happen. We’re going to chill, okay. Just do as I say.’

With that he turned and climbed out of the car. The door slammed. I tried to look at Aban but he wouldn’t look at me; instead, he stared straight ahead. I could tell he didn’t want to be there either. I realised in that moment that Zeb had some kind of hold over him. Aban was his friend, yet he was frightened of Zeb.

I opened the car window slightly to get some air. I could hear Zeb’s footsteps on the wet pavement as he strolled to the front door. He double-checked, looking up and down the street, and pulled something from his pocket – a bunch of keys. They jangled slightly as he separated one from the rest and slid it into the lock. The key twisted to the side and the door swung open. But it was dark and I couldn’t see properly. Zeb stepped inside and shut the front door. Moments later a light flicked on in the downstairs room and then I spotted him at the front window, drawing a heavy curtain across.

I gulped. I wondered why he didn’t want anyone to see in – what was he planning to do to me? My mind raced. Then something occurred to me – what if he wasn’t alone? What if there were others waiting to pounce?

I cursed myself a second time. How had I got into this mess and how could I have been so stupid?

Adrenalin and fear pumped so fast through my veins that I could hear the blood gushing inside my brain. My body was in panic mode. I was so agitated that I almost didn’t hear Aban when he spoke to me.

‘You need to go in now,’ he insisted.

But I didn’t want to go in; I didn’t want to move an inch. I didn’t want to get out of the car or leave Aban because even
though I didn’t really know him, I knew I felt safer with him than with Zeb.

‘But I don’t want to,’ I said, my voice desperate. I pleaded with Aban not to make me but he wouldn’t listen.

‘He’s waiting inside for you and you don’t want to keep him waiting…’ he said, his voice trailing off.

Aban didn’t have to finish his sentence. Zeb was trouble – it was obvious. He was a dangerous man. He’d been pushy and he’d pressurised me over the phone until I’d agreed to meet him. He always got what he wanted, you could just tell.

My hands were shaking as I unfastened my seatbelt and pulled open the car door. My heart was in my mouth as I turned towards the house. I was only a teenager and I knew I was way out of my depth. Zeb was a grown man – a complete stranger.