(From Ashes to Hope) Chapter 33
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The guard grabbed a water bottle and forced water down the girls‘ throats,
the water spilling from their lips and soaking their clothes.
Then, he started searching everyone, his hands like claws, rummaging
through their belongings, leaving no corner unchecked.
He came towards us and carefully searched our bodies, making sure we had
nothing hidden.
Satisfied, he walked out, locking the door behind him with a loud clang.
Once the guard was gone, I discreetly turned to Emma, who also happened
to be looking at me.
We exchanged glances, relief evident in our eyes. Thankfully, the crucial phone was safely hidden outside, undiscovered by the guards.
We eagerly approached the food container.
As we passed the voluptuous woman, I caught a whiff of a familiar perfume,
a scent I often smelled on John.
My heart sank, and I quickened my pace.
In this dire situation, an allergic reaction could be fatal.
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eyes.
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We were the only ones eating, while the others just watched us with wide
The girl who had asked for our help carlier suddenly yelled, “You’re just
sheep being fattened up for slaughter!”
Her voice echoed through the silent warehouse.
The guard outside heard her and shouted menacingly, “Behave yourself! If
you disobey, I’ll drag you out and teach you a lesson!”
The girl shuddered at his words, her neck shrinking instinctively, but she
still glared at us, her eyes filled with resentment for us and despair for her
situation.
In the dark, damp, abandoned warehouse, time seemed to stretch endlessly,
every second filled with despair and torment.
We had been waiting for days, but there was no sign of rescue.
As the days passed, more and more girls were brought in, making the already
cramped space even more crowded.
Each time someone new arrived, the guards would meticulously search the
warehouse, leaving no corner untouched, including patting down every person.
Our hearts were in our throats. We didn’t dare trust the newcomers,
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suspecting that our plan might have been leaked.
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Perhaps the traffickers already knew someone had alerted the police. But
thankfully, they found nothing during each search, giving us a sliver of hope
amidst the fear.
ears.
In this hopeless environment, hope and despair constantly intertwined.
Then, one day, while we were eating, one of the girls suddenly perked up her
She heard the guards talking in their dialect. Straining her ears, she managed
to decipher a terrifying piece of information from their obscure words: in two
days, they were going to transport everyone across the border.
Her
eyes widened in terror, filled with fear and despair. After the guards left,
she quickly shared this news with everyone.
Despair washed over the captive girls like a tidal wave, their suppressed sobs
echoing through the warehouse.
Panic surged through me. Every passing second felt like a step closer to the
abyss of despair. I knew we couldn’t just sit and wait, we had to find a way to
break free.
In the dead of night, the warehouse was enveloped in darkness, only a faint moonlight filtering through the high windows, casting a cold glow.
<<<From Ashes to Hope…
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Emma leaned close to me and whispered, “Do you think the message didn’t
send? Maybe we should let the kid try again.”
Her eyes, filled with a mixture of hope and helplessness, glimmered faintly
in the darkness.
I had the same thought, but the idea of sending the young beggar out again
made my heart clench.
If he was caught, I couldn’t imagine what those cruel men would do to him.
The consequences would be unthinkable.
“It’s been days,” I whispered back, my voice filled with concern and
hesitation.“How much battery does your phone have left? It was only half full
that day.”
I knew this might be our last chance, but it was fraught with uncertainty.
“My phone has a long standby time, almost half a month,” Emma said softly.”
It should last for another day or two.”
Just then, the young beggar seemed to overhear our conversation and tugged
at my sleeve gently.
His eyes were wide open in the darkness, like two small flames flickering,
casting a glimmer of hope in the endless night. His gaze was filled with
determination and courage, as if silently assuring us that he wasn’t afraid, that he
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was willing to try again.
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After a moment of internal struggle, I gritted my teeth and decided to let
him try one more time.
The decision felt heavy, each word a struggle to utter.
At the same time, I silently vowed that no matter the outcome, I would make
sure the young beggar left this dangerous place, never to return.
He was just a child, he shouldn’t be involved in such danger. He had done so
much for us already, I couldn’t let him risk his life again.
This time, I didn’t want to risk contacting Officer Lee.
I decided to send a message directly to the police emergency hotline. It was
our last hope.
I knew that if this failed, we would truly be trapped.
Even if we were moved, as long as the message was sent, the police should be
able to track our location based on the phone number.
I prayed silently, hoping this attempt would succeed, hoping the police
would arrive in time to rescue us.
I quietly explained my plan to the young beggar, detailing every step,
<<<From Ashes to Hope…
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including telling him not to come back after sending the message, to seize the
opportunity and escape.
He was a smart kid, I believed he understood.
He listened intently, nodding firmly at first. But when I told him not to come
back, he shook his head repeatedly, clutching my sleeve tightly, refusing to let go.
I gently reassured him, my voice low.“If you escape, you can bring help. If
you come back, we’ll all be transported away. Don’t you want us to escape safely?”
< <From Ashes to Hope…
