Chapter 21 - Nowhere

"Where are we going?"

I couldn't help but ask as I glanced around at the all too familiar city outskirts, away from town and the police station at least. It's been an hour since we left David's mansion. I didn't even see his Mustang Shelby trail behind us. "This is not the way to the station"

"Collete! " the female policewoman who sat beside me, smoking swatted my arm in annoyance. A deep red mark slowly forced as I winced. This doesn't equal the pain you'll get in jail.

But there is no jail or any renowned station around here that I know of. And even the police officers didn't in any way seem like the ones I've seen before. They didn't even look like noble citizens because of the way they smoked and drank currently. An old song I'll never even bother knowing seeps out slowly from the car's battered stereo, increasing the choking fits I was having due to all the smoke.

"Do not speak until you're told to do so" the lady who sat at my left and had a half cigarette in between her lips said. Her accent sounded Russian and her breath.... Oh, her breath, knocked out the breath in me.

Plus she reeked of filth.

Correction, they all reeked of filth.

The car's other occupants except these two women I've mentioned that sat on either side of me consisted of an unruly driver, two sweaty, bulky men that despite their shrewd, made - to - be - clean uniform still looked a lot more dangerous and familiar sat at the front seats, right next to the subtle driver. They would occasionally sip their gin and flirt openly with the two women beside me.

Yeesh. They even muttered some sexual innuendos and tried so hard at singing for them that their voices actually cracked.

The women as usual played hard to get.

"How long are we still gonna go Smiff?" the Russian woman who's breath still infiltrated the air and burned my intestines asked sweetly, in a voice that was sonorously high pitched. I could tell from that tone alone that she was trying to woo him over.

The old poe.

"Five minutes" the uninterested driver muttered back gruffly. His eyes were dead ahead, as he said this. "Boss instructed us to bring him to the ranch"

I had now begun to believe that they weren't real policemen and women. And somehow that too and the fact that David's car was still nowhere behind us scared me. What was the cause of his delay? Had Alison somehow talked him out of saving me? Had they instead went on a date? Who was this boss they speak of?

We rounded in into a huge Ranch house with all the familiar cows mooing a bit further away from a field adjacent to the house itself. The hay rooftop sparked up some nostalgia regarding the last time I actually visited uncle Thomas. It has been a long while, maybe four to five years before my parents death.

Speaking of uncle Thomas, he must have sent my monthly allowance which is apparently now stuck in the mailbox, no one but me ever bothered to check if we've gotten any new mails back home. It had always been my unassigned duty to check it every morning.

There's a scrawny old lady milking a bull in an open stall at the field's entrance. She came to us now as the driver parked the car next to an Audi 508 and inquired who we seeked.

"The name goes by Ander Muller. He's the owner of this place" the driver remained brisk, as the other two women dragged me out roughly. The cuffs tightened around my wrists painfully.

"Ander Muller? The street thug?" I asked all in one breath, my eyes widening curiously at the prospect. Oh god.

The lady who looked 56 at close range nodded wistfully. "Yeah that's him. He owns this ranch and a couple of houses around town. He's filthy rich"

Am I deaf? Or have my ears gone rot.

I staggered now, feeling dizzy. I haven't eaten since my escape, except from the Apple that little girl brought. I could have eaten properly this morning if the police hadn't arrived on time.

The police huh? Or a bunch of ruthless messengers.

"And who's this you've brought with you?" the lady looked me over. I suddenly felt porous.

I'm on an oversized sweatshirt and Jean shorts that barely covered half my thighs.

I felt bogus.

"A newbie" the Russian woman smacked my head tenderly and pushed me forward so I fell face flat. Groaning, I managed to get up again, sighing in contempt

"What happened to the last one?" the old lady asked once more, my eyes widened. There's a last one? They all shrugged and asked to leave. Instructing her to keep a close eye on me lest I decide to run away.

Come on rogues, we're in the middle of nowhere. Where could I possibly run off to?

Except if David comes of course. Sincerely I don't know why I've suddenly become dependent on him.

Anyone can save me right? But for now, he's the only one I know of.

"Bear no worries. He's still a lad. Ander will treat him well" She gave them a crooked smile. The messengers hopped into the vehicle and reversed out of sight.

I don't know if I should be scared shit now I'm with this old joe but she does seem kinda trusty. Willing me into the house, I yelped in foolish fright when a yellow Labrador pup came charging towards me.

"Don't you fear, Spike has an aversion to strangers" She picked him off and tickled his sides playfully before letting him go once more. The pup howled and prowled about, obviously too agitated for his own good.

I guess it was kinda cute. Also I loved the fact that he's clean.

Generally, the ranch's exterior was untidy, which according to the woman was because a huge majority of the cows put forth earlier that day. The vet doctor just left after administering to them and cleaning the new born calves. She hadn't had time, due to her schedule milking the cows and the other occupants of the house we're too busy to help out.