Chapter 4 Exchange of Hands

~Cecile's POV~

I could feel myself being carried as I came to. I was on the shoulder of someone who was walking rapidly. I felt my eyelashes flutter at the gust of wind that passed by us. I let out a groan as I raised my head up and started throwing my fists into the back of the person that was carrying me. The blindfold that was placed over my eyes had slipped a little but even with that, I couldn't see anything.

"Let me go. Let me down"Whoever it was that was carrying me didn't as much as flinch despite my hits. Instead, their pace increased like they were in a hurry for me to not end up waking the rest of the neighborhood. The whole place was pitch dark so I couldn't see where we were headed to or where we were in the first place. I didn't know how the person carrying me could even see beyond himself to practically be running down the road.

"Shut her up already"

I heard another voice from beside us speak. I didn't even realize that we were not alone. I kept on screaming as the person carrying me slowed to a stop. I heard the sounds of a metal door being opened, just before I was thrown harshly on a rough surface that made my ribs hurt.

"Careful with her. Remember what Mr. X said. She's priceless cargo"

I forced a breath through my lungs in my already starting to ache body. Before I could pull myself into a sitting position, I was forced into one. My hands were pulled to my back and a rope was tied tightly around them. I let out a scream at how tight it was. It was so tight that I could almost feel my bones popping out of their sockets.

"Can't we just shut that bitch up?"

Another voice came from somewhere up ahead. I was so scared because I didn't know where I was, who I was with and what they wanted from me. All I knew was that my father owed a debt to some Mr. X and I was being made to pay it.

"You should focus on your own business, C"What was it with them and initials? Before I could think on that for long, my legs were pulled up to my hands that were already behind me and tied as well. With how tightly they were tied, I doubted that there was going to be any kind of blood circulation in those areas.

"Please, let me go"

I begged with tears running down my cheeks unchecked like some broken tap. If I knew that a night out in town that I snuck off to experience was going to leave me at the mercy of a man who was hell bent on collecting all that my father owed him through me in some way that I still couldn't figure out, I would never have stepped my foot outside the estate. I would have stayed put there for as long as I needed to as long as I remained safe.

"Shut up!"

Like I didn't hear the command already, a dirty cloth was pushed into my mouth to stop me from speaking any more words. I knew it was dirty because of the smell that wafted up my nostrils immediately it was introduced in the vicinity. I struggled against the bindings that held my limbs and my mouth captive but it was of no use because they were so tightly bound that moving in any direction only ended up hurting me in the process.

"Come on, let's go"

There was a loud slam that made me jump out of my skin in shock just before I heard some other doors open and the start of the vehicle as the ignition was engaged. Whoever was driving was a maniac because he stepped on the accelerator so sharply and unexpectedly that I slid down the place that I was kept and hit my head on what I was guessing was the door of the boot.

"Careful there, B"

One of the men shouted at whoever was driving. Either the driver didn't hear him or he didn't care what he was saying because he kept on driving just as recklessly. My head and the rest of my body kept on hitting the different parts of the car leaving throbbing pains in its wake.

"Is she still conscious?"

I felt eyes on me before I heard a grunt that I assumed was supposed to be an affirmative answer. Before long, the car that I was suspecting was a van was pulled to a stop. I held my breath as I heard the doors open and shut. I heard footsteps sounding on something like gravel just before the door to where I was staying which I felt was the boot of a van, was opened.

"Bring her out"

Hands worked nimbly at the bindings that held me back. My hands and legs were realized of their restraints and I let out a huge sigh. I raised my hands to my eyes to take off the blindfold but they were slapped away. Fingers went into my hair and I was dragged out. My screams were muffled by the cloth in my mouth.

"Hello there, Princess"

My ears perked up at the familiar voice. It was that Mr. X or whatever he called himself. My hands were pulled back behind me as I was forced to stand on my feet that were trembling. My hands were secured with another rope and the blindfold readjusted.

"I hope the ride wasn't too rough for you. I apologize for my boys if they hurt you in any way"

The one that had his hand in my hair took it out and I heard him walk away. I stood there, unaware of anything that was going on around me with my hands crying out for a release but getting none.

"Walk, bitch"

Someone shoved me from behind and I started walking in the direction that I was shoved towards. I couldn't see a thing and almost fell numerous times but just before I could face plant, I was helped back up and then shoved forward again.

"I apologize for the stress I'm putting you through but we have to move quickly"

The way he was apologizing was irritating because we both knew that he didn't feel remorseful for holding me against my will just because of some stupid debt my father owed him. I didn't say anything in response and we kept walking. Suddenly, I started hearing whirring of blades and winds rising up and falling.

"Say goodbye to everything you've ever known, Princess"

That was what I heard before I was carried in the arms of someone and forced into a seat. I could barely hear myself think because of the noise of the wind that I was hearing. I was strapped into the seat and some kind of headset was placed over my ears. I tried to struggle against the person that was holding me but to no avail.

"Relax, Princess. We have a long flight ahead of us"

Flight? We were flying? Did that mean that we were leaving Russia? Or were we just leaving Moscow to another city? The questions I wanted to ask were burning a hole in my chest but there was no way I could ask them out loud because of the cloth that was in my mouth preventing me from producing words.