The Last Thing

Sabriya nearly panicked. She could release these boys from their bondage, but the sounds elsewhere told her it would be futile and stop her from what she wanted most. The yelling and the clomping of heavy boots on the deck above were closing in, and the only way out was the passageway through which she had entered. Was she foolish, or did she have a chance? And where was Jia Kun, the young girl—kidnapped, bound, and abused—which she had come to rescue?

Her reflexes took over. Quickly she backed out of the cabin and looked toward the bow. Yes, there was another doorway. Pushing off with her left foot on Phillip’s collapsed body, she put a shoulder into the forward bulkhead door. It opened with a BANG, slamming against a wall. And there, on the forward V-berth, were two 12-year-old girls. Like the others, they were lying side-by-side, bound and gagged. But unlike the others, one was Jia Kun. The other girl, about Jia’s age, was dressed in richer but bedraggled clothes. Was this Gely Suy? 

Launching herself onto the V-berth, Sabriya threw her arms around Jia Kun and cried for joy…and in fear, for at the same moment, three men had entered the cabin behind her. Sapptoso was in the lead. He stepped over Phillip, still crumpled on the floor, and yanked Sabriya off the V-berth with such force that her body flew aft through the air and her head hit the aft bulkhead with force. 

It was the last thing she remembered.