The train lurched on past two more stops that looked similar to the one I'd gotten on. I wasn't sure what the city would look like, but neither of these stops looked anything like the city that had been described to me. There were no large buildings, and there was still the occasion patch of woods.
The hand clamped down on my shoulder tighter as we pulled into the next station. "Follow me, or your secret is revealed on this train."
I froze. I'd known the guy wasn't helping me for my own good, but his words sent a chill through me.
When the door opened, he yanked me out. I had no choice but to follow. To yell would only attract more attention and put me in even more danger. I could handle one man. I just had to stay alert.
He tugged me away from the train as it started to leave the station.
I didn't fight. I would be better off if I could get rid of him in private. Then I'd at least have a shot of making it to Ethan undetected.
"Stay quiet," the man hissed.
I was being completely quiet, so I wasn't quite sure what he meant. I didn't respond as he moved further away from the station.
I watched everything as he pulled me down the street. I studied street signs, cracks in the sidewalk, anything I could use later to retrace my steps.
His grip tightened on me as he pulled me into an alleyway.
He pushed off my hood. "Blonde?" He grinned, running his hands through my hair. My father was right. I should have cut it. My hair was only getting me in more trouble.
I said nothing. Instead I bided my time.
"Are you listening, girl?"
I nodded.
"I am taking you back to my apartment. You will say nothing and make eye contact with no one on the way. If you disobey, you will be punished."
"I understand," I said in barely a whisper.
He smiled. "Very good." He looked into my eyes. "I don't know how you came to be on that train, but I don't care. You are mine now. Do you understand?"
I nodded, understanding playing along would be to my advantage.
"Are you sure you do?" He leaned in, his lips inches from mine. "Will you prove it?"
I nodded, and he grinned. I noticed a paper in his pocket, and recognized it as a map. I had no idea if I'd be able to make any sense out of it, but I had to have it.
He reached out to touch me, but I didn't give him a chance. Instead I kicked him hard between the legs with my boot, the way my father had taught me. The man fell to the floor. He grabbed for my ankle, but I shook him off after pulling the map from his pocket. He crawled to his knees, so I ran. Remembering at the last minute to replace my hood before disappearing into a crowd.
I opened the map while I walked, hoping that if I stayed in the rhythm of the crowd, no one would notice me, and I wouldn't walk into anything. The map wasn't particularly detailed, but it listed the major clubs. I found Sray; it wasn't too far away. I needed to pass a large warehouse, a building with a spire on top, and then take a right. I folded the map and put it in my pocket.
I looked up at the tall buildings, trying to find one that looked like a warehouse. They all looked the same. Then like a beacon I saw the spire. I tried to turn right, but the crowd was too dense.
"Watch it!" A man yelled when I knocked into him.
I didn't reply, afraid my voice would give me away. Instead I ducked down and slipped away to the right.
The street was empty. The further down the street I went, the quieter it got. The crowd had been dangerous in its own way, but at least I felt hidden. Now I was out in the open. I wrapped my arms around myself as I searched each building for a sign that it was the Sray club. Finally, I saw it. A small bronze plague on a large metal door.
I took a deep breath as my father's old saying swept through my head: Out of the frying pan, and into the fire.
Six
After everything I'd been through, knocking on a door shouldn't have been so hard. It took me three tries. The first two attempts I dropped my hand before my knuckle could make contact. The third time I forced myself to do it. I hit my knuckle against the hard blue door of the Sray Club.
Nothing happened at first, and I contemplated knocking again. Before I could try, the door flew open.
"What do you want?" A deep voice bellowed.
I startled, not quite prepared to come face to face with the largest man I'd ever seen. He was at least 6'5 and solid muscle. Wearing a suit, he didn't look like any man I'd ever seen before.