The escape

**Ivery Clark POV **

"Are you serious ? Will I really go back to my hometown !?" I asked as my voice trembled with a mixture of disbelief, fear, and overwhelming relief.

My heart began to race high with hope, like for a second — that maybe I can get out. Maybe there’s still a way for me to find my way back to my usual life.

"Yes, child. It really pained my heart when I heard your story from Aurelia. How can humans be so cruel ? But it is a miracle that you are unharmed, reached here unscathed even if you tangled with La Eme !" Aurelia's husband looked at me with a shocked expression.

"La Eme ?"

"Sì, They're the most dangerous Mafia organisation in Mexico. It’s a shadow government, a cartel of violence that rules behind the walls of prisons and spills over into the streets. These aren’t low - level criminals — they’re ruthless tacticians, orchestrating drug deals, assassinations, and extortion schemes with chilling efficiency."

Shivers ran down my spine when my brain processed what he said. And all I could think of was him. Alrigo Valerie King.

Alrigo Valerie King was a ruthless man who did many things that nobody knew of or even if they knew, they never dared to publish it.

The rules he made were spoken in blood and whispered among the unlucky few who had survived an encounter : respect the hierarchy, obey without question, and never, ever, speak his name.

Fear was the chain he used to bind the city — unseen, unbreakable, always tightening.

I can't believe I escaped from someone like him.

"If we have to make this plan succeed, we need to be quiet as much as possible since La Eme are involved, dear."

"But how do we escape ?"

"My friend is a crew member of a ship which sends goods to Los Angeles. I have told him everything, all you need to do is board that ship and hide where he tells you to until the ship reaches its destination. When you reach Los Angeles, you are free to go." His words rang in my ears.

My heart was beating fast now as I heard him. Escaping the country, leaving behind the nightmare of human trafficking, feels like stepping into a world that almost doesn't seem real.

The first breath of air outside of that cage — whether it was a room, a street, or a constant sense of being trapped — is so sharp and fresh, it almost feels like it burns.

For so long, the idea of freedom seemed like a distant dream, something unreachable, but now it’s here, and the weight of survival is finally lifting off, piece by piece.

"Thank you, thank you so much ! I can't express how grateful I'm to you !" I cried out holding their hand.

"Don't mention it dear. Everyone deserves to have the right to live their life by their choices, we are just doing our part." Aunt Aurelia patted my back.

"Thank you ! Thank you !" I held her hand, my chest swelling with a quiet, almost imperceptible joy.

"Come on now, why are you shedding tears, don't ruin your mood and enjoy the festival as if it's your last." Aunt Aurelia chirped and pushed me towards her niece.

"Carlos, take her and show her and make her forget everything."

"Veleaa! Come, bella dama ! Let's enjoy." Carlos took my hand and dragged me along, chuckling.

As we ran, a soft breeze scented with salt and tropical blooms hit my face. I looked around in amusement.

Along the beach, lanterns swayed from palm trees, casting soft orbs of light over the gathering crowd.

Children ran through the crowds, their faces painted like vibrant calaveras, playing under the glow of string lights that swung gently overhead.

In the heart of it all, a bonfire blazed, its flames licking toward the sky like a wild thing, dancing in time with the music.

The dancers moved barefoot on the sand, their skirts twirling in wide arcs, their feet kicking up little puffs of dust as they spun. The men followed suit, their steps sharp and deliberate, each movement in perfect sync with the music.

"Come dance, bella dama." He encouraged me but I shook my head, feeling shy. But he pulled me in.

Carlos twirled me around and a laugh escaped from the deep of my heart. I felt happy, I felt alive for the first time.

As the night deepened, fireworks cracked open the sky, sending bursts of red, green, and gold raining down, their reflection shimmering on the ocean’s surface.

I looked up in awe. It felt good to be here. It was late night, tables laden with food lined the beach — platters of fresh fish grilled with lime and chili, bowls of guacamole piled high, tamales wrapped in corn husks, and churros dusted with cinnamon.

The air was thick with the scent of sizzling meats and sweet caramel, pulling people in from the dance floor to feast and mingle.Everybody sang, danced, ate delicious food and drank their hearts off.

"Aunt Aurelia, watch your step otherwise you might fall." I held her by the shoulders as we walked inside her bedroom, because she seemed pretty drunk.

"Haha, yes yes !" She chuckled as she laid on the bed.

"Dear, why don't you go sleep too, you must be tired too. Sleep early since tomorrow we have long way ahead." Aurelia's husband Antony said with a smile.

"Okay, please take care." I nodded, as I did kind of feel tired and tipsy since I drank a little too.

I walked past the hallway towards the room that Aunt Aurelia gave me. I couldn't see clearly as I walked because there was no source of light.

I stumbled onto things due to darkness, as I tried to reach the room.

But then I knocked myself out and I stumbled, arms flailing, and crashed into a door that creaked open ominously.

Fuck, my ribs. I held my chest huffing for air. But then my breath caught in my throat as I peered into the darkness beyond.

A draft of cold air hit me and I felt like I rolled into something wet. The pungent stench hit me like a physical blow, making me gag.

*What is this smell !?*

I got up groaning and switched on the light nearby.

The air was thick with a foul, metallic odor. I looked down and saw the floor coated in dark, sticky blood. It seeped into the cracks of the old concrete, and the sight made my stomach churn.

My body flinched violently and I wanted to scream but nothing came out of my throat, my screams were silent like that of a horror film.

Oh. My. God.

My heart thrashes hard against my chest and I took a shaky breath and forced myself to look around. The basement was a scene of unimaginable terror.

Dark, rust coloured stains smeared the walls, whispering a gruesome story of death and violence.

The light from a narrow window cast weak, flickering shadows, barely illuminating the true extent of the horror.

My hands shook uncontrollably as I spotted metal shelves in the far corner. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

The metal shelves held jars filled with preserved organs — hearts, kidneys, lungs — floating in a yellowish liquid. Each jar was labelled, as if this were a macabre inventory of human parts.

*Holy shit !*

The enormity of it all made my head spin. My knees felt weak, and I gripped a rusty pipe to keep myself upright. This couldn’t be real. No it can't be real !!

The realization hit me like a sledgehammer. This was a slaughterhouse, but for people. A place where humans were killed and their bodies harvested for profit.

My mind refused to fully accept what my eyes were seeing. But the evidence was undeniable.

What's all this!? Was...was the Aurore family something else than I thought of ?

*No, no this can't be!*

Dread punched my guts and my whole body was trembling. My knees gave out and I slipped. I let out a scream and my hand flew to my mouth clamping it.

A limb was thrown across the floor, which looked twisted and hacked apart.

Some bodies were disturbingly fresh, their flesh slick and pale, while others were bloated, the smell of decay almost overwhelming.

I felt a wave of nausea rise in my throat as I realized that these were not just bodies — they were butchered humans, their lives violently ended without a single ounce of mercy.

"Ah...like what you see?" I flinched violently when a male voice boomed near my ears.

*W..When did he come here !? *

"C..Carlos ?" My voice trembled in horror and he leaned forward.

"You shouldn't have come here, bella dama. Too bad, I guess I have no choice." He smirked cruelly and hit my head so hard that I lost consciousness.