Chapter 13

I saw a few holes at the top of the bag, probably to prevent me from suffocation, but most of it made me feel it was dark and dizzy being inside the bag.  A hundred questions flooded my mind, which was thinking whether I would make it back alive, or who it was that wanted my life. 

But being in hell before changed my mindset about everything. During my occupational therapy sessions, I used them as an opportunity to rebuild myself. Starting from my strength and my stamina. I worked out until I couldn’t any more. So, if I would fight to the death, if that was what it took for me to live. 

Instead of screaming in panic, I calmed my senses and took my time to figure out an escape plan. The atmosphere outside the bag felt chilly, but I bore with it. A chance to be taken while you were in your bra and panties was rare, I had to make the best out of it. The men dumped me, still in the bag, among some hard items in the back of a lorry. The lorry moved for some time before halting abruptly on a quiet street. It was a short journey, so I believed I was not far from the shopping centre. I heard their voices conversing in Thai, using words that were beyond my shallow knowledge of the language. 

I heard places being mentioned, which, to me, were just stops on the extended subway map of Bangkok, so I didn’t have any idea what to do about them. I wasn’t even sure where their next destination was.

Finally, they stopped talking. Hearing footsteps follow, I held my breath, wondering what was about to happen. 

“Hand her to me.”

I didn’t recognise this voice. It sounded a bit older, but what triggered my alertness was how he wasn’t speaking in Thai. However, the men obeyed him, and I heard the jingling of keys as one of the men said, “She’s all yours.”

There was a rustle of papers, and I assumed the men received payment for their efforts. I heard them walk away. The bunch of keys clinked again as the key turned in the ignition, and the engine booted up again as the lorry drove away.

Since he hadn’t killed me straight away, this could mean the beginning of something more insidious. I glanced through my memories, considering who would want me dead.

I didn’t have any enemies at work, and neither did any customer take an interest in me. The fact I was taller than many locals already put them off. Even my employer thought I was engaged to Jacques from the ring on my finger. Everyone in Thailand who knew me had ever seen Jacques picking me up from work.

The only people whose paths I crossed before had been Lee Jung and Lenard Lee. Just over some petty matter, and the company they coveted. I never regretted anything in my life as much as saving Sherry that day.

The thought struck fear in me. It had been a year since I last heard from Lenard Lee. Could he be the mastermind behind my capture this time?

Just thinking about that made me tremble. I hoped my intuition was wrong, and the kidnappers had just targeted me randomly.

I put all my thoughts together. In such a short time of being in Bangkok, I didn’t know my way around all the darkest spots in the city. If I were to escape, where could I go? I had to think carefully before making my next move. 

I also knew that by the time of the party, if Jacques or Sherry couldn’t find me, they would immediately make a police report, but the question was, would the police be able to find me? 

The journey didn’t take long. I heard the driver of the vehicle turn off the engine, and some exchange of voices all around, before feeling the bag I was inside being hoisted down the lorry.

“She’s in the bag,” the driver said. 

“You may go. You’ve done a good job. The Master will be pleased,” another voice responded. I didn’t recognise the second voice as well.

The Master? Goosebumps rose on my skin. Was the Master they were referring to Lenard or another master? Just the word Master would be enough to trigger me. I had to get out of there! From the looks of it, the Master sounded like a dangerous term in the mafia world.

But right now, I was already feeling somewhat dizzy from the lorry ride, and my back hurt from being placed alongside the cargo. I didn’t think I would be able to survive any longer in that bag. 

I felt them slice open the top of the bag, narrowly missing my hair by a few strands. When I saw light finally, I thought it was my call to escape, and crawled out of the bag with my free legs.

Only to realise I was in another prison. Another den.

The feeling of being in that den, although it was diverse from Lenard Lee’s, terrified me to my core. The walls were painted black and the men sported black shirts, like a uniform, but what frightened me further were their tattoos. They were written in Thai language, with no way for me to make out what they meant.

A tall man was looking straight at me. From my first impression, I couldn’t tell if he was Thai or just Asian.

Was he the Master?  

He seemed amused, as he peered down at me. Then, he spoke.

“Go on, crawl under my legs! Like a dog!”

He was speaking in English, but he had a strong Thai accent.  

I felt someone pull me up from behind and grasp my shoulders firmly. At the tall man’s call, more men in black shirts entered the den. I was surrounded by over forty men and thus, chances for me to escape would be slim. I planned my next steps carefully.

Another male voice reprimanded him. From where I was, I couldn’t see that person, but he sounded familiar. I must have known him from somewhere.

“Tiwat, that’s enough. Stop messing with the ‘stock’.”

Stock? What was going on? I tried to keep calm.

“Take her to Chanthara.”

“Yes, Sir Unnamed.”

Sir Unnamed? A person whose identity was a secret?

They began shoving me down the dark pathway, passing all the rooms, until they stopped outside one room. My hands were still tightly bound behind my back and I had no means of escaping. They had also taped my mouth shut.

The door opened and they roughly pushed me inside. I fell to the floor, feeling the ache in my legs. The room was brightly lit and I saw some furniture in the room, in an orderly fashion. This person called Chanthara must be a woman, I thought. If she was the only woman, among many men, would she take my side?

I heard a faint clink of jewellery from the room, and graceful footsteps that came close to me. A warm feminine hand lifted up my chin and scrutinised me closely. I realised she was actually very beautiful, with large eyes and a seductive figure. She was tall for a Thai woman, and had a petite waist.

“So, you are the tribute they were talking about?”

It surprised me that she was fluent in English. I gave her a faint nod. She took out a penknife and cut my bonds, releasing my hands. Then she looked over my body and sighed.

“My name is Chanthara. What is your name?”

I had no energy to put on my act right now, so I told her my name. I hoped that I could make an ally out of her, even if I had to risk it.

“Piper Taylor.”

“You’re the foreign woman the Master wants.”

I froze. A sea of silence ensued. I didn’t know what to say, but then she broke the silence.

“You don’t have a choice in this, Piper. We all don’t. But now, you belong to Darin Sintawichai. As I do. And he wants to use you to satisfy the Master.”

She went on to explain how a foreign triad had come to Thailand and threatened them, i.e. Darin's gang’s existence. The only way that they believed could save themselves and bring forth a truce was by bringing the triad a woman.

“But why me?” I asked, without thinking.

“Because of what happened a year ago,” she answered. “Darin has eyes and ears all over Bangkok. Darin's men saw them take you, and followed secretly to that solitary spot in the wild. While he took pleasure in you, his men were there, watching.”

I felt a lump in my throat, and I couldn’t say a word.

“But right now, you need to serve the Master, or all our lives will be at stake.”

I fathomed it all. It wasn’t a random kidnapping. They had planned this by watching me and my actions. They knew who I was.

“Piper, you don’t have a choice. Darin is ruthless. His men have been monitoring you for almost a year now, and know all those places your frequent. His spies are everywhere."

"You have your loved ones, the man and woman staying with you. Am I right? And if you refuse this, or try to run away, I cannot guarantee their safety.”

Fear cascaded through my nerves. They were blackmailing me with Jacques and Sherry’s lives. 

“Think of that kid. He’ll be too young to lose his mother. And that man. Who is he to you? We know everything about you and them. Even if you escape, what will become of them?”

I knew I couldn’t allow this to happen. And so I answered, in a monotonous tone, “What do you want me to do?”