I hear talking. It’s almost muffled. I think it’s coming from outside the door of this room. I dare to open my eyes. The room is still dark but I can tell no one is in here. Looking over to the door I can see light peeking in from underneath it. 

“Look, they’re not going to want her starved and disgusting. You know they won’t like that.”

“Yes, I understand that, but we are already short on supplies and who knows when they’ll be back. I am not wasting food and water on her!” They’re trying to keep their voices down but the whisper shouting is still audible through the door. 

“Just let me watch her okay? I’ll give up some of my rations.” 

“Dude whose side are you on? You think she deserves anything?” I recognize his voice as the first one who talked to me. The one who used me. 

“Hey, I’m looking out for us,” I recognized this voice as the other man who was watching me. The one who tried to tell me he wasn’t going to hurt me. “You know damn well they’ll be pissed if we don’t give them what they want, and I know what they don’t want is a skeleton who hasn’t bathed in weeks! If we don’t do this right, then there is no way we are getting any supplies, and we’ll be out of the job!”

“Oh I get it, you want her all to yourself dontcha?” I hear the smirk in his tone and I feel my face contort.

“Wha.. you’re not listening to me!” he stutters in shock. “Why would I want that? I’m disgusted that anyone wants that. She’s a snake in human skin. How could anyone want that?” He sounded truly revolted by the suggestion of me. Well, at least we feel the same way about each other. I almost find humor in the thought. 

“Whatever man. Fine, let's give her this, and then you can take the next watch.” The other one says while I hear the door knob start to turn. I take one last deep breath as I prepare myself for whatever is about to happen. 

As they enter, I let my eyes barely open so I can see briefly as the room floods with soft light. The room is sparse. Cream empty walls. Bigger than I thought. Just this bed and a couple mismatched chairs populate the room. The two of them enter and I catch a glimpse of them. The first one to enter in the gross one. He’s young, maybe 25, but wide in the shoulders and muscular. His hair is dark, thick and pushed back. In his hands he holds a plastic water bottle filled with what I hope is water. The other man is older, maybe a couple years older than me. In the short glimpse I get of him his face looks softer and tired. His hair is also dark and coarse, but is peppered with streaks of white. His shoulders are broad with large forearms and hands that cross over his chest after he shuts the door and we are forced back into darkness. I feel unsettled as I can no longer see them in the dimness of the room. What are they going to do?

“Hello missy.” The younger one says as if he were greeting a friend. “I bet you’re thirsty huh?” I don’t answer. “Hmm?” I feel him press up against the bed and I turn my head in the opposite direction of his voice. I don’t know where the other man is. 

“Fine be that way.” The younger one huffs. “You bitches have probably forgotten how to speak. When you do, it’s just as vile and savage as they say.” I wonder what-

 “Jett please!” The older man whispers aggressively. “Just give it to her so we can go meet with the others!” I can tell he’s at the foot of the bed. 

“Fine. Don’t you have any sense of humor, my old man?” 

What is Jett going to give me? Right as the thought cross’s my mind, I feel the younger man reach across the bed and with his rough hand, he yanks my face to face him. I squeeze my eyes tighter instinctively. 

“Remember what I told you? Just cooperate and we won’t hurt you. We won’t.” He laughs. “I can’t speak for them, but you know how it goes. A job’s a job.

I know how it goes. Is he serious right now? He’s so young to be this way…

Jett puts the bottle up to my mouth still firmly holding my head in place. I do not trust whatever they have in this bottle, I keep my mouth sealed.

“You thirsty or what? You better drink up copperhead, or else.” He sounds frustrated, but a little fatigued seeps into his voice. Or else what? Thinking quickly, after hearing all they’ve said I don’t think this’ll kill me. They obviously need me alive, and from what the other one was saying, they need me in at least decent health. It takes me mere seconds to evaluate the risks and I decide my thirst and exhaustion is too great to find out what “or else” means. I let my mouth relax and open just enough. He tilts the cup too quickly though and the cool liquid goes everywhere. I only get a few mouthfuls before I start to cough and sputter. It just tastes like water… I feel it dripping down my chin and soaking my shirt. I feel brief relief even with the sting of choking on it. I was so thirsty. I still am thirsty as he pulls the bottle and starts to twist the cap on. 

“That should be good enough.” Jett says to the other man. “Let’s get going then.” I feel Jett pull away. The other man doesn’t move. I can almost feel his eyes burning into me. “Aye, Bugsy, let's move.” What kind of name is Bugsy? 

I can hear Jett at the door as he turns the knob. Light floods the room and I get another glance at Donny through barely slits. His back is towards Jett and his face is silhouetted so I can’t make out his face. He’s gripping the wooden frame on the bed. I close my eyes. I fear what he is thinking. 

“I’ll catch up with you. I’m gonna make sure it works, you are terrible when it comes to the dosage.” Make sure what works?

“Whatever man.” Jett says and I hear the door shut. The room is dark again. Bugsy doesn’t speak or move for what feels like eternity. My nerves spike as I anticipate whatever is about to happen. They just drugged me certainly, but what kind of drug? Will I completely lose consciousness or will I still be aware? What is going to happen when it takes effect? Where are they going? My mind races, but Bugsy is still in the room watching me so I remain as stoic as I can. 

“Don’t worry it’ll just knock you out for a while, so we don’t have to worry while we’re out.” Bugsy says in a low voice. “It won’t be for long.” His voice cracks as I feel my head bob to the side. Wow this stuff works quickly. My thoughts start to blur, and I try to fight it as long as I can. While my head keeps bobbing, I hear Bugsy’s soft voice still saying something I can barely make out at this point. “..I’m sorry things are…I can’t watch as…So many people…” I am rapidly losing my consciousness and as I finally succumb to the dark bliss of my dreams, I hear Bugsy say, “I will protect you…”