Page 125 of Equilibrium
“Yeah, holy fuck indeed. He thought that if you knew about it, you could somehow jeopardize their whole operation, what with you being rogue and all that.”
“But I didn’t know. I swear to you.”
“I know, birdy. I trust you.”
Our families dealt with some serious shit—drugs, guns, strip clubs—but a sex trafficking ring was something I never expected to see.
“There’s more.”
“I’m almost expecting you to tell me that they have found a way to revive dinosaurs or something.”
“Or something.” He chuckled before his face became serious again. “I wish it were dinosaurs, but I need you to know about this because I think they are planning to kill you. This sex trafficking ring is active all around the globe. They have people in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, South and North America, they’re everywhere, and…” he paused. “There are children involved.”
His expression was haunted. “I saw pictures, I saw their names. Most of them didn’t survive for longer than a few years, but one of them did.”
“Then that person has to go to the police. They need to uncover this shit.”
“Phee—”
“No. I’ve done some terrible things. I killed children, K. I tortured people for my father, but at least it was fast. This shit. This is awful.”
“Ophelia. Listen—”
“Can we find him or her? Would they cooperate?”
“Ophelia, goddammit!” He slammed the bottle on the ground, water splashing everywhere. “That person is Storm.”
“What?”
No. My father... He... Storm was a victim of sex trafficking as a kid? No. Oh my God.
I dropped the sandwich to the ground and pressed a hand against my mouth, suppressing the reflux and trying to hold in what I already swallowed.
“Storm was sold by his parents to your father when he was only four years old.” Jesus. “He actually lived with your father for some time, and a few years before you were born, he was sent to what they like to call The Mansion.”
“I am going to be sick.”
“I found out something else as well.”
“What else could there be?”
“I believe they sold Maya to the sex trafficking ring.”
“Oh. My. God.”
“I am sorry, Phee.” He pulled me into his lap. “I really am, especially because if I wasn’t such a fuckup, I would’ve been able to help her years ago.”
“Do you know where she is?” I asked him, my whole body going numb from the news he kept spewing at me.
“I think I do.”
“Tell me.” I looked at him. “You need to tell me. I have to get her out.”
“No, Ophelia. Not this time.”
“What do you mean, not this time? She’s my sister, dammit. I have to know.”
“No, because it would be a suicide mission for you.”
