going to torture or rape her again, she wasn’t entirely sure why they still held her prisoner. Had they been trying to obtain a ransom for her release? Did they want some sort of prisoner trade?
They hadn’t tried to get much information from her. Apparently being a woman had worked to her advantage in that sense. They didn’t think she knew anything of importance. She wasn’t permanently stationed in Bagram anyway. While they probably could’ve forced some information out of her, they hadn’t tried.
She’d been a prisoner far too long though, and with each day that passed, she grew more unsettled. They fed her, and her body remained in shape thanks to the forced marches through the mountains. She hadn’t been eating enough though, and her uniform was looser than it had been a month ago.
Would they eventually deem her of no use and just kill her?
Looking around in disdain at the mountains, she knew it would be nearly impossible for the military to find her. She’d completely lost track of how far they’d come from Bagram Airfield, but that hardly mattered. The mountainous terrain around the cave looked similar to nearly every other place they’d taken her. How would the U.S. military ever be able to pinpoint her location?
Unless someone tipped them off, revealing where she was held, they weren’t likely to just stumble upon her. And were they even looking? Or had she been presumed dead in the explosion?
There were mountains after mountains here, with green valleys far down below and snow-capped peaks in the distance. It was eerily beautiful for such a war-torn country. And while the mountains looked stunning from a distance, from the secure walls of Bagram, it was another thing entirely to be held captive while moving through them. To sleep in caves and march through the rough terrain.
She didn’t know where she was. She couldn’t provide any clues. Even if they did allow her to speak freely on the video, what was she supposed to say? She didn’t know the names of the men. She didn’t know where she was being held. Although she didn’t know the exact purpose of the video, she could assume it would be broadcast far and wide. Not much had happened after the first video they’d taken though, aside from them moving her yet again to a new location.
Two other men came hurrying up, yelling at one another in Farsi. Kim instantly cringed as she saw them. Both were carrying weapons and looking at her with hate in their eyes. One of the men pointed his finger at her, spitting on the ground in disgust. “You will tell your Americans to pay your ransom! We have given them plenty of time. I will not wait any longer!”
The second man started rapidly talking to him, arguing, and she froze. The first guy appeared agitated, tightly gripping his gun. Would he shoot her right now? Film her being executed? Her mind whirled. If they’d demanded a ransom, that meant the U.S. knew there was a chance she was still alive. That she hadn’t died in the explosion at Bagram Airfield.
“Stand there!” Crooked Nose ordered, pointing toward the rocky area next to the cave. “Move!”
She walked over uneasily, her gaze scanning the area. If she ran, they’d probably kill her right now. Besides, it’s not like she could get far. They’d search the nearby caves—spread out and track her down. Beat her again.
Her stomach churned as she turned to face him. The other two continued arguing, the outspoken man glaring at her. “You will speak on the video. Tell them how well we’ve treated you. Tell the world you are an American soldier! If they do not pay, you will be harmed!”
Swallowing nervously, she looked at the cell phone Crooked Nose held up. The other two men quieted, and the silence was eerie. Normally, she’d hear voices of men around the area they’d made camp in. She’d only seen a few men eating breakfast. She hadn’t heard or seen the blonde woman today. Had they moved her somewhere else? Killed her?
“You will start on my order,” Crooked Nose said, drawing her gaze toward him. He held up his cell phone as the other men watched, growing agitated. One of them lifted his weapon, aiming it at her. She knew it was for show. They wanted to intimidate and scare her. They wanted a reaction.
Her pulse pounded as she stared them down.
Normally she worked in an office in the confines of the