“From Ashes to Hope) Chapter 29
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Following the somewhat inaccurate guidance of my phone’s GPS, I finally
found a pharmacy after a painful journey.
I quickly scanned the shelves, my eyes searching for Tiger Balm. I finally
found it in a corner.
I grabbed a bottle, rushed to the counter, paid, and sat down on a bench in a
corner of the pharmacy.
I unscrewed the cap and gently applied the balm to my ankle, rubbing it in
with my hands. The pungent smell of the medicine filled the air as the warmth of
the balm spread through my skin.
Thankfully, the pain in my ankle subsided significantly, the sharp pain
replaced by a dull ache. Feeling better, I decided to head back to the guesthouse
to rest.
town.
On my way back, I strolled leisurely, enjoying the tranquility of the ancient
I passed a photo studio.
The studio wasn’t large, but it was decorated uniquely. Several beautiful
photo frames were displayed at the entrance, showcasing customers in various
ethnic costumes, their smiles radiant.
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A staff member in a brightly colored uniform, the colors as vibrant as
blooming flowers, stood at the entrance.
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The moment she saw me, she greeted me warmly, as if we were old friends.
Her face was beaming with a smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She
took my arm and started enthusiastically recommending ethnic costume
photoshoots.
“We have a special offer today, only 99 dollars for three beautiful ethnic
costumes, including makeup and hairstyling,” she said, her voice cheerful.“You’re
so beautiful, it would be a shame not to take some stunning photos while visiting
the ancient town. Look, all our costumes are carefully selected, each with a
unique style and cultural significance. Come inside and have a look, we have a
variety of styles, you’ll definitely find something you like.”
She pointed towards the studio, her eyes filled with anticipation.
I looked down at my ankle, the swelling had subsided considerably after
applying the Tiger Balm.
I thought to myself, this shouldn’t affect the photoshoot, and the offer did
sound tempting.
It would be lovely to have some beautiful photos taken in the ancient town.
With that thought, I followed the staff member into the studio.
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The costumes were colorful, exquisitely embroidered, each one a work of art.
I carefully selected a few outfits I liked and went into the changing room.
The changing room was small but
cozy.
I had just changed into a costume and was about to smooth out the wrinkles.
when I suddenly smelled a strange fragrance.
It was a unique scent, like a blend of various floral fragrances, almost
magical.
The moment I inhaled it, my head started to feel dizzy, my vision blurred,
everything seemed to be veiled in a thin mist.
Then, I lost consciousness, my body slumping to the floor.
I don’t know how long I was out, but I slowly regained consciousness.
My mind felt foggy, like a tangled mess, each thought struggling to move
through thick mud.
I blinked hard, my vision gradually clearing.
I found myself in a dilapidated van. The interior was dimly lit, only a few
rays of light piercing through the gaps in the windows, forming dusty beams of
light in the stale air.
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A foul odor permeated the space, a mix of rotting garbage and body odor,
making me nauseous.
road.
The van was old and rickety, shaking violently as it traveled along the bumpy
I tried to sit up but realized my hands and feet were tightly bound with
rough, sturdy ropes, digging into my skin, causing excruciating pain.
see.
van.
Just then, I felt a furry head nuzzling against my shoulder, rubbing gently.
The sensation startled me. I twisted my neck with effort, turning my head to
In the dim light, I was surprised to find the young beggar also lying in the
His face was grimy, his hair a mess, but his eyes were bright, shining with
alertness in the darkness.
He blinked, his eyes as sharp as a fox’s.
He glanced towards the front of the van, his expression tense and wary, then
looked back at me, frowning slightly, his eyes conveying a message: there were
two people in the front, I shouldn’t make a sound.
I understood and nodded slightly, stopping my struggles and staying as quiet
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as possible, even breathing softly, afraid of attracting attention.
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The van suddenly braked hard, the violent jolt throwing us forward.
Caught off guard, I lurched forward but managed to stop myself.
I quickly closed my eyes, pretending to be unconscious, but my ears were
pricked, listening intently to the sounds outside.
The van door was flung open, a cacophony of noise flooding in.
Heavy footsteps and rough breathing accompanied the sound of bodies
being thrown into the van like sacks of potatoes.
Two girls landed heavily on the floor, the impact echoing through the van.
One of them seemed to have hit her head, a whimper of pain escaping her lips.
Several human traffickers cursed in a language I couldn’t understand, their
words slurred, sounding like a foreign dialect. I strained my ears but couldn’t
decipher a single word.
Their voices were harsh and impatient, as if complaining about something,
carrying a chilling coldness.
Suddenly, one of them kicked me hard without warning, the blow landing
squarely on my stomach, sending a surge of pain through my body.
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I gritted my teeth, enduring the excruciating pain, my body frozen as if
nailed to the floor, silently praying he wouldn’t realize I was awake.
Seeing my lack of response, the man smirked cruelly and slammed the van
door shut. The sound echoed through the silent van, ringing in my ears.
After a while, the van started moving again.
The engine roared to life, the van shuddering slightly.
I cautiously opened my eyes a sliver, carefully observing the situation inside
the van.
< «From Ashes to Hope…
