The van screeched to a halt in the dimly lit warehouse on the outskirts of the city, the air thick with the scent of rust and oil. Emily, the 22-year-old college student with long auburn hair and a lithe body honed from yoga classes, had been snatched right off the street while walking home from her part-time job. Her wrists were bound with zip ties, and a gag muffled her protests as the two men—Jake and Marcus—hauled her inside. Jake was tall and broad-shouldered, his face scarred from old fights, while Marcus was shorter but stocky, with a perpetual sneer that revealed yellowed teeth.

They shoved her onto a stained mattress in the corner of the room, the concrete floor cold against her bare legs. Her skirt had ridden up during the struggle, exposing the lace edges of her panties. 'Please,' she whimpered as they removed the gag, her green eyes wide with fear. 'My parents will pay whatever you want. Just don't hurt me.'