Doreen couldn’t be sure if the tall stranger dancing enthusiastically in front of her was handsome, honestly, she couldn’t tell what he looked like at all. Flashing lights mounted onto globes on a low ceiling spun dizzyingly, hardly putting out any light at all, so that the cavernous room was as dark as a cave.

Hundreds of bodies gyrated to pulsating music so loud it was causing the ground to vibrate, packed so tightly it was as if they were moving together as they danced.

The night club was sweltering, filled with a thick humidity born of sweat that was heavily tinged with all sorts of scents so that you couldn’t really breathe, but after a few drinks, all discomfort was seemingly forgotten.

Doreen didn’t like the chaotic energy very much, but tonight, she was throwing caution to the wind.

She’d done something completely out of character and went out on her own after her friends decided they were too tired after a long week. Doreen was not spontaneous, she liked to plan. Nor could she be described as fun, she was much too uptight for the word.

So it had surprised her too when she found herself heading out, promising herself to be back before midnight. But then she’d bumped into an old college friend and a few drinks too many later, here she was, in a club she’d never been to, her friend long since disappeared and this faceless lothario lobbing his limbs dangerously at her.

“…something to drink?” the stranger was yelling in her face, and Doreen stepped back abruptly as she smelt the odour of beer and cigarettes on his breath.

“No,” she said as loudly as she could, shaking her head to emphasise her words. The motion of it was disorienting and Doreen was overcome with a sudden urge to vomit.

As her stomach heaved, she turned to run, but the tall man grasped both her arms and pulled her to him. She tried to struggle, but her arms were jelly and her head was swimming. She tried to scream but the music drowned out her voice and just as Doreen begun to truly panic, she felt a distinct pin prick on her arm, a tiny sting just below her elbow and before she could actualise her thoughts, she was drifting away to the throbbing, rhythmic bass of the music.

A flood of cold, bitter liquid washed over Doreen and she sat up like she’d been electrocuted, blinking confusedly in the piercingly bright sunlight for several minutes before anything came into focus.

It was another several minutes before her stunned mind could comprehend where she was and what was happening. The sky was a brilliant blue with not a cloud in sight. The heat was oppressive, but every now and again a strong wind blew out of nowhere, kissing the sweat streaming down her body in the most wonderful cooling sensation. She lay, half sitting, leaning against one side of a gently bobbing boat out in the open sea. All around her were women of different ages, some awake, wide eyed and crying, some still out with their heads lolling about on their chests.

Doreen tried to shift and found her hands bound behind her. She tried to speak but her throat was so dry all she managed was a choking cough. As she wriggled herself into an upright sitting position, a dark shadow loomed over her and the other women and Doreen squinted her eyes as she stared up at a tall figure of a man.

“I see you’re awake,” he said and Doreen recognised the raspy voice of the stranger she’d been dancing with, “Well…most of you,” he added, humour tinting his voice and Doreen watched as he swung a bucketful of sea water over the remaining blacked out women, laughing full out as they sputtered back to life, panicked and terrified.

“So,” he said brusquely over the cries and whimpers, “Now that you’re awake,” he began slowly as he strolled into the midst of them, kicking savagely at a few legs that were stretched out in his path, “You’re going on a little trip and…”

A small radio attached to a belt on his hip cackled, interrupting him.

“Yes,” he mouthed into it deferentially.

“Do you have them?” A deep voice accented with static said.

“Yes,” the tall man replied, “We’re one short, but next time I promise I’ll…”

“Where are you now?” the deep voice cut in. “You need to load them into the container before they check the ship…”

Doreen’s mind went blank. Was this really happening? She’d lived by the ocean all her life and though she’d heard of traffickers, her present situation seemed so out of touch with reality, all she could do was stare in horror as they sailed towards a monstrous ship that had appeared on the horizon. As they neared it and it towered over them, casting them in cold shadow, Doreen snapped out of her trance. If she was locked inside a container on a cargo ship, she’d have no chance.

Quietly, she eased her arms under her bottom, stretched forward and eased them out from under her legs, bringing her bound hands to her front. Then, not hesitating to think about what she was doing, Doreen sprung up and leaped overboard, slicing into the deep turquoise and jade waters like a sword. She’d taken her chances in the sea.