A wave of heat radiated from the bottom of the box. It was burning hot, like lying on hot sand in the peak of summer.

  I’m getting cooked! Kaori thought with horror as the temperature increased. Sweat dripped from her skin and was instantly absorbed by the coffee grains, releasing a strong aroma which she could sense even inside her mask. Calm down. Breathe.

  She managed to calm herself somewhat in spite of the suffocating temperature. She still couldn’t move an inch, but she could think. Assuming Oroshi wasn’t trying to literally cook her, the logical explanation was—

  A loud clang interrupted her reflections, followed by three more and she finally understood: her crate was being secured on the metal floor of a plane, and this being Thailand, the metal was searing hot. Satisfied, she relaxed for real, trying to picture herself in a sauna. She loved sauna. If only she could step out for a minute and drink some water…

  Soon, she felt the vibrations of the engines rattling her bones and in spite of the relative sound insulation provided by the crate, the powerful shriek of the jets hit her ear drums. So much for relaxation. She winced.

  The savagery of the take-off took her by surprise. This was no first class seat. It felt like a car crash, her entire body slammed backward, coffee beans crammed over her face as her legs went up. Blood pooled to her head. The pressure, the heat, it was as if she was doing a head stand in a pool of lava. What the hell kind of a plane ride is that? She fought to remain conscious and barely managed.

  After several long minutes, the plane leveled off and the pressure eased, as did the temperature. At first, the cold was a welcome change, like a cold bath after sauna, but the relief didn’t last long and soon cold caused her to shiver. It was somewhat manageable, the cargo bay was probably heated, she thought, somewhat.

  Unable to do so much as rub her hands together, she did her best to endure as her body temperature dropped slowly.

  No. I can breathe. Breathing exercises could help deal with the cold. At least in theory. She focused once more on her breathing.

  In. Out. In. Out. In… fuck, it’s cold! Out… In… Out…. Don’t think. In…

  She worked her rhythm, trying to reach a meditative state. Slowly, she moved her abdomen, pulling air deep within, contracting and releasing her muscles bit by bit. She didn’t need to move for isometric contractions, she could just pull and push against the beans, slowly massaging her feet and forcing her blood to flow.

  I’ve endured worse, she thought, realizing with surprise that it was true. The typhoon had been worse. What was a bit of cold compared to the might of the storm?

  But she was not alone then. She could still feel Ma?l’s strong chest against hers, his powerful arms wrapped around her back, holding her, his scream of defiance… They had been so close to death but together, they were invincible. Now she was alone, but she no longer felt cold, she was burning with rage. If Ma?l was dead… NO! He could not be dead. She would not tolerate it. He was alive. He HAD TO be alive.

  MA?L! Please be fine. I need you!

  Logic said he was dead, but logic could go hang itself for all she cared. She was going to escape and she would find him and that was that!

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  At long last, the plane tilted downward, beginning its descent. The change was subtle, but she was in a heightened state of awareness and noticed the difference immediately.

  They touched down a few minutes later, the landing almost as rough as the take-off. There was something weird about it, but then again, what wasn’t weird about traveling in the cargo hold? The balance had shifted and most of the beans were crammed over her feet and legs, releasing the pressure on her chest.

  She listened intently, preparing to scream her lungs out as soon as her crate reached customs. But not before. It wouldn’t be long now. She could hear people working around the crate. They released the latches and a forklift hauled her up. It was almost time. Soon. Very soon. She’d have only one shot at it. The crate was now rolling on an airport cart. It stopped. The crate was lifted once again and gently lowered to the floor.

  Steps. People walking around. This was it. She screamed:

  “Help! I’m trapped! Help me! I’m being smuggled. Help!”

  Someone came closer. She could feel someone touching her crate and she screamed again, even louder. The top of the crate opened, blinding rays of light filtering through the beans. A hand scooped the coffee above her respirator, and, reaching behind her head, helped her up.

  “There, there, calm down. It’s okay now. Here, let me help you up.”

  The man pulled her upright to a sitting position. She was still partly blinded by the sun, still trapped in the straitjacket.

  “Thank yo—”

  She stopped as she finally made out her rescuer… Masamune was looking down on her with a friendly smile.

  “Welcome home, Kaori!”

  She gasped, and he added, “That was a good try,” He nodded to the man beside him, which she recognized as the colonel, “but this is a military airport, and no matter how much you scream, no one will lift the little finger for you.”

  Kaori’s heart sank. They hadn’t been careless, they just didn’t rely on the gag. Masamune was fully in control and there was nothing she could have done.

  “With that said, my ears are too sensitive for all that drama, so if you can’t behave, we can put the gag back on.”

  She didn’t answer.

  “Do you want the gag back on?” He asked. The colonel was grinning eagerly as he reached for the gag.

  She shook her head. She was beaten for now.

  “Excellent,” Masamune said, pushing the Colonel aside. “Now, follow me.”

  He turned around and began to walk away. She was about to argue how she couldn’t stand up when two men lifted her up and carried her out of the crate.

  The man holding her armpits brushed his finger tips against her breasts and she slammed her head back against his chest. Surprised, he dropped her and she fell to the floor with a thud, barely lifting her head in time to avoid the tarmac.

  “For fuck’s sake,” the colonel screamed.

  Masamune smiled, looking amused.

  “Let her walk.”

  Turning to Kaori, he added, “come, we don’t have time for that nonsense.”

  Her legs were numb from the confinement, but she managed to stand after a couple tries and took a tentative step forward.

  “Excellent!” Masamune said. He sounded pleased with her, like a father watching a child take her first step.

  She thought about stopping and sitting down, but what would that achieve? Nothing. Those men could pick her up and carry her all the same. No, better play along for now. Her time would come, she just had to be patient.