Inside the cramped wooden crate, Ririko and Selina were pressed shoulder to shoulder, their knees drawn up against its inner walls.
Selina shifted in the darkness and easily undid the knot binding her wrists behind her back.
Then she reached over, felt for the knot around Ririko's wrists, and gave it two deft tugs. The hemp rope came loose.
Ririko was just about to speak when a gunshot rang out outside.
"What happened? Are they fighting?" Selina whispered.
Ririko felt the truck slowing down. Someone might come to check on them soon.
"Let's get out first. You reek of tiger. Don't stand too close to me when we get out."
Selina rolled her eyes, raised a leg, and kicked the crate's side panel. The entire panel fell outward.
The two crawled out of the crate into the dark cargo compartment.
They took their places against the walls on either side of the rear doors and held their breath.
The truck slowed further and further until it came to a complete stop.
A lock clicked on the rear doors, and someone turned the handle from outside.
The instant the door opened, Selina spotted the person opening it and drove the sole of her boot straight into the center of his chest.
Before he could step back, the kick lifted him off his feet and sent him crashing hard to the ground.
Selina didn't stop. She pounced, straddled him, and swung her fist at his face-
"Screw you!" The first punch landed on his cheekbone;
"You sick pervert!" The second struck the corner of his mouth.
He turned his head to dodge the third punch and abruptly clamped his hand around Selina's fist.
His fingers locked tightly around the bases of hers. Bracing his other hand against the ground, he forced his