Chapter 1

The prerogative of backpackers is the freedom to roam. Unlike the normal tourist the backpacker independent and usually young and exuberant lives on their wits. A discussion at a bar between travellers or that last minute cancellation of transport can lead them on a constantly flowing river of new and unexpected experiences.

It was in once such Buenos-Aires drinking hole that Lara had negotiated a lift into the hills to a jungle topped adventure. The man in his early thirties was a frequent visitor to this bar and many more around here. He was English speaking' probably an Australian maybe Kiwi and from his laid-back clothes and fantastic tan it seemed he had once been a backpacker too who had chose to remain in this fascinating place.

Lara had been reluctant to get to know him as it was clear by the opinions of others around that he was a bit of a ladies man. But on this night with only a few days until she moved on she let caution take the better of her and listened to his invitation to an exclusive sight.

"I take a selected few up to a secret spot about 30 miles into the jungle in the valley between Mount Acosta and Mount Paz. There you'll find the most spectacular waterfall ever. Its kind of restricted by the government so only for small parties."

Lara had smiled, listen, laughed and generally found him to be quite attractive and not the rogue she'd heard. He'd arranged before leaving that night to meet her with his jeep and latest lucky guest on the other side of town at noon tomorrow.

On parting she realised he'd not even made a lame pass at her. It seemed he was indeed a nice guy or so cock sure of himself he'd wait till later. Either way it had certainly attracted her interest to see more of him.

Lara was no lovesick teen. At 25-yeasr-old this diminutive blonde had a stream of admirers at the high school were she taught. She was use to men 's eyes trailing to her firm bust rather than looking her in the eyes and found the more respectful attention of this adventurer man quite refreshing. With a fiancée back home she wondered if a last fling could be on the cards. She'd being travelling for 3 months now getting the bug out of her system but soon it would be time to go home and settle down. As she walked back to her hostel that night the thought of romance ran through her mind but soon faded to idle fantasy as she slipped to sleep.

It was noon when the cab slowed then stopped in the stifling hot square. The taxi ride had taken fifteen minutes from down town and after crossing the castle like Alcine Bridge the car had entered the "Villas" a place Lara had heard about.

Lara asked again if this was the correct address as she now sat in the middle of the cities slum area. The driver nodded a little disinterested. It was here in the lower west side of Buenos-Aires that shanty towns ran for miles of 2 and 3 storey huts and dark brick homes. The square was hardly that; the road uneven more a dirt track, the side streets like a maze, narrow and looking like open sewers.

As the taxi pulled away she looked for the meeting place an old bar with a footballers name. The bar was there just off a side street and as she neared she realised it was closed and had been for maybe years.

"This is where we were suppose to meet?" Her mind was confused." Is there another bar with the same name?"

From the square she heard whistles and shouts. A noise she was use to; playful youths.

A gang of boys aged from maybe ten to fifteen where smiling and hollering to her. Their bravado was evidently of a sexual nature and Lara felt a little uncomfortable standing here looking as sexy as ever

With a rucksack on her back her sweaty t-shirt encased tits thrust up and out. Her tight waist and great turned ass looked divine in jean shorts. Her thighs were strong from months of walking and in trainer shoes with her black rooted blonde mane she looked every part the schoolboys wet dream.

She gave a nervous smile with her fabulous teeth then turned to move away from them heading a little further into the alley. But she was aware the boys had moved closer.

The boys were still whistling and gesturing. Some of the bigger ones were holding their crotches sniggering making hip movements. She tried to ignore them moving faster; not running but a more urgent departure. But then she paused she didn't know which way to go. All the tiny side streets looked the same.

The eclectic collection of box shaped buildings seemed to curve in over the streets. Masses of washing lines, TV antennae and phone cables were strung between blocks like they had been disembowelled from the concrete homes.

The sun was directly overhead and the intense rays were painful on her neck and eyes. The streets were full of barking and hi-fi music and these boys appearing more menacing now. She felt her breath becoming laboured as her nerves increased. There were many narrow alleys that she dare not go down, all the while the boys edging closer.

Suddenly a door opened in one of the many creaky old homes facing the bar and a leathery woman appeared in an apron. She has long black hair and a motherly figure. She was gesturing and shouting to the group of boys who in turn laughed back. But Lara noticed they had slowed and a few younger ones were now edging back and looking about finding something else to do.

The woman continued her barrage at the older boys who after a few seconds slowed then stopped too. Without the full gang they began to appear less confident and eventually in a volley of Spanish expletives turned and sauntered away as if they owned the street.

Lara gave the woman a sweet smile saying thank you then looked back up the alley. The boys were still there at the moment disinterested but she could see one or two still sneaking a looking back. She once again felt nervous; and seeing this the woman gestured for Lara to enter her house.

"Oh no there's no need." Lara was about to say but the woman took her wrist. "I call you taxi." She explained, the young woman nodding in realisation.

"Yes that would be best I think," the backpacker added feeling so foolish that she'd let herself get into this situation.

"So much for the supposed waterfall!" She scoffed to herself making a mental note not to listen to jerks in bars again.

Inside the home it was as expected the old air con hummed but struggled the rooms jumping between brilliant sunlight and low watt power depending on size and placement of windows. Washing was hanging from racks and the TV was playing a loud game show with a transvestite looking hostess rattling off in machinegun Spanish.

"I'm completely lost!" Lara laughed following the woman up steps to her living area. All the homes appeared to intermingle and already she struggled to tell if she was above another house or even looking from the window into the same street.

Up stairs was a middle-aged man sat with a can of beer. He looked surprised wiping the beer from his beard his hand cleaned on his string vest. The woman explained in Spanish the man looking concerned nodding.

"It is very dangerous for tourists to be here." He said in passable English.

The sexy teacher nodded starting to realise how reckless she been. The man waved his hand to reassure her.

"All these street look the same, no? It's easy to get lost and easier still not to get found."

He stood with a groan of effort lifting his potbelly. "I will go find your friends."

Lara smiled razing her hand. "Its ok I'm on my own, I just need a taxi back to the city."

The man smiled shaking his head. "Even more foolish on your own!" And then looked to the sky saying "ey yi yarrrr!"

Once again she nodded with an accepting smile.

"Ok no need to rub it in." She thought to herself still grinning like a fool.

He pointed to her as he spoke to his wife. Lara's Spanish was very poor and all she could understand was "phone" the woman nodded as he gave orders then turned to the ancient handset and began to dial.

Surprisingly quickly she was connected and started a monotone conversation looking a bit nervous before nodding once again then putting the phone down.

Lara waited for the woman to speak but instead she began to sort through washing

Lara just stood not sure what to say. "Your taxi is on its way", the man finally said.

The backpack babe smiled saying thank you. The room was feeling a little claustrophobic now and she suggested she wait outside. His reply was concerned with something completely different.

"Why do you come to our poor homes?" He asked a little confrontationally.

Lara stuttered in surprise. "I don't... I mean I was meeting someone."

"Do you think it amusing we live this way?" He continued picking up his beer looking out into the street for the approaching car.

"No, no I don't I, just like to get of the normal routes, you know backpacking and all. Its nice to have an adventure and see the unusual."

"Unusual?" His eyebrows rose, "we are freaks, no?"

She raised her hands aware the conversation was getting a little out of hand.

"Now wait on, I didn't say that at all I'm not trying to insult anyone."

The man paused then seeing her face the sweat starting to bead added. "You can wait through there, its cooler than the street."

Lara exhaled in relief. She now felt uncomfortable but he appeared to have given up on grilling her and besides the boys were still out in the street so she nodded and said thank you.

The girl dropped her rucksack and stepped through the door. It was a bedroom with a door to a dirty white tiled bathroom. The window to the street was grime covered and half barred with wood, most of the light coming from ceiling windows cracked and dirt covered showing glimpses of the brilliant sky. Standing near one wall was a tripod and video camera on the other wall a tripod and umbrella shaped lighting equipment.

The man was behind her and she tried to pull back out of the room realising that this room was no way the cool haven he had suggested. Her body backed into his solid form like a roadblock.

She suddenly felt herself pushed into the room the sexy girl sprawling on the bed. The man shouted something down stairs to his wife then he stepped inside closing the door.

The TV noise became more apparent as the woman turned up the volume down stairs filling the house with a blanket of endless chatter. Lara ran to the window but she could only see glimpses of people in the street below. She cried down but no one was even noticed.

"What's going on? She stammered, realising she had made a huge mistake

"In these neighbourhoods you need to make a living the best you can. A woman like you on film will fetch a great price from the right person."

She choked the words creating a knot in her stomach. "On film?"

"Democracy is a great thing but there are those that miss the freedoms they had when we were a police state. Many powerful people still have needs and cravings for those decedent times."

She looked confused. "Freedoms, what freedoms."

"Secret police, government officials, military types; many who revelled in sexual humiliation."

He explained that some were still very rich with the money they creamed in power. "I used to work for some of those people now I still do but in a different way."

Lara had stopped listen when he mention the word sexual.

"For me it matters not whether we area junta or a democracy I am still poor and though maybe no longer powerful, they are still rich.

He pointed to the camera. "When my associates arrive we can begin shooting."

Lara looked wide-eyed at him the sweat becoming a torrent inside her fabric top.

Her mind had one thought..."WHAT?"

The man made no more explanation instead moved in to grapple with her. Although fat he was much bigger and stronger and with a few well-placed swipes she was panting and groaning sprawled on the bed.

"Jesus no, what oh stop!" She spluttered the sudden ferocity a horrid surprise.

The man straddled her back and ripped her t-shirt from her shoulder flinging the rag to the floor. He pushed her head down as she yelped in protest then gripped her shorts at the waist ripping them open then pulling the from her legs as she screamed in refusal.

"No get off me. What the hell do you think..."

He rolled her over gripping her kicking feet pulling her trainers until she was a sweaty near naked delight apart from a thong and brassiere. She looked down at her heaving bust but he didn't move to grip her ripe melons instead he pulled her arms behind her back and reached in a bedside drawer.

"Hold still!" he shouted.

She felt the click of handcuffs pulled tighter making her shoulders pull back tits thrust in their cups. "Ouch!"

Lara was pleading but he soon silenced that pulling a strip of ducting tape and pressing it over her mouth. It was too late to talk her way out now.

The man calmly made his captive get up into a seated position on the bed; the sexy blonde trying to pull her wrist free her sweaty chest bouncing inside her brassiere as she panted in horror. Her shoulder length hair was bedraggled over her face and he brushed it back into a sculpted mane as she snarled through the duct tape.

"Now listen woman," he said menacingly. You're going to be in a movie. A filthy snuff movie that I know I'll be paid lots for. No ones going to be interested what's happened to you. Well not unless they're jerking off watching it."

Lara's eyelashes flared in horror as the man nodded.

"Yes it will be a high price show but eventually some or all of it will get on the Internet or underground film clubs. Remember when we're doing things to you we will be filming. Remember many men will watch this over the years, coming in pleasure at your performance."

Lara shook her head but seated as she was it was impossible to get off the bed and with one hand on her shoulder he kept her complaint and dominated.

"Oh God," she though her mind screaming, "I'm going to die!"

The man smiled seeing her thoughts driving her crazy. "Just do what we say and we'll release you when we've finished." He quantified his reasons to calm her further." Even here bodies draw the attention of the police."

He then laugh, "we might even drop you back to your hotel."

Lara couldn't believe what was happening. "Of all the houses to enter! An old junta thug who makes... porn?" She wasn't sure what he made just that he knew it would make him money. She wondered how she could have gone wrong. Was the tour still waiting for her to arrive in another bar nearby; the man she met last night looking disappointingly at is watch? They could be a hundred feet away right now and she'd never know.

She'd just wanted a little flirt and now she was sat stripped on some awful pot bellied mans bed.

Then she heard noises down stairs; someone appeared to have arrived. The door opened as two men entered laughing with the older woman. They instantly stopped to admire the girl on the bed. This small well-rounded western woman, mouth taped, lovely blue eyes looking confused her hair a dirty blonde frame to strong boned features.

The old woman was still talking as they closed the door on her face both men impressed with what they saw. One was Latin, curly hair unshaven and younger than her captor. She noticed the similarities in their features it might have been his brother. The other man was muscled with a shaven head, in his forties a big bull of a man. He gave a sick grin his American accent filling the room.

"Fuck she hot I didn't believe your old lady on the phone."

The American dropped the big bag from his hand and he bent down hands on knees

"High honey!"

Lara pulled back tape still over her mouth.

Looking to the older brother he asked. "Have you explained to her yet?"

The greasy man nodded and moved over to the tripod switching on the light making the room a bright shadow less box. He them moved to the digital camcorders flipping the viewing screen open the machine now showing a red light signalling it was recording.

The American was asking for a beer the other brother standing hands on hips watching the woman sat in horror. He looked mean and ready to pounce if she tried to get up. Lara mumbled under her taped mouth. They were acting so casual and in control. This seemed to make things more terrifying than the first assault.

The big American ape came back beer half empty wiping his mouth. He closed the door the TV still very loud the sweat showing on his head. "Fuck" he said annoyed with the oppressive heat as he opened his bag pulling out hoods.

Lara began to wrestle with her cuffs a high pitch muffle from her taped mouth as her eyes saw what he was doing.

The hoods were black but wide like a big sackcloth bags. Once over his head it would allow his skin to breath a little. Lara moaned through her duct tape as the other brother then did the same finally throwing a hood to the original man who appeared to have set himself up as director.

The American explained as they all stripped. "Feel free to do and say what you want babe we'll edit or mute what we don't need later."

The three men then stripped their pants so they only stood with t-shirts and string vests. The big man moved to the side of the bed and slowly unpeeled her tape. Lara starting to babble as soon as her lips were free.