Setting the collection of spices she was going to give to Tia when she got back to Louisiana on the contents in her basket, Lottie turned away from the shop owner and looked around the market, smiling brightly as she saw a small little booth that had the most darling shoes! And they were pink, her favorite color!
She strolled over with every intent to buy the shoes, no matter what the price. But as she did, Lottie felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She felt as if someone was watching her, watching her every move. This...this had happened earlier too, when she was buying the spices. And after she had bought the necklace...
Lottie glanced around her quickly, looking for any faces she thought might be a threat to her. She wiped her palms on her pants (also purchased here in Agrabah), trying to get some of the sweat off of her hands. Why was she so nervous? No one here would try to harm her! At least, not yet.
The shop owner noticed this and asked if she was okay. Lottie instantly changed her demeanor, putting on a bright smile as she responded, “I am perfectly fine, darling. Just a little warm is all!”
The shop owner then took this as an opportunity to sell her a shawl to keep the sun off her back. At first, she didn’t intend to get it, but she was warm and it was so pretty, and the material was so soft! So, as any rich debutante would do, she bought the expensive shawl and the expensive shoes. (She knew Daddy wouldn’t mind, this would barely cause a dent in his bank account.)
With the shoes in the basket and the shawl wrapped around her shoulders and head, Lottie quickly walked away from the merchant, glancing behind her as she did. Yes, most people were kind, but she was still a foreign girl in a foreign land. A little more jumpy than usual, Lottie accidentally bumped into a man pulling a cart filled with vegetables she had never even seen before. After apologizing (she doubted he understood her), she quickly moved to the edge of the market, pulling the shawl over her head as she did.
It’s the heat. It’s got to be the blasted heat.
Lottie leaned against one of the buildings behind her, resting in the shade and using her hand to fan herself off. She took some deep breaths, trying to calm herself from the unnecessary nerves. No one would harm her here.
She looked at the basket she had set beside her and saw the shoes peaking out from beneath the cloth. Smiling, she sat down on the ground and pulled them out and quickly traded them for the shoes she was currently wearing. The looked so much better with the pants and shawl than her American shoes had.
Now, had Lottie noticed where she had gone, she would have realized that she was no longer in the main part of the market, but rather, a tucked away little alley way, far from view of any other person.
No one would see. No one would hear.
And that’s exactly what the thieves were counting on.
The king of thieves gave the signal, a simple mishap caused by accidentally knocking over some fruit from a stand.
The shoes now on, Lottie stood up and brushed off her pants, then she looked down and admired her outfit. She fit right in! (minus the blonde hair and white skin, of course.) When she looked up and saw four large men surrounding her, she was beyond confused. Had she done something wrong?
“May I help you, sirs?” Lottie said, turning on her charm. The necklace glinted in the little sunlight that hit it.
The center most man, the burliest of them all, looked at the gems on her, then looked back to Lottie. “You sure can, sweetheart,”
Lottie had to no time to think as they tied her, gagged her, and threw a bag over her head, effectively shutting the world off from her. Scared, she thrashed and squirmed, trying to get away or get someones attention. But her efforts proved futile, as she was no match for the men that now had hold of her. They yanked her down the alley, the shadows cooling the air around her. They pulled her farther and farther from the noise of the market, from the safety of the good people. She started crying in the bag, but tried to keep as quiet as she could, lest she anger the four scary men.
Disoriented and afraid, she didn’t see light again until she had the bag yanked off and was thrown to the feet of an even bigger and scarier man.
Her basket still sat in the alley.
