by CatLee Say
It can happen to anyone, and it can happen anywhere..... long post & trigger warnings
While in Vegas, on one of our last couple days left. Me & Kevin were getting into the elevator.
When the elevator opened, we noticed there was three people in there. Two males and a young looking girl. When we got in, I smiled and stood silently as the elevator door closed. I found it a little odd both men were standing so close to her one on each side, sandwiching her in. So I glanced over, I smiled and made eye contact at the young girl & she then looked straight into my eyes and mouthed “help me” with her eyes glossy & extremely widened.
At that very moment, my heart started racing, as was my mind. (OMG)
I nudged Kevin and I looked at him with my eyes huge and gave him the “look over there look”. We both looked over and she mouthed again “help me”...
Now both looking over at them, both guys smiled at us and were saying hi, hey ... trying to act all friendly & nonchalant.
I knew I had to act quick and at the same time keep our own selves as safe as possible. With my heart legit pounding out of my chest, I took a deep breath & I immediately did a double glance and stated excitedly “hey girl is that you? ... OMG how are you ... when did you get here ... And she quickly followed suite & went along with it ...
I went on talking about how’s it’s been awhile since I seen her and asked how her mom was doing ... and as the elevator door opened my heart literally starting sinking I then reached out and grabbed her arm excitedly saying how we needed to catch up & go downstairs and have drinks etc. She smiled and grabbed on to me tightly as they started pulling at her to move out of elevator. At this moment I hugged her and we just stared at each other ... Kevin then put out his arm in front of them blocking them from leaving & said “no she’s coming with us downstairs” They stood there for a split second stared at each other then at us again & walked out of the elevator. I just kept talking, excitedly talking out loud to her & as the elevator door closed she started crying and immediately started to drop to the ground. I just held her and kept reassuring her she was safe. She started crying saying they wouldn’t let her leave, she explained one minute they were having drinks next thing she knew she was in elevator and that wouldn’t let her go. She couldn’t remember anything else.
Internally, I kept telling myself to breath to stay calm while stating out loud for her to breath, and reiterating that she was safe now!
I asked her if she was staying here at the hotel she stated “I’m at the MGM where am I”? I stated we were not at the MGM.
It seemed like forever, the elevator was taking to get downstairs, I just kept talking, asking questions, reassuring but trying not to overwhelm her. As the door finally opened and we hit the main floor, we walked out of elevator & I asked where she was visiting Vegas from, she stated Alaska ❤️
We immediately went to the security station and told them what happened. There was probably around 8-9 of them standing around as we explained what just happened.
They pulled her aside and I spoke with a couple of them asking what the process was and if police would and should be called.
One actually had the audacity to say this girl “sure looked comfortable with them earlier in the night” & another security guard nonchalantly stated “well this is Vegas” ... AYFKM??? ... *let me just say they ALL got an earful from me about these disgusting comments and it wasn’t a pretty scene... Sorry not sorry!
At the end of it all, they reassured us that they would take good care of her and I asked her if she felt OK for us to leave her with them. She nodded & hugged us again, wiping away her tears, thanking us.
We said our goodbyes, she smiled ✨
We walked away, both still visibly shaken up and now with an even more heightened vigilance and sense of awareness. We walked in a circle of the hotel casino both trying to comprehend what had just literally happened...
We continued to walk around looking for our friends, as we continued on our way at one particular point we noticed a man on his phone texting as he looked straight at us. He stared hard, then turned away and looked back a couple times. We both found this very odd ...
We meet up with “Kyle, the security guard” he stated they were investigating this situation as there was something more going on but couldn’t say what .. he then looked us straight in the eyes, without turning his head and stated the guys were now sitting at bar by the elevator watching us.
Nonchalantly, I turned to look over and there they were staring hard in our direction.
When we were done talking, we walked away knowing they were watching our every move.. Now what ? Let’s just keep calm and walk.
As we walked, one of the guys starts running towards us. I stopped and turned around as he approached us. He then looked stone cold right at me and asked if I had a “light” I stared right back and said NO. He then looked over and asked Kevin the exact same thing and Kevin told him no and waved him out of our way. He smirked and walked slowly away. We knew security/police/someone was investigating this and for our safety we needed to try stay as calm as we could and just handle this as best we can because at this point we knew that whatever was going on was so much more bigger then us trying to handle it on our own.
Now making our way back to room, we meet up with Kyle again who stated he seen them watching us and seen the one approach us.
He then stated, that he could not technically tell us what to do but suggested to speak to security if we felt “uncomfortable” (which at this point was truly an understatement) they (security) would then be able to act on our complaints...
I then asked Kyle “what happened to the young lady” where did they take her and he stated she was good and was sent back to her hotel in an Uber......hearing this, I wasn’t sure how to feel or react. All I could do, was say a silent prayer, say her name and pray that she made it safety back to her hotel and eventually safe back home to Alaska. ✨ lastly, upon check out, when I shared this situation with management she was not even aware this had occurred ... she was actually shocked it happened in “this hotel”...
This experience will forever be etched in my mind, I still see her face and the fear she wore in that very moment. But I keep close, the fact and purpose of us being the ones chosen to have our paths crossed with hers. ❤️
I’ve allowed myself the time to process this & from sharing this with some. I know one thing that’s for sure ... This story needs to be shared to more, it needs to be told. Not only to continue to spread awareness but because sex trafficking is REAL, it’s a billion dollar industry that doesn’t just happen in the movies or in foreign countries but right in our own backyards and it’s happening to our women, men, & children.
Please educate your loved ones, be aware of your surroundings, be vigilant, & please NEVER “victim/SURVIVOR shame” because in a blink of an eye it can happen and it can happen anywhere & to anyone.
And to all MMIW, women, men and children survivors & those who have never made it home, we remember you all, we pray for you, your families and for justice to be served.
I share my story, for you...
Be safe fam,
CatLee Say
While in Vegas, on one of our last couple days left. Me & Kevin were getting into the elevator.
When the elevator opened, we noticed there was three people in there. Two males and a young looking girl. When we got in, I smiled and stood silently as the elevator door closed. I found it a little odd both men were standing so close to her one on each side, sandwiching her in. So I glanced over, I smiled and made eye contact at the young girl & she then looked straight into my eyes and mouthed “help me” with her eyes glossy & extremely widened.
At that very moment, my heart started racing, as was my mind. (OMG)
I nudged Kevin and I looked at him with my eyes huge and gave him the “look over there look”. We both looked over and she mouthed again “help me”...
Now both looking over at them, both guys smiled at us and were saying hi, hey ... trying to act all friendly & nonchalant.
I knew I had to act quick and at the same time keep our own selves as safe as possible. With my heart legit pounding out of my chest, I took a deep breath & I immediately did a double glance and stated excitedly “hey girl is that you? ... OMG how are you ... when did you get here ... And she quickly followed suite & went along with it ...
I went on talking about how’s it’s been awhile since I seen her and asked how her mom was doing ... and as the elevator door opened my heart literally starting sinking I then reached out and grabbed her arm excitedly saying how we needed to catch up & go downstairs and have drinks etc. She smiled and grabbed on to me tightly as they started pulling at her to move out of elevator. At this moment I hugged her and we just stared at each other ... Kevin then put out his arm in front of them blocking them from leaving & said “no she’s coming with us downstairs” They stood there for a split second stared at each other then at us again & walked out of the elevator. I just kept talking, excitedly talking out loud to her & as the elevator door closed she started crying and immediately started to drop to the ground. I just held her and kept reassuring her she was safe. She started crying saying they wouldn’t let her leave, she explained one minute they were having drinks next thing she knew she was in elevator and that wouldn’t let her go. She couldn’t remember anything else.
Internally, I kept telling myself to breath to stay calm while stating out loud for her to breath, and reiterating that she was safe now!
I asked her if she was staying here at the hotel she stated “I’m at the MGM where am I”? I stated we were not at the MGM.
It seemed like forever, the elevator was taking to get downstairs, I just kept talking, asking questions, reassuring but trying not to overwhelm her. As the door finally opened and we hit the main floor, we walked out of elevator & I asked where she was visiting Vegas from, she stated Alaska ❤️
We immediately went to the security station and told them what happened. There was probably around 8-9 of them standing around as we explained what just happened.
They pulled her aside and I spoke with a couple of them asking what the process was and if police would and should be called.
One actually had the audacity to say this girl “sure looked comfortable with them earlier in the night” & another security guard nonchalantly stated “well this is Vegas” ... AYFKM??? ... *let me just say they ALL got an earful from me about these disgusting comments and it wasn’t a pretty scene... Sorry not sorry!
At the end of it all, they reassured us that they would take good care of her and I asked her if she felt OK for us to leave her with them. She nodded & hugged us again, wiping away her tears, thanking us.
We said our goodbyes, she smiled ✨
We walked away, both still visibly shaken up and now with an even more heightened vigilance and sense of awareness. We walked in a circle of the hotel casino both trying to comprehend what had just literally happened...
We continued to walk around looking for our friends, as we continued on our way at one particular point we noticed a man on his phone texting as he looked straight at us. He stared hard, then turned away and looked back a couple times. We both found this very odd ...
We meet up with “Kyle, the security guard” he stated they were investigating this situation as there was something more going on but couldn’t say what .. he then looked us straight in the eyes, without turning his head and stated the guys were now sitting at bar by the elevator watching us.
Nonchalantly, I turned to look over and there they were staring hard in our direction.
When we were done talking, we walked away knowing they were watching our every move.. Now what ? Let’s just keep calm and walk.
As we walked, one of the guys starts running towards us. I stopped and turned around as he approached us. He then looked stone cold right at me and asked if I had a “light” I stared right back and said NO. He then looked over and asked Kevin the exact same thing and Kevin told him no and waved him out of our way. He smirked and walked slowly away. We knew security/police/someone was investigating this and for our safety we needed to try stay as calm as we could and just handle this as best we can because at this point we knew that whatever was going on was so much more bigger then us trying to handle it on our own.
Now making our way back to room, we meet up with Kyle again who stated he seen them watching us and seen the one approach us.
He then stated, that he could not technically tell us what to do but suggested to speak to security if we felt “uncomfortable” (which at this point was truly an understatement) they (security) would then be able to act on our complaints...
I then asked Kyle “what happened to the young lady” where did they take her and he stated she was good and was sent back to her hotel in an Uber......hearing this, I wasn’t sure how to feel or react. All I could do, was say a silent prayer, say her name and pray that she made it safety back to her hotel and eventually safe back home to Alaska. ✨ lastly, upon check out, when I shared this situation with management she was not even aware this had occurred ... she was actually shocked it happened in “this hotel”...
This experience will forever be etched in my mind, I still see her face and the fear she wore in that very moment. But I keep close, the fact and purpose of us being the ones chosen to have our paths crossed with hers. ❤️
I’ve allowed myself the time to process this & from sharing this with some. I know one thing that’s for sure ... This story needs to be shared to more, it needs to be told. Not only to continue to spread awareness but because sex trafficking is REAL, it’s a billion dollar industry that doesn’t just happen in the movies or in foreign countries but right in our own backyards and it’s happening to our women, men, & children.
Please educate your loved ones, be aware of your surroundings, be vigilant, & please NEVER “victim/SURVIVOR shame” because in a blink of an eye it can happen and it can happen anywhere & to anyone.
And to all MMIW, women, men and children survivors & those who have never made it home, we remember you all, we pray for you, your families and for justice to be served.
I share my story, for you...
Be safe fam,
CatLee Say
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