Human trafficking isn’t just a story made for Hollywood movies — it’s reality for thousands of women who are sold, traded and treated like modern-day slaves.

From selling someone else’s body for money or drugs, to exploiting migrant workers, trafficking is not reserved for big cities and foreign countries.

Not only have human trafficking rings been busted in larger cities like Charlotte, local detectives and victim's advocates say it’s present all over western North Carolina.

At a recent presentation, Emily Fitchpatrick, a victim’s advocate in Asheville, spoke at Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church’s Women of the Vineyard missionary group about human trafficking.

Fitchpatrick is the founder of On Eagle’s Wings Ministry and the Hope House, a long term after care facility for victims of ...