*Andrea*
It felt like I was dreaming. My mind kept retracting back to the entrance.
We had just stepped in, and he had run after Alison.
I could still see Alison walking towards me alone. When she said she didn’t see him, we went ahead and searched for him immediately.
At first, I thought he was just being mischievous as always and promised to scold him in case of further occurrence.
But after searching the restrooms and the hallway and not finding him anywhere, I began to feel uneasy.
Then we had to search around the hotel. I searched outside; maybe he had run out. But he wasn’t outside. After searching for over twenty minutes and not getting any sign of him, worries finally sipped into my heart.
I couldn’t hold back anymore, and tears began to roll down my eyes. I called Alejandro immediately.
We’d been searching for over two hours, and he had yet to be seen. When Alejandro told me that he had been tracked, I wept; that meant my son had been kidnapped.
He had been taken away. My biggest fear has come true. Now seated with Alison and Lucas, who kept pacing back and forth, I could feel my heart ripping into tiny pieces.
My phone beeped close to me.
I picked up the phone immediately. What if it was about my son?
Maybe Austin has texted me to tell me that all of this was a joke. At this point, I have long forgotten about scolding Him.
I just want to hold him close to me. At the same time, I couldn’t stop blaming myself. I would be the cause of this if I hadn’t been careless if I hadn’t let him go alone. Then, all this would not have happened.
My already beating heart accelerated as I opened the text from an unknown number.
“I have your son. If you want him to come out alive, come to this address alone.”
I received an address and a photo of Austin, with his mouth sealed and his hands tied to the back.
I stood immediately. Another text came in at that moment. “Come alone; if I find out that you told anyone about this message, I’ll pass a bullet through your son’s head before you even step out of the hotel. And don’t bother about how I will know. My people are all around you.”
“What’s wrong?” Alison asked upon noticing that I was standing and staring directly into my screen.
I wanted to tell her that I had seen Austin and that I was going to get him; I was going to get my son. But I knew I couldn’t. I looked around the room, noticing the three other security men.
The message said that people were watching me. I didn’t know how true that was, and I didn’t want to take chances. “Nothing; I want to use the restroom,” I said, heading for the door.
“I will come with you,” Alison stood, but I stopped her. I had to do this alone.
“Please, I want to be alone too. I can’t handle this…” I sobbed, and she sat without saying another word. I’m sorry, Alison. I hate lying to you, but I have no other choice right now.
My son’s life was involved. I stepped out of the room.
Alejandro’s men were over the places, but none dared question me.
I walked around the hotel for some time before I was able to locate a back door that I used without being seen. I stepped out, and just then my phone beeped.
“There’s a car by the other side of the road, get in.” I made sure I left through a place where there was a CCTV camera, though the place was dark.
I walked to the other side of the road and got into the car, which opened when I got close. Immediately I stepped into the car, my mouth and nose were covered hastily, and I slowly lost consciousness.
The next time I opened my eyes, everywhere was dark.
The place smelled bad, and I was tied to a chair. I tried to shake the chair, but I couldn’t. My mouth was sealed, so nothing worked, no matter what I tried.
I couldn’t shake the chair, I could only make muffled sounds. And to make matters worse, I was in a dark place.
I felt a mixture of emotions: fear, pain, and anger. What if they hurt Austin? No, they have given their word, and I decided to trust them. They can’t back on their words.
The door slowly creaked open, allowing light to rush into the darkness briefly before the door was open.
Three people had just stepped in. Two men and a woman. Suddenly, the place was lit by a dim light.
I lowered my eyes for a few seconds before raising them and adjusting to the new light.
I struggled on the chair as my eyes moved from one man to another, and then it finally landed on the woman.
She was a woman, so why was she doing this? She had a face cap on and wore a mask. Though I couldn’t see her face, from the way she looked, I could tell that she was old enough to be a mother.
Old enough to have her child, so why was she doing this to someone else?
“I wouldn’t waste my strength if I were you.” The lady spoke. She seemed to be in charge.
Just take this stupid cloth away from my mouth. I wanted to ask about my son, but I couldn’t.
“Seat still,” she paused that voice. “I know you must be worried about your son Austin, but what can we do? He has to pay for the sins of his stupid mother, or don’t you think so, Anna?”
Anna? That name was known by a few, and that was when it clicked.
I could finally see why the voice was familiar. The person in front of me was none other than Nora.
As the realization dawned on me, I wiggled on the chair, trying to free myself, though I knew it was fruitless.
I wanted to pounce on her and tear her to pieces. Hasn’t she done enough? She was the one who had made Alejandro and me separate over the years. I had left her life peacefully as she had desired, and here she was in mine.
“You must be wondering who I am. The name Anna rings a bell, right?” I glared at her, hatred brimming in my eyes.
If only eyes could skill, then she would have been long dead. “It’s an old friend.” She said, and though she had her face covered, I could tell she was smiling menacingly.
She placed her hand on her head and slowly removed the cap, and she did the same with her mask. “Surprise,” she said, extending both hands to the side.
“Remove the rag from her mouth; let’s hear her beg me.” She commanded, and one of the men stepped closer to me.
I was tempted to spit on him. “Where’s my son? Where’s Austin? Why are you doing this? Give me my son. No, keep me here, but allow my son to go.” I pleaded.
I didn’t mind pleading with her or crawling on her feet as long as she allowed Austin to go.
I can’t allow Austin to stay in her hands again. “Well, that sounds like a command. Is that how you speak to someone who you should beg? Don’t forget, I have your son’s life in the palm of my hand. One wrong move from you, one wrong statement, and I’ll send him to Mother Earth.”
I knew it wasn’t an empty threat. Nora’s eyes were filled with hate as if I had taken something away from her. Even if I had taken something away from her, Austin has nothing to do with that. He was innocent.
“Please let my son go. I’ll do whatever you ask. You want me to speak softly?”
I raised a brow, “there you have it,” I said softly.
I don’t know how she knew about Austin. I wanted to know, but that wasn’t important.
I doubt Alejandro had told her about it. If he had, no one would have expected Nora to be capable of doing this.
“You know Andrea, you’re no fun. With all you have done over the years, one would expect you to stand your ground and speak back at me. If you go on begging like this, it’s boring. And I want to have fun.”
Nora said, and at that moment, I knew I was dealing with a psychopath. If she was truly human, she should know that pride has been thrown away from me at this point.
“Please let me see my son. At least I need to know he is okay.” In the last picture they sent, Austin was asleep; what about now? Let me see him.
As I pleaded with her, tears almost rolling off my eyes, she smirked at me. “I like seeing you like this. With how proud you are then, I didn’t know you had this side.”
My chest heaved and fell. “Why are you doing this, Nora? Haven’t you done enough?” A wave of anger and helplessness hit me.
“You kicked me out of Alejandro’s life years ago, and now you are here in my life when I fully exited yours. Why are you doing this? I know you have grudges against me, but Austin, he is innocent. What sin did he commit against you?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking.
“His son is that he was given birth to by you. You are right. I kicked you out of Alejandro’s life years ago, but you,” she yelled, stepping closer and pointing at me, “You found your way back into his life. You crawled back into his life.
“If you had stayed out of his life like you were supposed to, then all this would not have happened.” I tried to control my anger. She had the upper hand. “So tell me, Andrea, do you think I would be here if you hadn’t come back into his life? No. I wouldn’t.” She said.
I lowered my gaze, “I’m sorry; I didn’t want to do this to you. I didn’t want to come back into your life. Please let me see my son take me to him, and I’ll do whatever you want me to,” I pleaded.
She paused and looked at me with an unreadable gaze.
Her shoulders are squared as she takes proud steps towards the door. She was in control, and she liked it. “Bring her, “she ordered the men.
They untied me and dragged me along. My body felt sore from being tied to the chair. I don’t know how long I’ve been here, but I knew it must have been for long.
They dragged me through an old hallway crowded with cobwebs and dust. We passed some rooms which had the door opened slightly, and I could see the old stuff in it.
I tried to take note of some things. I had to find a way to leave here safely with my son. I would not allow her to hurt me or Austin more than she has already done.
Also, a part of me believes that Alejandro is going to come and save me. I just had to hold out until he came.
We soon stepped into another room and I saw Austin. He was lying on the cold floor. His hands, which were tied, were free, and so were his legs. His eyes brightened when he saw me and then he sat.
Upon seeing Nora and the men behind him, his gaze turned frightful.
Nora turned to the men, “It seems he is afraid of you; why not leave for a while? Maybe go smoke outside.” She drove them away.
Now, it was left with just the three of us; she stood close to an old flower pot. I was about to approach Austin, but she held me back and pulled me to her side. My hands grabbed the pot instinctively, and I hit it with full force on her head.
“Austin, run.”