*Andrea*
Austin stood still, not moving, “Momma,” he called. From the corner of my eyes, I could see that Nora was trying to stand up.
I wasn’t going to allow that. I leapt on her and held her down. “Austin, please run. Don’t worry about mama. Go and get help for momma.” I yelled, and he ran out of the room.
Nora struggled under my hold, but I kept my grip on her tight. I would not allow her to move.
Never. Not until Austin was fully out. She pushed me away and aimed for the door. But I hit her head hard with my hand, sending a blow across her head that made her go back on her knees.
I don’t know how far Austin can go, but I knew I had to keep Nora down so she wouldn’t call on her men for as long as I could.
I walked to the door, but before I could step out entirely, she pulled my hair and dragged me into the room, “Go after the child, go after the child.”
She kept shouting while trying to stop me from running. I couldn’t see what was going on behind the door as she closed it, but I hoped and prayed Austin got out successfully. Please allow my baby to be safe.
I wasn’t much of a fighter, so I had no defense against her punch. Nora, for some reason, seemed to be experienced.
The lady who acted like she couldn’t kill a fly outside of here was gone. “How dare you hit me.” She sent one blow after another. I fell to the ground, grabbing my stomach.
I allowed her rain kicks on me. I’ll bear anything as long as my son is safe. “Just wait, they’ll bring your son here in a while, and you’ll watch me pass a gun through his skull.”
I shook my head. “That will not be possible. Austin will be safe,” I said, and she hit me hard on my shoulder and then again. The second kick is stronger than the first. “Keep running your mouth.”
I felt pain all over my body. I spat a mouth full of blood to the side. I’ll survive this and tell the story. But even if I didn’t, my son was safe; that was what mattered.
She stopped when she got tired. My vision was blurred, but I could still pass my hand through my hair and look out the window.
Soon, the door opened, and my body froze as I watched them, a part of me hoping my son wasn’t with them. “Where is the boy?” Nora asked angrily.
“What, boy?” The men sounded genuinely confused. “Didn’t you go after the little boy?” That was when they looked around.
“He isn’t here?” “Would I ask you to find him if he is here?” Nora asked, agitated at their stupidity.
“Gosh, so you fools let him go? Where did you go when I called? I should have known asking you to leave was a bad idea. I just didn’t expect this bitch to be so strong.”
I felt a wave of relief wash through me. Austin wasn’t caught, so he must have gotten out safely. I sent a quiet prayer to God, asking him to protect my son. If he can get away from these men, then I believe he will get home safely.
Nora stepped to the side and brought a stick of cigarettes. She lit it up and drew it in. “Austin is safe,” I whispered.
She must have heard me because she walked back to me and gave me two strong kicks. I groaned in pain. “Take care of this bitch, let her go, and I’ll end you.”
As I was being dragged to the chair in the middle of the room, I noticed for the first time that it was morning. The sun was slowly rising.
*Lucas’s POV*
I don’t know how she left. We had been there patiently waiting for Dad to return with good news about Austin, though that did not stop me from pacing. I wished I was here with him to save Austin.
When Alison asked to go with Andrea to the restroom, and Andrea refused, I never thought much of the fact that she needed her alone time.
I think anyone would. But things got weird when she wasn’t back in fifteen minutes, and then Alison was asked to check up on her.
Alison came back with the message that Andrea was not in the restroom.
I had to go check personally just to confirm, and I was met with the same results.
Maybe she decided to take a walk around just to clear her mind. But soon, it was clear that she wasn’t in the hotel, so I had the men check around.
Alison was already getting teary eyes, but she tried to mask it.
When it was confirmed that she hadn’t left the hotel, no footage showed her leaving from any exit or entrance, and a man was at all entrances and exits.
I called Dad immediately to let him know about the new development.
“What happened to her? How did she go missing? Are you sure you checked each room? Maybe she is somewhere.” Dad was getting mad.
He kept blabbing and asking the same question every five minutes. I knew he was trying hard to keep it together.
We all spent the night in that room. Each time he called and asked for results, he was always met with the same reply, ‘no news of them yet.”
It was heartbreaking to watch them. Alison and Dad. The next day, I thought it would be better to get a change of clothes for them, so I left immediately as the sun rose.
The drive home was the longest drive ever.
My eyes were blurry; I tried to be strong, I had to. I would not give up hope like them.
When I got home, I walked in lifelessly, looking at the maids but not seeing them at all. It had not been long since I entered the house when the door opened, and Mom stepped in, too.
I noticed she stiffened briefly when she saw me. “Mom,” I called her and stepped closer.
I wanted to place my head on her shoulders and allow her to pat me and tell me that all would be all right.
But as soon as I stepped closer to her, a whiff of cigarette smell hit me. I paused, taking a step back to observe her. “Is everything okay?” she asked, batting her lashes at me.
“Yes,”
“I’ll quickly freshen up. I’ll have breakfast outside, so we may not see each other again till the evening,” she said to me.
She didn’t even notice my difference in mood. I was a bit disappointed in her.
But then, she looked too conscious, like she had ever been. She kept looking behind her as she climbed the stairs.
I didn’t want to think much about it; maybe the divorce was telling on her. I wanted to help. I wanted to comfort her and tell her that she would meet her person just as Dad met his, but I stopped myself.
I have enough on my plate already.
I quickly freshened up and took a few clothes for my dad. Alison called me later that morning and asked for a few things, too, so I drove over to her house and took a few things.
“Thank you, Son,” his voice was low and hoarse as he took the clothes from me and stared towards the door, a phone placed on his ear.
“I’ve had the police involved before the day ends; I want results…. Yes… have them search cars… isolated places, of course, are included… oh yes and…” he stepped out of the door.
Alison stepped into the security room. She had dark circles. She dropped on the sofa close to me. “I brought some clothes; at least change into these and have something to eat,” I said.
She had been in the same dress all through and I know that must be uncomfortable.
“I don’t want to. I can’t, I don’t want to eat, I don’t want to bathe, I just want Austin and Andrea. My poor baby, he’s too young for this. He probably hasn’t eaten. Did he even have a good bath? I can’t imagine what he is going through.” Alison finally broke down.
I didn’t try to stop her and just allowed her to sob and smear her tears on me. She has held back enough.
I smoothed her hair and patted her back. “We will find them,” I assured her after some time.
“Any news!” I asked my dad when he walked back to us. He shook his head. He inhaled sharply. “I’m meeting with the inspector in a few minutes,” he said.
“Have something before you go,” I said. We had all skipped dinner last night, and it was already 11 am. “I’m not hungry.”
“A bit won’t hurt,”
“Don’t force it, Lucas,” his voice was over the top, stunning me. He quickly realized his mistake and apologized.
I didn’t hold it against him. I tried to put myself in his shoes. He must be going through a lot. I couldn’t even imagine losing Alison for a moment, and he had to lose his son, too.
I couldn’t get Alison to eat anything, either. She refused, and I thought it wasn’t reasonable to force her.
It had barely been an hour since My dad left when I received a call from him, “Come to Sam Lat Teaching Hospital right now. Come with Alison.”
I got worried immediately, “are you okay? Did you get injured!” I feared that he might have gotten into an accident because he couldn’t be ill. He had left from here in perfect health a while ago.
The call disconnected before he could answer, so I didn’t bother with calling him back. Alison finally agreed to freshen up and change into the clothes I brought for her.
We went to the hospital in my car. I couldn’t stop praying that it was not another bad news, but when has the hospital brought good news aside from birth, and no one was currently pregnant?
We found our way to the room immediately. My dad and a man I didn’t quite realize were outside.
They seemed to be having a heated argument, though their voice could be barely heard.
“I thought you could be trusted. I am so disappointed. I left them for two days, and you have Austin hospitalized,” the man said harshly to my dad. I have never seen anyone speak to him in that manner.
“See, I appreciate your help; thank you for bringing him; it doesn’t mean you should talk down on me.”
“Well, you don’t want to hear about how much you’ve failed as a dad.”
The air was suddenly heavy as both men stared into each other’s eyes, hoping for one of them to look away first.
I don’t know about their true relationship, but I do know that they weren’t friends.
“He only called you because he doesn’t know my number yet; it doesn’t make me less his dad.”
They seemed to be engrossed in their world, not acknowledging me or Alison. I looked to my side, where Alison was standing, but she wasn’t there anymore.
She had walked past me and tried to get into Austin’s room.
“You found Austin?” I asked. Alison opened the sliding door that instant and stepped in.
“Yes, Dave brought him.” The name didn’t quite ring a bell.
I held onto his arm, “Thank you so much for your help, sir. How did you find him?” I asked.
Before he could reply, the door opened again, and the doctor, accompanied by two nurses, stepped out. We crowded him immediately. “Doctor, how is he?”
“He is still unconscious.”