Chapter {62}

Emrys Belle:

The wind was blowing a light breeze, the fallen leaves swirling around sweeping the ground as more leaves were blown off the trees surrounding the park. It was a cold autumn day, the sun was peaking through the grey clouds floating in the sky, slowly moving closer and darker to us as time went on. Rain could be felt in the air but that didn't bother me. It was the perfect day to go out as not many people would want to brave this changing weather. The park was near enough empty this morning which I found surprising but didn't let that bother me as I knew Aj would much rather play on the playground on his own and not be bothered by other kids, especially not since the toy incident with Damon and that horrid little boy.

Aurora was peacefully asleep in her pram, all tucked in her baby pink blanket and teddy firmly gripped in her tiny little hands. I couldn't help but smile down at her as I took my seat on a park bench giving me a pretty decent view of the park so I could keep an eye on Aj as he ran about.

"Stay close where I can see you Aj okay?" I yelled out after him as he legged it to the slide, bopping his head up and down to confirm that he had heard what I had said.

I got comfortable on the hard wooden surface beneath me, glad I had managed to make it out of the house dressed, with both kids in a reasonable amount of time. My day had not started as peacefully as it is now, far from it.

Aurora was fussy, nothing would calm her down. She woke up crying and yelling, not even Damon could settle her. Her cheeks were red which let me know that perhaps she has started teething which I knew would be the cause of her pain and crying. Aj just decided to be full of energy and forget about his listening ears, running havoc around the house, and throwing toys in all directions. The loud crash of each thing he threw only made his sister cry even louder at the noise of each crash. Once I had managed to get some medicine down Aurora to help with her teeth and settle her down, Damon chose that very moment to leave me with Rory still winging and now wanting cuddles, and Aj throwing, yelling, breaking things, and point blank refusing to eat anything I offered.

His parting words to me were :

"Have a good day, I have to go to a meeting. Love you."

That only then prompted Rory to start screaming again because her daddy has now left through the door. I sighed out of frustration because I had just got her to stop crying though she was still fussing and now I had to start all over again. I just let Aj scream and run around while I bounced his sister on my hip while I reconsidered all my life choices.

I paused for a moment to look at the mess that had now become my house, deciding that I was not going to spend my day here cleaning up.

"Aj? Fancy going to play in the park?" The minute that sentence left my lips, Aj stopped in his tracks, dropped his car down, and nodded his head with so much vigor. I thought it would fall off.

I quickly threw some clothes on him, put a jumper on, and wrapped Rory up and we were out the door. Damon can deal with the mess when he gets home. The fresh air did us all some good and the walk sent my baby girl right to sleep for which I was thankful.

So now here we are, happily in the park, baby asleep, toddler running around, calm mom. I'd say that's a win in my book.

I sat there, just enjoying the peace surrounding me. I could hear Aj happily going on the slide, again and again, getting an occasional wave when he climbed back to the top.

"May I sit here?"

I shook out of my thoughts and looked up to see an elderly woman. She seemed frail, all wrapped up in what appeared to be a fur coat, which I found odd at first but shook it off, it was not my business to care about what she had on.

I smiled up and her and moved over on the bench a little to let her sit. Once seated, I took a closer look at her. She was immaculately presented, her lips red matching her rosy cheeks, both standing out against her porcelain wrinkled skin. Maroon leather gloves adorned her hands that were tightly grasped around a small black leather purse. Her hair was tightly curled in a short style, giving off a 50's look, pearls around her neck, just slightly peaking through her coat.

I took my gaze back to Rory who was still enjoying a little nap as I rocked her back and forth in her pram.

"Cold day isn't it dear?" the woman spoke from next to me.

"It is, meant to rain later on today." I continued the small talk.

The woman seemed to be looking around as if she was waiting for someone. In all honesty, I wasn't too sure why such an elderly woman would choose to be out on a cold day let alone sit next to the only other person in this park but then I just figured she was lonely and wanted someone to talk to, so I happily obliged.

"Oh my, what a sweet little angel you have there," she exclaimed out of the blue making me jump a little in surprise.

I smiled adoringly down at my little girl.

"Indeed she is."

"What's her name?" she inquired leaning closer to me to peer at my sleeping child.

"Aurora."

The woman proceeded to ask how old she was and other little questions and remarks such as 'you don't look like you have a baby that age', 'does she sleep well through the night?' and other topics of small talk.

"Do you have other children?" the woman asked next.

"I do, I have an elder son, Aj." I looked towards her.

"And where is he now?"

We both started looking around after I told her that he most likely was on the slide.

I stood up trying to get a better look.

All of a sudden my heart began to race.

"Aj!" I yelled.

"Aj come here sweetie!" I yelled again.

Panic started to settle in now. I could not see my little blonde-haired boy nor could I hear him play.

I had been so distracted by conversing with the elderly lady that I paid no mind to keep an eye on Aj.

I frantically was running around the small play area, yelling for Aj. looking in all the small places he could go hide. When Rory's piercing screams rang through the air.

I turned on my heels so fast, the elderly woman was trying to snatch my baby from her pram.

My blood was boiling, this was a trap. I ran towards her, screaming at her to let my child go.

The woman looked up, guilt was written all over her face.

"I'm sorry," she yelled back at me.

She put Rory down and tried running away. I dashed to Rory, not caring to catch the woman. I got to the pram, picked my daughter up, and turned to see in what direction the woman was headed in hopes that she would lead me to Aj. But I had no such luck, three shots were fired. One, two, three... and she was down.

I gasped in fright, looking all around me to see if I could see the person that was shooting all while taking shelter where I could. I knew that by that point whoever was behind this had taken Aj while I was distracted, I knew that and there was nothing I could do about it. My main concern now was to keep myself and Aurora safe. I had pressed Damon's contact number on my phone during all this but I could not bring myself to talk through the phone.

I was frozen in fear. Gripping onto Aurora like my life depended on it, which at that moment it probably did, sinking to the ground behind the tree I used to shield us.

"Come quick" was all I managed to utter through the phone. I could hear my husband's voice asking me a million questions at once. I knew he would know where I was and would be here in minutes.

Minutes that seem to last a lifetime. With each passing second, the dread setting in deeper in my soul. What had I done? How could I have been so naive? I only took my eyes off him for one second. Why didn't I hear him? Why did I come here alone?

The world around me was foggy, My eyes were set on the slide that Aj had been playing on moments ago. A dark blurry figure came up to me, blocking the remaining light surrounding me with their figure. Shutting off my view of the slide.

"Rhys, sunshine. I'm here. You're safe now." was all I managed to understand from the figure.

Their warm hands trying to lift me to my feet, but I was somehow still stuck, like my feet had become one with the roots of the tree. Aurora's cries still rang in my ears, my cheeks stained with tears.

"They took him. They have Aj." I whispered to myself.

I was starting to get out of this trans-like state I had fallen into.

"Who's they?" the figure asked, his voice deep and comforting.

"I don't know... I should have listened to Jeremy."

"Jeremy? What did he say? When?" the voice inquired. His voice was more urgent.

"Son, get her to the car and back to the house. Your brothers and I will secure the perimeter and look for anything that could tell her where Aj is."

Another dark figure behind the big one in front of me said and then walked away, the sound of his footsteps crushing the fallen autumn leaves that surrounded us.

"Come on sunshine, let's get away from here, it's not safe for either of you." I held onto the man's hand for dear life until we made it to the car.

I could recognize his features now, the way he walked, he talked, the touch of his hand on mine, the strong grip he had, his smell.

"Damon?" I whispered barely audible, even to myself.

"I'm here Emrys. We'll find him."

Those were the only words that would keep me going.

We will find him.

_________________________________

Hello Loves,

I'm still alive and well!

I have just started getting back into writing (you can thank my boyfriend for that) so please bear with me for a while. I will try and upload as and when I can.

I am aiming to have this book finished by the new year as I want to gift the paperback version of this book to my mum for christmas (she's been harassing me about when I will finish this book!)

I have the end of the story mapped out already, full of twists and turns at each corner.

anyways,

thoughts? Predictions?

Who took Aj?

Why?

what will happen next?

Until next time

xoxo