After what felt like an hour, we arrived at an abandoned warehouse. I carried Alvaro, who refused to let go of me as tears poured down his rosy cheeks. I would not let Heath or anyone else lay a hand on him. He was under my protection, even if it'd cost me my life.

"What's in your boobies?" Alvaro whispered as he hid his face in my chest. My eyes widened at the realization, and I wanted to scream at my stupidity.

"Our ticket out of here. Shush!" I winked. He giggled, shoved his face in my chest again, and wrapped his arms around my neck. I had my phone and now intended to use it once we were alone, if ever.

I did not worry about it ringing since no one had this number. 

Pathetic.

No, Verena. You're just focused on surviving.

It's true that you don't have friends or someone you can fully trust, but you've survived all these years. 

You'll make it out of this.  

Heath shoved us inside a small, barely lit room, making us fall on the rough, unpaved ground. I groaned when I felt a sharp pain in my ankle. It didn't break, but it was sore. "Careful, you son of a female dog!"

"You still can't curse like normal," he commented with a smug expression, making him look uglier than normal. 

I rolled my eyes. "I can, but I won't. You are lower than these words, isn't that right, Alvaro?" I asked, and the bundle of joy giggled. 

"Since you intend to keep us here until the ransom is paid, get us something to eat and some water," I demanded with a smile. I was done playing around. Alvaro's stomach was growling.

"Don't think of doing anything stupid. My men are guarding this place. Behave." Heath warned and locked the door behind him.

"Behave," I mimicked, and Alvaro laughed. "Now, I need you to be silent. I want to use my phone and call for help." He nodded as he sniffed his nose and wiped his wet cheeks. His eyes were red from crying, and I got angrier at the ugly duckling. 

I pulled the phone from my bra, smiling like I was a genius, but my smile fell once I saw the black screen. It was half full right before the kidnapping, and now I regretted getting the older version—typical Verena luck.

Old phones suck.

Alvaro tapped my shoulder, and I took a deep breath to calm my anxiety. "Is it broken?" he asked when he saw me return it to where it was, concealed and warm between my boobies, as Alvaro said. 

I nodded sadly, unable to come up with an excuse. "It's okay, we will be okay," he reassured me as if he was the adult and I was the child.

I kissed the top of his head. "How are you so mature for a- how old are you?" He held out four fingers. "How are you so mature for a four-year-old?" I asked in an exaggerated tone, making him laugh.

"I don't know. Mamá says I am smart."

"That you are my friend," I agreed, and we sat silently, waiting for the food.

~~~

"Here you go," a not-so-gentleman threw a bag at us after hours of trying to entertain ourselves with literally nothing. 

As he was about to lock the door again, I stood up with crossed arms and a glare. "Where is Heath?" I asked, shielding a sleepy Alvaro behind me. He looked so tried, and I felt sick to know that Heath was also that kind of person. He was a greedy, abusive prick.

"None of your business." He shut the door in my face.

"Rude," I muttered, and Alvaro opened the bag despite his exhaustion. "What's in it, buddy?" I sat beside him, and we looked inside. A small water bottle and two sandwiches, which did not look fresh. 

I checked the expiration date and wanted to throw some hands.

Just then, an idea popped into my head.

There was a broken leg chair in the corner, so I grabbed it and sat back next to him. "Alvaro, when you're sick and puke, do you like... puke a lot?" I asked, and he looked at me like I had lost my mind. 

Maybe, but I had to try.

"Why?"

A sensible question.

"These sandwiches are bad, and if we want to escape this rotten place, you must eat," I explained with a grimace, and his eyes widened. "Not the whole thing, of course. Only a small portion so that you can throw up. I will eat too."

"What happens after we puke?" His wobbly lips shot my heart. I didn't want him to eat this crap, but we had to try. My plan was not solid, but it was something.

"We call for the bad guys to help us. I will use this," I showed him the piece of wood and said with a forced smile, "and hit one of them with it. Hopefully, only one appears, and not an army. I then will carry you outside and run."

"Will it work?"

I sighed. "I don't know, but we have to try. Are you up for it?" I felt extremely guilty for making him do this. I didn't know if they would do anything if I emptied my stomach, but they might feel sorry for the child and do something.

"Let's do this." He nodded with a smile. He was so brave. "I want my papá and mamá! Soy un guerrero, como mi nombre," he said in Spanish, and I could not help but admire his courage.

He is a warrior, just like his name.

"Si, eres fuerte! Now let's eat and wait for our tummies to do their magic," I instructed, giving him a very small piece of the rotten food. I ate the other part. [Yes, you are strong.]

The men were cruel, but hopefully not cruel enough to ignore a sick child. 

~~~

After about two hours, Alvaro tugged on my shirt, his eyes watery, and I patted his back. "V-Verena... I don't feel good," he whispered, looking at the floor as he gagged, but nothing came out yet. 

Seeing him like this made my stomach turn, and I gagged. After a few seconds, we both threw up what we ate.

"Here, drink some." I handed him the water bottle and made him drink most of it. I drank what was left, frowning at the aftertaste. I took a deep breath, walked to the door, and prayed for the best. 

"Help! Open up! Help!" I yelled at the top of my lungs while hiding the broken leg chair behind my back.

The man who brought us the food opened the door, and a different man followed him in. That was not great. "What's wrong?" he asked, annoyed at my loud tone. He scanned the room, and his brows arched once he saw our masterpiece.

"The food you gave us was rotten. We can't stop-" I faked a gag, and he stepped back. "V-vomiting. We need medicine." The first man looked concerned for a split second, probably because he would get in trouble with Heath.

"You had one job!" The other man sighed and said with a glare, "There's a first aid kit in the basement. Go get it." They finally split up, and I didn't waste time. 

I grabbed the wooden piece, braced myself, and hit the man on the back with all my might, knocking him unconscious. I expected Alvaro to cheer me on, but he was finally asleep. 

I carried him and dashed out the door, praying for a miracle.

"Where are they?" one man shouted, but I didn't look back. I ran faster, avoiding stones and trash bags, until I saw the exit. I felt more than one man running after us. Their footsteps were way too many. 

My heart beat faster, but my legs slowed down from Alvaro's weight.

Not now, Verena! 

Don't you dare fall!

"Stop the bitch!" I heard them yell, and I ran to the main road. No cars were in sight, but that didn't discourage me. 

I refused to go back there. Not with Alvaro. He did not deserve any of this.

After a minute of praying and running, I saw a car coming from afar. I smiled, hoping that whoever it was would be willing to help us. "Not so fast." One of Heath's men grabbed my shirt and yanked me toward his chest.

"Let go!" I struggled to free myself, especially with Alvaro in my hands. "Please, let us go!" I begged, but he smirked, making me feel ire and nauseous. However, a gunshot was heard before he could drag us back inside. 

Blood splashed on my face and Alvaro's tiny body.

Blood everywhere.

"Get in!" Someone ordered in an authoritative, deep voice. When I snapped from my daze, the most beautiful man ever opened his car door and shoved us inside while shooting the rest of whoever was chasing us like toys.

Who is this?

~~~ 

1.12.2023 

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