Bound by love

Chapter 4

Maya

I kept pacing back and forth in the room. I woke not so long ago and still, I had not heard anything from the kidnappers. I kept biting at my nails and running my fingers through my hair in frustration. I don't know what to do but what I know is that I am sick and tired of this game of suspense. I want to know who is behind the kidnapping and what they want from me.

I can't possibly think of what I have that they would want. I don't have anything of value so what do they want? My thoughts were cut off when the door suddenly opened. My eyes immediately looked up and I saw a middle-aged lady coming in with a tray of food. I just stared at her for a minute as she went and placed the tray on the edge of the bed. This is my opportunity to get some answers and I can't let it slip.

" Mam? Mam, can I talk to you?" I approached her with desperation in my voice. She looked at me with an unreadable expression. " What is going on and who has me captive here?" I asked but she did not say anything. I felt like I could not get through to her but I had to find out something or else I would go crazy. I held on to her arm and blocked her path so she could not leave.

" Please help me. My son and I have been forcibly brought here. I don't know who those goons are but can you please help me out?!" I pleaded with her but she was unfazed at all. She simply removed my hand from her arm and sidestepped me to leave. I was shocked by her attitude and lack of compassion. She seems old enough to have several children but she can't help a mother out.

" Please eat the food. The one you are seeking will be here in some time," she said vaguely without giving out much detail before leaving and shutting the door. I did not understand what she meant by that but there was nothing I could do. She had already left and she would not even clarify even if I had asked her. I sighed in defeat and plopped on the bed. I noticed the food she brought and my stomach rumbled reminding me how hungry I was. I looked back at a sleeping Xander and contemplated whether to wake him up or not. I'm sure he is hungry too so why not eat while we wait for whomever it is who is supposed to come?

I went over to the bedside and kneeled and ran my fingers through his hair. He was snoring lightly and that brought a smile to my face. He looked so peaceful asleep and I felt bad for having to wake him up. I know he'll have a lot of questions to which I am unsure of how to answer.

" Xander wake up," I whispered to him but he did not move an inch. " Xander... come on my boy, wake up." I tried again but this time he turned away from me. He loves his sleep so much that if it were up to him he would not wake up at all. " Oh come on now Xander! Don't you want to eat? Come on now." I shook him awake and he groaned rubbing his eyes with his tiny fists. His cute eyes opened and I picked him up with a smile on my face.

His eyes wander around, no doubt confused about being in an unfamiliar place. I placed him on my lap and sat down. I took the cheese sandwich on the plate and removed the crumbs of the bread because he did not like it. He took it when I handed it over to him but he asked the question I was dreading.

" Mommy where are we? This is not home." I did not know what to say so I decided to distract him. " Never mind that Xander. Just have the sandwich and here is the juice. It's orange juice, don't you like it?" huh?" I managed to divert his attention when he eagerly pulled on the glass of juice. He ate and forgot all about my hunger. He comes first.

Once he was done I sat him beside me and I began eating my sandwich. Xander was just quiet but his glances informed that he wanted an answer to his question. But I did not want to tell him the truth because he would get scared and I could not let that happen.

I smiled at him sweetly and shagged his hair playfully. He laughed and it was music to my ears. All a mother wants is to see her child happy and safe. When I first found out that I was pregnant I was very afraid. I did not think I was capable of motherhood. God knows I love Xander more than anything in this world and I would do anything to see him out of this situation.

I grew up in a dysfunctional family. A battered housewife and a drunkard father. All they did was fight like cats and dogs. There was no peace or love in that house. When my mother could not take it anymore she ran away in the dead of the night and left me behind. I was beaten every single day and I was even bullied at school. That is when I met Dario. He protected me from abuse and misery.

The closer we got the more I felt like he was the older brother I never had rather than a best friend. He allowed me to sleep over at his house if things got heated with my father. He became my safe haven until I met Xander's father. Things changed and I got lost in his love.

As much as it pains me to talk about him, it's true that I loved that bastard. And I can't even regret it because he gave me the most important thing in my life. But now he's a thing of the past. I hope to never see him again.

" Mom when are we going home?" he asked curiously with a worried expression. Since I can't tell him that we have been abducted and we can't go home any time soon, it is better if I come up with something convincing.

" We going to go home but not until we are found by Uncle Dario."

He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. " Uncle Dario was not at home in the morning so how will he come and get us?"

" I doubt it will be easy," I pulled him closer to me. " You see, we are playing a game of hide and seek," I told him with enthusiasm to sound very convincing. " Really mommy!" he exclaimed in excitement and I rapidly nodded my head at him with the same level of fake excitement.

" So will he find us?"

" Sure! he is a police officer so he will find us." Deep down I was hoping that my words come true. He is my only hope of getting out of this. Xander's gloomy mood changed to giddiness. He was happy that we were playing a game and that is all I have to offer for now. I don't know what I will do if someone comes in and bursts his bubble.

I sighed in relief that I managed to control the situation for the time being. Now all I can do is wait and see how all these play out. This is a nail-biting moment in my life. All I wish is that we make it out alive. I cuddled up with Xander as we awaited whatever it was that was coming for us.

I thought back to when Xander was a newborn baby. How my hands trembled when I first carried him in my arms. He was such a tiny fragile this that I was so scared my touch would hurt him. But the longer I held on to him the more it felt right. It was meant to be.

When I brought him back home I could not bear to leave his side for one moment. That's when I actually put Dario to the task. I had him running around the house doing everything for me. It is a fond memory of mine. Even if I wished for a different outcome I just had to make do with what I had. I was the only one that Xander had besides Dario and I had to do everything in my power to make him not feel the absence of his father. To this day Xander has only asked me once about his father. And I had to cruelly lie to him and say he died.

Dario was against me saying that but I said either way. He was dead to me.