Shadow's Of Redemption

Chapter1: ambivalence

Chapter 1

***Amelia POV***

It was a sunny day at work, and the air was dry. One more week to go, and I will get my paycheck. I needed to assist Dad with the bills. I could barely stand the infuriating sight of the landlord.

"What's going on, Dad? Why are you packing our things?” I asked as I walked in on him, hurriedly packing our things into a box.

“We have to leave now, princess; we don't have much time. Pack up the few valuable things you can. I'll explain on the way.” he said, pacing around as he grabbed other items.

I froze at the spot.As I watched my dad in horror. I never imagined this happening. When I left the house this morning, Dad assured me that we weren't behind on our bills. So why were we running, and where to? I couldn't believe my eyes.

“Stop wasting time, Amelia. He will soon be here." he said in a stern voice.

“Who is he, Dad? You need to stop and tell me what is going on,” I said, even more confused.

“We don't have time for that now; I'll tell you everything. But not now.” I could see the horror in my dad’s eyes. I have never seen him so afraid.

I felt a tsunami of emotions wash over me. My eyes turned glassy as I struggled to hold back the tears that formed, but I was too weak.

"No, Dad! Tell me now.” I finally began to realize what was happening.

I stared at my dad as he paused in his tracks. He has not been a great dad, but he was my dad, and I loved him regardless of his imperfections.

"Princess,” he said, placing his hands on my shoulders. He sat down on a stool in the kitchen. "I got into so much debt paying your late mom’s medical expenses that I made a deal with the devil... And now I regret it.” He said it with tears in his eyes.

I’ve never seen Dad like this. Not even when Mom passed away. Not even when I gave him so much trouble in school. He was always calm and collected.

“You can talk to me, Dad. Why the rush? Do you even know where we are running to?.” I said as I kneeled beside him. He was all I had left, and I wasn't ready to lose him. My heart shattered in a thousand pieces seeing my dad like this.

Just when he was about to reply me, his phone rang.

We both looked at the caller ID. Gustavo, immediately, Dad’s teary face turned apprehensive. I could feel his hands shaking. My heart pounding in my chest.

“f**k it!” I uttered and picked up the call.

“No don't…” Dad said as he stretched out his hands to grab the phone.I took a few steps away from him. I was already fuming.My anger simmering just below the surface.

“Who's this?”

“I see Alex no longer has the balls to pick up my calls. Give the phone to Alex.” The caller said in an aggressive tone.

“No. You speak to me now Mister!” I said, not backing down. We might be indebted to him, but I wasn't going to watch him trample on my dad.

“I see.seem’s you have more balls than your Dad who is pacing around right now” The man said. It immediately occurred to me that he was actually watching us. Because Dad was truly pacing around the kitchen, with his hands crossed against his chest.

“What do you want?” I asked, defiantly.

“Dont act like you don't know what I want, child,” he said. “You are lucky am not there right now. “ Hand the phone over to your father before I connect it to Don Pedro.” he added.

“And who the f**k is Don Pedro” I retorted.

As I mention Don Pedro, Dad, stopped pacing. His eyes widened, as he looked at me. It immediately occurred to me that, Don Pedro was the Devil in charge. I felt goosebumps all over my skin as I saw the reaction on my Dad’s face.

“Give me that,” Dad said, as he stepped closer and collected the phone from me.

“Hello Gustavo, he said and paused for a moment. I could not hear what Gustavo was saying from the other end, so I relied on Dad’s expressions.

“I know… I promised to pay Don back.. I asked for more time.please give me more time.” Dad said. He wasn't calm as I've always known him to be.

“No.. No, I would never run away from the Don.” he said, laughing in a weird way. I stood there confused. Lost for words at what Dad was talking about. I felt my heart shatter in different pieces. Tears flowing freely from my eyes as I wiped them off.

“Hello.. Hello.. Please Gustavo please help me out” he removed the phone from his ear, he turned around and said to me. “Grab that bag, we are leaving right now.”

I grabbed the bags on the floor, while he took a stack of cash from the drawer, and tucked it in the handbag I brought home earlier from work. He reached for the old rackety car key as we headed for the door.

We opened the door and saw two hefty built men, with a smaller man leading them.

“Going somewhere?” the smaller man sneered,puffing his cuba cigarette right into our faces.

“Gustavo..” Dad said as one of the hefty- looking men threw a punch at him. I screamed as they dragged us away.

The punch knocked Dad out, as he instantly became unconscious.

“Where are you taking us to?” I asked, tears streaming down my eyes.

“Don’t worry child, you will soon find out,” Gustavo replied with a smirk on his face, puffing his cigarette into my face. As one of the hefty-bodied men carried me on his muscular shoulders.

“Drop me down.let me go,” I yelled at the top of my voice. As they bundled us away.