Chapter 4 Imprisoned

Once again, she felt her knees tremble.

Nic and two others climbed down the boat first using the same gangplank earlier. Cielle saw him steal a glance at her before leaving, but it was so brief and cold she couldn't make out if there was worry in his eyes.

And why would he even worry you, pray tell? Her subconscious criticized. Him telling you some few kind words earlier didn't mean a thing!

"Put them in the room," her musings snapped when she heard Don say to someone and that someone being Arthur again, approached her and Alex after a nod.

"Come," he said, urging them up with a hand.

Cielle did so, pulling Alex up at the same time.

"Big Sis, why are we here?" Somehow the boy noticed the peculiarity of the place.

She sighed first and raked his tousled hair before answering. "Ah, they needed us to rest Alex because we had a long journey. Didn't the sea waves made you sick earlier?"

He nodded slowly.

"Is my mommy going to get me?"

Cielle, although taken aback by his change of question, managed to create a quick answer, "Yes, she will, but they need to call her first."

"I miss her." The boy's head dipped and even from the lack of light, she could see the sadness in his eyes.

"I know," she replied, looking far away.

"Hey, what's wrong?! Why are you so slow?!" Arthur shouted angrily, whose sandalled feet had already touched the sand.

Quickly, Cielle jogged to the gangplank whilst holding Alex's hand. Once they were able to disembark, Arthur didn't waste time on guiding them towards the appointed room er-prison.

They passed houses along the way (whatever they were headed) and watched as coconut trees towered over them. The land in this part of the island was rocky, with a bit of sand distributed in certain areas and thick grasses scattered along the way.

Cielle held Alex's hand tightly, mentally noting the twist and turns of the pathway should she have the audacity to escape.

But what was she thinking? How could even one escape an island full of criminals without being found out?

After a minute of walking, the three of them stood in a house made of concrete. The main door was left open, but they didn't use this to go inside. Instead, Arthur directed them to another smaller opening at the right side wherein it led to a short narrow underground stairway.

Once inside, Cielle could see a wider hallway that led to different underground rooms. In one of them at the right, they were deposited by Arthur without saying anything. No final words or instructions or any greeting of a late goodnight.

Cielle didn't care anyway, though. Once she heard the door close and locked, she turned around and scanned the whole square of a room lit by a sole yellow light bulb.

No furniture was seen other than a small round table, one wooden stool, an empty cabinet, and of course, a single-occupant bed.

Her heart sank.

"Here, Alex!" she exclaimed just as she released a deep breath. She jogged towards the bed to sit down and smiled at him. "Won't you take a nap? I'll be here to watch over you."

She may not know exactly what time it was, but she was aware enough to think that they were nearing midnight.

The boy nodded without hesitation and ambled towards the bed, but before he could lie down totally, he, out-of-the-blue, declared, "I'm hungry."

What? Again?! Her mind strained.

But of course! It was understandable that he would be hungry, since his dinner consisted only of one drumstick and a sip of half-emptied bottled water.

She was hungry too, so, so hungry, but she didn't show it to Alex and only smiled.

"Just take a nap, okay? I promise, when you wake up, food will be served."

She hoped.

And with that reassurance, Alex slept with a smile on his face.

Early in the morning, Cielle woke up with her back aching. Since the room they were in had a small bed, they had to sardine themselves in sleeping. Not only was that the problem, but the bed also had little to no foam. It was a bamboo-made bed frame, rickety and squeaky, and rather a far cry from what she had been accustomed to.

But it is not like she could request a much more comfortable bed, anyway.

From where they were, she could hear the sound of soft waves rushing to the shore, the gentle breeze of the palm trees, and the crowing of roosters. These weren't the only sound she heard though. Her stomach complaining was included as well.

With this and the promise she made with Alex about food made her stand up in bed.

The room was rather satisfactory-looking, but since they were underground, it lacked essential elements like a window. There was a rectangular opening located overhead, though that looked like it was once used as an air vent. Standing on a stool, Cielle used this vent to perch and see if she could find someone for help.

And she did, specifically a skinny-looking, tanned stranger who somehow passed by on her way.

"Hey!" she shouted, slipping her forearm out to catch his attention. "Hey!"

The man who had quite a mustache approached the opening and stooped low to look at her. "Why are you so noisy, woman?" asked he in his native tongue, slightly irritated.

Cielle fanned her face first to rid of the dust particles his sandal had scattered.

"The boy needs his breakfast," she stated, and met his eye with thorough concern.

And me too, she wanted to add, but refrained.

"What? Da boi niids brekfist?" he clarified in a mocking tone; his English pretty much rough and edgy.

"Yes! Yes!" Cielle vigorously nodded. "Please, he is starving."

The man stepped backward and straightened. From the little opening available, Cielle could see how he scrunched up his nose and rubbed the back of his nape.

"Sheesh, like I care, " he stated acidly and then went on his way.

This made Cielle blink many times. "Hey! Sir! Please! He needs food!" she shouted, desperate now, but the man just ignored her.

"Oh God." Dropping to sit on the stool, she palmed her face and groaned. She was on the tipping point of crying, but she held her tears at bay. No, she won't be a mess in front of the boy. If she had to try and try again and beg these scumbags for food, then so be it.

For the boy.

Yes, for the boy.

Her own welfare and hunger could wait.

With a huff, she stood up in the stool again and waited, waited for someone-anyone-to pass her by, and hoped, really hoped that this time, he or she would be kind enough to give them food.

But minutes passed by with not a single soul in sight. Her elbows had grown weary from perching and her feet had to shake from the lack of energy.

It was an understandable situation since it was still early in the morning. If these kidnappers stayed out late, then it was expected they would wake up late too. All of them possibly were still on their comfortable beds sleeping.

Or so she thought.

The door of her prison all of a sudden was unlocked and pushed open. Nic, her captor last night, stepped in with something in hand: a rattan tray with two medium-sized bowls of fried rice, two slices of spam on top it, two bottles of water, one green banana, and a miniature figurine of a bee mascot.

Still standing on the stool, Cielle's mouth dropped open when she turned to see him. She did not see this coming. At all. And from him, an unlikely source!

"Woman," Nic said bluntly; his eyes trained on her disordered appearance.

Somehow that irked her.

"I have a name you know, its Cielle."

She spared a brief examination of him-at his freshly bathed form, new clothes, a new set of boots-and cringed at the thought that she was still in her yesterday clothes, smelling like filth and looking like one.

Nic, if he was affected by her acid mouth, gave away no sign.

"I'm not in the mood for formalities," he spat flatly. "You asked for food, here it is."

She saw him place the tray on the round table and stalked back to the door.

"Uh, I guess I should say thank you?" was her remark before he fully exited.

"Don't bother," Nic replied and then closed the door.

Prick.

God was truly looking after them if He used such a rude, impolite man to feed them.

Still, it made her question what had gotten in Nic's mind to do this. She was sure as hell didn't notice anyone when she pleaded with the first man for food.

Maybe her voice was too loud to catch his attention? Maybe the man told Nic of her dilemma - which was most unlikely, anyway. Maybe he was assigned to give them food? Or maybe... just maybe he had a good side in him and that said side was concerned about their stomachs' growling.

Whatever the reason was, she felt happy that their breakfast was on their table, ready and waiting to be tasted.