Skylar sat gazing through the darkroom she had come to know as a home. Her hands went frequently to rub her belly which was still a surprise to her, she ought to be starting antenatal soon but here she is locked in an abandoned farmhouse and at Elise's mercy with no hope of ever getting out.
Speaking of her pregnancy, she was surprised that Elise wasn't making any plans to do something to her baby. Coming here, she had thought Elise was trying to kidnap her to do bad to her baby but that didn't seem to be the case...
The clicking sound of the heels approaching through the corridor dragged Skylar from her straying thoughts as she turned in the direction of the door which seemed to open immediately...
"I was beginning to think I'm being forgotten here," Skylar remarked sarcastically as she let her eyes run through Camille who stood with a tray balancing on her hands as she glared at Skylar.
"I'll suggest you keep that smart mouth of yours in check this morning. I'm not in the mood for your tantrums" Camille commented as she took a slow step toward Skylar, placing the tray containing Skylar's breakfast on an empty table containing equipment used in treating horses that had dents on it, Camille shook her head as she turned back to her task at her hand which was tending to Skylar's need.
She hated this job, she hated Elise for tricking her into staying back in New York, she ought to be participating in a fashion show in Italy right now not babysitting a grown-up who doesn't want to be baby around, not that Camille would want to anyway.
Skylar stared at her in anger as she voiced out her displeasure at her words "Try being tied to a chair, kept in a dark room for weeks before judging me"
"And that isn't my fault, to begin with," Camille cut in, running an angry look at Skylar before going back to the door suddenly remembering she forgot to bring the dress
"May I ask where you are off to?" Skylar tried again, swallowing down her anger. She shouldn't be getting worked up with Camille if she ever wanted to leave here alive.
"To get you a dress" With that she stepped out of the door, closing it back to spring the room into darkness.
"Here I thought I was finally going to get some sunlight into my body," Skylar lamented sarcastically. She had developed sarcastic remarks in her time here, partly to keep her busy and most time to spite Camille just like now
Skylar sighed as she rested her back against the chair slowly resigning to fate. She should have gotten used to it now but every time, she keeps believing that someone or something will get her out of here but that doesn't seem to be happening and it's been weeks now. It's a miracle she's still alive from the little meals Camille feeds her in every day.
"I wonder what Vino is doing? Do you think he'll miss me? I miss him so much! I doubt he will even notice I'm gone considering our last meeting" Skylar told her baby as she rubbed her hands through her stomach. She had started speaking to her baby ever since she got here and felt bored.
"Wait a minute" Skylar suddenly screamed out loud as her subconscious suddenly registered the words in her distant brain.
"Did I just hear her say 'Dress'? Does this mean I'm leaving here?" Skylar asked herself as she tried not to sound so hopeful, what if her hope is being squashed, she will lose her sanity for real that time
"I can see your mouth is shut now" Camille called announcing her entrance with the clinking of her heels, holding a red dress in her hands which Skylar had never seen on either of them before.
She stared at the dress with a sceptical look on her face, confused as to what it could mean? Surely, Elise wouldn't be dressing her for anything if not to let her out.
"What's going on?" Skylar finally forced herself to ask the one question that had been on her mind all morning "Where's Elise?" She repeated, seeming to remember that she hasn't seen her supposed half-sister in a week.
"She left for a business meeting, I suppose, '' Camille replied with a shrug while ignoring Skylar's first question as she wasn't asked to answer them anyway.
"For a week?" Skylar asked again, not believing Camille's short answer. She knew something must have happened else Elise wouldn't leave her for almost a week but what could have gone wrong?
"Why don't you ask her yourself when she arrives" Camille snorted as she bent to untie Skylar from her chair.
"What are you doing? I thought you never want to untie me? Aren't you scared that I might run away?" Skylar teased Camille as she massaged her hands trying to let blood flow to her stiff hands.
"You wouldn't dare!" Camille glared at her, she saw Skylar rush to avert her gaze as the smile dies on her lips, taking her threat seriously. Though she wasn't asked to untie Skylar, but a little rebellion wouldn't hurt, right? Most especially, since she wanted to take revenge on Elise for deceiving her...
Skylar rushed to avert her gaze as soon as she heard the hidden threat in Camille's words. Her eyes caught the dress which was folded neatly on the table, "And the dress, what is that for?" Skylar asked, pointing to the red dress which Camille had dropped on the table.
"That's for you to shove in your mouth and keep shut" Camille replied sarcastically as she stepped closer to Skylar, bending down so her eyes were now levelled with Skylar's, she called with a snarl "I don't like it here just like you. So, I'll suggest you keep shut and let me begin my duties"
"Fine," Skylar answered before going back to rubbing her stomach while she let Camille show her to the bathroom, as she got her ready for a shower. Another first since she had been kept here.
***
"Are you sure everything is alright?"
Skylar's unsure voice filled the silence of the room as her gaze flicked to Camille who stood at the door checking her watch from time to time like she was expecting someone or something to walk through the door any moment from now.
"What? Can't you just let me be?" Camille screamed out loud getting frustrated with Skylar's Incessant questioning.
Skylar nodded, she didn't know what was wrong with her but she can't stay here dressed in a dress that was meant for a dinner date with a man, and being tied to the chair has squashed her hope. She had thought changing her dress meant she was leaving but now, she's back to the chair.
"I just wanted to know. I'm sorry if I've offended you. My mom always warned me of how inquisitive I could be" Skylar apologized as she stared at Camille who looked at her shocked as she wasn't expecting an apology from Skylar.
"No, it's alright. This isn't your fault" Camille replied as she paused like she wasn't sure she could say the next word but Skylar waited, hoping that she would tell her whatever is going on? Are they planning to kill her?
"I'm just on edge" Camille continued slowly in a whisper, her hands going to massage her neck in a circle while weighing how much she should tell Skylar.
"On edge? Why?" Skylar asked her gently, trying not to sound too curious, else she might revert to her normal attitude and she didn't like the scarier Camille.
"Cam" Skylar tried again, trying to bring her attention back to their conversation.
Camille's eyes shoot up to stare at Skylar in shock, she wasn't expecting her to shorten her name. Hearing the short form of her name on her lips, made it feel like they were close and Camille couldn't describe how excited that made her feel. God knows she needs a friend badly.
"Actually," Camille said as she stepped away from the door, her face softening, she came to stand beside Skylar and continued with a gentle voice.
"Vino kidnapped Elise's mom to get back at her, there will be an exchange tonight?" Camille finally told her as she smiled pitifully at Skylar who gasped in shock.
"Say something, Skylar" Camille told Skylar cutting her from her reverie who seemed like her mouth was tied as she couldn't believe
Skylar shrugged as she ran a light touch through her stomach, still trying to imagine Vino kidnapping Elise's mother as an act of revenge.
"I don't think Vino could do that?" Skylar finally brings herself to say, no matter how everything is, Vino would never break his principles for anyone.
"But he did for you," Camille asked her answering her unasked question, as she gazed into Skylar's eyes who still didn't believe her "All is fair in love and war, darling"
The sound of an approaching vehicle caused Camille to jump in shock, stopping their conversation as she turned to gaze out of the tiny window just in time to see Elise getting out of the car.
"She's here. it's time to go home" Camille told Skylar forcing a smile on her face as she turned to open the door for Elise.
Elise walked into the room, avoiding Skylar's eyes. She didn't want them to know she had been crying but suddenly remembered her mother was kidnapped because Vino loved Skylar. She became angry as she charged towards Skylar.
"It's always you. What's so special about you? Why will he kidnap my mom because of you? I hate you so much" She screamed as she shouted at Skylar about hitting her with her hands' bit Suddenly remembering Vino's threat, she dropped her hands and clenched them by her side trying to rein down her anger.
Skylar had braced herself as soon as Elise raised her hands to hit her. She was expecting the slap to land anytime soon but nothing was coming. With dread, she opened her eyes to see Elise pushing everything off the table in anger.
She cringed from fear and shock to see that Elise had controlled her anger. Why did she not hit me? Skylar wondered to herself but a word she said caused her heart to swim in hope. Is Vino coming for her?
"What about the police?" Camille asked as she voiced her concern. She was scared since she heard Vino was coming over for Skylar. She was so scared. What if he brought the police with him? She can't have it ruining her career.
Elise shrugged and turned back to the door, she stood gazing out into the vast land. The man who had rented this place to her didn't know what it was used for but she was glad it did exactly what she had wanted. If only Vino didn't ruin her plans? Why couldn't she have thought to keep her mother safe before going on with this plan?
"You don't need to worry about that. Vino gave his words. There will be no police" Elise replied as she turned to gaze at Camille who had relaxed and smiled at her.
She turned back to Skylar who had watched their little exchange with a worried expression on her face. Elise guessed she didn't believe her when she told her she will be leaving tonight. If only it was left to her, she would have made sure she wouldn't be able to leave this place forever.
She opened her mouth to say something nasty to her but the heavy sound of a car that broke the silence of the night caused Elise to freeze with nerves. This was it. It's time to meet her mother.
"Untie her and get her ready but don't bring her out yet until I tell you so" Elise commanded Camille who nodded as she rushed to bid her requests while Elise strolled down the tiny corridor to the field where Vino and Ernesto's were just coming out of their car...
"And he brought them too____ Great" Elise drawled nervously as she snarled at both Paula and Ernesto as soon as she saw them getting out of the car.
As soon as Vino saw Elise approaching, he was shocked to see her here. He had thought she would be over at the warehouse where her mother was but he liked the fact that he met her here.
"I'm surprised to see you here Elise, who would have thought you weren't in the next car running off to your mother" Vino commented his thought sarcastically at her as he moved towards her.
Paula stood glaring at the vicious lady in front of her trying to rein down her anger by clenching her fists. "Violent isn't what we need now, Amor" Ernesto told her as he stepped towards her, hugging her to himself trying to calm his wife from carrying out her threat.
"I'm not in the mood for pleasantries. I need to know if my mother is alright before the exchange" Elise asked him standing in front of Vino, raising her eyes to his face with anger in them.
Vino scoffed "Really?" He asked her, his hands already going to his suit pocket. He brought out his phone and showed her the picture of her mother sleeping soundly on the bed.
Elise swallowed the lumps of tears in her eyes before forcing herself to talk "How do I know this is real and not one of her pictures in the hospital?"
"Here," Vino told her as he showed her the time and date the picture was taken. Which was thirty minutes ago. He was so glad he stopped by at the hospital to take a shot of her mother who was resting but Elise didn't need to know that...
"Now can I see my woman," Vino told her while stepping back to allow her room for herself?
Elise frowned at him. She couldn't tell him how hearing him call Skylar made her sick. She wanted to tell him exactly that but seeing the murderous look on his face caused her to snap her mouth shut in a second before nodding at him. Of course, he couldn't be happy with her after the fact that she had done terrible things to him. She should be glad he isn't sending her to prison.
"Bring her out" Elise called to Camille while forcing herself from her straying thoughts. There was no need to cry for spilled milk. Vino could never be hers but she will make Skylar pay...
Vino gasped as soon as he saw the person ushering Skylar out from the other room "Why couldn't I be surprised? Birds of the same feathers flock together" Vino called to Camille as he rushed to take Skylar from her hands. He was shocked and disappointed to know that she was aiding Elise but he comforted himself knowing they would rot in prison.
Skylar looked up at Vino's face which was full of smiles and compassion for her. She let her hands trace his brown eyes that always mesmerized her, his well-pointed nose, his kissable lips before focusing on his eyes. She couldn't believe she was in his hands.
"Vino!" Skylar called softly, she struggled to hold on to him as she was going limp, her eyes were closing as she struggled between darkness and Vino's face. The darkness won as she succumbed to it but not before she heard Vino's last word.
"It's alright, baby. You are safe with me"
"What's wrong with her? Is she alright?" Vino turned to Paula who was looking at her with a worried expression on her face as she rushed to his side trying to shake Skylar awake.
"She's fine. Just tired, I guess. I doubt they've been feeding her well. Contact Doctor Clinton" Vino instructed Paula as he carried Skylar bridal style to his car, he got into it and sped off into the night with Paula and her husband right behind her.