36 — Catarina Rowedder
“Baby, I’m pregnant, she said
And I saw my whole life flash before my eyes
There wasn't much planning
We’re going to be fine, there won’t be a right time.”
A beautiful life — Christopher
I wake up scared and tied up, feeling lethargic and sore.
Calm down, Catarina! This is not the time to panic. — I repeat several times, like a mantra, until my breathing calms down and my heart returns to its normal rhythm.
Oh God! My baby! It's going to be okay my little one, it's going to be okay!
“Mom dreamed about you, you know? Will he really be a beautiful boy, with a sweet voice like he appeared? I already love you more than anything and we are going to leave here, I promise you that we will be with daddy soon.”
I feel my eyes water, just imagining Noah's despair at not meeting me as we agreed and my chest tightens for not having told him about my suspicions sooner. My heart is torn apart because we are not celebrating this blessing as we should.
I search the place with my eyes, hoping to find any item that will help me free my wrists. Then, I'll find a way to get out of here — a place I don't even know where it is — before whoever comes back.
? What beautiful rubbish!
? There's nothing but dirt and debris, which isn't even close to helping me with anything.
I close my eyes, thinking about how long I must have been here, I believe it's been a good few hours, I'm sure they'll find me soon. I have no idea how, but I know that Thomaz's team is agile and Noah won't calm down until he finds me. However, I can't stand by and wait for the prince to arrive on the white horse to save the damsel in distress.
I open my eyelids and look at the place again, in the middle of searching, I see a piece of metal — something I can't identify — close to where I am, I try to move, but a painful sting hits my abdomen, making me compress. the air in the lungs.
— No! — I whisper, with difficulty. — Calm down, my sweetheart. — I breathe in the air and flex my legs, trying to calm the pain that rips through me. —Mommy is going to get us out of here, please bear with me, my little angel. Daddy will be with us soon. — I let a tear escape. — You know, my love, mom has been through a lot and everything has only made me stronger. It won't be any different now. I'll be strong for both of us, little one.
I try to control my breathing, when I feel dizzy, my vision becomes blurred and suddenly everything goes blank.
— Wake up, sleeping beauty! — I hear a distant voice. — Come on, you bitch! — I feel a kick in my legs, I instinctively shrink to protect my belly. — This isn't your luxury vacation. — I am hit by a slap in the face. I resist.
I slowly open my eyes, feeling dizzy, the man is very close, which makes the urge dominate my body.
— Here — he bends down, leaving a plate with food and a bottle of water next to where I am —, eat. The boss will need you — he whispers in my ear — with a lot of energy and disposition, bitch!
I swallow hard, with my mind oscillating between panic, disgust and the desire to run far away, however, I question myself: Why me? What do I have that is valuable to them?
He unties my wrists, but ties one of them again, next to a metal, attached to the wall behind me.
— Don't be funny, no one will find you here. Did you understand? — I wave in a positive gesture.
I will get out of here. I need to think and not act on impulse, they are not kidding and there is someone else depending on me.
His cell phone starts ringing and the man moves away to answer it, leaving through a door I hadn't noticed, close to where I am. I crane my neck to look through it, but I can't tell if it's day or night.
What a snot!
My stomach moves, wanting to taste the mess they brought me, however, the possibility that they mixed something in there makes me avoid getting close, I need to stay sane, or we won't get out of here alive.
A few minutes pass before he returns, giving me a look that sends shivers down my spine.
— I think it's good to eat, like I said, the boss doesn't want you weak. The merchandise has to be ready. — He opens a disgusting smile. — No funny business, slut.
— Because I? — I question in a low voice.
— You are too valuable to the boss. And with this beauty, we will be well rewarded. — Having said that, he left, leaving me perplexed.
I take a deep breath, I need strength and to keep my mind clear. Well, at least I have one free hand now, I just have to untie the other.
And I'll make it, or my name won't be Catarina.
I don't know when I dozed off, however, I feel caresses on my face, my eyelids are still heavy, making it difficult to open them.
— You look like an angel. — A serene voice sounds next to me.
I shift, forcing my eyes to open, with some difficulty, to check if I'm really delirious or there's someone next to me. I've heard this voice before, but I don't know at what point.
My head is getting confused. Damn it!
— Calm down, I want to help you. They're not here right now... — It's an almost childish sound.
I look ahead and see a boy — beautiful — light eyes and blond hair, however, an expression of eagerness crosses his face.
“Hi,” I murmur, my throat dry.
— Hi, here — he hands me a bottle of water — I got it for you myself.
I take a sip, almost drowning, as if I had been in a desert for days. Now, I can analyze him better, he must be about ten years old.
Oh God! What's a boy like him doing here?
— Who are you my love? — I ask. — It's a dangerous place, you shouldn't be here.
— I'm Tyler. I've lived here since my mother was murdered, by these same men. I hid so I wouldn't have to go to an orphanage. — he answers, with his eyes downcast. — The first day I saw you, I came here and you told me a name. Can you tell me who you are and where you are? I'm going to ask for help, you need to get out of here, these men are bad.
— Tyler, what a beautiful name. I'm Catarina — introduce myself. — Do you have anything that can untie this hand, here? So we can both get out of this place.
— I think so. But what if they arrive? — he asks. — I'll try to untie it, but in a way that makes it look like it's still tied, okay?
— Yes. I'll explain how far you should go and call for help. You don't need to be afraid, because they will take care of you too — I communicate, because I see fear on your face.
He's so beautiful, and I don't know if it's my hormones, but I feel like he's mine to take care of.
After releasing my wrist, he returns with a notebook and a pencil. I am amazed, because if you live here, you must depend on donations and my heart breaks. My head already imagines a thousand ways to help him, however, I will only focus on that after we leave here.
I give him Foster's address and then he comments that it will be easy to find, as he has already traveled to Manhattan a few times, knowing how to find his way around the streets there, he also tells me that at the moment, we are in the most dangerous place in the world. suburb.
I instructed him to ask for Noah or Gael as soon as he arrived at the company's door and he asked me not to try anything until he returned with help.
— Can you tell me how long I've been here?
— It's been two days now. You can't see it from here, but it's early afternoon already. I'm going to go there now, and call for help. — I see him fumbling with a pocket of the torn coat he wears. — Here, keep it in case you need to defend yourself. I come back. — Give me a box cutter.
A child like him should be playing, studying and not living in this solitary way, however, I myself know that, in this life, not everything is as we wish.
He caresses my face and goes, while I admire him, wanting to know more about this little angel.