Chapter 384 The Little Girl
The man forcefully removed Billy's hand from his own, admonishing him with a stern voice, "I've told you already, stay put and stop entertaining such nonsense." His words hung in the air for a moment before he fell silent, the door closing behind him with a resounding thud.
The room was immediately swallowed by darkness, the only light source being the moonlight that filtered in through the window, casting an eerie, cold glow. Billy's face drained of color, his lips pressed into a tight line as he retreated to a corner of the room, his eyes darting around nervously.
He was, after all, a mere child of four years. It was impossible for him not to feel fear in such a small, enclosed, and dark space. Yet, he managed to stifle his fear, holding back the tears that threatened to spill from his eyes. He held onto the belief that Uncle Gordon and Mommy would surely come to his rescue.
Time seemed to stretch on endlessly in the dark room. Suddenly, a faint rustling sound from outside broke the silence. Billy's heart pounded in his chest, his ears straining to catch any hint of the source. It sounded as though someone was attempting to pry open the door.
His nerves frayed, Billy swallowed hard. He remembered the desolate surroundings of the place he had been brought to. Could it be a wild beast approaching? Images of ferocious creatures, their bloody maws wide open, flashed through his mind.
His face paled further as he frantically scanned the room for something, anything, to defend himself with. But the room was bare, devoid of even a single mouse, let alone a weapon. On the brink of tears, Billy pressed himself against the corner, his gaze fixed anxiously on the door.
Suddenly, a woman's voice from outside broke the silence. "Miss, you gave me quite a fright! What are you doing here?"
Billy was momentarily stunned, realizing that it wasn't a wild animal outside, but a person.
"I overheard my uncles talking about a boy my age who arrived tonight. I want to see what he looks like," a sweet, innocent voice replied. Billy's blue eyes sparkled with curiosity. There was another person outside, and it was a little girl.
"Let's not linger here. Come back with me before the Madam starts to worry," the woman urged.
"No, I want to see him! Ellie, help me open the door; I can't reach the lock!"
"Are you sure, Miss? I must warn you, the boy inside is the one they've kidnapped. If he escapes, Mr. Stov will kill me."
"He won't, Ellie, don't worry. My dad adores me; he'd do anything for me if I shed a few tears. Please, Ellie, help me open the door."
Their conversation, conducted in Spanish, reached Billy's ears. A flicker of hope ignited in his heart as he realized the little girl was trying to persuade someone to open the door.
From their exchange, he gleaned some information. The little girl seemed to be around his age and could possibly be the daughter of his kidnapper, the leader!
"Alright, but the door is locked. We'll need a key to open it. Please, Miss, don't wander off. I'll fetch someone to open the door," the woman finally conceded.
"Okay, but be quick," the little girl responded in her sweet, innocent voice.
The area fell silent once more. Billy hesitated for a moment before slowly rising to his feet and approaching the door. He pressed his ear against the cold wood, listening for any signs of movement. Should he make a run for it as soon as the door opened, or should he use the little girl as a hostage to ensure his escape?
"Ellie, why are you taking so long? Is anyone in there? Are you asleep, little boy? Don't sleep; someone will open the door soon. Come out and play with me..." The little girl's chatter filled the silence, sometimes in Spanish, sometimes in English. Her sweet, innocent voice reminded Billy of his sister. He remained silent, comforted by the presence of someone outside, his fear somewhat abated.
Soon, the voice of the maid could be heard again. "Miss."
"Ellie, open the door quickly. I'm so bored."
"Coming."
The sound of the door being unlocked filled the room. Billy quickly retreated to the side, pressing his small body against the wall as he watched the door with bated breath.
The door creaked open, and a beam of light pierced the darkness, illuminating the room. Billy clenched his small fists, fighting the instinct to flee. He knew he couldn't just dash out recklessly. He was unfamiliar with his surroundings; where could he possibly run to? It seemed wiser to bide his time, to observe and wait for a more opportune moment to escape.
Suddenly, the flashlight's beam landed on his face. The harsh light was a shock to his system, causing him to instinctively shut his eyes and raise a hand to shield himself. Amidst the confusion, he heard the high-pitched, innocent voice of a little girl.
"There really is a boy here."
"Miss, don't go over there," a maid's voice interjected, her tone laced with anxiety. She attempted to restrain the little girl, who seemed intent on approaching Billy.
"Why can't I go over? Ellie, I want to play with him," the little girl protested in her childlike voice.
"No, he was captured. What if he hurts you? Miss, you can only stay here and watch," the maid said.
"No, I want to play with him. He won't hurt me." The little girl broke free from the maid's grasp and approached Billy. "Hello, can I take you out?"
In the dimly lit room, Billy could barely make out the little girl's features, but her large, bright eyes were unmistakable. Her voice, so innocent and naive, stirred something within him. She reminded him of Samantha, his little sister back home.
Meanwhile, Samantha, oblivious to her brother's predicament, rubbed her reddened eyes and sneezed.
"Let's go," the little girl said, reaching out to take Billy's hand. Her touch was soft and tender, reminiscent of a baby's cheek. Billy didn't resist; he held her hand. It seemed a better option to leave with her than to stay in this dark, unfamiliar place.
"No, Miss, he can't leave," a man's voice boomed from the doorway. The man who had opened the door was now brandishing a weapon, barring their way.
"You step aside. I'm taking him away!" the little girl retorted, her chin raised defiantly. Her voice was youthful but carried a hint of stubbornness.
The man looked conflicted. "Miss, don't put me in a difficult position. He is a hostage taken by Mr. Stovall. If he goes missing, my life will be in danger."
The little girl tightened her grip on Billy's hand. "He won't go missing; I'll take him to my room to play."
"But..."
"Millie, where are you?" At this moment, a young woman's anxious voice came from outside.
"Miss, it's Madam," the maid hurriedly ran out, "Madam, Miss is here."
The woman walked in quickly, calling out, "Millie."
"Mommy, look, I found a new friend," the little girl, Millie, said, leading Billy towards the young woman.
The young woman's brows furrowed as she glanced at the man with the gun. "What's going on?"
"Madam, this is the child Mr. Stov's man had captured," the man explained.
The young woman looked taken aback; her fingers tightened as she scrutinized Billy from head to toe. "Are you European?" she asked.
Billy nodded.
A flicker of pity crossed the young woman's eyes, but she remained silent.
"Mommy, it's so dark here. The little boy must be scared. Can we take him home to play?" Millie asked.
The woman pondered for a moment before agreeing, "Alright."
"Madam, but..." the man began to protest but was cut off.
"If there's a problem, I'll take responsibility," the woman declared, taking Millie's hand and leading her away.
Millie chuckled and held Billy's hand tightly, "Don't be scared. My Mommy is the gentlest."
Billy looked up at the woman, and thought of his mommy.
His mommy was the gentlest in the world.
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