Part one
" Ryan. Get up. I am making breakfast. " She called from the small made up kitchen. Her hands working with a habit of nearly six years now. She applied little butter for namesake on his bread. She couldn't afford to waste it, after all they got it just three weeks ago.
She heard Ryan washing his face in the small wash basin attached to the corner of the mini bathroom. He knew better than to mess up with daily schedule. They had to be ready for breakfast no matter what.
His small hands tapped on the tattered table he sat sliding his equally old and torn out chair. She smiled at him through her weak hope.
All the breakfast was ready. She laid it on table. And stood beside Ryan placing her soft hands on his shoulders. They heard the sound of " Beep " And went on Alert mode. She erased every evidence of smile from her face and kept her mouth into a straight line.
He walked in Yawning loudly to get her attention. She hated to breathe in the same air as him. He nearly fell on the chair.
She put the plate in front of him. And coffee. He without uttering any single word started to eat. She too ate in silence. Ryan was well accustomed too. He never behaved like kids his age. He never threw tantrums. Well not in front of him.
" Actually... " She hated to do it. The worst part. Her talking to him. " If you could get us one new notebook. The others are full. I mean only if you were going to the market. " She said when he finally finished eating. She could only see him from the corner of her eyes. She never looked at his face. Because surely she would throw up looking at him.
" Hmm. " He replied. She nodded too with the same expression of hers. Neutral.
He stood up to wash his hands. She took the dirty plates and put them in sink. Ryan went back to his room like he was supposed to be.
" Have you washed my clothes? " He asked wiping his hands with kitchen towel.
" Yes. They are here. " She replied, with a dead tone without looking at him.
He came closer to her, getting the clothes from her. His tall frame leaning over her. She felt her anxiety growing in her veins. He took hold of the clothes, in the process touching her hands. She instantly took two steps back. He exhaled angrily but didn't say anything.
He never messed up with her in the morning. Because he had to work. He couldn't afford going late. After all, him loosing every job in six months was an example he needed to be more disciplined. But that only made her and Ryan's life difficult. He won't but them anything even though he could afford everything without a job.
" See you tonight then. Wear something sexy. It's going to be my first day at work. " He walked out of the basement. She heard the beep sound and then it was silent. Ryan came out of his safe zone and checked onto her. She knew it by his face that he was expecting some sort of bruise on her face like always. But now she had left the urge to fight. She didn't want Ryan to witness all that.
" Can i watch TV? " He asked innocently. Before she could say anything he continued " The notebooks are full and we have nothing else to do. Please.. " She smiled at him and nodded.
He ran to his so called crumpled room with a mattress and blanket. The tv was set right in front of his mattress.
Her room was different than Ryan's. She had a queen sized old bed and a small table beside it. Because "he" would sleep with her every night. She hated him. She wanted to be with her baby boy. But he wouldn't allow. He feared they would develop a bond and would outsmart him.
She cleaned the room and changed sheets. They smelled of his Cologne from last night. After settling everything again in its position she went on to clean the bathroom and toilet.
A newspaper clip was clipped beside the shining mirror.
" 21 year old girl missing!! Help police find her " .
It was six years ago. She had tried to get rid of it many times but he won't let her remove it. He says it should be here. To keep her reminding about how there was no escape. It was all useless.
She ran out of the bathroom like always overwhelmed by her emotions. Her eyes fell on Ryan laughing watching cartoons. He was her everything. Even though he was a result of rape but she loved him more than anything.
She found little sunlight seeping through an open hole from the ceiling. And watched it without blinking. She laid there thinking about how she got there. And the monster would be home again in the evening. But she wanted to him here. Because she didn't want to die locked here if something happened to him.
For the outer world, neither she nor Ryan existed. Only he was her one last option to escape, to survive and to die..
How's it????? 💜💜