Depths of a River

Chapter 31- Cleone's Story

He gave us each a glass and took a sip of his own. Everyone was silent. I was aware of how bad I looked. My hair was a mess and my eyes were puffy. He turned on the television and we watched a comedy while drinking the water. His parents glanced at me every now and then.

I couldn't stop thinking about Cleone. I had no clue what was going on, but I figured that she was in a lot of trouble.

His mother later said she's going to make us the supper and walked to the kitchen. I excused myself to go and sit on the balcony for some fresh air. I stood up and walked outside. The wind was cold and it was dark already. It made me sadder, because I knew my sister was out there. I didn't know if she was safe or even alive. I burst out crying over the thought of her being gone; she was then only person I had left of my close family. I stood there looking over the river, crying. I felt someone's arms around me; I turned around to see Rodrique holding me from behind. He rested his head on my shoulder, and I hugged his arms in front of me. We had stood in that position for quite some time before his mother called us inside for supper.

We all sat around the table and ate the stir-fry she made. I didn't realize how hungry I was until I started eating. His parent went home after the meal to their hotel room that they had checked into.

Rodrique and I went to bed right after they left. He stroked my bare back until I fell asleep.

A week went by, and we didn't hear anything from the police or Cleone. The house was also unoccupied. I stayed with Rodrique for this time. He brought my cats to the hotel for this time. They were house cats, so it was easy for them to adapt. I didn't go to work either. My boss said that I should take this time off and get better. I slept most of the time and helped Rodrique with cooking.

The Monday after, I decided to go back to my apartment. I liked it at Rodrique's but I had to face the reality of Cleone being gone. I moved back and took everything with me including my cats. I went back to work also. Only half day at first and later the week I stayed until everybody went home.

I walked into my office and saw Galilani sitting on the edge of my table. She handed me a sandwich when I reached her.

"Is everything going well?" She asked after I had told her the whole story of the men that abducted me and Cleone.

"I'm coping; the only thing that's making me crazy is that I don't know if she's alive." I said to her while taking a bite out of the sandwich.

"Rodrique really cares about you; don't push him away. I know you are hurting, but you need somebody in your life like him." She said with a pitiful smile.

"I know, I'm not, I just need a bit of time but he knows and understands me." I said to her.

After we had eaten our sandwiches, she jumped off the table, walked around and gave me a hug from the side before she left.

I drove home after work, still roaming the streets, searching for Cleone.

I walked up to my front door and paused momentarily in front of it. I was getting back flashes every now and then from the kidnapping. I had a vision that if I open the door the two men will grab me again. I shook my head to get the thought away and unlocked the door. I walked inside and sat my bags on the counter in the kitchen. I heard the floor crack upstairs. I froze immediately. I couldn't move. I was so scared that it was the men that came back for me. I turned around and opened the kitchen drawer and slowly took out a butcher's knife then turned towards the stairs again. I thought twice before stepping forward. I walked really slowly up the stairs. The light of the bathroom was on, I never leave it on. I snuck around the corner towards the bathroom but before I could go inside somebody touched my arm from behind. I jumped around quickly.

"Shh... It's me." A soft voice said. It was Cleone.

I dropped the knife to the floor. I hugged her so hard that she stumbled backwards into my room. I switched on my bedroom light to see her better. She had scars all over her arms and her lip was cut open. Both her eyes had dark circles under them. She had on the same clothes that I saw her in, the day I was kidnapped. I took both her arms and led her to sit on the bed.

"Where have you been. What is going on? I need to know now." I said to her while sitting next to her on the bed.

"I'm sorry Addy. I didn't know things will go this far. I wanted it to go away, but it got worse." She said with wide teary eyes.

"Who were those guys? Do you know what they want?" I asked her concerned.

"They are part of a gang. They are drug dealers. I should have never gotten involve. But it's too late now." She said, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"We should go to the police, now!" I said and pulled her arm, so she could get up.

"No! We can't. They will hurt everyone we love.

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