Knox motions ahead. Sure enough, Dad stands in the front row, but he’s not alone.
Jonathan and Aiden King are beside him.
What…?
The urge to go and stand by his side overwhelms me. I should be beside my father just like Aiden is beside his.
A sense of calm falls over me when Teal inches closer to Dad. I can feel her determination all the way from over here.
Go, Teal.
“Ladies and Gentleman.” Tristan’s voice commands the entire hall. “We are honoured to have you here. Your donations for the orphans’ association are bound to save lives and offer hope for people without any.”
He goes on to talk about the association and the number of children they’re helping. I steal a glance at Aiden, but he appears completely engrossed in the speech. His poker face is strapped in place; his demeanour screams calm.
I can do that, too. I can act as if nothing happened.
Tristan raises a toast to the money raised tonight then continues, “I would like to take this chance to thank everyone who participated in the growth of the Rhodes Conglomerate. We have enormous plans for the future. For that, we have recruited two of the best companies as potential partners.”
Tristan tips his glass in Dad and Jonathan’s direction. “Mr King, Mr Steel. May the best one win.”
Everyone raises their glasses, Dad and Jonathan included.
The look in their eyes can only mean ‘Game on’.
Aiden spins around and his cloudy eyes meet mine. He doesn’t have to search for me as if he knew exactly where I stood. Even though his expression is unreadable, I’m almost sure that his thoughts match mine.
The real war has started.
10
Aiden
Past
I pace the length of the basement as far as the chains would let me.
They rattle behind me, their heavy clink is the only sound surrounding me in the looming darkness.
No idea if it’s night or day. Back home, I associated the dark with nighttime, but there doesn’t seem to be a sense of time in this place.
The red woman didn’t show up.
I’m never sure if she’ll hug me or hit me across the face, telling me to bring back her son.
There’s also the girl who looks like a doll — Elsa. It’s been a long time since she came by.
Time here is so messed up. It feels as if I’ve been trapped for two months.
Maybe it’s less. Maybe it’s more.
Mum used to say that when you’re free, time flies by, but it becomes long when you’re trapped. I didn’t understand her back then, but now I do. Time is weird that way. Time is endless and short all at once.
The door slowly creaks open. I come to a halt, the chains slowly hissing to a stop, too.
It’s the girl.
The red woman wouldn’t open the door slowly, she’d barge in, sometimes startling me from sleep.