My house seemed undisturbed. Quiet. Perhaps too quiet. I stumbled through all the rooms on the ground floor, not seeing any evidence of Maya. My heart rate increased. I pounded up the stairs, feeling them groan under my weight, and collapsed to the side of my bed, weak with relief; she was sound asleep, my duvet furled around her little body. I heard a step behind me. Mathers. I jumped to my feet, digging my toes into the carpet. Before I could articulate any questions, he pushed me back, and pinned me against the wall.
'What are you do-' He spat in my face.
'What am I doing? What are you doing, bringing dirty immigrant brats back from foreign countries?!'
'What? I have no idea what you're talking about.' I had to choke the words out as his fingers restricted my oesophagus.
'Oh, ok. So that bandaged freak in your bed, who's she meant to be?'
'She- is, my niece!'
'That none of us have ever seen or heard of!'
'Why would you be interested in my personal li-'
'You idiot! You'd have asked for time off work to look after her if she was! You think I'm stupid, is that it?!'
'She, is my niece!' With that, he grabbed my neck and threw me to the floor, proceeding to hold me down with one hand, whilst repeatedly smacking my head on the floor till I felt a steady stream of liquid oozing from above my ear. From the corner of my eye, I saw a couple of crimson droplets being absorbed into the once cream carpet.
'You're car, you idiot! I know you left it at work on Friday! Why?! And do you usually sleep with your night light on, Jones? I know you're a baby but, even for you!'
'What?' I managed to gargle, despite the spit congealing with blood in my mouth.
'There was a light on. In your room. ALL NIGHT. I know it wasn't for you.'
'Yes! It was for her! But she really is my nie-'
'Give it UP! Don't you think it's a little convenient that she happens to have bandages, bruises and burn marks?! I know you weren't re-fuelling your tank! You were trying to play hero, and rescue some scummy foreign brat! You idiot! You're going to pay for compromising the war!'
'Compromising the- the war?'
'Yes! Are you deaf as well as stupid?! You're going to do exactly what I tell you, or she won't live to see me grind your face into the dirt.' It only then struck me. If Maya had been asleep, she'd have woken up due to the noise. He'd drugged her.
'What have you done to her?!'
'Shut up, Jones! I'm in charge, remember? I have another little mission, especially for you, ok? And you're going to do it, no questions asked, or I will slit her throat and drown you in her blood!' I gulped, quivering. No answers came into my brain. I was stuck.
'So here's the deal, Jones. You're going to get into your little plane, follow the directions I will distribute via your earpiece. You will subsequently exit your craft, and follow more directions, wherein you plant another little device for me. And I will be watching. And you will do it, because you know I will kill her if you don't. And then turn you into the authorities. There's a war on, Jones. You will be prosecuted. Between you and me, I think we both know that you'll get more than a slap on the wrist. In fact, you'll be lucky to keep your wrists.'
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