I'm Very Thirsty

 Griffin's POV.

 I took the thin cloth that Gloria said was a blanket, folded it several times and I lay face down on the basement ground. I tried my hand to reach the water droplets so that the cloth in my hand could catch the water droplets. My lips smiled when I saw what I was doing was working. Maybe by waiting a few moments I will get water to wet my throat which is already very dry.

 "Please speed up the dripping. I'm very thirsty, I want to drink."

 I said softly while continuing to pay attention to the cloth which was almost completely wet. The cloth was on top of my hand so that it was not directly exposed to the basement soil, only the top of the basement. However, I feel this water is clean enough and I can use it for drinking. Waiting for a few more moments, the cloth in my hand was already wet.

 Pulling my hand back, the cloth was already very wet and there were even droplets coming from it. I smiled and without waiting long immediately directed the cloth to my mouth. So that more water would drip, I also squeezed the cloth. The taste of this water is a little strange and unpleasant, but it's better than having to endure thirst here. I don't know when Gloria will come back and bring me a glass of water. This way I will feel thirsty again in quite a long time.

 The rain outside continued. The air in the basement felt colder. The walls and basement floor also felt cold. I sat my body down without leaning against the wall, I also had no intention of lying down on the damp and cold basement ground. Even though I felt lucky before that I was able to drink, now I regret it a little. The only cloth I have is now wet, I can no longer use it to cover my body. I might shiver from cold if I do that.

 Suddenly there was a sound from the door at the end of the stairs. My eyes looked there and a few seconds later I saw the open door. Gloria entered the basement without closing the door and I could see the top of the basement, although only a little.

 "Sorry I was late bringing you breakfast."

 "Is it morning already?" I asked who actually asked.

 "Uhm ... actually it's not early anymore, in fact it's almost noon." Gloria placed food and drinks on a small table close to where I was sitting. "Rain makes me feel lazy about preparing food."

 After the food and drinks were on the small table, Gloria reached into her shirt pocket. I watched her movements and body. Too bad, I didn't see any keys hanging like yesterday. If I had known there were keys in Gloria's pocket or even hanging out like yesterday, I would have tried to take them. Moreover, Gloria is currently busy with her smartphone, maybe she won't realize what I'm doing.

 For a while he struggled with the smartphone in his hand. Gloria looked at me. He looked into my eyes intently and for a few moments there was no conversation between me and him. Instead of lowering my head, I chose to look back at him. I don't want to look weak in front of Gloria, as mom has said that we must always look strong.

 "Do you want to talk to your mom?"

 My eyes opened wider than usual. I immediately nodded my head. "Can I do it?"

 "Of course you can easily do it." Gloria's fingers pulled over her smartphone again. "If you still want to be safe, don't tell your mother about me, the basement and this house. Do you understand?"

 I nodded my head. "Do you want to talk first?"

 "Of course, don't talk before I let you talk."

 "Okay."

 Voice calls started to be heard. Gloria was still not far next to me. Every now and then I looked at the pocket on her dress, looking for keys that I might be able to steal from there, but I couldn't find them.

 The voice call started connecting and I could hear mom's voice. As Gloria previously said, I didn't make a sound at all.

 "How is it, Amelie? Have you succeeded in doing it?" Gloria started to speak.

 "I'm still trying to negotiate." 

 "Oh, my gosh, don't you feel sorry for Griffin? He doesn't eat at all here, I don't want to give him food. Apparently your boy is quite spoiled too, he can't sleep if he's not on a soft and comfortable mattress. , but I'm reluctant to give him a bed." Gloria sighed. "What does he think? I'm kidnapping him, not taking him on holiday."

 I felt a little annoyed because Gloria didn't telling the truth. I feel like I can't stop myself from talking. "Everything she said was a lie, Mom."

 "Griffin." Mom called, I could hear it clearly before Gloria finally turned off the call.

 "I told you not to speak first, Griffin! Why didn't you obey me?! You need to be punished!"

 "That's because you didn't say it right!" I said defending myself, on the other hand I also didn't want to make mom worry so I dared to say that.

 "You destroyed my good intentions."

 "It's your fault too."

 "You dare blame me, little brat?!" Gloria looked very angry. "I wanted to be nice to you, but you refused. I won't be nice to you anymore!"

 Moving from where she was, Gloria returned to take the plate of food and glass of drink she had brought earlier. From where I sat, I watched Gloria's back walking away. I couldn't see the outside of the basement anymore because the basement door was closed. One thing I saw clearly, this house was quite nice even though I only saw a small part of it.

 My hand rubbed my stomach which felt hungry. My body felt weak and just sitting felt hard enough. I decided to lie down on the damp basement ground. Both of my hands hugged my own body. I don't know how long I will have to endure this feeling of hunger, especially since the rain has already started, which means I won't get water to drink from the raindrops like before.

 I sighed and tried to fall asleep on the ground in the basement which was not at all comfortable. My left hand, which already felt sore, had to be used to support my head so that it wasn't too difficult. My eyes were closed and as if I had only been asleep for a few moments, my ears heard the sound of a door that seemed to be opening. I immediately went to wait for Gloria to come.

 "Do you want to eat and drink?"

 This time I immediately nodded my head. "I--I feel hungry."

 Gloria snorted, she put the plate of food and glass of water near the stairs, not near where I was. "Take it, you can't act all spoiled while you're here."