11: Help me to help you

"Hey, Hannah" she greeted. "Hey there, missy"

Hannah wrapped one arm around Theresa and smiled at her, "I didn't expect to see home by now. Shouldn't you be in school?"

Hannah noticed Ramon's body language switch to one of visible discomfort.

She couldn't tell if he was more worried of her telling Theresa that she was kidnapped by her older brother or the reason Theresa would give for not being in school.

"I can't be in school?" She replied casually.

"Why not?" Hannah was genuinely concerned.

"Cause I'm too sick and I don't want to faint in front of everyone anymore"

"Theresa!" Ramon snapped.

"Don't yell at me!" The girl snapped back, "it's not like I'm lying"

Ramon let out a frustrated groan.

"I told you not to follow me up here. I specifically told you not to follow me up....."

"Can i have some of your cookies, Hannah?"

Theresa asked, completely ignoring her brother's visible annoyance and It took everything in Hannah to stop her from laughing out loud.

"Yeah, sure thing," Hannah reached into the bag and pulled out two cookies and handed one to Theresa, "Here you go kid”

Theresa unwrapped the cookie and began eating.

"I remember giving you cookies of your own"

Ramon said and Theresa scoffed.

"And I don't remember them being enough" she replied in her most sassy of tones.

"Why didn't you tell me then?"

"Because you were in too much of a hurry to come see your girlfriend"

Hannah almost chocked on her cookie.

"Girlfriend?"

"That's what she thinks you are to me," Ramon explained, "I still have no idea how she managed to come to that conclusion "

"Well, he's up here most of the time and he's always getting you stuff" the girl explained.

"Maybe, that's because he's just being a nice person. That does not make me his girlfriend you know"

"So, you're not his girlfriend?" Theresa asked.

Hannah shook her head.

"Well, would you like to be his girlfriend?" She asked.

"Theresa!"

Ramon got to his feet and began to walk to where she lay on the other side of the bed.

"He really could use one, Hannah. You're really pretty too. I really like your hair as well"

Ramon pulled Theresa by the legs and lifted her into his arms.

She kicked and pushed and complained but Ramon did not budge.

Hannah watched them and smiled. She couldn't help but feel a little envious. As an only child, she had never had the pleasure of having siblings that got on her nerves.

Meanwhile, Ramon placed Theresa outside the door and the girl frowned at him.

"Why won't you ever let me be happy?!" She yelled at him.

"What are you even talking about?”

"I just wanted to say hi to Hannah!"

"And I told you to stay downstairs"

"You're so mean!" She accused.

"Go downstairs, Theresa," and with his sternest voice added, "right now!"

Theresa stood her ground for a while but when she saw that Ramon was not playing around she turned around and walked away.

Unknown to both of them, Hannah smiled fondly at both of them.

After Theresa had gone on her way, Ramon exhaled and shut the door as he walked back into the room.

He felt embarrassed that his sister had asked Hannah to be his girlfriend but what he felt even more embarrassed about was the fact that he considered the possibility.

Ramon immediately banished the thought.

He had kidnapped her in broad daylight and at gun point for that matter.

He'll always be her captor and she would always be his hostage.

This dynamic did not create room for any form of romance.

Right now he had to focus on getting the ransom money and getting Hannah back to her old life.

"Hey, I'm really sorry about that" Ramon apologized.

Hannah laughed and shook her head.

"She's really cute"

"A handful is what she is"

"I would love to have my hands full with someone like her"

"Yeah yeah" he said and managed a chuckle.

"Something you want to say?" She asked and he sighed.

"Look Hannah, I'm sorry that I kidnapped you okay. But the thing is, I'm in a very bad spot right now"

he began and Hannah looked away.

"Theresa huh?" She asked.

"I am a carpenter and the money in my account cannot begin to cover the expenses"

"I can't go back"

"Why? Please, you have to call your family. I know that they have money" he pleaded.

"I don't have a family!" She snapped.

"I'm about to lose my only family!" He yelled back.

Hannah sighed and pushed the bag of treats away.

"I would also like to get some rest. My ankle is starting to hurt again"

"You cannot be serious!" He paced back and forth, his growing frustration palpable, "All you literally have to do is give me a number to call. Any freaking number at all! Theresa is all that I have left"

"I know" she replied quietly.

"Then help me out here! She's...."

He took a deep breath as he struggled with the word, "She might be playing around right now but she is sick okay."

"How sick?"

"That's none of your business"

"I cannot be of any help to you, Ramon. Once I'm fully healed you can choose to either cut me loose or put a bullet in my head"

"What the hell, Hannah!"

She looked up at him and finally met his eyes.

"I will NOT go back there"

"You would rather I put a bullet in your head? Do you even hear the words that are coming out of your mouth?"

"Did you?" She asked, "Nothing under this sun will take me back there"

Ramon wanted to say something but he could not bring himself to utter another word.

He could not understand what could have strengthened her resolve so much? How could she pick death over her loved ones?

He glared at her and walked out of the room.

Hannah screamed into her pillow. She had gotten too comfortable and forgot her place.

She was a hostage and regardless of how kindly this man treated her, he only needed her for one thing.

Ransom money.

She wished that she could open up and tell him the reason that she could not help him.

Theodore was a terrifying monster that had no sense of empathy and would beat her right into a hospital bed if she went back to him.

She wondered if Ramon would have a change of heart if she explained her situation to him?

Sure, getting the ransom money from Theodore would save the little girl's life but what about her life?

She had no family or friends that would seek justice for her if her husband killed her.

He was a powerful man and could easily bribe the entire situation under the carpet.

Who would mourn her? Hannah lay down and stared at the ceiling.

She touched the locket that her father had given her and wondered.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if she went to be with her father.

She hoped that he was waiting for her.

She wiped a tear that fell down her face.

She missed him so much.