5: A different kind of man

Hannah woke up with a start. She groaned loudly, her head pounding.

She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through her ankle.

It was then that she took into account her surroundings and she found she was back in the small, room she had been kept in for the past few weeks.

Above her was Ramon, his face etched with concern, she wondered how long he had been standing there.

He immediately sat next to her when he noticed she was up and taking her by the shoulders gently pushed her back down on the bed.

"Easy," he said, his voice gentle. "Are you feeling okay? You twisted your ankle."

Hannah tried to pull away, but he held her steady.

"What happened?" she asked, her voice weak, “I don’t remember much”

“Dios mío. Don’t tell me you hit your head too?”

Ramon was trying not to panic. He didn’t know how to care for someone with a concussion.

“What?” Hannah placed her hand on her throbbing head, “Hit my head? I….. i don’t understand”

"You jumped out the window, lady! You could have seriously hurt yourself," he replied, his tone laced with both relief and annoyance, “what in the hell were you thinking?!”

Memories from the previous night washed over Hannah.

She hadn't thought it through.

She had been so desperate to escape that she hadn't considered the consequences of jumping out a window in the dark.

“I was thinking of getting the hell away from you!”

“By jumping out the freaking window?! You’re lucky the grass broke that fall!”

“Whatever. I have no regrets”

“You could have died!”

“Now, that doesn’t sound so bad does it?”

“What the hell is your problem, lady?”

“You’re the one who kidnapped me! At freaking gun point!”

“And I’ve been trying to return you!! Why won’t you just give me a number to call so you can get out of here?!”

Just then, the door creaked open, and a young girl, no older than twelve, stepped into the room. Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw Hannah.

Hannah seemed equally surprised to see another person. She had no idea that someone else lived in the house.

The resemblance between the girl and her captor was striking and Hannah wondered if that was his child.

"Who's she, Ramon?" Theresa asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

Ramon stood from the bed.

“T, what are you doing out of bed?”

“I’m not feeling tired and I was bored so I came to find you”

On one hand, he was glad that she was strong enough to move about.

There were usually days when it was hard to believe that there was anything wrong with the girl but he did not want her here especially with a hostage around.

“Whose that?” She asked again and noticing the way Hannah’s hurt leg was elevated on a pillow questioned further, “Is she okay? What happened to her?”

Ramon hesitated.

“I hurt my ankle during a nasty fall. I’m a friend."

“T,go lay down okay. You need to rest”

“I’m fine,” she replied stubbornly and with her face lit up she moved to Hannah’s side and all Ramon could do was expect the worse, “Are you a friend friend or,” she threw her brother a mischievous grin, “a girlfriend?”

The word ‘girlfriend’ almost made Hannah choke on her own spit and all she could do was break into a cough.

“For the love of God, Theresa, go downstairs”

He grabbed the girl by the shoulder and began leading her out the room.

“But i just wanted to meet your girlfriend”

“She’s not my girlfriend, Theresa”

“Well at least tell me her name”

By this time he had successfully placed her outside the room.

“I’ll tell you later. Now go on”

“You’re mean”

“And you don’t listen. Go on, T. I’ll be down in a minute”

The girl frowned her face and stormed off. Ramon watched to make sure that she was out of sight before shutting the door and walking back to where Hannah lay.

“You kept a hostage under the same roof as your daughter? You’re not winning any father of the year awards”

“She’s my little sister”

“Oh”

For a moment no other words were passed between the two. Both of them silently wondering about the other.

Hannah had not exposed his actions and Ramon was confused as to why she didn’t.

Considering all he had done to her. He didn’t like the guilt he was feeling, not one bit.

Finally, he spoke, his eyes filled with gratitude.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

Hannah was taken aback. Not by his gratitude but by the shift in his aura. He almost looked weary.

She hadn't intended to help him.

Perhaps it was because she saw the little girl or the fact that he didn’t harm her for trying to run away but instead helped her and fussed over her safety.

Regardless, she had protected the image his sister had of him and that gesture seemed like it meant everything to him.

Ramon helped clean the wound on her leg and apply ice to the swelling.

It was a simple act of kindness, something she hadn't experienced in a long time.

"I didn’t mean to grab your arm like that the other day, I’m sorry”

Hannah pursed her lips and gave a small nod. She also was not used to sincere apologies. Especially from a man.

“You keep the ice on the leg and try not to move about too much.”

Hannah said nothing and Ramon simply got to his feet and made for the exit. He was already at the door when he heard.

“Hannah”

He turned around. Confused as to what she just said.

“My name is Hannah,” she looked away, “your sister is going to ask for my name and you need your story to stick”

“Oh,” a small smile played on his lips, “The name’s Ramon. For the sake of your other leg try not to jump out the window again”

Hannah gave a small nod and he left the room.

Still, she plotted.

Hannah needed to get out of here but first, she had to behave.