Mariah (Catherine)I’m jerked awake in the middle of the night by my phone ringing. I fumble with it before I manage to grab it to look at the caller ID. Michel?“Hello? Michel? Why are you calling in the middle of the night?” At first there is silence on the other end of the phone. Then a deep voice speaks. A voice that doesn’t sound like Michel and the blood in my veins freeze to ice.“You will not meet Michel again.” Then the call hangs up. I stare at my phone for a full minute. Then I call him back. The call picks up but I hear some fumbling, a thump and a curse before Michel’s voice comes through.“Yeah?” He sounds groggy and tired.“Michel? Are you okay? You just called me.” I bite the nail on my thumb as I wait for his answer.“Eh. What?”“You called me.” He’s silent for a while before speaking again.“No. I don’t think so at least. I was sound asleep until you called me.” I take a deep breath and release it slowly. I give him a shaky chuckle.“I must have dreamt a very realist

Catherine I carry Nick until we are a few blocks away from the daycare center before putting him down.“Where are we going, mommy?” He looks so small and innocent as he looks up at me with his brilliant blue eyes. I give him a shaky smile and caress his cheek. “We are going to the police station. There are men and women there that will help us. We have to move to another city.” I take his hand and start to lead him towards the closest station. It is a small station and we will surely not be able to get the help we need from there, but they can drive us to a larger station. “Why do we have to move? Will Harry and Will move with us?” I chuckle

Alessio Nicholas is a real champ! He was so brave and tough when his mother lost it. After that he refused to let go of her. Catherine carried him in her arms for almost half an hour as we went through the airport towards the gate for private flights. We have to be up in the air in less than twenty minutes and Catherine is sagging behind from the weight of Nicholas in her arms.“Come here, Nicholas.” I say and reach out my arms towards him. He presses tighter against Catherine’s chest and she gently strokes his hair. “My arms are too tired to carry you. Either you walk on your own or you let Alessio or Vincent carry you.” I clench my jaw in irritation. As if I would let Vincent carry my child?! And Alessio

Alessio She is completely drained as she lies on top of the very uncomfortable bed in my private airplane. Her eyes are boring into mine, searching for something. An answer to all her questions perhaps. But I don’t know what those questions are. Her eyes show contentment but also sadness. “Why are you sad, tesoro?” Her eyes fill up at the question and she shakes her head. “Answer me.” I growl at her defiance. She knows better than to object to my demands. At least she used to know.“I…” She falls silent as the tears start to fall. I bend down to pick up my belt again. Her eyes widen as I wrap the buckle around my hand, leaving a long strip of leather to whip her with. 

Catherine The mansion looks and feels like it did all those years ago. It is still beautiful, luxurious and scary. It is a jail and will always be a jail for me. A place where I am not allowed to move around freely or leave when I feel like it. Every step I take further inside squeezes harder around my chest. It feels like I can’t breathe. Like I can’t move. Nick is running up ahead of me, excited about the big house, the beautiful furnishing and artwork. And the grand staircase. He touches the railing, runs up a few steps and jumps down again and does a roll on the soft carpet. I want to tell him that the carpet is dirty but my voice won’t work. I open my mouth but nothing comes out. And nothing comes in. I can’t breathe. The panic rises as I watch Alessio jump down the stairs together with Nick. No