Page 8 of Stains of Desire

When he finally sends me back to the bedroom, the sun is rising. I only know from the windows we pass by and from the dining room. As soon as I get into the bedroom, it's dark again, except for the faint dim light that glows around the ceiling's corners.

Millie sleeps peacefully, and I pull her into me. My tears drip into her hair, and I squeeze her as tight as I can without harming her.

The room lights come on at some time in the morning. Millie wakes up, and I do whatever I can to entertain her.

"Mummy, I want to go home," she says on the second day, sniffling.

I don't know what to tell her. "I know, baby, but we can't right now. Let me tell you a new story."

Breakfast and lunch arrive. Only her dinner comes on the tray. Each night, I eat with Santiago and answer whatever questions he asks me and dine on gourmet food while Millie sleeps.

Several days after we arrive, I realize it's her birthday. My little girl is four, and I hold back tears, thinking about the presents I have wrapped for her and how I can't even give her a cake.

She seems to have forgotten about it, and I'm relieved. I wouldn't know how to explain to her why we aren't celebrating.

"Let's go to the farm today," I suggest. She loves animals, and it's a game we play often.

Her eyes light up. "Horsey!"

I have her hop on my back and I crawl around on the floor, pretending I'm a horse while she giggles, then I flip her over and tickle her until she's crying.

I sing her to sleep with her favorite lullaby every night. Once she's asleep, the man comes in and hands me the razor, and I get ready for dinner with Santiago.

This is our routine.

But something has shifted. Santiago presses me for information on things I don't know about. And my punishment for not knowing is Millie.

The next week, as soon as I bathe Millie and have her dressed, the door swings open to the bedroom and the man comes barging in. He grabs Millie out of my arms.

She screams, "Mummy!"

"Give me my daughter," I shout and try to grab her, but he moves quickly, slams the door, and bolts it.

"Mummy!" she cries out over and over, but her voice gets farther and farther away until I can't hear it anymore.

I become hysterical, banging on the door and shouting for them to give Millie back to me. All day, I rotate between that and pacing the room. But no one returns until it's time for dinner. The man hands me a razor.

"Where's my daughter?"

"Get ready, and you can talk to Santiago."

"No. Tell me now where she is."

He grabs my chin and yanks it up so hard, a sharp pain moves across the back of my neck.

"Ow!"

"You don't make demands. Get ready, and wear an evening gown, or you'll never see your daughter again."

Somehow, I pull it together. But this time, the dining room is set up, full of tables and chairs and guests. Some of them are Global Leaders whom I've met several times.

I freeze, and Santiago approaches me.

"Where's my daughter?" I ask.

A cold smirk appears. It's arrogant and evil, and I want to smack it off him. He latches onto my elbow and steers me through the hallway and into a smaller room. "She was a distraction. When I'm done with you, I'll allow you to see her. However, if you don't give me the information I want, or don't utilize your talents, you'll never see her again. I'll deliver her head to you on a silver platter."

With pure emotion driving me, I go to smack him, and he reaches for my hand before it connects with his face.