The stranger next door

RYAN'S POV

" I want my mummy!!" Selene blurted out as I served her meal that morning, she had repeatedly asked for her mother since we arrived at the house we now stayed.

" I told you, she would soon be here." I yelled, it was already annoying having her here and her unrealistic demands were frustrating. She pushed the food away and folded her hands, frowning.

" I won't eat till she gets here." She said firmly, I peered in her eyes wondering what gave her such confidence to talk the way she did. I slammed at the table in anger, " Then you would stay hungry." I told her as I packed the plates back to the kitchen.

" Who did she think she was." I muttered to myself as I went to the room to rest, we had been at the house for a couple of days and no one had come. "Was the house an abandoned one?" I was not so sure because he looked like someone was still staying at the house and had left for a period of time.

It was a place of refuge for us to stay for now. I decided it would be best to stay there till I was sure it was safe to go out and I was able to figure out what next to do.

As I left for the bed room, I heard sobs, Selene was crying that I had denied her not seeing her mother. " If only she knew?"

We could not go out of the house yet and there was no way I was returning her back to her mother, she was going to stay with me, I was not going to lose my child again.

I took a bottle of whiskey as I headed up to the room, I was going to drink to cool my self down and decide what next to do.

I poured myself a drink and wondered in my thoughts as I searched for the perfect excuse to permanently keep her from asking.

It was almost evening when I came back to the living room, Selene had cried her eyes out and was now asleep. The door was locked and moments afterwards, I heard the door unlock.

The noise woke Selene, he looked at me with her sleepy eyes,

" Selene, you have to hide." I told her trying to get her to the other corner of the room so she would hide. " Why?" He asked refusing to follow me, " someone is coming, we need to hide." I told her impatiently.

"It's mummy isn't it?" She said, the thoughts of her mum had made her fully awake and she ran towards the door instead.

" Mummy." She called out as she raced towards the door, I rushed to stop her and grabbed her to the room, I locked her inside but she wouldn't stop screaming. I came back to the living room and hide myself waiting for who would come in.

As the door swung open, revealing a tall figure standing in the doorway, my heart skipped a beat. It wasn't the police, "Was it the owner of the house?" I questioned as I hid myself waiting for who would come in.

It was a young man, holding a bouquet of roses and wearing a mischievous smile. He came in and noticed the noise from the bedroom. As he walked into the room, I walked my him following him quietly. He opened the room door and he saw Selene. I could see the curiousity on his face as he saw Selene.

"Who are you?" I demanded, stepping forward to protect Selene.

The stranger's smile widened as he took a step closer, his eyes gleaming with mischief. " Relax, mate," he chuckled, the bouquet of roses still in his hand. "I'm not here to cause any trouble. My name is Alex and I've been sent by your girlfriend to give you this for your birthday."

" What girlfriend?"I don't know what you are talking about." I responded, staring at suspiciously.

The young man turned towards me, his mischievous smile slowly fading away. He looked at Selene, then back at me with a perplexed expression. "I'm sorry, I must have entered the wrong house," he stammered. I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief mixed with confusion.

I stared at the young man in disbelief, my heart still pounding from the scare. "How did you enter the wrong house?" I asked, my voice filled with frustration and relief. He looked sheepish as he mumbled an apology, handing me the bouquet of roses awkwardly. Selene peeked out from behind me, her curiosity getting the better of her.

She looked at the young man with wide eyes, her fear quickly turning into curiosity. "Who are you?" she asked in a small voice, still unsure of what was happening. The young man smiled gently and crouched down to her level. "I'm sorry for scaring you," he said sincerely. "My name is Alex, and I live next door. I was supposed to give this to someone else and when I came in, I heard some noise and thought someone might need help." Selene's eyes lit up with excitement as she realized he wasn't a threat. She reached out her tiny hand to shake his, saying, "I'm Selene, nice to meet you!"

I rushed to her and dropped her hands. " Since that would be all, you can leave." I told him standing in front of Selene gesturing for him to leave. He nodded understandingly and said, "Okay, nice to meet you both," then turned and walked out the door. Selene looked up at me with a confused expression. I crouched down and gently stroked her hair, saying, "It's okay, honey." Selene still seemed a bit puzzled but for some wield reasons didn't ask any more questions. I took her hand and led her to the sofa.

"Let's just relax now," I said softly. Selene gave me a small smile and nestled beside me. We sat there quietly for a while, enjoying the peaceful moment together. Then I thought about what had just happened and wondered what would happen if I was caught. I was going to rot in jail for kidnapping. " Who was going to find out?" I thought to myself dismissing every fear I had. Selene was with me and that was what mattered. Suddenly, a noise outside startled us. Selene looked up at me with a hint of worry in her eyes.

I put my arm around her, trying to reassure her. "Don't worry, everything will be okay," I whispered.