Los niños y las niñas

Mateo, Dera, Ruth, Santiago and Andrew stood behind tables filled with food in packs. Mateo called Santiago so he could be part of this, he wants to build a stronger image by feeding the poor and homeless. A bunch of people stood watching him handing out food to the homeless kids and adults, they were taking videos, and the press was also here, they were covering the program.

"Gracias Señor," a little girl who was handed a pack and a bottle of water said. Ruth smiled. Although Mateo is doing this to find favour in the eyes of the people, he is still helping the children.

"Don't you think this is wrong Ruth, he is making the people believe that he is a saint but we know he is nothing but a murderer, an evil man," Dera whispered.

"I Know it is wrong but the children are getting something out of it, as long as he is not harming them." Ruth smiled.

"I don't know why you refused to stay home with Sofia, you know you are pregnant, such gatherings are not good for you."

"I'm pregnant, not crippled, I can take care of myself and that house is boring." She turned to the boy in front of her table and handed him a pack and a bottle of water.

"Gracias Señorita," he happily jumped back to where his friends were.

They finished what they were doing and decided to call it a day, all through this program, no one noticed the way Mateo was staring at Ruth except her, she could feel his eyes on her but she decided to act like she didn't notice it.

"Thank you, Robert, for coming here to lend me a hand, this los niños y las niñas program wouldn't have been a success without your help. He shook hands with." Mateo said with a crocket smile.

"Of course, anything to help." Santiago returned the smile with extra vigour.

"Right, about the home for all, we are almost done. The orphanage is going faster than I thought, by the beginning of next year, we would be done with it."

After the discussion, they returned home. Ruth decided to have a word with Santiago and Andrew. "I think Mateo is on to something, while we were handing the kids food, I could feel his eyes on me, and while you guys were talking, I saw the way he smiled, it has changed. He usually gives you a friendly smile but this one was crocket, I don't think we should trust him."

"No one here trusts him, I could also feel the hostility emanating from him, whatever you do Ruth, do not leave this house unsupervised, I'll pass this information to the others. If he has a hunch about my true identity then there's a possibility that he is planning something." Santiago said he could feel it too, something about Mateo had changed.

The next day, Sophia went out to party at some club, she didn't know anyone in Madrid yet, so she was partying solo. Her table was full of light, of course, she would have come here with Dera and Ruth but then, Ruth is pregnant and the only way to bring her to a place like this is by killing Santiago.

Dera on the other hand refused to tag along, she would rather stay home with Ruth than go clubbing. She gulped her glass of alcohol and went to the dance floor. She danced with unknown guys, she swayed her hips with her hands placed on the shoulder of the boy in front of her.

After the long dance, she returned to her seat and gulped the remaining content in her glass. Not too long she began feeling weird, thinking it was an alcohol reaction, she decided to go dance some more to let out some steam.

She went to the dancefloor and continued dancing but that didn't help, she decided to call it a night. She packed her stuff and decided to go home. Sofia realized that the alcohol wasn't the problem, she was good at holding her alcohol, and someone must have spiked her drink.

She managed to pull her phone from her bag and dial Ruth's number but before she could say a word, she passed out. Three guys with their faces covered came out of the shadows and carried her into their car which was packed not too far away from the club.

"Hello Sofia, what was the sound?" Ruth asked but no response came. One of the thugs picked up the phone, he was going to drop the call but he remembered something, he decided to answer Ruth who was trying to get to Sofia.

"Sofia is in our care, if you ever want to see her again then Keep your mouth shut and don't tell anyone about what you heard tonight. We will call you soon.. and when I say don't tell anyone, I mean it." He abruptly ended the call.

Ruth looked up from her phone, her eyes were glistering with unshed tears, this is what Santiago was talking about. She can't tell anyone about this, they are going to Sofia.

Luckily she was the only one in the room, no one heard her when she was answering the call. The door burst revealing an angry Santiago.

"Where the fuck is Sofia?" He roared,

Ruth's heart flustered, she tried her best to hide her fears and the truth. "I got a call from her just now,... sh..she said she is going to spend some time in her friend's place until everything cools off."

"Did you just cry? Who hurt you?" Santiago asked he changed the topic when he noticed how scared she was. She tried to hide her fear but failed.

"It's nothing, I was just feeling emotional before you walked in, I think it's the hormones. It should be the hormones." She lied.

Santiago hugged her, she wrapped her hands around his waist and sobbed. 'I'm sorry for lying, I'm so sorry Santiago.' she said in her head.