"Okay, then. Let the games begin," Ray said and burst into laughter. Astra sat on her bed shaking as she heard a car door open through the phone. He was probably seated in the car all the while. Ray was not talking to her but she heard him make several calls. He was talking to people, asking them to bring Stephanie and Theo from the site. Astra did not know what she should do, she just sat there and listened. It was very hard for her to sit still.
"Are you still there?" Ray asked after about ten minutes.
"Yes," Astra said. Her mind was going through various possibilities as she sat down waiting for thirty minutes.
"I am sending you video evidence of Stephanie and Theo leaving the site," Ray said and Astra picked up her phone. Sure enough it was there. There was a video of a battered looking Stephanie trying to soothe a crying Theo, rubbing his arms as the child held closely to her. Astra felt like someone was stabbing at her heart when she watched the video. Her chest hurt and it seemed like it was constricted.
The child she knew was a happy one. Because of her the child was crying and Theo was only a year old. What could Ray have done to him? Her son was four years old and fear for him began to rise. No one knew about him. His father would not be able to protect him. Her child was sick, he would not survive the torture. Tears began to rush from Astra's eyes even more as looked at the video. Yvonne alone would not be able to care for the him. Ray was dangerous.
"Promise me that you won't do anything to hurt my son. Please just promise me that, if you don't promise me then I am not coming," Astra said and Ray laughed.
"Bold of you to assume that you have a choice. The only reason why I am being nice is because I don't want any unnecessary drama. I don't give two fucks about the child though. Even though it annoys me that I am not his father. You know I always wanted you to be the mother of my first child, of all my children. Too bad that bitch Stephanie got pregnant first," Ray said chuckling. His declaration made her worry about Stephanie. Astra hoped she was safe with the baby. Ray was capable of doing anything to hurt her and the child.
"I want my child safe," Astra said again.
"Of course, of course. Your child will be safe and sound. I won't lay a finger on him. I promise," Ray said. Astra did not trust him.
"In about five minutes, Stephanie and Theo will arrive at Nicholas' house and you will come downstairs," Ray said and Astra began to think about something. She needed her child to be safe. She started to write a note to Nicholas as carefully as she could.
'Nicholas I was pregnant when we divorced. I had twins, the girl died after three months, but the boy is alive. He his sick, but Ray knows about him. He is with my cousin Yvonne in the suburbs. This is her number. Please keep him safe.' She wrote. Astra figured that Ray's men would ran sack her house when she left and so she kept it under the leg of her table. She truly hoped they would find it.
"What are you up to? You have been quiet for too long," Ray said from the other side of the phone.
"I am here. Are Stephanie and Theo home yet?" Astra asked. She needed proof that he had done his part of the deal.
"As a matter of fact, they are. I will send you the videos immediately," Ray said and Astra opened her phone. It was Theo being united with Sarah. The tears of joy and smile on Sarah's face made her sure that she was doing the right thing. No mother should have to suffer loss. Nicholas held Stephanie as she almost collapsed to the ground.
"What happened to her?" Astra asked immediately. She was scared for her friend.
"She will be fine. She knew better than to cross me or try to betray me, but she will be fine. I cannot say much for you if you try to do anything funny. I have taken a lot of bullshit from you and frankly, I am not taking anymore. You have to accept that you are mine and every other thing would go smoothly," Ray said. Astra closed her eyes in a prayer as it seemed like her moment of judgment was there.
"What are you waiting for? Start coming out," Ray shouted and Astra stood up from her bed. Her legs were shaky because she was scarred. She was scared that she would fall down. She was scared that she would walk to the cafe and never come back home. She was scared that she would never have the chance to fall in love again or to hold her child again. She was scared that friendships would not be the same for her because of the trauma she experienced. She was scared that she would not get to live again.
Astra walked out of her room and out of her apartment building. Her legs were shaking and it felt like everyone was focused on her. It did not take long for her to realize that people were watching her. Ray's men were all over. They were not dressed in black suits but Astra could tell that they were armed and ready to fire at any slight provocation. She did not want to be an example of sorts.
Astra walked straight to the cafe and walked right in. She struggled to smile at the waiter who greeted her and walked almost mechanically to Ray. It had been so long since she saw Ray but she was not sure that was the reason he looked so darned sinister. He looked like he was about to eat her up. Astra wondered how she had been so blind to his looks for so long. How everything was suddenly becoming clear to her.
"Try to smile," Ray said smoothly. He did not sound the way he did while they were on phone. He actually sounded genuine. Astra was taken aback for a moment, she looked outside the window and saw Jared's car park in front of her apartment building. Astra felt like crying then. She felt like screaming. She felt like running away. She should have just stayed for a while more. Maybe, just maybe he would have saved her. He would have her light in shining armor and she would have fallen in love with him.
"I kind of like the guy. He knows what he wants and goes for it. Even if the girl doesn't see it yet. He is kind of like me," Ray said and Astra eyes widened in disgust.
"He is nothing like you, nothing at all. His intentions are pure and he can never be a monster like you," Astra said. Her voice was not loud and it had not attracted people to them. Her words did not seem to affect Ray though. He was not bothered. It made Astra feel like she was going crazy. Ray stood up from the chair and took her hand, leading her outside. Astra could not help but follow him. His grip was strong enough that she could not let go.
"Astra, Astra. You see everyone has good intentions at the beginning. It all the depends on the people they meet, their experiences tend to shape them. When men like me who love deeply meet women like you who string men along, multiple men at once, they tend to become violent, unhinged. You my dear, are the one to blame. Give Jared time, he would do the same thing as me," Ray said as he ushered her into his car. For a very long while, Astra believed him.