Undercover: Book 3 — Chapter 35

I slid down the wall in the alley and opened the bottle taking a long swig. I loved the burning feeling I felt when it went down my throat. After a few longer sips I felt numb again and smirked. Happy Halloween to me. This lovely day seventeen years ago I was six years old. I was a defenseless six-year-old trying to enjoy his Halloween. But it seems that doesn't matter to some sick, disgusting people. I mean that's the only explanation I've been able to come up with. The liquid slid down my throat again and I enjoyed and embraced the feeling it brought me.

It seems like I will never get away from the memories, I thought as a familiar scene flashed through my head.

“Caiden, darling, I would like you to meet my lovely baby sister, Samantha." The woman said to my thirteen-year-old self. I looked up at the blonde woman who only seemed to be about ten years older than me. Still she was obviously younger than my captor. Maybe I had a chance.

“Lisa, who is this?" The blonde woman Samantha demanded. Lisa flicked her curly brunette hair over her shoulder and laughed obnoxiously. Over the past seven years I've come to despise that laugh.

“This is Caiden. I adopted him six years ago. You don't remember? I thought mother passed on the message,” she said and I snorted. Lisa's eyes pierced mine glaring. Her ice blue eyes dared me to say otherwise. She's knows I've grown a bit of a backbone now. I was no longer that defenseless six year old. I was smarter and faster and stronger.

Being locked in a basement for seven years does that to someone, I thought wryly.

“You hate kids,” Samantha said narrowing her eyes.

“Sam please. You know I love the little things,” she said with a fake ass smile on her face.

“You took this little boy, didn't you?" She hissed her eyes looking over at me.

“Honey? Did you get adopted by this woman?" Samantha asked me and Lisa looked at me daring me to tell her sister the truth.

“No, I was kidnapped on Halloween by this woman. The only relationship I have with her is she's my captor,” I spit out my own hazel eyes turning into ice. In that moment spitting out those words were what changed me. I was no longer an innocent boy. I may have the bruises and scars on my body, but those were the only signs that would make people think I was weak.

“Let's go. I'm gonna get you back home to your family,” she said trying to usher me over to her.

"No!" Lisa yelled,” Caiden is my son and you will not take him away from me. “I let out a bitter laugh and her eyes snapped to mine and her hand connected with my cheek so hard making it snap to the side. I glared at the brunette holding back the urge to hit her back.

“Leave him alone! He is not yours! He has a family at home that probably misses him! Look you made him bleed,” Samantha yelled and I caught my reflection in a mirror on the wall across the room. My cheek had a scratch on it that was bleeding most likely form her nails and there was also a red hand print.

“I swear on mother's grave if you don't leave this house this insistent I will bury you next to her tonight and you will not tell anyone of my little Caiden,” Lisa hissed her eyes dark and callous. I looked at the blonde woman praying she wouldn't listen to her. Though her sister must have known she wasn't kidding and only nodded heading toward the door not sparing a glance at me.

“I will make sure this boy becomes free to his family again. One way or another and you my dear sister will be put behind bars. I mean that is where you belong after all,” she hissed before slamming the door. The hope that filled my heart from those two sentences diminished over the next three years as I never seen the blonde woman again until I was already free.

No, she wasn't the one who freed me. I freed myself.

*Three years later*

I looked down at the bloody face of the brunette woman who was on the brink of death. My body was shaking with anger as I stared at her disoriented face. My fists and arms were covered in blood. As you could guess it wasn't mine. Stepping around the bloody and bruised body I made my way toward the door. For the first time in ten years I felt the warm breeze, I felt the fresh air. I took a step outside relishing the feeling of warmth and heat as the sun shined brightly. This feeling was completely foreign to me. The only thing was I wasn't the same person I was when I entered this house. I was now a cold, heartless sixteen-year-old that just murdered a woman with his bare hands.