"... that bastard..."
"Mother? Is something wrong?" Rin asked, noticing her sudden change in mood.
The men walked out of sight and Rin rushed to hold her mother as her legs gave way beneath her. She stumbled to the ground forcing Rin with her. She grabbed her trembling shoulders unsure what to do.
"Mum..."
Her mother mumbled a few words to herself, stood up and walked into the house Rin behind her. Rin immediately retreated to her room leaving her mother cussing loudly in the living room.
"What did those men give her? Why is she so angry even after a fun day?"
Days went by without any surprise visits from the men in black and soon the atmosphere in the house was warm.
"Rin dear, you got flour all over your face."
Rin wiped her cheek applying more flour onto her skin and her mother laughed at this before picking a towel and softly wiping the flour off her face.
"Look at you."
After carefully placing the baking tin into the oven, Rin stepped aside giving her mother room to set the required temperature to the gas. Rin attentively watched as she turned the gas knobs but got lost midway.
"After a few minutes our cake will be ready. While we're waiting, let's make some fresh juice using the fruits we bought."
"Yay!"
She headed towards the store and came back her hands full of various fruits.
"I got the fruits mother," she said happily as she handed them to her.
"Well done dear. Thank you."
Once they were done preparing, Rin set the table as her mother worked on decorating the delicacies they had just made. They sat by the table Rin's mother praising her for the good scores she got at the end of the exams and Rin smiled warmly at this. Without the presence of her father in their home, the relationship between her mother and herself was beyond her dreams.
"I wish father never comes back to ruin this," she mumbled to herself and her mother looked at her.
"What was that dear?"
"I love you mum," she said.
She cleared her throat and spread her arms wide inviting Rin into a hug, which she accepted. The two embraced for a few more minutes till Rin slowly dozed off.
Finally, Rin's big day arrived and as she had guessed, her mother gifted her a white, plush bear doll. The doll was not too small but the perfect size of a cuddle buddy.
"Thank you so much!" she said as she happily hugged the doll feeling its inviting and comforting texture," I will cherish it all my life."
Her mother smiled and tuck a stray strand of hair from her eyes," Am sure you will dear."
A knock sounded from the door and after Rin's mother had opened the door and seen the person on the other side, she immediately slammed it shut and ran towards Rin.
"What's the matter?"
The banging on the door grew louder and without warning, she hurriedly grabbed Rin's hand and dashed towards the basement. Rin followed after her not wanting to press any further on the matter.
"Find them!" a faint voice shouted.
The men broke into a search and Rin looked at her mother's trembling figure. She reassuringly grasped her hand and her mother turned to look at her.
"We will be fine mother," she said and her mother chuckled at this.
"Rin my dear," she started as her right hand found her cheek," mummy is sorry."
Rin tilted her head in confusion at this.
"Sorry? Why are you sorry?"
"There are stairs here!"
Rin's mother looked up panic in her eyes before turning to Rin.
"You must not let them find you!" she urged her and pushed her into a pile of boxes out of sight," I love you my dear."
"Mu.."
She walked from the corner and to avoid anyone from knowing that someone was hidden, she headed to wards the window and pushed it open.
"Found her!"
The guy dashed forward and grabbed Rin's mother pulling her from the window.
"Let go of me!"
She struggled in his grip but he was far more stronger than her and soon, all four men were gathered in the basement with Rin's mother tied before them.
"Should we just kill her?" a guy asked and Rin covered her mouth.
"No let us just take her to the boss, he'll know what to do with her."
The men walked out of the basement with Rin's mother and after a few minutes had passed, Rin emerged from her hiding place and dashed up the stairs and out the door only to bump into one of the thugs.
"What have we here?" he asked and Rin took a step back from the guy.
"Let my mother go you bastards!"
"Rin... run!" her mother shouted as she tried to free herself but the guy holding her slapped her. The impact made her loose her balance and she fell onto her knees. Taking advantage of her size, Rin pushed past the huge thugs and rushed to her mother.
"Stop being annoying! If you don't stop this I will have no choice but to kill you," he warned.
"Why are you doing this to us? My mum has never wronged anyone before," she said tears trickling down her cheeks.
"You're right, none of you did anything wrong but your father did."
"What?"
"That man borrowed money from us and disappeared."
"Disappeared?"
You know what... we've wasted enough time here," the leader chimed in and opened the car door," get them both in the car."
They arrived in a huge mansion and they were immediately taken into Zixin's office.
"Boss, we got his wife and child."
Zixin turned and looked at the two his intense gaze making Rin hide behind her mother.
"Well done. You may leave," he said and the men did as told.
Once they were all alone, Zixin walked towards his desk and sat down assessing the two women before him like some prize.
"Hmm... after a few cleaning, you two will be good as new," he said and walked towards Rin's mother grabbing her chin and examining her closely," you are beautiful. You will make for an excellent toy."
"What are you talking about?" she asked bewildered.
"You have been made aware of what your husband did right? He borrowed money from me and vanished..."
"My daughter and I have never even seen the guy let alone used that money."
Zixin stood up and eyed the two before speaking up," I don't care about any of that. What really matters to me is that the money he borrowed is paid back. You two will work for me till the debt is paid off."
He threw some documents in front of her, untied her hands and headed towards the door.
"Oh... and if you're wise, you would do what is stated on those papers otherwise, I won't be accountable for what will happen to the two of you," he said his eyes landing on Rin," especially that little girl."