"Don't worry, mummy won't allow them to take you away," Amelia said hugging her daughter tightly, they both looked up only to realise that it was Aubrey dressed in a fading jeans and a plain round neck.
" Aubrey," Amelia called out angrily, her eyes almost spitting fire.
" sister, you scared me," Olivia meekly said.
" where have you been," Amelia raised her voice visibly at her, Aubrey flinched back a little, her big doe eyes widened in their sockets when she saw the state the house was in.
" mum, you don't have to shout at sister," Olivia said tugging gently at her mother's sleeve.
" ok, sweetie," Amelia said smiling lovingly at Olivia and turned to Aubrey and glared fiercely at her a clear contrast on how she addressed Olivia.
" I… went to… do… the grocery," Aubrey managed to stammer out in a very tiny voice and retreated back a little.
" Take that to the kitchen," Amelia said pointing to the grocery bags she was carrying.
" and cleaned this place up," she said strolling to the room with her daughter.
" yes ma," Aubrey whispered and went to the kitchen to arrange the grocery in their rightful place.
" Aubrey," Olivia called gently stepping out of the room she entered with her mother.
" Olive," Aubrey answered flashing a pretty smile at her, Olivia moved closer to where Aubrey was bent trying to get pieces of the broken table, when she saw her coming over she stood to her full height.
" Careful, there are shards of glass around," Aubrey warned.
" ok, I will be careful,'' Olivia said, when Olivia came nearer to her she noticed her red and puffy eyes, her face morphed into that of a frown.
" Did you cry?" She asked concerned, she gently touched her face.
" Yes," Olivia said, nodding her head firmly.
" why?" Aubrey asked, she welcomed Olivia hug as she wound her arms around her neck .
" When you were not around," Olivia begin.
" some bad guys came, they were very scary, they said they will take me away," she said her eyes tearing up at the unpleasant memories.
" why," Aubrey asked.
" Dad and mum won't tell, but I am really really scared," she said as tears spilt out of her eyes wetting Aubrey's neck.
" it's ok, it's all over, Don't be scared uncle and Aunty won't let the bad guys take you away," she comforted Olivia despite her own fear.
" Are you done cleaning up?" Amelia boomed scaring both Audrey and Olivia, Olivia jumped away in fear.
" you," Amelia said pointing at Olivia,
" come over here," she said and Olivia quickly walked up to her.
" and you," she said and pointed at Aubrey.
" clean this house faster," Amelia said angrily before strolling away with her daughter.
Aubrey looked at the back of Amelia and Olivia and her eyes well up again, she missed her mum too.
* * *
It was late into the night, crickets were creaking, The night was starless.
It has been two days since the visit of the gang, the coming morning will mark the end of the deadline given to them. Inside Mason's house both husband and wife were seated together having a solemn look.
" Honey, I wasn't able to gather the money," Mason dropped the bomb.
" What do we do then?" Amelia said biting down harshly on her bottom lips to prevent her from raising her voice.
" We can't let them take Olivia, she is too young and innocent for the casino," Amelia said.
" yes we can't let them take her," mason replied.
" I don't know how you want to do it, all I know is my daughter is not going to the casino neither am I losing my arms and legs," she said turning he back at him.
" How about we do this," Amelia said and turned to face Mason.
" How about we take Aubrey in place of Olivia," Amelia suggested with an evil glint in her eyes, Mason eyes lit up but dimmed again as if remembering something.
" but, she is my sister's only daughter," he said avoiding Amelia's eyes.
" Mason! I won't allow my only daughter to be sent to the casino and we both know Audrey's mother is not your real sister, she is adopted, her daughter going in place of my Olivia can be considered repayment of years your parents took care of her," Amelia said trying to convince mason with her twisted logic.
" okay," mason said after few minutes of consideration.
" we are doing this for Olivia future," Amelia said trying to reduce the amount of guilt they felt.
" okay," Mason said meekly.
" then we should send Olivia to my sister's place early tomorrow morning so that when they come around there would only be Aubrey around" Amelia said.
" ok," Mason said, " let's go to bed since we have a solution".
" Mummy, I really don't want to leave," Olivia whined as she watch her mother pushed her luggage into the living room, " why?" Amelia asked, " both you, daddy and sister are here," she said, " we will come and join you very soon," Amelia replied.
Mason entered through the door that has been fixed after the destruction, " were you able to get her a train ticket," Amelia asked Mason,
" yes, i was able to get a ticket for her," Mason said.
" where is she?" Mason asked looking wildly around.
" she is in the room whining on how she does not want to go," Amelia said.
" Olivia, you really have to go else Aunty will be sad, she called and said she got you your favourite chocolates," Mason said moving closer to the door of the room.
" there is a taxi driver outside, be good and come out, okay?" Mason said convincing Olivia into coming out.
Olivia reluctantly come out carrying her backpack, Mason pushed her luggage outside, Olivia rushed to where Aubrey was standing by the kitchen doorpost and gave her a hug and waved her bye which Aubrey reciprocate.
It was evening time, Aubrey was busy in the kitchen when there was a knock on the door.
" Aubrey go and open the door," Amelia called on her from where she and Mason sat together on the sofa.
" ok ma," Aubrey said and pull the apron she was putting on and cleaned her hands, she went to the door to open it and was scared back by those that entered.
" it seems we are welcome today," the man with the scorpion tattoo addressed them laughing loudly, Mason was quick to stand up from the couch he was sitting on and smiled fawningly at him.
" yes, you are welcome,'' Mason said.
" you," he said pointing at Aubrey "go and get them something to drink," he said.
" we don't need that can we skip to what we came here for," the man said.
" we don't have the money with us, we decided to part with our first daughter Aubrey, since she only has to sell alcohol to the guest," Mason Said going straight to the point.
" we both know it is more than selling alcohol," the man said relaxing even more on the sofa Mason smiled awkwardly.
" but anyway that is none of our business but I guess this girl is better than the last one we saw," he said looking over to Aubrey that was shivering in one corner, Amelia face contorted into an ugly frown at being told Aubrey is better than her daughter.
" it was nice doing business with you," the man said and stood up smiling eerily at Mason and shook his hand.
" guys, seize her," he said to his surbodinates who were quick to seize Aubrey and dragged her along with them despite her feeble protest.
She was pushed into a van and two of the men entered with her.
" such a fresh thing, she is going to make money for the casino," one of the man said .
" how about we have a taste of her before she belongs to the casino," the other man said moving closer to Aubrey scaring the daylight out of her…