"Child! Child where are you?!" Rosalyn's yelling came out with such a piercingly high note, that anyone that knew her would get shocked. Her voice, which was always calm and monotone, could not be found anywhere in her yell.
Rosalyn was running around the small room, franticly looking for the boy, stumbling over her feet as she did. She heavily crashed to the floor but just got back up, her pupils wide in worry.
Having run through the room, still not seeing the child anywhere, Rosalyn was at her wits end.
Amon just watched when she turned over the sofa, but when she started opening all the cabinet doors, looking inside, he stepped forward. Maybe if they were floor cabinets, the child could have hidden inside, but how would a young child hide in cabinets that were higher up on the wall than his own hight…
"Miss Rosalyn," Amon carefully started, trying to get her attention.
Unfortunately, she was too lost in her panic to hear him.
Quickly moving to her side, he took hold of her shoulders and gently shook her, getting her attention.
He had been too surprised when she suddenly jumped to her feet, franticly moving around the room, that he had had no time to stop her.
Achieving eye contact, he quickly informed her, "he went back down the stairs, he is safe."
Amon could feel her stiff muscles relaxing beneath his hands, as her shoulders dropped down slightly.
"You didn't hear me when I called out to you earlier, but the young boy must have. I told you both to go back downstairs and hide in the room. When you let him down, he must have followed the instructions."
Hearing Amon's words, Rosalyn let out a big sigh. So, the child wasn't hurt after all.
Collecting herself, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, before giving Amon an appreciating nod.
Then she calmly walked back down the stairs to get the kid. Arriving back in the basement, she saw the child sitting in his spot below the window, his head hidden against his pulled-up knees.
Rosalyn felt her heart slightly constrict watching him like this, but didn't think much of it. Gently squatting down in front of him, she used her most gentle voice trying to coax him.
"It's me, Rosalyn. It's fine now, so we can go back upstairs. Amon is waiting for us as well."
The child slowly lifted his head, examining her face. His brown eyes watchful, showing his distrust.
"It will be okay; we will get out of here. We will help you get home to your parents and your family. We will protect you," she promised.
Rosalyn tried to show the child that he could trust her, but honestly; she had no idea how. She had never really interacted with young children, and didn't know how to get through to them.
If the one before her was a businessman, or just any adult really, she would have a much easier time. With an adult you could convince them with reason, and if worst came to worst, make a deal for mutual profit.
But with a child? She didn't know how.
The young boy seemed to consider her words, before he carefully stood up raising his arms.
Rosalyn just watched the child, unsure what this development meant.
"He wants you to carry him," Amon's voice came from the door.
Looking back at him, he simply gestured his head between the child and Rosalyn, indicating that she should pick him up.
Looking back at the boy, with his arms still raised, she gave a small smile before lifting him as she stood up.
Watching Rosalyn obviously inexperienced with holding children, Amon told her to try placing him on her hip instead, and she immediately felt much more comfortable.
She gave Amon another thanking nod, before they once again resumed leaving the place.
As they went back up the stairs, she saw that the dead man now had a cloth over his face and neck, hiding his injuries.
Looking to Amon, he only gestured towards the child, hinting that he had made the preparations so that the child wouldn't be unnecessarily traumatised.
Rosalyn agreed. He been in the room as two other men got killed, no reason to make it worse.
Hurrying out of the room, Amon led in front with the knife in his hand.
Luckily they didn't meet anyone else as they found their way out of the house, but they were soon challenged with another problem.
There was forest all around them, with only a single dirt path leading away.
"We should try following the road to begin with," Amon announced, turning to Rosalyn.
"But wouldn't that be too risky? If someone comes, wouldn't they see us immediately?" she questions back, not entirely sure about his plan.
"It will be slightly riskier but considering how we have no idea where we are, following the path is our best option," he reasoned, sounding sure of himself.
"And," he continued, "considering how quiet the forest is, we should hear them if they come, as long as we stay quiet. Judging by how there are no car tracks here, we hopefully won't have to travel too long before we find a way out of the forest."
Nodding her head towards him in agreement, they started their walk. Rosalyn could feel her fatigue catching up with her, making every step an effort.
The dark made it hard to see where she stepped on the uneven terrain, and her energy was slowly depleting from the physical and mental strain of the recent events.
But she kept quiet and followed behind Amon, as he led them down the path, keeping vigilant for any danger that might find them.
They travelled like this for a while, Amon in front, Rosalyn and the child behind him.
When Rosalyn felt she might not be able to go on anymore, Amon stopped in his steps, gesturing for them to be quiet.
After standing completely still and listening intently for a few seconds, he pointed to one of the sides, motioning for her to follow him.
They hid behind some larger bushes, crouching down, waiting.
Rosalyn wasn't sure what Amon had heard, but she had already decided to follow his lead, so that was what she would do. Either way, she could use the break.