Chapter 3: Mirage
It took a couple of hours by the time I reached the forest borders. It was too late at night and my phone battery was down to 10%. I still couldn't find cellphone network. Ari, my son, was still unconscious and it was beginning to worry me. The effects of whatever drug they gave him should have worn off by now.
I cleared the forest grounds and approached the highway where two cars were parked. The gate that I had left open earlier, during the chase, was still open. I was surprised it was still here since I had expected it to be stolen or reported. If it had been reported, there would be a police car around. Even though we were too far from the city, there were still people who took this old highway road. Maybe none of the people who passed by in the last couple hours were thieves or good Samaritans.
As I reached my car, I put Ari on the backseat and looked around for some water. There was none, so I made my way to the other car, the one that belonged to the kidnappers. The moment I opened the back passenger door, a strong and disgusting smell hit me. It was the smell of sex and it was disgusting because it was obvious this back seat was used too often and never cleaned. There was a small bottle of mineral water in the back seat. I wasn't sure if it was safe to drink this water, considering where I found it. But I picked it up anyway and walked back to my car.
I adjusted Ari in the car seat and got on the driving seat. I started the car, took a U-turn and started driving back towards home. I occasionally checked my cellphone for network but couldn't find any. After thirty minutes of driving and debating whether to drink water from that bottle or not, my phone rang. It had been two minutes since I had last checked and there wasn't any network then. I had begun to worry because my car didn't have enough fuel to take me home. But this phone call would solve all my problems, provided my battery lasts throughout the call.I picked up the call without checking. I knew who it would be. As I spoke, I parked the car on the side.
"Where are you?"
Miraj Giovanni, my husband, wasn't much for words. But four years of being married had clued me in to his way of speaking. He hadn't mentioned our son because he knew I wouldn't be too far from him. He was worried for Ari. And he needed us back home, immediately.
"He was kidnapped and I had to chase. We are on H-53, probably ten minutes out of the city but my car doesn't have enough fuel to make it back home. He has been unconscious for approximately 4 hours now and may need medical attention."
"This was the third attempt in three years of his life." What I was supposed to understand from it, was: That's too many for me to be okay with.
"I understand."
"We'll be there in five."
He hung up.
Miraj, like his name's homophone, was an illusion of a husband. He was there, but not. Ours was a marriage of convenience. We lived independent lives, away from each other. Our work usually kept us in different cities and we barely spent one week out of a month in the same house. The one thing that always brought us back home was Ari. We wee roommates who had a child together.
This marriage was a sham we agreed to and have kept alive for four years to protect both our interests. We were basically married allies. Even Ari's conception was a part of our deal. But being good parents to him was a choice we both had made.
The only person I loved, unconditionally, was my son. I wanted him to have everything I had and everything I didn't. Good parents being a part of the latter category. I was happy Miraj had made the same choice as me but I would never say so to him.
Five minutes later, I heard the whirring sound of a helicopter and I got out of my car.
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