In the nick of time

Zoe's POV

"Regina!" Todd yelled again. "I hope this bitch Is not out whoring around."

"You better hope not because I beat your ass right now," The man threatened.

"Come on, man you said next week," Todd complained.

"Only if I get a nice bitch without chlamydia," He reminded. "You said the Rodriguez's mistress was your wife right?"

"Yeah..."

"Then where the hell is she?" The man yelled.

"Come on man no need to get rough over two hundred bucks."

"That can buy you with that much and still get change," he disparaged.

"Okay, man," Todd said. "I'll find them,"

"You said the bitch has a daughter too,"

"Yeah, two,"

"I'll get a taste right?" I could tell he was smirking.

"Anything you want boss."

"Teen?"

"Yeah and a hottie like her mother, a bit flat but she's getting there."

"Um… too bad the grass is on the field already."

"You into those kinda stuff?" Todd tried his best to hide the disgust in his voice."

"Boys and girls," the man boasted. "At that age, there is no difference to me."

Todd was quiet now and I knew why. Sandra might not have understood what the man was saying but I understood well. The man was more of a predator to Andrew than he was to us.

"What are they talking about?" Sandra asked innocently.

She could not tell her because it was too much. "I don't know," I lied.

"What is the plan?" She whispered.

"You will escape through the window and get Andrew." I told her. "Then I will distract them while you quietly enter the house through the back door and get Andrew."

She nodded but I could tell she was unsure.

"Do you understand?"

"Yeah… I think,"

"You will be fine," I told her, trying to convince myself more than I was trying to convince her. I locked the door as she slipped out of the tear in the window where my sister used to crawl in to the house in the past.

They were going in the opposite direction to mum's room. Andrew was sound asleep there.

I knocked on the door to get their attention. They stopped and turned around. "Zoe!" Todd shouted.

I knocked again without answering.

"Why didn't you come out when I called you?" He asked as he and his friend walked to the door.

"Open up, now!"

"You heard daddy," the man chirped in like a sicko. "Let us in, I got a present for you."

I refused to answer and continued to knock.

"Your house's haunted now?" The man asked irritated. "Maybe I'll just take the money and go,"

"No! She'll open up, I swear." Todd begged.

The man grumbled as Todd's banging became more and more violent. I pushed our wardrobe to the door.

"If I break this door open you are dead, bitch!" He screamed. I could see that the door's hinges would soon do well on his promise.

I prayed that Sandra would successful in her part of the plan. She had to be stealthy; this was a small house.

I heard a phone ring and the banging stopped. "Zoe?" Todd called.

It was Sandra's phone. In the semi-dark room, I could see the caller ID clearly spelt out 'dad'

The phone automatically answered the call, Mr Callahan was talking but I could not decipher what exactly he was saying probably because the volume was lowered. Just then Todd started to knock more violently than before.

"Bitch open up now," the door was giving way more and more with each impact.

"Dad?" I heard a voice that made my heart drop.

"Hey little man," the man said.

"Andrew!" I screamed. "Run!" where the hell was Sandra? Did she abandon us?

"Ray?" He asked, confused. His voice was still heavy with sleep

Without a second thought, I unlocked the door and dived for Andrew. The moment I had him, I started to run.

"Hey!" The two men ran after me. They were not completely sober so dodging and dribbling in them was relatively easy. Until it came time for me to open the door, my hair is yanked back. I fell down but still had Andrew in my arms.

I looked to see Todd and the man. Todd had a menacing look on his face but the other man just looked amused.

"She's a feisty one," he commented and touched my hair. I recoiled and tightened my grip on my brother.

"Dad," Andrew said. "Who is he?"

"I am dad's friend and has anyone ever told you that you have such pretty eyes?" The man came forward.

"Get away from him!"

"Ray…" Andrew asked, confused by the situation.

"Your daddy owes me a lot of money and he said you will pay."

"But I don't have any money," Andrew replied innocently with his palms forward and shaking his head.

"But you can pay in other…"

I did not let the bastard finish before connecting my fist to his jaw.

"Don't you fucking dare!" I shouted, getting up.

"Bitch!" Todd cursed and lunged toward us but I grabbed gave him a kick to the crouch and left him wincing.

The man got up and let out an unsettling cackle. "You are a real ball-buster, aren't you?" His expression changed in an instant. "But enough with the games."

I gulped in fear but stood my ground. I eyed the door anxiously. Sandra had betrayed us, we were on our own.

I moved back as the man walked forward. I looked around for something handy I could have used on his head but nothing seemed suitable. I had to scream, at least. That was the only way.

"Help!" I cried out. "Please somebody help!"

It was late and I did not expect the door to be kicked open by a group of people with flashlights. And in front was Sandra.