“Babe? You have to eat.” I am currently at the balcony starring at the sky when Cameron came.
“I don’t want to.”
“I didn’t ask if you want to eat or not. Food is essential. You have to eat.”
“I’ll eat later.”
“Babe—”
“Just leave me alone! I’ll eat later!” I angrily shouted as I turn around.
“Being stubborn won’t help us find Aviana! Stop doing this to yourself! You’re just making things harder!” I turned away and just took a deep breath while holding back my tears. “Savannah, being like this won’t help us find our daughter. Aviana needs us, so we have to stay strong.”
“I... I keep thinking that all of this is happening because of me. Our daughter has to suffer because of all the mean things I did in the past.” I turned around and looked at Cameron. “How can I eat when I’m not sure if Aviana already ate? How could I sleep when I don’t know if Aviana is comfortable wherever she is? Cameron, I feel bad for doing to this to you. You are also her father, and I know that! But I keep blaming myself! My daughter is suffering because of me. She’s too young for this.” I just can’t hold back anymore and ended up crying hard. Cameron pulled and hugged me.
“Didn’t I tell you that we should face everything together? Stop blaming yourself, no one wanted this to happen. Aviana needs her mother. How could you hug her tight if you’ll lose all your strength straining yourself like this? You have to eat and sleep to have the energy to find and hug her. We will find her, okay? If I have to search the whole world just to find her, I will. So, gain enough strength to be able to carry her when she’s back. She can’t see her mother sick, right? You are her strength.”
I just cried and hugged him tight. The door suddenly opened and Skyler appeared.
“You guys have to come down. There’s something on the news.”
We all immediately went down and saw the rest of our family in front of the television. I turned to it and saw someone wearing all black and a mask, standing while facing the camera.
[Hello people of Casterdale. I am sorry to interrupt your movie night but let me just be the star for this night.]
“Is this being broadcasted live in Casterdale?” I asked.
[Yes dear, this is being broadcasted live in Casterdale.] The person in the television answered. They can hear us?! What the— [Don’t be too shock that I can hear you, because I can also see you.]
I started looking around the house until I noticed a red light blinking from a flower vase beside the television. I was about to walk towards it and grab it but the person in the television spoke.
[Don’t remove it just yet. Yes, I’m talking to you Savannah Harris.] I stood straight and stared at the camera.
“What do you want now?” Suddenly, the video frame got split into two and it started showing us.
[Be careful on what you’re going to say. This is being televised all over Casterdale. You don’t want to ruin your reputation any further, don’t you?]
“Do I look like I give a fuck?”
[Hey! Be careful on your words! Children are watching! Live broadcast doesn’t support censorship.]
“Why don’t you stop messing around, stop this broadcast and give me back my daughter?”
[I don’t play games that easily. Also, I’m not giving her back for free.]
“How much do you want?! Just give us back my granddaughter!” Cameron’s dad shouted. The person started laughing. We can’t recognize if it’s a woman or a man since the person is wearing a long coat, mask and uses voice changer.
[Sadly, I have to decline the offer. I don’t need the money of the Zach’s... but I want the money of the Harris’s. They owe me a lot, and this is just the beginning of payback.]
“How much do you want?”
[Ten million dollars? Is that enough price for your daughter’s life?]
“Ten million?! Are you insane?!” Stefano shouted. I just sighed in agony.
[Why? I was going to make it a hundred but then I kind off pity you. This is just the down payment of everything you have done to me!]
“What did we ever do to you?!” I angrily shouted.
[You will know soon. You’ll meet me soon... I’ll have the grandest entrance. So, do want a deal or no deal? Give me the money and you’ll be able to celebrate your daughter’s first birthday or... morn in her funeral instead?]
“Don’t you ever touch my daughter!” Cameron angrily shouted.
[One more thing. I want you, Savannah, to hand over the money on the location I will send. And... someone else will pick up your daughter.]
“I will get her on my own—”
[No uh! My game, my rules. Take it or leave it. You daughter’s life is at stake. Everybody is watching, so whatever decision you’ll make... they will know. Betray me, and you’ll never see your daughter again.]
“Savannah, we can’t just give away that large amount of money!” Stefano said as he approaches me but I did not listen.
“Fine, I’ll give you ten million dollars. Tell me where the location is.”
[Nice choice! Make sure to come alone. Also... I want your father, Stephen Harris, to pick up your daughter ALONE. I will send the locations soon.] The video ended after that. I was stunned hearing the last condition. I saw Cassandra grabbing and wrecking the camera from the vase.
“Savannah! How are we going to have that money?!” I turned to Stefano angrily.
“Then what do you want me to do?! Watch while my daughter is in danger?! Also, that’s just ten million... aren’t we self-proclaimed billionaires? The company can earn back that amount in less than two months.”
“Still—”
“If I have to sell every car, shoes, bags, clothes, or jewelries I have just to get that money, I will! My daughter’s life is worth more than ten million.”
“The money isn’t the problem,” Sylvester said which made us turn to him. “They want dad to get involve. Will he go? It will be dangerous.”
That is what’s bothering me the most. Dad is the type of person who will save his self in any danger. No matter what happens, he will find a way to stay away from danger even if it means sacrificing us, his own family. That is why I always hated him. He already proved it with Jackson five years ago.