Jasmine's P.o.v
"Believe me, you don't have to," Rachel said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We need to get you out of this mess with Mateo."
I nodded, holding my tears from falling.
Rachel's expression turned determined. "I've been thinking of an escape plan from Mateo."
"Escape plan?" My eyes widened after hearing what Rachel had proposed.
"Hmm," she nodded. "Somewhere Mateo won't think to look for you."
I thought for a moment before shaking my head. "I don't know anywhere, Rachel. And even if I did, how sure am I that Mateo won't find me?"
Rachel smiled then stood up to the drawer beside her bed and pulled out a small notebook and pen and began to scrabble some notes.
"Here's what we'll do," she said, her eyes shining with excitement. "We'll rent a car under a fake name with this money and then drive to a small town, many miles away. My aunt has a cabin there that's been empty for years. You can stay there for the time being."
My eyes widened as I listened to Rachel's plan. "But what about Mateo? he'll find me, I know it."
Rachel's expression turned grim. "We'll take precautions. We'll use a burner phone and a new SIM card, and I'll drive you to the cabin myself. We'll be careful, Jasmine. I promise."
I took a deep breath, feeling a glimmer of hope for the first time in weeks. Maybe, just maybe, I could escape Mateo's grasp and start afresh.
But as I thought of the plan, my mind began to wander to my mother. What would happen to her if Mateo found out? Would he hurt her?
"Rachel, what about my mum?" I asked. "What if Mateo finds out and hurts her?"
A sympathetic expression formed on Rachel's face. "Jasmine, I think it's best you tell her the truth about Mateo. "It's high time she knows."
My face carved into a long forlorn.
"Or wait. We can come up with another plan. "Rachel's words changed my mood in a jiffy, optimistic about the outcome. We'll plan a surprise escape for your mum. She'll come with you...didn't you say her birthday is in few days' time?"
Yes.
"Perfect!" Rachel snapped her finger. "You'll just have to tell her you have a birthday surprise for her on the night before her birthday and I'll be the one to drive you both...presto!
"That makes sense, Rachel," I grinned. "Funnily enough her birthday falls on the day before my tenth day ultimatum ends."
And then you'll only have to tell her the truth only after knowing you're both safe, far from Mateo's reach."
Rachel's words ignited a level of joy in me and a satisfactory smile formed on my lips. I felt a small sense of relief thinking about Rachel's proposal, but I still couldn't shake off the tiny feeling of worry that had settled in my stomach.
Over the next few days, we made preparations for my escape. I had rented a car under a fake name with the money I had gathered and discarded my phone. But not before blocking Mateo's number and Rachel helped me purchase a burner phone to use for communication.
I packed a small bag with essentials, including clothes toiletries, and important documents. Thankfully, I do not need to go to the bank as every payment was made with cash.
We arrived at Rachel's house after getting the necessary things done and I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. "What if Mateo found out and I get caught?"
Rachel seemed to sense my anxiety, and she placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
"You'll be okay, Jasmine," Rachel said, her voice firm and confident. "You and your mum, you will be free from Mateo's grasp. You'll see."
We played scrabbles and chattered for a while.
"How do you want your eggs" Rachel asked as she approached me from the kitchen after going out to pick her call due to a bad network service. "Cause, I'm famished as hell. Besides, Madam Silvia just called."
Oh!
"You don't have to worry, I already begged for a day off," she raised a placating hand indicating that I shouldn't be worried. "Besides, there's a new worker at the store now, but she can never be as good as you."
I blushed a little at Rachel's compliment of me and I could tell that she saw me.
"It's the truth. Madam Silvia said it with her own mouth and I think she misses you by the way."
We had lunch and afterwards, we began to load the stuff we had bought into the car we had rented before finally driving down the market area.
"I'll just go now and see if she's at the shop first," I told Rachel after emerging from the car.
After a while of searching, I couldn't find my mum. I then proceeded to calling her with the burner phone I had bought, but to no avail. Her number rang, but she didn't pick it and it felt really odd.
After a period of contemplation, Rachel drove me home instead, calming my nerves at every second I start to fidget.
"I'll just go inside and get her," I said to her upon reaching the front-yard of our apartment.
I emerged from the car we had rented and find my way into our apartment. "Mum, I'm home."
I didn't get any response. I searched the entire house and when I couldn't find her. I ran back outside to Rachel.
"Rachel, she's not home," my voice began to crack.
Rachel came down from the car. "Calm down, Jasmine. What is going on?"
It's my mum, she's gone! They took her, Mateo took her!