Chapter 9- Stuck in a Rut

Tamaya was released from the hospital a week later after her tests were run. Randy was bringing her up to date and asking her for some direction.

"She sent a ransom note in the mail the day I came back."

"What does she want?" Tamaya asked turning to face Randy.

"She wants half a mil'."

"Then she must be out of her mind."

"But she's holding our daughter…"

"I'm not giving that bitch a fucking penny. I'll be damned if I let her win."

"It's more of a stalemate, she gets paid and we get Ananda back."

"You know, I've got to give her credit. She actually got us back…really good."

"Yeah, but I think we should pay the money, she's worth it."

"Don't give in to that reverse psychology bull. I don't know what our next move is, but it's gonna be good."

"Any ideas?"

"Well actually…"

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"Mommy, wake up. I have to get ready for school."

"No you don't, so go back to sleep," Samantha said groggily.

"But I always go to school."

"You're taking a break from school."

"Why?"

"Because I said to."

"But I want to go."

"I have plans for us today," Samantha said with a yawn, "Just go watch some tv."

"But I'm hungry…"

"Ugh," Samantha said as she threw back her covers, "What do you want to eat?"

"Pancakes."

"Samantha sat up and ran her hand over her face, "Yeah, well there's milk and cereal."

"But I want pancakes."

"And that's a dream so just get a bowl and make it happen," Samantha said lying down.

"My mommy always gets me breakfast."

"Fine," Samantha said through gritted teeth.

She got up from the bed and put together Ananda's breakfast.

"When you're done just leave the bowl there and watch tv."

"Ok mommy."

"Thank you," Samantha whispered as she retreated to her bed.

A couple of minutes later Samantha was awakened by a crashing noise. She jumped out of the bed to see a cracked bowl on the kitchen floor. She didn't even bother to ask questions; Samantha simply cleaned the mess. Once again she returned to her bed to sleep.

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"We have to come up with a plan to find Ananda," Amelena stated.

"Yes, I miss my grandbaby," Elaine added.

"I told you guys that me and Randy will handle this," Tamaya said bluntly.

"We're just trying to help," Terrence said.

"Well I never asked for it."

"Frankly, we're worried about you Maya," Amelena said putting a hand on her shoulder.

Tamaya shook off the hand, "I don't want your help, okay," she said getting up and leaving the room.

"You know what's wrong with her?" Bob asked rhetorically.

"She hasn't cried yet," they all said in unison.

"I'll be back," Randy said excusing himself.

Randy went up the stairs and into his bedroom only to find it unoccupied. He went to a place he was sure he would find her. He knocked on the door before opening it. There he saw Tamaya lying on Ananda's bed staring at a wall, not acknowledging his presence. He closed the door softly behind him and went over to her.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You don't look it and you're certainly not acting that way."

"So how am I supposed to act?"

"Sad, mad, vengeful."

"I feel that way."

"You don't show it, you act like everything is fine," he said sitting next to her.

"No I don't."

"Yes you do."

"Don't tell me how I'm actin' Randy," she snapped.

"Someone has to…you act as if nothing changed…'

"No I don't," Tamaya replied defensively.

"You act as if our daughter doesn't matter. Like she's gone and life goes on."

Tamaya sat up and faced Randy, "That's not true."

"You've been acting different, everyone is concerned except you. You probably think you can replace her."

"How could you say that?…I- I-" Tamaya felt her eyes welling up.

"It's okay to cry Tamaya."

"I'm not the crying type."

"Everyone is."

"Well I'm not," she said with folded arms.

"You don't have to be strong, it's okay, it's normal."

"I don't cry Randy.'

"So you'll just have an expressionless face at our daughter's funeral?"

"What?"

"You didn't read the ransom note…she said she'd kill her."

Tamaya's face was frozen in shock, when tears spilled from the corners of her eyes, slowly at first, and then in a steady flow.

"She can't do that," she said moving to his side.

"She's not going to she just wants money."

"What?"

"The funeral thing was a lie, but I needed you to take off your mask."

Tamaya shoved Randy, "Don't you ever scare me like that again."

Randy put his arm around her.

"Thank you," she said looking up at him, "I was starting to scare myself."

"Welcome back. Promise me you'll never hide behind a mask again."

"I promise, I'm back for good."

"Good to know, " he said with a kiss to the forehead.

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Samantha got herself together and was ready to execute the next step of her plan. She knew it was necessary since Ananda's face was on the milk carton she'd bought.

"What are we doing today mommy?" Ananda asked.

"Something really fun."

"What?" she asked with widening green eyes.

"Makeovers!"

"Yay!"

"Exactly, and you get to be a blonde."

"Just like Kanaya."

"Sure, so let's get started."

Samantha put Ananda's color in first. She had hoped that it would turn out to be a white blonde, but because Ananda's hair is so dark she looked more like a beach blonde. Samantha also made sure to color her eyebrows so Ananda would look like a natural blonde. Meanwhile, she had turned herself into a fiery redhead and cut her hair into a bob. After hours of work Samantha looked in the mirror with satisfaction as she realized the person who was staring back her didn't match Samantha. When she looked at Ananda she was even happier, until she realized what could be a fatal mistake. Sure Ananda didn't look like herself, but she sure looked like someone else, Tamaya. With the blonde hair and green eyes she resembled her mother more than ever. Samantha didn't know what to do. She couldn't color her hair again for a while and the more she looked at Ananda the more her jealousy became obvious. At a young age she could see how pretty Ananda would be and nothing angered her more than the fact that she resembled the woman who stole her fiancé. She even found herself envying Ananda's striking looks.

"My hair looks like mommy's," Ananda said tugging at a wet blonde curl.

"Come and dry your hair," Samantha said, "How is your hair usually done?"

Ananda shrugged her shoulders, "You comb it."

Samantha looked at her pin straight hair and then at Ananda's mass of curls and sighed.

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"So it's decided I'll run a segment on Ananda after every news program," Terrence suggested.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"I had her picture printed on milk cartons," Randy said.

"I posted flyers all over St. Louis," Amelena added.

"We called the police and gave them Samantha's picture and information," Bob said.

"The police wasn't supposed to be in this," Randy stated.

"We had no choice, they're one step towards getting back Ananda."

"I just hope that doesn't backfire," Randy said.

"Well I've finally come up with my contribution."

"What?"

"I'm going to call the person who can put fear into anyone with ease, someone who is a mastermind at retribution," Tamaya announced.

"Who?" everyone asked.

Tamaya answered everyone with nothing but a sadistic grin.

Author's Note: Read and Review. Let me know what you think!