Mastermind

‘Could you give me a bottle of water? My son is thirsty,’ I pleaded. I wasn’t sure if it would work, but I knew now they wouldn’t dare harm me or Ken. The pirate captain glanced at me and grabbed a bottle of mineral water from the table, tossing it to me. I caught it, a sense of relief washing over me. ‘Thank you.’ Without sparing him another glance, I turned around and willingly made my way back to the cell. As the door swung open, Ken’s cries reached my ears. He was trembling. ‘Ken!’ ‘Mummy, Mummy!’ Ken ran over, seeking solace in my arms. The bald man seemed disappointed. He closed the door without another word and left. ‘It’s all right. It’s going to be okay. We’ll find a way out tomorrow.’ I wanted to give the water to Ken immediately, but the presence of others in the cell made it risky. If I revealed the bottle openly, it would surely be snatched away. So, I held Ken close, finding a secluded corner where no one paid attention. Fortunately, these women seemed preoccupied with th