One String Attached

25.

.Riley.

The following morning I rocked Asher back and forth in my arms. He had been crying non-stop since about 5 am this morning but I couldn't blame him. It wasn't like I was getting any sleep at all anyway. If it wasn't for him, I would have dashed out of here and after James the moment he left the house.
He still wasn't back. I had no idea where he was and he wasn't answering my texts or calls either, even after I strictly told him to get back to me and let me know how he gets on.

Sighing, I rub Asher's back continuously, holding him against my chest, his head rested on my shoulder. He hadn't stopped crying since he started a whole hour ago and I wasn't sure what else to do with him. He wouldn't eat, he wouldn't sleep, he wouldn't talk to me. He was just sulking, pouting and bawling his eyes out.

"I know, baby. I know Mummy's not doing amazingly right now, but please work with me here," I whisper to him, pressing a kiss against his temple, but it doesn't solve anything. He just keeps on crying more, causing me to sigh once again.
I would never get frustrated with my kids on purpose, but sometimes, in moments like these, they do know how to drive me up the wall.

There's a rapid knock on the door, causing me to raise my head but as soon as I do, they hammer their fist on the wood of it even more.
I had no idea who it was, but obviously I waste no time rushing towards the front of the living room before unlocking the door, keeping Asher held on my side.

As soon as I open it, not only do I find Emily there, but there's a policeman too as well as a woman in a suit. It's when I look around and blink several times that I notice the woman had her hands placed on my daughter's shoulders too.

"Aaliyah," I breathe out. My eyes begin to water and I shake slightly, taking one step closer to try and hug her but at the same time as I do, the woman takes a step back and the officer puts his arm out to block me.
I look towards my sister with furrowed eyebrows, my face contorted with nothing but fear and confusion. Aaliyah wasn't saying anything, instead she was looking down towards the ground, avoiding eye-contact with me.
"W-What's . . . going on . . .?" I question slowly, frowning at Emily.

"Miss Davis?" the police officer asks me, taking off his hat and tucking it under his arm. I nod my head slightly, shifting my gaze to lie upon his.
"Mrs," I correct him. He shakes his head, clearly not caring as he takes his badge out from his pocket instead.

"Officer Duncan. I have some questions for you regarding your daughter and her father, Bryson Peters," he tells me. "Can I come in?"
"Uh, yeah," I mumble, shaking my head and moving aside for him to enter. The relatively younger woman enters the house too, as does my sister, but Aaliyah was acting like a robot. She doesn't look at me. She doesn't say a word. She just hangs her head down slightly, ignoring me entirely.

"Um, I'm sorry but . . . who- who are you?" I ask the woman, straight after letting her inside. Asher whimpers in my arms, so I weave my fingers through his hair delicately, stroking his brown locks soothingly as I press a kiss to his head to calm him down.
The female turns around to face me, her hair in a half-up, half-down style. She wore heels and a grey suit with a white blouse. Her face was made up of concealer and foundation and she looked to be only a couple of years older than me.

"I'm a child social worker. My name's Arlene. Would you like to see my badge too to believe me?" she ponders, a bitter taste within her words as she spoke. It defeats the smile on her face and so I just sigh, shaking my head.
"No . . . it's okay," I tell her, and she nods politely before leading my daughter through into the living room of my own house.

Emily enters too and makes her way over to me, rubbing my arm softly before taking her nephew out of my arms.
"Where's James?" she asks me, raising an eyebrow questioningly as she looks around the house. I shake my head, scratching the skin of my forehead and shrugging to tell her I didn't know.
"What are they doing here?" I ask her in response, but she shrugs in response too.
"I was on my way here already but met them in the lobby. I saw Aaliyah and so instantly followed them," she explains to me, making me bite my lower lip.

I had no idea what was happening or what was going on but best believe I wasn't about to let Bryson take control. This was all clearly his doing. If he wants to play a game of Cat and Mouse, we can. He just needs to know that he's the Mouse and I'm the Cat. 

I'm not going down without a fight.