Chapter 4 A Quite Night, A Quite Street.

Daniel still didn't say a word as he was being asked by Debbie what the matter is as he just lay back again on his back as Debbie needed no one to tell her that this time wasn't the time for answer but the time for meditation.

Without any pressure from her again, Debbie joined Daniel as she lay on her back again, joining him as they were staring up at the ceiling in silence.

Their stomachs make some noise again but this time the growl from their stomach was louder as it's so obvious that the hunger was still there, but the room felt a little lighter.

Daniel broke the silence, his voice thoughtful. "You know... I have an idea." Daniel lightened Debbie up.

Debbie, who has also been quiet like Daniel, immediately raised head slightly as she wasted no time in turning her head, as she became curious of the idea Dan must be talking about.

"What idea? And does it involve food?" she joked, though part of her hoped for food.

Daniel grinned. "Not exactly food. But..." He paused, looking up at the ceiling like he was still thinking it through and as if the answer to Debbie's question was on the ceiling.

"What if we sneak out to the backyard?''

Debbie wasted no time in asking " To do what exactly? And you know Ma'am Margarita wouldn't take it easy on us if we're being caught at the backyard by this hour of the day.'' Debbie made it so obvious that she doesn't want trouble or even have the strength for trouble.

" Come off it Debbie, you're always scared of any little thing.

Must you mention Ma'am Margarita in it? You know we should just go outside to get some air. Maybe it'll help us forget about how hungry we are." Daniel suggested as Debbie turned her face instantly to him.

Debbie raised an eyebrow. "Sneak out? Are you serious? If Ma'am Margarita finds out, we'll be in even bigger trouble." she reminded him.

" Here we go once again, Ma'am Margarita again.'' Daniel then sat up this time more properly, as a mischievous look showed in his eye.

"She's asleep. She won't even know we're gone. And besides, we've already cleaned the whole house. What more can she do to us?" Daniel pressured Debbie.

Debbie who always gets scared of Ma'am Margarita had to think this through for some time as she thought about the punishment that she would have to go through if being caught.

Debbie waited for sometime, glancing toward the door as she just didn't think of Ma'am Margarita but also her mini demon, Julie.

" What if it isn't Ma'am Margarita but Julie who would get hold of us and then switch the story to her taste to her mother, anyway the least her mother can do is to get us punish by not giving us food or giving us more hard house choice.'' Debbie thought about everything as she made up her mind

The thought of sneaking out made her nervous, but at the same time, the idea of sitting outside in the cool night air sounded better than lying there, thinking about food they couldn't have.

"Alright," she said after a moment, sitting up on her bed. "But just for a little while. And we have to be quiet."

Daniel grinned and got up from his bed, tiptoeing to the door.

He pressed his ear against it, listening for any sounds from the rest of the house.

After a few seconds, he turned back to Debbie, nodding. "All clear," he whispered.

They moved as quietly as they could but on their toes, slipping out of their room and down the hallway.

The house was dark, the only light coming from the moon outside the small windows.

Debbie's heart raced as they tiptoed toward the back door, every creak in the floorboards making her flinch.

Finally, they made it outside. The cool night air hit them, and Debbie let out a small sigh of relief.

It felt good to be out of the stuffy house, away from the noise of their growling stomachs and the constant tension with Ma'am Margarita and Julie.

Daniel sat down on the grass, looking up at the stars.

"See?" he said with a satisfied grin. "Isn't this better?" he turned to look at Debbie.

Debbie sat down beside him, wrapping her arms around her knees.

"Yeah, it is," she admitted. The air was fresh, and for the first time all day, she felt a little more relaxed.

They sat there in comfortable silence for a few minutes, both of them staring up at the sky.

The stars twinkled above them, and for a moment, it felt like they had escaped the pains inside the house, not the one in their stomach.

Daniel broke the silence again, his voice quiet but hopeful. "You know... things won't always be like this."

Debbie glanced at him, surprised. "What do you mean?" she asked with curiosity in her voice.

"I mean... one day, we're going to get out of here," Daniel said, his eyes now focused on the stars.

"We'll have our own lives, away from Ma'am Margarita and Julie. We won't have to worry about being hungry or cleaning all day just to survive." Daniel gave her words of encouragement.

Debbie smiled, though the thought seemed so far away. "You really believe that?" As she brightened up already.

Daniel nodded. "I do. We just have to hang on a little longer." he explained further.

Debbie looked back up at the stars, letting his words sink in. It was a nice thought, a future where they didn't have to live in fear of punishment, where they could eat when they were hungry and sleep when they were tired.

"I hope you're right," she said softly.

"I am," Daniel said confidently. "And until then, we've got each other."

Debbie smiled, feeling a relief spread through her chest.

Despite everything, Daniel always found a way to make her feel better. Maybe he was right. Maybe one day things would be different.

But Debbie's stomach had groaned again, Daniel stood up and stretched his hands towards Debbie indicating her to stand up.

His hands supported Debbie to stand up.

'' Come let's go look for what to eat '' Daniel said and they left the backyard quietly.

As Debbie and Daniel stepped out of the house and into the quiet streets, the street was quiet and still.

The night was cool, and the soft reflections of the streetlights shone long shadows on the pavement.

There were hardly any people around, just the occasional little movement in the distance.

It felt like the entire neighborhood had fallen asleep, except for the two of them.

"Where do you think we can find food at this time and we don't even have money?".

Debbie asked, her voice barely above a whisper as they started walking down the narrow street.

Daniel shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"There's got to be a shop or two still open, maybe a street vendor. It's not that late, is it?"Debbie glanced around, her unease growing with every step.

"Feels like the whole world's gone to bed, and even the bird's of the sky are all tired of the earth." she muttered, hugging herself as they walked pretending not to be scared of anything but her eyes, voice and reactions betrayed her so much.

As they continued down the street, Debbie noticed a group of men leaning against a wall on the corner as they were smoking weed, cigarettes and even alcohol.

Their eyes followed her and Daniel, and she could feel their stares tearing deep into her skin. It gave her goosebumps.

She lowered her head, hoping to avoid their gaze, but the discomfort only grew worse. She could feel their eyes on her, looking at her every move.

She leaned closer to Daniel, her voice barely audible.

"Daniel... there are some men watching us," she whispered, trying to keep her tone calm but unable to hide the worry in her voice.

Daniel glanced to the side, spotting the group of men.

He could tell Debbie was nervous and not comfortable and he didn't like the way those men were looking at her either.

Then all of a sudden they could all hear a calling not just any calling but a whistle which indicates that one of those men was calling on them and Debbie couldn't hold her fear anymore as she held the hemp of her gown even tighter.

" Daniel, I think those men are calling on us to stop.'' Debbie whispered to Daniel who acted like those men don't exist.

" Debbie, stop being scared...you're with me. All you should do us to follow my steps, allow me to lead you.'' as Debbie had no choice but to keep shut.

Before the both of them knew what was happening the men had already started to trail behind them which made Debbie even more scared.

As she had regretted why she had agreed to Daniel in the first place forgetting that she's a lady and she can get gang rape by these men.

" Dani, they're following us...I mean they're trailing behind us, what should we do? Don't you think that we should stop now before it's too late or we anger them even more.'' Debbie then took a side look at Dan's face but all he could say " Don't stop walking, follow my lead.''