It is a very bright morning. The sun shone from the sky into the well-decorated room through the opened curtains. The birds chirped happily as they flew about in the sky.
I kept turning around on my bed until I fell off. I groaned painfully as I stood up. Rubbing my eyes, I stretched and yawned lazily.
I looked at the clock beside my lamp and realized how long I had slept. I was tidying up my bed when I heard a loud voice yelling my name.
"Argh" I groaned, stamping my feet on the floor.
"I'm coming" I answered back to whoever it is that was calling me.
I finished arranging my room and then went into the bathroom to brush my teeth. After I was done, I rinsed my face and went to meet whoever it is that was shouting my name.
I descended the stairs and saw my stepmother and sister sitting at the dining table. I greeted both of them and sat down opposite my stepmother.
"What took you so long to get out of bed?" My stepmother asked.
"I was arranging my room......" I was cut short by my stepmother who shouted at me.
"Who told you to answer me and how dare you look into my eyes while talking?"
"She's such a spoiled brat. She thinks because dad's around you won't be able to do anything to her" my sister interfered.
I rolled my eyes at them and proceeded to dish out my food. They were about to say something but were stopped because of my father's appearance.
He cleared his throat, looked at everyone and sat down. I smiled and gave him a side hug while he patted my head.
My sister rolled her eyes at our act but didn't say anything. I'm close to my dad since he's the only one who acknowledges my presence in the house, and I'm a little bit close to my sister, but she also acts like her mother once in a while.
"If you keep doing this, she'd get too spoiled." My stepmother remarked.
"I'd know what to do by then" my father retorted.
I laughed inwardly because my dad has a way of shutting my stepmom up. He still doesn't know what they do to me whenever he's not at home, but I've made a tough resolution which might be tough to carry out, but I'm not going back on that resolution.
We all started eating after the morning drama had finished. After eating, my sis and I cleared the plates and took them to the kitchen.
There are times when I think my sister loves me but acts that way towards me because of her mum and just when I am about to start liking her, she starts acting possessed.
To avoid issues, I just make sure to stay out of her way. I dropped the plates, and I was about to leave when she dragged me back.
"I need that black Porsche Dad bought for you. I'm going out with my friends and I need it." she explained
"You can take your own or is it not the same Porsche??" I asked her
"Please just lend me for today." she pleaded nicely
"I'm also going out today and that's the car I'm taking out." I informed her
"Give me the keys while I'm being nice." She demanded
You see what I'm talking about. She just switches from being nice to being wicked, I wonder how it's easy for her to do that.
I just walked out on her because I don't have the strength to argue this beautiful morning.
I went up to my room and pulled off my clothes. I dropped them into the laundry basket and went into the bathroom to take my bath.
I opened the tap and poured my soap into the bathtub and went to wash my hair till the water filled up.
After I finished washing my hair, I entered the bathtub and loved the way the warm water made my body relax. I closed my eyes to feel the water and enjoy the moment. Then I heard the door knob of the bathroom click.
I sprang out of the tub and tried to open the door, but it was locked, and before I could say, Jack, the lights went off.
Fear gripped me. I felt suffocated and couldn't breathe. I kept hitting my fist on the door in case anybody heard or if the person was still there but nobody responded.
As I continued hitting the door, my eyelids became heavy and my chest tightened. I couldn't breathe, my lungs felt twisted and compressed.
Memories of what happened 12 years ago started flowing back into my head and I couldn't help but fear again.
*************
12 YEARS AGO
Little Avina just came back from school and was happy to be back home not knowing what awaited her.
She ran inside the house and met her stepmom watching TV. She ran up to her stepmom and hugged her.
"How are you my darling" her stepmom carried her on her lap.
Little Avina was shocked because every day she came back from school and ran to hug her, she'd either push Avina away or scream at her to get her filthy self away from her.
She felt happy for the first time because she thought her mom has changed for good. She then came down from her mother's lap and ran up to her room to get changed as per her mom's instruction.
She freshened up then came back down to eat, did her assignment and was about to start playing games when her mom stood in front of her furious.
She pulled her ears and made her kneel in front of her while she sat.
"How dare you pack all the chocolate I kept in the fridge?" she queried, furious
"I didn't take any since you instructed me not to touch it." Little Avina answered, sobbing
"So now I'm the liar, huh?" The stepmother implored
She stood up and dragged Avina away despite her pleas and cries. The stepmom didn't listen and took Avina to the old storage room in the house and locked her up there.
The storage room was dark and dusty. Avina kept crying and begging but her stepmom already left. As she kept inhaling the dust and crying, she started coughing. As she was crying and coughing, she kept looking around and got very scared.
She was locked up in there for a very long time. Her stepmother only remembered she locked Avina in there when her sister asked of her and her mother explained everything to her.
Then the sister said she was the one who took it in the morning when they were about to leave for school. Still, she didn't release Avina after knowing the truth rather she said.
"That'd teach her never to take things she's told not to take."
Her phone rang interrupting her talk with her daughter and the caller was her husband.
"Hey sweetie," Mr Walker said from the other end.
"Hey honey, how was your trip?" She asked.
"It was good, and I'm on my way home now. What about Avina and Elena?" Mr Walker asked.
"Ohh, Avina. She's asleep in her room" She lied.
"And Elena is with me."
After she ended the call, she ran to the storage room to release Avina before her father arrive home.
She was shocked to see little Avina sprawled out on the floor, lifeless. With trembling hands, she hurriedly carried the little girl to her room and called their family doctor.
Luckily for her, the man arrived before her husband could reach home. He told Mrs Walker that Avina passed out due to shock and it would take some time for her to wake up, that she need adequate rest.
She thanked the doctor and saw him out. When Mr Walker got home, she cooked up a believable lie but he didn't believe it because he wanted to see his daughter since he was out of town for a week.
He went up to her room and saw her sleeping peacefully, he didn't want to disturb her so he left clueless not knowing what happened to his daughter.
*************
PRESENT TIME
Could it be that her stepmom is trying to endanger her life again?? But she hasn't done anything to provoke her this morning.
As her breath shortened, she prayed silently for someone to save her before it was too late.
I was hearing muffled, inaudible voices. A thought popped up in my head, "Am I dead??", so I tried opening my eyes and I was welcomed by the white colour of the room that almost blinded my eye. Then I thought again, "Am I in heaven??" Still thinking, I shook my head vigorously saying it isn't possible. While in my trance, I felt a hand on my shoulders, shaking me, trying to get me out of my thoughts. Then those voices again called out to me and this time it was loud and clear. Slowly, I opened my eyes and the smell of antiseptic and drugs hit my nose. That was when I realised I was in the hospital. "Thank God, she's awake" I heard my dad saying "Let me check her vitals" The doctor said while my dad made way for him to do his job "Can you hear me Miss Walker?" the doctor asked I didn't answer. "If you can hear me, move your eyes to the left" he instructed. I did as he instructed. He gave me a few more instructions which I did. Satisfied
WALKER'S RESIDENCE This family and drama. Dad should have allowed sleeping dogs lie, now I'm developing an headache. "Enough!!!" I screamed turning everyone's attention to me "Dad, I appreciate all you're trying to do but I'd rather let sleeping dogs lie. The deed has been done and can't be rectified so let's just end it here." I begged my dad He looked at me in a way I didn't like; with pity, pain and another feeling I can't fathom. I know he thinks it's all his fault but I'm not even in the mood to assure him that he has nothing to do with what happened. I stood up, looked at everyone and went up to my room. When I got up, I made sure to lock my door and leave the bathroom door open. I took my bath and then came out of the bathroom. I dried my body, applied my body cream and went to pick my clothes. I wasn't in the mood to dress up so I picked a white hoodie and shorts then I wore white sneakers, picked a black bag and shades. I went back to
I got home later in the night. My dad and stepmom were conversing when I entered "Good evening Dad" I greeted "How was your outing" my dad inquired "It went well and it was productive" I answered "Alright princess" he smiled "Have you had dinner?" my stepmom asked "I'm full. Thanks" I said I went up to my room after pecking my dad. I went upstairs and flung myself on the bed. I heaved a sigh of exhaustion. I lay there for like two minutes before I went to freshen up. I finished showering and then changed into my nightwear. I climbed onto my bed and brought out my laptop and sketchpad. Checking through the designs, I felt satisfied with what I've done so I decided to do the finishing touch to the bride's dress. As I was working, I was also munching the waffles I got from the coffee shop. Two hours later, I was done and I packed up and then went to bed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE NEXT MORNING I couldn't sleep a wink last night. Emo
She turned back to look at whoever intruded them and saw me standing. She felt shocked because she didn't expect to see me but made no move to stop what she was doing. She was in the room with a man, smoking and puffing weed. It's a different story if there were just smoking but she was smoking the weed and passed it into the guy's mouth by kissing him. She was on top of the guy and he was lying flat on the bed. I couldn't withstand the sight anymore and left the house. I got into my car and kept banging the steering wheel like it was the cause of my frustration. I drove out of the compound straight to my parent's house. They were shocked to see me when I entered looking all weak and broken. My mum was the first to rush up to me and I just couldn't hold it in anymore and burst into tears in her arms. She didn't say anything but kept patting my head and my back. We stood there for like 2 minutes and when I was done, she walked me to the chair and we sat dow
Carter's POV I went to the office early because I have a lot of pending work to do. A few employees were around when I got to the office. I entered the elevator and went straight to my office. I took off my jacket after I got inside and hung it on the stand. I sat down, loosened my tie a bit and started working. It took me 4 hours to finish and I was tired by the time I finished. I was stretching when I heard a knock on the door. "Good morning sir" Clinton's head popped in "You can come in" Carter said, straightening up "I also came in twice but you were so occupied that you didn't notice." The secretary explained "It's fine. I've finalised all that needs to be done on the L&B project, so I'd send the documents to you. You just need to print them out, give it to the department in charge of overseeing the project and they should start working immediately they get the document" He instructed "Yes sir" "Is there anything that requires my signature
Carter's POV I left the boutique after I was done shopping and drove straight to my parent's house. I got there and parked my car while the gateman offered to help me with the shopping bags. We both walked in and I saw my parents in the living room while my sister was eating at the dining. She ran up to me and hugged me the moment she noticed my entry "Hey, big bro. I've missed you so much" she pouted as she complained "I'm sorry sweetie, I had a lot to do this week" I pinched her cheek playfully and explained "It's fine as long as you are here now" She smiled "Well, big brother got you something" I smiled as I collected the bag from the gateman and handed it over to her She squealed happily and hugged me. "Nia darling, go up to your room and check out the gift, we need to talk to your brother" Mrs Sanchez instructed her daughter "Alright Mom" she said and ran up the stairs The gateman dropped the bag and returned to his post. "Good evenin
She got into her room, slumped down on the bed and started weeping. She dragged her pillow closer, buried her face deep inside and continued crying. "Knock, knock" She heard someone knocking "I don't want to see anyone" She shouted back at whoever was there But the person didn't answer. The door creaked open revealing her father. He closed the door behind him and went to meet her sprawled figure on the bed. He didn't say anything instead he sat down beside her and patted her head. She continued crying till she felt she had exhausted all her tears. She raised her head. Her eyes looked red and puffy, her nose was runny and she kept hiccuping. Her father reached out to her drawer and handed her the box of tissues, he also poured her water from the jug that was on the table. After wiping her nose, she collected the water from him and drank. When he saw that she has calmed down, he adjusted his sitting position "You don't need to be a drama queen on this ma
AVINA'S POV I already woke up an hour ago but I felt reluctant to stand up because I'd have to tell my dad my decision even though he isn't going to pressure me to tell him. But I feel like the earlier, the better. I sat down and thought and ruminate on what to say or decide. Finally, I concluded. I got up and went to Bath then I wore my clothes I did a little makeup because my eyes were swollen and I did not want Kate to notice anything. She can read me and she knows me more than myself I stepped out of my room and walked downstairs. My sister wasn't anywhere to be found so I guessed she'd have gone to work. My sister is a model and an actress. She's one of the most sought-after actresses and she's well paid. Also, we both own a charity organisation. And to think I've never watched any of her movies. "Hmphhhhh" I breathed as I walked towards my dad. "Good morning Dad" I greeted him "How are you feeling now sweetie" he asked "I'm fine Daddy. Thank