Chapter 2

From outside, he stepped into the the parlor followed by father behind him. Father's head was down. He didn't look at Camila, maybe to hide his shame, maybe because of guilt. But Camila didn't care at all, she hated him, she hated him with all the blood that runs through her veins.

Dante came running from bedroom. He kept banging his fists on one of the men who still held Camila.

"Let my sister go. Leave my sister alone. Don't take her away." He cried in fury. But something halt him in his track. It was "boss" aiming a revolver at Dante.

"Please Boss, don't shoot my son." That was father. He stammers when he was caught in a difficult situation. He pleads with boss while he ran to grab Dante behind him. Dante was lucky he was dad's favorite.

"Please boss. you have my daughter. I've finally paid my debts. Please don't take my son too." Boss release his index finger from the flat of the trigger while he safely keeps his gun in a holster in his trouser's waistband.

Camila struggle with the little strength she had left. The whole alarming scenario were starting to weigh up on her head. Her brain could shut down any moment.

Boss lead the way while his men who still held Camila followed behind. She wanted to screamed for help, but she didn't have that much energy. The men had planned Camila adoption very well. It was late with everyone still fast asleep. No one in their neighborhood will know of her adoption and no one would even care or suspect what has happened or become of her.

They walked to a red van across the street. Boss open the front door and took out a small dirty sack bag with holes eaten into it. He yank it through Camila head down to her shoulder, that way he could blind fold her. Boss goon toss her into the van at the back. Camila sobs while she called her brother name until she drifted off to a deep sleep.

Camila area breed of allot of children who can't be trained to school, some homeless without parents. Well only because it is a poverty stricken commune. Allot of homeless and displaced children and adults both old and young, filed every corner of the streets. Each gave raise to crimes such as theft, illegal drug and human trafficking, sex slavery and many more. It was a bad inhabitant for Camila and her brother but they had kept their head low and survived. The little money they made from selling newspaper in the street, roadside and offices had manage to provide food at their table. Father brought no money as he spends it only in gambling places.

Camila missed her home at the coast. Though they were poor but through the sales of fishes, handcrafts and farm produce at the coast they had mange to earn a living for themselves with or without father providing anything, they were happy with it. They didn't have to pay for rent because they owned their home, a home made of bamboo polls and logs. After mother died, father had packed their things one early morning to leave. Camila was 14 while Dante, 6. But Camila knew it wasn't because of mother's death memories but because he wants to run away from his unsettled debts. As time goes by, she wonder what has become of their home atop those white sand facing the sea. Maybe Father had sold it too.

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"Promise me Camila, you will look after your brother when am gone." Mother coughs while blood tickled its way out of her nostril. She looked like a granny even at 33, her skin turning pale and wearing off each passing minute. Both mother and daughter laid close to each other on mother's bed. Only that Camila placed her head on mother chest, her ears attentive of her heartbeats. She fear if she stop listening then mother will drift into unconsciousness and never wake up.

"I promise." Camila knows mother illness has come to his worse. She quickly got up to go collect a rag and water to clean up mother's blood. When she came back, she saw her hand hanging lifelessly by the side of the bed. The bowl of water falls off her hands while she quickly ran to mother side. She shake her lifeless body. She listened to her heartbeats, unwilling to believe mother is gone.

"Am sorry, I didn't mean to leave. Am here, I will not leave your side. Please come back." Tears mixed with mucous gush out. Camila hugged mother tightly. She buried face on mother's neck.

"Mum!!!!!......." She screamed.

A splash of cold water jolt Camila awake. Awake from that recurring nightmare.

"Wake up sleeping beauty. Welcome to your new home now." A man held up a dim lamp illuminating his face for Camila to see. He dropped a bucket before him. He had a moustache with a broad chin. His black hair was cut short almost exposing the root of his head. He smelt of sweat while he observed Camila closely from her face down to her breast and lastly to her laps. He rubbed his moustache with greed. Camila breasts was clearly insight with her soak silk gown clinging and exposing the shape of her bosom.