"Answer the poor guy, he's going to keep bouncing till you say yes" an elderly woman said, using her walking stick to push me forward "And give me that bowl, a lady like you should always think about being fit. Work on your appetite." I handed over the chips to her and entered the bouncy castle grudgingly. I had barely entered when Donald took my hands making me jump with him. "This is fun" he said tiredly and laid on the bouncer. "Yeah right" I landed, putting my head on his stomach gazing up at the sky. "Where have you heard that name?" I asked. "On the TV 15 years ago. A family was looking for a eight year old girl. She was missing. The search continued for four years I think. No one in state doesn't know about the her." He replied, he knew I was referring to Nora. I can't believe this, I have a family?? My heart skipped excitedly, maybe I could get them to help. The happiness went down the drain when I remembered how callous Simon can be. " L
*** I kept the tiara on my dressing table and went through the pictures we took together. The pictures were really cute, I don't understand why things are a little complicated. I sighed tiredly and went to Simon's room. I took the clean bedsheet he claimed needs cleaning and made to leave when I saw him enter and lock the door behind him. My heart rate picked as I stared at him "I see my cousin is really into you." He circled around me. I stood still, afraid to move. "I'm going to tell Donald, I'll tell him" His eyes turned dark and gleamed wickedly. "Who would he believe? His maid who's stranger or his uncle by blood? I hadn't thought of it that way, he's right. Donald wouldn't believe me. I made a dash for the door and opened it quickly, making my escape. I can't stand another minute in the room, I was suffocating. One week and fifteen rapes after, I sneaked out of my room and visited a club for the first time in my life under the disguise of a thug.
*** *State your business" a guy stopped me at the entrance. My appearance was looking slightly out of place. Even the temporary tattoo on my neck didn't seem to work. I cleared my throat silently and made sure to make eye contact with the guy. "I'm here too see Div. I need white powder and I want him to give me personally" I said in a hard voice. "No appointment No Div" he said gruffly and dismissed me with a wave of his hands. I won't take no for an answer. "Even when it seems important?" I asked using a hoarse voice "I need to see Div privately and now. Tell him it's a matter between life and death" The guy gave me a once-over unsurely. I made sure to meet his gaze as any form of weakness would give me a way. Few minutes later, I was ushered into the innermost part of the club. The door to an office was opened and I entered almost regretting why I came in the first place. All the guards standing there looked scary. "How may I help you ma'am?"
Courtney I squared my shoulders and lifted my head "I need a gun" He laughed, the others following suite. I removed my hoodie letting my hair loose. He knows I'm a lady besides my hair is itching. I moved closer to his table and used my palm to hit the table. "See this mark in my neck?" I tilted my neck to side for him to see. "It's the result of rape." He clenched his fist immediately, the laugh died on his lips. I was angry now, how could they laugh at me. "In one week, he has raped me fifteen times. I don't want to feel helpless like I once did. This man kept me in a dark room since I was eight years old. I finally escaped when I was twenty" I couldn't stop the angry tears that streamed down my face " I thought I was free from the man that brutally killed my parents in front of a eight year old me. I was disgusted at myself for years, I don't want to feel useless again. I want to kill the bastard and put an end to all this, I want to avenge my pare
DIV "Follow her" I said to two of my boys "let me know where she lives and one of you should stay put and tell me if you notice anything suspicious" "Why boss?" One of them asked "She picked my interest, I love her fearless spirit. The first woman to dare enter my office. That's something to celebrate." Donald "What's the relationship between you and Courtney?" I asked, his eyes dimmed instantly "What did she tell you?" He asked. "Nothing" "Then why do you seem angry?" "Tell me Uncle, do you know Courtney?" "Guess you have to know then" he sighed and sat, motioning for me to sit too. "First her name is Nora. I met her when she was in high school. You know how high school students are, always full of energy." He looked pained "Nora and I began dating after we met in an event" he continued " One day, she told me she was pregnant, that her parents would kill her if they find out. I told her I was ready for anything, begged her not to abort
*** "Can't believe she didn't tell me anything from the onset." "Don't let her know I told you please, she might run away the "Sure Uncle, you can trust me" I stood up and left his room disappointed. Courtney I was so happy the most feared Drug Lord in the state was helping me, that I walked in through the front door instead of my room window, smiling happily. "Where are you coming from?" Donald asked, looking at me with an expression I thought would never been directed at me, anger and disgust. "Can't you answer?" Simon glowered at me. "None of your business" I replied calmly and went to my room. They're not going to kill my joy. What's with Donald anyway? I fell back on the bed, looking at the ceiling. I had done away with my disguise before I entered. I heard a knock on my door and sat up quickly "come in" I shouted to the person. "Can you quit glaring at me? What did I do this time to get you angry?" Donald has been standing on the door fram
*** That was pretty intense. What did Simon tell him? I knew he would definitely not believe me if I told him the truth. Well guess I'm super alone now since I can ni longer draw comfort from his presence. I brought the gun out and caressed it, it would be over very soon. I tucked it in my pillow. Simon entered my room next. I removed my clothes without fight, eager for him to go quickly, I wasn't scared of him anymore, I let him have his way. While he thrust himself inside me, I let my hands stray to the gun in my pillow but didn't find the heart to bring it out and pull the trigger. I stopped crying after the second day when I saw it gives him joy. "Unc. ....." The words died in Donald's mouth when he opened the door and saw us. He turned around and left while Simon grinned happily. DIV "Any news?" I said into the microphone in my ear. "We know her location boss" the person I asked to stay guard replied. "And?" I asked, waiting for more.
Donald " One day, she told me she was pregnant, I begged her not to abort the baby, she killed my baby without an ounce of regret. She pleaded for you not to know anything too" Uncle voice kept resounding in my head as I made my way angrily time the drawing. Why I'm angry, I don't know but I have he right to be angry. It's a righteous anger. How could she? They even had the guts to have sex in my house under my roof! I brought out my phone and clicked on mum's number. She had always been my confider before I started hating her. I locked the phone and took out my drawing pen and board instead. Courtney is Nora! She's Uncle Simon's girlfriend, she's a liar. I started drawing, I looked at what I drew, it was Courtney. I removed the paper and tore it angrily. I replaced the paper, I got the same result again. Anytime I tried drawing, I draw Courtney with or without thinking about her. I stopped trying to draw and gave up. I slid down the wall with a heavy