THE BOY IN HOOD

Liana moved up and down, restless in the rich living room where everything seemed to be made of glass, no dirt appeared on the floor adding on to it's glamour.

Kock! Kock! Kock! Came the knock on the door.

" Yes, come in! Madeline! is dad coming." Liana asked desperate for the answer she wanted to hear most. But in response, tears rolled down Madeline's cheeks.

" Madeline, what does that mean?"

" I am sorry Liana, he won't make it here. You won't be able to see him. Never will you my baby girl." Madeline said hugging Liana tightly in her chest. Over the years, she was assigned to take care of Liana and bring her up.

" Why am I so unfortunate, Madeline. I never got a chance to see my mom and now my dad. Why?" Liana sobbed. Answer me!

" Baby girl, I understand what you mean. But we can't reverse it. There's nothing we can do. And I am so sorry. I won't.... I can't live here anymore."

It came like a blow to Liana Kent she stopped crying and gazed at Madeline in oblivion. " You can't, you won't, what? Madeline! I don't understand please."

" I am sorry darling, time is running out. I should leave. I love you." Madeline said as she held Liana tightly and then started freeing herself.

" No Madeline you can't do this. Who is going to stay with me in this house....." Liana screamed but she moved away indifferent and didn't look back.

"That's the best I can do for you now darling." She said as she made the last bend into the elevator. Just as the elevator door was closing, the opposite elevator door opened and a group of three men headed towards Liana's room. Liana got scared as they approached and screamed. " Madeline!!!"

" Why are you screaming ? Anything wrong, " asked the gentleman who seemed to be their leader.

What do you want from me?

" Your father wants to have a word with you," said the man in black.

" My father, I don't understand." Liana said confused.

My name is Chris, your Dad wants to talk to you and that's why I am here.

" Can we go to him then."

" I am afraid that will be impossible Ma'am. But here you can talk to him on this phone." Chris said as he handed the phone over to Liana.

Liana was nervous though she managed to place the phone in her ears.

Father! She muttered quivering.

I am sorry Liana I couldn't make it up to you. But promise me one thing. Promise that you will correct every mistake I ever made, promise you will keep my legacy burning. I am sorry.

Tears rolled down freely on Liana's cheeks. " I... pro..mi..se.. father I will do anything you ask. I never lacked anything because of you. But mum, where is mum? Madeline has gone too. Hello! hello! Daaad!"

The three men bowed there heads slowly.

" He is gone!" Chris said as Liana battled with the phone." Let's go," he ordered," this is the far you can go, you may leave." The two other men left the room and Chris remained with Liana still sobbing. She cried for over three hours and was surprised when she lifted her head and found Chris still standing at the same spot.

" I need Madeline," she said slowly her mouth trembling and eyes red.

" Who is Madeline?" Chris asked.

My maid. I need her now.

" You mean Jen. She was fired, "Chris said.

Fired?

" Yes that's the best she could do for you. I have a message for you. You are not that young to decide for yourself. I understand your pain. Your uncle is coming to live with you and he is about to arrive. There's something else to watch out for." Chris said.

"What is it?" Liana asked trying to make sense of everything.

" Here, this documents. There is a message for you from your father among them and something else."

" What?"

Chris moved closer and whispered something in her ears and started leaving.

" Don't hesitate to call on me if you ever need anything. I will always be around for you," Chris said and left.

Liana stared outside the city unable to make sense of everything that had happened within a single day. Losing Madeline, the only mother she had ever known, everything was too difficult to figure out. Just turning to sit on the couch, she heard footsteps approaching and without warning, the door flung open. She stood up immediately as two men rushed in and one other gentleman arrived carrying within him a dominance of arrogance.

" She is alone, sir," said one of the men that was standing beside her now.

" Be sure of what you are saying. How could they do that to my daughter? Ohhh! I am your uncle, your father was a good brother to me. I am sorry for the loss." Mark as he was called moved and hugged Liana forcing out a tear. He reached out for his handkerchief in his pocket and wiped his face and was back to his normal rude face.

" But you know there is nothing we can change about that, I will keep you as my daughter together with your sister. Now tell me, did any one come here before me?" Mark spoke his voice varying from soft to very tough. " Be a good girl and tell me, was there anyone here before me?"

Liana got scared and shook her head. "No, what happened to my father, why are you talking as if something bad has happened to him? Is he dead?" Liana played dumb.

" He was a total freak." Mark said and turned to Liana who was trying to suppress her anger and tears.

" If I were you, I wouldn't waste a tear. Cry until you are satisfied and come meet us downstairs." He said and turned to move downstairs. It was a command and not a request. Immediately he had disappeared, she wiped her tears and shook her head.

" This is the kind of life I will live, till when. God please come to my rescue." She thought as she hurried downstairs. The thought of Madeline came back, how they used to play and do everything together and how she just abandoned her and moved without looking back. Without realizing, she was already in front of her new family. She quickly wiped her tears and greeted them but to her surprise she got no response instead she was just being scanned from toe to hair by the girl she guessed was her cousin.

" Dad, let me hope we are in the right place."

" Halt daughter, we are in the right location. Just look at her cheek bone and compare with the dead man's. Infact we don't need to confirm the name. Unfortunate is the best name for her. Let's move," said Nichole, Mark's wife as she held her daughter and moved past Liana knocking her.

Liana thought her uncle would say something but he just moved past and knocked her even harder. She now started to realize the hell she would be in, in her own father's house.