Chapter 5 A way to Georgia

Away to Georgia

Candi turned over and over, again and again in her bed. She couldn't even sleep trying to make sense of everything that had happened within the few days. She picked a glass next to her bed hit it on the floor and went to take a shower.

As if it would help, she was getting more furious

How could this be? She thought. Everything is just unusual. First it was the mystery diva, then came along the mystery diva's friend. It just didn't make sense.

She finished showering and came back and sat on her bed. A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

Who is it?she asked furious.

It's me darling. Nichole answered as she opened the door. What's the matter,we have been waiting for you.

Candi just let her tears rolled freely.

" It's unfortunate!, she wants to grab him away from me."

As if she has just been stung by a bee, Nichole stood at once. " That girl, she should have just been dumped somewhere. Now I get why she rushed in the house last time dressed in a skimpy tight skirt and some heels. So it was meant for this guy."

" Mom, I don't know what she really wants......." Just then her phone vibrated, there was a new message. She really wanted to ignore it but when she saw the headlines, her heart skipped a beat. On the screen read, " Judges gives all points to the masked girl. See reasons."

Candi tapped on the message for more details and scrolled through the pictures, Nichole caught a glimpse of the pictures.

" Exactly she came back here on that. And...."

" What?!" Candi jumped up with the shock too much to contain.

" What's the matter, hun?" Nichole asked as she gained back.

" Liana was the masked girl." Candi said still unsure if she was dreaming or in real life.

" I don't understand what you are talking about?" Nichole said confused.

" Read mum! Here read." Candi muttered as she broke down.

Nichole rolled her eyes on the screen.

" How is this even possible? I will have to talk to Mark about this." Nichole said and shot out of the room lost in thoughts.

Days passed, Liana had distanced herself from the Mark family since.

That day she had been so nervous later in her room when she realized that she had forgotten to change her costume. She was beginning to feel at ease when she noticed the strange behaviours of the Mark's. She was treated more of a maid.

" Oh gosh! I see. I was a fool." Liana said hitting her head with her palm.

" Indeed you are," came a voice, " Chris is waiting for you downstairs." Candi added.

What and why would Chris enter this house? Liana asked herself as she moved downstairs slowly. There, Chris stood undisturbed playing with his car keys in his hands and turned only to see the adorable Liana coming down.

" Here you are! Looking s.....

" Just stop it! What are you doing here Chris?" Liana asked furious.

" What's that for darling? I called you several times but you weren't picking."

" So why are you here at this time?"

" Checking on you."

" I see but you need to get going. My uncle is soon returning." Liana said calm in her sweet melodious voice.

" I get but promise me you will come for the movies." Chris said smiling curving his cute lips and Liana couldn't help but turn away.

" I might."

" You will," Chris added as he moved out.

Liana sighed as she rubbed her hair smiling as she closed her eyes turning around. On opening her eyes, Candi was there angry like never before. She looked at Liana with blood shot eyes and moved away before Liana could say a word.

Liana ignored her and moved to the kitchen to continue with her chores singing melodious tunes, little did she know she was adding more sand in the grain.

Time passed, Mark and Nichole came back from the business trip. Liana was in her room listening to music on her headphones when she thought she heard her name. Removing the headphones, Aunt Nichole was screaming her name.

Liana jumped up and rushed downstairs.

" I see....., you now have the guts to do anything you like at anytime. Anyway let me hold it. Get us some coffee." Nichole said.

Liana turned and greeted her uncle who just scanned her from toe to hair and ignored her.

She continued to the kitchen and found no power going through the cooker and everything in the kitchen was tampered with. She quickly knew something was not right. It was certainly Candi who heard done all this mess.

Liana ignored it and rushed to the control switch and found the kitchen switch off. She turned it on and rushed to the kitchen to prepare the coffee. She hurriedly prepared the coffee and served.

Carrying it gracefully to deliver, Candi appeared at the door and she almost spilled the coffee on her.

" You trash! How dare you! How dare you take long as if you are serving your fancy boyfriend. If you take another second, you will know.. rubbish!"

Liana was dumbstruck and she remained rooted in the spot for some seconds before delivering the coffee. Aunt Nichole picked her cup and sipped. She spat the contents just as fast as she had sipped.

" What the heck did you put in this tea? Here take it.. have a taste." Nichole said handing over the cup to Liana.

Liana held the cup quaking and sipped it.

She spat, instead of being sweet, it felt like having a full ladle of salt in your mouth.

" No explanations," aunt Nichole said just as she knew what would follow, " take it away from here, a big girl like you. I thank God, I tested it first."

Liana carried the coffee and looked at Candi who was smiling and smirked at her.

Stop!

Uncle Mark spoke at last. Liana stopped but Uncle Mark took his time bringing out the next words. Liana stood waiting. Everyone was waiting.

" Candi is your elder," came the words at last," you were supposed to respect her....... But it seems you are disobedient. You go ahead to compete with her in almost every thing."

" What is dad talking about?" Candi asked herself and looked at her mom.

You are supposed to respect her feelings, instead you take whatever thing she wants. You were the one in the mask. Mark spat out at once.

Candi almost jumped up. How did he know? Neither her nor her mom had told him about the contest.

" I have seen you around with a guy. I can't just sit and watch as you bring shame to this family. Pack yourself! You are leaving here right now. Your flight has been booked. In fifteen minutes, you will be on your way." Mark finally said.

Liana turned in surprise. Does that meant she was being sent away from her own father's house, something she had known would happen but never expected it so soon.

What are you still waiting for? Nichole shouted waking Liana from her short dream. Liana moved crying, she felt Candi's face beaming with smiles. She was being cast away to somewhere she had never been in her life. Sooner than she had expected a car was hooting outside. This is when the idea of escaping came into her mind. But before she could meditate upon it. The Mark family was already there to see to her leaving. She moved and her luggage was packed in the car and they started off to the airport.

Just then her alarm started ringing. She was confused about what she had set the alarm for but seeing the heading, her heart skipped.

Movies with Chris. This brought fresh thoughts of Chris in her mind. Had he really known that she was going away. She glanced at her aunt who was smiling each and every moment. She turned the other side and looked at Candi and was shaken. Candi's eyes were on her.

Liana let her phone slip beneath her knees but it was too late. Candi had seen everything. She smirked.

" Mom, it seems we still have one thing to look to. The slut still has her phone and she wants to send her location." Candi said.

Nichole turned at once to Liana. " let me have the phone." Liana nervously handed over the phone thinking it was just for a small inspection. But when Aunt Nichole got hold of the phone, she threw it out of the window.

Liana wept.

" Aunt! I know I have been left unfortunate and named so but you will regret all you have done to me and you Candi..." Liana said as another gentleman got hold of her luggage at the airport and escorted her. Here she was getting some kind of strange respect which got her confused.

Sooner the plane set off, she felt as if a load had been lifted from her back and some how she was both curious and enthusiastic about her new destination, Georgia.

The nice city.

The flight was long but not in the least hectic. She was being transported like some kind of ambassador going for a very important meeting. At first she was scared when she entered the plane and sat on the seat. Just minutes later, someone came in and told her she was on the wrong seat. She was directed to a section that had everything.

" Excuse me Ma'am, aren't you mistaken about me." Liana asked doubting.

" Are you not Liana Kent?"

" It's me!"

" Then I am not mistaken."

Liana sat thoughtfully on the sofa as the lady was exiting. " Wait! What is all this about? I had this ticket not for the VIP section."

" Yes Ma'am but we were told to give you the best service and a new seat."

Who?

" I am sorry ma'am, I am just a worker given orders. I don't know either."

Liana waved the assistant off and sat back thinking of what wasn't making any sense to her. Soon the plane started landing and as soon as it landed, another assistant came, this time a gentleman.

" Hello ma'am" he bowed. What was happening. Liana got lost in words, " You were supposed to be taken downstreets in the city but we have got new orders that I deliver you to Cheer Berry Hotel for supper and I drive you home."

" I don't understand everything. What's happening?"

" Everyone is out of the plane ma'am and we are waiting for you. If you may, please?" The gentleman bowed again. Liana got up and started out but remembered her luggage.

" Oh! Wait let me check for my luggage."

" It's already home, Ma'am."

" You must be joking."

" No Madam, it was delivered immediately the plane landed on order."

Whose order?!

" I don't know, I am just a worker."

Liana realized she was digging out something she couldn't get. She just followed the chaffuer to the luxurious car and was driven to the hotel.

" Wow! Georgia is really a nice city. I have never been to Atlanta."

Liana was taken and made to sit. She couldn'ttaje her eyes of everything. She was busy looking around everywhere. The people everyone just the same.

The waiter came to her and she placed her order. She was brought everything she had asked. She ate to her fill something she had not eaten for long. She would have wished to stay there a bit longer but she was feeling fatigue from the long journey.

Unaware of her surrounding, she rose up at once knocking the elbow of the next client who held a glass of juice spilling all the contents allover him. The gentleman remained unmoved and unshaken.

Liana started apologizing, " I am sorry sir, please forgive me, I ...."

The man was in full black carrying an air of importance within himself. He carried within him a dark aura that revealed his rude character. But something about his eyes, his dark eyes glowed even in the dark. He was in a full hood and a black mask.

" Please say something sir," Liana was getting more scared noticing the appearance of this guy which was definitely unappealing.

" Leave!" was the word, a command

Liana moved away more scared than relieved and never before had she been as scared.