Chapter 3 The unexpected

"i brushed away the strands of my hair & whipped my face from the beads of sweat... Ma had asked me to clean the "dark room".. just as the name said.. it was the most darkest, shabbiest of room.. never been occupied or used.. for some reason ma had asked me to clean out the room.. what on earth had she done to this woman?....why was she hell bent on making her life miserable?...was I really going to spend the rest of my life?.. living like this, what was the world out there?... No.. no..no.. this can't be it!!.. I am _23 a whole 23...

"Hey!!" ma yelled..."what do u think u are doing u stupid child?.... U don't have all day... Ur pa has asked u to do his laundry- for Christ sake .... Don't be a slut..."

"Am done with the room " I rolled my eyes.

"Go have ur meal first then u will run some errands for me, & do wash ur pa's clothe if you don't want ur head ripped off ur body.."

The said meal was canned beans & plain rice.. she almost puked at the sight... Better than last night's "meal"..

After hours & hours of work she finally got a break.. as she fell asleep at least to half a decent nap.. she was shaken harshly by her _pa_

"Pa!!!... What r u doing here..." He was drunk & she knew what he could do when drunk...

But surprisingly he handed her some cash.."go get me some whiskey... Now!!!!".

"Now??.. pa it's 1am in the morning.. please I beg u, first thing tomorrow I will get u ur booze"..

" U dare question me Len... I see ur ma hasn't been hard on u enough..." He said & dragged me straight to the front door...I screamed all the way...

"Greg... What r u doing" that was ma, she came down half drowsy...

"Nothing much, just need a beer that's all..."

"It's 1 in the midmorning & really late..."

" & why do u care, she isn't ours anyways ....she can go to yell for all I care... Now go get me my whiskey"..

"Greg...."

"Go to bed woman.. it's final"...

Within minutes, I was out in the empty streets..cold, & angered... Who does he think he is, sending me out like a sacrificial lamb.. not even a prisoner deserves this...

The place was deserted & I had heard a lot of stories about how dangerous it was to be out in the night.. All of a sudden there was a man who appeared from no where_ he was in suit & glasses like a spy ....I became conscious & increased my pace... God help me.. I get pa's booze & find him sleeping.. I'd make sure I shove the drink right down his throat...

He was gaining on me & I ran & made a turn... I breathed out with relief as I checked & realized I had lost him.. as I turned, there he was but not the same guy in tux & dark shade glasses.. "oh no" I mouthed ... He instantly reached out to me & gagged me it didn't take minutes I felt light headed & drowsy he must have drugged the handkerchief.."hell!!"...

I lost control of my balance & my legs gave way.. as I was about to hit the floor... I was caught & I blacked out...

A black mask was removed from my face & I was faced to an equally dark room.."where am I?"

"You are fine" a man replied ...

"As I squinted my eyes to get the figure indeed was a man sitting across the room he had faced the opposite side.. he lit a dim light.. I could finally see his silhouette..

"Who r u"

"Eleanor.. at least let me give an answer to the first question.."

"how did u Kno my name?"

"There she goes again"

" Please let me go.. I really need to get..."

"Whiskey_for ur_ pa... Am right, am I?"

" How do u Kno so much about me?"

"I can go on & on..but then there is nothing really to say about u...". He continued.. I have an offer for u".

"What offer".. curious me wanted to know.

"How about u take a new identity.. u know, finally have a life"

"I have a life" I shot back.

"Not with this life you don't"

"Am done here.. I really don't want ur offer. Can I go home now..."

"U will listen to me, till i am done, then will u leave" he raised his voice which was commanding,cruel & cold.. he said this while still backing me...I swallowed... How on earth did I get here... He started explaining something & I used that time to check him out just little observation & guess work.. but I couldn't quite guess... He was finally done talking..

"At least tell me ur name."

"SINE"

The name that changed her life forever....