BEFORE I MET HIM

Useless girl!!! Good for nothing!!! Prostitute!!" My father's wife or should I say concubine raged like a wounded lion ready to devour its prey.

Oh! I have to run for my life if not this bitch will send me to my early grave- getting to the balcony with a rolling stick ready for any attack.

I tiptoed to where she is as I was about to get to her side my leg hit the old bucket and it got her attention turning to me with her red eyes.

"You will meet your mother today!! She raged.

She was about to throw the knife at me when I threw the rolling stick and it hit her on her head-yeah!! I targeted it well.

She fell groaning, saying curses

I closed the gap between us took the rolling stick and hit it on her head, knowing she is unconscious I went inside her room and took money from her purse.

I went inside my room took my crossed bag and my drug and made sure I looked like a normal human being and not insane.

Then I ran for my life.

***

Staring at the house I left some minutes ago brought tears to my eyes

"Ava am home"!! My mom said.

Twelve years old Ava stood up from her bed running to meet her mom.

"My pretty angel, I got you some chocolate," my mom said smiling widely at me.

I collected it from her unwrapping it, shoving it inside my mouth.

"What will you say, girl," she said

'Oh!!Thank you mommy, I love you" I said hugging her

Later that night some unknown came looking for my dad but met mom and she was shot dead right in my eyes.

That was the last day I touched her, hugged her, and talked to her.

The next morning dad came and mom was buried. It was a sad day for me as I was just wailing. Dad stayed with me for days, he was always off and on.

He comes only at night and then goes back early in the morning, a week later he brought a woman to our house.

"Ava I am sorry for what's happening to you, I am the cause darling. Dad is always busy I am sure you know that"

I nodded my head.

"Dad decides to make you happy and fill in the irresponsible role to you, so I brought her for you, you are still young to not have a mother figure in your life" he said

"So she is going to be your new mom and be a good girl," he said coldly leaving me with the stranger.

"Daddy No!!! , I only want mummy!" I ran inside.

I heard rose- my new stepmother's voice saying you will get used to it darling.

I got to my room went to take my mom's picture and held it close to my chest. I missed you, mom, come back to me.

I cried.

That's how I started living with the witch that made my life a mess, I endured her madness for eight years before I escaped-I'm finally free from her bondage.

***

Going through the street thinking of how I will survive on the street -oh that bitch, really made my life hell.

"I have some money with me at least, that will last me for days," I thought within me.

"Cabbie," I said waving to a cab.

I entered the cab and the driver said "where miss?"

"Penrith" I replied.

I thought about my life as I was looking at the street through the window. I have become the shadow of myself, it brought tears to my eyes as I quickly cleaned my eyes up.

After some hours, I alighted giving him his money.

Staring down at the busy life in Penrith yeah! Am two hours away from home and am here to live my life the way it is supposed to be.

Penrith isn't a place for me to start my life, though it is not safe, especially for people like me. I need to take a cab to get me out of here, I need a coffee first.

Then I started my journey walking down the street looking for a coffee shop.

I got to a coffee shop sat down and ordered a cup, sipping my coffee quietly. I suddenly felt pressed, shit!! I need to use the restroom.

I asked the waiter to direct me to where the toilet is, he told me it was at the back of the cafe.

I went to the back of the shop, luckily I found the toilet... I was about to enter the toilet when someone hit me and continued running, I wanted to shout then I found another person running from the same direction also, oh he is being pursued.

I held my bag tighter, I don't want to be a victim of being robbed here. I entered the toilet and did whatever I want to. I was relieved then I went outside.

I heard voices on my left-hand side as I got closer to have a clearer view of what was happening I heard a man crying and begging the men in black.

It's like this was the man that hit me the other time. I got a little bit closer, that I could even some faces. They are four.

"Oh! this is unfair," I said loudly.

Oh my God, Ava what did I just say? I am dead! I hope they didn't hear me.

They turned to look at me, focusing their attention on me

I gave them the "what look" and I turned back going back to the coffee shop.

I heard "boss he escaped".

Huh, who escaped? I turned.

"Oh,the poor man," I smiled.

He escaped as I escaped from that witch that's so cool of him"I thought within me turning back to go back to the coffee shop.

"Get her"!!! And find luke!!!" I heard the raging voice.

Huh?? Get who?? Hope that's not me?. I turned to see the men coming after me and some going in another direction, I took to my heels.

But who am I kidding? the men caught me.

"Leave me alone you bastards!! Do I know you before!!! Do you know me!! I came here to take a cup of coffee!!" I shouted struggling with them.

I was brought to the front of a truck, I saw one of the men trying to communicate with another person on phone, and the second man was trying to bring a rope to tie me. He held me tightly as he was bringing out the rope.

Then I thought of what to do, yes!!

I kicked the one trying to tie me down in his part, and he fell groaning.

I tried escaping when I felt something like a bomb on my head I fell weakly trying to feign dead even though I am weak as I could not open my eyes well, maybe they will leave me alone if they see I am dead, but I felt a hand pressing my nose as I inhaled something and drifted into unconsciousness.

★★★

Your thoughts so far??

I woke up inside darkness, I closed my eyes back thinking I'm dreaming. I pinched myself and it dawned on me that this was reality.

"Am I dead? Am I inside the coffin??"

I asked myself...As I moved my hand and leg freely.

"Okay am not dead yet but I might be sooner," I thought within me.

"Hello!! Who is here?? Somebody help!!!" My voice echoed back to me

I waited for some time and I got no reply...I shouted again. I looked around inside the darkness, is this even a room or where?

Oh, I am hungry!! I said almost crying

I got myself into trouble, I should have to go back after using the toilet. Or what if it's my stepmother that arranged my kidnapped?

Oh, I am dead!!

I was feeling weak as I drifted into darkness.

***

I woke up inside darkness, God what's all this have gotten myself into!!.

I was weak and I couldn't even shout or scream-I don't know how many days have been here, I busted into tears.

"Maybe, I shouldn't have escaped, I shouldn't have come to Penrith, I shouldn't have gone to the coffee shop," I said slowly crying.

If I had stayed at home and endured whatever rose did to me or maybe I should have run down the street maybe I might have not been in this position.

If I had stayed back home,rose was ready to kill me, and now this I don't even know.

I heard footsteps before I could process what was happening a bright light was shone at me, it almost blind me and I have to use my arm to cover my precious eyes.

After what seemed like forever the person went leaving me alone in the darkness.

I sighed in frustration. Ava your life is messed up right now, Poor me.

"Please I am sorry" I muttered as my voice failed me.

I don't think I can survive any day, here again, I am very hungry, thirsty, and weak. The worms in my stomach are feeding themselves with my intestine already-that I know.

Even though they are going to kill me I would have chosen a painless death or a less painful one. The one is experiencing right now is hell before death.

Mum, I thought you are watching over me, come to my aid Or is it that am also going to meet you like rose said-My father's wife?

I don't know whatever I inhaled but my body system is weak. That's all I thought before I slept again

***

I tried opening my eyes, my eyelids are weak to open themselves. I closed them back and then forcibly open them.

I was still unaware of my environment but I know I wasn't in that dark place again, after I was aware I looked around I was in a room. A pounding headache hit me, as I held my head.

How come? How did I get here? Is my life now a drama now? I woke up in a dark place, and now, am in a Godknowsroom.

I looked at the room and I must admit, Like where the fuck is this!! Honestly, this room is elegantly beautiful, but who knows if this is where I will be executed.



Lame!, this place is beautiful for them to kill me here.

I tried standing up I couldn't feel my legs, I was so weak I have to lay back on the bed thinking about what is going to happen to me in some minutes to come.

"Where is my bag?," I thought. I sighed as there was nothing much in the bag just my ulcer drug and the little money there.

I waited a little bit as I roll over to the other side of the bed, when last did I sleep on a bed like this?

"Wait, what if this is my room," The crazy thought came into my head. Ava, you shouldn't be thinking about things like this in this situation.

I laughed at myself, my life is extraordinary every day. I rolled again on the bed, gosh this headache is mad.

At last, I heard footsteps again, I was scared and happy at the same time. The door opened and a guy came inside.

He stared at me and I recognized him quickly as one of those men in black at Penrith.

Everywhere was silent, as he kept staring at me as if he is checking something in my body.

"Is it that fast that I will start servicing you?" I thought within me.

I need to talk, maybe he wants me to talk.

With the pounding headache"See, I am truly innocent I don't know you guys before, I came to Penrith not up to an hour when I met you guys yesterday" I rushed my words with the last strength in me.

Yesterday? What if I had spent months here, yeah, I am very sure I have used more than a day here.

But wait, why is he staring deep into my eyes like that -Jeez!! His eyes could kill.

Another fact noted down, I am with dangerous people. It's either he is a mafia or I don't even know.

He left without saying a word, I sighed.

Not too long, The door opened and a young lady came with a tray of food and a water bottle, as she dropped it on the stool beside the bed.

"Miss, I was asked to bring this," she said dropping the food on the table. I crawled to where the food is.

I quickly carried the food and start devouring it.

"Don't get choked"A deep cold voice said

I looked up and it turns out to be the same guy, I couldn't find the young lady that brought the food. When did he enter?

The food must have occupied my head so much.

He dropped some pain reliever drugs on the table "You have some questions to answer in the next thirty minutes, Get freshen up in the bathroom" He said pointing in the direction of the bathroom "And check the wardrobe if you can find your size"He left after saying that.

★★★

How was it??

I continued eating my food till I was fully satisfied, I used my drugs and sat on the bed to let the food digest. I stood up stretched my body and went inside the bathroom.

This is a wow!! I bet the owner of this house must be a billionaire.

I looked around the bathroom and I saw a new set of toothbrushes, I took one and brushed my teeth.

I stayed in the bathroom longer thinking about what my life has become and how it will be from now. As I have heard of girls that are being captured they are either sold to other countries or used as a service girls, I shook as I thought of that happening to me. I thought of other things, what if I am not even in Australia again self, I have to force myself to get my ass out of the bathroom as I remembered I have questions to answer.

After I was done, I took a towel and walked to the dressing mirror. Staring at myself inside the mirror, I've changed a lot.

"Why can't I have a normal life like some girls do?" I asked myself.

From one problem to another, Who knows what and who am I going to see here, maybe this is my fate.

I did my girlie thing and lazily moved to the wardrobe. I opened the wardrobe and my mouth was widely opened, staring at the clothes in the wardrobe or wait is this a mini boutique?

The wardrobe has different part, the first part is filled with trousers, the second part tops, the third part dresses, the fourth part singlets, and the fifth part skirt, those skirts are fucking damn short.

I checked the dress parts, I took the dresses one after the other, I wore them and it was either they are too short, too tight, or loose.

Oh! Come to think of it, how do they have female clothes here? Maybe he has a wife or ex-wife or sister that was living here before. And the clothes here look expensive with different designers.

Ava save your little brain from thinking

I finally found a less revealing short gown-spaghetti strap light blue gown, At least better than others.

I wore the gown and let my hair down, I didn't even bother combing my tangled here as it skipped my mind.

It's time to face those scumbags for holding me hostage for how many days, only God knows... Bastards!!

I took a deep breath and thought about how am gonna react when I see their faces-should I shout at them or beg on my knees and start crying or how? I asked no one in particular.

"Oh Lord help me"I sighed.

I pushed the doorknob quietly and I stepped outside...Words can't describe what this place looks like, with the vintage filament bulb that added to the beauty.

Wow!

I looked down at the passage and it has more than six rooms in total.

"This place is breathtaking" I muttered as I checked the decor, "and cold" I added.

Maybe I should have wear a long sleeve dress then, anyhow it doesn't matter.

Okay, where the hell are these scumbags?-Are they not supposed to come and pick me up here?

"Scumbags shouldn't be living this luxury life," I said biting my nails.

Hello! Hello! who is there? I waited for a response-I and heard None, Maybe I should just go back inside and wait till the guy comes back.

I closed the door quietly when I heard footsteps and I quickly sat down on the bed...It was getting closer.

The person knocked, Woah, I guess this isn't that guy because he never knock.

"Come in," I said, the door opened and I looked up to see another young guy dressed in a fitted black suit.

"Follow me, miss," he said quietly.

"Huh" Was my response.

We left the room as he lead the way, we walked down the passage to a bright place, he walked majestically, I couldn't see his face properly but he has a...

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard voices I looked around and I saw a lot of guys dressed in black talking and laughing, I couldn't see their faces they were a little bit distant from me as they were backing me.

I wonder what type of people is, I know they are illegal and dangerous but what occupation do they do?

We kept walking till we got to a place"Wow!! this place is extremely beautiful, it's made of glass" I thought within me.

"Hey," I said to the young guy in front of me.

"No response"

"Excuse me"

No response.

"Is he deaf and dumb?, why can't he answer"I fumed inside me.

We kept walking till we got in a front of the big golden door and I was awed!!.

He opened the door and he entered, I was thinking if I should enter or not but the inside is dim and shady-Oh God!!

I heard a voice behind me.

I turned back to see the deepest striking cold eyes staring at me dangerously.

"Huuuuuh is this a human?"I thought loudly.

'No, a walking ghost" He replied to me with a cold voice and smirked.

"Enter now before I feed on your eyes," He said again.

Making me shrink in fear-I cleared my throat and replied to him.

"You don't look like a walking ghost to me, you look like a rotten crippled ghost" I quickly said and his reaction amused me.

Okay, Ava why did you say that? Can't I just keep mute for once? Fuck!

He started laughing so hard till his eyes were teary.

"Anyways, Welcome to my world little girl," He said with the deepest scary voice I ever heard, and if eyes could kill I would have been 12ft under the ground.

He left and entered the shady and dim room.

Two strong hands grip me from behind before knowing what was happening, I was already inside the dim and shady room and the door was closed.

★★★

Okay.