Better Days Ahead (Book 1 of the BDA series)

"Wake up you lazy brat, how long will you sleep for?", My step father yelled as he poured water on my sleeping form, I jolted up from the bed drenched "I should have poured hot water on you instead of cold water, you disgusting thing, Come here!" He dragged me from the bed with a loud thud. I landed hard on the floor, he threw the bucket at me.

"You fool I told you to wake up as early as 4:00 am look at the time, I even woke up before you," Another slap followed by a punch that's how he continued beating me till he was satisfied "you want to skip school right? I will make sure you go to school," another slap, "get up, clean the house and make me my breakfast, then go to school bitch!!"

You must be wondering what is going on? This is what my stepfather does to me, he usually abuses me, like that is not enough, he forces himself on me. His name is Hassan Dario.

I did not take his last name because the man is not my actual stepfather, he and my mom never got married. He is tall with light skin and stubble on his face, he does not bother to shave sometimes, he has brown eyes with long hair and full lips. Some girls would find him attractive but not me because I know the kind of monster he is.

I hate Mondays, it is my first day of school after moving from Lagos to Abuja, and look at what he is doing to me, when will all this stop? I'm tired of this life. I do not want to go to school but he is forcing me so that our neighbors will not raise questions about it. I should be happy about going to school because I will have hours of freedom, there is no way he can come to school to beat me. But both school and home are not much different, I'm a new student. I will get bullied and beaten over and over in school like the beating I get at home is not enough. That's why I do not want to go to school.

My name is Axymah Seizer Adam, I am sixteen years old, I was born in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

I am tall and chocolate in complexion, I have short black hair, I have glossy black eyes, with thin lips, I have a full-body, and I look a lot older than my age, well I look eighteen.

Both my mom and I moved to Lagos to live with him a couple of months after my dad passed away.

I was only nine years old then, and my mom died several days after finding out that I did not lie to her about my stepfather, I was turning thirteen then.

I told her that her fiancée abuses me whenever she goes out to work, and now I wish I never told her.

I wish I never made that call, she would not have broken all speed limits to try to reach home to get to the root of the matter, and maybe she would not have been dead.

She died a very tragic and devastating death, a car crash after I called her and told her what he did to me.

She was rushing back home from work and she was involved in a car crash it was raining and she was overspeeding. If I had not called her she would not be dead, she would have been here with me. Her body was torn, we buried only parts of her we could find, images of that day still haunt me at night.

My stepfather made sure that I felt the guilt of her death and it's always hanging over my shoulder, always telling me in detail what caused her death.

He never allowed me to forget the reason why she died, 'Me' What hurts me most was that he did not even mourn her death.

My mom was a very beautiful, hard-working, caring, and loving woman, she had a plump stature, she was chocolate in complexion, she also had black glossy eyes, and short black hair, with a full lip. I got everything from her except height, I got that from my dad.

My mom was born in Benin city but she moved to Abeokuta to live with my dad because he hailed from there.

I hate my life so much more than one could imagine, it would be better if I was never brought into this world.

"Will you get up from that floor or do you want me to drag you to school by your hair, you know I can do that without batting an eyelash." After hearing that I quickly shot up from the floor and jumped into the shower to take my bath I also did my business and came out. I do not have a lot of clothes so I don't have to waste time deciding which outfit I should wear.

Whenever I move any part of my body a bolt of pain shoots through me. I carefully wore baggy jeans trousers and an oversized sweater, my worn-out canvas.

I had to put on some make-up to hide all the disgusting bruises my stepfather caused me, making sure I moved slowly and gently.

He did not want what happened in my old school to happen again, that is the main reason moved here.

Flashback

Two weeks ago

It was on a Monday like this I went to make breakfast for him because he loves to have his four slices of bread, a cup of warm Lipton tea, and two omelets waiting for him on the coffee table every morning, but I stupidly put five slices of bread instead of four. I was running late that was why I made that stupid mistake, he came down as soon as I finished with his breakfast, and he saw the five slices of bread on the table.

A dirty slap straight to my cheek had me turning and seeing stars.

"Why did you put five slices instead of four?" He asked angrily right before giving me a slap that completely rest my brain followed by a punch straight to my gut. That's how he continued beating me till I was bruised all over. My face was all kinds of colors, blue, purple, even pink. I was so scared.

When he was done beating me to a pulp, I picked up my backpack and wobbled straight for the front door not before receiving words of curses and insults from him, everyone around looked at me weirdly but that was the least of my concerns, every part of my body aches and I am running late for school. I tried to make it in time but as always destiny was against me, my class teacher Mr. Godson asked why I was late, but as soon as he saw my face and condition, he quickly asked me to go to the principal's office.

There they both asked me what happened, I lied of course but they did not buy it. They called my stepfather, I begged them not to but they did not listen to me, they called, he came, I do not know what he told them happened because I was excused from the principal's office while they talked but I know he did not tell them what happened so he must have lied to them. He took me back home, where he beat me up more and told me am never leaving the house, I told him and pleaded to let me go to school that I can hide my bruises with the make, then he got me an eyeliner, mascara, a concealer, he didn't want my class teacher or my school principal to raise any questions so we changed state.

*end of flashback*

I wore my makeup, carried my backpack, and headed downstairs to make breakfast, making sure everything was just the way he likes it.

I shot out through the front door as soon as I heard footsteps. I do not want him to beat me again, I'm hurting all over. I know I might not have anything to eat today.

All of the time I only eat the scraps left by my stepfather, some other days my stepfather will not even leave any scraps for me to eat just to punish me, I just hope that stops soon.

I guess I will just go hungry today like every other day. I moved too quickly and I started coughing out blood.

I just wish he would kill me and put me out of my misery instead of beating me like this.

At least today he went easy on me, sometimes he would force himself on me and beat me black and blue. I shivered at that thought, school is the last thing on my mind right now, I tried to walk slowly so I will not hurt myself further.

I was following the sign boards and asking around for Metro puritan high school.

I walked for about twenty minutes before I finally arrived at my new school, I can not wait for the day to be over because as a new student I will be bullied and I cannot have that, I'm already getting enough even more than enough torture and torment from my stepfather.

When I entered the school I saw the receptionist, a petite woman that is fair in complexion and has way too much make-up on with extremely red lipstick and was in a red dress I was waiting for her to notice me but she did not so I decided to greet her.

"Good day ma'am." I greeted them with a small smile and she looked up at me before answering.

"Yes, how may I help you?"

"Ma'am I am Axymah seizer Adam, the new transfer student."

"Oh yes Axymah, I am Mrs. Hakirah Baidah, I am the secretary, here is your schedule and a map of the school your locker is locker 209 have a nice day."

"Thank you." I took the stairs up and started my journey looking for my locker. The school is so massive.

I have been walking for like ten minutes, my legs are hurting I'm in so much pain from the beating I received this morning walking around is making me feel so weak and the pain is unbearable and on top of that, the map Mrs. Hakirah Baidah gave me is not of much help because I can not read maps. I'm malnourished and constantly beaten and tortured so walking for even two minutes puts me in pain but I have to walk from home to school and back I hope I don't die to drop dead one day.

It is so confusing so I am just following my gut and my brain where that has gotten me in life I have no idea, after parading the second floor I saw lockers 189, 190,191, and stopped at locker 200 my locker must be on the third floor.

I took the stairs up then immediately found my locker I opened it and put my books in it then took out only the books I needed, I checked my schedule for the day and found I have mathematics first great what a perfect way to start school, I started looking for my first class when I heard footsteps.

"Wait up! Wait up!!" I heard someone yell, I did not want to stop but I also did not want to seem rude so I stopped.

"I have been yelling for a while for you to stop."

"Sorry I did not hear you." I lied effortlessly.

I took a good long look at her she is chocolate in complexion and has long hair and full lips, she also has an average height and I must admit she is very beautiful unlike me.

She was wearing an ash-colored crop top and leggings of the same color she looked good I then unconsciously looked at myself and frowned but my actions went unnoticed by her.

"I am Alero Vincent and you are?"

"Axymah seizer Adam."

"Can you pronounce your name again?"

"Axymah," I repeated.

"Okay, your name is kind of hard to pronounce but I will try to pronounce it correctly, Azyma." She tried again but got it wrong.

"No! it is pronounced Axymah, not Azyma."

"Are they not the same thing?"

"No they are not, Axymah is different from Azyma, it is pronounced Axymah... Okay just forget it." I said with a deep sigh.

"Can I just call you Azyma?" She asked dropping her hands to her side.

"Yes of course, what else will you call me?!" She rolled her eyes.

"What are you having for the first period?" I had to stop myself from saying the first thing that came to mind "none of your business" I didn't want to offend her or be rude to her I'm in no position to do that anyway.

"Mathematics," I answered curtly.

"Can I see your schedule?"

"Sure." She scanned through it with furrowed brows.

That was when I found out I have all of my classes with her except literature, Government, and physics, great.

We both have those classes on the same day but at different times.

"Okay let us head to class, we are running late." She dragged me along with her.

"You are the transfer student the new kid, am I right?"

"Yes you are, but how did you know?"

"I know everyone in this school that is how I know that you are new here you do not talk much, do you?"

"No, I do not, I like to keep to myself."

"Oh I see, then you'll make good acquaintances with my friends and I let's hurry we do not want to be later than this." Did she just say, friends? Oh no.

We reached the entrance of the classroom and Alero pushed the door open and went straight to her seat but I had to be introduced because I am the new kid

"Good morning students, I am your mathematics teacher from today onwards Mr clerk Jefferson."

The mathematics teacher was quite attractive, very tall, and had a light complexion with long brown hair and golden eyes. I guessed he was not from around here.

I wonder what brought him to Nigeria, probably work, duh.

"You are the transfer student Azyma?" The teacher asked and that brought me out of my thoughts.

"Yes but no my name is Axymah."

"That is what I said." I did not even bother arguing about it.

"Introduce yourself to the class."

"Good morning everyone, I am Axymah Adam, I moved here from Lagos state."

"Why?" Someone yelled out, people just need to learn to mind their business you know.

The teacher asked me to ignore the person and he called the person to order.

"Go to your seat." I scanned the room for an empty seat and spotted Alero, she motioned me to take a sit in the empty seat after hers by the window, almost to the back of the class.

"Everyone bring out your textbooks and open to page seven, we will start from there, Geometry."

I paid attention throughout the class but from the corner of my eye, I saw some people passing letters to each other and smiling.

It is none of my business, I went back to listening to Mr. Jefferson, "that is all for today." The bell rang and everyone stood up about to leave the classroom.

"Do the exercise on pages 9 and 10 you are expected to turn in your assignment during class on Wednesday." I just resumed and I got to do homework on my first day 'how exciting' I said to myself in the dullest tone I could muster.

I headed for my second class not before Alero told me to meet her at lunch because I am having physics now the same routine went for physics but I did not see anyone throw papers at each other.

I saw a lot of grumpy faces. I guess a lot of students dislike physics but I have a mutual feeling about it.

The bell for lunch rang, I am just grateful to Mrs. Anderson the physics teacher for not giving us assignments, she also does not look that bad she is also dark in complexion, medium hair length brown eyes full lips and she is a very nice woman. I shot out of class and was on my way to the cafeteria when I suddenly tripped on something.

I gathered my stuff and I stood up then found out I tripped on someone's foot, I was about to yell at the person for sticking their foot out just then I heard...

"Well well well look what we have here little mice." A voice said mockingly.

I stayed quiet as I took in her appearance, wanting to hear what rubbish she would spew, she is very beautiful I must say, a little light-skinned with brown eyes quite tall she is about my height, full lips she was dressed like slut that is going hiking after analyzing her I gathered all my courage and answered her back.

"Who are you? And why did you stick your foot out?", I am not one to yell, or even talk but I was pissed off by the way she spoke to me "did mama not teach her little sassy pants some manners?" I heard a lot of Oh's that made me internally pat myself on the back.

"How dare you f**king talk to me like that?!!" She pushed me making me stumble a bit the bitch yanked my hair to the back bending my neck at an awkward angle.

"I have not properly introduced myself to little mice, I am Cyril Deborah but you can call me Debby gold that's what everyone calls me and no one dares to speak to me the way you just did bitch."

"Except me! Let her go Debby could you not find anyone else to pick on?"

"Come on West, can you not allow me to have a little fun? You are such a party pooper."

"Whatever just let her go, we are late for lunch."

"Okay bye, little mice but this is not over." She spat on my shoe and left, disgusting.

I ran my fingers in my hair because it hurts from all the yanking she did, I gathered my stuff and stood up straight I was thankful to that West guy that came to my aid, I went to the cafeteria after that, it was huge I scanned the crowd for an empty table.

And I found Alero sitting with a girl and a guy our eyes locked and she waved at me, I awkwardly went to their table and she motioned for me to sit.

The girl opposite her has an average height, dark beautiful glowing chocolate skin, big doe black eyes and big boobs with full lips and has long hair while the guy next to her was very tall, a little light-skinned and had really short dark hair with black eyes and full lips.

She introduced her friends to me, the girl is Okoro Chidinma Dinela she scolded Alero for telling me her middle name which is Chidinma and proceeded in telling me Alero's middle name, peace.

"Don't call me Chidinma, rather call me Dinela." I held in laughter as I saw the expression on her face, she looked like she was thinking of 'One thousand ways to kill Alero.'

"And this jelly right here is Eke Jude Austin, call him Jude." Alero motioned to the guy with glasses and snickered.

He frowned at his name "Call me Austin, Jude is my middle name." If looks could kill Alero would be six feet under by now, the dude was glaring daggers at her.

Alero then introduced me "This is Azyma, the new transfer student." She introduced me placing her hands on my shoulder, I stared at her hands for a split second before shrugging her hand off.

"The name is Axymah, not Azyma."

"Nice to meet you Azyma." Dinela gave me a bright smile showing off her pearly white teeth if I didn't know any better I'd say she was making an advert for a toothpaste company.

"It Axymah, my name is Axymah, not Azyma, there is no letter Z in my name." I was getting frustrated.

"Really? Are you sure about that Azyma?" Austin gave me a cocky smile.

"Yes, I'm pretty sure about that."

"You know what? Forget it, we'll all just call you Azyma, sounds good?" They all nodded their heads like Agama lizards and I smacked my lips at them in my head, they brought out their lunch I was a little ashamed to bring out mine.

I swallowed my pride and brought it out, they didn't comment on it as we ate in silence.

"Why did you move here?" Dinela asked out of the blue breaking the comfortable silence 'what will I tell her?' I don't want to start lying this is my first day of school, 'can things just go my way for once?'

I was saved from answering by a voice I was starting to dislike and it's just my first day here, In a blink of an eye soda and mashed potatoes were all over me and Debby Gold's last comments were; "Go back to the hell hole you crawled out from loser!!" She screamed from behind me laughing maniacally.

I ran out of there as quickly as I could and headed straight to the washroom, I cleaned myself as much as I could and cried my eyes out for a while.

'Why do people hate me so much? I didn't even do anything to her? I'm a good and nice person, I don't deserve any of this why me? Why does everything bad always have to start with me?!!'

I just resumed here for God's sake!! I screamed louder as I grabbed her hair harshly causing my scalp more pain, I wallowed in sorrow, 'I'm so unfortunate I'm not destined for happiness what's all this?' My heart was heavy, my eyes were red and puffy from crying I got a hold of myself again I left there thinking 'could this day get any worse?'

I finished the second to the last class and headed for the last one which was literature, I walked in and Dinela looked at me with eyes filled with pity and so did everyone else. I know that I must look like a mess, I went to my seat and a piece of paper was thrown at my head I looked to see who it was, of course, Debby Gold.

This day just got worse, she waved her hands at me sweetly before giving me the middle finger and a stink eye.

With a sigh I finished class, I rushed out of class but of course, Alero quickly caught up to me.

"Are you okay? Please don't mind Debby gold, she is a bitch." She told me with a small frown. The rest of her friends came and we all walked out of school, each of them telling me how bad Debby gold is and how she always likes to torment the nerds and newcomers.

I felt better knowing it wasn't because of me Debby gold did what she did but because that's how she is that's her character and behavior how sad, I said goodbye to them and headed home it was already cloudy with a chance of rain.

I tried to walk quickly but Alas I was drenched and shaking I got home and changed into fresh dry clothes.

I made lunch for my stepfather because if he comes home and doesn't see his lunch ready he'll beat my guts out of me, I sometimes return home before he does he'll be back from work in less than thirty minutes I presumed.

The last time I made the mistake of not making lunch for him because he wasn't home, he made sure I never repeated the mistake, the bastard tied me up and beat me like a goat, a worthless animal, I am so glad he is not home I did my homework and by the time I was finished I heard the front door open, oh fudge!

He's home, I quickly put my books away and pretended to be asleep, I waited for him to come to check if I was in my room or not but eventually fell asleep, sleeping is the best way to avoid him beating me unnecessarily after I'm back from school.

I woke up feeling pains all over my body and my cheeks hurt like crazy but most of all I was very hungry I was starving completely famished, and the pain of the beating I received earlier covered me like a blanket my whole body hurts but at least the pain is dull.

I walked quietly into the kitchen looking around to see if he was there, but I did not see him around the kitchen side and the living room I guess he must still be in his bedroom.

The coast was clear, I made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for myself, I also took some painkillers and made eight slices because I was really hungry and I do not know when I'll eat if he gets even a whiff that I ate he will not stop beating me even through the night.

I ate quickly and started cooking dinner for him the last time I made dinner late he locked me in the room without food or water and he did not let me out for a week, how I'm not dead yet remains a puzzle to me.

He would often come inside the room during that one week to beat me and he will force himself on me, he would further hurt me.

I decided to make macaroni and cheese with roasted chicken wings,

I rummaged through the drawers and brought out a pot, a spatula, and all the ingredients I needed to prepare the food, my mom taught me how to cook just months before she died.

When I was twelve years old before she passed on she made sure that I was always in the kitchen with her and helping her out. Sometimes she would even ask me to cook little things like spaghetti and meatballs, noodles, rice, and beans with tomato sauce.

I made sure to keep memories about her and my father, my biological father close to me I love both of them so much but they both left me in this world with this man to hurt me and do to me as he pleases.

*flashback*

8 years ago

"Mom, please take me to the park," I begged to give her my best puppy eyes

"No!" She immediately declined and a frown found its way on my face my dad could not bear to see me like that because I was his little princess, mom would get jealous whenever dad calls me that.

"Come on my little princess, let's go to the park," Dad said, he volunteered to take me to the park.

"Honey, how many times have I told you not to call her that, if she is your princess then what am I?" Mom asked glowering.

"My dear lovely wife, you are my Queen." She immediately smiled at that.

"Now start going shoo." She said with a hand gesture.

"Are you chasing us?" My dad asked with a raised brow.

"Yes, besides if you do not leave now, you will go there late and you will have little to nothing time to spend there." She said with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Okay, sure, bye dear," Dad said with a wave.

"Bye." She then blew a kiss on us.

Just before we left I decided to ask her one last thing.

"Why did you say no to taking me to the park?" I asked ever so innocently.

"Because my little Angel, I have some work that I would like to finish and also I have to make dinner." She said smiling down at me and I smiled back.

I nodded my head and headed out with my father, I was not surprised my mom would rather work than spend time with me, at least not anymore, mom loved her work and took it very seriously a little too seriously. When we got to the park, I saw a lot of people walking their puppies, a lot of them were very cute.

I saw a cotton candy stand and immediately ran to it.

"Dad I want one!!" I yelled as I rushed towards it.

"Okay, princess." He chased after me.

He got me the strawberry-flavored one, I took it from him and started munching on it, dad and I went for walks while carrying me over his shoulders, we giggled and laughed and had a nice time.

We got home later than we were supposed to but mom was so engrossed in her work to even comment on it, dad went to the kitchen and found some food in the oven rice and tomato sauce with a side of deep-fried chicken.

'She did make dinner' I thought.

*end of flashback*.

My dad was a very handsome man, very tall with a good physique, he had jet black hair and black eyes like mine, I do not look a lot like my father. I only took his height, and the rest of my physical appearance from my mom, my dad was not that old he was around thirty-nine then now he would have been forty-eight if he was still alive, I have so many lovely memories with him.

I secretly hid pictures of my mom and dad, because I do not want to ever forget what they looked like, once I start debating with myself on what they looked like I just go and take a long and good look at their picture.

I kept the picture safe in my room in a box under my bed. I do not want my stepfather to accidentally find it because if he does he will not spare me, he will just go ahead and kill me.

I am sure he will make my death slow and extremely painful completely putting me out of my misery, where I will then go to hell for being the cause of my mother's death I do not care if I go to hell because right now hell is better than my life, the so-called life that I am presently living.

Once I reach the age of eighteen, when I become an adult I will flee from this house and live my life quietly somewhere else, I just have to bear this torture for only two more years.

I hope I can pull it off, I have never tried to escape, if I do, 'where will I go?' I will just end up in foster care and I do not know which is worse.

I will endure this for the remainder of the time I have then I will flee, I wonder why all this is happening to me is this the cruel and ill fate destiny has installed for me?

I hope not because I will not give up, I am not weak even though I am indeed weak physically I will still fight till my last breath that is once I attain the age of adulthood of course or if I see a very nice family that will treat me like their own I would love that.

I don't think I will ever be able to live a normal life, what if my foster family does what my so-called stepfather is doing to me? What will happen then? No!! I can not have a foster family.

I will run away only when I reach the age of adulthood I can not go through this all over again, I finished making dinner the time was already 7:00 pm and he is not back yet. I ate quickly out of the food I made, I guessed today is my Lucky day, I finished and went to my room, closed the door behind me and I decided to do my homework about thirty minutes later, some of the worst things happened to me.

My room door was thrown open, and in came my stepfather, he unzipped his belt and I knew what came next, I quietly cleared my book and un-dress, willingly giving in to him.

The last time I refused him, he was strangling me and was beating me all at once, he took off his boxers and did as he pleased. I did not want him to have the pleasure of hearing me cry, I am not weak.

I muffled my voice and tried to cry as silently as I could, while he used me like a rag, a piece of cloth used and thrown away, and I know that even after this what will come next will even be worst. He would stick stuff inside me and use harmful sex toys on me, it always hurt every time and I never failed to bleed, whenever I do bleed he will use the whip he got especially for me to whip me, and he gives me twenty lashes for bleeding.

I would cry out, beg and plead with him but he never listens to me instead he will beat me even more. After he was done with me.

He gave me another slap before he picked his clothes from the floor and he just left me there naked and afraid, bleeding and battered like a worthless animal.

I crawled to the bathroom and I washed as much as I could, I wobbled to my closet and grabbed my tattered worn out turquoise nightgown, and went to bed, hoping there will be better days ahead by now I have lots of marks and scars the whip left on my fragile skin.

Edited.