Her Tormentor ( Sinfully his.)

THE CHURCH*

" Our father , who art in heaven ,

Hallowed be thy name ,

Thy kingdom come ,

Thy will be done ............."

Amen .." Ixora muttered softly , she then kissed the cross on her neck and started at the chapel of the church . A warm gentle smile spread on her lips as she closed her eyes .

This was it. It was right , the feeling of being here . Even though things didn't go as planned. She wanted to be in the church every single day . The bells clanged wildly and she fell on her knees bowing to the cross.

"Dear God, thank you for everything, for breathe, strength and grace ." Ixora muttered softly.

" Amen." She added feeling renewed and strengthened. She straightened up taking a quick glance at her broken cheap wrist watch .

" Amen " A voice whispered and she turned sharply and smiled as she stood up .

" Mother . " Ixora offered a warm smile at the approaching figure.

The Reverend mother approached her with a little smile " how are you doing child ?" She asked .

" I feel renewed , mother. " Ixora replied with a beautiful smile . Her phone buzzed and she picked up with alertness knowing who the caller is .

" IXORA!!!!!!" A voice yelled angrily over the phone and she flinched , ripping the phone from her ears .

The Reverend mother watched with a little smile. It's been the usual.

" A.. Aunt." Ixora stuttered fearfully with her hand sweaty and trembling.

" Where are you ?!" The voice thundered loudly with foot steps paces accompanying her. If she guessed right , Her aunt Clarice would be wearing her facial cucumbers with her night robe on, while her cousin Stacy will be talking over phone polishing her nails with that annoying smile plastered on her face as she will be conversing with Carlos her boyfriend .

" So because you went to church , you are going to starve us . " The woman angrily beefed her voice sreaming thunder over the phone , ixora swallowed helplessly.

" Mother tell her to hurry up. I am hungry !!!" She whinned over the phone. Ixora exhaled deeply waiting for Aunt Clarice next words.

" Missy you have just two minutes to come back home , else I will send you to the grave along with your parents!!!, you murderer!!!" Aunt Clarice furiously yelled before abruptly ending the call.

Ixora swallowed hard with her eyes tearing up . She held her head in frustration as the memories of her parents death happened. It was ten years ago . She was just a kid , a girl of ten who wanted to celebrate her birthdays like every normal kid's. She was super excited to celebrate her tenth birthday and she slept impatiently waiting for evening so they could go the beach as planned.

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*10 YEARS AGO*

" Mira papá quiero esto (Look daddy , i want this." ) Ixora points at the menu with a grin on her pretty face.

Sebastian her father smiled at her, he took the menu from her grasp ,his eyes widened and he spat out his water when he saw the high figures that accompanied the dishes. £100 ( A thousand euros!) , just for a birthday cake .

Sebastian stared at the eager enthusiastic eyes of his daughter . " Hija ,¿ no crees que es demasiado caro . ( Daughter , don't you think it's too expensive. ") He persuaded with a soft smile .

" Hmm . No!!" Ixora stubbornly refused and grabbed Sebastian hand with teary eyes.

"You promised to make me happy today. It's my big ten! Please .... Papá!!!" Ixora coaxingly pleaded and started sniffing fake tears. It works every time because Ixora was looking gloomy, he took his lips contemplating.

" Oh baby. Lets just buy you a cookie. " Ramona her mother coaxed playing with her hair, but Ixora stubbornly shook her head in refusal.

Ramona slowly frowned displeased. This kid . She is meant to understand life is pretty hard for them. She is a seamstress and her husband is just a coal miner, so they eat and wear what they can afford .

But this kid may not understand that all fingers aren't equal .

Ixora exhaled softly staring at their faces. Her lips broke into a warm smile surprisingly" Let just eat at home. " She said and their eyes widened at her words.

" Don't worry , Mama and Papa, when I grow up . I will buy you lots of cake. " Ixora grinned cutely and took in her lips slowly.

" I am sorry, i was being naughty." Ixora mumbled incoherently with a sober cute smile that gladdens her parents heart.

" One girl brought a cake to school and our home room teacher divided it equally but she passed by me and when i raised my hand to let her know. The kids laughed calling me a beggar..." Tear escaped from Ixora eyes ' They said , I looked like one anyway."

" They said that!" Ramona frowned pulling her into a hug " I will report to the admin block immediately. "

" No ." Ixora spoke with a stuffy nose "They will only laugh at me again!" She broke down into harder bitter tears .

" I .. I .. I just wanted to taste a cake. I... I just wanted to ..... I am not a beggar.., I am not." Ixora wept uncontrollably clinging to Ramona shoulder.

A tear trickled from Sebastian eyes as he stared at Ixora overwhelmed with pain . All she needed from him was just a cake and he failed her. He couldn't provide for his family , he couldn't make his little girl happy on her special day.

" That shouldn't matter , okay. You have us . ." Ramona kissed Ixora hair affectionately .

" Let's go home Momma." Ixora whispered blowing her nose and they went out of the restaurant. But funny enough , she got a cake. Yes she got a cake not exactly on her birthday but days after and a new dress. Ixora couldn't believe her eyes, she thought she was in Dreamland. She took her cake to school to everyone surprise.

Things actually got a lot better for them. It lasted for five years, until strange men barged into their house and murdered her parents brutally. She was asleep , Sebastian urged her to go to bed soon ,he promised to take her out to the beach for her tenth birthday. She was over the room in excitement and hurriedly closed her eyes and when she woke up. She awakened with the sight of blood all over the hallway and worse her parents were dead and lifeless.

" Daddy. " Ixora rubbed her sleepy eyes slowly as she stood up from the bed. Her eyes widened as she saw her alarm clock. It was past six.

" Daddy. It's time!!" Ixora shrieked skipping to their living room , a horrified gasp tore from her lips as she saw a pool of blood around Ramona whose head was bashed on their dinning table and a knife stuck in Sebastian heart.

It was a horrible sight to behold. Ixora let out a loud outcry running to her lifeless parents " papá, Momma! ." Ixora shrieked horrified. She shook Sebastian who remained stilled and cold .

" Momma." Ixora ran to Ramona holding her head pulling her up. Blood smeared her fingers and a heart - wrenching cry tore from her lips . Ixora hugged Ramona lifeless body with tears rolling off her cheeks.

" Papá" Ixora softly whispered fearfully .

" please answer." She pulled Sebastian lifeless hand her pupils dilated with fear etched with on her face .

" Please answer, Papa!!" Ixora voice escalated into a desperate yell with tears trickling down on her face . She hugged their lifeless body with numerous questions with unanswered answers.

Who did this? Who killed her parents?" As she wondered on that she found herself asking why. Why was her parents killed?

" 911." Her subconscious snapped at her. Ixora eyes darted to the phone line and she grasped it dialing the emergency number .

" Hola esto es la policia , ¿ Cuál es su energencia ( Hello this is the police. What is your emergency. )

Ixora gazed at the phone , her eyes on the receiver , she stared at the knife in Sebastian heart and Ramona bashed head .

" Hola ( Hello.)?" The voice spoke again . " Hey kid! Go and play your pranks elsewhere . If you are having fun tricking an officer of the law , i will get you arrested...."

" Please help me . Save my parents. Please.." Ixora whispered inaudibly and her runny nose made her speech sloppy.

" Wait. Kid . Talk to me. Okay. What's your emergency. Name your address. Talk kid!" The voice yelled alarmed.

" Som... S... " Ixora stuttered and bursted into fresh tears" Someone killed my parents!!!" She howled crying uncontrollably. The voice at the end quietened down .

" Kid. I want you to relax. Take a deep breath , tell me your home address we will be right there okay ." The voice adopted a soft , and more gentle tone but it didn't ease Ixora at all.

Ixora stared at her smeared bloody hand. The sight of blood and the thick scent of blood nauseated her. She felt sick immediately and she wanted to close her eyes and wished it was a nightmare . A terrible one she would scream out of soon with her parents running to her and coaxing her .

" One , two, three. " Ixora shut her eyes in desperation" please be a nightmare. " She muttered with her eyes shut tightly . After a few seconds , she opened her eyes and the stark of reality dawned on her. Her parents were truly dead. Unable to contain this all , she took out the knife out of Sebastian heart .

The door opened that very moment as Aunt Clarice rushed in. " You bad child!!!" She staggered fearfully seeing the knife in Ixora hands along with her bloody face and smeared hands.

" You killed your parents." Aunt Clarice furiously yelled rushing out of the house to get for help from the neighborhood.

Sebastian and Ramona got rushed to the hospital but couldn't make it , they were announced dead minutes later they arrived at the hospital . And Ixora . She lived with endless guilt. If only she hadn't pulled the knife , would her parents had survived?. Was she really a monster? Did she killed them ?

Aunt Clarice made it her daily job in tormenting her , reminding her consistently of her parents death. Two days after the cops came for forensic and found Ixora footprint all over the evidence. On the knife , her footprint. The stairs , the door knob and the table sink. They were basically clueless about what had occurred. Had the little girl really killed her parents . Did she perfomed this act subconciously ?? The police came to a conclusion that she killed her parent in her subconciousness because she was suffering from a disease of the brain . Clarice made it worse for Ixora and it was easy for everyone to see her as a murderer who killed her own parent while sleep walking because they scolded her . But the obvious question glaring at thier faces was left unattended to . How did she killed her parent ? How did she a girl of ten ended up murdering two grown adult ?

Not everyone believed her , the truth was sealed in Ixora memory , the memory never forgotten , the tatoo . A tattoo on Sebastian wrist. They know who did it. Mafia's. Yes you heard right. Mafia's. Probably Sebastian got himself involved in dirty secret but he got killed by them. Surprisingly the cops kept shut and swept the matter underneath the carpet and made Ixora the culprit . Ixora has been living with this guilt ever since she got released from the correctional center at the age of thirteen and ever since she stayed with Aunt Clarice her only guardian .

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A jolt against Ixora thighs cuts off her trails of thoughts as her phone rang . She stared at the caller ID that made her heart jumped in fear.

" I have to go , mother . " Ixora muttered hurriedly and made a cross sigh with her rosary before rushing out of the church.

The Reverend mother slowly shook her head as she stared at Adrianna shoulder . " Peace be unto you , dearest child." She muttered with a silent prayer .

The Reverend mother is acquainted with Ixora ever since when she was a little girl. Her parents always brought her to the church. The church is the only place for Ixora that connected her with her parent . The Reverend mother slowly shook her head in pity.

"Hail Mary , full of grace....." The Reverend mother hummed softly with the rosary over her head .

Ixora rushed out of the chapel hurriedly with her body jittering. She feared of Aunt Magnolia reaction. As she took a glance at her wrist watch she took in her lips and ran over her hair with a soft exhale. It's past 7, Aunt Clarice would be starving and she could already view Stacy rolling her eyes waiting for her at the door .

Something struck on her face and she staggered almost falling on their face " Christ." Ixora mumbled breathlessly holding her breath and saw the thing that struck her face. A ball, it was a ball. She saw a group of children running towards her with their sober cute faces.

" Sister .You aren't hurt? Are you?" One of them asked concerned .

" She got hurt!" A boy among them pointed at Ixora bleeding nose. Wild gasp erupted from the children lips and they stared at Ixora soberly with their lips pouted sadly .

" Oh goodness , sister .We are so sorry. " They held their ears with cute pouts on their lips .

Ixora finally smiled , holding unto her bleeding nose" It's fine. Just be careful , okay. So you wouldn't get injured . " She smiled lightly and gave them back the ball.

The children let go of their ears with dazzlingly smile spreading across their lips" Thank you., Aunty." They said with happy grin on their face.

The boy who asked the earlier question whispered to his friend and they started giggling spreading it to the other kid's. Ixora stared at them confused. Are they laughing because of her bleeding nose or worn - out clothes and shoes. She looked tattered and she is aware of that. But these are the finest of her dress, you don't want to see the rest of her rags which she call dresses .

Suddenly the boy got pushed out among his friends and bit his lips shyly adding to her perplexity. If theses children dare spout nonsense , hell she was going to give them some home- training they refused to collect.. Ixora creased her brows with a frown as she turned sharply walking away

" Sister ." The boy word made Ixora halt in her tracks.

" You have a beautiful smile " No one except her parents called her beautiful , boys get displeased by her tattered looks. The clothes she wore are dresses Stacy turn to rags but Aunt Clarice gave it to her like it was something valuable.

" You are more beautiful than my mother. " The boy came closer to her with a wide grin " When I grow up . I would marry a beautiful woman like you . "

Ixora bashed her lashes before releasing a thin line of smile , she bent closer to the kid's height " Don't just marry a beautiful woman. Marry someone you love . Okay. And don't talk about marriage yet. You are way too young for that. But thank you for calling me beautiful. You are so sweet." She pulled his cheeks playfully and roughed his hair .

Ixora phone made a buzz and she knew she was doomed at that incessant ringing of the phone . She turned off taking to her heels fastly, she doesn't want any trouble tonight with her Aunt.

The boy stared delusioned with a sweet smile. His friends came closer. He staggered holding onto his sister shoulder.. " She called me sweet." He muttered holding his chest and his friend shosok their heads bemused.

" Get off me!" His sister playfully snarled.

" Oh jealous!!!!" The others jested and bursted into laughter's holding their stomach as their laughter exploded more.

•

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Ixora stood at the door breathing through her mouth. She couldn't believe but she had to run all the way home, the bus drove off before she could get in. She couldn't enter a taxi because of her insufficient funds.

When orphan kid's whine about their guardians being wicked , yet they are dressed averagely, get pocket money and attend the regular school. Ixora couldn't help but feel their ungratefulness. She would do anything to be in their shoes.

Ixora turned the door knob slowly with her head popped inside , her heart accelerating at each turn. She breathed out relieved and walked in but felt a splash directed on her face. Her eyes widened with outrage as she stared at her dress. Did she just get bathed with fish water?

" Oh sorry. I thought you were the dumpster. You look pretty alike." Stacy threw the bucket at her feet and turned at the stairs.

" Mom, dino girl is here!!" She said with a wicked smile directed at Ixora .

The name Dino girl was given to her by Stacy . On prom night , the most memorable night Ixora have ever dreamed of. She had been crushing on a particular boy in highschool for the past two years but couldn't muster the courage. Strangely, the boy asked her to dance. She get to dance with Carloss . Their school football Captain and many girl crushes.

She couldn't contain her joy. She happily endured her burden. But on prom night , her dress she bought with her part time salary got drenched with fish water. Yes fish water! Stacey had assumed it to be a rag and she used it to clean the kitchen. She threw it away soiled and unrecognizable. Ixora threw her fists up when she discovered Stacey cruel act.

She complained to Aunt Clarice who snubbed her completely and Ixora had never felt dejected. Clarice got bored and went into the store. They was a string of hope for Ixora , she knew her aun to be a fashionista . Her hopes got diminished immediately as she saw the outfit Clarice brought out. A dinosaur outfit. It made her look like a clown on that day and she felt stupid.

Ixora didn't want to disobey Aunt Clarice even though she didn't like the dress. She tried to talk her into giving her another dress, only for Stacy to ruin her chances telling Clarice that she was all giddy to attend prom because of a boy.

So hence her miserable night, she was forced to go to school dressed as a dinosaur , while Stacy in her elegant beautiful black net outfit that turned necks towards her . The whole school jeered when they saw Ixora and gave her the name "Dino girl." Carlos felt embarrassed , so embarrassed he couldn't stare into her eyes , he just walked off only for him to dance with Stacy that night.

" I really thought I felt something special like a connection. If you didn't want to dance with me, you should have said so but you came dressed this way just to humiliate me. You are a sick weirdo! I cant believe i took interest in you . You flighty pig. " Carlos spewed angrily that night. " Get out of my way !!" Carlos pushed Ixora aside . immediately he left Ixora went to her kness sobbing bitterly

Ixora didn't knew who gave him the wrong impression about her but ever since that night till their college examination. Carlos hated her ! Even his stares were so cold. His pride got hurt but her heart was shattered seeing him together with Stacey sharing their moments. Moments she dreamed about, moment she saved for.

Worse , Stacey got hooked with him and they started dating. Ixora couldn't shake off this feeling that. Stacey had planned this all along. It was hurtful seeing him every weekend in their house and seeing him kissing Stacey, sometimes she heard them making out.

Ixora then realized nobody in their right sense would ever look her way and even if they did ,it would be for a fleeting period before her ugliness struck them hard on the face .

" Oh goodness. Stacey ." Ixora gasped for air as Stacey dumped the fish water on her face.

" Peasant . Is that you. ?" Clarice approached the door with cucumbers on her face , just like her daughter she is obsessed with skin care , despite that they cant stand near to ixora when it comes to beauty . Ixora looked beautiful without taking care of her skin and it annoys them.

" Oh goodness. What's this awful smell?" Aunt Clarice held her nose with her tounge stucked outside disdainfully.

" It .. Sta..."

" Ixora bumped into me while I was about to throw it out." Stacey cut off with a wicked sneer on her face.

" You peasant , are you blind?" Clarice hand met Ixora cheeks instantly.

" Aunt." Ixora muttered gripping her damp tears with tears brimming at the corner of her eyes , Stacey smirked secretly in sheer wickedness.

" You foolishpauper. Do you plan on tainting my polished tiles. Do you know how much I got it! You disgusting thing! You incorrigible fool! You bastard!!! How dare you smear my polished tiles. Can your late parents afford it . You miscreant!" Clarice scrreamed angrily while giving Ixora a wild push

" Wipe it off . " Clarice muttered with rage .

Ixora helplessy swallowed , she searched for the mob stick to no avail , while fidgeting , sweat breaking out on her forehead.

" Where is the mob stick!" Clarice snapped irritatedly.

Ixora swallowed back averrting Clarice harsh glare .

" Are you deaf!" Stacey bawled angrily " Mom is talking to you , how dare you keep mute peasant!"

"It was here this morning." Ixora muttered inaudibly trying not to release her tears.

Stacey tore off Ixora dress from her body and threw it on the floor stepping on it with her feet. " Wipe it before it gets inside the kitchen."

Ixora couldn't take it in. Tears brimming at the corners of her eyes fell , she clenched her dress tightly while exhaling slowly . " Stacey , I just got that shirt yesterday and... And you tore it off."

" Oh I am sorry. " Stacey said with a glitzy smile crept up on her lips. " I thought it was one of the rags."

" But. It's new It has a.. a logo and..."

" Stop ranting. "Magnolia angrily cuts in " Clean off the dirt , I want to see it sparklig after wards prepare dinner and run a bath for me , make it lukewarm " Magnolia snapped walking away .

" And after . Go to my room and pick up my dirty laundry. Dino girl." Stacey grimly whispered with a eering smile on her lips.

" eww you smell Peasant . Really,,,,,, bad." Her wicked laughter followed as she turned her back heading out of the door.

" Mom , I am going over to Carlos!." Stacey announced and the door shut followed .

" Alright sweetie. Have fun. " Clarice replied back with a yell from the living room,Clarice laughters followed as she watched her soap operas.

Ixora stared down her chest the only piece that covered her nakedness was now reeking of fish smell , she stared at her torn dress and sniffed back in her tears . Her gaze fell on something , the mob stick. It was behind the door all along and Stacey stood behind it purposely.

Ixora released those fresh tears she has been holding onto. She held her chest as her heart wrenched in undescribable pain. She felt so tortured she couldn't make a noise while crying. Why is she treated in this inhumane manner?

CHAPTER THREE. PAINFUL CLUTCHES

The sound of bird sweetly chirping woke up Ixora . She slowly bashed her lashes with a soft yawn , her hair tousled into a cute mess , her lips slowly stretched into a little smile as she stared at the intruder by her window.

The bird slowly chirp again , this time pecking it's beak on the window rails .

" Hey foxy." Ixora mumbled as she settled closer staring at the bed in the eye. The bird didn't flinch instead it cooed making her to chuckle slowly. " Hungry ?" She took a grain of rice and spreads it out for Foxy who ate it hungrily.

" I am so jealous of you." Ixora whispered softly , gently she brushed Foxy wings , the bird didn't budge it's concentration was eating the grains of rice.

" You are so free . A free bird ." Ixora mumbled tearfully , she hurriedly cleared her throat.

" Unlike someone who is confined in the attic with no images of anywhere else except from her little town. But,.. You can fly. Isn't that great ." The bird pecked it's beak against Ixora wrist as it's way of consoling her.

" I wish I was a bird. " A low whisper escaped from Ixora lips as she hugged her cold knees to her chest .

" Happy birthday to me ." Ixora wept silently , tears ran down her face as cold breeze blew into the room.

If you are mistaken, today it's her birthday but a death day to Ixora because her dreams, her hopes and future and including Ixora died along with her parents ten years ago.

The attic turned colder, Ixora wrapped the torn and thattered shawl around her little body. Winter is slowly approaching and it's going to be colder in here. It's always cold in the attic anyways. Ixora would cry during snowy days but Clarice refused to give her another room or finish building the roof top. Ixora thinks Aunt Clarice left the rooftop that way to torture her. The walls of the room suddenly became colder, Ixora put on her gloves rubbing her hands. She wrapped the shawl around herself and watched Foxy flew away.

" They all leave at the end." Ixora sadly muttered as Foxy flew away. Well the bird has been her friend for 10 days. Ixora found it by the window with broken legs so she took it in nurturing it's health back. Days after days she couldn't help but feel attached to the bird so she named it Foxy because of it's unkempt wings and she can't believe it was time to say Goodbye.

Though she predicted it two days ago when it started limping and flying slowly across the room , today Ixora had guessed it's leg had healed and it flew off without a good bye. It made her felt nostalgic a bit , her eyes slowly teared up and she shut her eyes lid tightly burying her head into the her tattered duvet.

Ixora tried to fall asleep but her eyes were cleared , she groaned inwardly kicking her feet at the beep of her alarm. It was six on dot.

" Another stressful day." Ixora mumbled with a sigh. She dragged her feet down to the bathroom washing her face and she took a quick shower .

Ixora felt grease on her hair, another sigh emitted from her lips as she touched her greasy hair now smelling with fish. She was living so poor that she couldn't even afford a shampoo. Ixora brushed her hair against itself washing it with a small bucket of water . After a while, she came out with slow towel warped against her smooth delicate cream skin . Ixora hurriedly dressed .

" Seriously I couldn't believe I got scammed!!!!" Clarice furious yell echoed through the walls of the house , and her wild pace followed.

Ixora bit her lips straining her ears curiously. If she was hearing right did her aunt just got scammed . By who and how much precisely.

It doesn't matter. Serves her right! Ixora subconsciousness jeered with a little scoff.

" What am I supposed to do Jane. It was...." Clarice voice toned to a low whisper , her eyes darted across the room , she didn't see Ixora hiding behind the stairs with her eyes gleaming with inquisitiveness.

" From the loan shark." Clarice whispered with a tremble fervor and she slumped on the chair rest tiredly .

Ixora swallowed her gasp with her widened eyes. Wait loan shark! Is Aunt Clarice crazy! Why would she borrow money from loan shark to start a business. Everyone in this town are practically afraid , terrified and horrified of the loan shark. They were so brutal in collecting their money and sometimes can be super manipulative.

" It was the fastest option Jane. The bank couldn't lend me 2 million Euros . I thought it was the right decision to make . ". Ixora retorted sharply over the phone and it made Ixora eye ball roll , well her aunt never own up to her mistakes , NEVER!! .

" I know . !" Clarice snapped and bit her nails " It was meant to turn out great it Donald wasn't a thief and a scammer. I swear I would make him pay. I will find that son of a bitch wherever he is hiding and make him cough out my money!" She swore angrily with wild paces around the room.

" So what? What am I going to do? ."Clarice snapped furiously . "Shou..."

Ixora foot steps gave her out as her feet leaned against a damaged stair and it made a loud screeching noise which made Clarice turned back with a sharp glare on her face. Ixora hurriedly adjusted her dress trying to look natural. If Aunt Clarice knew that she was eavesdropping on her conversation , she would probably skin her alive and transfer her multiple aggression towards her .

" Good morning Aunt." Ixora mumbled with a respectful bow clinging onto her small purse.

As expected Clarice cut her off with a loud hiss and a disdainful expression on her face " Tell me what's so good about this morning!" She snapped eyeing Ixora angrily , she walked past her pushing her away harshly.

Ixora staggered and fell bruising her knees. Nevertheless Clarice muttered some incoherent curse words directed at Ixora " Useless nicompoo."

" I am leaving . " Ixora announced quietly and hurried to the door. She can't afford to be late to work. Her eyes searched around for Stacey. Ixora did a rough guess that Stacey is still up snoring away in her room .

" Dont forget what today is?" Clarice harsh voice halted Ixora steps " i need to bring every penny back home. After all I have been feeding and clothing you for all these years. Isn't it time to repay that effort of mine.." Clarice sneered blowing out her gum loudly and irritatedly to Ixora ears.

" Yes Aunt." Ixora replied feebly , she bowed deeply at Clarice before walking out of the room.

Well , ever since she have graduated from highschool she couldn't go to college because of the high fees and because Aunt Clarice wasn't ready to support .

Even colleges she applied for scholarship all declined her, it wasn't like she wasn't smart enough , so she is working her butt to save and give Aunt Clarice so money , and now it seems Aunt Clarice got duped and scammed so at any time soon , Ixora is a hundred percent sure Aunt Clarice is going to show her more hell .

As Ixora scrambled down the stairs , she almost bruised her knees but an arm encircled her waist slowly and her heart skipped a beat , no two as she saw her pair of eyes staring down at her. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw a familiar face staring at her. Carlos!! She gasped surprisedly slapping his hands away from her waist. She stared at Carlos whose face now wore a displeased frown .

" Why did I bother anyways." Carlos spat irritatedly and did the most brute action. He pulled Adrianna to his chest and pushed her down the stairs that she had intended to fall on.

Ixora yelped as she rolled down the stairs , her stomach butted the ground with force and she whimpered painfully as she fell flat on her face .

Carlos watched all this with a cruel smile and walked into the house " Aunt Clarice. Is Stacey home?" Carlos asked politely , a complete version of the action he just displayed . towards Ixora .

" Hi Carlos , come in.. "

" Stacey!" Aunt Clarice yelled loudly with her high pitched voice soon dissapating into fits of laughter as Carlos whispered some funny jokes in arrival for Stacey .

Ixora whimpered tearfully as she limped towards the bus station , with anger growing up into her chest. She quietly waited for the bus with her fists clenched . Passerby rushing to the bus . Ixora rushed along but someone pushed her aside and she ended up scrapping her knees again.

A low groan escaped Ixora lips as she shut her eyes tightly to prevent the tears from falling out . The bus drove off and the passerby went on unconcerned . Here in Greenville, everyone minded their business and beside even though the town was very small , not many people are familiar with Ixora since she was an autistic person. She hated crowd especially the stares boring into her body from unfamiliar gazes.

Ixora sat beside the bench and she stared at her bruised knees , blood slowly oozed out from the wound. A cry tore from her lips as she tried to stand up .

" Ouch." She whimpered tearfully holding her knees, as she tore from her skirt and tied the knee tightly. A gruttal groan escaped from her lips , she shut her eyes with a soft sigh.

Another bus arrived . The passerby hurriedly moved into the bus with shoulder brushing against themselves. It's always like this , because this is the cheapest bus before the private ones comes in.

Ixora limped towards the bus and got in before it could close . She slowly bowed as she walked in sliding in coins and sat just beside the window, she layed her head on the chair rest withering in pain. Her stomach churned wildly and she stared at the look of the bus occupants. Some stared nonchalantly and others started with a little smile.

Ixora bit her lips embarrassed. Well it's not her first time eating without sleeping and it was the same thing that happened yesterday. Aunt Clarice starved her because she didn't get the door for Stacey who came home at 9PM. Ixora was in the kitchen slowly watching the food and wandering in her thoughts , she had no idea of Stacey knocking due to the heavy rainfall. When she heard a yell, her eyes snapped open and she rushed to open the door only to be welcomed with a hard slap on the face by Stacey. As if it wasn't enough, Stacey cried that she - Ixora had done in on purpose in retaliation for Stacey using her rag she called a clothing to clean the mess she had made.

Clarice yelled furiously at Ixora , insulted her late parents and even cursed them for bringing out someone as stupid , as wretched as Ixora . There was nothing Clarice didn't use to describe Ixora . Soon she kicked her to the attic and banned her from going to the kitchen for food which her Ixora prepared for the family with her last strength in every fibre of her body.

Ixora stomach churned again and this time painfully. It felt like something was eating her stomach deeply. Ixora faked a smile at the uninterested look of the passerby. She held her stomach tightly and slowly closed her eye lid .

" Miss." She felt a harsh tap on her shoulder but she didn't budge " Miss!" The voice snapped impatient pulling a sleepy Ixora up to her feet.

" Nazareth!" Ixora gasped loudly as she stared at the wide eyed conductor whose eyes was now gleaming with something familiar. Something she witnessed all the time.

The bus driver slowly smiled , his brownish dirty teeth almost made her puke. Ixora slowly bowed and strutted away but got pulled back by the hair " Why are you in such hurry." The bus driver said grimly and slowly shut the door.

" Please let me go." A soft whimper escaped from Ixora lips and it made the bus driver grin to widen.

" You look hungry." His hands gripped her breasts " How about some trade and barter champ. I give you money and you satisfy me, right now. Right here, on the bus." He whispered with his bad breathe entering into her nose. Ixora sucked in holding her breath .

" Please let me go. I am not a slut." She pleaded softly but the bus driver didn't listen , he ran his flighty hand across her face and her eyes slowly teared up .

" Come on. Don't be shy. I will pay you good and if I am well satisfied , I will always call you to warm my bed. Uh champ." The bus driver grinned arrogantly .

Ixora fists slowly balled as she felt a pair of hand gripping her breasts fondling it harshly. Her gaze landed on a bottle. An empty alcohol bottle. She slowly took it allowing the man to rub his fingers along her thighs. Then she broke the bottle on his head while sobbing.

" Screw you little bitch!" The bus driver snarled angrily pulling up Ixora , but she bit his arms, her fingers desperately unlocking the bus door . Ixora whimpered in pains as he gripped onto strands of her hair. The door was unlocked after some seconds of struggle

Ixora flee out running with her eyes never darting back. She ran and ran till she arrived at her workplace. It was a restaurant. McDonald's, it pays well but transportation took a quarter of the money and Clarice took the other half leaving her with almost nothing.