The tiger queen

Today's the day. The day my life changes forever. Good or bad I'm not sure… You see, I'm an orphan. My parents died when I was 2 days old and I have been in this God forsaken home since…I have been their slave for almost 18 years. Cleaning, cooking, taking care of the other children. If I don't do as I'm told Markus my foster dad will beat me with his belt or worse if Lane my foster mom gets involved. One time she beat me so bad I couldn't get out of bed for 2 days. Lane and Markus hate me so deeply and I have never done anything to them. Things have been getting worse recently I'm assuming it's because my 18th birthday is next week. When I turn 18 they wont get money for me from the agency. LILA OLIVE JOY I hear from the kitchen. It's Lane probably wanting me to make breakfast and she used my full name so I'm in trouble. I whip off my mattress on the floor and stumble to the door and down the attic stairs trying to get to the kitchen as fast as I can. But it's not fast enough, she's waiting for me. She grabs a fist of my hair and pulls me to the sink where a glass sits neatly. HOW DARE YOU LEAVE THIS PLACE IN SUCH A MESS! She screams at me. I mumble that it's just a cup under my breath but she hears me and throws me on the ground. I try to cover my face so she can't break my nose again but she lands a punch before I can cover myself and I'm out like a light. I wake up to the sound of dripping water and my head and face feeling like I was hit with a brick. I then remember what had occurred before I woke and opened my eyes to see I was in the basement. They liked to put me in the basement when we were going to have company so someone must be coming. That explains Lanes outburst about the cup. I slowly pull my self off the dirty sleeping bag I'm laying on and try to steady myself. I walk over to the wall and grab the peice of broken mirror I have stashed away behind some boxes. I look at my self in the shard of mirror and see the gruesome affects of today's events. I have two black eyes the color of plums and a cut over the bridge of my nose. I have blood smeared all over my face and shirt. Aswell as a very visible broken nose that looks like it needs to be reset. I get to work resetting my nose and cleaning my self up with the little sink that I have down here. The room isn't much bigger than a small walk-in closet. I have a toilet and small sink in one corner and 2 boxes in the opposite corner with ripped books and tattered blankets. There is also small wooden rocking chair in the corner by the door that I do enjoy sitting in. Once I'm cleaned up I go and sit in my chair with a book I grabbed out of the box and start to read. 5 hours later Marcus came down looking sheepish which was not in his usual character. Usually Markus was grumpy and never smiled unless he was whipping me. He enjoyed using the belt on me. I almost want to say it arouses him. But today he looked almost boyish, like he was actually happy to see me. MORNING LILA he says with joy in his voice. I looked at him suspiciously but realised my mistake and looked at the ground. I'm sorry sir I didn't mean to disrespect you please forgive me I said to the ground. OH LILA DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT TODAY YOUR NOT IN TROUBLE he said as he handed me some clean clothes. I was very confused about what was happening. Then it dawned on me he was going to murder me, that had to be it right? He then asked me to go up stairs and tidy up after i was done changing. After that i was to then get the children ready for the day and meet him in his office for 11:30am. I changed quickly as soon as he was gone and ran up the stairs. I went right to the kitchen to get started on my chores. I looked at the clock it was 9am I should have enough time. A half hour later I had made breakfast for the children and cleaned the kitchen. First to come in was the youngest ava she was just 3 years old and the sweetest little thing. Next was Eliot the oldest he was 18 and hated me as much as his parents for no reason. And lastly was Sophie she was 16 and had a heart of gold and hated her parents for what they do to me. Sophie rushed to me as soon as she seen my face "OMG WHAT HAPPENED WAS IT MOM AGAIN?" she said with sadness in her voice. I nodded, not trusting my voice. Eliot spoke next saying I probably deserved it and it's an improvement to my face. That made sweet little Ava scold her brother. ELIOT THAT NOT NICE. LILAS FACE IS THE PRETTIEST IM SAD SHE HAS OUCHIES, she said while pouting and crossing her arms. Oh ava sweetie thank you for your kind words but I will be just fine I said tilting her head up to look at me. Besides your the prettiest girl in the world I'm no competition compared to you and your sister. She smiled so brightly at me it melted my heart. I smiled back and told ava it's time for her to finish up her breakfast so I can get her ready for daycare. Once she was done I took her upstairs and got her dressed. I put her in a nice soft pink dress with frilly socks and put her hair in a ballerina bun with a cute pink bow to match. I then packed her bag and let Eliot know she was ready. After he took her I checked in with Sophie to see if she needed anything from me and ofcourse she didn't like always. I checked the time and I had about 10 minutes left till I had to meet with Markus in his office. I decided I would go to the bathroom and head to his office. I made it to his door with 2 minutes to spare and lightly knocked. "COME IN" he said threw the door. I walked in and he was at his desk working on some paperwork. When I got to his desk he asked me to take a seat. Yep definitely going to die today I thought to my self. I sat on the edge of the chair ready to run if I had to not that I would get far. "LILA" he said and paused. "CAN YOU LOOK AT ME PLEASE I NEED TO DISCUSS SOMETHING VERY SERIOUS WITH YOU." I look up slowly and find his eyes on me slight irritation on his face. He takes a deep breath and starts to talk again. "LILA YOU KNOW YOUR 18TH BIRTHDAY IS COMING AND LANE AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING." I look at him shocked he remembers my birthday? He then continues and the horror that comes out of his mouth next makes me shiver in fear. LILA IN A WEEKS TIME YOU WILL BE GOING TO LIVE WITH A FRIEND OF OURS. YOU WILL BE HIS FROM NOW ON AND DO ANYTHING HE ASKS YOU TO DO. DO YOU UNDERSTAND? It all makes sence now I thought. That's why he was nice to me he's selling me. Omg it dawned on me, he's selling my virginity! "NOW LILA DON'T BE DRAMATIC. HE'S A GOOD MAN." I was afraid of what Marcus thought was a "good man". I decided i would be brave and ask the qestion playing in my head. Markus? I said timidly. When he met my glance i continued. Will I get to see ava and Sophie again? he looked at me questioningly but said we could work something out. He then excused me from his office. I walked out of his office and up to the attic where I would stay till I had to make dinner. I felt sick. I thought my life couldn't get worse, I was very wrong.