TANGLED WEBS

CHAPTER 1 : HER ARRIVAL

It was Sunday. Maya had just been informed about her new family — the Harrisons.

A few weeks ago, she lost her parents in a tragic car accident. Her parents' business partner, Mr. Harrison, had decided to adopt her.

She stood at the entrance of her home with her luggage. She glared at the hall, taking one last glance. She stepped out and locked the door. A sudden wave of sorrow flashed over her. Shutting the door felt like leaving the memories of her deceased parents behind.

She stood firm, took her luggage, and dragged it out of their compound.

Outside her gate was a black Land Cruiser, a new model. A woman smiled at her while standing at the car door, looking at her with a mixture of sympathy and admiration for her courage.

"How are you, sweetie?" Mrs. Harrison asked Maya when she got close to her.

"I'm okay, ma'am," Maya answered, forcing a smile. Though she was stiff with grief, she still cared about her attitude towards others, not wanting them to pity her because of her predicament.

Mrs. Harrison patted her shoulders, and the chauffeur carried Maya's luggage into the car.

"Get in, dear," Mrs. Harrison said, gesturing for her to get into the car.

Maya obeyed with a slight nod and got in.

The journey was long and quiet. Though their business company was in the capital city, the Harrisons' mansion was five hours from Crestwood City, where Maya lived with her parents. The Harrisons lived in Fountain City — the city that was known for the best companies, restaurants, hotels, schools, institutions, and anything good in the state.

Everyone visiting for the first time would be excited, but it didn't move Maya. She was subtle and sat in the back seat, quietly staring at the houses across the streets. She barely blinked.

She was only 17, beautiful, with long blonde hair always tied in a low bun and her medicated glasses which always distinguished her. She was a quiet girl, but her parents' death made her more quiet and numb.

Mrs. Harrison looked at her several times through the rearview mirror. Maya's expression was unreadable, just silent, as if in another world.

Seconds turned into minutes, and minutes into hours. They finally arrived at the Harrisons' mansion.

The huge house looked stunning. Before Maya knew it, they had arrived and were already in the driveway. The sides were lined with tall palm trees; beyond them were green grass and lovely gardens. The entrance door to the house was black, labeled with gold at the edges. It was a bulletproof door. Beside the door were beautiful flower pots filled with exotic flowers. The stairs were made of white marble with gray traces.

They alighted and parked the car in the garage. About six other cars were arranged neatly in the garage. The chauffeur wanted to help Maya with her luggage, but she insisted she would take them in herself.

Mrs. Harrison led her inside their home. The hall was big and well furnished, with nice cushioned couches and glass center tables, artifacts and paintings hung on walls. Chandeliers gleamed brightly from above. The sight was heavenly, but it didn't awe Maya; she still had the same unreadable expression.

"Welcome, my dear. This will be your new home," Mrs. Harrison said to her with a smile.

"Thanks so much, Mrs. Juliet," Maya said, forcing a smile.

Mrs. Harrison's expression changed. She didn't expect her to accept another parent just a few weeks after losing her biological parents. She didn't say anything about that.

"No need, dear," she said to her, smiling again.

Maya smiled too. She couldn't tell if it was genuine, but it would have been awkward if she didn't.

"Let me show you your room. It's upstairs," Mrs. Harrison said, and Maya followed.

"This one," she said to Maya, pointing at a brown carved oak door. She unlocked it, and Maya dragged her luggage in.

The room was beautiful. The paint on the wall was cream and designed with yellow and green flowers. The bed was spacious — a queen-size bed covered with a cream and yellow cover and a white blanket. The closet door was gray and white with a gold handle. The bathroom door was also grey with a navy blue doormat. The tiles were brown and white. The window frames were white too, white like they hadn't been used or touched before.

Mrs. Harrison turned to Maya, who was looking around.

"I hope you like it. I don't know your favorite color, so I made the interior decorator put this decor for you, but tell me what you would like to change and I will have them do it... or would you like another room? There are other rooms down the hallway..." Mrs. Harrison went on, trying to make her feel comfortable.

"No, please. This is okay. I do like it," Maya replied in a soft and calm voice.

"Okay, honey, settle in. I'll make the nanny come help you to set the place up. Just let me know if you need anything, okay?" Mrs. Harrison said warmly, and Maya nodded with a "Thank you."

Mrs. Harrison left the room, and Maya was left alone.

With little strides, she got to her window. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows with soft sheer curtains, and a crystal flower vase with fresh tulips sitting on the sill. From inside, you could see the whole manicured garden and pool, with the soft scent of the lilies filling the room.

She picked one tulip and sniffed the fragrance. It smelled heavenly, which made her smile for the first time in weeks. The only genuine smile that appeared on her lips.

She took a glance at her room again, and suddenly her heart felt light. A sign of acceptance and adaptability to this new home.

She unpacked her clothes from her duffel bag and arranged them neatly in her closet. She hung a portrait of herself in her grade one graduation gown on the wall right above her bed. She brought out another picture from a box and hung it right beside hers. Looking at it quietly, she straightened it on the wall. It was a picture of Maya and her parents on their 14th anniversary. She had brought it with her from their old house, now abandoned.

She reached for a photo album in that same box again and placed it in the last drawer under the small table beside her bed. She put her alarm clock beside the lamp on the table. She set everything up.

When she was done, she entered the bathroom and took a cold shower. Her first bath in another home. She got out of the shower and put on a nice yellow dress. The shower was indeed refreshing; she felt lively again. The dress was a few inches below her knee, with very thin straps as sleeves. Her blonde hair was tied in a bun neatly with clips. She wore her glasses and made sure they were clean.

She didn't know what else to do. She strolled to the window and stared outside the mansion. She suddenly recalled she had not texted her best friend after she had settled in. She quickly moved to her bed, picking her phone from the nightstand, she typed "Hey" and sent her a text. She got a reply instantly, so while waiting, she decided to pick a book to read. She laid flat on the bed, her back facing the ceiling. She read quietly.

Then suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Not a loud knock, but loud enough to hear. The person knocked twice, still not loud, like whoever it was was afraid of who's inside.

She hurried to the door hearing the second knock. She turned down the handle and pulled it open. What she saw left her stunned.