The Flaming Flower

SANITY OR INSANITY?

A fleet of posh cars was parked outside the enormous mansion owned by his very own, Leo Pathera the leader of the biggest and most influential human and drug trafficking organization.

At the basement, inside the mansion, dukes and duchesses, had gathered in response to the call by their very powerful and able leader.

The murmurs steadily died down and pin drop silence prevailed as a rather tall man joined the congregation closely followed by a curvy lady. Only their body statures could be noticed, as their faces were behind certain masks with flammery prints. Not even their ages could be predicted.

As a sign of respect and honor, the congregation rose on their feet, until they were signaled to sit.

A pudgy man then took over the stage, holding some papers.

He first cleared his throat thoroughly, before starting.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you're all welcomed to our annual meeting today. I'll have to admit that this has been an year with a lot of challenges, but despite of this, our organization has managed to carry out it's activities and come out successful. In regards to this, I can't fail to recognize The She Dragon, who coordinates the activities at The Flaming Dragon Company which in the past few years has been the most outstanding as far as drug trafficking is concerned. "

Mrs. Salvador proudly rose on her feet and waved at all and sundry.

A myriad of activities followed and thereafter, everyone dispersed.

Mrs. Salvador and Hugo took a halt at a mall to purchase some stuff.

"I can't believe the amount of money we're wasting on those good for nothing bastards,"Mrs. Salvador said and grimaced.

" What are you talking about? "Hugo asked unable to figure out what she was talking about.

" What else? Daphne's morons! ''

"Oh, so that's what you mean. But you have been very supportive all along, "Hugo lamented.

" But of course, do I have a choice? I can't afford to see Bruce's and Daphne's marriage break just like that until I finally get what I want. "

" You never cease to amaze me. "

************

They say, time flies; and yeah, it really does because in no time, Lesley, Felicity and Rex were now leading there individual lives, as each one if them focused on their careers.

However, the relationship between Lesley and Felicity had gotten worse as the days went by, as Felicity entertained hatred for her sister simply because she found Rex attractive and wanted him for herself.

On this particular day, it a party was being held at the Salvadors', celebrating Rex's and Lesley's birthday as they happened to share the same birth date.

Everything was well planned for the day. The view of the ball was breath taking and people of high social class had been invited, so for the Salvadors' to confer their status.

People diverted their attention to Lesley and Rex, who walked down the stairs holding hands.

Felicity gobbled down a glass of liquor as soon as her eyes laid on Lesley, who was shining in her glittering red corset dress.

Daphne jovially received them along with Hugo, who gave his son a tight hug, and the party commenced.

Lesley wearily approached Felicity, who had isolated herself at one corner in the room.

"What! You came here to show off?" Felicity barked.

"No Felicity. I'm not here to start trouble with you. Act.."

"Then leave me alone Lesley!"

"Felicity, please give me a chance to talk to you this once," Lesley insisted.

All of a sudden, Felicity stood and pushed Lesley behind.

Unfortunately, Lesley too pushed a waiter who was standing behind him, and he fell on their birthday cake.

"What have you done?" Lesley asked Felicity, who didn't seem remorseful at all.

Lesley went on to help the waiter get up, but he ran away through the window,which was large enough for him to fit.

Murmurs could now be heard as people watched the whole scenario in dismay.

"What is this?!" Mrs. Salvador bellowed ferociously.

A group of guards went to action to catch the waiter.

Lesley shuddered in fear of her enraged grandmother.

She then bent and picked and ID the waiter dropped, pretending to be fixing her heel.

"Lesley dear,are you alright?" Daphne asked taking a close look at her daughter to reassure she wasn't hurt.

"Felicity," Lesley muttered looking at Felicity in disgust.

"Go on babygirl. Spit it out. I was the one who pushed you and so it's all my fault," Felicity said hilariously.

"Stop!" Daphne shouted,"Isn't it enough that you've ruined your sister's birthday? Huh! What is wrong with you Felicity? This is too far fetched!"

"Okay. Defend your daughter all you want,mother!"

Felicity took her heels heading to her room.

Daphne cuddled Lesley as she patted her back gently and led her to a couch.

"Don't cry my dear," she consoled her and proffered a glass of water to her.

"Ummm, ladies and gentlemen," Rex started calling for the people's attention,"don't worry about the small accident that has just taken place. Let the party go on normally. Enjoy!"

Mrs. Salvador glanced at him and shook her head vigorously in disillusion.

Later that night, Lesley stood at the window pane glancing at the stars.

All that time,she kept thinking about the waiter she had an encounter with a few hours ago.

She shuffled to her shoe rack and took the ID he had dropped from the heels she wore on that fateful night.

"Clark Chavez," she read the name written on it and dropped it on the floor.

She supported herself on the wall as her legs wobbled like jelly.

She gathered her strength and reached out for the ID, taking another look at it.

"Clark, Clark," she mumbled as tears welled up in her eyes and steadily flowed down her rubicund cheeks.

The following day, she arose at the c***k of dawn after having a sleepless night.

She groomed herself and left the house unnoticed.

Lesley boarded a taxi,for her journey in search of the waiter whose ID she had, being guided by the location indicated on it.

Upon her arrival at the small town,she was lucky enough to meet the waiter she was desperately looking for at a certain cafe.

On seeing her,the guy tried getting away but Lesley held his hand with a firm grip.

"Can we talk, please," she said looking at him with puppy eyes.

The guy did not utter a single word.

Lesley led the way to a table set a few metres from the door and ordered cups of coffee for them.

"This must be yours."

Lesley fished out the ID from her purse and stretched her hand to hand over it to him.

"Ummm,I know the type of person my grandma is and maybe that's why you ran away when the cake fell but I'm here to have a friendly talk with you. After all, what happened wasn't your fault at all."

"What would a girl of high social class like you want to talk about with a peasant like me? I don't understand,"the guy impugned.

" I understand where you are coming from and so I don't blame you for not trusting me but the reason as to why I came all the way here to meet you is to apologize to you about what happened. If my sister and I hadn't started that fight,you wouldn't have lost your job. I'm so sorry,"Lesley appealed.

The guy chortled, almost breaking his ribs.

" And you think I'll believe. Look, we're already used to your acts to conceal your evil nature. Because of your wicked grandmother,many people have lost their lives at a very tender age!"

" What are you talking about?"

" Oh,so you too are in the dark or are you just pretending that you don't know your wicked grandmother is a drug trafficker!"

Lesley was too shocked that she spilt her coffee on her candigan.

" That's the truth but you can choose not to believe it,"the guy continued, pretending not to have seen that Lesley had stained her candigan.

He then stood to go but couldn't ignore what had happened and so he offered to help Lesley clean up.

The guy gently held her hand and led her to the washroom.

Lesley shyly took off her sweater.

"Bethany," the guy whispered in amazement,his eyes wide open.

"Did you say something?" Lesley inquired.

"You're alive?" the guy questioned back.

" Are you okay? What are you talking about? I don't get you."

" So you're Bethany, ma'am Laura's daughter, aren't you?"

Silence befell on them for a moment like a dead weight as they fixed there gaze on each other's eyes.

" No! You are insane. I'll take my leave now," Lesley vocalized, shaking her head in haughty refusal after which she put on her sweater and left swiftly.

" Wait!"The guy called out and followed her.

Lesley walked as fast as her lanky legs could so as to escape the guy but unfortunately her eyesight grew blurred as she was crossing the busy road, whereby a truck mercilessly ran over her, leaving her half dead.

In no time,there was a pool of blood around her as she bled profusely.

"Bethany!" the guy yelled hollered on reaching there.