Cold Survival

Chris Kingston

Chris ears twitched to the sounds of sparrows singing outside her bedroom window. She tossed on her bed, yawning loudly as she slept.

The chirping became louder as if they were her alarm clock. Chris groaned, turning upward till the sunlight seeping through the thin curtains glinted in her eyes.

She gasped, rising in a quick motion. " No, I'm so stupid."

The bright daylight tortured her and she nibbled at her bottom lip. "Chris, you overslept again. You're incredibly silly." She muttered to herself, her right hand moving instinctively to her 4b hair.

Her hand stayed there as she twirled around the room, her eyes catching the wall clock. It taunted her.

7:07 am.

Chris screeched, dashing towards her bathroom. She expected several knocks rapping at her door in minutes.

She sniffed her hair. She hadn't washed it in days and it wasn't smelling so nice. She grunted, ignoring the shampoo and conditioner on the bathroom counter.

Chris loved to take things slow. On the norm, she would have preferred to relax in the jacuzzi while the steaming water soothed her flesh but right now, she flew under the shower and let the cold water do it's job.

"You're really stupid, Chris." She cursed herself loudly as the water fell in an avalanche over her.

As she got out, grabbed a pink fluffy towel, she heard the knock.

Chris sucked in her cheeks, drawing in a deep breath. " In a minute!" She yelled.

Guilt enveloped her as was the usual feeling she had now, she quickly donned herself in a denim skirt and spaghetti top. This wasn't exactly her but this was who she wanted to be to the world.

She opened the door and met with an empty hallway filled with antique and grosteque images. It made the hallway look mysterious atimes but she was used to it.

A fleeing memory coursed through her mind. Her father would leave her out there when she was five whenever she offended him. He would turn off the lights till all she could see was the deathly images.

She gulped. It didn't move her now but she still feared her father. Who didn't fear him anyway?

He was Lord Kingston, the head gangster in the state. She was just his 19 year old daughter who dreamed of a life beyond her father's walls.

Chris treaded the spiralling stairs carefully, her eyes expecting the figure of her father to pop up from anywhere.

He wasn't there.

The ground floor was dimly lit. A fire cackled in the fireplace, the embers flashing. An age-old chandelier stood stop the vaulted ceiling, making the place look older than it actually was.

Chris moved to the black upholstered chairs around the TV area. She stopped briefly, catching a whiff of smoke.

She rolled her eyes, taking a seat.

In a few minutes, she heard footsteps approaching from behind her.

"There you are." Kingston clucked his tongue, his arms folded around his chest.

Bee arose. "Good morning father."

"I told you not to be late downstairs. I have a trip to make."

"I woke up late. I went to bed late." Chris reminded him. He had kept her up late, making her listen to his boring meetings with a client. She watched as he fought to decide what to reply her, then decided against it.

"What do you think about business?" He asked calmly now, his hand moving to the small of her back.

Chris wondered what it was all about. This sudden display of affection. "I don't know... I'm thinking of studying art. I applied for that."

His eyebrows furrowed and a deep sigh from his lungs spurred out. "I see." He led her to the breakfast table where toasted bread and omelette garnished with sauce sat ready for her.

"Yes father."

"I want something different from you. You know you're my only daughter and who else would inherit the empire I've built for 30 years if not you?" He gestured that she have a sit.

"What?" Chris scowled. "I don't know." She bit her lip again that morning. Drawing was her dream. Nature was what she longer for. Her father knew it.

As she looked into her father's eyes, she knew she couldn't defy him. Not a chance.

Defeated, she muttered. "Business is great, father."

"Good. You'll go to a private university. I can't have you going to college where their knowledge is substandard."

Her mouth opened to speak but he snapped.

"You will do as I say."

Chris nodded. "Yes father."

With that, he walked with powerful strides towards the double mahogany door. When he was out of sight, Bee's head dropped to the table.

She felt tears at the brim of her eyes and forced it back in. "I am Chris Kingston. I live to make my father happy."

There was a hollow in her heart. She wanted and dreamed of a normal life. She hoped college would have helped her achieve that but her dad always had other plans.

Just how long can she hold on?