Masked Innocence

16. Grounded

"We couldn't find him. Nor do we have any idea about his whereabouts" a man reported to the man sitting behind the table. His chair turned towards the wall. His head rested on the back of the chair. He eyes closed as he listened to the men's report.

He turned his chair towards the man and looked at him with his ocean blue piercing eyes. His eyes cold. His sharp eyes fixed on the man.

"Get lost. Before you die by my hands" the blue eyes man said calmly. With a small smile on his face.

The room felt suffocating. The dark sura coming from him was enough to sent a chill down the spine of the man standing in front of him.

He was sure that if he wasted even a second in this room he will surely die today.

The man dressed in a black suit without wasting a second ran out of the room.

"Where are you? Where?" He asked in his gentle tone, looking at the photo frame on his table as he caressed the picture with his thumb, which was reserved for only one person.

...........

"Uh..Dad.." Anna scratched the back of her neck.

Trying to explain herself.

It was half past 11pm at night and our Miss was whole 4 hours late.

"You're Grounded." Mr..Hudson said with a strict glare.

"Dad...list.."

Anna tried to say but Hudson already stood up leaving for his room.

Anna's stomach grumbled. The poor little girl looked like a hungry kitten. She rubbed her tummy.

"I'm hungry" Anna whispered to herself and sighed.

When Hudson reached the top of the stairs he turned towards Savannah.

"There is pasta in the kitchen. Finish it and wash your plate" Hudson voice was strict but he can't see his little cat like daughter to sleep with an empty stomach.

He was sure that if he didn't ordered her to eat. She will go to bed with an empty stomach.

She was lazy.

Very lazy.

Especially in her own matters.

Savannah grinned and sent a flying kiss to her father.

"Okay Daddy" she said and ran to the kitchen.

She was famished. She didn't ate anything after breakfast.

Anna enjoyed her pasta and hurriedly went to her room changed her clothes and just as her head fell on the pillow she slept.

Slept like a log.

...........

The next morning.

Mr. Hudson looked at Savannah frustrated.

Savannah was enjoying her beauty sleep. Without a care in the world.

"Anna get up you need to go to school" Mr. Hudson shook her lightly.

Anna turned to other side pulling the blanket over her head.

"You will be late for school. Get up." Mr. Hudson again shook her lightly.

Savannah opened her sleep-filled eyes.

Looked at her dad.

"I'm grounded"

And again closed her eyes covering herself with the soft blanket.

She reminded her dad who seem to have forgotten about his punishment.

Mr. Hudson rolled his eyes. And snatched the blanket from her.

"DAAAAAAAD" she protested as she immediately sat up and almost screeched when she felt cold sir hitting her skin.

"Get ready I will drop you" Mr. Hudson gave Anna a stink eye before going down. He has to prepare the breakfast.

Savannah huffed and her sleepy eyes almost closed. She was about to fell on her back on the pillow.

"Savannah I'm coming upstairs with a water jug if you don't get out of the bed right now"

Mr.Hudson shouted from the kitchen.

Savannah immediately stood up from her half lying position.

"I'm UP. Up" Anna shouted letting her father know that she really woke up. Because she was sure that her father will really come up with a water jug. Or most probably a tub filled with cold water to wake her up. Even thinking about it sent a chill down her spine.

Savannah shuddered thinking about the horrible memory of her father waking her up with a tub filled with cold water. That too in winter.

That man is heartless. He didn't even pity his one and only lovely daughter.

Savannah changed in her school uniform and prepared her bag. She carefully put the phone in her cupboard drawer and locked it. Hiding the key under the bedsheets placed on the upper shelf.

Savannah went downstairs with her school bag on her shoulder.

Mr. Hudson handed her a lunch box.

"Eat this in car we are already late."

"Dad listen. Today we have to talk this through." Anna said very seriously.

Mr.Hudson turned towards her and nodded.

"Dad you have to understand that I'm GROUNDED ( she stressed the word grounded) and it means that I AM NOT Allowed to ( tapping the back of her fingers on the palm of her left hand ) step out of the house or even the room until and unless my punishment is over. What kind of Groundedness is this if I have to go to school. I don't accept this kind of groundedness." Anna huffed out.

David raised his eyebrows at his daughter throwing a utterly useless tantrum.

"I DONT WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL" Anna said.

Mr Hudson just picked up his car keys and then grabbed Anna from the back of her collar and dragged her out.

"We both will be late if you don't leave right now."

.....................

"I will pick you up."

Mr Hudson stopped the car.

Anna turned her face to other side. Her cheeks puffed.

Savannah pouted unhappily as she wanted to be grounded at home. With no school.

"My daughter."

David said lovingly as he patted her head.

And that's all it took for Anna to give a full blown smile before she kissed her dads cheek and went in.

Just as Savannah enter the school premises her smile froze on her face. She remembered a very important thing.

"s**t YARR".