13. A BETTER IDEA
1557 Words
{LUMIRA}
“What did you do that for?” Ama inquired, her squeaky tone pitched against the roof.
“I don't understand,” I replied.
I had just saved her from bouncing off the stairs and she was asking me that?
Honestly, I was confused about this whole situation. Meanwhile, she yanked my arm from her waist, straightened her posture, and began to accuse. “You pulled me. You wanted me to fall, that's why you pulled me.”
Oh no, no, that was not what happened.
“Of course not,” I denied. “I wanted to let go of my arm from your grasp, I didn't pull you.”
“You did, stop lying!” She barked at me.
Ma’am Stella soon joined us at the top of the stairs, breathing heavily. “What’s going on?” She asked, looking from me to Ama.
Ama pointed at me. “She’s out to get me. Can you believe I went upstairs and caught her snooping through my things?”
Ma’am Stella's brow furrowed as she shifted her gaze to me. “Why, Lumira?”
“No, that's a lie—”
“So I'm lying?” Ama scoffed in disbelief. “You were snooping through my stuff and when I followed you to ask why, you pulled me and almost made me fall down the stairs.” she imputed falsely.
A pang of disbelief slapped my gut.
What was the meaning of this?
“I didn't do anything, Ma’am Stella. Believe me.”
Ama’s nose flared. “So I made this whole thing up? Is that what you're saying? I should call Kyro and tell him about this. You haven't even known me for one hour and yet, you intend to harm me?” She began to reach for her phone inside the small purse strapped to her shoulder.
“No, no,” Ma’am Stella went to her. “Please, Ama. This can be resolved amicably. You don't have to call Master Kyro.”
“I need to,” She boomed, her tiny voice had deepened into something hoarse. “She needs to learn her place.”
My pulse quickened, and I could feel my feet growing cold.
How did everything flip upside down in a second?
“Don’t interfere in this, Ma’am Stella,” Ama warned then moved towards the room.
Her voice softened as she began to speak into the phone with the person I presumed to be Beta Kyro.
“I wasn’t snooping through her things,” I told Ma’am Stella whose eyes softened with pity as she held my gaze.
“I understand, but you have to leave the house right now, Lumira.”
“But—”
I was about to complain when she pushed a finger to my lips, forcing my words back.
“You witnessed the fight between the brothers because of you. There's some tension between you and Beta Kyro because of Mirabel’s disappearance, so if he hears her complaint, he won't take it lightly and—”
“—He’d drain the life out of me before Gamma Vance even steps through the door," I finished, finally understanding her panic.
"Yes," She nodded. "Now, take your phone and go. Once the dust settles, I'll let you know when to return home."
I hurried to my room, picked up my phone and my purse with some cash. Thereafter, I returned to find Ma’am Stella at the foot of the stairs, waiting for me.
“Quick… take the back door, follow through the garden, and get out through the small gate."
With my heart thumping irregularly, I sprinted through the back door, and shut it behind me. The afternoon sun seared my face the moment I stepped outside.
Looking around, I then bolted across the garden until I got to the gate Ma'am Stella described. Then I pressed a button, as soon as it gave way, I rushed out of the vicinity and found a street.
Thankfully, there was a cab approaching at the moment. I flagged down the vehicle, told the driver my location, and got in.
***
"Lumira!"
Tara dashed across her front yard over to me. She was on the front porch, playing with her four-year-old son, little Dylan.
She slammed into me and threw her arms around my frame. "Oh, I have been so worried about you, Lumira. I left countless messages on your phone. Did you even read any?"
"I didn't have the time, I'm sorry."
We pulled apart, and her concerned eyes scanned my face. "Where the hell have you been, Lumira? I was going to file a missing person report soon enough if I didn't hear from you today."
"I—"
"Come," She pulled me along with her to the front porch.
"Aunt Lumira!" Little Dylan stood from his chair and rushed into my arms.
"How are you?" I smiled sweetly at him.
"Ayam fine," He answered, grinning from ear to ear. "Mummy said you'd spwend Christmas with us, but you didn't come." He pouted, and my heart melted with warmth at how cute he was.
"Awwww, Aunt Lumira had other business to deal with," I answered matter-of-factly. "But don't worry, I owe you a Christmas present."
"My Daddy already bought me a byseekwu. You can buy me a car." He proposed.
Tara and I laughed at his remarks, and then I said to him. "That's fine. I will buy you a toy car on my next visit. Is that okay?"
He nodded delightfully.
"Dylan..." Tara called, and he looked from me to his mother.
"Yes, mommy."
"You are allowed to watch cartoons since you've finished the assignment I gave you."
"Yay!" He threw his hand in the air with excitement.
I set him down. A big smile spread across my lips as I watched him scurry through the front door with his little legs until he disappeared completely from my sight.
"Tell me everything," Tara said, pulling my attention back to her.
I sat on the empty chair, while she occupied the other, her fingers clasped.
"The Moscow came for me on Christmas Day."
"Are you being serious?" Her lips parted in disbelief.
"Hundred percent," I attested. "Conan didn't pay off his debt, and you know what transpires with them..."
"So how did you escape them?" Her serious face depicted just how curious and concerned she was.
"They got to me, beat me to a pulp and nearly ended my life. But the Storm Brothers came to my rescue just in time."
"The storm brothers?" She repeated after me, "You mean Gamma Vance, Beta Kyro, and Delta Jett?"
"Yes."
Her hands flew to her widened mouth in disbelief. "Oh my goodness, how lucky, Lumira."
"Lucky?" I scoffed, pain clutching my chest as I revealed. "I lost my baby, Tara."
Her hands dropped from her mouth, and her face wore a sour expression. "Oh, no!" She took both of my hands in hers. "I'm so sorry, Lumira."
I swallowed the emotions crawling up my throat, but kept my eyes on the street. Every car passing made my heart jump. "It's fine."
“It's not fine, Lumira…stop pretending to be okay when you're not." She said before stretching out her arms. “Come here."
We hugged briefly before I continued. "Gamma Vance offered me to stay at the Storm mansion for a while, but his brothers despise my guts. Their sister has been kidnapped, and now, they think I'm the one behind it."
"Whoa, whoa," She put a hand out. "...slow down. What the f**k are you talking about?"
I sighed. "It's a lot, Tara. A whole lot."
"Their sister has been kidnapped? How? When?"
"Last night. I don't know how."
"And what does that have to do with you?" She queried.
"She stepped out to get a pad for me."
"This is messed up." Tara bemoaned, her eyes glimmered with pity. "And has she been found?"
"No."
"Oh crap! What would happen if she's never found?"
I lowered my gaze, trying not to think of that as a possibility. "Then my life is screwed."
"No, no... don't say that." Tara hushed. "I've got an idea."
I raised my head and looked at her expectantly.
"Run away." She said in a breathtaking whisper. "Since you're here now, you can just stay the night and run away at dawn tomorrow. What do you think?"
Somehow, Tara was right.
Running away wasn't a bad idea. Especially since my marriage to Conan had eventually ended. I could go someplace far away and start a new life, forgetting everything I had ever been through here.
With the little funds in my account, I'd be able to rent a studio apartment and kick-start my career as a seamstress.
My heart flipped with profound hope. I was just about to say something when a scream punctuated the air a few blocks away.
"What was that?" Tara inquired, displeased.
Meanwhile, I jumped to my feet and pried in that direction, only to be met with the greatest shock of my life.
Two men bundled a young girl into a black sedan, she struggled as they slapped her face and covered her mouth to stop her from screaming. Before they could completely shove her into the car, I saw her teary face, and my blood ran cold.
It was Mirabel!
- Writer
