The Stray Child

Theme Two

Charlotte's POV

I stretched my body getting ready to c***k some bones. The guy who looked like the boss told the others something and two out of them walked to the car. They opened to the door and dragged me out. I didn't retaliate, I wanted to see how far they were willing to go.

"Finish her and make sure to do a clean job. No traces, okay" he told the guys and walked away.

Too bad sweetheart,

The men holding tried to get me to kneel down but I was quick to retaliate. The heck, they thimk I was some kind of softie. Oh, having a family like mine will make anyone as cold hearted as a f*****g snow island. And good thing I enrolled for self defence classes. Or should I say, Max and Tori forced me to. They made me enrolled for it after they knew about all that my family had down to me. They wanted me to be strong and also be able to defend myself. Back then in high school when I just got to Russia, I was bullied by my pairs throughout high school. Then I was still a timid and innocent girl. But after I got to college and met my two badass friends I became a b***h.

The three of us were a bad combination. Wherever we went trouble ensues. We were the crazy party addicts and trouble freaks. We were even nicknamed the 'pycho trio' and we made sure to live up to that name. Gosh, thinking about those two made me even miss them the more. I bet they are making out on the porch by now. Those two are always horny and can't seem to get enough of each other.

Initially, the three of us were friends not until Tori and Max had a one night stand or should I say a drunken mistake. They had s*x and ever since then they couldn't get each other out if their minds. At first, it was super awkward because they were both literally in love but we're too dumb to admit it. Or the s*x brought up some spark in them. I had to lock them up in a room for a while day before the could actually admit their feelings to each other. And guess what those to did afterwards, the f*****g made out in my room filling it with the smell of s*x and sweat.

But nevertheless, I love those two to a fault and I missing them alot right now. Of only they were her taking this guys..... How may are they? Six plus the boss seven...... Taking all of them down wasn't a problem for me but it would have been more fun if they were here.

I held the hands of one of the men holding me and twisted it backwards. It made a c***k sound and I felt thrilled by it. Yeah, am a psychotic sadist. Well, am not all that bad. I only hurt people who tries to hurt me. If karma was a human it world be me because karma is a b***h and so am I. The other saw why happened and the started charging towards me. Good thing they were me because I know their weak points. Their balls of course, I almost made Max balless when he tried to challenges me to a fight once.

It didn't take minutes to see all the men on the ground groaning in pains. That give me that look.... I might be a badass b***h but an definitely not a killer. My friends and I don't kill, we only break some bones and knock out opponents out. Their boss saw what happened, he cursed under his breath and charged towards me. Just like others I beat the hell outta him.

"Who sent you?" I asked twisting his hand to the back.

He cried in pain. Oh, who made such a cry baby a thug boss? He hesitated and I was already feeling too impatient. I twisted his hand the more and he let out a shrieking cry.

"Tell me or I swear, you'll be dead before you know it"

" Miss....... Arghhhh..... G...... Gwen" he stuttered.

Gwen? Is it the Gwen I know? As in Gwendolyn my step sister?

"Gwen McKenzie" he said confirming my suspicion.

That b***h, I seethed

I let go of his hand. I walked away out if the hallway leaving them to their devices. That b***h Gwen, she dare send thugs to me? Too bad I wasn't the softie she knew. She's so going to pay for this. As I was almost out of the alley, I saw the bodyguards from earlier running toward the alley. s**t, I don't want them to drag me to the house. I want to go their on my own accord. I guessed they tracked me down a found my location. Damn, they really are good at that lemme them the credit.

I looked around me to see if there was a place o could hide but there was none. s**t, what to do. They were almost getting to where I was. Good thing, everywhere was still dark. Suddenly, I felt a hand pulled me. I almost screamed by they covered my mouth with their palm. Holy s**t, was I been kidn*pped right now.

We waited in the dark in silence watching as the guards inspected the men I had been earlier. They questioned the boss and he said some inaudible words. After a while the left. When I was sure they were out of sight I quickly disengaged myself from the stranger that held me in his arms. Yeah, him. I could tell by his arms and body that he was a man. I did the unexpected, I held his hand over my shoulder and flipped him over.

"Seriously?" He groaned as he held his back in pains.

I took out my knife and pointed it to him. He held his hand up in surrender. He stood up slowly and stretched his body. Then we came face to face. Wait, he was the guy I changed clothes with. I stared at him wide eyed while he had the most annoying smile in his face.

"You?" I asked in disbelief.

Wait was he tailing me? I moved closer to him with the knife pointed at him. He raised his hand up while moving back till his back hit the wall.

"Why are you following me?"

He pointed to himself. "Me?" He asked.

I rolled my eyes. "Answer me or I swear I'll fish out you brain with this knife" I threatened.

" Whoo, cool your temper miss fierce" he joked.

I swing the knife at him but he dodged it. It was already losing my temper. I needed to be home before breakfast finishes and the day was already breaking. I kicked his legs and he cried out in pains whole holding his leg. He was still in the clothes I have him. Was he one of the people sent to get me?

"Who the hell are you? Answer me cause my patience is already wearing out"

He shrugged." A random stranger ambushed me and told me to exchanged clothes with her. Then after she left some strange looking guys came to harass. What do you expected me to do? I saw you get into the car so I followed you to be sure you weren't a wanted criminal. Or are you one seeing the way everyone seems to be after you" he ranted

I ran my hand through my hair feeling frustrated out of my wit.

"Look master smarty pants...."

"Shane..... My name is Shane" he interrupted me.

I kicked his leg again. "Look, I don't have time for you will games, okay? And please, do all you can so we won't cross path again"

He smirked "I can't promise that, sweetheart" he said with his super annoying smile

What the....? He's the most annoying guy I've ever met and what guy smile alot like he does. Does he have some kind of smiling diseases? Or was his life that good? Because a person going through hell won't be smiling as much as he was right now. I shook my head and left him. I looked around to be sure the coast was clear. When I was sure I flagged down a taxi, one stopped before me and is opened the door to get in but someone held my hand. I look back and saw the annoying guy smiling at me with his hand around my wrist. The f**k is wrong with this guy? It's official t need to kill this damn guy.

"Not so fast, sweetheart" he said.

I gave him a questioning look.

"I can't trust that you'll be safe on you own. So, I'll go with you. You can consider me as your bodyguard for today"

I eyes him contemptuously. What does he even mean by all the gibberish he just said. Before I know it he pushed me into the car and he got in too.

"Where to, sir and ma'am?" The driver asked.

I cast a glare at the driver's way." The McKenzie Villa" I told him.

He nodded and started the car.

"Wait the McKenzie Villa?" The guy asked.

I gave him no reply. I just stared out through the window.

" Are you a McKenzie? Are you related to the or you are just visiting. Oh, you're here to pay your condolences" he ranted.

Oh, how I which I could just shoved something into that mouth of his. I continue ignoring him until I was forced to react.

"Just shut the hell up, will you?" I yelled at him.

"Having a lovers quarrell?" The driver asked looking at his through the rare view mirror.

"No!" We both snapped.

He nodded and concentrated back in the road. The guy and I stared at each other. I huffed and looked away while he did the same. That son of a....... I don't even know him why then was he bugging me?

The rest of the drive was done in silence

Soon we got to the McKenzie Villa. I got down from the car and paid for myself. I glared at the guy but he said nothing he was just smiling. Typical him.

"Well, see you later then" he said.

I turned back to him "Lemme rephrase that, see you never" I spat and walked to the gate.

" I love that energy, sweetheart" he said but I ignored him.

Soon I head the sound of the taxi driving away. I left out a breath which I didn't know I was holding. Today was indeed a rollercoaster of everything. Now I have to brace myself for the drama that was about to unfold. I checked the time, it was few minutes to seven. Yeah, it was morning already and I bet my family are about to have their breakfast. Well, that was how it was before I left.

I pressed the bell in the gate repeatedly. Trust me, I badly wanted to hit the gate with a stone instead. I just wanted something that will indicate that the crazy daughter of the McKenzie was back. But I held myself back because of grandpa. The gate was opened by a bully man who had a security uniform on. He looked at me from head to toe.

"What do you want?" He asked.

I decided not to answer him cause I don't see a reason to introduce myself to him. I bet with time he will know who I was. I tried to go in but he blocked my way. I rolled my eyes and kneeled him in the groins. He held his whatever in pains. I walked past him feeling triumphant. The next thing I knew was dozens of guards ran to me pointing their guns at me. I smirked, alot have really changed this past ten years even the security was tighter now.

They tried to bundle me out but I threw a fit. Then they stopped all of a sudden. They looked at me for a while then they let me go. At first I was confused then I nodded in realization. I looked at the camera which was over head and gave it a thumbs up so whoever was there would see it. I looked at the guards and shrugged.

"Not bad" I Said.

I put my hands inside my hoodie pocket or should I say his hoodie pocket and walkes in whistling a tune. The house had change significantly. It now look more beautiful and classy than it was ten years ago. Oh, Grandpa. He was a man with great taste unlike his asshat son.

I asked into the house still whistling. Like I predicted, my family were having breakfast. They didn't look shock to see me and that kinda hurt. I was planning to give them a shitty show but their f*****g security team blew my cover. Damn them.

I smiled and spread my hand out. "Am home" I announced dramatically.

They didn't look suprise but they had the most sour look on their faces. Well, it was the look for me. I pulled out a chair and sat down. I looked around the table and see that they were all present except grandfather. My dad was now seating at the head of the table. I rolled my eyes, son of a b***h. My stepmom was on his left side of the table while Gwen was on he right with Nicole beside her. But there was an additional person at table more like a kid though.

He sat opposite me on the last seat of the dining table. He also had a curious on his face.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Who are you?" He asked repeating my question to him.

I looked at everyone at the table. Who could he be? I looked at Gwen and Nicole but that were too young to have him as their child. The kid looked like he was none of so and nine years ago, Gwen was just 14 and Nicole was 13. I looked at their mother and smiled.

"No way" I said looking at my nonchalant stepmom. "You really have birth to an heir" I teased.

She scoffed but didn't say anything.

" She's not my mom" the boy said.

I frowned "She's not?" I asked

The boy nodded.

"Then who is?"

He shrugged "I guess you'll find out soon if you gonna be staying here"

"Can't wait the cause am here to stay, baby" I said.

" Okay, am Theodore by the way"

I stretched my hand out to him. "Am Charlotte, ma sure you've heard about me"

He took my hand and we shake briefly. " Nope, no one talks about you. I've never heard about you"

I placed my hand on my head and pouted. " Ouch, that hurts" I said and he smiled.

He went back to his food while I looked at others.

"Guess I was forgotten by my own family" I mumbled.

"Well, not by me" I heard someone say and I looked up.

I met Nicole's smiling face. I raised my brow then nodded.

"If you say so" I said.

I served my self breakfast as nobody will. What do you expect I was an unwanted guest in their midst.

"Why are you here?" I heard my father's asked.

Well he was just talking to me for the first time since I made my dramatic entrance. I stopped eating and looked up at him then smirked. He still look the same just that he now look older and have some gray hair aside from the he was still the idiotic bastard I know. Y'all might be wondering why I kept calling him names. The truth is, he never treated me like his child. Can you believe that old man sent me and mom out of the house when my step mom came with her daughters claiming they were his. We lived away from the for five good years..I could remember vividly, I was just seven then when he three mom and dad out if the house.

Grandfather then brought us back home after five years. I really don't know how what happened but dad wasn't pleased with the facts that were came back to the house. Then I mom died mysteriously after two months of us moving in. Doesn't that smell fishy? To crown it all I was sent away from the house. They sent me to a very far away place to be all by myself. Gosh, thinking about all this made me hate them even more.

I shrugged and took one of the napkin on the table and cleaned my mouth with it.

"Why can I be here?" I asked him instead.

He balled his hand into a fist. "Charlotte, answer the damn question" he yelled.

I adjusted myself on my seat. "Just because." I shrugged.

He banged the table and stood up angrily. "You'll take next available flight and go back to Russia" he ordered.

I also banged the table and stood up. I looked him in the eyes which made him more angry. One thing my father hated was people standing who to him.

"Grandfather just died and y'all didn't seem it fit to tell me about it, uhn? Too much for a loving family"

" Is that even a good reason for you to come home unannounced?" My step mom asked.

I cast her a cold glare. She rolled her eyes and looks away.

" I wasn't talking to you, Vivian" I said calling her by her first name.

She turned to me with a shock look in her face but she covered it up with a fake smile. She turned to my father and whined.

"Did you just hear that? She called me by my name"

I scoffed. "Isn't that your name, Vivian?"

She chuckled nervously. My dad was still seething I'm rage. I poured water in a glass cup and walked to him. I handed him he water.

"Calm down or you veins are going to pop" I said and placed the cup in his hand.

I heard the cup c***k and broke into pieces. I smiled and went back to my seat.

"Dad" His kids yelled

"Honey" his wife cried.

His hand was bleeding but be didn't even pay attention to it. His wife and daughters flocked around him like flies. I looked at the kid in from of me and he had an amused smile on his face.

"That was super cool" he said.

I gave him a thumbs up while he chuckled.

"Gwen,book the next available flight for her. I want her out of this house before nightfall" dad ordered.

" Yes, father" Gwen said and bowed.

He walked away with his wife following him like a puppy dog. Gwen turned to me and started walking towards me.

"You are cursed cause everywhere you go trouble follows you." She spat on my face.

I wiped my face and then rolled my eyes. "I don't have anything to say to a daft asshat like you" I said and stood up from the chair I was sitting on.

I brushed pass her. You need to see he way she was also boiling with rage. Well, that's a trait we all got from our idiotic father. I turned back to her and smiled.

"Thanks for the warm welcome, though." I walked back to her and brushed he suit. " I liked it but next time make sure to send able bodied men and not kids like them, okay?" I whispered.

I patted her back and walked away but stop again to face her.

"I wouldn't book the flight if I were you. See you later, big sis" I laughed evilly and left her standing.

I made eye contact with Nicole and she smiled at me but I scoffed at he instead. I saw her rolled her eyes before I left. I heard the clattering and shattering of things followed by Gwen's frustrated groan. Like I said earlier, we got our nasty temper from our father. I smirked even more. I heard footsteps behind me but I didn't look back. Then I felt a small hand held mine and I was forced to look down at Theo.

"I like you Charlotte" he said "I can't believe nobody told me I had a badass sister like you"

I chuckled and squatted to his level. " You like what I did?" I asked.

He nodded " I've never seen any of them so angry like that before. You really should have seen the look on their faces it was epic"

We both laughed at that.

"How old are you again?"

" Am ten"

I mouthed an 'oh'. If his ten then he was born the year mom dad and I also left. Wow, can this family get any more twisted?

"I gotta run or else I'd be late for school and if I am..... Ceece will kill me."

" Whose Ceece?"

He moved closer to me and whispered in my ears. "My best friend and also my crush" he said and ran off.

I gasped dramatically but smiled all the ways "See you soon, kiddo. And my regards to your Ceece" I said after him.

I blew me a kiss and went into his room with a woman who I guessed was his nanny. Such an energetic kid. I went to my old room. It was still the same as I left it. It was looked near and organised. I smiled, I bet grandpa made sure they keep it clean. I walked to my dressing table and traced my hand through the pictures that were in the mirror. I smiled sadly as I looked at the picture of mom and I before we moved back in. We were happy with our lives outside the mansion. I felt tears welled up in my eyes but I blinked them back. I went to my bed and laid on it.

Few minutes, later I heard a knock on door and Mr Hans came in. I rolled my eyes at him but he smiled at me. He had something hidden at his back.

"Hey, kiddo" he said but I ignored him.

I sat up on the bed and the he placed a jar of chocolate cookies on my laps. I happily took it and started mulching on them. He knows they were my weakness. I can never say no to them. He sat beside me in the bed.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

I hesitated for a while but nodded. He pats my back soothingly.

"I can't believe grandfather is gone just like that" I said.

" Me too" he agreed.

" Doesn't something seem off to you? I mean about his death"

He nodded " Yeah, I thought as much as that. He died even before I got here"

I sighed "Something doesn't add up"

" I think so too. Because be was healthy the night before he died and I left him in a good condition. I was surprised when I heard about his death"

I sighed. As much as I wanted to cry so badly, I didn't. I've cried for hours before leaving Russia and I even cried throughout the journey home. And now I think there was nothing to cry about. I was in the midst of heartless people I needed to as strong as I can be. They really should know what they were getting at.

"By the way, welcome back, kiddo and I just commend you on getting past the guards till you got home."

I smiled " Good thing am no longer that timid kid of ten years ago. Those years thought me alot."

He looked at me adoringly. " Am proud of you. Am proud of the woman you've become. And I bet you grandfather will also feel the same."

I nodded sadly again. " So where's grandfather now?"

"At the montuary. His body is been embalm."

" So when will he be buried?"

" You father haven't decided yet"

I rolled my eyes. "He's not my father, he's Mr Jayson to me" I said referring to my father by his name.

Mr Hans chuckled. " Whatever.."

We stayed in silence for a while.

"I'll be retiring after your grandfather's funeral"

" What?" I yelled.

He smiled at my predicament. Why was he laughing because of what is not even funny?

"Why? Why are you retiring?"

"Because this old man needs some rest."

I scoffed. " As if. You've been working all your while life along side with grandfather, so why do you want to retire now"

He laughed " That's the more reason I need to rest, kiddo."

" What about me?" I whined.

" You'll be fine."

" How? They plan on throwing me out of the house" I whined.

He shook his head. " They won't. Your grandfather made sure if it"

"How?"

He shrugged. " Just wait untill seven days after his burial."

" What will happen?"

" Calm down, little one. All I know is that no one will be able to hurt you or trample on you again."

I looked at him confused.

" Do you think you were going to stay in Russia for the rest of your life? No, your father had planned to come get you at the end of the month so you'll be with him"

" Really?"

He nodded.

" Gosh, I love that man so much"

"So, after everything dies down. The funeral and all, his Will will be read and I'd make sure everything fall into place before I leave"

" So, you're really serious on leaving?"

He nodded. " Yeah, and don't worry I have a surprise for you"

I frowned " What surprise?"

" Calm down, kiddo"

I rolled my eyes and shrugged.

" I'll leave you to rest, okay?"

I nodded. He stood up and left my room. Now am all alone again. I looked around my room and made a mental note to redecorate it and go for shopping since I didn't bring any clothes with me. I brought out the black card that was given to me few years ago. I kissed it and laid on the bed. The black car had unlimited amount of money on it. We only have two of it in the family. One for grandfather and one for me.

Actually, grandfather gave it to me when I turned twenty. It was his birthday gift to me. I bet my dad didn't even know that I have one of these cards. I've never really used it but now I need it since I didn't bring any of I cards with me from Russia.

Before I left ten years ago, my father gave me a card which he stick up with money every month. It was for my upkeep. That's the money I used to always organised the baddest parties in my beautiful penthouse in Russia. People didn't really know who I was or what my family were into all they knew was that I was the daughter of a wealthy man. Only Max and Tori really know my story. That why they are my best buddies.

I can't wait to look if shock in my father's face when he sees the card. The card that he was unable to own for the fifty three years of his existence. I stared at the ceiling for a while before I fell asleep...

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

grip but to no avail.

Mom....... Mom.............

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

"Mom" I screamed and sat up on my bed.

I looked around panting heavily. There goes the nightmares again or should I say daymares as it was just two in the afternoon. I heard a knock on my door and frowned.

"Who is it?" I asked irritatedly.

"Gwen" she answered from the other side of the room.

"What do you want?' I asked again.

" Can we talk?" I could also hear the irritating in her voice.

What does she want? I hesitated for a while before I stood up from the bed and walked to the door. I opened the door with the key and opened the door. I left the door whose open and went back in. She walked in after me. I sat in my bed and gave her the 'what' look.

"Make it fast I don't have the whole day." I snapped at her.

She rolled her eyes. She dropped a passport and plane ticket in the bed.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Your passport and plane ticket. Your flight leaves by seven this night. If I were you I'd start getting ready to leave" she said and turned to leave.

" I thought I advised you not to book the plane?"

She turned back to me. " And who are you to decide that? Your flight leaves in the next three hours so start getting ready to leave"

" And I thought I made it clear that I was here to stay or do you have some hearing deficiency?"

I saw her fingers balled into a fist. I looked from her hand to her and smirked.

"Now lemme help you get this straight. Am going no where. And tell your bitchy mother that am not the girl of ten years ago"

She raised her hand to slap me but I held it. She looked at me the my hand with shock written on her face and I smirked.

"Surprised?" I let go of her hand. "Now, I want you go back to whoever sent you and tell them that I, Charlotte McKenzie said am here to stay. Now, get out"

She glared at me before walking out of my room. I sat in my bed and pulled my hair in frustration.

That bitch..... How dare she?