ALMOST EIGHTEEN.

CHAPTER FOUR.

IN BETWEEN TWO DEVILS.

Los Angeles, Age nine. The scene was the park. I remember mum all over me, monitoring every move. Everything was fine and good until the urge. This time was different because I wasn't angry or provoked. I just had an insatiable urge to hurt someone.

I was watching mum the same way she was watching me. The minute she left to ease herself, I moved fast to the left side of the park where the little girl who I had been watching was.

I held her calmly, throwing sand in her face. First a little, then the next throw, more than the first. The girl started crying which attracted her parents. They snatched her from me, pushed me away and glared at me.

Mum met me standing and staring at the girl. She knew what had happened. Without wasting time, we were out of there. Like the first and the others, I never felt sad. I was numb.

They say run from your enemies. How do you run from someone whom you don't know is your enemy? How do you run from yourself?

I'm sitting in a restaurant Connor booked privately for the evening. The dark posh room is dimly lit with soft music playing.

The room is empty except for myself, Connor, mother and a man standing behind Connor.

Mum looks deranged. She looks like she has seen something she should never have. The areas around her eyes are darker. I have never seen her look this way.

Connor? Calm and composed. Sitting with his legs crossed, a knowing look on his face. He's literally so hot.

I'm equally calm. The calm before the storm. Connor brought us here because in his words “We have to catch up." I'm desperate to hear what he has to say. His presence is obviously a huge problem for Mum.

Connor clears his throat and sita up. "Let's get straight into it shall we?” He looks to mum and me for approval. Mum ignores him and I nod with a smile.

"You'll be eighteen soon Latoya right?"

“Yeah. How did you know that?” Is Connor going to keep surprising me? First he shows up unannounced, now this? He chuckles, adjusting his tie. What was that hot move?

"I just happen to know. It's a special day so it's only right that I know about it." I smile sheepishly, fiddling with my hands. “Now, to why I invited you both here. Mrs Wilson?" He turns to Mum. She still hasn't said a word.

She looks at Connor not saying anything. “I have a party tomorrow and I would love for Latoya to be there. Do I have your permission?" I look at Mum whose eyes are fixed on the floor.

My heart is racing. Connor is putting me in a tough spot asking mum this. Would she accept? Mum responded. A slight nod of her head was all.

This is surreal. Mum agreed? The same person who said she'll kill us both? "Mum. You really want me to go? You're not joking are you?” This time, she's facing the other side of the room ignoring us.

Hold the f**k on? Why is no one talking about the “agreement" Connor and mum has. Isn't that why we are here? “What was the agreement you talked about at the hospital? Do you know my mum aside from her being my mum?"

Connor fix his eyes on me for a while before talking. “Don’t you think it's too soon to talk about that?" I give him a puzzled look. “I want to know what agreement you have with my mum. MUM FREAKING LOOK HERE AND SPEAK."

No one has the right to keep me in suspense. “Latoya relax. We don't want to send your mum down memory lane do we?” "Memory lane what? Why am I the only one oblivious to everything going on?"

I don't like this. This is the kind of s**t that makes me mad. Connor reaches out to me and holds my hands. “Latoya, you should talk about it with your mother. It's not my place to tell." With a grin on his face, he stands up, adjusts his suit and turns to leave.

He stops at the door. “Genevieve is a closed case." He turns to Mum. “It's time to come clean."

They lock eyes for a while before he leaves the room. Just like that? That's all? My heart is boiling hard at the moment. Why is Genevieve a closed case? How does he know about her? Who the f**k is Connor?

I'm dumbfounded. I look at Mum in rage, pushing the table aside causing the drinks to spill, breaking a glass. "Tell me now!! What did you agree on with Connor?” I hit her on the shoulder, shaking. I'm beginning to sweat a little, my insides are hot.

"It's not with Connor. It's his dad.” Her stupid voice is hoarse. I hate the look on her face. “Explain to mean what this mess is. What did you agree on with Connor's dad? ANSWER ME.”

Mum stands up and shoves me to the ground standing over me.

"You want to know? I'll tell you. You're theirs Latoya. Their little experiment. Who do you think is responsible for the comfortable life that you live huh? Have you ever seen me work? You think I'm the one who clears your mess? f*****g NO Latoya. It's all Cane Haland!

“They brought a deal, I signed it. For our safety. It was either I did or I died. I signed to protect you Latoya. You should thank me. You should f*****g appreciate me you wench."

I'm trembling. My heart is thumping hard against my body. A million thoughts are going through my head. I can't move. What did I just hear? Am I sold to them? What experiment was I?

"The plan is simple Latoya. Get in, get out.” The bell outside the door jingled as she went out. My hands start vibrating. My eyes are hot and peppery. I rub my face repeatedly, tears trickling down. My chest is hurting so bad. Why is no one on my side?

It's boiling fast. The huge cauldron is shaking. What's in it is boiling fast and hard. I'm standing opposite it. The fire underneath it is increasing by the minute. I walk to it, the heat burning me. I stand on my toes and peep inside.

It's me!? In it was me sitting against the pot, wearing nothing but a thin white dress. The water was filled to my neck, boiling aggressively but I'm not moving. I should be scared but I'm not.

I reach to touch myself in the pot and as I did, I looked up and it was no longer my face. It was Genevieve's. My face turned ugly.

Her face exactly the way I remembered it last. Her eyes were pure black with marks all over her face and body. She looked like a demon on a quest to kill. In the speed of light, she stood up and turned me into the water.

I screamed loud, the water burning me. I'm struggling but she pins me down, my face under f*****g hot water, my feets flailing in the air. I'm gurgling aggressively…

“NOOOOOOOO" I gasped, holding my bed cover to my chest. My whole body drenched in my sweat. My eyes wide open like a deranged person. I'm panting and breathing hard. What in the f*****g world was that dream? It wasn't about "it”. Is Genevieve going to hurt me?

She better freaking not or I'll kill her again and again if I have to. I pull my bed cover off and go to the bathroom. Splashing cold water on my face is the way to wake me up. I look around the room puzzled. “Why is it so dark? Still last night?"

I go to the window to look outside. It's indeed dark outside. With my face dripping of what, I turn to my bed to grab my phone. 8:38pm Saturday!!? Yesterday was Thursday, right? How is it Saturday??

I drop my phone, pacing round the room. Did I sleep in for two days? Who brought me home from the restaurant?

It's Connor's party today and I'm not prepared in the slightest. I go to my makeup table, noticing a white envelope on it. Two white envelopes.

I open the first one nervously. It's from mum. I recognize that terrible writing anywhere.

From Mum.

I'll be gone for a while Latoya.Don't look for me. Be good."

I turn the page in disbelief. It's blank. She's gone to where? Just like that? Not even to tell where she was going? I tear the paper, throwing it on the floor. The b***h’s a f*****g coward.

I take the other envelope which has a handwriting I don't recognize.

From Him.

Tonight at 10. Your dress to wear is in your closet. A person would be at your doorstep by 10. Don't be late.

This is definitely from Connor. Why the f**k are they writing letters like we're stuck in the 16th century? I rush to my closet and indeed there is a dress with freaking shoes and makeup and perfumes.

Forgetting my problems, I dash to the bathroom. If there's one person who has an answer to all this, it's f*****g Connor.

At exactly 9:50 pm, I'm standing at the door downstairs. Wearing a black thin dress that showed my body figure, heavy dark makeup that makes me look like I'm in my twenties. The cold breeze blowing at me gently.

At 10pm on the dot, a black sports car arrives. Have they been waiting at a corner? The car's window is tinted in black. I take a deep breath and walk to the car. Isn't someone supposed to open the door for me?

I open the door and sit inside. I feel a presence and look at my side. WHO THE f**k IS THIS?