ALMOST EIGHTEEN.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

DOOMSDAY.

LATOYA.

Tomorrow's my eighteenth birthday. The day I've longed for. I've been counting down to this day. The day I would leave Mum and find answers for myself. Now, that hope I've held on to, that kept me going over the years, POOF… all gone.

Humans have the ability to love to a fault. You'll be so obsessed that if they hurt you, you still love them. Bleh. That s**t doesn't apply to me. I love the same way I hate. I hate to the point where I'll kill your existence over and over again.

I'm a sadistic dork. That moment when Connor held me against the wall, his eyes screaming danger, I desperately wished for "it” to surface. I would have bitten those eyes.

Curved in a ball on the bed, sweat slicking down my cold skin, my thoughts scattered in a million places.

After he threw me on the floor, he muttered coldly, “Anticipate tomorrow." What would happen to me on my birthday?

Would he murder me? He can't. I suddenly remembered the strong smell of bleach.

Like I was being controlled, I sat up straight, hitting my chest hard. “What's wrong with you, Latoya? You're not weak. You can do this. Tomorrow? Face it like a king. You'll show them what stuff you're made of.

I don't know what time it is but it's definitely morning. Covering my nose, I went to the bathroom, washed my face, stared at myself in the mirror.

My face was much better than yesterday. Only that my curls were a mess. It would take a long while to fix it.

My body really needed that sleep. The minute I stepped out the bathroom, the maid came in.

“Good morning." Why does she have a smile on her face? “Have you gone through the suitcase I gave you?" I look at the suitcase still exactly where she dropped it. From the corner of my eyes, I see her focused on me.

“I see you haven't bothered to open it."

I rub my face with both palms. I'm feeling tired again. “What exactly do you want?"

Like she had been waiting for me to say that, she clapped her hands and grabbed the suitcase. “Well, today is a special day. You will be going somewhere with Master Connor and you need to prepare."

Everyone knows where I'm to be today except me. "I didn’t ask you for an explanation,” I force my words out.

"No no. You don't speak in that tone.” I stare at her with rage. If only she knew what was going on inside me.

"Shower now and dress up using everything you see there. You are not to use anything not in the bag.” Without thinking, I blurted out. "What's your name?”

She looks at me in surprise. "I'll be outside.” Funny. I can't know her name?

After she's left the room, I remain standing. Shower and dress up? I chuckled. "Latoya, it's time to be rebellious.”

I open the suitcase. This is a joke. What in the wonders of Alice's wonderland is this?

I was expecting to see a shiny dress, shoes, perfumes, a bag… but in this nothing but a plain white fabric dress and flats. The dress is the kind that people wear at mental hospitals.

I scoff, not believing my eyes. So much for thinking, whatever the hell I was thinking. Would I spend my birthday with lunatics? Is that it?

I put on the dress and faced the mirror. With my face that isn't appealing to see at the moment, my hair tangled and messy, plus the gown, I definitely belong in a psychiatric home.

I sit at my bed waiting for anyone to come in. It's crazy how fast I've adjusted to this hellhole. This can't be good. The maid is back. She can't hide her surprise. “You're already dressed?"

“Yeah. Didn't shower." I responded dryly. I expected her to say something along the lines of “Why didn't you shower? You have to right now. You are going somewhere very important."

"Suit yourself.” Nicely played. I will stink all day. Let's see how they can handle that. “Since you're all done, follow me. Master Connor will be waiting."

“Wait wait. What about my hair? I can't leave with this mess." She looks at my hair, touches the ends and shrugs. “Not bad. No one cares about how you look where you're going."

I sigh in exasperation. Nothing is working with these animals. "Alright, let's go.”

We step outside the room. My first time leaving the room. The floor I could against my feet. I look around. We're on the first floor. If I am able to escape from here, it should be easy.

The whole place is dark and quiet. I'm guessing they love darkness. My eyes are exposed to light when I'm led outside. I only realized that three men had been following behind. Russell was right after all.

Outside is the expansive driveway. Cars lined up on both sides. Black cars. I'm led to one of the cars. I'm not familiar with names of cars, but I know darn well that this is a Rolls-Royce.

"Don't just stand there. Go on." My heart's racing. I open the door and sit. Connor is in the car at the other side, looking me over. “I see you got the memo. You fit in so well."

I look at him. This is the person I once loved with my whole heart. Now, it's different. Everything in me hates Connor. I will stop at nothing to destroy him for everything he's done.

"What is the plan?” “I forgot to say. Happy eighteenth birthday. You are now an adult.” He isn't smiling. His face is almost in a scowl. "I don't need the pathetic wishes. Tell me where you're taking me.”

He drops the tab he's been focused on and grabs my arm. "Your questions are drilling a hole in my head. Save it for when we arrive. You'll have many more questions."

I can't even begin to comprehend this whole nonsense. "I should be free today. I should be all by myself today.” I bowled my hands into a fist. I won't back down without a fight.

“How sad. Technically, you are on your way to freedom." I turned to him sharply. “Freedom where?" He gave me a smirk. “That's how much you want to be free?"

I won't respond to him again. I faced the window even though I couldn't see anything on the outside. The car stopping and the driver turning to bow at Connor made me understand that we had arrived at the place.

“Get down." I opened the door, the cold breeze instantly brushing my face. I held my arms, brushing it repeatedly. This flimsy thin dress isn't helping. “Don't just stand there. Follow me."

Hell yeah. I'm not going to stand here and freeze to death. When we enter the massive space holding the building, my mouth drops to the floor. "What the hell is this place?” my words come out slowly as I take in the sight.

This whole place is definitely built on hectares of land. The building itself stands firm and tall in the center, almost touching the sky. The building is grey, in the compound are cars and buses of the same kind.

There's no sign of human life here. Aside from myself, Connor and his driver, who is in the car, there was no one else. "You're done staring?” Connor's question brought me out of my thoughts.

I follow him into the building, taking the left turn to the building's indoor garage, through a tunnel that leads to an elevator. So it's like it is in the movies, uh.

We get in the elevator and he presses the 55th floor button. I fiddle with my hands. Connor doesn't say anything to me. Outside the elevator, we are led by some men down the hall to a room. It's the only room on this floor.

I have a very bad feeling right now. Inside, there are two men wearing white overalls with goggles on. There's a bed right behind them, on the other side is hospital equipment. An operating table, an anesthesia machine, there are surgical lights, even a suction device.

In a tray on a table are clamps, scissors, forceps, clamps, retractors, needle holder and sponges. A machine near the bed is beeping repeatedly. The sound is messing with my head. Without thinking, I bolted out of the room immediately. The men outside grab me in a split second, pushing me back into the room, locking the door.

I bang the door in desperation. “Let me out. OPEN THIS DOOR NOW." I keep banging on the door and yelling. I don't know what the hell they plan to do, but I know it's not good.

A hand grabs me and flings me to a corner. It's Connor. "Quit the pathetic noise, Latoya. You want freedom? Here we are, you fool.” My hands and mouth are trembling. "Please, I just want to go. Don't do anything to me. I just want to be alone."

My whole body is shaking. Connor bends in front of me, holding my chin. “You are here to get help. You'll be happy after this." He tilts my head to the left and right side, inspecting my face. I hold my breath. "Not bad.”

"Get to work.” The men walked towards me, each holding an arm. I'm too weak to struggle. I'm placed on the bed and held down by one of the men while the other cuffs my hands. I move aggressively, my face in shock.

“Why am I chained? Loosen this s**t you bastards. RELEASE ME!!" I keep struggling, the men still holding my arms. Connor walked to me and stroked my hair, a devilish look on his face.

"Relax Latoya. When you wake up, you'll be different.”