ALMOST EIGHTEEN.

CHAPTER SIX.

WHERE IS “IT"?

“Latoya.When people hurt you, what do you do?" I'm sitting opposite the school's counselor. As usual, I'm here because of my outbursts.

This time, I only yelled at the history teacher to go f**k himself because he was asking too many questions.

I looked at Mr Brown and smiled. "You hurt them more.” Seeing his expression curve in disappointment and resignation, gladdened my heart. You can't change a monster.

Villains aren't born. They're made. When all your life has been centered on anger, hurt, pain and betrayal, you get used to it. At a point, you become numb.

I could never have guessed in a million years that Connor would be the reason I'm the way I am or better still, the answer to all my questions. I'm entangled in a web of lies. I don't know what's true anymore.

I don't even know if I'm real or still exist. When Russell took me to my room, I flung myself on the bed over and over until I was too weak to do it again.

I lay on the bed exasperated. I don't know where my Mum is, I don't know why I'm here.

Russell before leaving told me coldly. “You are being monitored. There's no escape. The door would be locked"

I threw myself on the bed again, pulling my hair and the slutty dress I had on. I'm panicking. Is this going to be my end?

My phone and bag were taken from me. I have no way of communicating to anyone. I'm lost in a maze of misfortune. I stand up and look around the room, taking in all I see. The room smelled old. There has to be something I can do to get away from here.

The very spacious room was bare except for the giant bed at the center, a makeup table at the small window, a dresser at the fat left corner and a rug in front of the bed. Hold on, am I hallucinating?

I walked to the makeup table which had only a brush, eyeliner and two pink tubes of lipgloss. I looked at the room again, my eyes feeding on all the details and angles slowly. I'm not crazy. I'm sane.

This room is arranged exactly like mine. Everything's the same. Down to the bed spread, colour of rug, where the restroom is located and every f*****g thing. How I spread my bed making one side of the sheet lower than the other. The only difference is the size of the room.

I dropped to the floor in horror. What do they want from me? How far would they go in messing with my head? I grab my curls, bending my head down and up, letting out a scream. In a frenzy, I start scattering the room.

Pulling the sheets away, upturning the makeup table, flinging the rug, throwing out everything in the closet, which all look like mine. “f*****g STOP. THIS IS NOT MY HOME. LEAVE ME ALONE!!"

The door opens and in a minute, two strong hands hold me down. "LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE. GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME.” I continue screaming, pushing and biting the hands, but they don't let go.

“Let her go." The fuckers drop me to the ground, my head hitting the ground. "Leave the room.” My head’s hurting badly. I notice the pair of black flats standing in front of me. I take my eyes up slowly to reveal a woman standing over me.

The middle aged woman has a displeased look on her face. Who is she and why is she here? After staring at me for an awfully long while, she finally speaks. “I see you've introduced yourself." She looked round the room as she spoke.

I fix my eyes on her as I slowly lift myself. “Who are you? Who sent you ?"

“I will be your personal attendant for the time being. You are expected to be on your best behavior at all times. That includes not wrecking the room.”

I turn away from her to sit at my bed. I've had enough of the commands. “Who do you think you are to walk in here and talk to me?" My voice was raspy. The momentum was slowly building up.

She chuckled and walked to me. "Someone who has the power to determine how your stay here would be.” She moved back and crossed her hands behind. "I would leave to get all the things you need. I expect that you have returned this room to order.”

"That is your job as the maid. Clean up the mess.” I know I have a smug look on my face. Her face darkens. “Here, no one answers to you. Five minutes.”She glared at me for a while before leaving the room.

Great. Just great. Now I've added another enemy to the pack. No one answers to me? I'm not special here or something here? Darn! A freaking maid got me on my toes.

I don't know what she would do to me if I disobey and I'm not about to find out. One thing I've learnt over the years, is to sit still, watch, never be the example and then you strike.

Still looking like a pathetic mess, I stand up and start cleaning up the room. When trashing the room, it didn't feel like anything. Matter of fact, I wasn't satisfied. Cleaning it up myself made me realize the impact of what I did.

I'm working in a frenzy. I pushed the makeup table back to its spot when she came in. She looks around the room before dropping the suitcase she brought in. “I see someone did the cleaning." She had a glorified look on her face.

I ignored her. Rule 18. Be quiet and observe. She rolled the suitcase to the foot of the bed. "There are all the things you'll need for tomorrow. You are to make use of everything you see in there. You'll be monitored.”

My chest is bubbling to ask questions but I force myself to remain calm. “I'm sure Russell has told you. There's no escape. If you have questions, relay them to Master Connor.”

"Everything you'll need is in this room." She gave me an eye and turned to leave. “If you have to leave, knock twice. I'll determine if it's worth it for you to leave.” She smiled… like a possessed person, I ran to the door.

The b***h slammed the door right in my face. I held the door, my breaths increasing hard. I drag my nails slowly on the door. I'm well and truly f****d. I gripped the stupid flimsy dress I had on. It was itchy. It was squeezing me.

I pulled it hard. Struggling and throwing my legs everywhere. I start panting, tears trickling down my eyes. I scream and clean my eyes. I'm not weak. I won't be. I looked down at myself, the black material torn down to my stomach exposing my black tube.

I lift myself and go to the mirror. Looking at the reflection made me hurt. Messy gold curls, my black eyeliner had come down my face in a trickle, staining my face. My eyes were swollen and slightly red. The under eye is dark and slightly purple. I'm worn out. I caress my eyes.

Where was “it"? I've been provoked an awful lot today but I didn't feel it. Was it gone? No it can't be gone. "It” is my curse and savior. When that old hag was in the room, I would have gone for her voice box. Bitten it so hard she would never speak again.

I go back to the door and knock. Twice. There's no reply. I need to use the restroom. I ran out of the bathroom as quickly as I went in, coughing and almost choking. “The hell?" I close the door and move away, taking a deep breath.

The room reeked of bleach. It was like bleach was being produced there. I've watched enough crime documentaries to know that where there's bleach, crime lurks. What had they done there and to who?

They sure don't seem like the type to leave such a huge hint behind. Was this done to scare me? Right now, I don't know what to do with myself. I stare at the suitcase intently. I don't plan to touch it.

"Can everyone leave me ALONE?!” I hissed loudly and lay on the bed. The force with which the door opens, forces me up. It was Connor. Was that necessary?

Before I could get down the bed, he rushed up to me and pinned me down to the bed, holding my neck tight. His face in a scowl, his eyes screaming evil and danger. "You wench.” I hold his hands, adding more pressure to my neck, smiling wryly.

His face tightens, his jaws contracting rigidly. He released the grip on my neck and pushed my head aside. I sat up, massaging my throat, coughing hard. Was that fucker about to kill me?

He dusts his suit before speaking. "Don't make me kill you before tomorrow.” I observe his expressions. He's in a foul mood. If there's one thing I'm good at, it's consistently pressing people's buttons.

I smiled and tilted my head to the side. "Someone's angry.” I closed the distance between us, close enough for me to feel his breath on my neck. My words come out slowly. "Are you so angry you want to kill? Want to get blood on your hands Connor? Where are you taking me tomorrow?"

He grabbed my neck again and pinned me to the wall. I started cackling. Poor neck. How many times would it be attacked tonight? His breath bathes my face. He was gritting his teeth. I like what I see. “Where are you going? A place where you'll lose it all Latoya."

My smile dropped…