Chapter 2

The following morning, I had a slight headache. Those candies were probably not as commonplace as they appeared. I looked around the bedroom I slept in and realized I was somewhere new. It had Window walls, lavender-colored walls and a king-sized bed that was placed in the center of the room. The furniture featured a monochromatic color scheme of various tones of pink, purple, and white that made it appear rather expensive. Any spoiled princess would have loved the bedroom.

I was in awe of the scenery as I made my way to the restroom. Compared to my parents' home, the bathroom was three times larger. As I stepped out of the restroom and into the walk-in closet, I couldn't help but notice how luxurious everything looked. My mouth actually dropped when I saw everything.

Hardly knowing the woman who brought me here made me even more inquisitive at this point. I made my way to the bedroom's front door, but it was locked.

"Is there anyone out there? What's going on? Just let me out, please!” I called out, but nobody answered me. It was so silent.

Going to the window almost made me feel lightheaded at the view of the ground below. ‘How many floors does this mansion have and why are there so many males loitering around brandishing guns?’ I had a gut feeling that this place was odd.

I became lost in contemplation as I was sitting on the bed. I wasn't able to return to reality until I heard the door open and I concentrated my gaze on the door in anticipation of someone entering.

“Good day, Miss little one!” A mature woman in her early 50s entered the space and grinned at me. She was wearing a maid's uniform, therefore I knew she was a maid.

“Good morning, thank you! Where am I? A woman brought me here, who is she?” As I tried to fix my torn clothes on my body, I asked her if she knew.

“I'm sorry, but I'm unable to give you that information. Prepare yourself because breakfast will be ready in fifteen minutes. You'll then need to meet with the person you’re asking for in her office. I assume you have all you need in the closet of clothing.”

“Please, tell me your name, ma'am?”. I questioned her as she got close to the door.

“You can call me Maria,” she said as she halted in her stride.

I got up and ran a bath for myself in the bathroom then rinsed the soap from my body after hastily washing it. After a short while, i emerged from the shower in a bath towel and headed to the closet to select an outfit.

As soon as I was prepared, I stepped out of the bedroom but halted when I saw the scene in front of me and didn’t know which way to go. This mansion was undoubtedly beautiful to look at. It has a mid-century modern style with a hint of femininity.

“Are you lost? Do you need assistance locating your way? “ I could hear a teen lad asking behind me.

"Oh yes!" After turning to face him, I responded.

“You're the new girl Ms. Ravens brought in, then?” With a smirk on his attractive face, he questioned me.

“I'm sorry! Where am I?” Incredulous, I responded with a question.

“So you're not sure how you got here, huh? Well, that is how Ms. Raven goes about her business, but it is unusual to see her bring a young woman to this home. Did you know that she is the South African mafia that is most feared? She is the subject of many exaggerated stories, yet she is not as heartless and unfeeling as they portray her to be when she is with the people she's familiar with. Though, she turns into the devil herself when provoked.

Hearing this made me a little frightened. Despite the fact that I was relieved to be far away from aunty Luna, I was also uncertain about what the future would contain. Was I merely abducted? How am I going to return to my nation? What have I done to myself? Despite my desire to avoid overthinking everything, I asked myself a lot of questions.

"I'm assuming you're searching for the kitchen, the staircase is right around the corner. I'll take you there. Oh! Please excuse my manners, I'm Jack Savile,Maria's son. What’s your name?”

"Tracy Sande is my name." I replied apprehensively as I walked behind him, still admiring the interior decoration and the variety of artwork the mansion held. I was utterly in awe of how the other floors were laid out as we headed down the open-well stairway. Elegant white tiles covered the entire ground of the mansion, and the first and ground levels were mostly decorated in the colors white, black, and gold.

"I know it's beautiful. When I initially arrived here five years ago, I had the same expression as you do today.” Jack noticed how enthralled I was and chuckled at me.

We entered the kitchen and found Maria and 4 other young maids after walking through a hallway on the ground floor.

“So you two have already met, right?” Maria grinned at us as she asked. “Since I was unsure of your preferences, I prepared what I believed you would enjoy.”

I sat on the kitchen island and one of the young maids placed a tray of food in front of me which was filled up with Beans, toast, mushrooms, tomatoes, potatoes, bacon, eggs and black pudding.

“ Tea or juice?” She asked.

“Juice please!” I answered, already devouring my food.

“Poor child, you must have been very hungry. When you’re done, Jack will take you to Ms Ravens office.”

Once I was finished, I requested Jack to take me to Ms. Raven's office. On the first floor, we made a few turns before coming to the office.

"We're here! Just remain calm,don't be anxious. Everything will be OK. I'll give you a tour of the mansion when you are done with her.”

He gave me a little wave before leaving me by myself in front of the door. I took a deep breath and shook my body to get rid of my anxiety before knocking on the door.

“Come in!” The woman in the office answered. I walked into the office and I was met by men with guns staring at me weirdly.

“ You asked for my presence Ma’am.”

“ Yes I did, take a sit. As for you gents, you have been dismissed.”

I took a sit on one of chairs in front of her desk and nervously played with my fingers below it.

"I'm aware that you have a lot of questions for me, but I can promise you that the reason you're staying here is for your own benefit. You will have the option to stay or leave in the future, but for now, allow me to prepare you for the lady I know you will become. which grade did you mention?”

“Sixth grade …..ma’am”

"Alright, starting tomorrow morning, you'll have two teachers at your disposal. If you don't focus and get good grades on all of your examinations, you won't like me. The most important rule of all is that you are not permitted to leave the property unless you want to die. Maria or Jack will go over the other rules of the house with you. Additionally, don't visit my workplace unless I specifically invite you. Are you following me?”

“Yes, Ma'am.” I replied.

You may now leave, but please close the door before doing so.

I got up and I did exactly what I was told. My heart almost skipped a beat when I felt someone touch the helm of my shirt from behind.

“How did it go? Jack asked me.

“It was okay but you frightened me. I’ll start home schooling tomorrow.” I answered.

“That’s good! Are you ready for the tour?” He asked. I nodded my head and followed him from behind.

He showed the ground floor which consisted of four bedrooms, a living room, a ball room, three bathrooms, a store room, a gym,a laundry room,an indoor pool, a bar, a game room, a study, the kitchen and a dining room. Outside had a pool, a football pitch, a flower garden, a soundproof training center,an underground basement which was off limit and an underground car garage that had about twenty expensive cars.

The first floor had Ms Ravens’ office, a Library, a cinema room, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a wine cellar room and a parlor room. Lastly, the top floor had two master bedrooms which was basically my bedroom and hers, an attic, a terrace and also some rooms that were off limit.

After the tour, we settled in the cinema room where we watched tv. “ How old are you and what exactly is your story? “

“ I am 12 and you?

“ I am 18. I still want to know your story, please.”

“ That can wait, I’m not emotionally stable to talk about it. However, I would like to know about Ms Ravens, what’s her story?” I asked.

I wanted to ask Ms. Ravens so many questions, but I knew she wouldn't be able to provide the information I needed. It turns out that when she was 16 years old, her entire family was murdered at a family gathering. The person who preferred the massacre of her family traded her to an elderly corny man, who eventually died mysteriously and left her with everything.

She was able to get revenge on her family's murder when she was twenty one years old and rose to the position of most feared mafia. Later, she fell in love with a man, but her enemies killed him too.

“She’s a good woman, you know?” Jack hummed loud.

"My father beat my mother every day since the day I was born. He was an awful man. One day, he returned intoxicated and started arguing with my mother, almost beating her to death. He passed away as a result of my rage-fueled brick attack on his skull. Knowing the repercussions, my mother packed everything we needed and we fled for our lives. So that's how we got to know Ms. Ravens, a childhood friend of my mom. Ms Ravens didn’t want my mother to work as a maid for her but she insisted on doing so as a way to repay her gratitude.”

“I am so sorry to hear that.” I apologized.

“ it’s alright.” He said as she gave me a faint smile. “I know I killed my own father but I don’t regret it because I never want to grow up like him when I get to have a family of my own. I want to be a good loving husband to my wife and a role model for my kids. Well, that’s if I’ll ever have a chance.” He chuckled.

We watched a couple of movies and ate a lot of snacks that Maria brought in for us before it became night time. Jack and I instantly became friends and enjoyed each other’s company most of the time.