SOFIAI had the largest smile on my face as I approached my apartment. I felt like a character in 'Truth or Dare', a horror movie where most of the characters smiled as they killed people. The reason behind my smile was way different though.I strutted toward the door, walking on my tip toe and imitating a model walking down a runway. I had always liked models and their art of work, but I'd never had the patience for it. I twisted my door knob and it just came to me that I locked my door. I guess I was tipsy already. How could I forget that I locked my door with my own hands?I opened my small bag to search for it. I felt a bit dizzy and I was sure it was because of the wine I had. I always vowed and never fulfilled it. I squeezed my face on frustration, my large smile retreating to a bigger frown. "What is the matter with you?" I hit my bag still rummaging my hands inside to grab the key.I needed to get in and fast. My legs were starting to feel sore, and my eyes too. After many dip
ALEX"Good morning, sir." The secretary greeted me and I nodded.I haven't been around the office of the chief security officer since I took on the role of working here. We were in different wings and all through my stay here, I never saw him. I bet he must be surprised to see me here today.I didn't bother to knock the door when I got to the front of his office door, I just barged in and the words of curse he wanted to utter died on his lips when he saw it was me."Mr… Mr Alex?""Good day to you too."He composed himself and smiled. "Sorry. Good morning to you, do have a seat."I nodded and made myself comfortable. The older man was still smiling, "may I offer you some coffee?""No, I'm here for more important issues, please.""All right then. Carry on."I knew the man must view me as a spoiled brat who makes decisions anyhow he likes but he still respects me because I was his boss. And I knew he hadn't told my father I was now working in one of his security companies."I have a new
SOFIAI spread out my legs on the bed more, stretching my muscles to gain comfort. It was so relaxing. It must have been the most relaxed sleep I had ever had in my life since I was given birth to. My head didn't ache, my stomach didn't ache and I wasn't hungry. I wasn't tired either.It wasn't the kind of sleep you'll fall into and be having nightmares. The temperature was just right. And so was every other thing. Olivia wasn't here to mock me. Ronaldo wasn't here to bully me or insult me. I was free to sleep still like every human should.I thought about the times I stayed in Ronaldo's house. I was asked to do the dishes everyday. I became a servant. Although he was fair to us both when we arrived, things just started changing slightly and I began to irritate him. That was the beginning of my woes in that house.Once I fell really ill, and it took a heavy toll on me. After bearing the pain till what seemed like death, I finally opened up to my sister. It was annoying that she didn'
SOFIA Dear New York…I've been here for a while now, I even lost count of the days I've spent here and the reality of my impulsive decision to move here without a plan began to sink in.Yes, Sofia, you made an impulsive decision. I mean, how are you here when you don't have a plan to survive? Ugh.The initial excitement and thrill of starting a new chapter in my life had faded like smoke, it was now replaced by a sense of uncertainty and worry. Graduating from college had been a significant milestone in my life, but it also meant that I was now faced with the daunting task of finding a job and establishing myself in this bustling city.I glanced at the stack of bills on my desk, realising that my savings were dwindling rapidly. I have only eaten restaurant junk food since I came here and that took away almost all my money. Panic started to creep in as I wondered how I would sustain myself without a steady income. The thought of having to rely on nobody for financial support made me f
SOFIAI was so tired. Scanning through the web for jobs and getting my resume updated was tiring.But then, was I supposed to be working my ass out when I had a lot that could be enough for my lifetime? No, I shouldn't but then…I couldn't help but reflect on the immense privilege that had been bestowed upon me. It was all too much, my parents had Olivia and I inind, because this was huge. They left us the trust fund, a safety net that could have easily allowed me to live a life of leisure and luxury. But that was never who I was, nor who they wanted me to become.To even start with, when I was young, I was never one to lay back and do nothing with my life or get attached to glittering things. From a young age, I had always possessed an innate drive and determination to make something of myself.But Olivia, on the other hand, seemed to be more concerned with materialistic things. She tossed it all away and hung on to things that glittered like it would give her all the happiness she d
SOFIAWas I really ready to face my fears? My worst nightmare.I said I was, but could I stand the mere sight of that house again?I sighed loudly. I remembered that house, I remembered it like I was there right now. I didn't need to look into any documents or maps to know exactly where the house was. I knew the street by heart, I knew the way it looked like, I couldn't forget, never could I forget.It had been long since I last set foot in that place, yet the image remains etched in my memory as if it were yesterday. The image wasn't even ready to go, it was like an evil spirit that latched upon me and I repeat that I don't need to look at any document or photograph to recall the address; it was ingrained in my mind, a part of me.I remembered the house vividly, every detail preserved in my memory and now vividly bringing them before me even without the life image of the house in front of me. I could see the white fence that surrounded the front yard, its paint slightly chipped but s
SOFIA Here we go.I was still scanning the environment. The once vibrant colour of paint now made the house look like a typical building for Halloween. I couldn't help but feel a wave of fear wash over me. The memories of the horrors that had happened all those years ago came rushing back, threatening to consume me and choke me to death.But Alex, true to his words, stood beside me, his presence providing a sense of reassurance. "You would be fine, Sofia.""What if I'm not?" I asked him."You will. My men and I haven't stepped in, we just removed the locks and all. You have to step in first and do the honours. It's been long and this house deserves your prayers."I nodded in agreement and looked at the door. I knew Alex wanted the best for me now, he wanted me to be the one to step inside and face whatever lay within; like the image of my dead parents on the floor.I took a deep breath, trying to steady my trembling hands and racing heart. The weight of responsibility settled heavily
SOFIAAbout three more men came for the search and their presence seemed terrifying but with Alex's presence, I was at ease.I decided to watch them search, I didn't want to touch anything in this place again. The house itself brought back too many memories.I walked closer to the kitchen and leaned on the dusty mahogany desk, my eyes fixed on the security team that had spread out to search the house. The awoken memories of the past few hours had left me shaken and traumatised, and I found solace in observing the men who were there to protect me.As the security guys moved cautiously through the rooms, their eyes darting from corner to corner, I couldn't help but notice their occasional glances towards their employer, Alex. It was as if they were seeking reassurance that he was alright, that he hadn't been harmed in the chaos that had unfolded.Did they think I'd want to harm him?Alex, aware of their concern, raised his hand in a calming gesture and mouthed for them to continue with
ALEX Manchester was different…Manchester was blissful…The air in Manchester was very clear; till I could feel it suffocate me. But then I knew one day, I would put an end to all of this. I was living the life that I wanted here. Away from Blake and his Cartel, his mob and the killers and the snare and everything. I had used the money I had to start up something and I would be going back to hockey soon. It was what gave me utmost confidence. And I wouldn’t toss it away. She still didn’t want to have anything to do with me. I took it upon myself to stalk her in a healthy manner. I was there when she left for work and I was there when she was back. It was one thing that gave me joy, it gave me this push. I knew that one day, she would hear me out and would forgive me. I made a conscious effort to respect her space. It was hard to process that fact and I wanted to give her time but then one day, I would make sure I walk up to her again. Everyday, I couldn’t deny the pull she had o
SOFIA Manchester…I got dressed and sighed when I was done dressing. This used to be worn with a happy smile, now, my heart was filled with sadness, regret and disappointment. It wasn’t anger anymore. It was something else. I left the house, the crisp autumn air nipping at my cheeks as I made my way down the street. The familiar sights and sounds of my neighbourhood seemed to fade into the background as I focused on the task at hand: preparing for my move to Manchester.I came back home to prepare. It was now or never. Another day here and I would commit suicide. This was the place my parents were killed, this was the place Olivia had been arrested. Too many bad memories and damn, I can’t stay here any longer. I brought out my clothes and the new bags I bought when I went out. It was now or never at all. I packed my clothes into the bag, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of sadness and nervousness as I did this. I was going to England, leaving behind everything that had once been fami
SOFIAI could still dream. This time, I was dreaming about being alone in a field of roses, where everything was filled with tranquillity and warmth. I found myself standing in a vast field of roses, their sweet fragrance filling the air and soothing my mind. The sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow over the landscape. The vibrant colours of the flowers seemed to stretch on endlessly, creating a mesmerising sea of reds, pinks, and whites.It felt so good to be here. So damn good. I forgot all I was thinking about. I forget the sorrows that were now in my life. I forgot how things had been so bad. I was calm. I was content. I was enough. As I walked through the field, I felt a sense of peace and tranquillity washing over me. It made me feel like I was in heaven. This was a pleasure. Absolute pleasure. Amidst the sea of roses, I caught sight of a figure in the distance. This was supposed to be my world, my dream. As I approached the figure, I realised it was my mother, wear
SOFIABut then I had so many what ifs left in me…What if everything had not been like this? What if I had just not found out about the cottage and all? I guess Olivia would have killed me. She would surely win this time around and then she would put an end to the existence of the Griffins.If only Olivia hadn’t found out what really happened, if she didn’t know who our parents were and if nothing had ever even happened before. I sighed heavily. What would have become of my life and that of Olivia’s? I kept thinking about this and it kept playing in my head till I could no longer imagine what life would have been if everything hadn’t started from Olivia finding out that our parents were bloody murderers. I wanted to look up and gaze out the window at the world outside, but Alex was right beside me. He had this look of remorse and that was the last thing I needed right now. In that instant, I couldn’t help but ponder the age-old adage, “ignorance is bliss.” How true those words seeme
SOFIASomehow, a sad song came into my mind. I was humming the song and somehow, it made me feel so good. I then began to ask myself some questions. What if my parents were still alive? What if Jake hadn’t cheated on me? What if Olivia grew up nice and well groomed? What if? The answer was that I wouldn’t have met Alex. And before that, I wouldn’t know who Ronaldo was and my parents wouldn’t have been divorced. It was a whole lot to take in but I knew that I would heal. No matter how hard and difficult it was, I would heal. Nice and steady. I went back inside and saw Alex with the inspector. They were talking and I just went to my room. I needed some time alone, some time to sink all this in and know what next to do with my life right now. I could hear Alex talking with the inspector. “I will come by later. If you need anything, let me know.”“All right. Take care of her.” The inspector told him. “Yes.”‘Take care of her?’ I scoffed. How can I be fine with the devil? The real d
SOFIAI hadn’t wanted to keep crying when the police came but each word, sentence and action of Olivia kept replying in my head like a broken tape and the tears just wouldn’t stop. I then asked myself, how did we come to this? Olivia was a happy child, she was loved by happy parents, it got to the point of being jealous because of the way our parents favoured her over me. But then when I grew up and tried to relive those days, I saw that our parents loved us equally. Yes, they were murderers, and yes they were members of a notorious mafia mob that had killed a lot of people and destroyed so many lives. In that sense, they should be ruthless, in that sense they should have raised us with a knife taped to the tip of their tongues.With them, we were fed love on a silver spoon in a golden plate, we weren’t made to get love by licking it off knives. Not just any knife, a knife that wasn’t embroidered and was just insignificant to mankind. No, our parents fed us love and overfilled us
OLIVIAI watched them panic when I had reached for the only weapon I think could put an end to my misery. I planned to kill to myself and then kill Sofia and her boyfriend. She was asking too many questions that reminded me of the past. It reminded me of the faces of the murderers I referred to as my parents. Particularly seeing her. I haven’t looked at myself in the mirror in a while. I couldn’t dare to do that. I knew I would see the reflection of those terrible people in me, I hated them so much that if I saw them in my face, I would surely scar myself. It was better to die than to live with their imprint visible on my body. And then Sofia? She had everything good coming her way. Even though Ronaldo didn’t treat her well, he still thought about her and even went as far as wanting her to be married to a rich son of the mafia. No matter the maltreatment, I knew she would enjoy her married life. Ronaldo didn’t think of me when the son of the mafia came. He didn’t at all and damn,
ALEXI watched the two sisters battle words. All this while I was just looking at them, it felt like I wasn’t even in the room. They kept throwing words at each other and made me feel completely invisible. And thinking about this, I just couldn’t see Anthony and I having the same batter and swearing at each other like this. It was something I couldn’t ever picture. Not that I was scared, I stopped being afraid of Anthony when I left home and since then, there was nothing that would make me scared of him ever again. Anthony and I can’t even have a physical conversation, the last time we had talked, it was during a family dinner. That was the day my father had announced that he was giving the cartel to Anthony. I remembered that day like I was in it. I hadn’t wanted to come but I had no choice, I just had too. Ever since I left home, I just cut ties with them but then I had too. The dinner was scheduled a few days before my mother’s birthday. I just had to go. I told myself I would f
SOFIA “Why did everything change?”Tears continued to cascade down my cheeks, a testament to the shattered dreams and broken promises that plagued our relationship. The person I once knew had morphed into a stranger, driven by darkness and pain.Olivia had become a woman I used to know. She scared me now. Everything she had said was surprising, it made me feel stupid. I had thought she changed because of the death of our parents. Then she was withdrawn, she threw herself to Ronaldo like he was her saviour. And to me, she treated me like trash. I had thought she wanted to take away all the grief in her by being mean to me, but I was wrong, she had just been thinking of ways to extinguish me from the world she was creating. “When did everything change, Olivia?”“It will further change if you disappear.” She answered. “And then the very day I found out about what our parents were, I knew I couldn’t tell you, I just knew I had to carry out this mission myself.”I just looked at her, it