With a stiff neck, I scanned my surroundings. there wasn't much to decipher. I was in a small room, lit only by the bedside lamp that was on the table next to the bed. There was an armchair with a rose velvet cushion in one corner. The walls were bland and frameless.
After waiting for another bout of nausea to pass, I went to the window, holding on to the small table as support for my shaky frame. Outside, the sunsetting sky was of resilient palettes of shady hues, and I was peering over the shadows of endless rooftops. Wherever I was, it was high above a city, at least twenty stories high. Down below, a yellow cab was waiting at a red light on an otherwise empty street. I couldn't decide if I was still in Lilycity. I thought I had a fair recognition of the clock tower that stood at the center of the city square, but it was too distant and I was too tired to be sure. My hand pressed against the glass. I closed my eyes until the dizziness passed, then slowly and painfully moved to the door of the bedroom and placed my ear against its smooth white surface. I could hear a Television echoing in the background and hushed voices, but nothing else. I twisted the doorknob, expecting it to be locked, but it wasn't. Without a sound, I cracked the door open. Initially I was surprised to find that no one was keeping guard at the door, but when I looked all the way down the corridor, I noticed the man that was standing behind Maxine earlier. He was looking at me. I speedily closed the door and dragged myself back to bed, got under the warm covers, and let my eyelids fall once again. I had exhausted whatever small resource of energy I had left in me. I would have to stay here. If this was where they live, then this is where I would be living. Within a few minutes, I was asleep. I heard someone clearing his throat, and I was startled awake. The room was blackened, except for the light that was pouring in from the hallway. Hollis was standing by the open door, like he was waiting for me to wake up. I looked up at him through a sleepy, confused haze. He looked tired but satisfied, and he slid out, closing the door behind him. I fell back asleep almost immediately. The same thing happened many more times. Hollis would walk into the room, make some small noise, wake me up. Then I'd look up and he'd quietly exit the room. his expression always blank. He had apparently taken on the task of ensuring that I didn't die in my sleep. So far, he had decided to keep me alive, for whatever reason. In the morning, I woke up to the sound of a soft hum and a blinking pain localized to the top of my head. Soft lights of dawn were coming in through the windows. I sat up in bed, letting my tired head fall against the cold wall behind me. It wasn't until I saw Hollis that I remembered where I was. Well, at least I recognized the room I was in. He was sleeping, uncomfortably sprawled on a very small armchair, still fully dressed, but had obviously changed out of his bloody shirt. I couldn't remember if he still had it on when I had first woken up in the room. His head was rolled back and rested on the wall with one hand half fallen over his eyes, an unconscious effort to block out the rising sun. His brown hair was scruffy, like he'd raked his hand through it a thousand times. The dark circles under his eyes told the story of someone who hadn't been sleeping much, probably not for many days. I watched him like this for a while, committing his features to memory. And then his watch beeped, and he jumped awake, momentarily disoriented. His eyes quickly found me. "How long have you been awake?" He asked with a hoarse voice, squinting down at his watch. "A while, I guess." I said with care, pulling the covers up to my chin. He passed both hands over his entire face, rubbing his skin awake. "How are you feeling?" "Fine," I answered quickly without really thinking about the question. Hollis moved to the side of the bed and stopped short, deliberating. 'Was he debating shooting me now or later. I looked for signs of trouble, like a gun being pulled out from the back of his jeans. I saw something I wasn't meant to see. I watch movies, I've seen cases like this play out in court and I know such intrusion can lead to one's death. With a movement that was too fast for my bruised brain to analyze, He sat next to me and rushed his hand to my face. In instinct, I gasped and recoiled from him. His eyes widened, and he snapped his hand away like he'd just been burned. The features of his face washed with Guilt. Worry. Anger. Disappointment. I couldn't be sure. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice notably softer. "I was just going to check the bump on your head. I won't hurt you." His concern was unreserved, which made my throat immediately squeeze shut. But It was too late. the tears had sprung to my eyes. "I'm fine really," I said in answer to the increased concern on his face. "Ugo, you don't look fine." I wiped the tears as soon as they escaped my eyes. "This is stupid. I don't know why I'm crying." "I do," he mumbled resentfully, his jaw tightening. "Can I check your head even if you say you're fine." I nodded through my sniffles and bent my head forward as a peace offering. My heart pumped hard in my chest while his fingers parted the hairs at the crown of my head and pressed lightly on the bump. My face winced under the cover of my hair. "Does this hurt?" he asked. "No," I lied, the strain in my voice betraying me. "I don't think so," he said. "I'll get you something for the pain." Before I could refuse, he was out the door. He came back almost immediately and gave me two little white pills and a large glass of water. The water was liquid gold to my eyes. My mouth tasted like I've been licking sawdust for days. As for the mystery pills, I hesitated and glanced up. He folded his arms. "It's still really early and you need to get more rest. The pills will help with the pain so you can get some sleep." He stood there, watching me like I was a mental patient, ensuring that the crazy girl took her pills. I needed to get some answers, starting with what I thought I knew, seemed like a good idea. "You are Hollis, my Hollis?" I asked, needing to be sure he was the same man I met at Fairview. I know he had a dark and dangerous edge to him, just never knew it would be this deep. "Your Hollis, yes." He repeated, choosing that phrase instead. We watched each other while I took two large gulps of water to make sure that my throat was open to choke down the drugs. He sat next to me. "What do you remember from last night?" He asked me. Color rushed to my face. "Is this where I tell you that I don't remember anything?" I blurted again. As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I wished I had spent more time thinking about the weight of his question and coming up with a response that wouldn't get me killed. "No," he said without blinking, "this is where you tell me the truth." I took my time swallowing the first pill and my tears. "That man, what did he do to deserve what you did to him?" I needed him to tell me that the man hadn't been just some random man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. That only bad people got killed by him and that girls like me didn't get killed just because they witnessed a murder. His face hardened. "You assume that the man was blameless." This wasn't a question. He had read what had been lingering in my mind. "He isn't innocent. Justice was served." "He's dead, isn't he?" "What does it matter?" He said. "It's not like you knew him." I closed my eyes, which forced the tears to drop down my cheeks. Then the words came drooling out before I had time to process them. "His family will never know what happened to him, and they'll spend the rest of their lives wondering what they could have done to change things. There doesn't seem to be much justice in that." I fearfully braced myself for the blows that would come next. When I felt his fingers quickly brush my damp cheek, I opened my eyes. There was no anger on Hollis's face. But his eyes were appraising. I cleared my throat to cut through the pain in my chest, and I swallowed my second pill. My fingers tingled. The first pill was already working its magic. Whatever I was chugging down, it was potent. "Hollis," I said, "what exactly am I supposed to be doing for you?" "You'll rest and recover for now." "And after?" He smiled. "We'll work through the rest together." "You have a brother?" I probed again, my head falling into the pillow. "Yes." His stare was unwavering while my eyelids were getting heavy. I was fading fast. "I am the breadwinner, sort of. I take care of my family. Now that I can't do that, will they be taken care of." I drowsily continued. Hollis pulled the glass out of my numbed hands and set it on the table next to me. "As long as I live, your family will never lack anything." He replied. "And what are you going to do with me, while I'm here." This came out as a whisper. My eyes were barely slit open. Hollis paused on this question. He scanned my face, like the answer was written somewhere there. "I will fulfill all your wildest dreams and tick all the right boxes, the dark and dangerous way." Those were the last words I heard before I blanked-out. I wasn't sure he said those. Maybe my mind made it all up. That would be the only explanation because how could he come up with the dark and dangerous phrase if I hadn't told him.The next time I woke up, the sun was already setting. I was feeling better, rested, though my joints and muscles ached from the lack of movement. As for the bump on my head, it was only sensitive to touch. there was no more throbbing. My hair on the other hand was a tangled mess. My head felt naked when my hair was down. I searched my pockets and then the barren room for anything that I could use to tie it back. The only thing I found was the glass of water that had been refilled, and that I greedily gulped down. The bedroom door had been left open, and hollowed sounds from a Television could still be heard. As soon as the smell of food tickled my nose, my stomach grumbled. The last meal I had eaten was the vegetable sauce my mother made specially for me. How long ago was that? My brain was still too foggy to count back the hours or the days. The thought of my mother sent chills down my spine. I haven't heard from my parents and I knew they would be worried sick. Letting my sto
Maxine gripped the steering wheel and side-glanced me. "Put your seatbelt on, this is going to be fun." I did as I was told, and he hit the red button on the rearview mirror, which caused the garage door to slide open. We drove out onto the gloomy street. Maxine didn't let go of the gas pedal until we were driving well above the speed limit. Darkened street signs flashed by. He sped through a red light, swerving around a car that was patiently waiting for its turn. 'What was the point of making me wear my seatbelt if he was planning on killing the both of us by crashing the car.' With an extended grin, he weaved us in and out of traffic. Eventually we moved away from the city streets and onto a country road. We picked up more speed, but at least there were no other cars to play chicken with. I was able to unclench my teeth and my stranglehold on the security bar against the door, using my free hand to wipe my newly dampened forehead. The car air-conditioner couldn't do anyt
I was awakened by the distant sound of the television. Immediately I opened my eyes, I saw Maxine cropped up on a chair at the end of the room. "Welcome back to the land of the living," he muttered. "Where are we?" I croaked, sitting up on the bed and surveying the empty room that had only a bed and a television. Maxine stretched his arms, and sighed. "Home, The Garden." "Thank God." I sighed, before realizing what he meant. "You mean your home is referred to as The Garden?" "Mhmm." He hummed. "Gross." I spat out. "It's a good name." He stood up. "Hollis totally owe me for this." He murmured and left the room, not even saying a goodbye or any other word. My throat felt raw, and my body, emotionally exhausted. I could feel dark isolation seeping through the room like deep depression. I just wanted to go home, to go shopping, boat cruises, clubhouses and the courtroom. I wanted my life back. But even I know I couldn't. Not with the continuous attempt on my life and wi
We were now in an open corridor. Rocco stood like a statue at the end of the room, staring into space. Two other guards stood at a reasonable distance, taking the same stance. I snatched my hand back from him, crossing it over my chest. "Good. Then that's settled. But make no mistake, he turned "I'm going to take my pleasure from you, how and when I deem it fit." He threatened. "You dare not!" I challenged, creating a distance between us. "Really," he mused. "Let's see how that goes." "Every single thing about this situation is disappointing," I corrected him, feeling my jaw quiver. I had a temper. So I try so hard to always remain happy and positive. And that was why I surrounded myself with people that really love and care about me. They all knew and understood how bad my temper used to be. As a form of control, I would always remain cold and calm in situations I have no power over. Until I grab a full picture of the situation. But then, in some conditions, I almost alw
"What time do you even plan on getting here? Are you sure you're still coming?" Daisy listened to Ugo whine over the phone."I'm all dressed up already. You'll see me soon, I promise. I just had a really stressful day at work and I had to make a quick stop at home to get into more comfortable footwear." she tried explaining. Pushing the door of her walk-in closet close, she pulled a black leather jacket across her black singlet, sat on the bed and bent low to buckle her sandals when she heard Ugo's next words."You're changing footwear? Don't tell me you plan on wearing any of those boring flat sandals of yours.""Something wrong with my flats?" "Really, you're going to ask me that." Ugo boiled."We're going out to celebrate for crying out loud. You have to look the part. Put on a pair of those gorgeous Louboutins you got there. Why do you splash so much money on exotic footwear when you don't wear them.""Hello, are you forgetting something? You're forgetting that you made me buy the
Daisy's phone lit up just then with a text from Ugo. "My power went out. Where are you?""Ahhh, yes, I just got alerted to that." Daisy told Brett as she held her phone up before she texted Ugo back. "I guess it's the whole hotel, I’m stuck in the elevator with some dude that is providing me with adequate company.""At least that means they were telling the truth," Brett said, interrupting her. "The good news is, they have generators, so the elevators should start moving shortly.""And you know this, how?""Oh!" He stepped away from the telephone. "They told me," he added.Daisy slid down to the floor, placing her purse and paper bag gently beside her, careful not to break the champagne bottle. Since she already informed Ugo about it, she knew how much tragedy it would bring if it ended up broken. Ugo would report her to anybody worth reporting to, including Daisy's parents. Her black heels used to be relatively comfortable for at least an hour or two before the discomfort a
"I've been doing fine for years now. Please just go back to wherever you're coming from and let me be."Brett moved over to her and crotched down opposite her. "Go on a date with me, over the weekend."Daisy burst into laughter. "Is this guy a joke or something?" She asked rhetorically, loud enough to Brett's hearing. "No.""Come on.....""I'm not going on any godforsaken date with you Mr Lexington. Not in your wildest dream.""Okay." he said, pushing two open hands forward to calm her down. "Go to a fundraiser with me then. Technically, I wanted you to be my plus-one at the fundraiser organized by the Mayor over the weekend and maybe we could go on a date afterwards. But since you said no date, let's go to the fundraiser together." He offered."No.""Daiz. I promise you, if after the fundraiser, you decide that you don't want to see me ever again. I won't bother you. Just this once, please?"Daisy became calm for a moment. She looked up at his angelic face and watched him flash a smil
"Look what I brought you." Daisy said instead of arguing. She pulled the champagne bottle and the chocolates and crackers out of the paper bag. "I'm not quite sure how cold the champagne is anymore, but we still have to drink it. And I heroically saved all of them, including the chocolates and crackers from the guy I was stuck in the elevator with, so we’d better enjoy them." "Well, of course we still have to drink that champagne. Give me that." Ugo grabbed the hotel water glasses as Daisy pulled the foil off the champagne bottle. "I can’t believe you were stuck in the elevator all that time. And why weren’t you texting me back. Was your battery out?" "Okay, there’s a story there, but let’s toast to you first before I get into all of that." Daisy twisted the metal lid open and pulled out the cork with a gentle pop. After she poured a healthy amount into each of their glasses, she held hers up. "To Ugo Chike, the first black female partner at Jade and Judy, in over ten years. To a