I'm still alive for now

We made it to my room. I sat down on the bed while she squatted before me to examine the bruises on my legs. Soon she left and came back with a first aid box.

She began giving medications to my feet and applied some ointment to the bruises on my legs. 

“Ouch!” I reacted as I felt the pain. 

“Sorry, I am not very skilled at this.” She said.

“It’s fine, no need to apologize.” I replied.

She kept on with her duty. I looked at her, she was still so young and if I am not mistake, she should be about  thirteen years old eventually. 

“How long have you been here?” I asked as curiosity corded my mind.

“Five years.” She replied

“What happened? How did you end up here?” the questions kept coming out of me.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” she answered. I saw how weary and depressed she looked. The expression on her face made me a bit uncomfortable. “Sorry, I  shouldn’t have asked such questions. I’m sorry.” I said. Silence followed as she kept on applying the ointment 

“Miss.” She called out to me

“Cassandra. You can call me Cassandra, that’s my name.”

“Okay. Miss Cassandra.” she said politely. “I know the thoughts of running away might have come crossed your mind, seeing how you were brought here without your consent, but I would advice you not to heed to it..” she said with a sigh of relief.

“Why shouldn’t I?” I asked curious of what she might say next.

“You see, Mariano isn’t a bad person. When I first arrived here, I thought it would be hell for I was a lady and I was indebt to him. I thought of running away then but it was impossible for me. He got angry and my life actually became a living hell, after a year I decided it was pointless fighting against him and so I decided to let fate decide for me and that was when I found out who he truly is. He may be a tyrant to the outside world for that’s what the news has made us to believe, but to each of us living under his roof, weve known the kind of person he is. To us he is like a father, a brother, a family. He isn’t like how you imagined him to be, and I know what I’m saying might be senseless to you, but if you can see for yourself who he truly is, then you will understand what I am saying. I hope it won’t be too late by then.” She said. “Well I am done, have some rest miss.” She wrapped up her kit and was about leaving.

“Celia, that’s my name. If there’s anything you need, you can call on me.” She finally found her exit.

I laid down there on the bed. What she said began to ring inside my head but I couldn’t care about it.  My attempt has failed and now there’s nothing I can do anymore to get out of here. I am stuck with him and my only hope is for my dad to pay back the debt which he owes before the time runs out.

I really am doomed.

****

“Cassandra,” I heard my name being called. Suddenly I felt the tapping of hands on my shoulders.

“What is it?” I turned around and found Celia beside me. What the……what are you doing here?”

“Mariano sent me. He told me to bring some outfits to you and check up on you. Also he had requested you get dressed for he is about to leave soon.” she left after she had delivered his message.

I got up from the bed and without hesitation, I made my way to the bathroom. Soon I was done, I came back out and took a look at all the clothes that he had picked out for me. The were only shirt and skirt except one which was a gown. I took out the gown as I didn’t plan on letting my mom see the bruises on my legs. That would put her in a state of panic and maybe hypertension.

After I was done, I came out through the front door. His eyes were fixed on me like glue. He made a grin of satisfaction, he was happy and delighted at what his eyes saw.

I was offered the back seat of his car and there I sat down beside him as we were set to move out.

“Here, have a drink.” He spoke and stretched out the glass to me with a smiley face.

“Why? Because you spiked it again.” I said trying to be extra careful and cautious. Who knows what he may have plotted this time around.

“Come on, I only did that because I didn’t want you to know the location of my dwelling place, and besides, it was the glass that had sedatives and it’s always inside the limo. I never take it out.”

“So it wasn’t the drink. Now I see why you were so careful drinking last night.” He chuckled on my words. “What’s funny?”

“You are, you always seem to amaze me.” He spoke. “Fine, I will take the first sip and thereafter you follow, if that’s what you wish.”

“How can I trust you. What if you have something to help neutralize whatever it is you’ve put inside the drink?”

“Then suit yourself. You can rather trust me or do nothing but stay dehydrated.” He took the first sip. He turned on a second and passed the glass to me. “Here you go, the choice is yours.”

Looking at it, I have no other option. My life is already in his hand so if he chooses to kill me, it won’t take him anything to do so.

“Fine, it doesn’t matter if I die anyway.” I took the glass of wine. He made a grin again but I ignored him. 

“I never knew Anderson had such a funny, lovely daughter. I guess that’s why he tried his best to hide you from the rest of the world, so that no one could take you away but here you are, right in my hands.” He burst out in laughter while I stayed quiet and observed him. After a while, he became quiet and that was the end of our conversation. At least for the now.

The trip to my parents house continued. It was quite a distance that even I had no idea of the time I passed out due to the long drive. Probably because I wasn’t the one on the steering wheel. 

The vehicle halted with three more which accompanied him. He opened the door and stepped down, stretched forth his hand as he reached for me. I slowly reached out to his hands, wrapped my hand around his and he helped me down. Just by the entrance, I caught sight of my mom. She was in desperation.

“Mom.” I called out softly. Joy filled her heart as soon as she caught sight of me.

“My dear child.” She rushed down to me in a warm tight embrace. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” she asked as she checked for bruises on my skin. Thank goodness I wore the gown or things would have appeared a bit chaotic.

“Mom, I am fine at least for now.” I said. She drew me closer again and then released me.

“Thank goodness. I thought I lost you,”

“No mom, don’t ever think of such things again. Never ever.” I said with a smile. “Where’s dad?”

“Well, you father went out to do some work.” She replied.

“What sort of work?” she became mute afterwards. “Don’t tell me.”

“As expect, he does value his family. He probably would have figured some way out by now, he always does.” Mariano said as he interrupted our conversation.

“Thank you sir for sparing my daughter’s life.” My mom went down on her knees to show her gratitude for his mercy.

“There’s no need to thank me. I told you, I don’t like taking people as hostage.” He said. “Besides, Anderson and I made a deal, until the date is due, I have no right to breach the terms our agreement.”

“That means you came here for a reason. Please come in.”

“Alright then.” 

We all went in. My mom and him sat down together while I took the opposite seat. 

“Can I get you anything sir?” my mother ask.

“I’m okay.” He replied and paused. “What about the cake? Cassandra’s birthday cake?” I was caught in surprised.

“Cake, what cake?” I asked.

“Don’t act surprise.” He said and turned to me. “I told you that I found out your birthday was yesterday and for some reason, I had it ruined. I felt guilty so that’s why I brought you here. To finish  the celebration you started.” He said with a smile. At this point, not only was I amazed but also confused.

“Who the fuck are you? You don’t seem like the person you were last night. Or rather the man I met this afternoon as I tried to esc….” Immediately I bite my lips as I closed my mouths from running to fast. I looked up at him and he gave me a stern look. I could tell he doesn’t want my mom to find out about what happened. 

“I will be right back with the cake.” I excused myself

I made it and brought back the cake. On my way back, I encountered a shocking scene. Him and my mother were having a conversation, it was weird for they were both smiling and laughter filled the atmosphere. I have never seen this part of him before, could what Celia said be true, is he really different?

I dropped down the tray of cake, he took a cut of it and chewed it gently. From his facial expression, I could see how please he was. But that wasn’t my problem, last night he was acting like a tyrant and now like a child. What is he up to?

He looked at me and was all smiley. “You haven’t taken a bite yet.” He drew my attention back to reality. 

“Huh! Right. I should probably start eating.” Just as I took the first bite, my father walked in on us. 

“Mariano, Cassandra.” He was delighted as he got a chance to see me again.

“Anderson.” He called out and the atmosphere changed in an instant as it became intense.

After they’ve exchanged greetings, my dad and him went away from us and there they stayed for a very long time.