4

I was awakened by a faint glimmer of the sunbeam that streamed from the window. My eyelids unrolled but instantly pinched shut as harsh streaks of the sunray descended straight to my iris, irritating and blinding it.

Letting out an irritating sigh, I hunched myself into a sitting position, my back pressed against the bedpost. I feel feeble and lousy. Rubbing my still tired eyes, I tried to get rid of the little sleep still left on them.

My eyes flickered at the digital clock hung on the wall opposite read two thirty-eight pm in large orange numbers. My eyes widened into a saucer and panic settled inside of me.

Oh! God, I am late making snacks.

I am two hundred percent sure Sandra and Soniya are going to murder me. The image of their angry faces made me involuntarily shudder. I mentally shook my head, to blot out the image.

I shot out of bed and bolted towards the bathroom. I splashed cold water on my face before re-entering my bedroom. Not flattering my steps, I further dashed out of the room and headed downstairs to the kitchen. The journey to the kitchen never felt so long.

As soon as I entered the kitchen, I was greeted by the sight of Ruth and Elena, who were busy cooking. I can't help but let out a sigh of relief. Sensing my presence in the room, both of them turned towards me and their gaze zeroed on me. Don't know why, but I was feeling like a toddler being caught doing some mischief.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't realize I had fallen asleep" I apologized.

Ruth let out an unladylike snort at my words, grabbing my attention to her. She was glaring at me with her hooded jade green eyes. Her upturned nose scrunched in disgust and her heavy lower lips were pressed into a thin line.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at her rude behavior. Ruth partially lives up to her name Ruth. There should just have been an addition of less and she would fully live up to her name Ruthless.

"It's okay Hope," Elena said. I averted my attention from Ruth to Elena. Unlike Ruth, there was a warm gleam in Elena's close-set chestnut brown eyes. Her raised nose wasn't scrunched in disgust nor were her full lips set in a thin line.

She has always been the kind and courteous one. If I'm being honest, I'm envious of her life.

She has everything I have ever wished for. From her looks to her loving husband who would die for her. In general, her life is happy, contented, and optimistic, while mine is in a state of dissatisfaction, disturbance, and agitation.

"Thank you, Elena, I thought today Sandra would kill me," I said and laughed uproariously at my own joke, trying to lighten the atmosphere, but it didn't seem to work as she only gave me a pitiful look with her large, mournful eyes.

"I'm sorry Hope I tried..," She trailed off trying her best to link her words, but she failed miserably. Honestly, she didn't need to do it. I already knew I was in trouble.

"Where are they?" My voice is barely audible.

"In their room. Trust me, Hope. I tried to cover but they-"

"It's okay Elena, I know you must have tried," I cut her midway with a smile on my lips in an attempt to appear unworried, showing everything was alright.

Well, in reality, it was everything but all right. My life has become a cold gray and leaden November day and I'm waiting for the dark clouds to clear up and feel the warm and kind sun's rays again.

"What is this time?" I queried, getting straight to the point. Each time I make a mistake, I get punished and, me being a clumsy person, I happen to get in trouble a lot.

Elena pulled out a note from her apron pocket and stretched it out to take. I took the note before unloading it. It was a neat cursive handwritten note with a long list of groceries which I assumed that I had to shop for. And one seventy-four dollar bill.

My face instantly morphed into confusion. I felt iffy. That's it?

It can't be just this easy. It's not even a punishment.

"Don't get too happy, you have to walk to the market and bring all the groceries-" Ruth says as I crane my head slightly to look at her 5.7 ft tall frame. "-And the good part is you don't get to eat. Fair enough, right?" Her lips twisted into a fake smile.

My lips parted, at the loss of words, unable to express my bafflement. Walk all the way to market and get all the things on the list. The market is forty-five minutes' walk away from here and that's not even my concern right now.

How am I going to carry all those groceries back?

"Ruth behaved," Elena rebuked.

"Whatever," Ruth rolled her eyes as she returned to cooking.

Elean shook her head, murmuring something under her breath, clearly displeased with Ruth's attitude which I couldn't catch.

"Hope, I think you should leave before ma'am gets angrier," Her tone now soft contradicts her mood just moments ago. I nodded my head as I couldn't help but agree with her.

Bidding her goodbye, I exited the kitchen and then the main door. As soon as I stepped out of the main door, the harsh sunbeam fell directly on my eyes, blurring my vision. I blinked my eyes until my distorted vision merged into transparency and definition.

I began to walk in the direction of the market. After twenty minutes of walking, my steps suddenly came to a halt as I saw the scene unfold in front of me. The road was blocked as there was construction going on.

Now I regret taking the shortcut. I thought it would save some time but it looks like I just doubled my work. A sigh of frustration escaped my lips, I swirled around and began to walk back to the path where I came from.

I paused at the intersection with a dark and narrow alley that appeared to be nothing but desert. I began to debate whether I should walk back or take the alley.

Talking my chance trailed inside as I began to follow the unpaved path. Five minutes passed and I instantly regretted my decision. The area seemed dangerous even in daylight and the unpaved path was filthy with slopes from the houses making the air foul. I should have followed my instinct.

When I thought it couldn't get any worse, I was proved wrong instantly when I saw a group of four men. Each of them smoked and had a bottle of drink in their hands. A man especially got my attention.

He had an unusually long face and a peculiar whiteness with short mustaches. His large bald head, surrounded by a fringe of dark hair.

'It's okay. Hope just ignore them and mind your own business. I knew in a situation like this, fear and panic were the worst enemies. Cooking down fear, I began to push myself forward.

As soon as his dim eyes fell on me, his lips curled into a sly smirk. Cold fear spiraled through me as my steps stopped in their tracks. Never in my twenty-year-year old life had I encountered anything remotely similar to the fear as the man began walking in my direction.

Just as the man was at an arms' distance from me, a hand circled around my shoulder, pulling me into a rigid muscular body. His cologne wafted me, an intoxicating mix of spice, musk, and manly.

"I babe you are here and I was looking for you," An unfamiliar voice said.

Babe?

I began to struggle in his arms but immediately ceased it when he spoke the next sentence "Just play along," His voice was low for me to hear.

"Baby, I said I would buy you next time," he said as he pressed a kiss on my temple.

Wait? Did he just kiss me?

On the other hand, the creepy old man gazed at us back and forth. His expression wasn't giving whether he believed our little act or not. But it didn't matter as my unknown savior dragged me along with him before he could react or say anything.

Without any resistance, I began to trail behind him. Almost two minutes later, I harshly pulled my hand from his. I didn't wait though, as I continued to move forwards. Not even when I heard him calling me over and over.

Fortunately, he didn't follow me as his voice gradually became indistinct to a peculiar noise until I couldn't hear anything. I know I was behaving ungratefully with someone who just partially saved my life.

But you can never trust anyone these days. Another bone-chilling thought came across my mind.

What if they are following me?

Maybe it wasn't a good idea to walk alone. Maybe I should have stayed with that man, but now the damage is done. I couldn't help but turn my head behind me. Thankfully, the alley seemed deserted.

Throughout the way, I kept turning my head back to ensure no one followed me until the narrow winding alleys replaced the broad regular streets.