Chapter five

When Julia woke up, her head was heavy and she felt pains all over her body. As she opened her eyes, Martha's face came in view. She smiled weakly. "What happened to me?" She asked Martha weakly.

Tears fell from Martha's eyes "Thank God you are awake Julia! I thought I will lose you......." She said hugging Julia that was on the bed. 'You fell down the stairs, although I doubt that it looked like you were pushed' Martha said.

"Its Raina!" Julia thought to herself. She smiled at Martha "how long have I been out?" "Almost a day!" Martha exclaimed at her. Julia quickly looked outside through the window and saw it was dark. 'Julia you need to rest, I will go tell mom you are awake' Martha said turning to go.

"Wait..." Julia's voice startled her. "Please Martha in what ever you do, no matter how hungry or thirsty you might be, do not! Take anything from Raina please" Julia said pleadingly. Martha was surprised 'why did you say so? She asked reducing her voice. 'Ohhh its nothing.....just a feeling.....' Julia said chuckling. Martha nodded thoughtfully and left, while Julia fell asleep. Martha wondered why Julia spoke like that, but in the end she just decided to take the advice to be safe.

Julia spent a week in the hospital before she was declared okay and free to be discharged.

On their way home, Martha told her Senator Marcus was back and couldn't wait to meet her. 'Seriously?!! Why didn't you tell me since?' She exclaimed at Martha. 'Its a surprise!' Martha said running as Julia chased her round and hospital compound.

Soon, they got to the Marcus family villa. Martha was the first to run in her father was in the living room, She ran into his arms. 'My genius daughter how are you?' He asked ruffling her hair. Martha nodded her head happily indicating she was fine. The Julia came in 'Good evening Sir' she greeted bowing a little.

When Senator Marcus looked up at Julia, he was stunned! Although Julia was just sixteen, she looked like a twenty years old. He was dumbfounded for a while but quickly comported himself. 'Hello Julia! I heard all you have gone through and am so sorry about it, so to that effect, I've decided to help you with this' he said stretching out a white envelope to her.

Julia accepted it beaming with smiles and gratitude un noticing the lust growing in Marcus eyes. When she opened it, it was a check of a huge amount of money! Julia was going crazy with excitement.

The money was enough for her to fulfill her dream of traveling out of the country. "Thank you so much sir I am overwhelmed" she said trying to kneel down in appreciation but was stopped by Samantha. "Its okay my dear, its the least I can do" Marcus said. All this was been observed by Raina with jealous eyes from upstairs.

"My dear how about we all go out to the playground outside tomorrow morning to have fun together as a family? It will help in bonding and harmonizing the family" Marcus suggested addressing Samantha.

"That's a beautiful idea babe! Let me tell the others about it!" Samantha said skipping away happily. The next day, the whole family including Julia was outside doing one sport or another or playing one game or the other.

Julia felt dehydrated and decided to go inside the house to get water from the kitchen. As she took the water and turned to leave, she saw Marcus standing by the door with a dirty grin. She smiled and tried to get past him but he didn't budge but instead he pinned her to the kitchen door.

"Julia since i saw you yesterday I couldn't stop thinking about you. I love you please just give me a chance, I promise I will give you anything you want. Marcus said trying to kiss her. Julia became alarmed and quickly struggled to free herself but Marcus didn't budge. Finding no weapon in sight, she kicked Marcus on his groin and ran upstairs into her room banging the door after her in terror.

In the evening, Julia hurriedly gathered her belongings and began to write a letter. By 9 0'clock pm at night, she peeped out of her room finding no one in sight, she hurriedly descended the stairs and ran outside then disappeared into the thick darkness outside.

The next morning, Martha came into Julia's room eager to tell her all about the fun she had with her father the previous day, but the room was empty! Her heart began to pound in fear. She was about to raise an an alarm when she saw a letter on the bed. With shaky hands, she picked the letter. It was addressed to her from Julia :

"Dear Martha, I know by the time you will be reading this letter, I will have been gone. Don't bother looking for me because I will be fine. I've decided to leave the country to start a fresh life. And you must be wondering why I told you not to take anything from Raina. She tried to talk me into poisoning you and she's pregnant too, when I refused she pushed me down the stairs. Just be wary of her okay? And tell mom that I love her she shouldn't be worried or look for me. I will be back, and when I come back you guys will be the first people I will look for to repay all you have done for me.

Thanks for all your love and care over the month! I love you! FROM JULIA............ Martha was heartbroken! why did she run away? was it because of Raina. she told her mom and showed her the letter, Samantha didn't listen and began ti look for her but Martha insisted she said they shouldn't look for her. "what if she is in danger? are you even a friend at all?" she yelled at Martha shutting her up. Months ran into years and Julia was not found.