The setup

The bright light sun pierced Rhoda's eyes, causing her to blink, stretching her hands to stop the alarm buzzing so loudly. 

Stepping out of bed, she could feel pain all over her body. The workload Sonita offered her last night was unbearable, after Bruce left for a meeting. She stumbled upon a broken piece of pin lying on the floor, piercing her leg. Blood dripped out from her toes, still trying to remove the little pin under her feet. She saw an old piece of paper folded in a letter lying on the window. Curiously, she limped so hard to the windows to see the contents of the letter, as she quickly opened it.

“Dear Sonita,

I have taken the necessary steps to ensure that the operation goes well. And we also need your full cooperation this time, with my instructions. It will follow suit in kindergarten school. I await further information about the child's whereabouts. 

We ensured that it runs softly this time.

She read the contents of the letter, the weight of those words was so heavy on her shoulders.

Rhoda knew that Sonita was always one step ahead of harming her, or her sister. She couldn't trust her new Dad– to show him the letter.

The door slightly opened, she hid the letter under her nightwear— Sonita leaning behind the door, smiling hard at her 

“You're not prepared for school,” She said aloud, though it was all fake. Rhoda swallowed hard, sat down on the edge of the bed, still her fingers fixed to remove the pin under her foot. 

“I think I got injured,” She said softly, fear gripped her heart as their gaze fixed on each other.

“It's getting late,” Sonita chuckled softly, “You need to get ready, the school bus will be here in the next few minutes.” She added.

Rhoda needed to skip school today. She scratched her hair. “I can barely stand, aunt. I will skip school today," she said.

“I'm badly injured,” she repeated, pulling out the tiny pin hooked inside her leg. 

“I will get first aid to wrap up the injury, so you can prepare for school,” Sonita said, leaving her in a pool of blood.

“Rhoda?,” a familiar voice called from far. Bruce, of course, finally woke up after a long night.

 The door creaked open, and he stepped inside, his eyes narrowed when he saw her in pain with blood spilled on the floor. 

“Where did you get this bruise, Rhoda?”

“I got cut after I stepped out of bed, to get dressed for school,” She said, her eyes were a bit weary.

His jaw tightened as he looked into her weary face. “What happened yesterday?”

“Nothing Dad.” She bit her fingers as Sonita stepped into the room with first aid.

Sonita's looks softened a bit, bending to his level. “I think it's just a fraction.”

“I hate how you treated this girl softly, spoiled, which makes me waver,” She said, feeling irritated.

Before she could respond, Bruce cut in.

“You don't tell me what to do. Sonita,” he leaned against her bed frame, his fierce brown eyes on her were barely tense. He began wrapping her little legs to stop the bleeding. 

Rhoda was still in fear, biting off her little middle finger, “can I skip school today, Dad?”

“I can't walk properly on foot, my friend would mock me in school friends” Rhoda said, her tone softening and calm.

“You want to skip school?,” Sonita asked. “I won't allow that, Bruce won't grant permission.”

 “And I have not said anything either,” Bruce fired back.

“Bruce!,” She called, “Enough!” He snapped, cutting her off completely. “I don't have time for this.”

Sonita's face turned sour. “Bruce, what's going on?”

He took a deep breath, his finger closing up the wound completely. “Sonita please… Can you give us a minute? So I can have a word with her.”

“You don't need to have a word with her. She's just a child, and can't make decisions.” She repeated.

He bit his lip, “maybe she does.” She smiled wreckily, and walked out of the room.

Bruce smiled at her. “And?”

“I don't want… to go to school.” Rhoda admitted, glancing at his eyes.

“Obviously,” Bruce said. “There must be a reason for that.”

“I don't feel safe there, Dad.” She added, her tone urgent. 

Rhoda knew the fact that it would be a raff between the both of them, which would increase the punishment, making her uneasy for the rest of her life.  Her mind keeps wandering around his eyes; filled with fear.

 ”Look,” he said. “I know that she doesn't like you. But trust me, you can tell anything— situations, secrets about anything. It's between both of us. I won't share.”

She sighed heavily, her eyes down with tears. “No, Dad. It's nothing. And you don't need to worry.”

Bruce nodded reluctantly. “For once, I want to listen.”

“Can I spend the whole day with you?” She said slowly. “A uniting one. Just you and I.” She pleaded.

“Oh— okay, agreed.” He said, giving her a hug.

Later in the day.

Rita sat alone in the playground and hung around while she watched others play. She growled at the feeling of not having her sister around in school, began pacing around, throwing sand up in the air.

“Rhoda?,” her teacher called. She jumped at her voice, looking entirely lost, like someone who never seemed to rest.

"Do you mind playing with me? She asked, crossing her arms while touching her dull face.

“It's boring here without Rhoda,” she said sadly.

 She rolled her eyes, and moved closer to her, trying to make her comfortable. Of course, Rhoda was the one who kept in check with the other pupils.

“You're too worried about her Twin bond.” She chuckled.

“You promised to give her a call about her whereabouts.” Rita said, her tone was softer now. 

She held her little face, “well, my bad. But I have a surprise for you. Would you like to see it?”

Rita stood, closing the distance between them. “I don't like surprises. Unless Rhoda showed up.” She folded her arms. 

Her words overwhelmed the teacher. She stirred, realizing how hard to convince the child to follow her.

“Fine. Rhoda will be there.” She scoffed.

“I hope I'm not getting tricked.”  She asked.

Of course, I'm not.

They walked past the school gate as Rita sauntered into the vehicle, still hoping to see Rhoda. 

“Road 209, the code.” She said, her voice turned to ice.

Rita turned to her direction, her attention on strange faces. “Teacher… where are we going?”

“Teacher,” She called again, her eyes darting at everyone. 

Before she could say anything, the two other guys sprayed gas on her, folded her arms, causing her to fall asleep.

The car hurried toward the left side of the road, as it drove so fast.

“Mike.” The teacher called 

“Where are you heading to?” She asked, still gazing in the direction of the map.

“I think we are being followed," he said, turning the car fast into the tunnel.

The revelation hung in the air like a storm cloud.

Her expression went pale. “What do you mean? We are running out of time.”

He didn't break eye contact with the car, trying his best to distract him. He shot a gun in the car as they both drove down into the tunnel.

“Sir, I think we have been followed.” She announced over the phone. 

“Change of plans. To the airport.” The voice said louder over the phone.

The teacher clenched her fist. “Yes, boss–”

The tunnel was dark, silent as the sound of the engine rolling so loudly under the weight of the car.