LIA POV
After getting a few toiletries from a store, I walked home alone as I often did before I met Greg.
He had been gone for just a day but I missed him so much. I touched my lips repeatedly, recollecting the previous night at his apartment.
We kissed several times but he never crossed the line. We spent hours on the couch, chatting and playing with our lips like jobless teenagers. I even spent the night over.
I giggled as I walked home. That experience would always linger in my head. While I was basking in the euphoria of love, I noticed that someone, precisely a man in a black hoodie with his hands in his pockets, was following me.
My heart skipped a beat. I hastened my steps and he must have caught on because he did the same as well. I guess his contractor might have told him that I'm an easy-to-catch person as he wasn't even tailing me like a sensible person would.
He was just like everyone on the street so I couldn't yell that he was tailing me even though he followed my every move. I turned and looked his way then turned back to face the road. His face was pretty dark so I couldn't see it clearly. I was so scared and my gut feeling told me to run as we reached a slight bend on the road leading to my apartment so I did.
Before I could carry on with my pace, he caught up with me and held me violently to a corner.
“Let go of me! Who are you?!” I yelled but he placed his hand over my mouth and was about to hit me by my neck when I held his hand. It was a technique Greg had taught me.
I had practiced regularly even though I never seemed to get it right. However, I was determined to escape from the man in hoodie whom I guess was about to kidnap me.
I held his hand firmly and in the twinkle of an eye, I slammed him on the floor. He winced in pain but I cared less.
He wouldn't have fallen so flat on the floor if he had not underestimated me. I ran off, totally away from my house and surrounding to a hotel. It was one of those classic and luxurious spaces that would take your breath away.
I wanted to call Greg and rant about the stalker but on second thoughts, I felt it was unnecessary. I could not burden him with stuffs like that. Besides, I've kept every detail about my personal life from him.
How do I explain the reasons for a stalker tailing me especially around my house?
I checked into the hotel, believing that its security was tight. I'd be spending a huge part of my savings on the bill but I couldn't care less. I had to be safe. I kept turning back even as I took the elevator to my room in the hotel with thoughts that the stalker might show up behind me. I could not close my eyes to sleep. I was too scared.
I wanted to see Greg so bad. I wished he'd show up in my room like flash would. Two hours later and I was still turning on my bed.
“Damn it! Can I ever live a peaceful life!” I screamed, stopping myself from shedding tears. I sat up on the bed and turned on the Television to see my mother's favorite soap opera from seven years ago playing in one of the channels.
“Oh my world!” I exclaimed with joy to see such old series still playing. Although it brought me joy, I also felt sadness along with it. If my mother was alive, I'd be so happy and jovial like I was before.
I was tired of cursing the day I got adopted or met face to face with Pat Richardson. He'd remain a scar in my life forever. He was the devil's incarnate who could not stand anyone being nice to me.
He even told Mrs. Richardson who was supposed to be my mum that he was taking great care of me so she didn't need to. He'd even go to great lengths as to quarrel with her for helping me while he threatened me, warning me to stay away from his wife or he’d kill me.
I knew Pat was as dangerous as he claimed so I had to stay away from Mrs. Richardson. I neither called nor sent her any messages which created a space between us.
A space that could never be filled. We had grown distant and speaking with her was like conversing with a stranger - brief and formal.
I don't blame those who knew me for wondering why I had to find jobs or struggle to make ends meet when those who adopted me were well-off. It's an unbelievable situation but who would I tell my story?
********
“I'm really impressed with what you did with your art class last week. Keep it up!” my supervisor at the academy said.
A soft smile appeared on my face. “Thanks sir,” I responded, bowed and got back to my seat. It was almost time to close for the day. I longed for a place I could call home.
A place that would make me feel the same way I felt whenever I was around Greg, playing video games. While I was deeply immersed in my thoughts, a notification chimed on my phone.
A message from Fred about where to meet. Screw you, son of a devil! I needed to get myself out of this mess. I could not keep satisfying their sexual desires for the rest of my life.
I grabbed my bag and hailed a cab the minute I heard the academy's bell ring. I headed straight to the address Fred had sent me.
It was a condo unit, each unit separated from each other so that the occupants could receive as much privacy as needed. He never failed to amaze me.
I knocked the door and walked into the apartment as soon as he opened it. I stood at the entrance, stopping him from locking the door.
“Come in already,” he said.
“Why am I here? This is too dangerous and risky. I can't do anything here,” I replied, folding my hands on my chest.
“And you think that Father's house isn't risky? If he sees you with me, you'd be his dinner tonight and you know it,” he said without any tingling feeling of remorse or irritation.
“You knew?! You knew that your father had been — and you still — You are both despicable monsters,” I cried and turned to leave but he held my hand.
It was obvious that Pat knew that his son had turned me into his sex slave but to think Fred also knew and they had both been using me as their toy was disgusting. “Let go of me,” I said.
“And if I don't? You don't have a choice, Lia. Think about what your life would become if I —” he said but I interrupted him.
“I'm done with all this, Fred. Anna would arrive in New York in a few days. Focus on her,” I said because I was short of words to say. Even though I was scared to my wits as I said those words, I wanted out. However, he pulled me and pinned me to the floor while the door closed behind us.
Then he started unbuckling his trousers. On a normal day, I'd usually scream and yell till my voice grew hoarse but not anymore.
I had known a thing or two about self defense even if it meant exerting all my energy on one kick. I gathered all my strength and gave Fred the scar of his life as I hit his balls.