Chapter 9 Don’t hurt me
If you ever slander my only daughter again, your life will not be enough," her father roared. Karen remained weakly on the floor, pitied by the security man at the gate.
The blazing anger in his voice silenced Karen, but something inside her died.
The love she had for this man died with that slap. His words extinguished any feelings she had for this family.
It would have been tolerable if he had just walked away without listening to her.
She could have interpreted things differently, found proof to defend herself. However, things changed, and he showed her his true colors and how he had perceived her all these years.
Karen was always cast aside, despite being the younger daughter. Last-borns were usually the most pampered, but not Karen.
The adopted sister took over her parents' hearts, leaving Karen to scramble for crumbs even dogs wouldn't eat.
She no longer desired to be loved or sought their attention.
From now on, she was determined to live life on her own terms. She made the decision not to return to Roger's apartment, even if her family had once again rejected her by turning a blind eye to the truth.
Fortunately, she had never spent any money while staying at Roger's place and still had her savings intact. However, she knew it would be unwise to overspend, so she opted to take a taxi to a motel instead.
The unfamiliar environment of the motel was a stark contrast to the comfort of her own room, where she had always slept until her night with Roger at his apartment.
The $80 per night cost made it clear that she couldn't afford to stay there for more than a week without depleting her savings.
Reality hit her hard. How could she avoid Roger while still attending school? Graduation was just a few months away, and she didn't want to miss out on that milestone.
Furthermore, how would she survive without a job? To avoid being found by Roger, she began to think about items she hadn't used in years.
Most of the software on her laptop remained untouched at the apartment, which she didn't have with her. However, her phone was a useful tool she could use until she purchased a new laptop.
The reality check was telling her that she needed to sneak into the apartment to retrieve a few essential items, which she planned to do the next day.
As she removed her eyeglasses and placed them gently on the nightstand, she stepped into the small shower cubicle. Her tears mixed with the warm water, a release she didn't want but couldn't hold back.
Sitting on the floor in her naked vulnerability, she cried loudly, knowing that no one would hear or come to her aid. Life wasn't fair, and she was done depending on people and craving their love or attention.
She must have cried for hours because when she finally turned off the faucet and saw her reflection in the mirror, her eyes were puffed up and red.
Her frail body collapsed onto the bed, but she couldn't sleep, searching and finding that software on her phone.
"Dexter," she mused with longing before everything he had taught her began pouring in as if he was right in front of her.
His words and directions were fresh in her mind. "Money has lost its glow; technology is the new power. If you have this, you can have everything," he used to say.
Karen never took those words seriously back then. Her parents had told her that education was the key, and that was her focus. Yet, she learned the things Dexter taught her just to make him happy.
All she had to do was track Roger’s movements to ensure he wasn’t at the apartment before she got there. As another tear slid down her cheek, she quickly wiped it before making a solemn vow.
“No matter what, I won’t shed another tear for anyone who doesn’t deserve it.”
Quickly, she put on her eyeglasses, and the moment she began manipulating the software, it was as if Dexter was right in front of her, directing her on what to do.
“There’s only one person I’ve never been able to beat,” he would say, and for some reason, her curiosity would peak. “Who is that? I don’t think anyone is better than you with all you have going on here.”
She could still remember him with those thick eyeglasses. Hers was a reading glass but Dexter’s were affected by his cancer.
"Is there someone better than me? Terror D2. I've never been able to override any of his programming. Do you know what my dream is?" he would ask longingly, and she would stare comfortingly at him.
"What is it?"
"To meet him or her. Terror D2 is what I would describe as a cyber genius. It's as if cyber manipulation runs in his or her blood."
At that moment, Karen thought he was just dreaming of meeting his idol. Now, she wished to be trained by whoever this Terror D2 was. She remembered that before Dexter passed away, he was trying to uncover Terror D2's identity.
Could Hector know who Dexter was? Who else was he doing a favor for? Karen wished to have a chat with him, but then the image of that handsome yet fierce-looking man clouded her mind as her phone's battery began to blink.
She broke into a cold sweat upon realizing she didn’t have a charger. Even now, she wasn’t wearing underwear and was covered in the motel’s towel. The last thing she saw before the battery completely died was the time: 2 am.
Strange voices sounded in Karen’s ears, making her wonder if she was dreaming or facing reality.
“Identity confirmed. Do it smoothly.”
“Wait, are you sure? She’s just a child. There might be a mistake.”
Karen didn’t know if she should open her eyes or pretend not to hear. There was a strange presence in her room, and she did not remember locking her door, as she never did so at home or in the apartment.
“It’s not a mistake. The victim's clothes are the same as in the picture.”
‘Fuck!’ She cursed in her mind for leaving her clothes carelessly on the single sofa. If she's a child, then where are her parents? Only adults can book a motel."
As the steps drew closer, Karen clutched her towel tightly and sat up. Her throat felt dry with fear as she saw three menacing men in black approaching.
"Please, don't hurt me," she cried, feeling vulnerable. The sight of their tattoos, sleeveless shirts, and rugged jeans sent a chill down her spine.
One of them had cornrows in his hair, and another brandished a knife, making her look away.
"She's so cute. What a waste," one of them remarked, causing Karen's heart to race. Was this how she was going to die?