Lila

Chapter 3

unedited

Lila's POV:

I was running towards the butterflies with full speed, not wanting to lose track of them for even a second. The crimson colour present in their wings reminded me of my mom, she always called me her crimson-rose because of the presence of a natural red blush on my cheeks. To her the colour meant so much more than beauty to the eye, it signified in her life the meaning of love, red roses, the meaning of pain as she watched her husband cry while she bled out, her crimson blood staining his white shirt as he yelled for her to stay, stay for him and their daughter. Every time I saw the colour I would recall my father telling me about her. I could hear him shout in the distance for me to slow down or I would hurt myself but I simply didn't care for I felt free at this moment. Free as a bird flying at sunset towards her nest, her home. I was still running when I heard a gunshot and I stopped at once and turned. My father lay dead in the grass, blood oozing out of his head and eyes wide apart as if still in shock. I opened my mouth to scream but nothing came out, nothing but a pathetic whimper as I dropped to my knees and cried and then I screamed, screamed for him to get up but he didn't.

I woke up gasping, inhaling all the air possible for I was terrified, terrified that this was not just a nightmare but the reality and the fact that I had to live with it for the rest of my life was just adding to my fear. I woke up and climbed down the stairs, the cold touch of the ceramic tiles on my feet comforted me weirdly. I went outside to the garden and took a breath of relief as I looked at the moon in the dark sky looking still as magnificent as ever. I looked around and saw a tall figure standing in the dark and smoking. I turned away to run but I was stopped by someone pulling me by my waist and placing their hand on my mouth

TRIGGER WARNING (Scenes of sexual harassment ahead)

 I was scared beyond my limits and suddenly the person's other hand started going towards my thigh and I felt violated. I tried to run but the person was very strong and his hand moved towards my underwear, I tried my best to fight but I couldn't and soon I felt the hand rubbing on my underwear. I could feel the fingers rubbing around in circular motions and then push and it felt like I was trapped. I hated it and I started crying and squirming, suddenly the person stopped and pushed me. 

SCENE OVER

I ran and ran till I reached my room, I locked it and threw up on the floor. I felt disgusting and ran to the washroom, I washed my self till my skin was numb and I couldn't feel anything. I came out and cleaned up the floor and sat on the bed and broke down crying. I cried because I felt horrible, I cried because I had no one to tell, I cried because I lost the only people I loved, I cried because my only friend was scaring me, I cried because the stranger made me feel violated and I cried because I was afraid. Afraid of these monsters, afraid of men that lurk in the dark and prey on the weak ones, afraid that I would have to face this again and most importantly afraid that one day I wouldn't be able to run. My head hurt at the thought of someone living in this house that would do this, but what could I do? Talk to Liam? He'll probably ignore me and if not him then I have a green-eyed monster that would probably do the same or even worse. I wanted to leave, at this moment I truly wanted to die and go with mom and papa but I didn't have the courage to do so. I was weak and a coward, I always have been and believe me I wanted to be brave but it's so hard without anyone, all on your own for the first time. I stayed up for most of the night, in case the monster decided to come but fell asleep around morning time.

I woke up to the sound of someone slamming my door shut and quickly opened my eyes to see Liam looking at me with a confused expression on his face.

"You okay?" He questioned

"Um yes, I just got a little startled I guess" I lied

"Well go freshen up, you look like you got raped" He chuckled while I gasped

"That's not funny Liam," I spoke, still shocked that he was speaking in such a manner 

"Okay, okay sorry princess," He said while chuckling and leaving my room

I was angry and scared, scared of what had gotten into him. Liam never acted this way in the past, he was always so gentle and caring, he was like my big brother but now it's like I never knew him. He is acting so irresponsibly and casually as if there's nothing wrong like papa wasn't shot a few days ago and like there isn't a threat living here. I just realized I don't even know his name, god knows what dirty plans he has for me and papa's property. I hate this so much, I hate living like this and I can't do poop about it. I sigh and get off the bed and head to the washroom to do my business. I take a shower and get dressed in a summer dress. I really liked it because it kind of resembled my mother's dress that I saw in a picture earlier. I put on some sunscreen cause Hyram says so and head downstairs for breakfast, I had made up my mind and decided that I was no longer going to be a Damsel in distress crying for a prince to come help her because in real life there are no princes. I was going to set things right and take part in papa's business handing or get a degree and move out for I can no longer stay here, this house haunts me with traumatizing memories and I don't want to go through yesterday's events again. I sit down at the dining table and Liam joins me we have and breakfast and even though I don't want to talk to him, I have no other option.

"Hey, Liam?" I ask

"Yes Lila" He speaks with his mouth full of food, ew

"Can you help me with some stuff after breakfast?" I ask politely 

"Sure, what's it about?" He questions shoving pancakes into his mouth

"About papa's business and estate," I say sweetly

"Oh shit," He says

"Pardon?" I ask confused

"Nothing sweets, we'll talk after breakfast," He says nervously

"Okay" I smile politely and finish eating my breakfast 

I follow Liam to Papa's study and take a seat opposite facing him

"So what do you want to know?" He asks

"Um what were papa's plans about my future before you know," I say

"Well he wanted you to stay and get an education from home and then it would be up to you," He said

"Oh really, I was wondering if I could leave you know, get a degree and a job," I say with hope

"Oh but you have everything why would you want to leave," He says a bit aggressively

"I want to be independent and after what happened with papa, it's hard for me to stay here," I reply

"Listen, Lila, you're meant to stay here and help me take care of his business and be a good wife," He says smiling wickedly

"But you just said it was up to me and be a wife? To who??" I question loudly

"It was up to you when he was alive but now that he's dead, you'll abandon his business? Your father spent ages bringing it here" He yells

"Stop! I don't even know what the business is about let alone how to manage it and you still haven't answered my question, who am I suppose to marry when I have no one?" I yell at him

"That's for me to know and you to find out, go and make food or whatever I have to finish up work," He says

" Go to hell Liam, I wish you died instead of papa" I stand up and rush out of the door

I run out of the mansion and run past the guards, crying as I have no clue where to go but I don't stop for I want to get away from that place, the place that holds just pain and hatred now. I run towards what looks like a diner and go inside it, I sit at a table at the extreme end and fidget with the menu. Soon a waitress comes to me and asks for my order, I began to panic and ordered a lemonade dismissing her. But soon reality hit me and I realized I have no money whatsoever, I look in the back cover of my phone and find a $100 note there that papa gave me when I went out for shopping. I take a breath and try to think over what to do now, I think of all the possible ways and decide on staying in a motel overnight because there's no way I'm going back home now. I paid my bill and was just about to leave when he walked in

OH BLOODY HELL