Their Runaway bride

Chapter 12

The days that I was given to be prepared flew by so quickly and I still didn't get a chance to escape.
Naeemi had promised me that she would help me out but ever since that day, she has not even brought up the topic.
I was in my room, pacing up and down and I knew that there would be no more excuses left for me.
I just didn't want to give in to them just like that.
It was early in the morning and I was afraid that they might try to have their way with me during breakfast.
I just couldn't let that happen.
So, I decided that with or without Naeemi's help, I would certainly leave the house that day.
I walked into the closet and I picked out a hoodie sweater and then I pick out some dark shades, thinking that this will make me look unrecognizable.
I had actually forgotten that the house was built with a sophisticated technology that it would even be able to recognize someone just by their footsteps.
Not to talk of all the DNA scanners all around.
But I just didn't care for all I wanted at that time was to get away.
I walked out the closet and just when I was about to exit the room, the door opened.
You could imagine how my heart thumped, thinking it was them but it only turned out to be Naeemi.
She was dressed in her usual elegant clothes, really to slay and work at the same time.
She gave me a quick inspection and then smiled.
"Even the dumbest worker in this property would have been able to recognize you with this and you'll be back here in no time and trust me, you won't like what they are going to do to you" she said.
I felt my resolve weaken at that information.
"But, I've already deviced a plan and thanks to Felicia, everything is perfectly done" she said.
"Felicia?" I asked, confused.
I thought she was only a robot.
"Yes, I have heard all of your conversations for the past few days and even though I don't feel any emotions, I understood that you were in pain and needed a way out, so, I decided to help out" she spoke in that robotic voice of hers.
It has been days since I last spoke with her.
"With her help, we have managed to convince the three that you need a change of wardrobe as all your clothes have been worn and most of them were not your perfect fit" Naeemi said.
The truth was, I haven't even worn half of these clothes.
"They have argued when I suggested that but Felicia managed to convince them" she added.
"So, we are going shopping today" she said in a cheered up voice.
I just gave her a weird look. Seriously, she was only happy just because I was to be going out for shopping.
"I have arranged for Trixie to drive you to a safe place where you can escape unnoticed, it's thirty miles away from here, I'm sorry, I know it's not too far but that is as far as I could get you unnoticed otherwise, alarms will go off and you'll be caught in less than a minute" Felicia said.
That's when I realized the shopping she meant.
I rushed over to her and gave her a tight hug.
"Thank you, thank you, I love you so much" I said.
"Now don't be all too happy about it, I am losing a great job because of you now" she said.
I looked up to her, confused.
"Yes, I have to go with you as well, they won't spare me when they found out I let you go alone and as it is, I am tired of pretending to like this place anymore, yes, it might look like heaven on earth, but it is infact the opposite" she says.
I have to agree with her on that.
But I felt sad that she would put her life in danger for me. I didn't understand what she meant by they won't spare her when they got a clue that she helped me out but I knew in my guts it won't be pretty.
"Now, we don't have much time, they have went out for some work and it's the better chance for us to move now" she said.
With that, she removed my hoodie and glasses and since I was wearing a t-shirt inside, I didn't have to change.
She pulled me out to the door but Felicia's voice stopped us.
"Here's a little souvenir I want you to have" she said and with that, she presented a small box to me.
I opened the box and I saw a watch inside.
"It's a transporter" she answered.
"One of it's kind" Naeemi said in amazement.
"But how did you get it?" she asked.
"The Masters have made it, so I thought it would be of better use with her since she's on the run" she answered.
Cool, I never knew a transporter did exist.
"But doesn't it have a tracker or something?" Naeemi asked and my admiration was cut short.
She had a point there because it was made by them, so they might have put a tracker in it in case it got lost.
"I have thought of that and so, I deactivated the tracker and anything that could lead it to being found, so it is free to be used now" she answered.
Felicia seemed to have gotten everything under control it seemed.
She told me that the instructions for use were in the box and I'd have to read with myself for their was not much time for her to project it to me as the Masters were on their way back in thirty minutes.
I thanked her briefly before Naeemi whisked me away.
We found Trixie parked in front of the house, waiting for us.
"Good morning Mrs Medici, how are you?" she asked.
"She's fine, now just drive" Naeemi barked her.
"Ok ma'am" she said and soon, we were on the road.
I felt bad about how she spoke to her. Yes, she might not be a human but she is still something.
Instead of driving to the front, we drove back into the estate.
I was a bit perplexed for a bit but then Naeemi explained to me.
"Because of the high security in the front, we would not be able to get past easily but the back is a little bit less secured, so we can escape from there" she explained.
"I've also brought a cab that will take us to our destination after Trixie have dropped us off" she added.
She seems so calm, like she has been planning this for years but finally was able to execute it.
"Why are you helping me?" I couldn't help but ask.
She turned to my direction for a while and then looked away.
"I see you like a little sister to me and I can't sit down and see your life get ruined, who knows to what extent they will try to maltreat you now that they know of your potential" she said.
There was no lies shaded in her speech at all.
"I'm sure they can even go as far as presenting you off to other selfish men just to get more power" she said, looking away.
It looked like she had a first hand experience of that but I didn't want to pick up on her wound, so I didn't push.
Soon, Trixie stopped.
"We have arrived at your destination ma'am, in about fifteen minutes and owwww"
She died.
"Oh my goodness! What happened to her?" I asked, panicked.
I could remember vividly that Mr Svaboda had told me she would never go offline, that's how she was programmed.
"I think she has shut her down so that she wouldn't know where we went from here" she answered.
"Come on, let's be quick" she said and rushed out of the car.
She starts rushing away but I stood there, staring at the poor car.
I just felt guilty that we were leaving her in the middle of nowhere.
"Come on, what are you waiting for, let's go, the car is up ahead" she urged me and so, I rushed following her.
And that was the beginning of my running and it never stopped, till today.
After we had reached the cab, she paid him off and we both entered the tiny space in the back.
She told him where we are going off too.
"Saint Luke's valley" she had said.
"You might want to sleep this off if you want to, it's going to be a long ride" she said.
And she was right, I was feeling sleepy for I haven't slept for three days straight now, as I was afraid they might barge in on me while I was asleep.
With that, I adjusted myself on the couch and slept off.
I was woken up by the sound of iron clinging.
"Sorry, I forgot to mention the place can be a little noisy sometimes" Naeemi said as I woke up with a confused look on me face.
"Just go left from here" she said and the driver went the way she told him to.
I, on the other hand was just staring through the window, looking at the place. It was so dark and almost all the buildings wee demolished.
It's like a third world war had happened in there.
"Welcome to my home town" she said.
Home town?. Does this even look like a town?, I wondered.
"It wasn't like this when I was young, but you know, everything charges with time" she said in a sad tone.
I still didn't try to ask her more about it, afraid that she would remember the bad memories.
"Right there" she said and the car stopped.
We both walked out of the car and the man drove off.
We just stood there in the middle of nowhere and there's no sign of a single soul here.
Just then, I heard a creaking sound an then a loud thud that made me scream in fear.
"What are you scared of, it's just something billboard falling off maybe" she said and didn't flinch at all.
She might be used to all this but I wasn't.
"Come on, the rest might be waiting for us now" she said and walked forward into a corridor.
I was quick to rush after her as I was afraid that something might be lurking in the shadows and it would pounce on me when I make a wrong move.
I followed her as she keeps on walking gracefully in all the dirt. Even though she stood out like a sore thumb, she still has tried to blend in with the place while I on the other hand, was struggling to keep myself from falling.
Just then, we reached the end of the lane and right in front of it was a gate.
She looked from side to side before she leaned in and whispered something inaudible.
The gate clanked open and we both walked inside.
The interior of the building looked much more like a warehouse.
"Stay close to me now and don't make too much noise" she said.
I nodded at her and did as she said.
We kept on walking into the building in slow steps.
Just then, a flash light was flashed onto us.
I almost screamed at that again but then a face came to view.
"Oh! It's you, I thought it was an intruder" the person muttered.
You would have to listen really hard to hear what she said.
"This way, we have changed compartments" she muttered again and turned to walk away.
We followed her into the darkness once again.
Soon, we reached a door and she opened it and allowed us to enter before she did.
I was expecting darkness once again but I saw a pretty looking apartment.
It isn't too fancy but not bad looking as well.
The place has been decorated in a moderate way.
Naeemi walked in and sat on one of the couches, letting out a tired sigh.
As for I, I was still having an adrenaline rush from all that happened earlier.
I still couldn't believe that I had actually escaped from those three men.
My thoughts were cut short when some girl showed.
"Hey girls, come out and see, Naeemi's back and she even brought a new girl" she called out.
Within no time, three girls bursted out of the door she was standing in.
"Naeemi, we are so glad you have finally had the time to visit" they all yelled and took turns hugging her.
I just stood there, watching the five of them.
That other grumpy girl had joined on as well but wasn't saying a word.
I stood there, observing them.
The girl who escorted us in here had a very dark persona and it could be seen on her outfit.
She is wearing a completely black shirt and trousers and even her hair was black with a shades of purple. She even has a black lipstick on.
My eyes drifted to the person that looked exactly like her but their attitude were completely different.
She was wearing a pink floral dress that reached her knees. She wore the most prettiest smile ever but the smile didn't look like it reached her eyes.
Her hair is also black as well.
They both seemed to be about my age. I thought that maybe they were twins.
I moved along to the person standing besides them. She was a bit fatter than the rest but not obese. I could see the she was the shy type and didn't want to get too close to anyone.
But in her eyes, I could see the yearning for love.
Then I moved to the next person.
She looked just like a normal person with the right height and shape, that is, until my eyes fell on her bare stomach. There was a huge ugly scar right there on her stomach and it seemed to be have been so deep even though it was healed now.
And the scar protuded right into her dress to God knows where the I couldn't see beyond that.
She also seemed to have another scar on her back, right on her back bone.
I kept on wondering as to how she got those scars.
My eyes moved away from her hand landed on the last lady.
She was black and tall. Even her muscles were rigid as well and it was evident that she works out.
She seemed to have a rough outlook but deep inside, you could still see that she is soft hearted.
By then, they have already finished celebrating Naeemi's return and their eyes have already turned to me.
I hated it when eyes were all on me and it made me feel as nervous as hell.
"Who's the girl?" The black girl asked.
"Where did you find her, she doesn't look like she has gone through a rough path?" the girl with the scar asked.
"Now don't you start judging her ok, I'll tell you who she is but first, we need to eat as we haven't had anything since morning, you're starving, right keethana?" she asked.
I nodded at her and even stomach even confirmed it by rumbling.
"Come have a seat" she motioned for me to sit down besides her.
"Come on, get her something to eat" Naeemi said.
The girl who escorted us in glared at me.
"Listen here miss goodey two shoes, in this terrain, we fend for ourselves and serve our own meals, so if you are used to the fancy life out there, so why don't you do us a favor and walk out and there's no space for you here anyways" she growled at me.
What exactly have I done now to get this long lectures from her?.
She should have just simply told me that I would be serving my own food from now. It's not like I was used to the fancy life anyways.
"Lily! Why are you treating the guest like that?" The black girl scolded her.
She just scuffed at her.
"Since when did we start to do guests around here, the last time I checked, we were made to do all the laundry for everyone the same day we came in here, so what made her so special?" she fired out to the other girl.
Looked like she has anger management issues.
"Listen, I'll just go and get something to eat, just show me the kitchen" I said, thinking that this would solve the issue.
But that only angered her more.
"How dare you talk to me like that?" she screamed.
And how did I talk to her?, I thought.
"So you think now you are all powerful and can order me to show you the kitchen, well, we don't have a kitchen" she screamed at me at the top of her lungs.
All the rest just stood besides her, watching as she kept on ranting at me. Seemed like they were already used to her ranting out like that.
"Lily, do not be hard on her, you don't know what she has gone through as well" the girl in the pink dress said.
She didn't leave her as well as she started blaming her the taking my side.
"Enough" Naeemi's voice echoed and I have never heard her ever so soft voice sounded so loud.
All were silent, even the angry girl.
"Lily, that is so rude of you" she continued.
The girl didn't say a thing now, as if she was scared of Naeemi.
"Now go to your room and meditate for I can see that you have neglected it while I was gone and nobody had made sure you were doing it" she said, looking at the others.
They all bowed their heads in guilt.
"Yes big sister" the girl muttered.
She walked away but not before throwing a murderous look my way.
"Don't worry, she won't harm you, she just likes ranting out on others" the pink dressed girl said and walked to sit besides me.
"By the way, my name is Lana and Lily there is my twin sister" she said with a smile on her face.
"Nice to meet you" I muttered.
"What's your name again?" she asked.
"Uhmm, keethana" I answered.
"Such a lovely name" she said.
"Anyways, we are so glad to have you here keethana, and I'm really sorry about my sister, it's just that she has been having those excessive anger management issues ever since what happened..."
She trailed off. I could sense that she doesn't want to talk about it and I didn't force her as well.
"Let me introduce you to the others" she said, changing the topic altogether.
"This is Flora" she pointed at the far shy girl.
"This is Frida and then she's Taty" she said, pointing at the girl with scars and then the black girl.
I waved my hand at them nervously for I was scared they would not accept me just like the Lily girl did.
"Welcome to the family" Frida said and pulled me into a hug.
After all the pleasantries were done, we proceeded to eat our food which Taty had made.
They were talking and laughing, as if they had no worries in the world and that made me feel really safe.