I Am Zita

Chapter 6 "The Truth"

Rain... it could cleanse your soul with one drop on your face. It erases the stained remembrance of the goblins in the night. It brings clarity, serenity and hope for the starving vagabonds in our civilization. It has the power to reflect the image within your heart which transcends a message of awareness. What kind of reflection am I seeing right now? Am I still Zita or Isabella? Will this downpour of water lead me to another dimension of tranquility or of the truth? I want to know...

Run... run to her.

Images of my dear old trusted friend took over. Joaquin's words will forever haunt me if I don't get to the bottom of this.

This morning, I overheard Joaquin talking on the phone with someone. I slowly peeked on our backyard to hear him clearly. He was walking back and forth looking so restless. The veins on his forehead were showing and he was sweating profusely. I heard him say my father's name a couple of times. In my curiosity, I placed my hand on my ear to hear him more clearly. I felt my heart throb rapidly. Until he said Frida's name.

"Frida has always been on board with this, sir. She even convinced her to work on a strip club making our jobs easier... Plus, our Zita will believe anything I say. She's head over heels for me... Don't worry, sir... You'll see her tonight... No sir..., she doesn't have any clues. It's her father's fault anyway..."

What is he saying? Frida has always been on board with what? What does he mean it's my father's fault? What does my Papa has to do with them? Suddenly, I remembered the night he died and what my mama said to him.

"How could you do this to your own daughter?"

My mama's words has always been a mystery to me... Now, it suddenly makes sense... I had to know more about this. It's time to get some answers...

That rainy afternoon, I told Joaquin that I will be hanging out with Frida. He just nodded and went back on his poker game with his friends. They were laughing, drinking and smoking pot inside of our house.

Five years, Joaquin... I wasted five years of my life with you. I loved you to the extent that I no longer cared for myself. You made me sleep with all those horrible men, I was blinded by your promises... The promise of a future together. Frida was right... you're a bastard!

When I was about to head out, he then grabbed me by the arm as I turned around to face him. I was trying to act natural. He was studying my face, narrowing his vision to see signs of a hidden plan. He leaned forward and gave me a kiss, "Don't forget your 9 o'clock. I'll pick you up later. Stay safe. Don't forget to bring an umbrella."

I looked away and nodded.

"Good. I don't want you making our clients sick." He lets go of my arm and I quickly walked away. There was no umbrella and I don't care if I make them sick.

The rain kept pouring and I was running as I draw near Frida's house. I stood there in her front door ready to knock... but somehow I couldn't. I suddenly thought, what if I didn't liked the truth? What if this veracity kills me? Will I be able to handle it? Am I also putting Frida's life in danger?

I was freezing because the cold rain has soaked my clothes. I took a step back, turning around to walk away, retreating from the truth. I was afraid... I don't think I'm ready for it.

Suddenly, the door opened.

"Zita?"

I looked back and saw my friend Frida. Her expression was completely confused.

"What are you doing here?" she asked but I just stared at her, afraid to open my mouth for a question. "Are you deaf? Come inside!"

I wasn't moving. I was just standing there, hugging myself from the trembling cold. Her confusion turned to clarity. She knew I was there to know something. She looked away while crossing her arms on her chest. She can't maintain an eye contact.

"So you figured it out, huh?" she asked still standing on her doorway.

"Is it true?"

She got an umbrella and went outside of her house to walk towards me. "You should come inside. I will tell you everything I know. But promise me... after this, we have to leave."

I gave her a sharp glare, "I can't promise anything. I need to know the truth..."

She led me inside of her house as she looks around to see if anyone was watching us. Immediately, she got me a towel and lighted up her fireplace. She asked me to sit next to the fire as she started her story.

"Zita, you're in grave danger. Joaquin works for them. He lured you out of your family so that they could get their collateral. Those people are drug syndicates, Zita... Your father owed them money but he couldn't pay them back in time. So what they did was... they would take you away in exchange for his debt. But your father died and they couldn't find you anymore... not until Joaquin showed up. He asked for you name several times just to make sure you were Enrique's daughter... and in the end he succeeded. But then again, that boy was really smart. He hid you for a year asking the bosses a handsome reward. They praised him for his bravery and so they agreed. I on the other hand played a role in your life. An infection... to open your eyes within this darkness." She looked away trying to hide her tears, "I regretted that, Zita and I'm sorry..."

She reached out for my hand but I turned away, "H-How could you d-do this to me? I thought... you were my friend..." tears fled from my eyes. I was hurting, I couldn't take it all in, "Wh-Why? Why put me through this?"

She looked down covering her face, "I was only doing what was asked of me. They threatened to kill my family. I had to... I had to... To them, you're their star... They are mystified by you." She then looked up, "You have to leave this place... Hide away... Never stop running. Once your connections with Joaquin are gone, they could never trace you. You will be free."

What are you going to do now? Once again, you have to be brave. You've past the point of no return, how will you ever escape? There is something beyond this point and I have to renounce my throne within the empire of the underworld. There's only one thing that I should do. Something that I should have done a long time ago. Escape.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's note:

Two more chapters left :)

Bear with me till the very end.

I love you all!

Ms. Lee