BRUTAL MINDS (A DARK ROMANCE)

CHAPTERS 2- A STAB TO HIS HEART

Allison was sitting on a tree branch with Esra, her mother had yet to return since last night. She got tired of waiting and finally fell asleep. Now she was here, hanging out with her favorite person, glad to have her.

"Have you heard Allison?"
"What's that?"
"The Governor is supposed to visit this neighborhood today."
"Here? In the slums? Why ever would He?"
Esra shrugged. "I heard he's planning to build a dream neighborhood here for us. I think He cares."
"I think He only wants to get re-elected for the second time. The elections are just around the corner you know."
"Politicians..."
"Never trust them."
"ESRA!"
The two girls could hear a woman's voice in the distance.
"My mother..." Esra sighed "...maybe later?"
"Of course, see you later."
"Bye..."

Just then Allison could see her Father's car in the distance pulling up in front of their house. She rushed off to give him a big hug which almost threw the man off balance.

"Woohoo! Easy there tiger!" Edward Doreen laughed.
"Dad...I missed you so much."
"I'm sorry darling, I'm sorry I took longer than usual to visit, work at the office has been really hectic and most of all time sapping but I'm here now aren't I my little angel?" He asked, grinning.
"Mhmm..." she nodded, hugging him once again.
"What's that on your face?"
"What?"
"You're hurt. What happened? He could see the bruise on her cheek."
"It's nothing." Allison hesitated.
"Don't be scared angel. Did your mother do this? Did she hit you?"
Allison nodded.
"That mad woman! For how long now has she been assaulting you?"
"I can't even remember."
"And you never tell me anything? Why Allison? You're too young for this."
"I just...I don't want Mom getting mad any further."
Edward sighed. "Where is she?"
"I don't know, she hasn't come back since last night."
"Since last night?!" He was flustered. "She left you all alone? All throughout the night? What's going on sweetie? Talk to me..."
"I'm scared what if she gets mad at me?"
"Leave your mother to me, now tell me exactly what has been going on."

Edward Doreen, father to four other girls making Allison the fifth and the last. The death of his first wife after the birth of their second daughter led him to marry a second wife who would care for the children. His second wife however divorced him, leaving him with another two girls she bore for him. Depressed and in despair, he got wasted at a night bar and that was where he had an affair with Patrice afterward, leading to the birth of Allison.

At first, He wanted Allison to come live in his mansion with her half-sisters but those girls had grown pompous and spoiled under his care, maybe parenting wasn't his best bet. So He let her stay with her mother, hoping she'd be much more graceful than the other four and indeed she was, thus making Allison his favorite and now hearing she was hurting in his absence was a stab to his heart.

By the time Patrice had returned, a heated quarrel sparked between her and Edward. With Allison standing by a corner, sobbing at the way both her parents threw harsh words back and forth at each other.

"You heartless whore! What has the child done to you to deserve such hostility? To think I thought you'd change your filthy ways but I was wrong, you'll always belong in the mud."
"How dare you judge me, Edward? How else do you expect us to get by after you've deserted us?"
"Deserted?"
"Living high like the proud peacock you are and leaving us here in the gutters."
"Are you out of your mind Patrice? What happens to the money I send money every month for the upkeep of the two of you."
Patrice scoffed. "You call that...upkeep money? It barely goes anywhere!"
This woman was deranged, how could she say such a thing? He thought. The money he sent was more than enough.
"I won't have this discussion with you. I'm taking Allison with me."
"You'll do no such thing!" She yelled out, holding tightly onto his collar.
"Let go Patrice."
"You're taking my child nowhere."
"Your child?!" He mocked. "Oh, now she's your child. I'll take my daughter far away from you and your black heart. You'll never hear from her again! You'll spend the rest of your life alone and miserable which is no less than you deserve."

Allison kept staring at the two and when the argument was turning into a fight, she impulsively tried to step in between them and stop the fight but in the process, her mother had slapped her across the face in anger. She fell to the floor, crying and holding onto her eyes.

Edward's heart melted. "My angel..." He held her close. "Are you hurt?"
"Her hands hit my eyes..." She cried out. "I can't see Dad, it's all black... I can't see...." Allison cried out in a fit of panic.

            Her father immediately carried her outside, ignoring Patrice who was standing and not moving an inch. She seemed dazed. Allison? Blind? It's annoying enough raising a little brat, She wouldn't be able to handle a blind useless one. Well, good riddance.

"You can have her if you do wish Edward!" She yelled out from across the door as He hurriedly drove her to a hospital. Allison couldn't stop crying.
"Stop crying Angel, you'll be fine."
"Will...will I be able to see again Dad?" Whimpered Allison in tears.
"Of course, you will angel."
"I won't be permanently blind, will I?" She sobbed.
"No no no. Daddy will make sure nothing happens to you. You'll see it again I promise."

                     Allison couldn't make out the events of the next few hours, only that her father had taken her to the best optometrist in the whole of New York and she was given a pair of transparent circular glasses to help aid her sight and if anything else, she was grateful she could see again.

"Ready to meet your sisters?"
"Yes, daddy." Allison nodded, excitedly.

Why wouldn't she be? Pretty and sweet little girls her age which would in time be her playmates. Only one thing though, she was going to miss Esra terribly, she didn't even get to say goodbye. Arriving at the Mansion and meeting her four half-sisters- Ruth, Pearl, Lina, and Ivy.

They were pretty, yes, but their hearts were as sour as lime. They hated this new addition to the family. Especially the way their father was all over Allison, they didn't like her at all. It wasn't long before her half-sisters started treating her with hostility.

"Father?" Allison confided in her dad one night:
"Yes, angel."
"Can I...can I go somewhere else?"
"Why darling? Is something wrong?"
She nodded. "My sisters don't seem to like me."
"I've noticed too but I'm sure you'll get along in time."
Allison moved her head sideways in disagreement. "Please, Dad, I don't want to stay here anymore."
Edward let out a sigh. "That's alright angel. I promised to always see to your comfort after all. So if you're not comfortable here, then, I'll take you somewhere else."
"Where?" She asked, smiling.
"Let's see...Spain? The Netherlands?"
"What? That's too far away, Dad."
"How about Canada? You could study there and come back when you're done."
"I would really love that, thank you, Dad."
"Always welcome honey."
"I would like to study Archeology."
"Ahh I see, you're a curious one aren't you?" He laughed.
"I am. I have a passion for it."
"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you child."
"What's wrong?"
"You'll have to study something else."
"What?"
"Yes...I want you to study business administration."
"What? No! Why?"
"You see, I think I want you to be my heir. I want you to take over Doreen Corp. My company, my life's work."
"But what about Ruth? She's the eldest, she should be the one to take over. I don't want to Dad."
"Please, child, I can't trust any of those four with finance or anything else for that matter. They all have their pompous heads in the clouds."
Allison giggled. "True."
"See? So darling...will you be a good little lad and make your old man happy?"
"You're anything but old Dad, stop trying to blackmail me."
"Am I? He asked, smiling. Well?"
She let out a sigh. "Fine Dad, business administration it is."
"That's my girl!"

Arriving at her dormitory somewhere in Canada, studying, and trying to assimilate was a hard nut to crack. Arts was never her strong game but she was ready to learn for the sake of her father, he wasn't asking too much of her after all, so she was going to put in her best. This firm decision and determination led to her being isolated most of the time drowning herself in a world of nothing but books.