Faithful

Chapter One

Three months later

"Annabelle, thank you so much for today, have a good weekend!" Adelaide said, giving me the all clear to go home after my hard days work. I had been hired by a primary school as a teaching assistant despite 'loosing' my CV 6 weeks ago. They spent two weeks observing me after I went to them explaining that all my qualifications were gone after I had to run away from Russia because my father practically sold me to a man who beats me. Long shot story I know but my mad acting skills worked amazingly after playing the whole Viktor beats me act like I did with Eric's Uncle.

They eventually came to understand I was very capable and definitely had a lot of experience working as a teaching assistant. I spend Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays working, (school doesn't run on Wednesday's and Sundays but I do also do not work Saturday's despite it's usually a half day) the local police are helping me as an asylum seeker and won't deport me back to Russia in fear of me getting killed since the graphic things I explained to them... even though they're not true. Once again wahoo on my acting skills.

I had had my hair cut just below my shoulders and dip dyed a golden blonde colour at the bottom. That along with me being really thin makes me look completely different from my pictures that even the police do not recognise me. The police had helped me get an tiny house and are helping me with money issues, they pay for rent and the house's amenities as the money I make is not enough to pay for it, the water, the gas etc. as well as food.

The only thing reminding me of my previous life being the black pair of Louboutin pumps and my fake passport. I had cut up the black card and thrown it away, I take a good part of my small weekly payments and keep it hidden as an escape fund. Life was simple and I enjoyed it here. People were starting to get to know me, the little old lady who I live next to and is my land lady spends every Sunday with me at her house and we cook and drink tea together.

Eventually I arrived at home sweet home and unlocked my door. Collecting my post and turning my lights on. There was a knock on the door. I opened it to find Josephine my land lady and next door neighbor. "Hello dear, I thought you might be tired so I cooked you some casserole," Josie beamed. Oh she is such a sweetie. "Thank you so much Josie, I was just wondering what I was going to do because I need to go shopping," I laughed taking the casserole and placing I on the side to give her a hug.

"You never have to worry about that awful man again dear," he reassured me, "he won't find you here." I sighed. I gave her a weak smile but I knew it's only a matter of time until I am spotted and I'll have to take my slowly growing escape fund. She shut the door behind her after I offered her to come in for a cup of tea and a chat. "Why are you struggling for money my dear?" She asked as I her cup of tea in front of her as she looked at my money tin. "Oh it's because the police told me to keep some of my money each week to put in a stash in case anything happened," I lied, "it's fine though... the school give pay me in cash so it's not traceable and every Friday I put half my money in the tin for shopping and the other half to the stash."

She took a sip of her tea and sighed. I didn't realise I was crying. "Annabelle what's the matter dear?" Josie asked. I can't do it, I can't do it any more. "I'm lying to you Josie... and I hate myself for it... I lied to the police and I lied to the school... I'm in so much more trouble than I've been telling people..." I cried. All this lying was tearing me apart. She hugged me. "I know my dear, I know you've been lying but I wasn't sure what about but you need to tell the police," she spoke softly," if I called them and tell them you need to talk would you tell us?"

I sniffled and nodded. She called them up and I went into my bedroom to get my biggest secret. He's going to find me when I tell them but I can't live with this burden anymore. I heard a knock on the door so I grabbed my engagement ring and made my way back downstairs. "Mademoiselle Pavlov," the inspector greeted as he saw me. I shook my head. "My last name isn't Pavlov and I'm not Russian," I explained, "but I did run away from Russia." He sat down on my couch in shock. "You're in a lot of trouble young lady for lying to the police," he growled, annoyed that I had managed to lie to him.