The Next 3 Days

The Past, Penny/Elana's Edition

*Elana's Edition* **9years later**

One purple orchid on her grave "see you later Jberry" I stood up from reading a chapter of Jené's favorite book at her gravesite and walked towards the black SUV. Today was Thursday which meant I had to go to Dr.Carlton, my therapist, he is the one who tries to convince me that I didn't see my sperm donor have little girls tied up in the panic room behind his bookshelf 9 years ago, sick bastard.
"Are you still having bad dreams?" he looked over his glasses at me
"No" yes.
"Are you sleeping?
" Yes" no.
"Are you using the pills?"
"No" first thing that wasn't a lie.
"What did you see 9years ago?"
was he serious? "what are you talking about?"
"you don't remember?"
"n-no" yes. I remember it all!
he scribbles something "okay Elana, I will keep the dosage of sedatives I prescribed and since you're sleeping without the pills I'll take them off your list, but if you're having any issues just tell me and I will give you a new set."
"Kay, bye Dr. Carlton"
"Goodbye Elana."
I walk out his office with Myah behind me, we both get in the car and Margo drives to the house. I meet my mother standing outside the garden in front the house and she has a plastic smile painted on her face while she clipped a few roses, I knew what that meant, paparazzi or we had company, she sprung up and hugged me and whispers "the Vice President and his family are over for dinner"
I puffed with a fake smile "Kay"
I slipped the prescription in her pocket and she frowned, we both knew the truth but she was afraid to speak about it or even confront. I wish I knew why, the day she found out we went to the car and  she came back she seemed so shaken up
"mommy what's wrong?"
"uhh Miss, Miss uhh, Miss Olivia had an accident so we have to go for Ice cream another time, how about we order pizza and watch TV in Jene's room? it can be like a slumber party!"
"yay!" Jené celebrated
we both walked towards the door when mommy pulled me back
"Elana look at me" tears in her eyes and her voice shaky "I need you to promise me something okay?" I nodded "they're people in this world who won't believe or understand you, but I believe you and I love you so much Elana, what you saw in daddy's panic room, uhh, you can't tell anyone. its just our secret, I won't let anyone hurt you and I promise you no one will harm you or your sister. okay? I promise you. but you have to keep your promise in order for me to keep mine."

***

I enter the house and speak to Vice president Howard and his wife Sondra and two 17 year old sons Damian and Dwayne an identical twin. Mt dad stands when my mother enters the sitting room and he walks over and puts his hand around her waist and kisses her on her cheek "Honey I was just telling Matt how much he'd love your rose rice, it'll give Sondra's honey chicken a run for it's money"
I could feel myself internally rolling my eyes and I knew my mother felt the same way, she hated him and they only spoke when we had company. Brazil's happiest family ladies and gentlemen!
"oh! Mikel, I will not have you coming between me and Sondra" they all laugh ."Hey, if it takes putting us in a kitchen war to stop these two from spending late nights working or talking about football I'll take it " Sondra chuckled.
"Let me get out these clothes and get dinner started, 'scuse me" she looked at me and I caught the signal, go get ready for dinner.
I hated my dad being senator, I had a billion people telling me what to do, what to wear, I had to change school and I couldn't hang with my old friends anymore but Damian & Dwayne came over along with Bill's daughter Monique, she was 16 and his Son Marcel, he was 18.  Dwayne & Damian were both gay & they were rumors of them in a gay bar with blurred photos on them making out with their now ex boyfriends, they admit but that doesn't fit into a "perfect presidential family" so they we're forced to conform and they set up girls to show the rest of the world their sons 'weren't gay' maybe that's what happened to my mom, maybe she was forced to conform or my dad would hurt her, no he wouldn't hurt my mom, he was sick and a dirty bastard but he loved my mom but everyone could see he was somewhat afraid of Bill. Bill was ruthless and so well articulated. he was like the Spanish James Bond. Slick, smooth and a sick bastard, no wonder Monique was so fucked up she said that he beats her Mom and her brother was molested for years but she doesn't know by who, she suspects its her dad "I wouldn't be surprised if it was Bill" she never called him dad. Damian, Dwayne, Monique and Marcel all went to Dr. Carlton too, ironic isn't it?

**

"Monaé you have to give me that recipe, it was absolutely delicious" Sondra said sitting back as the maids take up our plates & glasses
"Mikel you certainly eat well! Monaé which part of France did you group up" Matt asked
"A little town call F-"
"Sir, Senator" Kolai interrupted "You're both wanted urgently at the Presidents Palace, the car is outside." "Madam Vice President, Damian  Dwayne, your car is outside, we are asking that you leave to your homes to be in a secured location" Kolai ordered
"Why? what's wrong" my mom queried
"Nothing to be worried about Madam, just a necessary precaution."
They all left, leaving the staff, my mom and I alone in our home.
I went to my room and changed to my PJs with Myah tagging behind me, I don't think I'd ever get accustomed to this, even though she wasn't my first body guard, before my dad became senator I had Monroe. I walked downstairs "Gosh, Myah! I can feel you breathing on me"
"Sorry Ma'am"
"You don't have to be so close, geesh"
"I'll stand by the door Ma'am"
I take out a few scoops of ice cream and put it back in the freezer, I walk by the window and for a moment I thought I saw someone walk across the lawn but with all the guards and security we have that is impossible, I take my ice cream to my room and close the door. I have homework & I need to study.

A quick jolt woke me up, a snatch from my deep sleep, I let out a loud yelp and I was muzzled but I fought back, what was going on? where was Myah? I pushed them back to wall and ran for the door. this stupid house was too big, I couldn't even find my mother's room, a long endless hall of doors and Kolai was usually around at these hours, where was he? He usually kept my company when I was awake, he'd dismiss Myah and he covered for me if my dad asked if I slept through the night "like a baby, Sir"
I ran to the left and realized it was the stairs when I tumbled down all 20 of them along with the person trying to... kidnap me? kill me? what did they want? I got up and ran to the pantry and grabbed a knife, what was I gonna do? I rose my hand and she grabbed it and spun me around held it to my neck, and dragged me to the door, I grabbed her hair and pulled back and her grip loosened, I slid out and grabbed the knife and without thinking I stabbed her in her neck and then I heard gunshots from upstairs and i ran to the kitchen, pressed the light button on the oven and entered the panic room.
I don't know how long I was in there, I paced 'I killed her, fuck, fuck, fuck!' I saw the panic room door open, oh no.
"oh! Elana!" the sweet words of my mother!