Catching My Queen

||COMING BACK||

ZARA POV

"OH my God, he is Greek God," Aliyah said dreamily causing me to roll my eyes at her. She was currently drooling over the taxi driver who was sitting in front of us. "Fuck you?" I said, but it came out of a question. She scoffed and shows me both of the middle fingers. Well, that's what I get intruding on my Besties La-La land.

"He is so damn hot!!"She gushed and started dreaming about him again and I sighed. Apparently, the taxi driver that we hired from the airport was hot, and she was dying to just talk to him. While on the other hand, the taxi driver was ignoring her completely. I was annoyed at her for how she was behaving.

Aliyah was a beautiful woman with long jet-black hair, big brown eyes and pale skin. Her skin was tattooed with freckles while her ear was decorated with different earrings. She was gorgeous and always has been the centre of attention. I met Aliyah when I left for America three years ago and soon we become good friends, supporting each other morally and emotionally.

The constant buzzing of my phone snapped me out and my eyes trailed on the screen. A smile crept on my face and I sighed happily. At least someone will be happy to see me again. Three years ago I had left a big mess behind. A lot happened, and I simply couldn't put up with everything so I decided to run away.

Regretted my decision soon after I landed in States but there wasn't anything I could actually do. One simple night had torn my life apart. It was supposed to be the best day for us. We were happy, but everything changed in a matter of time.

"How much time will it take to reach yours?" Aliyah asked me and I looked around in order to know where exactly we were. We have been in a taxi for at least an hour and I would say ten minutes. I looked around and familiar houses came into my view.

"Approximately ten minutes," I answered.
"Ten more minutes to ogle on this hottie." She whispered and I bob my head.

Different memories started to crash in my head making me flinch. My memories were painful and I had tried so hard to forget them, but the memories that are heaviest are one of the easiest to recall. They hold in their creases the ability to change one's life, originally, forever. Even when you shake them out, they've left permanent wrinkles in the fabric of our soul and that is what exactly happened to me. I took a deep breath and brace myself for all of the taunts and insults.

As the journey towards my destination was coming to end, my heart was beating fast. I couldn't fathom if my heart was beating because I was terrified to face my relatives or I was scared to see one person who hates me with passion.
I was still not ready for the tortured that I had gone through all these years. I couldn't forget the hateful glares, those beatings, and the death of my parents. I lost everything three years ago including my parents, my best friend, and the only person whom I loved dearly.

My eyes started to wet and anxiety started to kick in. My hands trembled when I felt a soft touch on my hand. Aliyah smiled sadly and hugged. I controlled my sobs and hide my face in her shoulder.

The taxi suddenly came to halt, and I blinked my eyes. I looked at the house in front me of with tears in my eyes. The house was the same, a three-story but the walls were painted with green. The big door was no more painted black rather it was a strong shade of gold. I came out of the taxi and Aliyah processed to give the driver the money. Without any more care, I start walking towards the house.

With a heavy heart, I pressed the doorbell and closed my eyes. Three years ago it was made clear that I was not allowed in this house anymore. Aliyah dragged our suitcase and stood beside me. A hard expression crossing over her features. I had already told her everything, so she knew what these people had done to me who was my family, my own blood.

"Who is at the door?" Someone yelled what I recognized as my aunt. My throat constricted making it hard to answer her back. I took a deep breath and answered.
"It is me, Zara." I heard a loud gasp and the door opened. They're in front of me stood my aunty with eyes wide open but a wicked smile plastered on her face. She smirked at me and crossed her eyes. She hasn't changed a little bit since the last time I saw her. Her eyes still shone with wickedness.

My dad had one brother and one sister. He was the eldest of all and took care of his siblings as his own kids. Aunty felicity was the wife of my uncle Taylor, and they had three sons.

"Look what cat dragged in..." She smiled wickedly and winked at me. I took a deep breath and prepared myself mentally. I held Aliyah's hand and squeezed it hard, indicating her not to say anything. I knew from the experience that the more we will fight back, the more we will get into trouble.

"Can we come in?" I asked and she raised her eyebrows. She glared at me and Aliyah but processed to open the door. Ignoring her questioning gaze we both entered the house. My eyes naturally started to water while carefully looking around the house. This house contained one of my pleasantest memories. I didn't even know how much I dearly miss this house, which was once my home.

With a sorrowful heart, we entered the house. The whole house was completely transformed. There were ugly sofas right in the middle of the hallway while the walls were painted in yellowish colour. Who even paints their house in dull yellow? Bile rose in my raw throat when I examined all the other minor and major changes in the house. Everything was replaced, the vase, doors, photo frames, and all of the small various gifts that my dad long ago gave to my mom. My heart ached and for the first time in my life, I came to the terms that this house was truly no more mine.

"Zara?" I heard a rough voice, and I spun around to come face to face with my grandmother, Mrs Claire Williams. The mastermind of everything that had happened to my mom and me. She is the definition of cruelty. My body ran cold and I started to shiver. This woman standing right in front of me was the cause of the pain and terror that I have been through. She was the reason why I am homeless today.

"What are you doing back here?" She meekly asked. Her eyes brow in apparent confusion while her critical eyes shone with fierce hate which was the only reserve for me. My grandmother never admired me even though in front of my dad she also acted nice and sweet while I knew better. She was always ignorant towards me, throwing taunts whenever she got a chance. She was the reason why my parents never could actually stay with each other and she scarcely seems to be the sole reason why I undoubtedly suffered from anxiety and panic attacks.

My mouth went dry not because I was afraid of her but because I was standing right in front of the person who has inflicted so much pain on my mom.

"Uncle called me," I retorted. They might have been thinking that I am a weak, pathetic little girl but I was not the same person anymore. I could stand up for myself and I will. She looked at aunty felicity and raised her eyebrows.

"What is going on felicity? Taylor didn't tell me anything? Why is this rat back in this house when I made it clear three years ago that I have nothing to do with her?"

"I don't know mom, maybe it is related to the company." She muttered and turned to glare me. I roll my eyes and turned towards Aliyah. She nodded and we walked towards the stairs. I was not in the mood for any bullshit. I have a day to prepare for.