shattered

chapter 2

18 years later

Rose at mm

           Rose's POV

Mum!  I couldn't help but chuckle at the weird name she still calls me "chinge" awww she coos looking at a  picture of my 8yrs old self you still look as beautiful as you were and I just can't help pulling your legs my baby is all grown up and beautiful ! she said with tears in her eyes , rolling my eyes I couldn't help but wonder why my skin is lighter than that of my parents. Not to talk of the looks of disdain Eugene throws my way each time our eyes meet . shuddering from the memory of my last encounter with him weeks ago ,I couldn't shake off the terrible feeling and the evil glint I saw in his eyes.  He hardly talks to me or mum and he is never at home .
  closing the photo album I heard mum talking to someone on the phone probably Mrs Williams mum's only friend and doctor, I clutch my aching stomach due to my monthly flow .  princess  mum called with a slightly shaken voice, yes mum i replied looking at her apprehensive state .
Your Dad said he is on his way home now and he has some guest coming over with him which means we need to st..
  Why ? I asked her cutting her ramblings off
Why what ?she asked genuinely confused
Why is he coming home today and with guests too . I said with a disdainful voice,  coldly looking at her barely healed bruises which she hadn't conceal yet. honey she came forward clasping my hand in hers "he is your father and he loves you i " he doesn't love me! he is not my father ! heck!! he told me never to call him dad! . he said its Eugene to me and not daddy what have I ever done to him ?! he never acknowledges me! he hates me for no reason!! I choked back on my sobs desperately trying to calm my erratic heart and teary eyes down. Pulling me close to her and engulfing me in a tight hug her encouraged me to cry out my frustrations .
   After blowing my nose for the last time we both moved to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
      helping mum set the table used to be fun until I graduated from high school. It all happened so fast I couldn't hold my grasp on reality. one moment we were in Nigeria with a happy me in a less miserable condition and the next we're living in south Africa ! somewhere in south Africa. A deserted island with no building in sight . carefully placing the last cutlery down I heard muffled voices then the rattling and jingling of keys . the door opened to reveal those behind it. In came Eugene with 3 people 2 elderly men and a lady elegantly dressed with a snobbish face strutted in to the sitting area . oh honey you're back I heard mum's high pitched voice ,quite strained if you ask me and her face ?, concealed to perfection no sign of bruises. I quietly rushed up the stairs to my room .
    Changing into a formal wear  a peach coloured princess gown and my 3" high heels I stepped into the sitting area make-up free with my naturally straight hair. Hello! I greeted every one being obviously the youngest and the last one to join them.
    There you are rosy baby  stunned by his sudden choice of nickname I mumbled a welcome sir glaring at him . let's move to the dinning area before our dinner gets cold shall we ? mum voiced sensing the tension between Eugene and I .

Sitting pensively at dinner listening to miss snobbish face whom I later learnt was named Amanda at birth and her husband Michael talk about their never ending tales of Australia . I was starting to get uncomfortable by the lustful looks Kelvin whom happened to be their companion a 60 something years old looking man and a General in the Army also a business partner of Eugene's was giving me . I looked around to see if anyone noticed none else except mum who was already shooting daggers at him. Dropping my spoon dramatically to gain their attention . may I go to bed I asked facing Eugene .
    No you may not. We have business to discussed which involves you he said .
   Shall we get on with the business now  I said rudely just to infuriate him
Rose! I heard mum's panicked voice 
   Yes we shall he replied smugly . you see General Kelvin over there is a very good friend of mine . the reason I could afford moving both you and your mother out of the country and then acquire this mansion for you. Your bride price has been fully paid to me weeks ago and you will be leaving with him tonight so as to start your duty as his wife he said calmly. 
    looking towards mum hoping to see mad at what Eugene just vomited out of his mouth or as irritated as I was. But I saw her mouthing "I'm sorry" and looking at me with pity, guilt and sadness in her eyes.
   Fear, pity sadness, fear again , anger and then rage took over standing up abruptly and forcefully knocking the chair over I started flinging every item I could get a hold of on the the table screaming and wailing .  will you stop this madness Eugene's voice thundered

" No you listen to me carefully Eugene"
  I couldn't finish my sentence before he brought out his revolver and smacked my face with its butt uncorking the safety pin and pointing the gun towards my head he roughly grabbed me by my arm and dragged me up to my room.
Slamming me against my closed door he started grinding his erection into me with the gun still at my head and both of my hands pinned behind my back . "If he hadn't paid millions cos of you I would have gladly fucked the hell out of you. A bastard! ,product of a whore and a cheating wife ! your screams and pleadings would have been a delight to my ears , while I let your mother watch me ravage your body. he said before slamming my head into the wall, Moving away from me I crumbled to the floor clutching my bleeding head . I heard Eugene open the door and instruct mum to pack my bags for me. She has just 30mins to pack her things!.
Don't you dare touch me!!! I screamed at mum while she flinched . how could you betray me ! I sobbed loudly She silently moved away from me and continued with the packing.
Thinking of a way to escape ,I decided to take opportunity to run from this terrible nightmare in her distracted state. Slowly creeping down the empty stairs . I soundlessly made it to the last step and quickly bolted for the door  scanning my surroundings I successfully opened the front door aiming for the gates that leads to my freedom I heard mum's shirl cry Eugene she's missing!! rose is gone !!! before I was tacked to the floor a stinging sensation on my neck a blurred image of Kelvin smirking at me and everything blacked out .