AROUSING DESIRES

Episode 3

*****
Brandon was completely unprepared for the slaps that accompanied his confession... Nevertheless,he stood still,knowing perfectly well that he deserved it....
He deserved that and more for thinking of his cousin in a sexual way. He had gone as far as trying to take advantage of her...

He winced as another slap came his way....
"You're a disgrace Brandon!!! A disgrace!!!! A stupid fool!!! What on earth were you thinking huh?!!!" Alice screamed in his face...
He sighed "mom I'm sorry"
"Sorry for your stupid self!!!"
"Mom... I'm sorry... I don't know what happened.. I..."
"Shut up.. You stupid excuse of a son.... Pray Brandon.. Pray that I find her hale and hearty else you will regret having me a mother." Alice threatened, walked to the door and pulled Ella who had been standing at the doorway along with her....

******
She had been roaming the streets of Los Angeles for hours on end now and a few times she had ended up stopping at the same spot after roaming around..
It seemed like she had been walking I'm circles...
The sun was out now, scorching.
Who says the weather could only be this hot only in African countries..
She sighed and hugged herself as she settled under a tree for shade...
Judging from the way the sun was scorching, it was probably past 12:00noon and she was beginning to feel hungry and thirsty...
Virginia sighed again,bringing her knees up towards her chest and resting her head on it....
How was she going to survive now? Alone, on the streets, without a roof over her head or food...
Maybe it was a really bad idea to travel in the first place.
Such and more thoughts flooded her mind but for solutions? Came none...
Her stomach grumbled as she tried to sit up....
Deciding against getting up,she sat back down...
It was better to preserve the little energy she had left than roam around in circles..
Maybe when night came, she might get a space in front of a kiosk or shop to sleep...
Maybe, just maybe...
She rested her head back on her knees as sleep carried her away...

*****
Alice killed the engine as she leaned back in the seat....
"We've been driving for nearly three hours now and she's still not in sight.. Where could she be? What do I tell my sister when she asks for her daughter.. What?" She murmured more to her self than to Ella who equally seemed lost in thoughts.....
Ella was staring out the window,her eyes following the path of trees that aligned the sidewalks....she stared lazily ahead until her vision caught up on something...
A girl was curled up in a foetal position seated under one of the several streets...
She squinted her eyes....
The dress,the hair, her skin colour....
"Mom? Isn't that.....?" She trailed off pointing to one of the trees...
"Virginia!!! Oh my God!!" Alice screamed in relief as she alighted from the car and walked hurriedly towards her..
Ella jumped down and followed suit...

******
"Virginia" she heard... She ignored and continued to sleep....
"Virginia" the voice came firmly this time..
"It's us.... Virginia... "
Her head snapped up at the voice and she stared at them...
"Come home with us.. It's not safe for you out here" Alice spoke up...
She shook head and stood up, dusting her clothes...
"Mom is right... We've been combing the entire place searching for you... Let's talk at home okay.." Ella agreed..
"No...I...I just want to have a view of the city before returning.. You go ahead" she lied..
"I know what my son did... It will soon get dark.. Come with us okay... Please"
"No" she protested...
"Please... We don't want anything happening to you out here. do we?" Alice asked and she nodded..
"Then come"
She sighed and followed them to the car......
As they approached the car,Virginia couldn't help but cast her mind back to when Brandon has tried to force himself on her.
She flinched at the memory.
No.
If she was going back to that house then it meant Brandon would be there.
If he had tried it once, he might try it again and she wasn't ready to go through that. What if he succeeded in his next attempt?
No...
Quickly,she turned on her heel and run in the opposite direction as fast as her legs could carry her,ignoring Alice and Ella's voice calling after her.