10 YEARS LATER
The sun was starting to set and the street of Prestbridge was becoming quite unsafe for a young woman. Thieves from different parts of the city were starting to crawl out of their holes to search for a prey, while smart people or those who knew the city pretty well were in a haste to get back to their homes, except a particular young lady who was still riding her usual delivery black motorcycle.
Amarantha, knew the city and the crimes the citizens were capable of committing like the back of her hands, but she had gotten into a fight with two guys who had refused to pay for the pizza she had delivered to them. They had wanted a night with her but that was one thing she wasn't ready to trade for money. Especially some money she had worked for. After showing off her karate skills on them, they paid twice the money and apologised to her sincerely. The young lady took the money and got on her motorcycle, riding at full speed so she could meet up with her boss before he closes for the day.
"I'm so sorry, sir! I didn't mean to come back this late or keep you waiting," she instantly apologised at seeing her angry boss's face.
"Amarantha, I am not always going to stay here and wait for you. I understand that you are a young woman from a small crime free town trying to get a living by working here, but this is Prestbridge; one of the most, if not the most perilous cities. It is not safe to walk around once it is six PM. Look at the time, it has already passed six PM again!" her angry boss lashed out. "I love you and it would hurt me to see anything bad happen to you."
"I'm really sorry, boss."
"It is fine. Park the bike, take the leftovers and get going. It will probably take you two hours to get to Jollyville, may the heavens guide you. And don't worry about the salary, I'll send it to your bank account with a tip."
"You're going to add to my salary? For real? Thank you so much, sir!" she said, with a broad smile on her face. Her smile lightened up the man's heart and face, he felt good being the reason for her happiness.
"Well, I couldn't help it. You've been working really hard since I employed you."
"Thank you, sir. I am not going to disappoint you. You're the best," were the last words Amarantha said before walking away from her pleased boss, to get done with what he had told her to do. She finished quickly and left Mr. John's Pizza shop with two bags of leftovers on both hands. She took a look at the bags, they were quite full. She couldn't wait to get home and explore the free foods.
"You know the saying, free food tastes better," she thought to herself and hastened her pace to the train station, she didn't want to miss the last train. After two boring hours of sitting in a train, they finally arrived at their destination, Jollyville. Amarantha walked out of the train along with other passengers but most soon separated as some got into their loved ones' cars, some on motorcycles, and some on a bus, just like Amarantha. The bus drove for a short while before stopping at Amarantha's destination. As she got down from the bus and entered the lone street to her humble abode, she felt chills all over her body. The happiness from earlier started to fade away as she got closer to her home. It was supposed to be a relief from the day's stress but from her sudden mood swings, it was not. Her happiness finally faded into the chill evening wind when she saw an angry looking man standing in front of their home.
"Good evening, dad," she managed to speak up, hoping tonight might end differently.
"What did I tell you about coming back late?!" her father roared at her. The anger in his tone scared her but she summoned courage to speak up to avoid getting him angrier.
"I'm sorry, sir. I got into a fight with two guys who refused to pay for the pizza I delivered to them," Amarantha said, frightened.
"Is that what I told you about coming home late, you retarded useless child?!"
"No, sir. You told me to always come back in time to prepare dinner, and I explained why I couldn't make it back in time."
"Are you stupid? Who the hell do you think you are lying to?!" Her father angrily moved a step closer to her. She slowly took a step back. "Why do you lie?" he whispered.
"I'm not lying, dad. I'm not lying. I always tell you the truth. Please, I'm telling the truth but you just don't believe," Amarantha cried.
"Are you trying to say I am the retarded one here?" He smiled. The frightened girl shook her head, trying to move backwards but he grabbed her hand and she dropped the bags. "Did you just drop my dinner?!" He dropped the smile, glaring at his daughter who was fearfully shaking her head as a response. "Really, you didn't? Then what's in the bag?"
"Um, um, di-dinn-er?" Her eyes misted. Her father smiled and pulled her closer.
"Now who's the liar?" Before Amarantha could comprehend what was happening, her father had given her what she was trying to avoid; a slap. A tear escaped from her eye. "Now pick up those bags and get my dinner ready, you slimy lying daughter of a b*tch."
She quickly picked up the bags and ran into the house. She walked into the kitchen and brought out the leftovers. The happiness of unwrapping it that she once had wasn't there anymore. Though the food came out more than Mr. John usually gave to her, she still wasn't really happy but was grateful.
After heating up the food, she dished it and took most of it to the sitting room where her father was. The bald man sat with ease on a couch, watching his favourite TV show with his legs placed on top of a table in front of him. She walked in but stood behind for a minute, staring at her father's potbelly that he had decided to leave uncovered. The only clothes he had on was a short, and a pair of worn out stocks that Amarantha was forced to wash along with his pile of dirty clothes. She let out a sigh and walked towards him. She kept the tray of food on the table and her eyes could not help but notice the holes in his stocks and how badly it stunk. Without a sign of disgust, she moved backwards.
"Dinner is ready, sir." She was about leaving when her dad stopped her.
"Ama, can we talk?" he asked. She nodded, though she didn't want to but her father did not take no for an answer. "Have a seat."
She sat down beside her father but made sure there was enough space between them, just to be more on the safer side.
"I'm sorry about earlier. Everything I do, you know I do it for you, right?" he asked and she nodded again. "Let's forget what happened earlier and start afresh, okay?"
"Yes, sir."
"No, no, no, drop all the former languages and call me dad, baby, is that okay?" He smiled and she nodded again.
"Yes. Thanks, I'll be in my room if you need me. Today was hectic and I am tired."
"I understand. Goodnight, baby girl."
"Goodnight, dad," were the last words she said before leaving the sitting room. She got to her room and threw herself on her bed.
Just like every other day, she had to act like her dad's puppet; nodding and agreeing to everything he had to say to avoid getting hit. She stood up from her bed and crawled to the end, so she could look out through her closed window. Her eyes wandered in the dark, trying to get used to it and maybe get a view of the trees and the houses nearby, but the darkness was too thick for her vision.
"Goddamn it!" she cursed under her breath. "I miss leaving the house, escaping from my headache, hiding in the woods, flowing with the chill breeze and enjoying the company of-" she paused and let out a sigh. "I wish I could have the life I had as a child."
"Well, I can make all your dreams come through, Amarantha," a voice echoed in her bathroom. Amarantha's heart missed a beat as she quickly turned towards the door of her bathroom, almost snapping her neck.
"W-wh-o are you?" she stuttered. Even her own words sent chills went down her spine, as she struggled to keep breathing while waiting for an answer.
"Well child, take a guess," the unknown voice responded, still hiding behind the bathroom door, leaving Amarantha to melt in fear.