" Oh my God, aunt would kill me today, it's 7:15pm already" Akira thought to herself as she rode her bicycle faster.
Stopping in the front of the luxurious bungalow of her aunt, she immediately packed her bicycle and run inside the house.
" Here she comes, the princess! Is this the time to return home you brat, are you done roaming the town with men. Sister, is this how you trained your daughter, huh?" Charlotte said with a scoff.
" Why don't you have anything nice to say aunt Charlotte. I was late because I couldn't find mushrooms in the local grocery store, I had to travel far to search for them. And please don't drag my parents into this, we all toil for you, we do all the house chores, look at the house, it's always sparkly thanks to my parents, but we are always faced by humiliation and insults by you, you can insult me all you want but not my parents" Akira said, her face red with anger.
" Akira dear, you should keep quiet, that's not how to talk to your elder" Akiras mother said trying to hush her.
" No, she won't keep quiet, you never taught her properly but I would. Ungrateful brat, you and your parents live in my house and leech off me and you still have the gut to talk back, I will teach you a lesson right away" Charlotte said heading inside the room.
" Please Akira, for my sake, don't say a word" her mother said, and her father's head had long since bent on the ground in shame, shame of not been able to provide for his family and the daily dose of humiliation from his sister in law, that he and his family have to face.
Charlotte soon came back with a whip, grinning evily, she started lashing akiras legs. " This should teach you properly, next time you won't go off wondering at night, want to bring shame to my name huh". She mumbled as she hit Akira harder, each lash leaving a deep red scar on her snow white skin.
Akira shut her eyes and tears streamed down her eyes as she endured the beating for that sake of her mother.
" Go now and serve dinner, and remember, tomorrow this house should look like a palace, we are going to have a high end event, if you fail to do it properly, I would send you off to the streets, understood?" Charlotte said looking at Akira, then her sister and brother-in-law.
Akira sat on the bed with her dress raised to her knees to reveal the deep scars on her legs that were caused over the years by her aunt.
Emily applied ointment to her daughters wound and a tear drop from her eyes to akiras feet.
" Mommy, why are you crying" Akira asked as she looked at her gently beautiful mother. " Am sorry my love, you have to endure so much pain because of me, am really sorry" Emily cried more.
" Please mommy don't cry, it breaks my heart everytime you do. And your tears hurt more than aunt's lashes" Akira said wipping her mother's eyes.
Mason folded his hands in front of his wife and daughter, with tears, tears of a broken man. " It's all my fault, am the most useless man on earth, I can't even provide for my own family and they have to bear insults and humiliation on a daily basis because of my incapability. I hope you forgive me, please me forgive me for been such a good for nothing" mason cried with folded arms.
" Dad no please, you aren't useless or good for nothing, you are the best, and I would pray to have you as my father in every birth because no father can love and care for me as much as you do" Akira said holding her dad's folded hands.
" Yes dear, you are indeed the best. You were also once a well off man, you were rich and we had a very comfortable and beautiful life, till you got scammed, it was never your fault. You are a very hardworking and honest man and I couldn't pray for a better husband. I thought my sister would help us in our dark times, but she only exploited our weakness and we are now slaving away for her, couple with the insults and humiliation. But atleast we have a roof over our head, food in our belly, warm clothes to wear, and our Akira can study, so it's worth enduring" Emily said comforting her husband.
" True father, you are the best and we have no complaints, on that note, please tell me stories about Africa, I want to hear more" Akira said resting her head on her fathers lap.
This lifted a burden up masons chest and with a smile he patted his daughters head and hugged his wife, before he started telling them stories of his life in Africa.
When her parents retired to their room thinking she was asleep, Akira opened her eyes and went to sit by the window.
" I will work really hard and take my parents away from this horrible life. I will not let aunt Charlotte continue torturing my parents, dear God, give me the strength I need, it kills me seeing my parents so helpless" Akira said starring at the moon.
" What awaits us tomorrow. Aunt mentioned a party, it means nothing but more trouble for me and my family, it means more work, more insults, more pressure, when will all this come to a stop" akira wondered further.
She set an alarm on her phone so that she would wake up as early as possible in the morning and start her work.
Closing her eyes, sleep immediately kicked in, she had been exhausted all day, and now her soul and body gave in to the exhaustion.
As early as 5am, Akira woke up and started working, sweeping and dusting the house. Her parents joined her later, and together they worked tirelessly to decorate the house to perfection, ofcourse with Charlotte pointing out mistakes and creating more hurdles for them, but that didn't stop them, ans they silently did whatever she wanted knowing that the moment her guests arrive, they would have their freedom and would be able to enjoy the rest of the night peacefully.
" Great, for the first time it's a job well-done by all of you. You two can go and rest, as for you Akira, go get dressed up, you would cater to my guests tonight" Charlotte said looking straight into akiras eyes.
" What do you mean by cater aunty, you have already hired waiters, so what do I need to do here" Akira asked in disbelief.
" I might not like you Akira, but you are a beauty for sure, so you would be a candy to the eye. I need my guests entertained, and well taken care off, who can do that better than a beauty like you, huh" Charlotte said placing her hand under akiras chin.
" No, not at all Charlotte, my daughter is not an escort nor an entertainer, she is doing no such thing" mason said angrily.
" She would, wouldn't you dear Akira?" Charlotte said looking her in the eye.
" And why would I do such a thing" Akira asked with disbelief.
" You what your mom's medication paid on time next month don't you, then do it dear, or else, your mother would die, but I would never pay for her medicines again" Charlotte whispered in akiras ear before looking up with a smile.
" You would do it right, my sweet niece" Charlotte said looking at Akira again with a creepy smile.
Looking at the eyes of her mother, Akira sigh in defeat and nodded.