" Mother! Mother! Ma! Please don't leave me!" A four-year-old girl cried after her mother.
She straddled her legs around her mother's legs crying and begging her not to leave. But her plea seemed to be in vain because the woman kept on moving with her luggage.
" Please Mother, take me with you!" The little girl kept begging with loud weepings.
" I'm sorry Ivy, but you are better off with that murderer," She said without any emotion in her tone.
" No. Please mother," she cried harder. It must have been a tough life already for a four-year-old Warren. She is just four and is already used to hard words being used in her presence.
"Please Mommy!" she begged with a cracked voice, her sobs becoming faint. She was gradually losing her voice.
" You'll be safer with him. His enemies will kill you. I can't protect you. "
Why would a mother say such words to an infant? A four-year-old little girl. Like she will understand what those words mean.
The little girl let go of her mother's legs, got up, wiped away her tears, and went upstairs without looking back.
"I'm sorry Ivy. I'm so sorry my Princess, " The sandy-colored hair woman started sobbing as she saw her little girl walk upstairs boldly.
" I'm sorry my child! I'm doing this for your safety" Carole Warren said, breaking down on the floor.
" I'm so sorry, Ivy" Her voice started fading away as she sobbed louder. Her words echoed in the room repeatedly.
" You are not sorry!" Ivy Warren shrieked waking up from sleep, sweating as though she had run a marathon.
" You are not sorry!" She shouted, hitting the pillow hard. She always had this dream and it became a birthday tradition for her.
She heard a knock at her bedroom door and quickly composed herself. She wiped off an imaginary tear and changed her countenance to a stern look.
The door was pushed open and a man of about 40 walked in with a birthday cake in his hands. The cake was designed in the shape of a gun and it had black icing.
He had a striking resemblance with Ivy. They shared the same color of eyes blue, hair black, and the same nose.
He had on a dark blue suit and the smile which adored his face looked so creepy.
" Happy Birthday, Princess!" He said to his daughter who hadn't any smile on her face.
" Thank you, Master," she said without any excitement. Master was the name her father instructed her to use when referring to him.
" No. Today is a special day; my first gift to you is, you can call me Father for the entire day."
" Ok, Master. " She responded without any form of enthusiasm, her countenance remained the same so unbothered by the occasion.
" Should I get a whip?" he asked sternly.
" Sorry, Father!" She responded immediately she understood the gift resumes immediately and that she had disobeyed him. An action that could change this peaceful scene into a training ground.
" Good girl." the creepy smile returned to his face. " Today is your 7th birthday; kids your age would be very excited seeing this cake in my hands. Jump in excitement kissing me all over my face, thanking me, and saying I'm the best father ever. " he stopped and laughed maniacally. " Unfortunately, you are my daughter and you're not a normal kid. I like the look on your face, " His countenance changed as well.
" Now smile!" he ordered.
Ivy quickly smiled, he placed the cake before her and took pictures of her and the cake. Ivy gently blew out the candles and her father clapped cheerfully.
" Thank you, Father. "
" Now cut the cake, " Carlos Warren ordered and she did as told.
This is how life has been for Ivy Warren in the last 3 years. She doesn't leave this mansion unless she goes for training with her father. She barely sees the needs of her age.
Carlos Warren fed her a slice of the cake and she did the same to him. He was the only family she had. No matter what happens she still loved him and believed to an extent he did the same too.
She was taught by her father never to have any emotional feelings be it of joy or sorrow.
" Now open your gift" He declared, still giving her those weird smiles.
She opened the box wrapped in a black gift box and took out a gun.
Normally a seven-year-old would be scared at the sight of a gun but she wasn't. Not even for a second.
" Thank you, Father,"
" You'll start learning how to use it as of tomorrow. You are old enough now."
" Copy, Father"
" Now, next gift," he said, clapping his hands and a maid walked in with a cute white hairy kitten.
There was this sparkle that glowed in her eyes at the sight of the kitten. She was very excited but couldn't show her gratitude. No matter what.
" I decided to get you a friend," He said dismissing the maid who had been warned never to say a word to Ivy.
"On second thoughts. Take us a picture with the new family member" He instructed the maid handing his phone to her.
He sat down close to his daughter and the pictures were taken with Ivy smiling genuinely while hugging the cat.
" Enough. Now get out!" he ordered. The maid dropped the phone and half ran out of the room.
" Thank you, father"
" Name the feline"
" Hmmm. Katniss"
" Cute"
" Thank you, Father"
" Party over, now come downstairs for breakfast" He changed his fake smile into a scowl. "One more thing," He stopped in his tracks " If she comes to apologize to you again. Use your pistol,"
He heard her shouting earlier, he just didn't want to ruin her birthday.
Ivy jumped out of bed rushing to the bathroom.
" Bring your new friend to breakfast," he said walking out.
Everything in her room had two colors, either blood red or black except her bedroom walls which were painted white. Be it the duvet or the chairs or curtains it was either red or black.
When she got out of the bathroom with a white big towel wrapped around her petite body, she found her new friend cuddled up in her red duvet feeling very safe.
She smiled at it showing off her beautiful dimples. " Don't worry Katniss, we'll get along pretty well." She carried her up in her arms like a baby.
Luckily Katniss wasn't a grumpy or scared little cat.
After dressing up in a beautiful birthday red gown she carried up her cat and said" Let's go downstairs for breakfast, shall we?"
This is the most exciting thing ever in her life. She felt very happy and excited, though all that had to end behind the closed doors of her bedroom.
******
She became so attached to Katniss, she talked to her as though Katniss was a human.
Whenever she had those dreams of her mother coming back to her Katniss always comforted her. Ivy Warren grew up to love Katniss like her best friend and sister. Their bond grew stronger as time went by, and Ivy no longer felt lonely.
" Happy Birthday, Master," Ivy said to her Father.
" Special occasions demand a change in names. Don't you think so?"
" My apologies, Father. Happy Birthday."
Don Carlos has always treated his only child in the same manner in which he treated his men.
" Good job."
" Thank you, Father" She has never summoned the courage to talk to her father while looking him in the face.
" How old are you again?" Don Carlos asked, pretending as though he was in deep thought.
" 10 years old, Father," Ivy answered.
Don Carlos smiled mischievously. He picked up his pipe and puffed on it.
Ivy waited patiently to know why he asked, but her father did know how to take his time in making her wait.
" I want a gift!" he declared after a very long silence, placing his pipe gently on the coffee table. " You are old enough to get me, your beloved father, a birthday gift."
Ivy's heart skips a beat on hearing his request. He has never asked her for anything on his birthday, even when she attempted to make a painting for him, he rejected it saying it wasn't necessary. But later on, took the portrait and placed it in his office.
Ivy doesn't go to a regular school, she schools from home, using her laptop with strict supervision by a personal bodyguard.
" Do you have anything in mind, Father!" she asked politely.
" Of course, I do! My precious pearl."
" Let's hear it," little did she know she was digging her own grave. She should have known from the start that this was a bad idea.
" For how long have you been learning how to use a gun?"
"Three years, Father"
" Good." He puffed on his pipe again. " Go get the feline!" he ordered without any emotion. It's amazing. How his countenance can completely change in no time.
" Katniss?!"
" I believe I was clear enough, " He said with a scowl.
Ivy walked upstairs with shaking feet, her heart pounding so hard against her chest. She didn't know why she had a bad feeling about this.
She carried the cat in her arms as though she wanted to never let go of it.
Don Carlos smiled happily seeing how she held the cat. Of course, he knew how much Ivy had grown to love the cat.
" Give her to me! " he ordered, with outstretched hands.
Ivy was hesitant to hand the cat to him. She had this nervous feeling in her stomach, the last time she felt this way was when her mother left her.
" I deserve a happy birthday wish from Katniss, don't you think? She's more like family now and family celebrates each other. "
Ivy felt relaxed, she handed the cat to her father, but her stomach muscles didn't loosen up.
" Look at how grown up she is, you did a good job raising her. " Don Carlos commented, patting the cat.
" Thank you, father"
" Where is your gun? " he asked, still playing with the cat.
" My drawer, "
" Remind me to punish you after my birthday party," he said, smiling sarcastically. Of course, there wasn't a party, his idea of the party was with his daughter out in the training field.
He had told Ivy that the gun became a part of her body the day she shot her first bullet at a Pinata. And was never to leave her room without it, no matter what. The reason why she's going to be punished.
"Go get it, "
" Thank you, Father, " she ran upstairs in fast strips.
" I'm not sorry, Feline Katniss. You were bought for this purpose and it must be fulfilled today. " Don Carlos said, smoothing the fur on the cat's head.
Ivy returned two minutes later panting as though she ran a marathon. The main reason she ran that fast was because she didn't trust her father alone with Katniss.
" Take your friend. " He handed the cat back to Ivy with a creepy smile on his face. " Let's go to the training ground, "
" Two minutes, Father. Let me take Katniss back to our room" Funny how she said 'our' not 'my'. That's how attached she was to the Cat. They have shared everything for the last three years.
" She comes along, " Don Carlos said, walking away.
Ivy followed soothe without complaining. Her Dad's decisions were final and there was nothing she could do other than obey. Katniss had never been to the training field, Don Carlos told her that she would be a distraction to her.
She doesn't understand why today is different from other days but she's ready to learn at any time. Maybe something to do with his birthday party. She thought.
The training ground wasn't far from the house. Just an extension of the Warren estate, they both got in the car and the bodyguard drove to an open field.
It looked more like a place where police officers were trained. Electric wires, tall fences, and broken bridges with mod beneath. A stranger would think an earthquake occurred there but, no, it was designed that way for a purpose.
Pinatas build at crucial angles. This place holds a lot of bitter memories for Ivy.
When she was six years old, her father brought her here in the middle of the night, took her to the woods, and left her there alone. He told her she was to return to the training ground in two hours.
Left in the middle of nowhere, she had to go back to the training ground and the only thing she had was a little Flashlight.
The memories of that night returned to her whenever she stepped here on this ground.
" Killers don't get lost in thought, " Don Carlos said, bringing her out of her thoughts.
They stepped out of the car and walked to the open field. " Go change," He ordered coldly.
Ivy returned a few minutes later, dressed in black trousers and a tank top. Her boots reached up to her knee. She tied up her black hair and had a face cap.
"Ready!? "
" Ready, " she responded, pulling out her gun. The shooting was the first thing they always did when they got here, so she need not be told what had to be done.
" You have just one bullet and you shoot just once. If you miss, your punishment is doubled. " He instructed.
" Got it, Father"
"Any last words to the Feline? " he asked with a grimace.
" Katniss? "
" Killing the Feline is my birthday gift from you and there is no bargaining IN that. Mind you, I don't have to remind you that ' feelings ' are not a part of us. "
Ivy felt like breaking down in tears and begging her father. But she knows how heartless he is and that he expects her to be heartless as well.
" But father she is the best thing that has ever happened to me, " she said, fighting every urge to cry.
" The more reasons she needs to go. I am and will forever remain the best thing that ever happened to you. " He was getting angry already. This was the time for Ivy to show him all that he had taught her.
" But, I can't do it, Father. Please Father" her tears started gliding down her cheeks. She knew she'd get punished for crying, showing signs of weakness, and limiting herself.
" I don't need to remind you of the consequences of what you are doing right now. I am so excited about my birthday gift, I wouldn't waste much of my time. "
Ivy looked at the cat, who was busy playing in the green grass. She looked at her father and her countenance changed from sorrowful to cold and indifferent.
" Any other alternative? " She asked boldly. At this moment, even if it meant she should kill the guard in place of the cat. She'll take the risk.
"Yes. There is my precious daughter. " He said with a sardonic smile on his face.
Ivy's pounding heart cooled off a bit. She almost beamed with happiness, she knew her father cared for her happiness and would do anything to grant her wish. She knew that deep down there in his chest was a heart.
" Me! " he laughed maniacally.
" You? "
" Yes, I. " he stopped laughing and a smug look appeared on his face. " You either kill the feline or you kill me! "
At that moment, Ivy realized her father was the devil indeed. And this is what she is going to become, putting his life in the place of a cat was the height of his cruelty.
"Remember the person you are to kill is never ready for you to shoot. Unless you have them tied up or something, never expect the target to be ready for you. You are the one who has to be ready to make the kill. "
Ivy prepared her gun and pulled the trigger with shaking hands.
"In less than 3 seconds, either Katniss or Don Carlos should drop dead. Remember you shoot just once," he instructed with a smirk on his face.
Ivy shut her eyes tight after taking a closer look at the target. She raised the gun and shut, holding the gun with both hands.