Chapter 7

Recap...

Skaii please let go of your past. It's unhealthy." Her mother spoke calmly and sipped from her glass again.

"Are you f*cking kidding me here. I spent two weeks in the hospital and this is what my mother greets me with." Skaii raked her fingers through her hair in frustration.

"It seems you have been so busy doing your own thing that you seem to be missing some things. Let me fill you in baby girl." Sophie rose from the stool and walked towards Skaii.

"You are nothing but a mere object in our lives. The Shaws own you, do you understand me? So the next time when Matthew tries to get between those leg of yours, you open them as wide as you can."

"But you're supposed to be my mother. You should protect me from them." Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke.

"Skaii, the day I left your daddy was the day I sold you. He was broke and I needed money. When I told Mr. Shaw about my family, he was willing to make a proposition. It's not as hard as it was then, now you're just a sad and angry little girl."

"Are you telling me that you, my mother, sold me when I was just thirteen?"

"Yeah, if you don't cooperate, it's less money for me. So I suggest you do, before I show you what I really am capable of."

"I think it's clear you conniving bitch." Skaii rose her right hand, and before she could stop herself, it was planted across her mother's cheek.

Skaii trotted past her to the table and snatched up the keys to the front door.

Her mother was still standing in the middle of the kitchen, with her hand on the cheek that Skaii had struck.

She briskly walked towards the door and opened it, leaving her mother frozen in her spot.

She welcomed the cool evening air as soon as it hit her. She inhaled deeply and slowly shove the strands of hair that loosely hang in her face. She began walking down the concrete pavement towards the gate.

When she walked out, she took her phone out and dialed Ian's number.

"Ian," Skaii breathe out.

"Skaii?" His voice was groggy, like he was sleeping.

Tears rolled out of her eyes as her brother called her name. She was glad he answered. He was the only person who she could talk to about what she just learned; he was the only person she had to talk to.

She cleared her throat and asked, "Are you okay?"

"I think I should be asking you that. Where have you been? I mean, I called, I texted, I left a bunch of voice messages and I haven't heard back from you until now. What's going on Skaii?" His voice was laced with concern. Skaii took a deep breath, in order to calm herself down, then she began to tell him what really happened to her.

"I don't want you to worry about me okay."

"I think it is a little late for that." He said softly.

Skaii always admired that Ian was always calm. No matter what he was going through, or how he felt, he just knew how to control his feelings.

"Ian, please don't tell dad, you know how it will affect him. His heart can't manage this." Skaii pleaded with him.

She knew her father would be upset if Ian kept him in the dark about what she told him, but it was for his own good. He was diagnosed with atherosclerosis(a severe heart illness), about two years back. He had a heart attack a few months ago and since then, he was off of work, trying to take it easy and Skaii was afraid that he would have another attack.

She didn't even want to think about it.

"Alright, I won't." She could picture Ian running his hand through his hair.

"Thank you." She whispered in the phone.

"One day, they're going to get what's coming to them. I can promise you that."

"I hope that you don't do anything stupid. You know what these people are capable of doing. They operate outside of the law."

"But not above it." He said with a tone of finality.

"Um, let me call you back." Skaii spoke absentmindedly as she stared blankly in front of her.

"Cool," the phone beeped, indicating that he hung up.

Skaii shove her phone in her top pocket and continue walking.

"Just when I thought my night couldn't get any worse, they decided to let you out." He smiled bitterly at her.

"You know, you really need to work on your conversation skills. You didn't bright up my night either okay." Skaii smiled back at him.

"So, does your boyfriend live around these parts?" He folded his arms and continued looking down at her.

"I guess you've heard the rumors, I'm not surprised you believed them though. You always thought the worse of me, ever since the day we've met." His huge hazel eyes bore into hers, and she was captured. She stared into them without blinking. It was not that she didn't want to, it was because she couldn't. And she hated that.

"You never really gave me a choice did you? It's hard to think that you're not a bitch." He snapped at her.

"And you're acting like you're a preacher's f*cking son. You could've been decent enough to ask me if I actually lived here."

"Gee, Skaii do you live here or did you just came over to f*ck the guy that broke your neck?" He asked.

Skaii rose an eyebrow at him.

"Why do you care anyways?"

He smirked at her, "Who says I did? I just feel sorry for you."

"Hey Nick!" Someone called from behind them. They broke their stare and shifted their attention to the man that was stalking towards them. Even though it was dark, Skaii could still make out the shiny badge pinned to his left breast.

He was a cop.

Skaii slowly stepped away from Nicholas. His eyes narrowed down at her.

She knew what he was thinking, that probably her "boyfriend" would be mad if she saw her talking to an officer.

Pity that he didn't know the half of it.

"Yes dad?" Nicholas turned to the man.

Dad?

This man was Nick's father?

"I see you've made a friend." The man said, walking closer to Skaii.

"Good evening sir, My name is Skaii Holder." She extended her right hand to him and he grasped it and shook it firmly.

Did he know about what they said happened at school? Was he just like his son?

"Pleased to meet you Skaii, I'm John Harvey." He answered Skaii's question with that sentence and she instantly liked him, even though her mind was telling her to run.

"Likewise Mr. Harvey." She smiled genuinely.

"She is beautiful and polite too." He says to Nicholas. 

"Do you live around here Miss Holder?" He continued to inquire.

Skaii smiled and turned to face Nicholas and then said while shaking her head, "No I don't, I'm just passing through."