CHAPTER THREE

LEILA

I told the principal of my school that I already need my diploma because my Mom and I will be leaving town in a few weeks. She allowed me to take due to my perfect record in the school, the principal agreed that I can skip all my final exams. They issued my diploma just a week ago.

The day I got my diploma, Ms Arnold's talked with me for one last time. She was teary-eyed.

She gave me a hug. "I know it hasn't been easy for you since your father died. But you kept on and continued proving to yourself and everyone that you will always be the best no matter what the circumstances are."

She said with all sincerity, "I'm sad to see you go, Leila but you will always be part of this school. So I hope wherever you go, whatever you plan to do in the future, this school will also always be part of you. You know that you were suppose to be the school's valedictorian for this batch, right? But it's alright. Even though you are still young, you now have to decide on your life, what road you need to take. So remember to be strong, okay? God and your father are always watching over you.

I will be praying for you. God will always be there for you. Offer all your plans to him so you will always make the right decision."

We embraced each other for a while. In times like these, I felt the love of a mother that my own mother was not able to give to me. I embraced her tightly and placed my head on her shoulder without saying anything. She comforted me before letting me go. Tears formed in my eyes when I said goodbye and she handed me my transcript of records and my diploma.

When I got home, I put in some of my clothes, a pair of shoes, my transcript of records, my diploma, and some of my pictures with my Dad into a box. Then in the last minute, I included an old teddy bear that my Dad gave me when I was four years old. The box was still small enough for me to carry. Thank goodness. I felt relieved. I hailed a taxi and told the driver to bring me to the nearest fedex branch. I mailed the box to Jason Ziegler's address. I was assured by the fedex clerk that my package would arrive within two weeks.

The next day, it was friday. I stayed home all day. I didn't tell my Mom that I was allowed to stop attending my classes and already got my diploma. At three in the afternoon, I called up Emzitech's main office and requested to be connected to Jason Ziegler's office.

I knew Jason thought I was crazy with all the demands I was asking of him. Even if I was, he didn't have a choice. Either do what I say or lose his family's billions. He should be thankful I demanded he marries me when I am already of legal age. At least, when we have our children, his billions will stay in the family. I'm very forward thinking. Hahah! I giggled to myself.

I put down the phone. It was almost four p.m. I had to shut down Emzitech's system before dinner. I only had three hours to penetrate their firewall again, hack their computers, and shut down the whole system. Actually, I already had hacked their computers two months ago without them knowing it. But after I had hacked it, I only studied their programs without changing anything. I started working using my laptop.

On friday nights, Mom usually comes home at six-thirty. She would order pizza. When the pizza comes, we would have dinner.

It was already six-twenty. I already had hacked through Emzitech's main computers. I started shutting down Emzitech's system. Within five minutes, they were all down. I placed in a virus so that they wouldn't be able to completely restore their system without my assistance. They could not just buy new equipment. They already spent billions on their system. Buying new ones will make them bankrupt. They need me. I smiled. I congratulated myself for being a smart little lady. Work accomplished.

Second part of my plan was dealing with my mother. She was right on schedule. Six-thirty. I heard her car come up the driveway. She came in and headed straight to her room.

Later in, I heard her ordering pizza. "Just one family size. Put on extra beef and mushroom." Pause. "That would be all, wait, add some fries, a can of coke and a big size apple juice. Yeah, right. When will that arrive? Fifteen minutes? That's fine. I will pay now using my credit card."

When I heard she was already paying using my creditcard, I dialed 911.

The operator asked for my name and address. "My name's Leila Evans." I gave my address.

She asked me what was going on. "My mother is abusing me. No I'm scared she's going to kill me. I started telling her all of my mother's physical, emotional and verbal abuse.

I heard my mother give my credit card number. "What? It's being denied?" she yelled. "Can you try again please? That never happened before." She gave my credit card number again.

"I don't know why it's getting denied. Maybe that old hag had that card disconnected. Here, I have another one." She gave her own credit card number.

My heart was starting to beat hard on my chest. I started to sweat. "Can you stay on the phone. I want you to hear her yelling at me." The operator agreed.

I heard my Mom shout at the top of her voice. "No! That card cannot be denied! That card is mine. My bill payments are all up to date. I don't have a single debt!"

"There is something wrong with your machine! You just denied two credit cards! How do you expect us to eat dinner? Yes! I will call the creditcard company!"

Then I heard her talking to the customer service of the creditcard provider. "I just tried using the credit card. It wasn't working. It got denied while I was ordering pizza."

"My name? Veronica Evans. The name on the card is Leila Evans. I'm her mother. The card is an extension of Stephanie Evan's creditcard. I'm her daughter-in-law."

"No! this card wasn't stolen! I have it right here. Stephanie knows I'm using it. Why don't you call her up? I'm sure she doesn't want her grandaughter to starve."

There was a few minutes of silence. I heard my Mom walk around the living room and muttering expletives. " Hello, is this the customer service for the credit card? My creditcard isn't working. Veronica Evans. What? I didn't report that my creditcard was stolen."

Then i heard heavy footsteps hurriedly coming towards my door. Here goes! I braced myself.

My Mother came inside my room heaving heavily. Her face was red and she was so angry. She went straight to me and slapped me hard on the face.

"You slapped me!" I yelled for the benefit of the 911 operator.

I felt like my neck got dislocated. left cheek was burning and I got very dizzy.

"What did you do?" She yelled loudly. "You reported your creditcard and my credit card were stolen!." She then hit my other cheek.

"AWWW" I yelled again. I checked my phone. The operator was still there.

Hopefully, she was recording all the noises we were making.

"Speak up and explain why you reported both cards were stolen!"

My head was reeling from the pain. But I still said calmly, "You stole my creditcard! And you have been stealing my money"

She took my left arm and threw me against the wall. My head hit the wall hard. I fell on the floor. I was sobbing and my whole body was in pain.

"I should have aborted you when I was pregnant! But no! Your Dad convinced me to keep you! You should have died a long time ago!"

I yelled as loud as I can, You killed him so you can have the insurance money! I know you killed him."

"Your father was a loser! I hated him. He deserved to die." Her face became contorted and was full of hatred. Such an evil face. She gave a demonic laughter. "Yes, I killed him you little rascal! I'm going to kill you, too."

My eyes widened in terror. Her eyes were red. She looked possessed. I screamed! I scrambled to my feet and dragged my painful body to my phone. "Help me! Please help me!" I screamed.

"Who are you talking to?" She grabbed the phone away from me. She spoke loudly, "Who is this?"

"911. I have already sent the police and ambulance to your address."

"What? Da*n you! Mind your own business"

Mother turned to me again and said, "You set me up! You think you can get rid of me? You are going to die and we will both go to hell."

She took my right arm with both hands and dragged me out of the door.

"Noooo! Let me go! " I was sobbing hysterically. I kept stumbling and she was dragging me. Then I realized where we were going! To the balcony!!

I Iooked at her with horror!! I continued sobbing. I was pleading for her to have mercy. I started hitting her and biting her wrists. But she was too strong for me.I was no match for her inhuman demonic strength.

She pulled me outside her bedroom.

I never thought that she would really want to kill me. "Please, Mommy, nooo!" I kept sobbing. We were already at the balcony on the second floor of the house. She grabbed my hair and lifted me from the ground.

"Goodbye, Bit*h!" She yelled before throwing me into the air.

"AAAAHHH" I screamed as I felt myself falling. I hit something hard. Then darkness.