Rona.
† Flashback †
Blood slowly slid down my fingers as I stared at the dagger. The very one I plunged into her chest.
My knees buckled, eyes darted around in a frenzy as blood pooled on the cashmere rug.
"What...What just happened?"
My grip on the dagger loosened and it hit the floor.
Clang!
Caesar leapt towards me, sheets wrapped loosely around his waist as he grabbed my arm. "What the actual fuck, Rona!"
His arms were like bars of steel, Cold.
"I don't know..." I choked out, "I don't fucking know what happened!"
'What have I done?'
"One minute I was by the door... then she was on top of you and..." I shoved him backwards, "Everything just went...black!"
Caesar's iron-clad grip loosened as he stumbled back.
He rushed to her side, hovering over her wound. "Call a fucking ambulance."
My legs moved on auto-pilot as I scrambled to pick up my phone.
"Please... Please pick up."
The dial never seemed to end. It was a continuous reminder that the person behind me was bleeding out of her chest.
I did that. I stabbed her.
"Hello this is 911, What's your emergency?" A hoarse female voice echoed from the other end.
She must've had a bad day but I guarantee it wasn't as shitty as mine.
I staggered backwards, my legs nearly gave out as I leaned against the wall.
"There's a woman in my apartment... She's bleeding out of her chest-"
Caesar's scream shot through me like a thunderbolt. "She's not breathing!"
The phone shattered on the floor and everything else was a blur.
The sirens, the paramedics placing her on a stretcher.
It wass went dark, and the only thing I could think about was the fact that I nearly killed my mother.
†
The biting cold seeped into my skin as I laid on the damp floor.
The key rattled in the background, but I had long accepted my fate, to die in this mouldy cell. Alone.
The pain was tearing at every fibre of my being from within and it was becoming impossible to fight.
"Leave me alone." I rasped, Each syllable set my lungs aflame.
I was met with an eerie silence, and I strained my neck to stare at the guard.
He had a solemn look on his face as he unlocked the doors,
"Lucky bitch." He muttered under his breath as he swung the door open.
A weak grin made its way to my face, nearly driving him past the edge.
He grabbed me, hoisting me above his shoulders.
A startled shriek escaped my lips as I choked on air, "A warning ... cough... would suffice.."
Strings of red appeared in my vision, as large rivulets of blood stained his uniform.
I stifled my coughs to keep him from noticing, being beaten up was definitely not on my agenda.
Rays of light peeked through the window blinds, it was the first time I'd seen the sun since I was thrown into this godforsaken hole.
The guard unceremoniously tossed me on the hardened floor.
"Fuck," I groaned, curling in on myself, "Would it kill you to be a tad bit gentle."
He rolled his eyes, "Bitches don't deserve princess treatment."
"That's a compliment coming from you." I grimaced, balling my hands into fists as I stood up.
"Seems the princess doesn't want to leave-"
"Heh! Maybe we grew on her."
The other guards bellowed from the lounge.
Leave... My eyes widened and I stared at the open doors, freedom finally within my grasp.
"I...I can leave?" I asked, craning my neck slightly to meet his eyes
.
He placed his cigarette stub on the ashtray "Boss's orders. Now get the hell out."
"Is our little princess too frail to walk? Should I get you a wheelchair?" One of them snickered, his voice grew darker as his eyes raked over my body, "Or better yet, carry you myself."
My fingers dug deeper into myself skin, 'Ignore them, Rona. Ignore them.'
I took a wobbly step forward, gripping the door with all the strength I could muster.
'Am I finally getting out of here?'
The humid air hit my face, nothing like the decadent smell that was forever etched in my memory.
A single black car was parked in the driveway, windows tinted, its plate number was ingrained in my head.
CLR-1202
My smile barely reached my eyes and my grip on the cane loosened slightly as it fell to the ground.
I should've known, this was too easy.
Their laughter echoed through the deserted space.
"Surprise Bitch!" The cynical guard bellowed loudly.
I tilted my head, giving him the middle finger.
The car's door opened, I recognised those prominent pale knuckles and defined fingers, the dark, printed Armani pants, The dark Italian leather shoes.
He was here.
His face was devoid of all emotions as he watched me struggle to take each step.
What I didn't expect was the glamorous flash of red, the stunning Oran heels, and her brightly painted lips.
Mother...No, Bailey Reid.
She strode towards me, her heels clicking on the pavement floors.
"Nice to see you again, Daughter."
Her stare burned into my skull, and an ugly scowl formed on my lips.
"You're not my mother."
She laughed emptily, her hands reaching out to pat my shoulders. "My DNA runs through you Rona, Fight it all you want but blood tests don't lie."
I slapped her hand away, my gaze was venomous and for once I regretted not plunging that knife deeper in her chest.
I balled my fists, "You really have the audacity to call yourself a mother?"
Bailey's lips parted slightly but no words left.
"Can a mother forget her kid on the other side of the continent?" I lowered my head, shielding my face from her. "Can a mother wish for her child's death? Can a mother steal everything her child has worked on for the past eight years?"
Bailey took a step back, her confident gait faltering.
A vengeful ghost crawled up from the depths of hell and stood before her, defying all her expectations. "What a good mother you are, Bailey Reid."
"Cara-" Caesar spoke up.
"Shut up!" I screamed, raising my head. "You've lost the right to call me your Cara Mi..."
I trailed off, my words were caught in my chest. I stared down, A dagger was embedded deeply in my stomach.
Bailey, She gripped the handle, her fingers quivering.
"Good, You didn't miss this time." I whispered.
Her gaze widened, blood pooled out, marring the pavement.
I felt light headed. My knees buckled, my body gave out.
Caesar's eyes widened, he pushed Bailey aside, stretching out his hands a second too late.
He was always late.
My head hit the ground with a thud. Black spots blurred my vision.
I could faintly make out Caesar's panicked screams for help.
Heh. The woman who birthed me, killed me.
A dark figure flashed as the void finally gained control.