Sorry.

Sorry to all heroines who thought they were smart and helping only to get caught by a villain. Sorry for scolding you guys. I never thought I would be among them but here I am, where exactly I don't know but in a similar situation.

My left side of the face is throbbing horribly from the hitting I took and there is something seriously wrong with my left eye which is closed shut. My body is covered in bruises. I don't know how much time has passed since my last beating. My stomach grumbles reminding me that the last thing I ate is Long gone. There is nothing in this room except the chair I’m tied to. I can hear water dripping somewhere. It's been 5 days since I’m captured. They thought they could break me, but I still have some fight left in me. I am not going to let go that easily. Whoever is doing this don't know me completely. I have a hunch who is behind this. I try again to loosen my hands without any success.

Suddenly I hear footsteps approaching me. I know it's not time yet for the next round. Something is wrong. I take my position hunching my shoulders and looking weak. The door opens and I blink just to make sure I'm looking right. My brain is telling me something, but I'm still stuck in my position. I think I took to many beatings, that's it. That must be-

' I presume my guys took care of you nicely'.

I don't know what to say, am I hallucinating? ' I know you are not that dumb; I'm talking to you'.

Finally, I could move my mouth and all I could say was ‘Why?'

'Seriously, do you think I'm going to all bad villain on you like in old movies and confess my crimes? Grow up. But I have to say I'm disappointed in you. I sure thought you would be able to solve but anyways'.

And she pointed a gun right at my head. It’s funny how they say you can watch your whole life passing before your eyes at the time of death, but I didn't feel anything. 'It was nice meeting you'.

BANG.

I woke up groggily looking at my alarm, 'shit'!!

It's 9. How come I didn't wake up to my alarm? Normally it's so loud that the whole building can hear it and then I remembered last night.

I still can't believe whether it's true or a figment of my imagination. I quickly checked my call register and there it is the truth. The phone number of my Sister with whom I haven't spoken in 6 years. I dint believe my ears at first when I heard her voice last night. She sounded excited, happy. I forgot how her laughter sounds. If I can remember she never was happy when she was staying with us, mom, me, and her. There was always a cloud of sadness clinging to her. So, it was quite a shock when I heard her with a complete personality change. She said she wanted to clear the air between us, I'm not sure what that meant for us. It's a little bit too late for me.

She left us when I was 15, still a minor to do anything, still in the clutches of evil witch aka our mom. I don't want to spoil my thoughts thinking about my dead mom. I don't know whether I should be happy that she finally contacted me or angry that she left me when I needed her the most. I'm about to find out in 3 hours which mood I will be in.

I started my morning routine getting ready for my work. I work as an errand girl aka assistant secretary in training to an executive in Sinclair enterprises. It was hard to land what with no experience and my lack of higher studies, but I pulled it. I'm not ashamed to admit my looks have been a crucial factor in getting it, thanks to the interviewers wandering eye and I played that to the hilt. I'm 5.8" with a curvy figure and blond. My green eyes are the Colour of leaves after heavy rain.

I checked my watch and I know I'm going to be late. I hope the dragon (secretary-manager) who handles all duties of us lowlife secretary’s is late, I know its wishful thinking still I can hope and pray. I took the subway and ran as fast as I can in my 3-inch heels stopping at the cafe to take latte for my boss.

When I reach my floor, the lift door opens to the face of a very angry dragon. I can see her teeth grinding and jaw flexing.

'Good morning Mrs. Kimberly'

' is that so Ms. Anderson? I dint notice'

I thought to say, you should walk out and watch the sun, it's fun to see it other than chained to desk 24/7, but I dint say it.

Instead, I said, ' well I think Mr. knight needs me'

and tried to walk around her emphasis on trying to.

' please note that next time it wouldn't be a good morning for you if this is repeated'

'Yes Mrs. Kimberly', I replied as meekly as I could get.

I stumbled past her trying to forget dragon scaring me out of my job.

Ugh, this is so not my morning, I found out belatedly. Not only I got a warning from the dragon but also Mr. Knight is cross with me. Mr. Knight is in his 40's and is gentle normally. Apparently, today is my lucky day.

"Ms. Anderson", he called me.

'Yes, Mr. Knight?'

'I told you to fax the details of members present in the NGAI project yesterday evening, where is it, Ms. Anderson? Is it lost in the mail?'

'Umm I would do it right away'

' what is this? School projects! Can't you do it when asked?'

'Mr. Knight, I know you are going through a rough patch in your personal life but it doesn't give you an excuse to behave with me in such a manner, as you asked my assistance in after office hours'

'I'm sorry Erica for behaving in such a ghastly way. Today is the day. I thought I had time, but she asked for a divorce. I dint saw it coming. I thought we could mend our fences'

'It's not your fault. Don't place your wife's infidelity on your conscience'

' I wonder taking those Long office hours is the cause'

'Stop it. It is her decision. Some people just fall out of love. You have to understand it.'

'It's hard to. But I get what you mean. I forgot myself in the race to give her everything that all she asked for is for us to be together. It was such a Long time now. 17 years of marriage gone'

I don't know what else to say to him, so I kept silent. Sometimes silence is all it took to support others.

'Anyway, I owe you a long lunch for my behaviour since morning. Why don't you go for it? Be a dear and bring my favourite sandwich when you return'

'Oh god, I forgot. I was going to ask for a long lunch for myself. I have a meeting with someone.'

'A male someone?', his eyes dancing.

Now there is the boss I know.' No. It's personal, but just so you know, I'm meeting a female'

'I don't know you swing that way', he said humor shining in his eyes.

'You never know. I would like to keep my personal life to myself'

'Don't I ever know. I don't know anything about you except what is there on your resume and you don't like black coffee'

'Trust me, you know more than enough'

'I wonder '

'What?'

'Is it to keep your personal life a secret or a secret from your personal life?'

'You watch way more than Detective movies than required. I'm leaving. Will come around 2'

' ya ya, just divert me why don't you'

I shake my head and took myself out of my office building. It's 11:40 am already. I must meet my Sister in 20 min in a well-known cafe four blocks over.

The traffic is more than normal. As Christmas is around the corner every shop is decorated in white and red. I don't have anything against Santa, but holidays and I don't rub well together. There is no big mystery just that as far as I can remember I was always alone during holidays even when my Sister was living with us. It doesn't say much about our family bond.

Checking my phone for any new messages I entered the cafe and my eyes found auburn hair before I recognized myself doing that. She has changed a lot. For one her figure is not 'stick and bones'; abused with drugs anymore. She has a healthy glow about her. She smiled when she saw me. It can only call radiant. I don't know what happened to her in these six years but I'm happy for her even though she left me out cold.

'Hi', she said tentatively when I kept on staring.

Realizing I was still standing I sit across her and asked her the one question that was burning through me since that call.

'Why now?', I questioned coming to the point.

‘What do you mean?'

'Don't play coy with me, Sophie, you know what I mean'

She sighs as if I'm troubling her, well tough luck because, with the things as they were, I'm behaving like a saint if you ask me.

' what do you want me to say?'

'How about the truth? Or is it so much to ask for?'

'Don't be a B. Chill, will you? You know the situation at home when I left. I thought it would be less burden if I left.'

'How you mean? Less burden? Less burden to whom? By not being there for me when I need you.'

'I'm sorry I was not thinking'

'Obviously'

'Could you tone down the sarcasm for a minute. I'm trying here'

'Ok'

'I was 20. I could have left when I was 18. But I stayed for you. So that you won't end up like her. I tried my level best. I was juggling between two different jobs to help pay the bills. I was exhausted daily. It's no excuse I know but then I learned about the mortgage on our home.'

'That's it? You left me with her because of the bills?'

'No. It broke the camel’s neck. It made me realize I couldn't do anything with my life if I stayed there with you guys.'

I thought of all that time I needed her and struggled with my anger. Why am I angry at her? What she says is true, she has the right to live her life. All we were doing was chaining her down. Given a time I would have accepted it, but right now my mind is too jumbled to forgive her. Though she didn’t ask for any forgiveness directly. Then it came to me

' why dint you take me with you when you were leaving? Why leave me there? Tell me the truth and not these excuses. I know you, so don't treat me like a fool. The truth, now'

She looked guilty or is that my imagination? I don't know anymore.

Finally, she said, ' you remember bob?'

Bob? A picture of a bald potbelly bully came to my mind. He used to leer at us. We were always cautious when he is around. He is one of many jerks our Mother dated or somewhat dated. She always used to bring creeps and weirdos to our home. Though I was angry with Sophie, I remembered a time when she used to guard me against said creeps. Our Mother never had the time or doesn't care what happened to us if she gets her next fix. Even Sophie was going in that direction at that time, not as bad as our mom but not better either.

I asked instead, ' how did you stop taking drugs? Did you go to rehab?'

Looking at her surprised expression I could Guess she didn't think I would know about that. So, I said, ' I saw you once getting drugs when I followed you once. I was worried. Ok, also curious'

'You and your curiosity. One day you were going to land in a big one. Anyways I never took drugs.'

'But I saw you, also what about your health? You were too thin. You used to walk in a daze.'

' maybe it's because I was working two jobs and trying to study?' She questioned. She used to take online courses whenever money was available which wasn't much at that time. What with bills, my studies, and our mothers wandering hands.

'No. There must be more because I too was working at that time even though I was in sophomore year'

' It comes down to bob.'

' What about him?'

I have an uneasy feeling about where it is going. But I still hoped it's not as I think it is.

She looked sad and far away even though I was right across her. I wanted to console her, but I don't know-how. 6 years has left a bridge between us which I'm starting to hate.

'Those drugs were for him'

I still don't get the picture. What does bob have to do with anything? Why does she have to take drugs to him?

Then she said, 'it started when I was 17', she said.

Just that, nothing more is needed because we know what moms’ creeps are capable of. Still, I asked, ' did he?'

'Yes. He raped me. Repeatedly'

Saying that loud confirmed my fears. I felt suddenly ashamed of myself. Here I'm crying and nagging like a baby when she endured so much. I wish I know at that time. I would have killed that piece of shit. It explained a lot. Why she left. Why she was always so sickly when he visited. Before bob even though we were struggling in those days she used to glow with happiness. But it dimmed when he entered. I never questioned it. At that time exhaustion was part of our lives. Now I want to kick myself for being so self-centered.

'Why didn't you tell us at that time?'

'He threatened me with you'

'Oh god', I feel sick.

All those years I blamed her but hearing this I feel guilt.

' I'm sorry. I don't think to say sorry would cut it, but I want to say all the same. But why wait 3 years?'

'At first, I feared he would do something to you, but the day I left he called me to pimp me out to his dealers. I panicked. I couldn't go through that. I started to plan. To run away. I thought of taking you with me. But mom threatened me'

Just that, nothing more. I saw red. Grounding my teeth I asked her, ' with what?'

'kidnapping'

' but I would have gone with you willingly'

She smiled sadly and said, ' she knows how to play a good citizen. She could fool anybody with her acting. No court would rule in my favor. A 20-year-old on run with no home'

'How did she know you were running away?'

She said solemnly, 'she heard the conversation with bob'

'You mean to say she knows what he did to you?'

'Yes. From the beginning'

Bile rose in my throat. Thank god I didn't eat anything yet or I would have puked my guts out. I can't even fathom what kind of Monster our mom was. Who could choose a blind eye to their own child's rape? And then I remembered all that taunting she gave me about Sophie leaving me' nobody wants you, Erica'. I can still hear her voice. I shook my head to clear it and said, ' why dint you come afterward?'

' thought of bob kept me away from you. And then you shifted from there. I don't know how to reach you. I felt guilty leaving you there'

'Did he tried anything with you?’, she asked hiding her face with her hands after a while.

' he tried, but at that time I learned already how to handle in such situations'

'I don't understand '

'Street fighting'

'What?' She gasped. Sophie was always a delicate flower. She knows how to make others happy, but dint covets violence.

'What else can I do? You left. The situation got worse at home. Mom started drinking daily. She left the job. Before at least she used to get some money. But after that, she was horrible, bringing all kinds of men daily. I have to learn to protect myself'

'But isn't it dangerous and illegal?'

'There was no other option' it's as simple as that.

'You are not into this, now right?'

I shrugged neither agreeing nor denying.

'Erica'

'Your order ma'am’, the waiter called.

'You didn't ask about mom', I said realizing belatedly.

'I know'

'How did you know she is dead?'

She just waved her hand saying, ' later' and started eating up.

'It's been 3 years’, I said to fill the silence after a while.

'Hmm', she said.

' why now', I asked again with no animosity.

'I'm getting married'