Episode 2

NARRATOR

Leila awoke to the sound of her brother's screams, and so she dashed out of bed and into her mother's room from where the cries emanated.

"What's happening?" she inquired.

"Mom won't wake up, stay with her, I'm getting help," her brother said, rushing out. Leila approached her mom.

Having watched many medical videos and read many books, she approached and checked for a pulse. She couldn't find it and knew then her mother was dead, the tears flowing on their own. She sat down on the floor to weep, and soon the doctor arrived with Mr. Villarreal and her brother.

"I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do; she’s already gone. She died from a botched abortion, leading to an overnight hemorrhage,” the doctor said after examining her.

"It's your fault, you forced her into it, I despise you!" Leila yelled at Mr. Villarreal. After the doctor left, she felt a harsh blow to her face and fell to the ground.

"Listen up, brat. Your mother never let me hit you, but she's gone now, so stay quiet and in your room. I still don't know what I’ll do with you, now that Leonor’s not here," he grabbed her by the hair and dragged her to her room, locking the door. She pounded on the door, but it never opened.

She cried all day and into the night until sleep took her. The next morning, still weak and the door still locked, she cried until at noon it opened, and her brother entered with a plate of food and juice. Someone closed the door as soon as he came in.

"Eat, you haven't in a while," her brother said.

"Who's at the door?" she queried while eating.

"A guard Mr. Villarreal posted," Leo responded.

"And mom?" she asked on the verge of tears.

"We buried her just now,” her brother said.

"He wouldn't let me say goodbye, what's he going to do with me?" she probed, crying anew.

"He wanted to send you to an orphanage, but I talked him out of it," Leo stated.

"So, he'll just keep me locked up here until I die?" she asked.

"No, you'll be sent away to a boarding school abroad. He’ll cover all your expenses until you come of age, and then you're on your own. I tried to convince him to give you an apartment when you leave the school, so you'd have somewhere to live, but he wouldn't agree," said Leo.

"So, I won't see you anymore?" she said, her voice tight with emotion.

"No, but it's for the best. I swear we'll meet again and avenge our mother's death. But it's better you're away from him and are able to prepare. Study hard, and our paths will cross again. I don't know when, but I'll find you, and then no one can ever pull us apart," Leo assured.

"And what will happen to you?" she wanted to know.

"He spoke with his wife over the phone and convinced her to adopt me. I'll be their adopted son. He lied to the lady, telling her that you and mom died in an accident, leaving me all alone," said Leo.

"I loathe him so much," she declared sorrowfully.

"I hate him too, but one day he'll pay for all the harm he’s caused. Now eat. He'll come to take you to the boarding school soon. I don't know where it is, but I'll find out, and we will reunite. After all, we're twins," Leo said.

My brother stayed with me until Mr. Villareal yanked me out of the house by my hair and shoved me into the car. He got in and drove off. I turned to look back and there was my brother, waving goodbye and crying, just like me.

I cried the whole way while Mr. Villareal drove.

"Shut up already," he hit me with his hand, and it was very scary. It hurt too.

When we arrived at his private plane, he dragged me out of the car by my hair and onto the plane. Then he flung me into one of the seats.

"Listen good, you're going to forget your brother, me, and my family. I want you to forget who we are and that we ever met. Where you're going, they’ll teach you to behave, and when you’re of age, they'll throw you to the streets and your fate. But don't come back to New York, because if you do, you won’t survive," Mr. Villareal warned before I stayed quiet in my seat.

The flight felt endlessly long, and I received nothing to eat during the trip. Mr. Villareal ate, but not me. As soon as we landed, he pulled me out by my hair again and into a chauffeured car. At this rate, I'm going to end up bald. The driver drove for two hours into the freezing cold, and I had no coat or anything. I was freezing, but Mr. Villareal didn't care. We arrived at a large, luxurious building. Just as he had with the plane, he dragged me from the car. My head ached all because of him.

“This is the wretch I want you to take care of. She’s not to have any contact with the outside world, no outings, and especially no use of the phone or electronics. If you need to hit her, do it; I don't care. She doesn't leave until she's of age, and then she's out on the streets," Mr. Villareal instructed before leaving me laying on the ground like an old rag.

"Follow me," commanded a woman, and I complied.

“This will be your room. Everyone gets up at five in the morning. Breakfast is at six, lunch at twelve, and dinner at seven. If you are not on time, you will not eat. Now sleep in the closet. Here’s your uniform and everything else you’ll need. Remember to be in the dining hall by six or you'll miss breakfast," the woman stated in perfect English.

"Excuse me, what country are we in?" I asked before she could leave.

“We're in Russia," she replied, and left. I was frozen to the spot at that. He had taken me as far away as possible. How will I ever return to my brother? How will I see him again from so far away?

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