C.O.D.E
The words were written in bold letters at the top of the massive building.
The building was tall and colorless, hidden between two cliffs. A single camera blinked above the heavy metal doors.
How did I get here?
Trust me, It's a long story.
*** EARLIER THAT DAY
Happy Birthday to you Harper! Happy Birthday to you!
My friend Aliya, sang loudly as she wished me a happy birthday. Even my father was wishing me for the first time ever in my life, the sun must have risen in the west on this special day.
'Thank you so much'. I said as I tried my best to smile even though my dress was very uncomfortable.
'By the way Harper, why are you wearing a white dress? Are you getting married or something?'
I also had the same question in mind when my father asked me to wear this. I thought he was drunk as usual but he wasn't screaming and shouting, so I assumed he was being serious.
'I don't know Aliya, dad gave me'.
Aliya was confused, 'Mr Peter, why did you give her a wedding dress? Is she getting married?'
'Yes she is'.
I chuckled in surprise. He must be drunk after all.
'What are you saying dad? Please stop joking'.
'Do I look like I'm joking?'
'You can't be serious! I just turned eighteen!'
'That's the perfect age for marriage my dear'.
'What?! Dad, are you drunk?'
'Say whatever you like. My friend will come to get you any soon'.
'Wait. Your friend? Which one of them? The ones who drink with you or the ones you gamble with?'
'Shut your mouth!
'Don't ask me to shut my mouth! Tell me the truth!'
' Fine. I owe Mr Parker some money when your mother was still here. I did it for her but then I couldn't pay back the money. I made an agreement with him last two years to hand you over to him as soon as you turn eighteen'
'I don't believe you dad'
'I don't care. You're getting married, that's all '
'Mr Parker? You mean the fifty year old scum? The pervert?'
'Call him whatever you want. You're getting married to him and that's all'.
My dad was saying it all with so much pride and courage. I would've killed him long ago if he wasn't my father.
'Dad, aren't you ashamed to be saying all these with so much pride? You couldn't pay back the money so you offered your daughter instead?!'
'Whether I'm ashamed or not, we'll find out when he comes here'.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Was he here already?
I immediately took some steps backward so that I could run but the door flew open. Luckily, it was Aliya's stepmom.
'Come on Aliya, let's go. You can't be fooling here all day'.
Aliya bade goodbye and left. I still had to deal with my dad.
'Listen dad, whatever you're saying is not making sense. There's no way I'm getting married to that old man'
'We'll see'.
The door flew open again, 'what do you want now?' I thought it was Aliya's stepmom again but I was wrong. Some men came in and before I could comprehend what was going on, they grabbed me and started dragging me away.
'Dad! Please don't let them take me away. Please!' I begged my dad but he ignored me completely.
'Dad!'
I watched as he collected money from one of the men and then it dawned on me.
My dad never owed any money, he sold me.
It felt as if someone splashed some cold water on me and then threw me right into a volcano.
'You're going to regret this dad! I'll make sure you regret it!'
I had no choice and strength to escape. All I could do was protest as they dragged me away into their car. Soon, the car started moving.
***
I sighed in frustration as I looked at the weather. It was just like my mood , sad and angry. Why didn't I run away sooner?
I sighed again helplessly as I looked outside through the window of the moving car. My wedding dress clung tightly to my waist in an uncomfortable way. Yeah, I am on my way to be the third wife of a man that's twice my father's age. Well, not literally but still, it was absurd.
'And I still think all this wouldn't be happening if my mom hadn't left. She just had to leave me in the hands of a drunkard. She must be enjoying her life now.
I'm not blaming her though. Nobody would want to stay with a man who only has alcohol to offer'.
The men looked at me like I was crazy as I talked to myself.
One was with the driver while the other sat beside me and a beautiful girl whom they had brought along. There was no way of escaping, except through the window but that was the same as hugging death.
Jump or marry grandfather. Some choice!
Even if I managed to escape, where will I go to? I have never been to this part of the city before .
Just as I thought of giving up, the girl beside me sneaked a paper in my hand and whispered to me, 'Go now. Follow the instruction and you'll be safe'.
I was confused, 'how do I escape?'
'Don't worry, I'll help you'.
The girl turned to the man beside us and reminded him of the flowers she was supposed to buy. Turns out, she was Mr Peter's daughter. She must have been tired of having multiple stepmoms.
Soon, the car stopped and the girl got out along with the man. I saw this as a perfect opportunity so I kicked the man's butt and made him fall out of the car.
Picking my wedding dress up, I ran like my life depended on it. well, it did.
It was then I knew that I was faster than a car. When I finally found a place to hide, I opened the paper. It contained some directions and at the end of it was a word written in bold, C.O.D.E .
'C.O.D.E? What does that mean?'
*** BACK TO THE PRESENT
Here I am in front of a building. It was just like the girl had described but it was hidden in a very secluded place. I sighed as I took a step to go in. I never imagined that my life would be like those female leads in the annoying stories I read. I thought I would one day be successful and marry a rich guy but that was far from possible now. All I want right now more than to be successful is to be far away from my dad.
I am going to live my life on my own and I will start from here but strangely...,
The first thing I heard when I got in was.....
BANG!!
A gunshot .
I was definitely not scared but something tells me that this is about to get interesting.