It was cold.cold enough to freeze any warmth around.Drizzling for a while before a heavy downpour, silencing any other sound.if there was a distinct cry for help now,it would only be drowned by the roaring of thunder and the clouds which had no plans of Relenting anytime soon,making the evening approach quicker.
It was it's time.
A young girl sat on the sofa,unbothered,munching on a cake and even humming a song.she stares out of the window from time to time.
It's Raining outside and she's all alone in the house now.
Her mother was not back.
And she was used to being alone like this every time.
Young stella at 17 already had a Resilience that was more than her age.she grew up quickly but..
Physically?
A slim girl with an average height.just petite.
Soon,she got bored.the cake was finished with her having nothing else to do.she laid on the sofa. Her clear bright bold eyes scanned the room lazily. Those eyes carried in them a hint of mischievousness and innocence.
Her lips were clear with a healthy hue which was a very obvious feature of her beauty. She was quite pretty.
Light skinned,almost White. It shone even in the dimly lit room.her skin had it's own natural maintenance.soft and smooth like that of a baby even with her lacking money for skin care and beauty products or essentials.
She tied her dark shiny hair in two ponytails which made her look even more childish and innocent.
But was she?
Knock! Knock!!
She sprang up from the sofa.her mum should be back .she wanted to get to the door and open it.
But she paused.
Her mother would have started calling her name even before she got to the door. It couldn't be her mother at the door now.
Could it be their neighbour?
This building had just four apartments, which means they only had three neighbours.Thinking about it now,she realized it was 8pm and their neighbours may just be on their way back from work because it was still Raining, but not too much now.she hadn't heard a sound which indicated they were back.
The person at the door must definitely be an outsider.she was all alone in the whole building. What if he's a bad person?
hmm..he stopped knocking? Did he go away?
But soon she heard footsteps..
They were two people!
Who are they?
They walked past their room and headed towards Mr Peter's Room.
Clang! Bang!!
Stella's eyes widened. Were they breaking the door? These people are definitely here for trouble.
And she might be in danger soon!
Those people had dangerous weapons with them.
Panic was evident on her face but she didn't cry or shout.
What to do? What to do!?
She paced back and forth in the room,what could she do?she was just a young girl,a petite one at that. She knew about the 'legendary super man' and had always admired him.she had also wanted to be a 'super woman' herself.
But..not now.maybe later.
She needs to find a way to escape this situation.
After sometime, she stopped hearing the sound of someone breaking the door, but she knew they were still around. They must have successfully broken into Mr Peter's room.
''Search the drawers first " she heard one of them say.
Turns out they were thieves,and had knocked on their door to be sure no one was around. But Stella had been quiet and didn't open the door which made them think the coast was clear.Stella could hear the Ruffling sound of things being scattered as they Rummaged through the room,looking for only-God-knows.
She tiptoed to the door and gently opened it,holding her slippers.she can't stay here and wait for them to come get her.bringing out her small head to look through a small opening of the door,she didn't see anyone outside.
Good.they were inside.
This was her chance.
She came out quietly and continued to tiptoe out of the building.after she successfully got out,she headed straight to a store close by to avoid being drenched by the rain.while sitting there,she began to doze off.but she was by the road side,with cars zooming to and fro accompanied by the blaring sound of the car horns and Engines. It was also drizzling and the cold sipped into her body,she was only covered in a thin layer of clothe.the cool breeze made her shiver.
These made her uncomfortable, if not,she would have slept off there.
She was dozing off again when she made out the silhouette of a car zoom past her with someone she knew in it.
'Is that not Zara'?
It must be her,she should be heading home.Stella thought she should go to Zara's house which was not too far away, she was cold and hungry and didn't know how long she could stay here or when to go back home. She didn't even have a mobile phone to contact her mother or anyone Else.
She soon stood up,crossed the road to the other side and entered another street. Walking quickly while swinging her hands and rubbing her palms together from time to time to reduce the cold.
Soon,she was at Zara's place.it was a simple yet exquisite bungalow. The environment was neat with beautiful flowers planted around. as expected,Zara just came back.she saw her figure carrying something and entering inside the house.The taxi had already left by now.she was about walking to the door when Zara came out again,and this time,their eyes met.
"Stella!"
Zara was quite happy to see Stella.
She was a year older than Stella but the both of them were very close friends.they went to the same high school and both of them graduated this year.Zara was tall and slim,her chocolate coloured skin was particularly beautiful, with a small face and well carved chin. Her lips were full and alluring like a flower sprout. She had long lashes and a mini nose which complimented her face.as compared to Stella, she could still be called a beauty as she takes time to take care of herself.
"What are you doing here this late?"
Standing beside Stella,Zara could easily pass off as her big sister and she's also acted like that.
"hmm I have a lot of gist for you"
Stella smiled.
She and Zara could actually talk and gossip about everything.
"Oh really"?, then come inside!"
Stella walked with Zara who kept chattering about how her day went.when they got in,Zara's mum,Mrs Ebenezer was a bit surprised to see her too.Zara's mum was also Stella's mother's friend. So,they were all family friends.
Stella began to recount what happened at home to the mother daughter duo.Zara widened her eyes in surprise and fear,that was risky. What if something had happened to her friend?
"Oh my poor child"
Zara's mum exclaimed.
she was both angry and felt sorry for Stella. She was angry that her mother wasn't even at home! Leaving the young girl to face danger all by herself. They knew Stella's mum wasn't being a responsible mother. She went out most times and came back very late, but no one knows her job or source of income.
She had tried to complain to her about this sometimes, but her words have always been ignored.Stella's mum have obviously chosen her own path and way of life. No one could correct her at this point. She decided she was going to try talking to her again.
"You can go to the kitchen with Zara and get something to eat" the woman looked at Stella and knew that she must be hungry. She had told this child to always come and stay with them.she lacked motherly attention, she could also get to see her friend, Zara everyday. but Stella had refused without a concrete reason.
"Thank you ma"
Stella was not only cold but was hungry. Her eyes sparkled with appreciation to Mrs Ebenezer,this woman was kind.
She followed Zara as they left the sitting room.when they were alone Zara asked her,
"Why didn't you call the police?"
Stella stared at her as if she were looking at an idiot.
"I don't have a mobile phone, and you know" even if she did,she didn't have much faith in the police and wouldn't call them. she had seen them fail the citizens most times and couldn't bring herself to trust them,if she had called, they might not react on time, letting the criminals escape.
So,why bother?
"Oh yes,that's true!" Zara slapped her forehead, remembering.
"What about your Dad?" Stella asked carefully, she hadn't seen that man since she arrived.