~Alisa~

_ I try to breathe, but my head's stuck underwater. They think I'm weak, and they're acting like I'm just not somebody's daughter. I'm the wind around you, and I'm still the air that you breathe. _

.
.
.

The clinking of the lady's kitten heels — the lady who was to accompany me to my newest foster home — sounded rather loudly in my ears. Heavy thuds hit the ground, her heel-cladded feet smacking against the concrete floors of the airport from whence we had just alighted from our flight.

The lady had an uptight face and persona. She never broke a smile on her face, her eyes were stiff all the time. Her hair was pulled back in a tight faux braid, done in deep blue hair extensions, and held up in a tight ponytail. Her lips were stiff, as well, and they were rather slim. Her caramel-like skin, however, gleamed under the heavy drop of sunshine that fleeted the entire scenery. Looking back at her, now, one would think she was a boss lady lost in a crowd of lowlifes like myself. Even her actions justified my thoughts on this.

We had just arrived from Enugu State, the only place I'd known all my life. I'd grown up there, and I'd never thought of leaving, not even for a second. I never even had the opportunity to, and never had I ever dreamt of ever stepping foot out of there, either. All the other foster homes I was assigned to, all required that I stayed in Enugu, and never outside Enugu. But this one? This, was an entirely different case. This was a first of it's kind, and I wasn't about complaining either.

Asaba, Delta State. My new abode.

Having spent nearly an hour on the plane — worried, and praying that the plane wouldn't crash, leaving I and the rest of the passengers on board, coming down with the massive plane — we ( Lady Arrogant and I)  finally alighted from the soul-whipping journey and were just a ride away from our destination. I couldn't be more happier.

However, Lady Arrogant — a name I'd give to little miss Kitten Heels right there — made no smalltalk while we were on board. I did try asking a few questions, but she plainly ignored me, making it crystal clear that she wanted nothing to do with me. She was only simply asked to fetch me, by my foster parents, and wouldn't go over doing more than that. That, she was careful enough to pinpoint right to my face.

Well, to be fair, I didn't like her, and in return, she didn't like me. While we had gotten down from the plane, and stepped outside the airport, she had be pumping her feet - hard - against the concrete floors of this place. Her eyes were like those of a serpent, alert and ready to devour whomever tried to as much as irritate her. I watched as her slender, yet curvey figure, sashayed and brushed through the crowd of busy people, who were either hurrying to get to their destinations, or basically passersby and/or roadside sellers.

Nonetheless, Lady Arrogant — who still wouldn't let me in on her name — was undeterred by most of the catcalls she got from the street boys who happened to be unable to control themselves. Lady Arrogant, as much as it pains me to admit, was indeed beautiful. She could pass off as a model, and with ease - without having to lift as much as a finger. Her beauty was, in fact, a contrast to what I looked like. But what could be expected from an orphan girl? I grew up in an orphanage, and from foster home to foster home, and so luxury was far from what I enjoyed.

The skin of my body was, by far, sunburnt. I had darkened layers underneath my eyes, and my scrawny physique only made this all a sum total of just how miserable I actually appeared. My cheekbones were peeking out visibly, and my bony face almost peering out from underneath the skin of my body. Small frame, ridiculously tall physique, and ultimate bony structure that layered all of my imperfections on the table, just so anyone could judge if they wanted to. Anyone who'd see me now, would mistake me for a beggar and I wouldn't even blame them. I did look like one, in my faded blue jeans and worn out skyblue t-shirt. The black, rubber flipflop I had on, was begging to be thrown into the trash, still, I couldn't bare to part ways with it because I didn't have any other to pass off as a replacement for it.

Meanwhile, Lady Arrogant had long gone ahead of me, and I was trying - ever-so-desperately - to keep up with her. My bags were all balanced on my scrawny shoulders, my half-natural hair sticking out of the lousy bun I'd earlier gathered them in, and thereby covering a part of my face - and blurring my vision a bit. I could barely walk as fast as Lady Arrogant could, and yet she walked ever so briskly - almost like she was walking on red hot coals. I wondered what was the rush, but didn't voice out my displeasure towards her behaviour and extreme lack of communication.

Finally, after much struggling and cursing, I made it to where Lady Arrogant was currently standing; in search of a cab. I visibly huffed, the moment I got there, but, she didn't as much as acknowledge my presence. She simply whipped out her cellphone, which I could tell was the latest iPhone and costed a whole lot, and began typing - mindlessly - like her entire life depended on it.

"You're too close, Girl. Step back, would you?" Without sparing me a glance, she spat out those spiteful words. I nearly winced at her tone of voice: so brutal, blunt and brisk - but I didn't. Instead, I did as told and took a few steps back. After all, it wasn't like she was made of gold and diamonds. I actually didn't want to be anywhere near her. But what could I do? Circumstances had tied me to her miserable presence.

I watched, tiredly, as she typed on her phone. When she finally shoved her phone into her handbag, I nearly blurted out a sigh of relief. "Wait here," she said, and began walking away. I almost screamed at her to quit being a jerk and let me in on what was going on. I mean, I didn't know any soul here. And she'd abandon me? "And whatever you do, do not converse with anyone here. I mean it. Not even if someone says anything to you, just don't make the mistake of letting yourself get kidnapped. Or getting something of yours stolen," again, her judgemental eyes looked me over, and she scoffed.

"Like anyone would be that dense to steal a thing of yours." Whether she meant to mutter that, I'd never know. But, the second she was done talking, she was long gone.

The minute she left, I immediately realised that although I didn't like Lady Arrogant one bit, I felt safer while she was around. Although she behaved like she didn't even know who I was. She may have been a stuck-up, brattish lady, but she was the only one I actually found familiar here. And I'd only just realised that.

With her gone, a feeling of fear wrapped itself around me. Her words hovered around my head. Something she said about not talking to anyone and not getting kidnapped. Now it struck like a ton of bricks atop my head, that I could actually get kidnapped. Anything could happen to me here. That suddenly stuck to my head, like glue on paper.

I shouldn't have been surprised that Lady Arrogant would leave me stranded here, but I was. It could be possible that she simply made up that excuse and actually ditched me. As much as I didn't want that to be true, I knew that there was every tendency that it was. After all, the lady had been a witch to me - right from the time she appeared at the orphanage to fetch me.

However, I waited for her return. Simply standing there, and staring at the passersby, as they went about their businesses. I only hoped Lady Arrogant hadn't ditched me, and left me stranded under this scorching sun. It felt like the sun was angry at me in particular, and it felt like it only dipped it's ray directly at me - just so I'd possibly get burnt under it's raging rays.

Hadn't I been sunburnt enough? Was my skin not enough proof of that?

As my thoughts came and went, I found myself momentarily staring at my cheap watch, which had most of its black leather peeling off. It'd been nearly forty minutes already, since Lady Arrogant left me standing here like a lost fool, and I was starting to really think she'd ditched me. Maybe this was all a setup. Maybe she wanted to sell me off to someone, for money ritual or probably for forced labour.

No, I cautioned myself. Alisa, don't be an idiot and quit thinking about stupid things. I further chided myself, as a tired sigh escaped my chapped lips.

I stood, and waited, and kept waiting for what felt like an eternity, and still no sign of Lady Arrogant. At this point, my mind was a hazy mess of several possibilities of what I could do if she had actually abandoned me here. I couldn't believe her! First, she leaves me standing here, and without letting me in on why she was even leaving in the first place. And second, she doesn't even return.

She must be mad, I concluded within me, as I grinded my teeth against one another. I was furious at that annoyingly attractive, idiot of a lady.

Over an hour had gone by already, and my feet felt so sore, and tummy grumbled; demanding food. I had only eaten what was served in the airplane, but that wasn't even enough to sustain my raging hunger. And the fact that I saw the roadside sellers going about, displaying their freshly prepared snacks on trays, didn't help keep my overwhelming hunger at bay. And on my far right, I could sight a small kiosk; where deliciously prepared meals, with mouthwatering aromas - were being served. Maybe if I'd walk up to the owner, pleading for a plate of food, and offering to wash all of their dishes in return, then they'd give me something to eat.

So this is what I've come to. From frying pan and onto the fire. I thought to myself, and I slowly shook my head in disbelief.

I was seriously contemplating that, and was just about walking over there. But, a very annoying, yet, wise part of me - yelled that I stayed back.

What if Lady Arrogant returns when you're gone? Then what?  Wisdom, mocking me with its true words. That was the voice in my head, pleading that I'd be reasonable.

And so, I endured a few more minutes of waiting for the witch, in form of Lady Arrogant, to return. And it was starting to seem impossible to wait for her return, as the seconds crawled into minutes. I didn't know if I'd ignore the part of me that pleaded that I stayed put, and just went ahead in search of food.

But then,

"Oh, there you are! I totally forgot of your existence. Silly me," I recognised her sultry voice from a mile away, and although that had to be one of the most annoying things she had said to me, I chose to ignore it because I was more glad to know that she hadn't left me here, to be stay mad at her.

I soon found my legs complying to my commands, as I walked towards her. "I went in search of food, then found a cab. I'd hopped into it already, then I recalled I had a— you," she ran a rather disapproving pair of eyes down my entire body, and then shrugged. "Then I recalled you were with me. Come," she began walking again, and I followed, whilst trying not to murder her there and then. "Let's go."

She must be a witch. She just has to. I finally concluded in my heart.

We soon approached the cab, and got in. The ride would have been rather interesting, if only Lady Arrogant hadn't been such a witch, and such a pain in the groin. Nonetheless, at least she still came back - that had to be the bright side of it all. Hopefully, my new family wouldn't be such pains in the groin. Honestly, I wasn't sure I'd be able to handle a house full of people like Lady Arrogant. I'd literally run mad if that were to happen.

"Would you please—" Lady Arrogant shoved me, causing me to slam my head against the door. I winced. "— keep your distance, you scummy rat. It's worse than enough that I have to be in the same car as you, but do not come anywhere closer to me. Got it?!" She roared at me, and I fought the urge to really punch her perfect, smooth face - free from any sort of blemish. I wanted to leave a dent on her everything, that'd possibly teach her to trim her arrogance a bit.

I gritted my teeth in anger, as I stayed far away from her, think to myself: Certainly would run mad if my foster family were like her.

*

Yay!
I redid this chapter cause Wattpad had caused a glitch and had duplicated chapter 2. For old readers who'd read the old version, you'd under what I mean.

Anyway, how's it going? Please don't forget to drop a comment, vote and share if you can.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the story!
Bye! ♡