Dedicated to -sowhat for always commenting and showing love for this book, and it's prequel. Honey, you are the best.❤️

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The woman adjusted her goggles which sat upon her nose, as her eyes kept scanning Dominique, "What is your name?"

"Dominique."

The woman nodded, and nudged her to continue. Minnie knew that she was expecting a surname, and she also knew that the woman will be so disappointed to know that she did not have a surname.

"I don't have a surname." Dominique said plainly.

Instead of a surprised expression from the woman, she smiled, and instantly warmed the room up as her beautiful dentals came into light, this all much to Dominique's shock.

"That's okay, Dominique. I'm Ms. Remi. Can you tell me what led you here?"

As if being slapped back to reality, Minnie snapped back to the woman, "Uh?"

The woman smiled, "What brings you to Lost Angels Fort?"

"Oh," Minnie exclaimed and smiled up to cover the fact that she was still shocked at how great this was going, "I'm homeless."

The woman kept looking at her, expecting her to continue. On seeing the woman's expression, Minnie instantly knew that she had to go deeper that just 'I'm homeless'; the woman must certainly want to know what exactly had led her into becoming homeless. If it were before, Minnie knew she would definitely not want to share her story, but everything changed when she left Alex. It felt as though she was an entirely different being; she wasn't scared of telling her story to anyone anymore.

After all, her story seemed pretty normal after she had gotten it out of her system, and no consequence could be greater than having her heart ripped off cause this was exactly how she felt being torn away from the man she had loved.

She sighed, and straightened up, "I'm an orphan.." She began telling the woman whom listened attentively.

Dominique spilled all of her secrets to the woman, as she felt comfortable enough to share all her fears, and release all her tears. She had no idea that she had so much pain in her heart until she led them all out in the presence of the women. Ms. Remi stood from her seat and walked over to Dominique on her seat, and placed her hand over Minnie's shoulder. "It is okay, Dominique. It's all going to be okay."

Dominique sniffed back, and managed a smile, "Thank you, Ms. Remi."

Ms. Remi smiled, "Welcome to LAF."

Minnie's heart flipped when the words left the woman's lips, and she stared on not believing her ears. The woman smiled on seeing how taken aback Dominique was, and so she gave squeezed Minnie's shoulders gently.

Minnie looked up to her eyes, and met the sincerity behind her bright orbs.

"You serious?" She asked again.

Ms. Remi nodded.

"Oh my God, thank you." Minnie exclaimed as her smile deepened.

"We have over five hundred girls in the fort, and each one of them have a background story, some just much sadder, and others utterly heartbreaking. However, the one thing is that all of these girls are here for a second chance to get to live life." Genesis spoke on as they walked through the hallway. In her arm, there was a blanket that was given to Dominique.

Minnie looked around even as she listened to what Gen was talking about. She was still as dumbfounded as when she had heard that she could stay in the fort home, but what she could still not fathom was how such a beautiful fortress could exist here in Lagos, and many still suffered and died daily.

This was more than a foster home, it was more than just a random hostel, and Minnie wanted to know more about how it came into existence. Even though she still had that deep doubt in her that there was no such thing as good and nice people, she had to go on with whatever farce this was as she could not afford to wander on.

"Dominique?"

She snapped out of her thoughts only to find that Genesis was staring at her and she had stopped walking. Gen folded her hands in front of her chest as her lips pulled into a frown, "So, I take it you weren't even listening to me?"

Even though Gen was right, Dominique still smiled to cover that up, "Oh no. I was listening."

Gen could see through her lie, but she only let it pass, "Anyway, we are here at our room." She said as she walked towards the closest block, and Dominique stumbled after her. Her eyes glanced around her and she saw the letter 'M' scribbled on the wall.

They walked to the second floor, and only stopped on a room that had the number, "24" on the door.

"We're here!' Genesis announced as she knocked on the door, and not too long after, the door was opened by a plump lady whose eyes instantly locked on Dominique, "Hey Sharon."

The lady still kept looking at Dominique, and Genesis followed her gaze, and instantly knew why she was hesitant to open the door.

"Oh Sharon, this is Dominique; she is our new roommate," Gen said introducing Minnie to the lady, "And, Dominique, this is Sharon."

Dominique smiled, and stretched her hand to the lady for an handshake, but she only stared at her hand for a while, and then walked inside leaving the door open for them.

"Well, I guess she doesn't like me." Dominique muttered under her breath as she dropped her hand. Fortunately, Genesis heard her.

"Don't mind Sharon. You'll get to know that she ain't all bad as you get to know her." Genesis said to her as she walked into the room.

Dominique huffed. Yeah, like that would even be possible.

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