Mind is a scary place and determination in it could be far worse. Sometimes you just wish for it to let go of the stubbornness and rather embrace what appears right in front of you but is it ever that easy?

It feels so comforting to unleash the caged monsters of unhappiness just to take a step forward and reach for the felicity, which is a step away. The cage however remains guarded by an even bigger monster - ego and with ego; nothing chooses to remain.

Gabriel was sitting at the door, his back against the door panel and head slightly resting back against it. He was asleep, his unruly hair on his forehead and a frown marring his face. My hands were trembling as I tried to reach forward to get ahold of him because I was craving to.

Without being able to resist any more seeing him like that, I sunk to my knees. I've never felt myself being this vulnerable ever before. I felt weak; incompetent and a total failure. Not a failure because I couldn't resist the sight of my man but meek because even after all this time, I couldn't escape the demons from my past.

My man? Did I call him my man? Was he mine to claim?

I inhaled a deep breath; my heart was beating at an insane rate but all it could do was admire this human sitting at my door. He was donning trousers and a tee. The condition I was in didn't allow me to second guess my actions and I huddled closer to him. I bunched his tee shirt in my palm and pressed my head against his chest, taking a deep breath.

My body was raking with dry sobs. He was right, this was a bad decision. Coming home to this place has been the worst thing one could do their trauma and I dived right in face first. It had gotten much worse for me because ever since that incident I hadn't actually returned and was staying at Gabriel's so being back here and too alone wasn't a right decision even at the slightest.

My fist tightened the hold on his shirt.

I wanted to feel him, to be close to him, to know that nothing could harm me because he was here with me to chase my nightmares away. It was insane how just the scent of someone can calm one down by blanketing them in the cocoon.

The warmth of them, filling us with a feeling of protection, of supervision. I didn't know how bad did he become my addiction but he had and no sense of denial would rid me out of it. I needed him more than I had initially anticipated and that was both my ruin and salvage.

My eyes were clenched shut as I was syncing my breathing to his heartbeat when I felt an arm snaking around my waist. His nose buried in my hair as he pressed small kisses and mumbled. My heart stopped before it picked the beat to a new fervor.

"I'm here, Paraiso. I got you" his arm was brushing my back and my body had totally succumbed to his warmth. It was so unfortunate that I was totally mesmerized by him and whatever he did to me. I should be running away from him after everything that was going on but I couldn't bring myself to. I knew that it would be minutes before my mind realizes the situation and jumps to wall itself up but for the time I was just a putty in his control.

His fingers weaved through my hair, gently wrapping them around his fingers and so softly tugging at them free from the hair tie the were bundled up in.

His words should be dangerous to me yet they had me in a puddle for him. He knew exactly how to calm me down and I didn't know if I liked that anymore.

We sat there for uncountable minutes, maybe hours. He was sitting still, just holding me close to his heart until I felt a vibration on my knee. I pulled away from him, it was his phone in his pant pocket. I immediately pulled away and stood up, rubbing my face and turning around before seeing him curse silently at his screen for breaking our trance. Did he really want us to remain in that position so bad?

I was silently looking around, wondering if I should apologize to him for violently hugging the life out of him while he was asleep at my door or ask him why he was here in the first place. My train of thoughts were broken by the man himself when he had uttered.

"Pack up" he announced, making me scowl and turn around looking at him. He took off his watch, placed it on the coffee table and walked towards me. I didn't drop the look of confusion and was looking at him expecting an elaboration of his demand.

He walked towards me while maintaining the eye contact and I didn't break it either. I wasn't going to give in and accept everything he says. Although, it's ironic considering that a little while ago, say a few minutes back, I was the one who was wrapped over him, wanting to do anything to go away from this place and be in his arms, sheltered from all the harm to shadow over me.

But again, it was just a moment of weakness and nothing else. I knew I would realize it no sooner than later.

Even though, I did know that I wasn't going to stay at this place for a day more considering that I was totally incapable of doing so but I also knew I wasn't going to go stay with Gabriel anymore either. This wasn't done, it wasn't a solution and considering everything going on between us, it wasn't even an option.

While I was debating myself, I hadn't realized that his eyes had turned softer and they were so soft that they looked like moss and as expected, I was drawn in. He sighed and took a step closer.

"This place is not safe" he said softly. In fact he was so soft that I would melt if does so much as speak another word in a tone that pillowed. I regained composure and almost banged my head against the wall. Here we go again.

"How many times would we keep repeating the same thing? Would it ever end?" I asked, I wasn't as low in tone as he was and there was an undertone of irritation in my voice and it was very prominent.

He sighed yet again, "You are not safe here, I don't want to be here. Let's go, please Jenna!" he insisted. If it were some other days I would've agreed because the way he was pleading for me to go would convince anyone to listen to him but I couldn't. We were going in circles and this was one endless loop that needed to be stopped. I stood my ground.

"If you don't wanna stay here, take your things and leave" I said authoritatively gesturing towards the items on the table. I thought it would offend him because it was so rude of me to say that but instead I saw a huge smirk as he looked at his items on the table. I was confused at his reaction, clearly not what I was expecting. The new spark in his eyes had me toppling over.

"Be careful what you wish for!" he said. I scowled, listening to him

"What do you me-... Gabriel!" I screeched as he scooped me off the ground in his arms and huddled me closer to him. His smoldering gaze making me completely still in his arms and I clutched at him tighter. What. Had. Happened?

"Why on earth did you just do that?" I said, gasping for air. Not because I was caught off-guard but the way he was looking at me had me wheezing. He was right on my face, smirking.

"You just asked me take what's mine and leave" he said nonchalant but his smirk deepened looking at my expressions. He knew what he was doing.

"I m-meant your belongings" I was having a hard time speaking, he could tell. I was a stuttering mess and he was enjoying this way too much.

"Belongings" he said, raising my form slightly higher just to prove his point. "Precious and totally priceless." My finger dug in his shirt way deeper.

"Mine to keep and to share with absolutely NOONE!"

I think I died a little

***

"I – I need my things" I said finally, giving his collar a tug. I knew he wouldn't budge if I tell him that I wasn't going to his house, so all I was left to do was to give him reasons to buy some time. I need to sort everything out before I blindly head out to what seems okay to him.

"You can always buy new" he replied in a heartbeat. It is so easy for him to replace all the material. I should've come up with something better.

"No Gabriel, that's not how it works" I said, leaving no room for argument. He sighed, seeing the reaction on my face.

"Please put me down"

His eyes kept staring in mine, "I really don't want to" he mumbled.

"Huh?" came my unintelligent answer. Ofcourse you would huh him. Great, Jenna!

He shook his head, placed a soft kiss on my forehead and lowered me on the ground. I wanted so badly to eliminate the past days between us. I missed him a lot, I missed us and everything we had. It seemed as if there were walls we can't climb through anymore and they separated us huge amounts.

A soft touch on my cheek broke me out of my reverie, his hand was cupping my face, "Are you okay, Paraiso?" he was referencing about the nightmare I had earlier. He knows everything about it, the nightmare, the pain they bring. How can I lie to him?

I nodded. I lied. He knew I lied. He nodded in return.

Before I could say anything, my phone pinged from the kitchen island. I went towards it to grab it. It was a text from Matt. He wanted me to call him urgently.

As long as Gabriel was here, I knew he wouldn't let me speak to Matt at all because he has no faith in him. I, on the other hand am still clueless, I've never seen Matt ever being sketchy and with the details I'm provided it does seem like the other way around.

Matt had been my friend and proven to be at multiple occasions, I can't abandon him when he needs me and from what I've collected it's for my own self. Matt is trying to save me.

If I do even as much as telling Gabriel about Matt and his text, he wouldn't let me talk to him and the walls of my apartment aren't thick enough to block out all the voices from the other room. I needed to do something about it, urgently.

Gabriel was just tapping at his phone, I went to the cabinets and fridge and rummaged through the items or pretended to. Thankfully enough, since I hadn't stayed here, there was nothing that remained edible anymore.

"Gabriel" I called out, he looked up immediately. It had been so long since I actually called him by his name and asking for something other than answers. A huge smile made way on his face and did it string my heart? Obviously.

"We haven't had a proper meal in a long time. I'm not stocked with anything to cook for us. So..." the smile on his face was unwavering and I had an urge to kiss him. To wrap him up and block away the world and their sick plays.

"Do you wanna go out and get some food with me, Paraiso?" he asked nearing me.

"I want to collect my things here, so can you go get the food and we can eat takeout" I insisted. He nodded at me.

"I'll get someone to send it to us" was his response, I mentally facepalmed. I didn't know how to make this guy understand.

"Gabriel, the fast food restaurants aren't really that far from here. Why would you ask people to get them. Just get it!" I said, he chuckled.

"And since when is fast food a meal?" he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You want to fight me on this?" I said replicating his action.

"Nope" he said, placing a kiss to my nose. "I'll be back, keep the doors locked and don't open up for anyone." His tone got serious as he tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

"Yeah, not for you either then" I retorted. He smirked.

"I have no shame in sitting outside your door. Your call" he was so confident, the multibillionaire Gabriel White was more than willing to sit outside my apartment if I don't wish to open up the door for him.

"We'll see" I said as I turned around and picked my phone up. He too walked towards the door, gave me one last look and left, carefully shutting the door behind him. I sighed.

***

"You need to understand that we have to leave, urgently" Matt insisted. He looked impatient while I looked at him gazing in confusion. He looked devastated and was practically begging me to go with him to wherever he was taking me. As soon as Gabriel left, I couldn't even conjure a minute to dial Matt's number and he showed up informing me how impossible it was to dodge Gabriel's security just to get here and talk to me.

"Matt, I thought you said you wanted to talk. I really don't have it in me to go anywhere at all." I was tired really and despite him confirming earnestly of taking me the proofs, I think I needed some time.

Nobody was ready to explain what had happened, they were just finding ways to call the other person out and to me searching for the truth seemed like a wild goose chase because I knew I wasn't learning about it anytime soon.

"Jenna, please trust me here. I'm trying to protect y-"

"Stop with this narrative, Matt! Everyone is just trying to protect me, you, Gabriel, Ken... I don't need protection. I just need to know what's going on and I no longer want to listen about who could potentially harm me." I exclaimed, it was high time.

He wasn't expecting my outburst, I felt bad for screaming at him but he should understand my point of view as well. I am absolutely done with the efforts of keeping a calm and trying to understand the reason why all of them are acting this sketchy.

"Gabriel is going to be here any minute Jenna and he would skin me alive if he gets to know that I sneaked up in here. I had to risk my life to get away from his security, assume what would he do if he knows I was here or he catches me." Matt looked like he would start crying and I was so lost. He was right, Gabriel would go absolutely livid if he knows so much as even the fact that Matt texted me, let alone him being here.

"Matt, I think you should go" I responded. I didn't have any other solution. He was surprised and did feel a little hurt.

"Jenna, I need you. I need for you to trust me here. This is maybe the only time I would need you to understand, if you don't believe me I won't ask for anything from you after this. Just this once" he was hopeless. I nodded.

"What do you want?" I asked. He deserved that, at least. This was the last time I was listening to him about this.

"You have to come with me, I'm taking you somewhere." He said, holding the keys to his car.

"No, Matt! I've sent Gabriel out to get some food, he's about to be here any second" I reasoned. I wasn't going to ditch Gabriel like that, this is so horrible.

Matt started reasoning out that he gave all the possible reasons why I should trust him and going out with him to where he was taking me was the best decision that I could take. The more time we spent here talking, the more horror I felt with the prospect of Gabriel getting into a fist fight with Matt as soon as he returns and I didn't want them fighting.

So, I agreed. I agreed to going out with Matt to the place he wanted to take me.

"Do I bring something with me?" I asked. He shook his head, the urgency in his actions were quite obvious. He had a sense of satisfaction and a sneer (sort of) that I didn't understand.

He was right when he said skipping past Gabriel's security wasn't easy. I was almost worried that he would return and would break out in the fight while we were avoiding his guards.

It surprised me how Matt was so good with precision almost as if escaping was something he'd done his whole life and it nearly alarmed me of his immaculate sneaking capabilities. I almost asked him how he knew all of this but stopped considering the time and delicate situation.

We were soon in his car and he was driving us somewhere and all I had was nothing because Matt asked me to drop my phone back at the apartment or else Gabriel would have no second thought tracing us down.

I didn't know if it was a wise decision but what I knew is that my heart was hurting coming to think about Angry Bird returning to an empty apartment with no sight of me. It would absolutely crush his trust and heart knowing that I left with Matt. There isn't any way my whereabouts are hidden from him.

I did leave the door open so he could get in, it somehow stressed me out thinking about him and how lost he would be when he gets back.

All I could hope is that whatever this is ends and I can go back to living normally.

***
Gabriel's POV

It was impossible to believe that Jenna was finally letting me buy her food, letting herself eat with me. She was right, it had been too long since all of this was going on. She was tired and so was I. I wanted to put this all on hold and wrap this up to keep my paradise with me.

Matt was trying everything in his power to get to Jenna and with the desperation he held and the kind of heart Jenna had, it was a no-brainer that I was worried. No amount of security could keep him behind if Jenna had made up her mind to be with him because he is cunning like that and he would make sure to use it to his whole ability.

Jenna, on the other hand is the nicest and kindest person I had ever seen so her getting manipulated in an instance by him wouldn't be as surprising. He would tie up any edges just to convince her against me. I knew though that with what Jenna and I share, she would resist to his allegations but until when?

The constant instilling would definitely make a dent on the armor and it would be impossible to keep it from tearing down eventually. I needed to come up with all the detailed information of the situation before presenting it to Jenna. I don't think at this point in our lives any half-hearted reassurances would help her. Its way past that.

Although, she does want to know the truth but I have no idea what truth to tell her. This is all so helplessly messed up that I can't explain it to her without showing up to her with proofs and presenting justification of every event unfolding. I need some clarifications too but the person who could clear this out was lying unconscious to the world.

I picked up the take outs and drove back.

There's only enough time I could stay apart from her and her safety issues make sure that I don't. There's barely anything that makes a difference to me but the prospect of Jenna getting hurt terrifies me making me want to do anything in my power to separate her from this mess but we're too far gone to escape now.

I wasn't a man who I am now. Nothing, no longer made any difference to me ever since Mia until Jenna. I never knew I'd care, well care would be putting it lightly. For Jenna, I was ready to stake my wealth, my life, myself. This determination in me and the level of conviction shook me to the core.

It didn't feel real of how strong the impact this girl had on me but she did. The way I held myself back from killing Matt at instances because his intentions looked wary. The way I felt livid when any guy came close to her was strange to me. This isn't okay, I don't give a damn about things like those then why with her?

She could leave me in ruins and I would understand her. Ever since I started fending to myself, compassion and empathy was erased out of my soul, it made sense. I no longer had anyone to be worried about. The mad drive to earn and work like a machine was what I got accustomed to because I had a wild urge for revenge.

The insane want to be in power, to destroy everyone who killed Mia and ruined me. Sometimes, I stayed at the office all night working, to get my businesses up. There was no one to come home to. There was no home.

I have a home now, I have Jenna.

She makes me want to change my ways and question myself why. There was no one to take care of me, no one bothered. You could never hire people to care about you so I had believed that it was meant to be this way. I was here because I couldn't leave the world and Mia left me alone in the battle.

Incident after incident, tragedies became a norm to me. The calamities were a usual occurrence to a point that I thought it happens on a regular and everyone has to face it in their lives but not everyone apparently, just me and me alone. I'm the unfortunate one and I had realized it.

Every vile situation one could think of, I'd been through it. Nothing to be proud of but depressing to think about, actually. At times I wanted to riot, scream and ask why it was me who had to deal with all of this. I subjected myself to work and work alone but my heart remained empty, rebelling.

I despised people because all they could do was pity. I had never exactly seen anyone being with me at the time of need at all. Well, who shall I expect anything from when my own family threw me away like I was some trash. My own parents discarded me.

When the world had disappointed me to the best of their abilities, I started shutting everyone out. I couldn't trust anyone to get closer to me because I always believed they cared about my earnings more than me and I couldn't care less about anyone. They were all here to live their own lives and with the harsh and horrific realities of this disgusting place, it was a delusion where people thought they had someone to call their own.

At times, when I was left in the misery of my life, even death seemed like luck to me. I thought Mia was atleast away from this nonsense. I didn't think there was any reason why I was alive actually. I had all the riches in the world but what do they matter when the I was not at ease? What good would any wealth do to me?

This devastation and disappointment turned such a destructive reality that it became my life and I hated it. When I say that Jenna is everything that I never had. She's the light of my life, my paradise. This girl makes me want to live, makes me want to do everything in my life to keep her happy and with me.

I need her, I am addicted to her but I don't want her to be with me for my own sake but because she wants me as much as I want her. What I'd want from her was for her to be happy and for her to own me.

From being rejected all my life, Jenna makes me feel wanted, like I belong.

I do want to be selfish in keeping her for myself at times but what person would I be if I be exactly what I said everyone in this world was, self-seeking.

I would've been selfish and maybe for her, I agree I am but I am trying myself to be better, to be her favorite. I want her to like me and accept me because she wants to. I want to be the best for her and for her to tell me that I'm not as bad for her as the world insists I am. I only want to improve for her and I knew I would.

Jenna changed me.

I pressed her doorbell to no response. She could be in the rest room. I didn't have to overthink this. She's already very pissed with me being so elaborate and invasive about her security, I shouldn't overdo it this time. I knew that the building was surrounded by the guards but at the same time I knew what that asshole Matt was capable of doing.

My heart doubled over as the prospect of someone attacking her darted in my mind. NO! I abruptly yelled, twisted the door knob and to my surprise the door opened. It was unlocked? She has the door unlocked when it is so dangerous for her to stay unguarded.

My heart was in my throat as I pushed open the door and barged in, empty living room and kitchen. No! I raced to her bedroom and pushed open the restroom, she wasn't there. Exactly what I was scared of. I ran my hand through my hair as I dialed her number. She needs to tell me that she's okay or I would lose my mind.

If something happens to her or if she's in danger...

I couldn't even finish the train of my thoughts as they scared me to no end. I needed to have myself together. For me to be there for her, I needed to stop making this worse.

Her phone started ringing in the room I was stood at, as I ruffled through her blankets that was where her phone was. She couldn't really be serious leaving without her phone. I was about to go insane, where was she?

Before I could do anything else or call my security, Ken called. Maybe he knows about all of this, I accepted the call and he did know. Matt had taken her to go with him. I felt a pang at my heart, is that why she wanted me to leave, so that she could go with him? I thought she really wanted us to be together and wanted me to take care of her. This isn't about me though, I understand why she needed to run away from me, I just need to know if she's okay.

Ken explained to me in detail that Brown had called him as they are supposed to be 'allies'. Jenna was with him and he refused to tell Ken where they were yet but Ken was constantly on call with him and he asked me to trust him and not create a havoc because if I overdid anything, her safety could be compromised and I'd have to let him deal with this without intervention.

When I got off the call, I was disoriented. I was disheartened and very let down. If the similar thing had been done to be by anyone else, it wouldn't even matter because I don't pay heed to anyone at all but with her, it matters a lot. The similar disregard that I'd been feeling all my life resurfaced nicking at my insecurities.

I guess I was becoming too much and I understood that for her. I just wanted her safe and sound and once I know that the issue was settled, I would voluntarily walk away for good. I knew my worth and Jenna was much of a gem for me to keep harming her like that.

If she thought my entire existence was made out of hating people, I had no way to change her mind. I was just hoping that she would know that I wasn't based simply on hating people. Circumstances made me this way and I have reasons to absolutely despise people.

My mind couldn't come up with any strategy to do anything whatsoever, I wanted Ken to call me and tell me what shall I do to finally get her away from this. What saddened me more was the fact that I was warning her against Matt, she could least consider the fact that I was stressing against him.

There obviously was something very wrong and why I couldn't tell her was because if Matt even got an inkling of her knowing anything about this situation, it would've been even worse. I was asked to let him play this to his tunes till I destroy him completely. If Ken hadn't stopped me, I would've killed Brown by now.

Additionally, if Jenna knew what Matt and his family had done to us both, there was no way she would sit quiet and not burst down at him for hurting her Jerdy. She was to be kept unaware about this for all the right reasons until we were coming to the way of finishing this game for Matt.

Now that her life was on the line, I regret listening to Ken and keeping it all from her. If she knew Matt and what the whole fiasco was, there was no way she could pretend to be normal around him. Jenna is a no bullshit person, even when she is the nicest one around, she wouldn't take anything wrong.

Who needed to be tightened though right now were the guards. What the fuck did I appoint them for when they couldn't even do so much as keep an eye on anyone entering or leaving the building.

Before I could take a step forward, my shoe stepped on a piece of metal, on close inspection it appeared to be a ring with a crown. It was too small to fit Jenna then what was it. I spent a minute observing it before a realization suddenly hit me. The overpowering sense of a reminder in its raw right in my grasp.

It was a crown and my breath hitched as I looked at it closely. My hands started to shake as I resisted the urge to turn it around. I was almost scared that I wouldn't find what I was hoping to find. Maybe I was mistaken and it was not what I thought it was.

The memories were impossible to shadow away from. Without being able to hold it any further, I flipped it to the other side and I sucked in a harsh breath. I didn't know how to react to it. I wanted to scream but I held myself together refusing to believe it.

G & J. It read.

The event of a little boy etching those initials on the ring for a princess, hiding away in a kitchen.

Princess J.

I sank to the floor, gripping the beddings on Jenna's mattress. I thought that when I was retracting her phone from the blankets, that's when the ring had fallen. I was dumbfounded to say the least, the anxiety and panic of the past gripped me from within when memories after memories made an appearance in order.

I couldn't believe any of what I saw. The ring was clutched tightly in my palm as I clenched my eyes shut, Jenna was princess J. She was my small friend after Mia when I was eleven. She was my princess J! I didn't know whether to laugh at it or cry.

I sat there gazing at the ring trying to comprehend the turn of events. I had been seated there for minutes just recalling everything from the past and it left me wondering if Jenna had undergone that terrorizing event from our childhood that had haunted me forever too. If she was the same little girl who had lost her mother because her mom had given me protection; a home.

I shuffled to my feet and went to her closet because her door was filled with all sorts of pictures. I've never really been in her room long enough to observe anything ever before so I didn't know how she kept it. From her bed though, her closet was visible. It was small but she had pasted too many pictures on them, of her and everyone close to her. I couldn't see them from afar so I had to go near them to have a better look.

I saw pictures after pictures of Jenna with her Jerdy when she was small say a teenager or maybe younger, her graduation pictures, pictures of that lady in the coffee shop. Her friends were in some of them but none of them had her mother. I needed to see her mother, I just needed to know.

I needed to know what she looked like, when did she die. I needed to know these details because they were responsible for so many incidents in my life as well.

I went to her bedside table and saw a planner, I looked through it for a picture, for any proof. I would inform Jenna later about me going through her stuff but it was urgent, I needed answers. I'd never asked Jenna how she'd lost her mom, she always told me it gave her nightmares and it was very disturbing but seeing the hurt on her face never gave me the courage to ask.

I wanted to know now more than ever because the death of her mom may be related to my past and most likely our present and future. Both Jenna and I deserved to have the knowledge of everything around us and what had conspired in our lies before and after we'd met. Both of us are connected in ways we hadn't yet known and now its important to know if Chief Stephens who I knew was Jenna's mom. It obviously made sense with her surname but I didn't want to take any chances so I called my trusted. Maybe it was one messy chain of coincidences and what I was thinking ended up being invalid.

I rummaged through the stuff on her desk while my assistant dug in on Jenna's relatives and when he called to confirm that I, in fact was right and Chief Stephens was Jenna's mom, I felt the world the world around me clashing.

I raked my hand through my hair unbelieving of the disclosed secret. No, way!

What I felt for Jenna was the strongest urge to hold her, to hug her and to keep her close to me while I speak to her about everything that ever haunted her and continues to do so. I didn't know my girl had gone through all of that and regardless, she is the most soft-hearted person to ever exist. She really is unbelievable and what I feel for her gets stronger, the more I get to know her.

My strongest warrior, my princess.

Jenna's mother was the police officer at the night of the raid... the night of Mia's death. She was the one who took me away from Mia's body because she was concerned about me and had been cooperative with me the whole time. She dealt with me patiently even when the police turned desperate for listening to my word for proof and investigation. She was patient enough after I had spent nights in the hospital due to development of fever and terrible anxiety.

When I was abandoned and precincts were my home, she took care of me making sure I was well fed and I had rested enough. Occasionally, she would bring in some kid word search and cross words for me to solve so I don't end up rethinking the incident and at least smile.

I was supposed to be living at foster cares till the case proceeded but it gradually became unsafe for me living there because I had been attacked by the ones from the gang left behind. The foster care refused to take me in because I was endangering the lives of others staying there.

I was the speaker at courts and my word could put their boss to life sentence or a death row. For the sake of their loyalties, I became their target and it was dangerous for me apparently to be living without surveillance and protocol.

The officials with the help of the government had decided to leave me in custody of any police officer who was willing to offer, it was rare and it never happened but my life at that point was far from ordinary. The police were less likely to be threatened or attacked than any civilian.

Regardless, no-one stepped in to take care of me, I was a walking threat to their families and I agreed – I really was. I didn't exactly want to live anymore either, at the age of eleven I decided that I had, had enough. That's when Mrs. Stephens decided to keep me with her, at her house. I resisted at first but the kindness in her and her constantly being nice to me gave me hope.

So, I agreed. I stayed with them, Jenna and Jennifer Stephens. I used to stay very upset at first, didn't had any urge to talk even at their house but Jenna always had a way with me, she could always get me to talk. She was like a princess, my princess.

I liked her so much that I decided to give her the one thing of Mia that I had after the incident, her ring. I trusted Jenna to keep it because I knew she would keep it with her. I trusted her with whatever I owned and had, even my emotions.

They never reminded me of my reality, it seemed as though they cocooned me with their love and gave me a light spark of the world having tad niceness, persuading me to start living. They were even contemplating sending me to school, that's how indifferent they treated me as.

The case couldn't be carried forward because my family had decided to flee. Roger and Elena, who were now divorced didn't want to be associated with me even after they were well-aware about Mia's death. The more it dragged, the harder it was for me to keep remembering the same night. I was only eleven.

When the hype of the case diminished, Jennifer decided to help me live a normal life. I got enrolled in a school and I started liking these people and their genuineness. Jenna was this one person I used to bring juice for when I got home from the school's lunch tray. It made her smile really big, her smile had always made me happy.

I thought my life was leading towards normalcy until one day when I returned from school and it seemed as though there was a continuation of the same loop. The same sirens, police, security, caution tape, cameras, journalists and media. It took me no other second to collect what had happened.

I hid behind a bush grabbing onto twigs, trying to see the situation and understanding how a few hours where I left for school and came back, everything changed in my life again. Wasn't I supposed to be coming home to Jenna playing with the orange clay that Jennifer had brought. She had asked me to get home early because she couldn't wait for us to build a small house of that clay.

I clutched at my bag pack straps tighter when I heard onlookers summarizing the incident to each other. It was as though, life had been sucked out of me when they explained the brutality of the incident where the house was trashed and Jenna was found locked in a dresser.

She was taken away to somewhere safe, they didn't know where but Jennifer's body was still being thoroughly examined by the police and forensics. The way they described the onset of murder and the brutality and use of violence was being spoke about, I knew that I couldn't take it anymore. I ran away and spewed my guts out until I had been sent to the hospital and the rest was history.

I kept asking everyone for a while where Jenna was but I wasn't an adult enough and they considered my talks as mental alterations and straight-up trauma rants, therefore they refused to entertain my questions. I knew I was now in the open to be attacked and I was ready to be attacked so that the mess could end for once and for all but they never came.

My eyes were shut close and I was holding Jenna's picture frame in my grasp reliving those moments all over again. Knowing the trauma and the disaster she had gone through, I wanted to hide her away from the world and give her all the happiness there was.

All those years, I had blamed myself for Jennifer's death, she lost her life and Jenna's for the sake of me. Could the guilt trip ever end, I used to wonder? The changes the family had gotten in me had reverted back to making me worse after the cruelty that separated us. The anger in me had by the time intensified multiple folds and the urge to get revenge which was previously placated by the Stephens roared ferociously. It was irrevocable.

The only thing I wanted to do was get to the levels of authority to destroy each and everyone of them and now when I finally had it all sorted and I was about to avenge my sister, they decided to ping me with my weakness, my Jenna. With her, I was defenseless and that is why I let them lose but this had to be put to an end. Now, more than ever.

Jenna deserved justice and so did I. For this girl I'd walk through hell and return. I'll make sure to make her my strength.

***

Jenna's POV

Matt and I were in a car, he was driving but was very edgy since he was constantly checking at the mirrors. It was the tenth time that I had asked where he was taking me. He just asked me to trust him because he couldn't stay around this vicinity knowing that Gabriel could come any time. I was frustrated to no bounds.

Speaking of Gabriel, by this time he must've returned back. I wanted to go back home and it was already very dark. I need to ask Matt to atleast let me speak to him once but he said if I'd speak to Gabriel, he would know where we were exactly and Matt's life was at risk.

I was also worried about Gabriel's men in the building. Knowing Gabriel, I knew that his security was definitely going to be either tortured to death by him or his anger fest would convince them to evaporate.

I wanted to know if he had eaten, if he was okay and not panicking on seeing me absent. Matt had started driving towards the highway and now when I yelled at him to pull over, he continued to ignore me and was on call with Ken every few minutes. I couldn't decipher much from the exchange, their conversation seemed very close ended. I regretted trusting him, I regretted leaving Gabriel.

When I asked Matt to allow me to speak to Ken, he started giving me stupid reasons why it wasn't the right time for me to speak to anyone. He promised to show me all he wanted to, so he could prove it to me but for that I had to wait and it was annoying me now.

All Matt gave me were reasons why Gabriel is not the man to be trusted, there were the notes that he showed me. Those notes were the ones that came with gifts and were stolen from my drawer. I was surprised when he linked those to Gabriel and how he was giving me death threats because these were then found in Gabriel's cabinets in the office. He had pictures to prove his point. Worst of all, Ken had sent those pictures to Matt.

It was in fact Gabriel's office cabinet, I inhaled a sharp breath. Ever since the hospital incident, this is what had been happening? It was Gabriel all along?

Gabriel had sent me those death threat gifts? Matt told me that the reason he had to take the notes back, it was because the message to me had been delivered and leaving them with me would build up proof against Gabriel so he decided to steal them.

He was the one plotting the murder, what had Jerdy and I done to have this all come up to us. It made me wonder the times when he was worried about me or had his security to take care of me. It was all a ploy. My heart was absolutely shattered and I bundled up in the seat and looked outside when Matt kept telling me things after things.

He started linking so many situations up and Ken had been the one informing him. Ken wouldn't want something bad happening to me, right? My head was in a whirlpool of thoughts and the hurt was so apparent that it resonated from me to a point that Matt had to clutch my hand to squeeze some life into it. I couldn't believe what I heard and to think about the feelings I had for Gabriel made it far worse.

I knew I was the only one falling and there was no one to brace the fall, rather it was leading to a pit.

Gabriel couldn't that to me was what I had been reassuring for so long that it seemed like a lie, maybe it was a lie. Gabriel was the one doing all this to me.

In the end, I gave up, closed my eyes and decided not to race my mind to think about anything anymore. What's worse that could happen? I would end up in a ditch. I guess that would be understandable and the situation I was in, even reasonable. The entire ride I was planning what I had to do next, after returning to my apartment once Matt is done with whatever it is that he wanted to do, I would pack my belongings and go back to where I belong. I would go back to my town.

If this was Matt's way to ditract me to stop asking questions, I was distracted and very much hurt that I stopped paying attention to anything whatsoever around me.

Everything was a lie.

After hours and hours of us being on the road and me overthinking to no end. I dozed off and when I woke up, I was held in Matt's arms bridal style when he was lowering my body on a couch. I suddenly panicked as he placed me down, he had a smile on his face. I immediately looked around and panic struck me. It was our home, Jerdy and my house.

"Matt?" I asked. What was happening, how did we get in? Was Jerdy here, was he alright?

"Relax, Jenna. I promise I will answer everything tomorrow" he said as he gave me a glass of water and made me sit. I didn't want to drink but he insisted me to, to stay hydrated.

"No! Answer me now please. Why are we here?" I said as I sipped the water and placed it on the table.

"Jenna, this is the place where all your secrets hide" he said earnestly, holding my hands in his. I pulled them away and shook my head. Why can they never answer me directly.

"I don't have any secrets" I declared.

"Yes, but Gabriel does" he countered. Gabriel this, Gabriel that. I was done listening about him.

"I can't solve riddles anymore. I'm tired" I said and my eyes started rolling upwards. What was happening to me?

"I know sweetheart, you'd thank me for helping you rest. You'll be up in a few hours" he said and he leaned closer. His eyes akin to being evil and so was his smile – devilish. He was coming to kiss me. Matt was trying to kiss me and it seemed very wrong.

As his lips were inches away from me, I pushed him away. My head was lolling around lifelessly. HE had drugged me, I realized in my unconscious state.

"Matt?" I asked, shaking my head no. He gave me a push when I refused to kiss him making me squint in disbelief but my eyes were closing when I saw him leave the room. Everything seemed sketchy to me so I dragged my body after him.

I heard voices outside. Matt was speaking with Ken and even though I strained to listen to them, my eyes drooped shut and I passed out.

What I heard before passing out was... 2 hours drug lasts..., scan house for proofs..., game over.

Game over.

***

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