"I am very tired." I said cozening on the backseat of James's car.

"Ooohh tired ha!" Said Ana turning her head towards me.

"What was that?" I asked with thin eyes. I was feeling so sleepy.

"You asking me? Babe, you was with Ady tonight. Where have you been the whole time?" She seemed excited. I knew what was she thinking.

"Beach."

"Beach?"

"Yes. Beach."

Whoa! I am happy you are finally being the way you were in past."

"Stop it Ana. Nothing happened between us."

"Okay, sssssshh. You can rest now." She said putting finger on her lips.

"That's better." James and I said together and laughed.

"You guys are evil!" said Ana.

The car stopped near my house.

"Bye Iva. Take care." James said after I came out from the car.

"Bye James."

Ana came out and hugged me. "Iva, meet me tomorrow at the coffee shop. Bye. Take care."

"Okay. Bye."

I took out the extra home keys and opened the door. The lights were dimmed. I tiptoed to my room. I wore my favorite pink night suit and jumped on the bed. The lights were dimmed. I took out my ear phones, plugged it in my iPod which dad gifted me and clicked on my favorite song. I closed my eyes. The song made me remind of my dad. I was missing him so much. I felt as if he was with me all the time on the beach. Adreano is a nice man. He looks tough but is sweet by heart. I mean why will he bother leaving his party and taking me to the beach? Because he his kind hearted. Or, maybe he pity me. Whatever it is. He's a good man.

I extended my hands towards the lamp and switched off the light. After my father's death, our life worsened. Thankfully I got job in 'The Ripen Flour' and I was earning enough to fulfil the basic needs of my family. But being a bread winner of the family is not easy. My brother Alex is 12 and studies in one of the best school in the city. Mom says me to admit him to some local school so that the expense will be less, but I deny. I have studied from the same school. My dad's dream was to give the best education so that our future will be bright. I had to stop my study and work for the family. I don't want Alex to suffer. We have no extra savings. No extra money to go shopping, buy new clothes. All I earn goes in buying grocery, paying bills, debt of our house, mom's medication, Alex's schooling. I am so stuck. I think I have to find another job at night for extra income.

I closed my eyes. Suddenly I heard a loud voice, like someone is banging my room's door. I turned on the lights.

"Alex, is that you?"

There was no reply and the banging continued.

"Mom?" I slowly stepped towards the door.

I turned the knob and unlocked the door. The door made a squeaking noise. I came out of my room, turned my head to the right and then to the left, but no one was there. I walked toward mom's room. I stopped. I felt someone standing behind me. I could feel his breath. In a fraction of second, someone tightly covered my mouth with his hands and grabbed me back to my room.

He pushed me so hard that my forehead stumbled with the edge of the wooden lamp beside my bed.

"Who are you?" I asked in a frightened voice. I was not able to see his face as it was covered with a Vendetta mask.

"Oh babe, you forgot me so soon? I thought we are meant to be together forever." He said removing his mask.

"You??? But you were in...how..how..you came here? I stammered.

"I can't leave you this easily." He grinned.

"Please, let me go. I beg you. Please." I cried and moved my steps backwards.

"You bitch!! What you thought, you'll go to the police, prison me, and I will let you go this easily." He slashed the knife.

"Aaaarghhh! No please! Please don't do this to me." I cried as he cut my sleeves of the left arm. My arm was bleeding. I was in immense pain.

He took the knife. It was sharp, pointed and shined. He came closer to me. "Ready for some fun bitch? He laughed.

I begged him, but he didn't listened. He cut down my night suit. I was naked. I immediately sat down near my closet, my back glued to the wall. I placed both my arms across my chest and flexed the knees up to the pectoral.

He clenched my hairs and dragged me to the other corner of my room. I was in deep pain. I felt as if hundreds of needles are pricking my head.

I tried to escape but he got hold of me. "Here I come you cunt!" He stabbed that pointed, sharp knife on my stomach.

"Nooooo!!" I screamed. I looked up. My hands on my stomach. My eyes widened. I felt the cutting and gripping pain. Tears rolled down my cheeks.

Mom and Alex came inside the room.

"Baby wake up, wake up!" I heard my Mom's voice. I could barely open my eyes. I was lying on the floor. Everything was blur. Where I am? Heaven or Hell?

"Iva, open your eyes." Mom patted my cheeks and sprinkled water on my face.

"Mom? Alex? You shouldn't be here. Go back now or he will kill you both." I pushed them out of my room.

"Iva listen...Iva!!" She took me back to my room.

"Mom go, he is very dangerous." I cried.

"Iva, calm down. No one is here." Mom held my shoulder firmly.

"No mom. He is.." I stopped and looked around. The lights were on. There was no trace of that man.

I was breathing raggedly. I felt as if hundred of stones are on my head. My whole body was shivering. Where the hell he hid himself?

I took out the baseball bat from beneath my bed and moved towards my closet. I opened it and was ready with my bat to attack but there was no one in it.

"Baby. There's no one here." Mom hugged me.

"Believe me mom he was here. He came out of the jail and he tried to kill me. He..he..." I looked at the mirror. I parted from my mom. The mirror was reflecting Alex, mom and me. My night suit was in proper condition. Not a single part of it was torn. My forehead was free from wound, my abdomen was perfect and there was no trace of blood. What's happening? I was so confused.

"It was just a nightmare dear. He was not here. Calm down." Mom laid me on bed.

"Nightmare? How can it be a nightmare mom? I felt his presence. I felt the deadly crushing pain in my abdomen when he hit that knife in it, tearing my muscles and blood vessels. I was sweating profusely.

"Iva stay here. I'll be back in a moment. Alex you stay with your sister till I come back." Mom ordered us.

"Sis, are you okay?" Alex whispered.

"Yes." I wiped the droplets of sweat from my forehead.

"I know him. The man who came to harm you was Mr. NODDY. He is very cruel."

"How you know him?" I responded to his naive story.

"I read about him in the 'Goosebumps comics' He kills girls in the town every Saturday night." His eyes widened.

"I think you should start reading your school textbooks and take more interest in your studies. The comics are waste of time and money." Mom came back holding a glass of water. She pulled the drawer besides my bed and took out medicines.

"Take it." She handled me the glass and the pills.

"Alex, go to sleep."

"Okay. Good night." He went back to his room.

Mom settled on my bed. "Iva, what has happened to you? The doctor has said you not to miss your medicines, but why will you listen? We are fools right?"

"Mom.." I tried to make some excuse bit she interrupted.

"Don't you open your mouth until I finish girl!" She raised her voice a bit, not too loud but enough to make me quiet. She continued, "Your father is no more and I am getting old day by day. I am not healthy. A weak woman by body as well as by mind. The reason I am still alive is you and Alex. I want my children to live a happy and successful life. But I don't think you are going to let this happen. You changed yourself to big glasses, loose clothes I agreed
Started avoiding any sort of functions and parties, I agreed. But I'll never support you in ruining your health. Are you a nursery kid, whom I have to remind to take medicines and have food? Thanks to Ana, she grabs you everywhere she can, to make you a normal happy girl like before." Her eyes were filled with tears.

"Mom stop. I am sorry okay? I promise I'll take food and medicines on time." I clasped my hand with hers.

"You have to child. It's very important." The tears started running down from her eyes. I immediately hugged her.

"Everything is going to be okay mom. Don't worry."

She stood up, and walked towards the door without uttering a word.

"Mom?"

"Yes baby?"

"I love you."

"I love you too. Good night princess."

I yawned and turned off the lights. The medicines always makes me to fall into deep sleep.

***********

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