Laying in her bed, Zeniqua stares at the ceiling. She had tried plenty of times to get some sleep but the fact that she escaped her father without any issues. It plagued her. She hated losing sleep over things she knows she can’t control but on this note, she knows she has to keep moving if she is ever found out. She turns over and looks at the clock, not for time but just to stare at something else other than the ceiling or the wall. She then goes back to laying on her back and rubs her forehead.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79L8f3pitN
“What if they do find me? What am I going to do? I can’t run off because they will catch me.” She thinks to herself out loud Her forehead wrinkles a little, “I will just have to be extra careful, I refuse to go back there. I refuse to be forced to be violent.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1iKLuTnvV
Since Zeniqua was 10 years old, her father taught her how to shoot a gun. They would go out to a desert and use humans that had crossed him. Zeniqua was reluctant to shoot people who were still alive, her father knelt down to her and placed his hands on top of hers. Suddenly, he turned the gun on her, “You either shoot them or you get shot.” He warned. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXacUWnHxx
Zeniqua couldn’t believe how heartless he was when he said that, but that struck a chord in her. He stood up and moved back. The first person Zeniqua aimed at was a young man about in his early 20’s, he was blindfolded and sweating. Zeniqua looked up at her father as she aimed, he nodded with a disgusting smirk on his face. Zeniqua pulled the trigger missing her target, the young man whimpered and flinched. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEl5jx2GSZ7
Her father kneeled down to her again, “Take it easy. Breathe. Try again.” He stood up again and moves back. “Eyes on the target, Zeniqua. Focus.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmll6k9eX8H
Zeniqua breathes easily and pulls the trigger again, shooting the man in his head. Her father cheered along with his two right-hands. “My girl.” 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKTTExwVHi
“Dad, when is it my turn?” Vante whines off to the side. He’d been kicking rocks since they’d been out there. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5mJLYuGFe
“Son, hush up. You already know how to do this. Your sister needs to learn.”
“But, I wanna kill one of them!” His fist clenched. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDorpjbJFh
Their father walked over to Vante and snatched him up so quick by his shirt, “What’d I say?” He lifts him off the ground to his eye level.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpWGWvuMJA
Vante stammers, “she needs to learn.” he stares with his pupils dilated. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fPBD8L0c6
“Right.” He puts his son down and fixes his shirt. “Besides, you go on more errands for me than Zeniqua does. So, stop bitchin’.” He walked back over to Zeniqua. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVboMdXXp0
A rough knock on the door causes Zeniqua’s muscles to tighten, she snatches the covers off and goes to the door. She opens it to see, Gracine. She invites her in and closes the door. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nwWGMVSUE
“What’s wrong, Gracine?” Zeniqua asks. The last time she saw Gracine was the day of the funeral. Her mother had gotten her out of there in time. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jRnOolCBl
“Nothing. I was just wondering what you were really doing here.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yXBWYgJgv
Zeniqua turns to finally look at the clock, “At 7 in the morning?” she arches her brow. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkb1jiT66y
“Yeah. I mean I know I said it yesterday but what’s your reason?” She sits on the bed in her pink pajamas and crosses her legs. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRHC1REDWh
Zeniqua sighs, “I don't know. I…” Zeniqua looks at the floor. “Well...You know my father and all that. I had to get away from him. But, I am scared.” Her eyes shift from side to side. She begins to pace the floor then stops in front of her cousin, “I think he knows I wanted to escape.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizSbbo3Ruv
“He doesn’t know you’re here though, does he?” Gracine asks.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwaLBNOvhP
“I don’t know. I don’t think he thinks I would have made it this far. He probably thinks I am still in Illinois, but he isn’t stupid.” Zeniqua sighs and rubs her face. “I was just thinking what to do if he finds me.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBcZYXwYef
“We are going to try our best to hide you, Zeniqua. Mama won’t let anything happen to you.” Gracine assures. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55tLejE63i
“He just...was so violent and thought everyone was out to get him.” Zeniqua squints her eyes at the carpet. “Then I overheard a conversation with him and his right hand. His right hand wanted me killed because I am too soft for that lifestyle.” She looks up, “I didn’t ask to be born into that bullshit.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhewHgYRJG
“I know, Zeniqua.” Gracine stands up, “But, right now, we just have to keep you under wraps. Have you finished high school?”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBs8wHlpDQ
“Yes, thankfully. I graduated early in plans to get out.” She blinks at herself and her plan to leave. But she didn’t think it would be like this, she thought she would just go to college and never have to see her father again. But, no. Because the situation was so dire, she had to make an escape now. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9WMnlq0Cc
“Okay. I can talk to my mom to see if you can get a job somewhere with her.” She puts her hands on her cousin’s shoulders. “I don’t want you to worry but I know you have to.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hrzNH79CD
Zeniqua nods, “I know. I don’t want to continue to look over my shoulder all the time.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tQT9LFlne
“I can understand that.” She drops her hands and walks around the room. “If he hasn’t found you by now, then I don’t think he ever will.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVA89r2ziT
“How are you so sure?”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4zFCZYlNk
She shrugs and turns to her, “Call it an institution. Now,” she ambles over to Zeniqua’s duffle bag. “Is this all you brought with you?” she points to it.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3L6LOo0zVE
“Yes. I didn’t have enough time to pack all the other things I wanted to take with me. So, I just packed what I thought I would need and I wanted my bag to be light since I was going to be running down the street.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yiqJwqLe4
Gracine nods. “Okay. I will talk to mom for you about that job unless you wanted to go to college instead?” 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpf19BV8YS
“I would love to go to college.” Zeni beams. College has always been a dream of her’s since her mother told her about it. She remembers her mother saying that college is a place of privilege and exploration, but the education obtained must be used for mental purposes. Whatever that meant. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwrSQ396zi
“At least you have a plan.” Gracine says walking to the door. “Unlike my stupid brother.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiPyP2XuOh
“I heard that, Gracine.” Varrien yells from his bedroom. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZCTppwWRk
“What’s with all the yelling in here?” Their mother yells from her own bedroom.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyEWzb4jYY
Zeniqua’s eyes widen and Gracine looks to Zeniqua, “Nothing. Just having a little conversation.” 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZvVKte2En
Gracine gets her brother out of a lot of trouble, while keeping herself out of trouble as well. Zeniqua wonders how she does it, because her mother isn’t one to play. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeHrQvX9jn
“Don’t make me get up outta my bed.” Their mother warns them. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY16R3keSEt
Gracine scrunches up her face and leaves Zeniqua’s room. A little later in the morning, Taiquana is making breakfast while Varrien is throwing the ball in the air. Gracine is talking to Zeniqua, “So, have you thought about what program you would want to go into when you get into college?”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2bnvyYEdN
Taiquana puts two pancakes on Zeniqua’s plate and two on Gracine’s plate. Zeniqua pours a little syrup on them and digs in. “I am not so sure. I mean...I have thought about it, but very little on the programming part.” 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA80IkmqGKv
“College, huh?” Taiquana hums. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuloj0DwjI
“Yes, I would like to go, Auntie. But, I am scared that father will find me and come back for me.” Zeniqua hangs her head. “I worked too hard on this for it to just blow up in my face.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWOQZ8Mjfz
“Don’t worry, Zeni. He won’t find you and if he does, we will be one step ahead of him.” She assures her niece.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgg1yKXhpq
She looks up at her auntie, “Okay.” She turns to Gracine, “I have always thought about going into something dealing with computer designs or computer programmer.” 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmYQn3bEYh
“Well, mom works at Webworks and that’s all they do is deal with computers. They have programmers there, designers, specialist. Basically it can be a way for you to get your foot in the door for anything dealing with computers.” Gracine nods putting a slice of a pancake in her mouth. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MMucOuloO
“I wish you were this passionate about school, Gracine as you are talking about my job.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZa5K2b3fDd
“Oh, mom. You know I do excellent in school. I am just trying to help, Zeniqua here.” 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfrxEp87ax
Taiquana smiles, “I know, dear.” She turns to turn the stove off, she eyes Varrien, “Stop throwing the ball in the house and come eat your breakfast.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NKXW59Sz9
“Mom…” He whines.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCxY4G5L3c
“No, sir. Sit and eat. I am sure your friends will be at the court when you get there.” 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdnYLq0jBv
Varrien slings himself in the chair and begins eating. “They aren’t who I am waiting for, mama.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHdlg5W4dz
“If you are waiting for your father to come by, then you can keep waiting until the end of time. You know that man isn’t able to keep a promise.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdkrJTFSIT
“But, he said for real this time. He is coming to play ball with me and my boys this evening.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHR8TVXf7K
Taiquana shakes her head and begins doing the dishes. “Neari will surely play with you once he gets up.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8EEaVV7eY
Zeniqua arches her brow to Gracine. Gracine looks at Zeniqua, “Neari is mama’s new husband of five years now. He is freaking awesome. But, Varrien isn’t buying it though. He is still stuck on daddy.” 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0Z3MBtglS
Zeniqua nods and finishes up her breakfast. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYrjcfLjTk
“I am not stuck on daddy. I just want to see him.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUaFLDuV5U
Gracine rolls her eyes, “Oh please, Varrien. Get real. Ever since he left, you have been up his butt about him coming over and stuff.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54WVRbbDhF
“It’s not my fault you don’t care about daddy.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbeYuCLEq2
“It’s not that I don’t care. I just know better than you do. I stopped believing his lies and crap. One day you will understand it too.” She takes her empty plate to the sink and puts it in. “But, until that day, you can continue being heartbroken and disappointed. I rather not. I rather get on with my life and move on from him. If he comes around, okay that’s fine. If not, then there is always Neari that is here.” 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTGZFKmLR0
“Alright you two. Chill out, now. We have had this conversation before hand. If your brother wants to wait for his father, then let him.” 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MkmGpaYx8
“Yes, mama.” Gracine sighs defeated. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgvoBA7Py5
“Zeniqua, if you want, I can take you to my work tomorrow so you can see what it’s like there. Today is going to be really hectic and we have a few people from upstate coming to inspect us and our products.” 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qAAIMhPSr
“I understand.” 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ROR6SdfC3
“Great. Gracine, why don’t you introduce her to some of your friends and yall go shopping or something?”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhy8lVRvt2
“Can I take the Mazda?” Gracine squeals as she bounces up and down. “Please?”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFusMTDlq14
“You are still supposed to be grounded. But, since it’s for a good reason.” She tosses the keys to her daughter and she catches them. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BzMb1mcK4
“Yes, yes. My baby.” Gracine squeals. “Thank you, mama.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDKWV8uZEg
“Yeah, yeah. Just be careful and don’t let me catch you out of the radius again.” She warns pointing her finger at her daughter.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv2B6uIIsP
“Okay, I promise, mama.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWxqXvdkIZ
“When can I get a car, mama?” Varrien whines as he pokes his bottom lip out.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxWwIRRqxe
“When you pull your grades up along with your pants.”606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWn2UX0IxKu
Gracine sticks her tongue out at her brother and pulls Zeniqua along to the car.
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