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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsICksJgNPi
“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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBTBKYtsx9
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. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gM9cACkuz
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. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnMd0tH1Vt
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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhiqFqrcAE
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.” 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLo87YOW9y
“Dad, when is it my turn?” Vante whines off to the side. He’d been kicking rocks since they’d been out there. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1DLZgCBO4
“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. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHq32tm01i
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNnkcGhe9h
Vante stammers, “she needs to learn.” he stares with his pupils dilated. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDVrChjjkp
“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. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NMBKyugTH
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. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ12G9r8qMw
“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. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZCHopy8Q1
“Nothing. I was just wondering what you were really doing here.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ86Sge6YfS
Zeniqua turns to finally look at the clock, “At 7 in the morning?” she arches her brow. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapXaj4u89S
“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. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvI5Qq95zs
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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Cyocf4ljL
“He doesn’t know you’re here though, does he?” Gracine asks.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08tuH0luIQ
“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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KmwHdUkUJ
“We are going to try our best to hide you, Zeniqua. Mama won’t let anything happen to you.” Gracine assures. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkTz4feJ60
“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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedxS5weP4C
“I know, Zeniqua.” Gracine stands up, “But, right now, we just have to keep you under wraps. Have you finished high school?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQFmNIGfkv
“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. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzv7tX4czR
“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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYcBNLv0kp
Zeniqua nods, “I know. I don’t want to continue to look over my shoulder all the time.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvE41kmutD
“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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yP4cAfW9R
“How are you so sure?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjF3FXxcXvM
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzcDLD2ghu
“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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVppbLA1GMq
Gracine nods. “Okay. I will talk to mom for you about that job unless you wanted to go to college instead?” 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBGvgp3I8a
“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. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBol9Is8mDH
“At least you have a plan.” Gracine says walking to the door. “Unlike my stupid brother.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSBTCyTXjG
“I heard that, Gracine.” Varrien yells from his bedroom. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKPKCY11G4
“What’s with all the yelling in here?” Their mother yells from her own bedroom.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLyXz5CTn8
Zeniqua’s eyes widen and Gracine looks to Zeniqua, “Nothing. Just having a little conversation.” 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojjVZBoSbl
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. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgqWvqb4oW
“Don’t make me get up outta my bed.” Their mother warns them. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpvh5jkOnG
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?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2fRUlaVMd
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.” 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxapnUpcRX
“College, huh?” Taiquana hums. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8hWWNg2zs
“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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXC2h0EPHc
“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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqrIuVYXvC
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.” 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNoMCFHJjX
“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. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6x4zdKMaz
“I wish you were this passionate about school, Gracine as you are talking about my job.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7GxTgLsT3
“Oh, mom. You know I do excellent in school. I am just trying to help, Zeniqua here.” 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQllVtiWL8
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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRZFDAy5bi
“Mom…” He whines.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehvpFpXtM6
“No, sir. Sit and eat. I am sure your friends will be at the court when you get there.” 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJ7f4Xd3d9
Varrien slings himself in the chair and begins eating. “They aren’t who I am waiting for, mama.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOzHaFW8A2
“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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9ZPHy6kUZ
“But, he said for real this time. He is coming to play ball with me and my boys this evening.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurgwdp2DkI
Taiquana shakes her head and begins doing the dishes. “Neari will surely play with you once he gets up.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnb8Gnoc68
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.” 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm76Zz1uWR1
Zeniqua nods and finishes up her breakfast. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IMZq69Lgm
“I am not stuck on daddy. I just want to see him.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNYT2q1U5L
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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaP5YYs5Gzh
“It’s not my fault you don’t care about daddy.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUMIzK4oyn
“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.” 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqlljmcvyJ
“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.” 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwArsEAjoJe
“Yes, mama.” Gracine sighs defeated. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOs6prx32G
“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.” 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBxEhKPZxZ
“I understand.” 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlBJ3BSh2M
“Great. Gracine, why don’t you introduce her to some of your friends and yall go shopping or something?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzIZ6zkkaL
“Can I take the Mazda?” Gracine squeals as she bounces up and down. “Please?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJlLxejAWu
“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. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMlKFyEFil
“Yes, yes. My baby.” Gracine squeals. “Thank you, mama.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkEad6od8U
“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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyn4Mc3Tf0
“Okay, I promise, mama.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxSfwGSQT1
“When can I get a car, mama?” Varrien whines as he pokes his bottom lip out.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡut5UAosF6x
“When you pull your grades up along with your pants.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYUYBajb8S
Gracine sticks her tongue out at her brother and pulls Zeniqua along to the car.
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