Chapter 1
Sophia (10 years old) …
The little girl sat in bed looking on, as her mum dressed up for the Friday night weekend party. The girl wore a blank expression but smiled fitfully at some of her mum's remarks and complaints.
“Sophia, you’re clearly amused at my poor attempt in putting on this dress, aren’t you?”
The Little girl shook her head in the negative. At the moment, she wasn’t in the mood to utter a word, silence was the ordeal being on one of her moody phases. On the contrary, when Sophia felt expressive, there was no stopping her. She spoke without a care in the world, so much that she earned a nickname : “The busy buccal”. Mary, Sophia’s mum loved her more at a time like this; when she was on her moody phase.
However, that very day, Mary wanted her little girl to at least say something. Be it a word, phrase, just anything. After all, she and her husband would be out for the Friday night and would be back in the early hours of the next morning. Whenever they left for their evening, Sophia was placed in the care of their housekeeper Deborah, who only came during the weekends.
Mary tried yet again with Sophia.
“Baby what do you think of this dress?”
The little girl gave a thumbs up, nodding. This meant that the dress was indeed beautiful. Her mother who never gave up ventured again. Something was seriously bothering her cute little daughter today. Though Sophia was sometimes silent, but never to that extent as she clearly wasn’t herself. Despite this, Mary didn’t allow the silent treatment to discourage her.
“I could twist my spine trying to keep up with this. I can’t even breathe, so damn tight.” Mary muttered beneath her breath as she tried to lace up the dress’s corset.
The dress was down rightly beautiful, hence the woman felt she must don it for the occasion. Nothing was ever stopping her from slipping into the lovely dress. The fashion designer had made the dress a little below her body measurement. This, Mary was sure. As there was just no way she could have gained weight within three days. She had acquired the dress the past three days and had politely asked the woman to take her exact body measurements .
With the current situation, the opposite was the case. Perhaps the designer had deliberately taken slightly below her body size because Mary had asked her to. She probably wasn’t the kind of woman who took instructions seriously or plainly abhorred it. People like her, rather did the opposite of what was instructed. Mary swore she was going to talk some sense into the woman as this was business, that would be when she came back from her nights out.
She was so occupied in her annoyingly beautiful dress that she missed the fact that Sophia had moved to stand behind her. The little girl hugged her mum from behind. The woman smiled, her actions hadn’t been in vain, Sophia had at least loosened up some of her stoic countenance. Her little girl had shown some reactions; positive reactions. Smiling, she turned to face her daughter and … paused. Sophia wasn’t smiling rather she had a gloomy look on her. In spite of the suffocating dress, Mary managed to crouch to her daughter’s level. Holding Sophia’s hands and caressing it, she said:
“Baby what’s wrong?”
There was silence. Her daughter’s eyes were dark and once again, blank. Mary didn’t wish to assess too highly or exaggerate this somewhat unusual side of Sophia. At the moment, she could only hold onto the lively and expressive side.
“You can come with me and your dad if you want. Would you like that?”
The little girl appeared like she wanted saying something but decided against it at the very last minute. Rather, she caressed her mum’s hair and that lovely smile was back again. The woman touched her daughter’s chin and dimpled cheeks. All was clearly okay. She glanced at her wrist watch and found out she was running late. Already 18:30! She stood to her feet.
"Don’t you worry baby, Deborah will be here any moment from now. You have always loved her company. She can teach you how to play computer games as you have always asked me to. Okay?”
The girl nodded, it was obvious that she loved the idea. Just then,
“Honey are you ready? It’s time we set out.” It was Eric, Sophia’s dad and Mary’s husband. Mother and daughter turned to look at him as he strode into the room.
Eric on the other hand, beamed at the two most precious females in his life and of course, took a good look at Mary as always. He seemed like he wanted ravishing his wife at that very moment, his eyes were always centred on Mary.
“Baby you look exquisite, can’t wait to have you …”
Eric’s lewd remark was halted by the look on Mary. The look meant that they had a little audience; their daughter. Sophia didn’t need to hear that. The man sighed, giving his wife a look that said it all; he really needed her. Mary blushed slightly.
Conversely, Sophia was already acquainted with her parents love for each other that sometimes, she felt like a third wheel. She could only watch them in her loneliness.
Eric like his wife was all dopped up, ready for their date. “So shall we?” At Mary’s nod, he turned to his daughter, “Deborah is already here, in the kitchen I guess. Sophia baby promise me you will always be a good girl. Promise?” Father and daughter linked their pinkies together. That was a solemn promise.
Thirty minutes later, her parents were gone for their nights out and Deborah was also no where to be seen. The little girl was all alone. This wasn’t surprising at all, the usual routine. Anytime her parents went out for the night, their maid also made up some ridiculous excuses to be out and would be back in the next two to three hours.
Sophia had gone just once with her parents to the Friday night functions. She'd decided it was the last time she ever did that. Eric and Mary placed her in the children’s section and only had eyes on each other. She didn’t want to be the odd one anymore. She concluded that her mum and dad needed no further disruptions. The little girl tried not to lay too much emphasis on their house keeper's whereabouts. For the moment, she cared less for Deborah or whatever the hell she was called. What counted most was that she had to go into hiding! She had to hide before he came looking for her!
The “he” was a neighbour, Adams. A loner who always kept to himself. A man in his early thirties, he always went for work very early in the morning and would return back at night. During the weekend, this man came to play with Sophia when everyone else had gone out. Sophia dreaded the so-called plays and as a result, thought it wise to hide. She was uncomfortable with him and his strange plays. He was too creepy! She had wanted calling out to her mum about their neighbour but something always held her. Hence she kept it all to her little self.
The best thing she reasoned, was to avoid him; hide away particularly from his awful smell of cigarettes and she did just that. Sophia had barely settled down hidden in her closet when his voice called to her.
"Sophie baby, where are you? I have something special for you.”
The little girl closed her eyes not wanting to see him for fear he popped up in front of her hideout. She didn’t like any of his gifts and games. So weird! Who the hell comes to see you when everyone else had gone out? He had always been up to no good. She shivered in fear and using her palms, she covered her ears trying to shut out the discomfiting voice.
“This is a different game. This time, you will definitely love this game as much as I will. Sophie?” The little girl clenched her teeth, squeezed her eyes shut completely blanking him out.
“Oh, you can’t hide from me baby. I know your hideout. Come on dear … come on.” he sing-songed. Though she covered her ears, his voice sounded closer now. He really knew her hideout!
Suddenly, with just a yank, the door to her closet flew open. Sophia stared in dread at Adams as he stood before her, reeking as usual of the awful smell of cigarettes and he smiled coyly.
“Told you that I would find you. I know everything about you sweetheart. So let’s play … this is your present.” He held out a doll in one hand and with the other hand, slowly unzipped his trousers. All these while, giving Sophia a predatory look.
"Trust me Sophie baby, you will certainly love this game.”
The little girl stood staring hypnotically as his hand went into his trousers. Adams stepped closer to the vulnerable little girl who still stood staring at him and held her.
And that was it …
