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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcslmJ9diQO
“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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEb71wZomMe
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. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZ0TMDoE4P
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. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPd1zuGydvq
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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPc8C0EZuy6
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.” 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7j0m5lPyF7
“Dad, when is it my turn?” Vante whines off to the side. He’d been kicking rocks since they’d been out there. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtynwkT0Rg
“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. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilyvuUOEDl
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDKBCnWlbZ
Vante stammers, “she needs to learn.” he stares with his pupils dilated. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGuLBaCDyb
“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. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcEZdBtYPN
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. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Hva6JE1UF
“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. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRKn7lrdbZ
“Nothing. I was just wondering what you were really doing here.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYy7ruar6jo
Zeniqua turns to finally look at the clock, “At 7 in the morning?” she arches her brow. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeB2uFdHVz
“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. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡublsxosc71
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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwI6ggvPpW
“He doesn’t know you’re here though, does he?” Gracine asks.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPLz4j1tvl
“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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHoIHUdzBH
“We are going to try our best to hide you, Zeniqua. Mama won’t let anything happen to you.” Gracine assures. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWsqoZHRX3
“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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNIDT48j1J
“I know, Zeniqua.” Gracine stands up, “But, right now, we just have to keep you under wraps. Have you finished high school?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmW3a1jVvv4
“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. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2Z5bFB69W
“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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5C8uVEIPh3
Zeniqua nods, “I know. I don’t want to continue to look over my shoulder all the time.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXtZ2C7GDp
“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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGH7ZYGPWim
“How are you so sure?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2h1X3LBfxe
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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9Ww8Uk9DV
“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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2A9Y3KViX3
Gracine nods. “Okay. I will talk to mom for you about that job unless you wanted to go to college instead?” 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrRCnMqkVK
“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. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFxqMGek7p
“At least you have a plan.” Gracine says walking to the door. “Unlike my stupid brother.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvm45oE9DEN
“I heard that, Gracine.” Varrien yells from his bedroom. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡen4DyHMai9
“What’s with all the yelling in here?” Their mother yells from her own bedroom.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9SHtkRB2G
Zeniqua’s eyes widen and Gracine looks to Zeniqua, “Nothing. Just having a little conversation.” 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuzDE7q16Y
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. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDc2yypv90d
“Don’t make me get up outta my bed.” Their mother warns them. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8pAAuIJlD
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?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHGk9yNqF3
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.” 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEQKqa0AsU
“College, huh?” Taiquana hums. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDKm4gV1ee
“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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzehKWfp14
“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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc89hcDGnTz
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.” 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwv2GrO6eHx
“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. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmcZW5psbM
“I wish you were this passionate about school, Gracine as you are talking about my job.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBpjRqBAF9
“Oh, mom. You know I do excellent in school. I am just trying to help, Zeniqua here.” 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rOspPwDR2
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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCygW2WIp3W
“Mom…” He whines.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgV9bWtjq9Y
“No, sir. Sit and eat. I am sure your friends will be at the court when you get there.” 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD9oiygUCw
Varrien slings himself in the chair and begins eating. “They aren’t who I am waiting for, mama.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEr8Ln3uzey
“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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroeJx3QGi3
“But, he said for real this time. He is coming to play ball with me and my boys this evening.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcu3MeSdI5L
Taiquana shakes her head and begins doing the dishes. “Neari will surely play with you once he gets up.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5rO8jRodM
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.” 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBp2pKlDc2F
Zeniqua nods and finishes up her breakfast. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVsAs21OSp
“I am not stuck on daddy. I just want to see him.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkUaosa9ko
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.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOGH6KAqYY
“It’s not my fault you don’t care about daddy.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDS2aRuDR9v
“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.” 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGd3Jk4nle
“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.” 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7lS0jl39P
“Yes, mama.” Gracine sighs defeated. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIr9hSBBaq
“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.” 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15bkguKXKc
“I understand.” 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxFohkOYta
“Great. Gracine, why don’t you introduce her to some of your friends and yall go shopping or something?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdknx5h7tlN
“Can I take the Mazda?” Gracine squeals as she bounces up and down. “Please?”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDTQKMCkrl
“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. 893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt98Ygm8TtG
“Yes, yes. My baby.” Gracine squeals. “Thank you, mama.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGKToz9zbq
“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.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp36ZFpGDZ7
“Okay, I promise, mama.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXftuSKhVw
“When can I get a car, mama?” Varrien whines as he pokes his bottom lip out.893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xtlPMz2Ql
“When you pull your grades up along with your pants.”893Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbyLUe4Cju
Gracine sticks her tongue out at her brother and pulls Zeniqua along to the car.
ns216.73.217.39da2
and then Add to home screen.