Twist of Heart

It was summer, the sky turned white. Though the sky is still pale, and not yet blue, as in the day, soon a big red sun appears from behind the horizon and then it rises very quickly. The higher it rises, the smaller it becomes in size. The sky blushes at sight and it becomes brighter, blue, warming up with the sun's rays.

It's getting light as in the day, but still it's different, making the morning air clear, clean and fresh. It appears that there is no midday heat and stuffiness. The beautiful morning embraced the weather bringing about peace. The breeze has not risen yet, and the green foliage does not rustle.

The Nightmare

Marissal decides to sleep in one of the rooms in her house. Her room has been unkempt, the maids aren't around to do the cleaning. They went for a holiday. The howling wind rattled the windowpanes in the bitter, damp night outside. Marissa twisted and turned under the thin covers. Her teeth chattered in the chilly air around me. She couldn't sleep. The sweat dripped down her forehead and her heart was thumping hard at her chest. She was always afraid of the dark. But this was the first time She had slept alone in a hollow, ominous and shadowy room with no wallpaper. Instead of a carpet, there were filthy floorboards that creaked and moaned. There was also a wardrobe that she had never opened before. In her dream, she saw a woman who was wearing a silky, black coat but it was too long for her so it trailed down the floor. She was also wearing a golfers hat. The woman turned her head towards her and smiled. Her eyes were wide with terror and fear and for a moment she thought my whole body was going to collapse.

"Hello young lady!" said the woman cheerfully.

"Hi" her voice cracking with fear.

"Do you know who I am?" The woman asked

"N-no, " she stumbled

"I am you" the woman said

"Obviously, you don't look like me, so what do you mean by your words" She asked

"I am your Shadow, it is in the dark you can't see me clearly"

"You're what" she blurted

"Your Shadow" repeated the woman "look I will show you something, move closer to me" she said

"I can't move closer to you, I don't know you woman from Adams" she said as she drew back from her and started running.

The woman kept running after her. Marissa Jones, wakes up from her sleep, she felt a sense of relief that she escaped her scary dream but she wasn't able to get enough sleep. She went to her own room and quickly arranged her scattered clothes and laid on her bed. Still lying in bed, she opened one eye and looked at the window. Reaching for the bedside lamp she stopped and withdrew her hand. She is not just a child of a wealthy man, she is also a spoiled brat. Her father gives her everything she asks for and even more, When she was sixteen years old, she heard that her father died of a heart attack in his office. This was the sad news her mother told her when she got back from school on that day. She felt so sad, she cried all night and refused to eat. Her mother consoled her and the maids leaving with them. Her father's personal assistant promised to stand by her side and act like a father to her. She recovered and she started her normal life. She took her father's portrait from his room and placed it on the wall in her room. She touches it every night before she goes to sleep. It was always facing towards her, facing towards the bed, not away from it.

The kind of dressing mirror she has reflected the street light through the curtains and the sight of the wardrobe door left slightly ajar.

The window was flooded with sunlight, there was a piece of bright sky and fragments of green foliage of trees. She could see the sunspots run around the walls.

Marissa Jones, also known as ShadowBee, is the spoiled daughter of a billionaire. Though she is a little woman, she is very smart and could be selfish. She also has a great sense of high voltage, her skill is unmatched.

She got up from her bed dressed herself up in a black pajamas and black high-heeled pumps. Around her throat there is leopard-patterned scarf leopard-patterned scarf. She also wears her dark glasses."I need to get ready for today, I have got to hit more followers today" she said to herself

She finally made it to the kitchen where a warm pot of milky coffee was waiting for me. The nuanced tastes of cinnamon and brown sugar tenderly washed over me as she sipped her warm mug of nostalgic memories. All she could think about was the warm lazy days she had spent as a naive child at home down south. The balmy air that would stick around in the late twilight with the crickets chirping their elaborately simple songs made her heart ache in pain. Picturing the fireflies paint dots of light among the pitch black canvas of the sky while the adults spoke in soothing tones caused her eyes to water. Reminiscing the sweet tone of her grandma guiding me as she taught me how to make her beloved coffee that was as sweet and memorable as it made her mouth twist in a bittersweet smile. She took another sip. Even after all those years, long ago from those once peaceful moments, the memories are forever etched in her mind, drowning her in what used to be, what she wished could be, and what will never be again. She headed to her fridge then she took some slices of bread.

Lucinda Jones, Marissa'ss mother, is an ice cold queen bitch, Some years later after Rachel's father died, Lucinda Jones remarries. Her husband was a divorcee but he had a son named Davies, Davies was two years older than Marissa. When Marissa met him for the first time, He was well different from all the other guys she had been seeing. He was handsome, not perhaps in the conventional sense, but he had that appearance which could make him stand out in the crowd. He was fair, almost pale white. His unfathomable, golden brown eyes contrasted exceptionally with his light toned face. His eyes were deep and expressive, most times Marissa could get lost if she stared long enough. His face had that faraway look in it, which cannot be described in words. His smile, which reached up to his eyes and wrinkled them, flaunted his modesty and humility. Often, Marissa could see a hint of pain in his sparkling eyes, which would disappear as suddenly as it emerged. He sometimes spoke too fast, which perhaps revealed how much agony he concealed within himself. Above all was his frame and his stature. He was not extremely muscular, with eight pack abs or sixteen cm biceps. However, he could stand out in a crowd, which was mostly due to his way of carrying himself. Perhaps he was not the kind who had girls swooning over him. But he was simple and innocent. He was perhaps just one in a million, who was nothing special, but all the same unique. Marissa had never supported her mom's marriage with another man so she hated her step father so much. But the stepfather never cared about how she treated him. He still tries in his own little way to show her love and care.

Marissa ensured she got closer to Davies and soon both started developing feelings for each other but they tried so hard to get rid of their feelings, it was really difficult for them. Marissa's love towards Davies wasn't genuine. She only had the intention of using him and dumping him.

Lucinda, Marissa's mom is the kind of person who only cares more about what the media thinks than anything else, Her daughter's theft attitudes gave her much concern, due to her reputation and that of her husband she does anything at her reach not to get her daughter exposed by the media, so she tries so much not to let the bag out of the cat by paying the media each time her daughter publicly tarnishes her image.

"Hey momma" Marissa said facing her mom who was coming out of her room

"Marissa, why do you have to go prepare Breakfast by yourself, can't you use the bell so the maids will come to you and you command them to go make breakfast for you. I have always warned you not to give yourself to much stress, you know your allergies"

"Momma, I will be fine, worry less" Marissa said. She moved closer to her mother and gave her a peck on the cheek and headed to her room

Her mother calls her back

"Marissa, when will you stop all your nonchalant attitudes, why do you want to spoil the good reputation this family has been keeping, do you realize the amount of money I had to spend over the scandal between you and your step brother"

"Mom, who do you have to blame, why blame me for everything. Well I had good sex with my step brother because I find him attractive, should that cause a public outrage. I did upload those videos and it really got me more fans, I mean who cares about morality in this world we live in" She said

"I know you are a grown up lady but you are still my daughter and you must listen to me. Your step brother is your blood brother too, it is a taboo to have something to do with him, Or are you placed under Curse?"

"Momma, what exactly do you want me to do now"

" I want you stop having an affair with him"

"Ok Mom I promise not to" she so

"I will be glad if you keep to your promise, I also know your father will be happy in his grave. We want you to be that good daughter that people will look up to as a role model"

"Ok Mom, stop all that preachings I have heard you" she said

"I am saying all this so you can change, you can't continue living in this house if you aren't ready to listen to me, it aches me to see a disobedient child"

"Mom!"

"I am telling you the fact, I tried so much for you and you must learn to behave well"

"I have heard you mom, I will change"

"Mom there is something I have been wanting to tell you all this while"

"Hey, girl not now I have got somethings to attend to quickly" Lucinda said

"But mom this is something pertaining to my life, you can go and do whatever you wanna do later" she said

"Listen baby girl, your mom is not running away, she is always at home for you, you can talk to her about this some other time and not this particular moment she needs time to gather some money"

"Mom, you are always pushing me away any time I want to talk to you about something so important. Anyways, mom you promise to give me some money today"

"Yes, I remember promising you but please, you really need to be calm, once I get back from work I will help you with the money but the truth is you may not get the whole amount you requested for, I will manage to give you half of the money" Lucinda said

Marissa Jones does not have super powers, but she has gadgets, most of which she made herself. She likes to film herself doing bad things and uploads them to her dark web page and this has earned her more followers. She is even one of the social media influencers. Another thing that got her fans attracted to her is the fact that she does Parkour and rock climbing and her skeevy tactics makes her make more money on a daily basis.

Marissa Jones likes going to the pawnshop to sell the gadgets she is already tired of using, she could use a gadget for two weeks and then sell them out she also likes streaming her break-in at the pawn shop, On this particular day, it was around twelve noon, She decided to take a stroll, she walked out of the well-lit, peaceful, cool air-conditioned comfort of grocery shop. Immediately she was hit by a blast of hot air from the street. She walked down the five-foot way. Next to the grocery shop are two sundry shops. The smell emanating from these shops tingles her nose. The mixture of onion, garlic, dried fish, pepper and spices make a potent combination. She holds her breath for a moment as she walks quickly past the sundry shops. She always wonders how the people working inside the shops can stand the smell. Perhaps they are used to it.

There are many people walking along the five-foot ways on both sides of the street. It is about one o'clock in the afternoon and many office-workers are out for their lunch break. So she saw these smartly dressed men and women hurrying towards the eating places further down the street.

The street was made one-way some time ago to cater for the ever increasing traffic volume. Lunch hour finds the street uncrossable. She wanted to cross to the other side. I look at the traffic. One look tells her that it is too dangerous to do so. The cars and motorcycles are moving at considerable speeds and they do not seem to be in the mood to make way for any pedestrian. She decided to cross the street via the lights-controlled crossing down the street.

On her way towards the crossing she passed many other shops. They were mainly shops selling clothes, shoes and watches. Near the crossing is a supermarket. Throngs of people can be seen at the entrance. A beggar sits on the steps, arms outstretched, eyes leading for alms. She ignored him and felt so irritated by his look. He also stinks of cheap liquor.

She reached the crossing. The lights were red, so she waited with a group of people. Cars speed by sending their obnoxious fumes into the waiting people. However no one flinches. Presently the cars screech to a halt behind the white lines across the road except for one that makes a dash past even though the lights have changed to red for her. Some pedestrians shake their fists, but no one is hit. The pedestrians are too seasoned to trust the traffic lights completely.

She crossed briskly with her group to the other side. The group from the other side crossed over to our previous side. And then she entered the pawnshop which was by the roadside. When she got in, she was welcomed by a young man who is tall and in his middle thirties. His face was relaxed, but one could still see the faint outline of wrinkles around his eyes which seemed to sparkle ever so slightly despite the dullness of the environment. Even the corners of his mouth seemed to fight against his normally stoic expression, betraying how he really felt.

She saw a lady, as the lady sighted her, she rises up from the sofa to meet her,

It's a bit of a shock to see that she is only about thirty years old, she has a very big stature. She has long blonde hair and a refined, classically beautiful face, there is a smoky kind of sensuousness about her. Her face looks so new to her. "She must be a new employee" she said to herself as she walked down to the pawn stockbroker, she greeted her with a smile on her face.

"Good afternoon ma'am" she said

"Good afternoon Miss, Are you here?" She asked

"Yes, I just got employed two days ago" she replied with a smile.

"I also thought about it, I do come here and I haven't seen this face here before" she replied "what's your name" she asked

"I am Patricia" she replied

"Amazing, the name is as beautiful as you are" she said

"Thank you" Patricia replied with a smile on her face

"How can I help you ma?" Patricia asked

"I am here to sell my gadgets" Marissa said

"Can I see them?" Patricia asked

Marissa brought out the gadget from her waist bag and gave it to her.

"This gadget still looks new, why do you want to sell it?"she asked

"Well, I am just tired of using it" she replied

"Do you wanna sell them or you would like to exchange them with another gadget"

"Do you have a better one" she asked

"Of course we do" she replied

"Can I see them" she asked

"Why not" she replied

The stockbroker went to the store to get new gadgets.

Marissa caught a glimpse of a ring on the table on the shop by her left hand side, she pretended to be looking at some pictures on.she observed the pawnbroker wasn't looking in her direction so she picked the diamond ring on the table and put it in her pocket. She started streaming live as she stood down the corridor next to a doorway from which emerged a flickering light which made her gadget brighter to capture her view. The pawn stockbroker came out from the store and was looking here and there for Marissa but she could not find her then she saw her in the next room

"Oh Miss!" I was looking for you earlier, I thought you had gone home. She said while walking in.She gave her the gadget. They both exchange the gadget.

"Is this a new brand" Marissa asked

"It is Miss" she replied

"How effective is this?" Marissa asked

"Trust me this brand has a good quality, it can unlock anything metallic in nature" she said as she show her how to make use of it

"Amazing!" Marissa said feeling so surprised by what she saw

"How much is this?" She asked

"Ten dollars" she replied

"How much does my gadget worths" she asked

"Eight dollars" the lady said

"Which means I will have to give you Two dollars"

"Yes"

Marissa brought out two dollars from her bag, and gave it to her, the lady collected it and put in a safe

"Madam, I wanna tell you that we don't allow outsiders in there," she said, pointing to where Marissa was doing her video.

"You can make use of this," she said, pointing in another direction.

"Oh thanks, I am so sorry for that" she said

"Never mind" she replied

Marissa walked towards the direction she was directed to and she continued with her streaming. As she was doing her break-in she saw different messages from her fans. Her gadgets made a sound of the notifications of messages on her page."Hey Marissa watch your back" one of her fans said "Marissa you need to look back" another said, "Marissa someone is right behind you he is about to hurt"

Marissa ignored the messages, hers is to get the attention of her viewers well drawn to her and then she seems very shallow at first. The notifications were becoming more this time that she managed to turn and then she saw James Liu also known as Agent 7. Her phone slipped from her hand and got smashed which ended her Livestream. She got so pissed because this was just the right time for her to show her fans her fighting skills and gain more attention.

Their eyebrows were lowered and pulled closer together

"You devil, Now I caught your scent, I will show you what I got" she said with a frown face.

"Now I caught yours" He replied.

"Who sent you?" She glared at him, her cheeks flushing.

"You asking me that question huh! Wait till black assassin get through with you"

Marissa hit him on his forehead, he laughed hysterically and said "Whoever wins is going to be famous and rich" his fury sprang to life.

"Psychiatric little Fool, you think I am not rich enough, you should check yourself" she became breathless with anger.

They do a little hand to hand, some banter, and she tries to escape, Agent 7 dragged her clothes from behind and she gave a faint cry.

Urgh! she punched him on his left eye.

Raw anger shot through him. They raced over rooftops. She is surprised that he's keeping up. She turns, pretends to give herself up. And then blows dust from a compact in his face to disorient him before taking off. It ignites a splash of fire. She thinks she's gotten away. She gets into a shoddy elevator but James Liu slips in just before the doors close. They are about to fight again when the sound of an explosion goes off. The elevator starts to free fall. He grabs her, uses his body as a cushion to keep them from dying. It's the first time anyone has ever risked themselves for her. The elevator is a crumpled box around them, and they both landed on it but they are alive but they eyes were close as there body touches

He wakes up in pain. Coming back from near death sucks. He touched a part on his head and saw that they were swollen. He reached out for his bag and brought out menthol cream and rubbed it on the swollen part. To him it was really aching him. He gave a stunning look at Marissa, he was surprised as to how far he had gone to save Marissa's life.

"You just saved me" Marissa said

"Yes I saved us" he replied. Happiness streaked through him like a comet, "I escaped death" he said to himself

"Why did you save me?" Marissa challenged him

" I saved you because I don't want you to die a cold death and if you must die, then it should not be from me" he replied

He tries to sit up and then he recognizes Marissa immediately and she puts off her mask.

"Marissa!" He shouted

"You know me?" She asked, feeling so confused about his face.

"Yes I do" he replied

"Who are you?" She asked

"Never mind asking me, I believe you to be the daughter of a rich man, why then did you steal from the pawn shop"

"I didn't steal" she replied with a contorted frown

"You did, I saw you taking the ring" he accused her.

"Oh! That is my ring" she protested

"The ring you took is not for your type of gender" he replied

"How did you know" she asked

"I took the ring to the shop for sale, I needed money urgently, so I left it on the table after being paid" he said

She felt so bad that moment.

"Ermmm.... Yes .... Then... What if I bought it"

"You didn't buy this one, you stole it" he protested

"How did you know?"

"Because I was watching you, i saw that you came to get a gadget and then your eyes had been on the table, then you watched around to see if no one was looking at you, then you took the ring from the table and hid in your bag"

"Shhhhhh..." She said as she try to cover his month because his words are becoming audible

James remove her hands from his mouth

"Pls lower your voice, I don't want to be caught," she said, begging him.

"We need to stop talking about the past let's think of how we will get out of this elevator" Marissa said

"How?" He asked

"C'mon don't be a coward, use your super muscles to get us out here, this is not a pleasant place to be" she said with a sad look on her face.

"I can't" he said

"Why?" She asked, feeling so concerned.

"It is a bad idea" he replied

"Bad idea? How is it a bad idea, do you want us to die here"

"You look so scared staying here, don't try dying before your time" He advised

"Humm! When I was very young, it was fine. I maybe even enjoyed getting on an elevator and being whisked off, but somewhere in the timeline of my life, something changed. I began to dread stepping onto one. My heart would pound, a cold sweat would creep down my neck, and my breath would quicken"

"Oh! So you have such a phobia?"

"Yes I do, "What's wrong?" a bemused acquaintance would ask me as we were about to embark, "Oh! Nothing, really," I'd respond as casually as I could for someone suddenly about to lose control of their bowels. "I just thought I might take the stairs. Bit of exercise, you know. That was how I replied. And now I'm being stuck here" was how I replied. And now I'm being stuck here"That was how I replied. And know i'm being stuck here"

"Hummm!"

"C'mon use those powers you've got"

"If I tried to follow what you suggested, it will disrupt whatever they are buried under and kill us both"

"Oh! Goodness" she said as she uses her hand to hit her head

" Do you have a phone?"she asked

"I do but not with me presently"

"You made me destroy my gadgets, now I can't bring anyone to rescue us"

She looked at him and then she gawked with an accusatory frown

"Let say our prayers, hopefully we may find someone to inform the owner of this shop that we are stuck in the elevator" James said

"I have no beliefs" Marissa replied

" I will advice you sleep and rest your head, else you die thinking"

"I can't sleep in this kind of situation" she replied

"Alright" He said

"My bad, I didn't ask for your name" she said

"I am James Liu"

"Your parents?"

"Dead" he replied

"Oops! sorry" she said

"What were you up to when you saw me taking the ring"

"I was cleaning the street when I saw you enter the shop, I got so interested in the way you dressed so I stopped what I was doing and watched you go inside the shop. I left the waste nylon on the ground and then I looked through the transparent door from outside and saw you giving your gadgets to the pawn merchant and later saw when you took the ring from the table and that was the ring that means so much to me, I took inside to sell so I can get some money, for myself, I wasn't happy selling the ring at the first place"

James Liu was in the military, and volunteered for a study that the government claimed was medication. It was. But the study was to try to make supersoldiers. It didn't seem to work. However, after mustering out, he returned home. His neighborhood had gone from middle class to poverty and was overrun with crime. He was jumped, stabbed, and should have died. However, the shock received to try to jumpstart his heart, seemed to waken the medication that he received, granting him accelerated healing. Later he discovered he was able to beat his personal lifting and speed records, though these are still within human norm. OSI discovered him and offered him a chance to clean up the streets.

"You have really smelt struggles and dined with poverty. Anyways I might be of help to you when we eventually leave this place, just a compensation for saving my life"

"You mentioned earlier that using your super muscles to get us out of here is a bad idea, I don't seem to understand what you are talking about. Can you please explain to me? I am really lost by your words"

"I was trying to investigate a bomb threat by the Anarchist, a villian who just wanna watch the world burn, his intentions is to take over the world so by doing so, he denied man made laws and also regarded property as a means of tyranny and believe that crime is merely the product of property and authority"

"Really, that's interesting. So you aren't just a mere cleaner, you also do investigative jobs?"

"Yes" he said

"I understand the feeling" she replied

James Liu felt so annoyed by her statement, he knew she had everything and had no idea of what poverty looks like. He has been a struggle yet a fighter, he has undergone so many pains from being a struggle and a fighter and still many are yet to come.

"You have no idea of what it means to be a struggler and a fighter, you are the daughter of a rich and famous man, your father was among the decision makers before his death. I am quite sure he left all the riches for you and the generations to come. My own father had nothing even till his death, my mother died as a result of poverty, we couldn't cater for her hospital bills. She needed a kidney transplant and you are right here telling me you understand the feelings you have no idea of how it looks like"

"The fact that I am rich doesn't mean I don't have problems too, listen I have my fears, I have Addictions one of which you saw, I have my emotions battling with my existence, everyone has a chain around their legs, they are trying so hard to break the chain, it is a process" she said

"Who do you work for?

"I work for the the Office of Superman Intelligence"

"That's cool" she said

"Can I ask you a question?" She continued

"Why did you follow me when you were supposed to be looking for the Anarchist, Do we share any resemblance" she asked feeling so concerned

"Well I told you earlier that I wanted to see who you were. When I caught your sight, I knew you were up to something bad"

"I have always been a bad ass girl" she said smiling

She moved so close to him, heat rose from her stomach to her chest she imagined her heart skipping a bear and the smell of him hypnotic beyond reason. She parted her lips and his lips washed over like a wave of warmth, curling her toes, unfurling all her senses as the taste of him nearly silenced all her thoughts, she wanted more. She realized all this was happening in her imagination.

James looked at her in a very disgusting manner, he wondered what was going in her mind at that moment

"Oh! I feel an insect just entered my dress"she said as she unbuttoned her blouse revealing her cleavages.

"Come closer help me check, do you it to bite me"

James moved closer to her, he bent low to check for the insect in her blouse but couldn't find any.

Their eyes became so close, It becomes tense, flirty. They almost kiss, James smiled.

"Humm! you have a cute smile" she said twisting her waist in a flirty manner.

"Hey! Don't lose your mind right here, you have to consider that your flashy Playboy boyfriend of yours" James said jokingly

"Well, My Playboy boyfriend isn't interested in me that much, he doesn't pay more attention to the body I have got, the tiny waist, sexy body of mine. He is more concerned about my Dad's Company" she said

"How about your leather clad co-worker? I hope you won't lose your mind at this moment because I am here to make you do so. She said smiling.

"Well, I don't have a co-worker currently but I have once had a wife, she is a woman of about twenty-six, a tremendously vital person, interested in everybody and everything, in contrast to my own apparent indifference. There is a warm understanding relationship between us. And then we really crazy about each other, we also have a strong undemonstrative and humorous in our companionship, We tolerate one another, my wife is that easy-going, but something happened"

"What happened! She died?" Marissa asked.

"Sorry about that"

"Did she give birth to a child for you before her death"

"We tried having a baby but the doctor said she had some complications preventing her from giving birth so he suggested he should go for an operation. She died during the operation"

"That's so sad, your stories are so pathetic, how did you cope with life without a wife, did she die recently?"

"She died Four years ago" he said

"Hmm, you must be a very strong man, strong men like you deserve to be treated right"

"I know how it felt to lose one's loved one. When I lost my dad I felt that was the end of the world for me. I wished death for myself. I find it difficult to cope with life, struggles, pains but hey I made up my mind to heal quickly and be happy, although after his death I still had my traumas which kept me down most of the time. My trauma reminded me that I lost my father, but above all I had to force out happiness and be fine with whatever life brings to my table"

Marissa felt a little hollow from stomach after a few hours.

"Oh! I am hungry, the worms in my belly are already calling out for the world, they just wanna eat" she said, holding her belly with her hands.

James Liu pulls an MRE out of his utility belt and gives it to her.

"We need to share this, I don't have an extra to eat"

"Oh my goodness! I don't like taking this, it gives me bad breath. I don't share my meals too but hey I have got no choice I have to eat this"she said as she collected it from his hands " humm... This is yummy, tastes different than what I thought" she said. "Do you know what my mouth is calling for now?" She asked

"What?" he asked

"I want to grab hold of a roasted lamb leg, slice a chunk of brown,chewy, juicy and seasoned meat off the bone, give it a powerful chew to allow its fragrance to collide against my tongue and then swallow it with dreamy satisfaction.I want to press my lips against a cup of quality wine, take a sip of red, sweet, mellow and aromatic nectar, give it a romantic twirl with my tongue to allow its poetic quality to soak my senses and then gulp it down with merry gratification"

"Your imaginations are a way to big, you have to accept to share this with me or you die in hunger here" he gave a half-smile

They shared the MRE and ate, James also brought out a bottle of water from his bag and they drank it.

"How do you feel now?" He asked

"I am having a full belly now" she replied smiling

"Thanks for sharing"

"You are welcome"

He felt like a wave of warmth and his whole body reacted. "I like the weather here"

"Thanks James for the daring last minute rescue it was very heroic" Marissa said

"Never mind that was under my control"

"Now I be a good damsel and bestow a kiss on your damn cheek" she chuckles

James Liu held her arms, preventing her from kissing him

"Play nice"

"I am not big on play"

"C'mon I wanted to be free with you but it seems you don't want this ummm..."

"I don't play in this manner, not anymore" he said

"What does that mean, I mean i just want to kiss you that all"

"Don't put innocent in danger to attract my intelligence I can't take that"

"It means we can't, I am not ready to be in a romantic relationship with anyone not even you"

"Your tempers are running high, you need to stay calm" she cautioned

"All the way back you catching me on that rooftops"

"Can't answer that handsome"

"How could you?" He asked

"We could do that" she said

"I wouldn't like to go back home" she said

"Why?" He asked

"Because of my mom" she said

"What happened to her?" He asked

"She's very fussy and wants everything to be the way she wants. She gets upset if you do something the "wrong" way"

"I think she is trying to make you a better person"

"I don't want to be better, I should be giving freedom to do whatever I love doing"

"Humm! Like being a street girl" he teased

"Stop being sarcastic, I have no resemblance with a street girl" she said

"I am sure you momma wouldn't miss you by now, because your attitude never gave them the chance to miss you" he teased

"My family would be happy if I die here, they will eventually stop complaining about me. They could just bank on the tragedy"

"That's sad" he replied

"The only time they ever cared about me is when I do something like that, kill myself. By then they would gather my corpse, get me the best caskets and bury me and then mourn for a while"

He pushes the hair out of her face, and tells her "you deserves better"

Marissa's heart begins to pound. She stood, feeling a desire run from her heart, to her chest, and down toward my inner thighs.

James finger touched her neck, and the hair as it was moved away nearly gave her the chills. His hands went from the sides of her head and down to her neck, out to her shoulders and down to her hands. He grabbed her hands gently yet firm, put them in front of her and paused. She felt safe, he spoke no words. She felt her heart was about to beat out of her chest and she closed her eyes and took a deep breath out.

He kisses her shoulder, and runs his lips on her skin towards her ear, but doesn't quite make it that far. She tilts her head and after his deep breath out he bites her gently. "Are you hurt" He asked "It doesn't hurt, it only makes me want more" she replied

In a moment, he was shagging Marissa mercilessly against the wall. The next he was fingering and simultaneously sucking on her tits. She moans and cries of ecstasy filling the whole place.

"Suck on my pussy some more." Marissa demanded. Marissa grinded her pussy in rhythm as James played with her clit, while she is on her pants, she moans lingering in the atmosphere.

After James had made her cum twice now, he became tired.

He took off her clothes and made her lie down on the floor in the elevator, His hand felt the warmth of her vagina. It was deep, warm, and very wet.

Then James mounted me and used her hand to slip him inside her. Once she had him deep inside, she began a slow rotation of her hips. He caressed her naked stomach and thighs. James riding atop me, looking like a soft, gigantic mushroom that had silently poked its face up through the dead leaves on the ground and opened under the sheltering wings of night. Her vagina felt warm and at the same time cold. It tried to envelop him to draw him in, and at the same time to press me out. His erection grew larger and harder. He felt he was about to burst wide open. It was the strangest sensation, something that went beyond simple sexual pleasure. It felt as if something inside her, something special inside her, were slowly working its way through her organ into him. He turns her around, and they are facing each other. He stares into her eyes and smiles. His two hands grab her left hand and he places her open palm on his heart, and he holds it there. His eyes exude love, protection, security, safety, patience, and respect. She smiled and he let go of her hands, with one hand he ran his fingers through her hair and gently guided her face closer to his, eventually leaning her in to rest her head on his chest. His other arm wraps around her.

Afterwards, they talk more. They snuggle, they touch. The more they touch the easier it gets. Mostly about their dreams.

"I wanna ask you a question" he said holding her hands

"Go ahead and ask"

"Will you like to be a supervillain"

"Supervillain or what did you just say, Hey boy I love being bad, I don't wanna change the real me. The bad ass inside me. I don't care what society says. I have my own life to live, I love the attention that being bad gives me, it drives me crazy. It drives my Fan crazy. Even though my family is against me, I care less. I will rather focus on the bad bitch inside me. You understand that feeling yeah"

"I do, but you need to change some things about you, stealing doesn't make you a bad bitch, it gives you names. It makes people think bad of you" He advised

"You want me to change that aspect of me, I will"

"Be that two opposite sides if you want to but let people see more of the good side in you"

"Do you wanna be a hero" she asked

"I will want to, that is the best way to keep my family safe, I have a brother who runs a local community center. He is well known and being admired by people a lot" he replied

"You really care about your family, as for me I don't give a fuck about the family. They are assholes" she said

The night draws near, Marissa's body feels like a heavy sack of cement. She can hardly move, She feels so tired and just wants to relax. James watched her as she closed her eyes, he lifted her head and placed it on his chest. He felt his consciousness ebbing away, and his thoughts, as clear and concise as they were mere moments ago, were coming to an end. His eyes grow heavy from the strenuous effects of excessive agitation of the brain--that faculty which, in all its strength, he had not prepared for such a weakness. The floor was too cold . He removed his clothes and used it to cover Marissa's body, then he slept off. The next day, James wakes up from his sleep. He saw that Marissa is still fast asleep. He lost his strength and he was feeling dehydrated. Marissa wakes up from her sleep when James tries to lift her head from his shoulder.

"Good morning" he said and he clears his throat

"Morning" she replied

"I hope you slept well?" She asked

"Not really, the floor is too cold for my body and I have body aches too" she replied

"I have body aches too and also feeling dehydrated and my healing factory needs food or else I will lose my strength totally"

"Same here I don't know what to do, we need to get out from here" Marissa said

" I don't think the shop owner knows we are stuck here"

"Should we try shouting"

"If we do no one will hear us, we need to sort ourselves and get out of here"

"I think I have an idea" he said

"What idea? " She asked

"I tell you if you can promise me you will do it"

"I hope it won't be difficult for me?" she asked

"No, it 's really simple. Do you have a gadget for opening safe here"

"I think I do" she opened her bag and brought out her gadget

"Good! You are going to use that to open the door "

"How? I am scared. What if I get injured in the process? You and I know this door is quite difficult to open"

"You can do this my dear, you don't need to be scared. I am here for you, C'mon you are a bad ass, you are smart and you have the strength to do this my dear"

"I know I have always being a badass girl but I have never tried doing this before, I only use this gadget to open the safe whenever I want to steal some money from my father's safe when he was alive"

"You are a smart girl, you can do this my dear, this will be a great experience for you and you will be able to share this with you fans about your great survival story, and you will get more fans. Trust me many will like and share your story" he said

"If I do this, what then will you do?"

"I will use my strength to dig out way out from here while you use the gadget to open the door" he said

James uses his strength to start digging their way out. It's painful. Rocks are falling. Her leg gets broken. He gets hit in the head.

"Oh! My leg" Marissa cries out

They both think they are going to die. They cling to one another. He wishes he had met her somewhere else. She tells him that he would have hated her. She passes out from the pain.

"Hello boss, an explosion occurred in the shop which made the elevator to fall" Patricia said in the conversation on a phone call

"Call the emergency unit 922, so they can get that fix that up immediately" the boss said

"I will do that sir"

"I hope there are nobody in the elevator"

"I am afraid there might be someone inside there sir"

"Then you need to hurry up, call the number immediately and keep me updated

"Ok sir I will" she replied

***

Marissa wakes up in a hospital. There is an IV in one arm and a cast on her leg. Her mother is there looking absolutely perfect. A Doctor walks in and examined Marissa legs, she moaned in pains and the doctor touches it

"Do you still feel the pains so much" he asked

"Yes I do" she replied

"Sorry, you will get better soon, I will instruct the nurses to come and give you the drugs you will take this morning"

"Okay thanks Doctor" Marissa replied

The doctor left the room.

Marissa's mom kept looking at Marissa, she remained silent. Marissa was wondering why her mother kept looking at her in that manner she asked

"Mom how did I get here"

"I should be asking you how you get stuck in the elevator" she replied

" The elevator got damaged while we are inside"

"The CCTV camera shows that you stole a ring from the pawn shop"

Marissa kept mute, she couldn't talk again.

"For how long will you stop all this nonsense you are doing, pls tell me I need to know"

"Mom I am sorry, I will change" she said with a sober look on her face

"You have made this promise a thousand times"

"Now I have to spin this media crisis, so you won't get exposed, you are just putting me into mess"

"It won't happen again mom"

"Look at yourself, you have broken your legs and you will have to start using crutches, so you nearly ended your life because of a ring. This will serve as a big lesson for you"

"Mom, I said I'm sorry, I have admitted my mistakes, I am a new person now, How did I get here?" she asked

"Someone rescued you and brought you here, I have been looking for you, until I receive a call this morning that you are being rushed to the hospital"

"Where is James?" She asked

"Who is James?" Marissa's mom asked

"He was with me in the elevator" she replied

"The boy you were with was taken somewhere else and I don't seem to understand why you care"

"Okay"

"He came while you were asleep, he was looking so unkempt, his hair was rough, he looked so poor. He told the doctor he was looking for you so he directed him here, he brought some flowers. He probably stole those flowers because they look so expensive, I rejected the flowers and I told him to leave the room before I call the police, Only God knows what he is up too when he came"

"Why will you do that mom, that guy you said is looking poor saved me from dying"

"Oh I see! He saved you from dying by breaking your leg right"

"Mom! He didn't break my leg, we were trying to get out from the elevator, why will you send him away, that is so unkind of you mom"

"Really, so I am now a bad person, are you trying to blame me for doing what is right"

"Mom, you need to accept the fact that what you did was wrong, you shouldn't be looking down on people, he saved my life. That was enough for you to reason that he is a good person. He was never a thief, I am the child you refused to train well, you spoilt me with so many things and here i am now a thief"

"I never spoilt you, you took up the bad act and enjoyed it"

"Oh really, you still have the gut to tell me I took up the bad act, you really want me to leak out your secret on your infidelity with dad's personal assistant who is now your so called husband"

"Are you crazy"

"Yes I am crazy because I am saying the truth, those days you take me to my grandma's house and then dad's personal assistant comes over to spend days with you while dad is far away on a business trip"

"My Goodness! I never dated him when your dad was alive, I started dating him when your dad died, I see nothing wrong in that"

"You can't see anything wrong in sleeping with your husband's personal assistant, God knows if you you guys conspired to kill my father, because I got to know later on that my father was shot"

"How could you say such, how will I kill my husband, I love my husband so much, I can't do such a thing to him"

"Oh really, mom, the truth will reveal itself one day. I believe my father will surely fight for himself, you don't deserve to be my mother" Marissa said

"Why are you such an ingrate? I tried my best to care for you, despite all your bad attitudes towards me and your step father, now you are saying I don't deserve to be your mother" Marissa mom got pissed that she almost slapped her daughter, Marissa held her hand.

"You wanna slap me, go ahead and slap me on my sick bed and watch your daughter die peacefully"

Lucinda withdrew her hand from Marissa hand

"Get out! Or I call the police" Marissa said pointing at the door

"You are sending your mother out"

"I have disowned you as my mom, you don't deserve to be a mother, you wanna hit your sick daughter on the bed just because she is telling the truth" she said with tears streaming down her eyes.

"I want to hit her because she is lying against me, how could you Marissa! After all I have done for you, I clothed you, fed you, I did a whole lot of things for you but you don't appreciate any"

"Listen woman! Everything you did for me was all my father's money, not yours" she protested.

"Oh I see! I am gonna leave you now and this is gonna be the last straw, your step father that cares so much about you will also cut you off, even Davies too. We will all leave you to do whatever you like with you life which is none of our concern. I have trained you as a mother, I have played my role in my own best way" she said angrily

"I don't give a damn on what you guys do, go ahead and do whatever you like. I can live without you guys interfering in my life"

"When you have your senses back you can return home" Lucinda said carrying her bag

"I can't get my sense to do what will cause me more pains" she said

"More things you need to know, your so-called husband raped me twice on your matrimonial bed, he took away my virginity. I got addicted to sex and couldn't get over it so I started sleeping with my step brother" she added

"I don't believe your words"

"Oh! You can't believe my words because you will always support your husband, go home and ask him and if he refuses to confess to you, go to my room, check my drawer you will see a flash drive, there you will get to see everything that happened between you and your so called husband" she added

Lucinda got so confused, she wondered if what her daughter was saying was actually the truth. "Can Salmon do this to me" she asked herself. She left the hospital immediately.

Marissa cried, she has really faced a whole lot of things. She felt she was bad because her mother showed no concern about her, starting from when she needed something and she asked her but she refused to give her. That lured her into taking other people's property. Her father before his death always ensures he satisfies her with whatever she asks for. Marissa wished she was never born, she wished she could die instantly and forget her pains. She remembered the little beautiful moment she had with James. It gave her the reason not to end her life. James was a nice man to her, he understands her more, he knows what it takes to love, care, and support a woman. She prayed in her heart that James should not die. That was simply the only person aside from her father that showed her that great love she wanted. She promised herself she could go find James as soon as she recovers. She thought to herself how James could feel seeing her on the wheel chair, will he still accept her? Or will he reject her? She promised herself that she could kill herself if she finds out James is dead or if James rejects her. Soon the doctor came to her and asked how she was feeling, she told the doctor she is getting better though she lied so she could get out of the hospital on time and find James. She asked the doctor when she will be discharged from the hospital. The doctor told her in three days' time. She begged the doctor to release her in a day time but he refused. The doctor told her she needs to stay in the hospital to get proper treatment so her leg can heal fast. She felt so sad by what the doctor said and she agreed to stay.

After Marissa got discharged from the hospital, she was given her luggages and her hospital bills receipt including her drugs. The doctor advised her to always come for checkups and she promised to come. She came out of the hospital and went to the bus station. As the bus arrives, the passengers rush to board it. The queue is often broken. There is scramble between those who want to alight from the bus and those who want to board it.

It had been wet and cloudy since that morning, as she made her way to the back of the bus, the faint smell of rain mingled with the rubbery-plastic smell of hundreds of little rain boots. When she finally got to her seat, she was rather unnerved to find that not only was someone sitting in her seat, but that that someone was none other than an old primary school friend, the most obnoxious kid in the fifth grade in that year. She took a deep breath and said, in the kindest voice she could muster, "Nathaniel!" she called him. Nathaniel looked at her with so much surprise that she recognized him but he has no idea of who she is

"Hi, pls I don't seems to remember this face

"Nathaniel I am Marissa your seatmate in primary school"

"Oh Marissa, forgive my manners, how are you?" He said

"I am fine" she replied

"Wow! It been fifteen years now and you can still recognize me, you have a very sharp memory" he said

"I don't forget people's faces easily especially people that are so special to me" she said smiling

"That's really good to hear, how is your husband and the kids" he asked

"I am not married yet" she replied

"Oh! sorry I asked"

"I got married two weeks ago in California, my wife and I just relocated to this country, I hope this country is a better place to stay" he said

"Well, it is peaceful" she replied

"Where do you live" he asked

"I live here too. Do you remember Felicia? she asked trying to avoid further questions as to where she lives from Nathaniel

"Oh! Felicia I remember her quite well, I think I saw her two years ago, she is no longer skinny like we should to Know her to be, she is now fat. She got married last year and she has a baby already" he said

"Wow! That's amazing, I miss her a lot"

"Were you guys close back then" he asked

"Yes, she was my best friend then"

"That's beautiful, you need to keep in touch with her again, I have her contact in case you need it"

"Please give me her contact" she said as she brought out a pen and a piece of paper from her bag. Nathaniel collected it and wrote down her contact. He gave the pen and paper back to Marissa

"Thanks a bunch" Marissa said

"You are welcome my dear" Nathaniel replied.

Oddly, though, the bus smells slightly of paint, which was a huge contrast to its shabby condition. But to the passenger this dingy yellow vessel was beautiful; it was warm, and it would take them home.

This old bus continued their route, and passengers all sat quietly, awaiting their stops. Everyone had a tired, almost forlorn look, as though they had been through much more than just switching buses. Marissa did not have any concept of time as the bus chugged along, stopping occasionally to let people off, and all of a sudden she recognized that it was almost to her turn to alight. She jerked out of the stupor she was in as the bus stopped in front of my apartment complex, she alighted from the Bus. She wondered where she could find James then she remembered that James once told her about a community center which one of his family runs. There was only one community center in that place. She knew if she get there she would be directed to where James is. She headed to the community center on crutches, she saw a sign post it was written community center and an arrow that could direct her was in it, she followed the direction of the arrow and she saw a bungalow made of bricks, she walked down and asked the security guard if the building is a community center the man replied her that it is a community center and he opened the gate for her to enter, she walked in and met James working at the front desk. She spotted James immediately but James was not looking in her direction. When he finally looked in her direction, she went to him and asked for a volunteer form. She was surprised by the way James acted.

"Good morning, pls can I have the volunteer form"

"Ma'am, we don't have any for now, our volunteer form will be ready in a three days time"

"Why is it that long" she asked

"Our photocopy machine got damaged and need some repair. We only have one copy left which we will use to make other copies"

"Can I ask you a question ma'am"

"Go ahead, I am listening"

"Why do you want a volunteer form"

"I want it for a reason which is personal to me" she said

"Oh! I see, a rich girl like you shouldn't be working in a poor man's company, C'mon this is a local community center" James said

"I think you should mind your business mister"

"I am sorry," James said. He continued with arranging the documents on his table.

Marissa felt sad deep down for talking to James in that manner.

"I am sorry James" she said

"It's okay" James replied

" The truth is I am not rich any longer, I have to survive, I have no family to take care of me" she said

"Your Mom will take care of you" James teased

"Please don't mention that woman else I get mad at you" She warned him

"Woah! You call your mom "that woman", this is really serious what happened?"James asked

"I am so sorry with the way my mom acted towards you the other day, please forgive her senseless manners"

"C'mon don't speak bad of your mother, I think she is just overprotective of you" James cautioned

"Can you believe she almost hit me on my sick bed, but I held her hand"

"She did?" James asked

"Yes" Marissa said

"That's too bad, who does that to a grown up lady, not even while you are on a sick bed" he said

"I have come here to work for you guys, I hope you can help me" she said with a sad look on her face

"I will help you, I hope you have an accommodations because we don't have any here for you" James said

"I was just discharged from the hospital today, I have no where to stay "she said

"How did you locate this place, I never gave you a direction" he asked

"You never did but I was fortunate to see your cousin's business card in my bag, you left it there" she said

"Oh! Lucky you"

"How did you find your way to the hospital" she asked

"Well I had a little injury on my head, but I was unconscious at the time I was rescued so I woke up the second day and found myself in the hospital. I tried to ask the doctor how I got to the hospital, he told me ab unknown person helped me and brought me to the hospital, he also paid my hospital bills" he said

"Waoh, you are so lucky too" she said

"I was also surprised when I heard that, I mean we have only few people left in this world who are ready and willing to help others especially when they know that they are strangers"

"The person must be God sent"

"Yes he is. I got to know that your mom came before the person, she met me lying helplessly on the floor, she took only you to the hospital and left me all alone"

"I am so sorry James" she begged

"It's okay dear, I can't expect people to always be the same" James said

"Why not go back home to your mom" James added

"Please don't tell me to go home because I won't go back to that house"

"Is there any other thing you aren't telling me Marissa?" he asked

"Yes James, we had little time together so you only Know few things about me"

"Can you tell me more please" he pleaded

"I will, if only you promise to give me a job, I know there are few employment options for a former heiress"

"C'mon I know company that might be hiring at this moment, I will find you a better offer" James said

"So tell me about your other story" James added

"Okay, I have a very bad childhood days, I got defiled by my step father, my step brother slept with me too, my dad was shot by an unknown person"

"That's so sad, you really need to deal with your step father. Did you tell your mom what he did or you kept it to yourself?" He asked

"I told my mom while I was in the hospital"she said

"What did she say?" He asked

"She said she doesn't believe me, she told me she will find out herself"

"Woah! Who does that to her own daughter, Are you sure you are the true daughter of your mom, Are you sure you aren't adopted?" He asked

"I am her child, but she doesn't treat me like one" she said

"I started stealing because I wasn't given money like my dad used to, my mom prefers to spend on her her husband than her only child"

"Humm! I feel your pains my dear" James said

"I have told my mom I have nothing to do with her, she said she is gonna leave me to live my life, so I told her to go ahead and do whatever she likes" Marissa said

"C'mon my dear, regardless of everything that happened to you, you still need to forgive them, that is the only way you can free yourself from the pains in your heart. I understand you have a pathetic story but hey! Everyone has a bad history to share, we need to forget our past and focus on the present that is the only way we can leave and survive"

"I am not going back to my mom, I have made my decision, I wanna work and earn a living"

"I can help you out with accommodation, if you don't mind" he said

" Trust me , I will be happy if you can" she said

"My house doesn't look too modern I hope you still don't mind"

"C'mon who cares about a modern house, all I want is a place to rest my head" she said

"Are you sure of what you are saying right now" he asked

"I am not going to complain trust me" he said

"I am so sorry for treating you bad in any way, I wish you can forgive me" she added

"I am not offended my dear" James replied

"I have my fears now" Marissa said

"What's your fears" he asked

"I don't think I will be useful to myself I don't think anyone would want to employ a person used crutches" she said with a pity look on her face

"Do you think you they'd want a girl like me, I am afraid" she asked

James comes around the desk, brushes her hair from her face

"Listen girl, I don't care how you look right now, I don't care about your past, I don't care about what people say, I don't care about what the future holds, I don't care about our current situation. This is never our end, the future is too bright to be afraid of the present. When there is life, there is hope, only the dead can say they have no hope, if no one accepts you, I want that bad girl every sees, I want you Marissa" he said.

James draws her closer to himself and kisses her.