Forced to Go Back!
Outside, Mina lets her anger sift out through her heavy breathing while she has no trouble lugging her bag to the gate of the compound. Outside, she drops her luggage and glances back at the house where she had spent her last twenty years and she does not even a tinge of regret for leaving.
"I'll become a greater person in life, I swear." With those words, she picks up her bag and walks alongside the road, waiting for a taxi to drive by so she can take it to the airport. She'd rather leave the state that now holds just as equal of bad memories than the good ones.
She would take whatever plane is taking a ride out no matter what time she gets there and let the world take its course with her. She has savings and those were enough to…
"Young Madam."
A large white SUV stops by her side and her driver pokes his head out. He had been the same one who drove her to the Walters yesterday and then back home earlier today.
"Where are you headed now? It'll soon be night, please let me drop you off."
Mina pauses slightly. Ever since she has had places to go by herself, this same driver has always taken er so there is no harm if the Campbell's do one last favor for her. It'll be the real last one anyway.
"Thank you Malik. Please drop me off at the airport and be fast please."
"Yes ma'am."
Mina gets into the back seat and lets herself relax at the back of her own supposedly personal car for the last time. She spies Malik watching her through the rear view mirror.
"You have something to ask? Go ahead, it would be the last time you see me anyway."
"Ma'am, the Campbell elder madam can be harsh, even to me sometimes but please don't leave because of her."
Mina chuckles drily. "That's what you all think right? I am not leaving only because of her, I am their adopted daughter anyway, they don't appreciate me. To worsen it all, Mu… Greta tried to drug me, whether it's my want or not, it does not matter to them, just as long as their own daughter is fine and perfectly okay."
Malik sighs at the front. "I'm sorry you went through all of that ma'am. I heard talking amongst the maids that you did not have anything to eat since the morning." He bent down at the wheels and tore through some packet at the front. "Here ma'am. I drink it anytime I need strength; you will need strength ma'am."
Without thinking twice, Mina takes it from his hands. "Thank you very much Malik, looks like it's only the staff of that house that cares about me." She tears open the bottle's seal and drinks its contents, it tastes just like every other energy drink. She watches him through the rear view mirror. He has been her private driver ever since she had been in seventh grade in high school and had to be dropped and picked every day and then every other time she had to go out for herself or some errands.
Leaning against the door, Mina's hands unconsciously slide down, she shakes her head. She feels suddenly sleepy.
"Young Madam, I am sorry." She manages to hear Malik say through some kind of haze that is clouding her senses. Then the realization hit her.
Her voice drawn and slurry, "What was in the drink you gave me?" She feels the car come to an abrupt stop and then turn around. "Why are you turning? Take me to the airport."
"I'm sorry ma'am. Madam Greta threatened that I'll lose my job if I didn't make you drink it. I don't want to lose my job ma'am. I have a wife and four children to feed and clothe and send to the school."
Mina desperately tries to hold on to the last of her consciousness but it's a futile effort.
"I'm sorry ma'am…"
Malik's voice is the last thing she registers before she blacks out into oblivion.