DEVIL’s GRIP by Nakshathra

A girl was huddled up in a cold, dark room with the windows tightly closed and no room for sunlight as tears poured down her little face but all that changed when the door was open

" Mom!"

The woman looked at the little girl in disdain before smacking her away and holding a man tight to her.

She quietly made a sign with her eyes to the girl.

The girl looked back at her mom before walking away.

The man had comfortably sat on the sofa before saying, " be fast."

His eyes were filled with viciousness and lust.

The beautiful woman smiled bashfully before sitting on him.

The little girl stayed right outside the door, her hands on her nose with her face squeezed from disgust.

Her hands had left nose as she covered her ears and screech but it wasn't enough to distract the people inside

"Ahn, ah yes..faster, harder"

She laid on the cold ground in tears while drawing some zeros and counting time in her head.

She sat back up and looked at the sky…the sun was setting. It was beautiful but cruel to her at that moment.

She held herself in a tight embrace, thoughts wandering, heart beating loudly and lips chattering.

She thought, " Why is my life like this? If I had a dad then all this wouldn't be happening…mom wouldn't be doing this"

Her thoughts were disrupted by the laughter of kids older than her.

They were in groups as the older looking one said, " Look at her! Her mom is a prostitute…she sleeps around with men. She doesn't deserve to stay here"

Another girl walked to her face and said, " Oh dear Cynthia, You are a bastard, an illegi-"

Pak!

Cynthia's mum stood right in front of her daughter with her eyes red like a monster and her hands still raised.

She pushed away the girl roughly before pointing at her

" Don't you ever refer to my daughter as a bastard! She's worth more than any of you. She's a jewel"

The girl looked at Cynthia's mum with tears in her ears as she held the side of her face. She was slapped.

She had already started shedding tears but was helped up by a fatso.

Cynthia's mum glared hatefully at the bunch of kids before carrying her little girl up and hugging her to her body

"Cecilia!"

The mother and daughter woke up from their sweet moment before Cecilia held Cynthia's hands and walked towards the man.

Cynthia turned her face away, refusing to look at him, making him smile.

He quickly handed Cecilia some stash of money before leaving.

She smiled looking at the money then said to little Cynthia

" Oh my baby girl! Don't mind what they say. Stay in the house, let me go buy some instant noodles, veggies and eggs"

Her little face lit up from happiness with her eyes shining as bright as the sun.

She nodded timidly.

Then she walked into the little apartment.

She looked around before picking the dirty laundry and starting washing the dirty plates.

She tidied up the kitchen and kept the ingredients to cook by the sink.

She happily mopped and swept then waited for her mom.

Everywhere was so sparkly that your reflection could be seen from the floor.

She smiled sweetly as she excitedly looked towards the door and her happiness was doubled when she heard the elegant voice

" Cynthia!!"