Chapter 1:Mia's pov
1212 Words
My hands shook as I watched my dad in the little box face to face with the judge.
His eyes were bloodshot red, probably worn out due to the anger and tears.
My eyes darted to the man suing my dad; Robert Lansford. A disgusting smirk plastered on his scarred face, I could perceive the alcohol he'd drank from where I sat.
Watching my dad broke my heart, his hands behind him and his head down in distraught. My eyes watered and my palms were all sweaty, I wiped away the tears and held myself together, I needed to be strong for my father.
This was the first trial and a warning to my father, He had taken a loan from Robert and everyone knows Robert is cunning. But Dad's business needed a boost and now here we are; he couldn't meet up with Robert's needs and now he is in court with a heavy fine of over 200 million. I took on jobs, part-time jobs to be able to pay off the debt and yet it still wasn't enough to pay off the loan. I closed my eyes, my ears not hearing anything in the room. It was misty everywhere.
Fuck!
“No further questions, your honor.” the defendant's lawyer said.
“Very well.” replied the judge.
“Your honor, the prosecution would like to ask Mr. Albert here some questions.”
“Mr. Albert Dickinson, what day did you have the agreement with Mr Robert?”
“It was on a Thursday,” Dad said.
“Thursday and at 8 pm, correct?”
“I am not too sure of the time. I think it was 10 pm when I-” Dad said.
“And what was stated in the document given to you?” the lawyer interrupted
“I didn't go through the document, we-
“So you would sign a document or a legal contract without thorough examination Mr Albert?”
“No I wouldn't. We agreed on it before he brought the papers.” Dad said.
“The papers, you didn't read.” “Your honor my client pitied a broke man and lent him a huge amount of money but it is clear that Mr. Albert has no accurate answer whatsoever-
It was this or nothing. Getting a lawyer was expensive as hell. If I could plead to Robert, maybe he could take pity on Dad.
******
"Dad, you need to pay Robert back. He won't let you go." I said to my dad as he sat weakly on the cushion. His watery eyes looked confused.
"I can't pay enough. He wouldn't let me go Mia." Dad said weakly. I couldn't take it anymore, I was on the verge of tears. I looked at my Dad. I watched him hopelessly.
"If I talk to him, I think he will let you go," I said to my dad. He shook his head tirelessly, disagreeing with me.
"He won't Mia. I'll talk to him again and maybe this time he will listen." Dad said.
"Dad-
"Don't, Mia. I know you are worried about me, but I will be fine." He finished.
I walked out, hiding the tears in the corner of my eyes. My lashes are already wet. I lay on my bed, sobbing softly. Dad was stranded and I couldn't do anything. I had to stop work midway when I heard my father had been arrested. Going back, I got fired. I feel so terrible.
I close my eyes, trying to sleep off. Maybe a little sleep would do me some good.
My eyes settled as the calm environment was all I needed. There was no noise and Dad had probably gone to bed.
****
Large hands covered my mouth, making it difficult for me to shout. I screamed into the palm of the stranger. Two large hands held my arms tightly. I couldn't scream, and I couldn't breathe properly.
The men covered my face with a bag, making it difficult for me to see them.
I struggled as one of them carried me over his shoulder. I hit his back screaming.
I could not see anything, but I felt him going down the stairs. I screamed, but my shouts were muffled by the bag, which covered most of my face.
A car door opened, and I was immediately thrown in like a bag of grain. The bag was removed from my head and I was faced with no other person than Robert Landsford.
I don't know what was more disgusting, seeing his face or watching him take a whip and puff it right in my face. I hate this man to the core and it gave me chills. The air conditioning in the limo was already doing its job. He sat facing me, looking at me with such pleasure and it was disgusting.
"Where are you taking me too?!" I shouted. f**k him, if he thought he would have any power over me.
"Kids these days." He answered with a laugh. The man was an ugly sight, but his laughter was worse.
"I promise you, when my dad notices my absence, you will pay," I said with so much confidence. Even if we owed him a certain amount, I knew my dad would get me out of this man's custody.
"Who? The man who sold you off like a dog?" He said laughing, crossing his legs.
That's not true. Dad would never do anything like that. Never.
"You are a naive little girl," he said. Now relaxing his arms comfortably. He takes his cup filled with alcohol. Gulping it and slurping, making disgusting sounds in the limo.
"My dad would never do anything like that, you son of a b****. Get me out of here!" I screamed. He loved it. He loved the way I shouted, the way I was in pain.
The way he lied to me about Dad selling me off. Dad would never do anything of that sort.
"Oh yes, he did. The old man sold you off to cover his debts." He laughed again. The two bodyguards joined in. I wouldn't believe him.
"You spit s**t out of that gutter of a mouth!" I shouted at him. Spitting right at his face.
He held me by my neck, squeezing it.
"If you do, I will send you to the big boss."
The car comes to a stop and soon my head is covered again with a bag but this time with holes in the eyes.
The bodyguards held me aggressively. I see nothing clearly, just the fact that it was near a dock. Robert was talking to someone and his back was to me. I couldn't hear enough because the place was just ships and noises. They bind my hands with a thin rope that is too tight for blood to flow through. I'm standing with the bodyguards.
They were anticipating their master's next words.
"Put her on the ship," Robert says and watches as they take me to the back of the ship.
Helpless. Dad could not have possibly sold me off to this beast of a man.
They push me right into the ship, some sort of a boot and I hit my head immediately, knocking me out.
- Writer
