Chapter 7

• Stacy's POV
• “Why are you asking me for my phone?” I asked, a brow raised. My mom looked like she had something to let out of her mouth, and when she took a seat close to the girl, I was surprised at how calmly she spoke.
• “We might have taken you into our home, and provided you with shelter, but do you think it's wise to call anyone out there right now? Plus, maybe someone is still after you and we don't even know your name! Or —"
• “My name is Ella Jones. I am eight.” The girl responded curtly, “now please, can you help me with your phone? I really need to call my brother right now. He could be in danger!”
• Her voice sounded urgent and afraid, and I didn't know what refusing her would make her do. I could tell my mom was asking me not to, but I already peeled my smartphone from my pocket and handed it over to her.
• I watched in awe as she navigated my phone, but I was even more shocked when I realized she was operating my phone without asking for my passcode. Just how did she do that?
• Something about her name ticked a sense of familiarity, but I couldn't place it.
• I wanted to question her, but she already had the phone to her ears, clearing her throat.
• A masculine voice came through, and it seemed gruff, displeased that some girl was disturbing his morning routine.
• “And who the heck is this?!” He thundered, and I feared the girl must have gotten the numbers wrong. I saw her smile weakly, and I could tell she knew the voice too well.
• “This is Princess Ella speaking, but before you utter a word, do well to take in two deep breaths,”
• “Ella? My goodness, Ella!”
• “The breaths, brother!” Ella whined, and I couldn't help but smile.
• “In, out. In ... out. Alright. Now you can speak.” She chirped. I heard her brother laugh heartily, and I could feel the flood of relief rushing through him.
• “I'm really sorry I didn't come for you sooner, Ella. I should have —"
• "You're getting me pissed already, brother. You could have been in danger instead of me!"
• "But I always get out of them, right?"
• "Yeah, right ..."
• “Do you perhaps recognize where you are right now? Your wristwatch ... you don't have it on you, right?”
• “Naomi took it off me,” Ella said with a smile, but her eyes told a different story. There was no doubt she was still shaken by what she's just gone through.
• “I will ask Big Sis here to forward the address to you quickly."
• “Big Sis? Ella, you are with someone right now?”
• "How else did you think I reached you?!" Ella thundered, and I couldn't help laughing again. "She saved me from dying out ..." Ella trailed off, and I could see those eyes again. "She took me in."
• "I would like to speak to her."
• “No," Ella protested. "Come get me first, and you can then thank her in person.
• She dropped the call, sighing heavily. I wanted to ask her about that night, what transpired before then, what her life has been like, and why she lied to her brother, but a part of me knew it wasn't the wisest thing to do, because no matter how hard she tried, she is still wrecked on the inside.
• “Do you always chat with your brother like this?" I asked, chuckling. “And you called me 'Big Sis', so I'm assuming I earned that?”
• Ella beamed, "Well, my mom had birthed me late," I could sense the hesitation in her voice. “I was unplanned. But since I was born, he's been more than a big brother to me.”
• “I pleaded with my mom for a younger sibling when I was a kid. I always assumed it was as easy as walking down to a store to purchase gummy worms,” Ella chuckled as I spoke, "but I guess she had her reasons."
• “That's why I'm here then; I could be your little sis." She said cheerily. "Well then, we can start off by getting to know everything about you," I said, sitting in the bed,
• “I've got all day.”
• *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.
• Helen rushed to the closet, thankful her daughter couldn't read her expressions.
• She was beginning to grow uneasy watching the little girl, and although it upsets her how much provocative emotions she began feeling since that night.
• Helen knew Stacy's decision on Ella wouldn't change.
• Her migraine was becoming severe by the months, and she could tell she was about to experience another session.
• She spilled a handful of pills from a pack, but she collapsed on the floor as soon as a wave of pain clouded her senses.
• A memory was coming back to her, and in it, she found herself in a hospital, drenched in blood, her newly born by her side, wailing.
• She watched a man walk in, his eyes reddened with rage. “You can't do this to me! I loved you before you met that son-of-a-b*tch! You wouldn't dare betray me for my brother now, would you?"
• Dread fills her lungs as she watches the insane man rattle on. Her eyes landed on her baby boy, and she knew the pretense had to end.
• She mustered the strength to respond, “I never loved you, Wilson, so get this straight into your head. I have birthed his child, so that's enough reason to let us be! I never betrayed you, Wilson, because you made way for all this to happen!”
• His muscles tensed with an insane fury, and she closed her eyes, cowering in fear as he took a step closer to her.
• Three gunshots later, and Wilson was on the floor, blood seeping out of his chest. A new, profound strength helped her out of the bed and into the floor, and she cried at the sight of his motionless body.
• “Wilson!" She cried, prodding him to open his eyes, "Don't do this to me. Why do you keep prying into our lives?! Why?!"
• Like a wind, Helen saw nothing after that. She held onto her head, scared she was going to go insane any minute longer.
• Who was the baby she held onto? The man? Why didn't she remember anything about this? She burst into tears, tugging at her mind for answers.