Chapter 1
“1.2.3.4.5……” Andrea called out in the garden, her voice playful as Stella looked for where to hide.
Her aunty—Andrea Stanley— had just moved back home after graduating college. As the person who practically raised Stella while her parents were busy building their company, Andrea was the most important person in her life after her parents. Their bond was special—- She was both an elder and Stella’s best friend.
Stella decided to go hide inside the house, going through the open backdoor. She darted past the kitchen and entered the dining room, tucking herself behind the large curtain that covered the windows.
Then, she heard voices from the living room.
Do they have guests?
Curious, she peeped from behind the curtain through a gap.
There were 4 men in suits standing in the center of the room blocking her parents from view. They didn’t seem friendly. Their body language was rigid and they all held guns. She had only ever seen guns in movies.
Bang
A shot rang out. A thud followed. Her mother’s hand came into view, hitting the ground.
Bang
Another shot. Another thud.
Stella’s breath caught in her throat. Her parents—
The men went up the stairs, their footsteps loud as they climbed.
Stella, took a step out from behind the curtain, a step towards her parents, before she could go far, Andrea grabbed her and yanked her back behind the curtain.
“Did we get everyone?” One of the men in suit asked as they came down the stairs.
Through a little gap in the curtain, Stella saw him— a scar ran from his brow to his chin, marring one part of his face making him look terrifying. His cold, expressionless voice sent chills down her spine.
“We’ve gotten all the workers.” Another answered joining Scarface.
“I heard they have a daughter” Scarface added.
Andera’s grip on Stella’s Arm tightened as Stella’s entire body stiffened, her breath shallow and rapid.
“Yeah,” A third said, his voice lazy as he slowly descended the stairs his footsteps echoed, each one matching her racing heart.“I took care of the girl upstairs, she was crying for her mummy, so annoying” He chuckled, his laughter evil almost unhuman.
Alice.
The cook’s granddaughter.
They thought she was Stella.
A gasp escaped her lips before she could stop it.
Andrea immediately covered her mouth with one hand and hugged her tightly as they moved deeper behind the curtain. Stella could feel her aunt’s heart pounding against her back.
Scarface turned towards the dining room, his gaze landing on the curtain
“Did we miss one” Scarface murmured, stepping closer to the room.
Then a weak hand grabbed his ankle.
“You..bastard…You’ll get your karma.” a voice rasped.
Stella’s mother—she was still alive
“Let go you bitch,” He cursed.
Bang. He shot her again and her hand fell weakly.
“King’s Corporation pays really well,” Scarface continued as he stepped away from her mother’s body. “Let’s report back to Carson and get our balance.
Uncle Carson.
Her parent’s best friend.
The four men strode out of the house. A car started outside and then they were gone.
Silence descended over the house.
For hours, Stella and Andrea stayed hidden in the curtain too afraid to move until the sun started to set. Andrea slowly let her go—her grip slackening—and they stepped out from behind the curtain.
“Andrew? Lily?”
“Mom…Dad…”
They called making their way to the bodies on the floor. “Mom.” Stella’s voice cracked as she stumbled forward, tripping and almost falling.
Blood had pooled around their lifeless bodies.
She dropped to her knees, her hands trembling as she reached for her mom’s hand. It was still warm. “Mom?” She called again, tears rolling down her mother’s hand as she held it to her face.
“Dad?” She called, crawling to his side. “Dad wake up”
Andrea watched Stella sob on the floor, tears also running down her face. She turned and ran upstairs, to the study.
1402— Stella’s birthday was the password to the safe, she took all the money, gold, and jewelry packing them in a bag. Going to the other rooms, she picked up all the valuables she could, her hands shaking with urgency.
Minutes later she returned, two bags in her arms.
She knelt beside Stella, wrapping her arms around the sobbing girl.
“We need to leave Stella,” she murmured, her voice urgent but gentle. “If they find out we’re still alive—that you’re still alive your mom’s sacrifice would be in vain”
“Aunty Andrea, why did they kill mom and dad?” Stella asked sobbing into her aunty’s arms. “Uncle Carson was their friend!”
Andrea exhaled shakily. “People, change Stella.” She answered stroking her hair.
“We need to leave Stella—far away” She pulled away holding Stella’s hand in her own.
Stella sniffled as Andrea pulled her to her feet
They left the house under the cover of dusk making their way through the kitchen in the dark.
Andrea’s old bicycle from high school was still leaning by the wall in the garage.
She climbed on, pulling Stella on behind her. Stella wrapped her arms tightly around Andrea’s waist.
As they rode into the night. Stella turned to take one last look at the house she had lived in all her life. She said a quiet goodbye to her parents in her heart.
They soon reached the main city, Andrea stopped in front of a convenience store.
“Wait here Stella, I need to make a call,” Andrea said stepping off the bicycle. Stella held on to Andrea’s jacket, not letting go. “Okay Let’s go together”
They walked into the store and Adrea asked the cashier to borrow her phone.
“Mark,” Andrea started as the phone was answered. “I need your help.”
“Where are you?” the voice on the other end asked.
Andrea rattled off the address of the store and ended the call after exchanging a few more words.
She moved to Stella who was sitting by the window and sat beside her. “I called my boyfriend,
he would help us get away”
Stella nodded not saying anything.
They sat in silence, waiting. The clock on the wall ticked loudly, each second seeming to stretch longer than the last. Andrea kept glancing at the entrance, her fingers drumming against her knee.
The store’s bell jingled, and both of them froze. A young man in a dark jacket walked in. He was tall and lean, with long tousled brown hair tied in a manbun. His eyes landed on Andrea first.
“Andrea!” He called, running to her.
She rushed into his arms, meeting him halfway. He hugged her, stroking her back as her shoulders tumbled in his arms.
“It’s going to be okay baby” Mark comforted. Andrea soon quieted down. “Let’s get you guys out of here.”
Andrea moved out of his arms, grabbing the bags. Mark crouched in front of Stella. “Hi, we’re not meeting under the best circumstances, but I promise to do my best to protect you.
Stella nodded slowly. “Thank you,” She said weakly.
“Good girl”
He led them outside to a pickup truck, saying thanks to the cashier as they walked out. The moment they were settled in, he peeled out of the parking lot, tires squealing.