The driver was already waiting and her luggage had been packed for her journey to the city. She said her last goodbyes to her grandmother and the staff who had lined out to see her off. And waved at her grandfather looking at her from the window. She boarded the car. As it connected smoothly with the main road, passing through familiar fields, she couldn't help but reminiscence.
She has lived here since she was seven years old. When her parents divorced, none of them wanted her. her father already had a daughter with his secret mistress and wasn't at all interested in this freak daughter of hers with powers he couldn't understand. Her mother... well she never wanted a child. Or at least the burden of taking responsibility for one.
Her abilities made her sensitive, she knew she wasn't wanted. Her Mom loved her but she didn't know how to be a mother to her. This place was the only place she felt safe. All the friendships and the memories, she can't say that she wasn't sad to go.
'It's time', she quietly murmured to herself. What even her grandparents didn't know, was that she already knew she would be going to the city. She had been seeing the visions, and the man in a fog calling to her but she had ignored it. So fate played another card as if taunting her, 'You have to go to the city even if I have to drag you there screaming.'
she smiled softly to herself and cupped her chin with her hands. Her eyes were calm, 'she has never been an obedient girl.'
Li Muna rolled her luggage across the tarmac of the N city airport while making her way to the exit. The 45-minute plane ride had been pretty uneventful.
At noon, the warm weather made her uncomfortable in her black t-shirt and jeans.
She needed a taxi to get to her father's house. She noticed a black car parked in front of her, a man was standing beside the car whom she assumed to be the driver. The middle-aged man had been sizing up the people making their way through the exits, as she came close, the man noticed her and glanced her way, after confirming something he made his way toward her.
"Miss Moore?"
"Yes, she answered. And you are?"
"I am Luke, your chauffeur young miss. Please come with me."
He politely collected her luggage and went to stash it in the booth. 'Well that's surprising, I wasn't expecting that cheap man to send a driver to pick me up.' she thought with amusement.
She entered the car and the driver sped up into the traffic. Luke kept peeking at the young lady at the back of the car. He has only been working with the Moore family for two years. But this is the first time he has seen this miss. She has an otherworldly aura to her, detached yet elegant like she just stepped out of a painting. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen and having lived in such a metropolitan city and driven his employer to many functions over the years, he has seen quite a few. She has an ancient kind of beauty, the type that can be popular no matter the era or time.
He was quite puzzled, the main house didn't have an attitude like she was someone important.
but he still chose to be prudent, and not do anything to offend her. having served in an elite family for years, he has come to acquire a kind of sixth sense for these things. and his sense is telling him not to mess with her.
Li Muna plugged an earbud into her ears and put on a piece of classical music while gazing at the scenarios outside the car, her gaze complicated.
Being here again after ten years has brought a flood of memories once again.
When her parents divorced, there was a fierce fight between her parents on who gets to relinquish custody of her. Her father who won happily remarried and lived with his Mistress and their daughter who unlike her, 'a freak' in her father's words was someone normal. Her mom's career had taken off and she was always on a business trip. Her grandparents worried that she might be too lonely, took her under their wings and raised her.
But the little girl, who got stuck between her father's resentment and her guilt for ruining her parents' marriage suffered the worst of all.
It took her a long time to realize that her parent's divorce was not her fault.
Li Muna was born with a psychic ability, her ability grows as she does. As a child, she was more sensitive than normal, she could feel when her environment was sinister or when someone was lying or hiding something. No matter how good they are at deceit.
And of course, she also saw the occasional ghosts.
Sometimes she can see things before they happen, it might be minutes, days, or even weeks.
At first, adults were startled, angry, and then freaked out, when she pointed out the thoughts they were trying to hide. While she cannot read minds, she can read people's emotions, be it anger, lust, or joy. She can feel them and even see them as a myriad of colors.
As a child, she had no filter, and adults disliked kids who knew too much. Her mom watched in amusement, while her father reacted with anger. Her classmates made fun of her, called her names, and told her that they were not allowed to play with her. Children echo the adults around them, even though she never felt any malicious emotions from them. They still turned her into a pariah. She was just too different.
As she was deep in thought she felt the car slow down and looked at the driver, they had stopped at a red light. She looked around and noticed the scenery was a bit familiar to her.
As the car continued on its journey she realized they were not quite far from their destination.
The driver turned into her father's community, filled with opulent houses and a dead silence. The familiar neighborhood finally snapped her out of her thoughts. They soon arrived at the villa, a beautiful modern house that screamed affluence.
She got down from the car and collected her luggage, while the driver went to pack the car. With an indifferent air, she rolled her luggage to the door and rang the doorbell. A maid opened the door and ushered her in. The inside of the house was ostentatiously furnished, with white and gold pieces of furniture that seemed to blind the eyes. As if the owner was afraid that people might not notice all too well how good they were.
Her mom grew up wealthy so she has always had an elegant and sophisticated taste. When they were still living here, the house had always had an understated luxury to it.
In the middle of the sitting room sat her stepmother Kate, pouring some tea for her mother-in-law. She greeted them politely. Her stepmother looked at her and beamed with a smile while her grandmother pretended she didn't exist.
"I'm so glad you were able to arrive without incident.
I was afraid that the city might be too overwhelming for you so I sent Luke to pick you up."
Kate stood up and approached her with a gentle smile. Kate Smith has a gentle and virtuous bearing like an obedient housewife who would never hurt a soul. Of course, considering she had an affair with a married man, her act was lost on her.
She came up to Muna and then stopped, not daring to come any further.
Her stepdaughter's eyes, darker than night has a way of making you feel uncomfortable,
like she can see through your soul.
"Seeing as you came from the countryside, I was afraid you would find the city overwhelming."
"It was okay."
'I did find the city overwhelming, but for a completely different reason, one of which had to do with her.' she thought.
"Do you want to come over and sit down?"
"No thank you, I'm rather tired."
"Sure, you can go in and rest."
"Thank you" she replied.
Kate felt displeased that her good intentions were not reciprocated. From the start to the end of their conversation, she had a deadpan look on her like they were just discussing the weather. As a country bumpkin, she expected her to look at the house with awe and reverence but she hardly glanced at it. She didn't like her bearing at all.
Ever since she's set her eyes on her, she has been in a bad mood. She's just like her mother. No, she looked better than her mother. She doesn't like those looks at all.
Kate kept her smile on as she instructed a maid to take her to her room. Muna left without sparing anyone else a gaze.
Her Grandma harrumphed, "Why did my son invite that bad luck into this house, does he want to turn the fortune of this house upside down."
"Calm down Mother, I'm such James knows what he's doing.
No matter what she's still my daughter, and it destresses me for you to speak to her this way. Even if she's strange we still mustn't anger her who knows what will happen.
"Do I even have to fear my granddaughter in my own house," she looked at her displeased. "Of course not, we just don't want to ruin James' plans." Kate placated her.
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