Melody's P.O.V.

" Mom, Dad come fast. We are going to be late" I screamed jumping around not able to hold my happiness. 

Today we're going to the amusement park. All three of us. It's been nearly a month since we have quality time for each other. So, now that I had a chance, I grab on it and make them agree to go to amusement park. This is my first time going there. So, I can't define my excitement.

"Calm down princess. It's only 6 in the morning. We have to be there at 9'o clock. There's still 3 hours left and here you already wake us at 5 am and ordered to get ready" Dad chided me softly trying to stop me from jumping around.

"But Daddy, if we go there before anyone else, we can have more time than them" I tried to convince him with my best puppy dog eyes.

He kneel down to me and picked me up in his arms.

"Even we started early and go there, they don't open this early princess. You have to be patient. Come with me, we will make some breakfast for Mommy" he takes me to the kitchen.

Though I'm not much useful to him, I'll still help him with whatever he wants.

He made some bacons and eggs for Mom and some chocolate cookies for me.

"Hurry up sweety, eat all of these before Mom finds out. If you don't, she'll have my head for breakfast. Not the bacons I made" he stated hurriedly. I giggled at him and started eating quickly.

Dad's cookies are the best in the whole world. I could eat them all my life without getting bored. They are that much delicious.

After I finished eating, Dad called out for Mom to eat. As she comes down, sitting on the chair she asked about mine.

"Do you finish your breakfast sweety?" she smiled at me.

"Yes mama, I ate all of it" 

I'm so happy she didn't found about the cookies.

"Hmm..... So, are the cookies tasty?" she asked figuring it out how I don't know.

Dad's eyes got big with surprise and chuckled nervously.

"Cookies.....Haha Sweety, what are you talking about? I don't make any cookies" he acts as he was confused.

I tried to stop my giggles as they try to erupt. 

"The cookies that were on her mouth. Obviously, bacons can't turn into cookies, right?" she told to Dad pointing me.

On seeing me Dad widens his eyes and glanced around to find the escape from her.

"Now what do I have to do to punish both of you?" she tapped her chin thinking. Her eyes got a evil glint that had both of us shivering in fear.

"Tickle monster" she shouted running to us. But at the first word, we already started running.

Dad throws me on his shoulders and went to the bedroom. Before he can close the door, Mom rushed behind us and in surprise both of us fell on the bed. Mom smirked  and  started tickling us.

The room filled with our laughter and screams. Alike Dad and me, Mom was not so ticklish. She kept wiggling her fingers on the sides of us. My eyes are filled with tears from the laughter. Dad stopped her from doing it anymore and all of collapsed on the bed gasping for air. 

I'm so happy that we are able to spend the time laughing happily. I hugged both of them and closed my eyes contently. Now-a-days some times I'm getting a feeling that I'm loosing them.

-------------------

"I want to come here everyday" I squealed happily holding my father's hand.

Laughing at my excitement, Dad lift me up and instantly I wrapped my hands and legs around his neck and waist.

He kissed on my forehead whereas Mom takes my hand into hers.

"We can't princess. But I promise you I'll take you here whenever I'm free. Okay?" Dad said to me.

Even though I'm not happy to hear it, I choose to enjoy the present moment.

"Promise" I asked holding my pinky to him.

He laughed linking his pinky to mine. I squealed and hugged him tightly.

We enjoyed alot as time flew by. Dad bought me a huge candy I'm licking now. The taste was awesome. At last my favorite part came. Giant wheel. Mom promised me that she would let me go for it. This is the first time I'm stepping on a giant wheel. We went inside it and locked the door. I can't stop myself from jumping but Mom stopped me.

"Stay still honey" she said making me sit beside her wrapping her around me.

Soon it started moving and I screamed clapping as standing to see the view of outside. Every minute it's going high, I get to see the beautiful view of all the lights getting little and little until they became as the stars in the sky. Actually it looks like stars are sprinkled all over the place.

The higher it went up, the higher my excitement grows. Just then someone grabbed me from behind and keep pulling me towards them. The touch was not my parents's. I knew it. My heart beating erratically from the fear and tears are coming out of my eyes from being scared. And soon hiccups are started from the feeling. It's the indication that I'm extremely scared. I'm struggling hard to get away from them, at the same time searching for my parents.

That's when I got aware of my surroundings. I'm no longer in the giant wheel, but in a dark small room. Suddenly, the man turned me around to face him. One look at him, I've got a panic attack instantly. I can't find my breath in that small room. My heart is paining and breathing is accelerated to it's peaks. Still it's not enough. I need air. I desperately need it. Then I was slapped. By him. He continued to slapping and kicking me with his legs as I fell down and trying to shun his beatings.

My breath hitched at his last kick in my stomach as a crack sound echoed in the silent room. Although how much hard I tried to keep my eyes on him scared to think what he could do to me, they started to close. At last I welcomed the darkness. 

It's then I realised the beauty of it. There's nothing in it. No pain, no hate, no anger, no betrayal, no heartbreak, no feelings. It's just hollow. Nothing was there in it. Soon it started to soothe me. Slipping into the darkness I don't want to come out of it. I want to stay there forever. But as usual luck is not on my side. In the middle of the absolute silence, steady foot steps are coming towards me from afar. Each step made my heart stop and start again. Each step made my hair stand by fear. Each step made my stomach churn. Each step made the bile coming up my throat.

Suddenly the sound was stopped near me. I can feel that he's near me. But I can't open my eyes. Maybe I don't want to open them. My eyes shut tightly and I expected the worst to come.

**********************

I jerked awake at the loud sound boomed in the room. My vision was blurred and I can't see anything clearly. Blinking my eyes rapidly to clear my sight, I look around to know what the sound was. That's when I saw a figure leaning over me watching intently. I jolted back in fear.

Oh God!!! What is Hunter doing here? Where is Daisy? Is she even here?

Breathing heavily, still not coming out of my dream, I opened my mouth to ask him about Daisy but quickly gave up on that thought not knowing how to start the conversation. Then I realise something that made me shiver in fear. 

How long has he been here? Did I sleep talk? From the look on his face, I bet that he thinks something's wrong with me. Why did I always lose my facade infront of him everytime we met. WHY?

I cried out internally why God is testing me like this.

Daisy came out of kitchen and handed me coffee cup.

Without knowing, Daisy helps me from the nightmare. Coffee soothes me and that's the sole reason of my love for the coffee.

As I'm taking the cup, my hands are shaking and from the corner of my eyes, I can see Hunter looking at them. So, I hold it tightly to stop shaking.

"Are you okay?"

It was Hunter who asked it.

No no no.... No way he's asking THAT question. That means he saw me while I'm having nightmare. Argh..... my life sucks.

"Ye-Yeah. Why wouldn't I?" I replied back to him acting confused.

He stares at me with those electric eyes like trying to reveal me. But didn't extend it for my sake.

I signed and turned to Daisy.

"Thank you for the coffee Daisy. Are you cooking breakfast?" I asked.

"For God's sake, stop thanking me for everything Mel. It's irritating. And yes, I made breakfast and you better take a bath quickly to eat. If you don't we are going to eat all of it" She grunted.

WE!!! It means Hunter will eat with us. Argh......  

"What can I do Daisy? That's my habit to thank others if they do something for me."

"Okay. I'll leave it for now. But the next time you thank me, you have to bear the consequences. Now shoo..... Get ready and come quickly"

"You carry on Daisy. I'm not hungry" I tried hoping she'd agree with me.

I CAN'T eat with Hunter.....

"What?! I don't accept it. Breakfast is the important meal of the day. I think you're skipping it every morning. Look how skinny you are. It's unhealthy. You have to eat more. Now go" she demanded.

I hurried to my room scared she would decide to eat every morning with me. I have to be careful and not let that thought cross her mind.

When I'm about to take the bath, I saw myself in the mirror. My face is pale. Very pale. Lips are dried and trembling, eyes are red like I cried, hair is sticking to my forehead and cheeks due to sweat. Anyone can clearly point out the outline of my cheekbones. 

I wonder how can they look at me without cringing. Even I'm cringing at my reflection.

Finishing my bath, I wear an old pajamas and stepped to downstairs. Hunter and Daisy were already sat across the dining table ready to eat, waiting for me.

"Hey" I greeted them.

"Come on Mel. I'm hungry" Daisy whined.

Hunter and me chuckled at her childishness.

As they began to eat, I prayed before eating. Though I'm not religious enough to go to church every sunday, Mom and Dad taught me to believe in God and made me pray every time before we started eating. They don't get a chance to taught me many things. But the few things I learned from them I still do them without any fail. Praying before eating is one of those things. They said I should be grateful to have a plate full of food infront me whereas so many people doesn't even get one meal for a day. I still remember their words.

And for years I only wish for one thing. All I pray is to not let him find me.

As I opened my eyes, I saw Daisy and Hunter looking at me with unreadable expression. In the time of my friendship with Daisy, she don't get to see many of my habits. So, this must be a surprise to her.

"Umm..... What?" I asked feeling uncomfortable of their gaze.

"You pray?" Daisy replied with a question.

"Yes. Can't I?" 

"No, that's not. We're just surprised. It's not everyday thing we get to see now-a-days" 

"My parents taught me we should thank God to give us food. If we are hungry now, that means someone else out there must be also hungry too. But the only difference is we have food to eat and they don't" I explained to her.

Daisy smiled at me and continued to eat. But Hunter was watching me with his emotionless face. I can't point what he's thinking. We finished eating after some time.

"Mel, get ready. We'll drop you at the library" Daisy insisted.

"Don't worry. I can walk there. It's my routine" I tried to convince her. I need to walk. 

"No excuses. We are going that way too. You are coming with us" she bossed me.

I knew that I had no choice.

"Okay"

She and I locked the house. Hunter was already in the car waiting for us. We both seated in backside of car and he started driving. I began to look outside asusual. It's one of my favorite thing to watch. Trees and vehicals passing by in a flash not giving a clear vision.

I want my life like that. I want to lead my life without getting noticed. Without anyone knowing the real me, my past, my secrets. I want my life to be like a blur.

While I'm in these thoughts, I hear gun shots in behind. I jumped in my seat at the sound of it and looked back.

They are shooting at us.

Oh God,  What's happening????? 

The expression Hunter gave us tells that he knew who they are. His face is hard and eyes are blazing with anger. Furious is a small word to describe it.

"Heads down" he bellowed.

We quickly bend our heads and the firing was started rapidly. The car must be bullet proof, if not we'd be dead by now. I became aware of my heavy breath and tried to calm myself. But the firing not letting me do that. I clasped Daisy's hand tightly who is shivering too like me.

Hunter raised the accelerator, now the car is going in a rocket speed. My head is spinning at the fast, so I shut my eyes. Soon the gun shots are reduced and the car was slowed down. But my heart is not. It still beating like a hammer so much my chest aches.

Hunter stopped, he and Daisy got out but I can't. I can't even lift a finger. Daisy realised my situation and helps me to get down. I just stand there for a few minutes to calm down. I couldn't do it. 

My breathing quickens and throat is burning. My vision is blurring. Panic attack.  

No No. Not now. I can't have the panic attack. I shouldn't. Not infront of them.  

It's so hard to breath.

"Mel Mel, It's over. It's okay now. Look at me please" Daisy's trembled voice reached my ears. But I can't seem to do anything.

I tried to look at her.

"Breath Mel, look at me. Do it with me okay. In and out, in and out. Please, do it" she was worried about me.

I collapsed not able to stand anymore and someone caught me before I touched the ground. 

She's worried about me. That thought alone brought a smile on my face.

Soon, darkness take over me.