Chapter 5

Pauline continued to stare at Muse straight in the eye, while Pen was intimidating her with his threatening gaze. Remembering the scene from the last time when Pauline had not believed her at all when she told her that Pen had broken into her room, Muse understood that if she told Pauline the truth, it would be her word against that of Pen. She just resigned herself to inventing something else. "It's the blood from my period. I didn't put on a sanitary napkin before sleeping and that's why my sheet is speckled." Pauline seemed to buy into what she just said. She glared at her then ordered "You have two minutes to arrange and go downstairs to do your household chores." She turned on her heels and walked away. Pen, who had slipped away so that Pauline would not see him, resurfaced after the latter's departure. Muse ignored his presence. She continued to change her sheets and put her tuffs away, ignoring him. "You've been perfect my love. Keep it up." He said to Muse bearing a smirk. He then left. Muse wanted to scream in pain, slash the skin of his face, but she was helpless. There was nothing she could do. She was no one in that house, according to what her stepmother had told her. What a sad fate was hers! And when would her uncle come back? Why was he away all the time when she needed him to protect her? Why did he bring her here knowing that he would never be there to tear her from the clutches of his wicked wife? Muse nevertheless went down to the kitchen and prepared breakfast for the whole household. She was walking with toughness, as she was feeling pain in her vagina due to Pen's rape last night.Throughout the day, she worked like a madman without her stepmother having pity on her. Muse became more withdrawn than usual again. She was scared all the time and distrusted everyone, even her shadow. She was going through trauma and no one was there to help her. Every night she slept half awake. She had nightmares and always woke up with a start. Without willing it, the young teenager began to lose weight visibly. She became thoughtful, not knowing which way to turn. Despite her teacher's insistence on pulling the worms out of her, Muse remained unmoved. She was scared to death to confide in someone. A week went away and Pen made no attempt to enter Muse's room again. He even avoided her in passing. Muse's uncle returned the following weekend. He was in shock as he looked at his niece. Indeed, she had lost her weight and her color. Her gaze was still staring into space. Her uncle did not understand what had happened to her. So he asked her the question all worried "What's wrong daughter?Why have you lost so much weight? Have you been sick?" "No." Muse responded by shaking her head. "So what's wrong? You know I'm your father, right? You can tell me anything." Muse's uncle spoke to her in a peaceful and reassuring voice. She would have liked so much to confide in him and share all her troubles with him. She looked up timidly at him. Her eyes were already wet with tears. When it was time to speak, her stepmother entered the room where they were. She looked like she was watching them. She gave Muse a threatening look. Muse had a cold on her back. She lowered her head, losing all the impetus to tell her uncle what bothered her so much. "Talk to me my daughter, I'm listening to you. Don't be afraid!" Her uncle reiterated. But Muse didn't look up. At the same time, Georges realized the presence of his wife. "What do you want?" He asked her unhappy to see her prowling near them. "I was just passing by. Is there a problem?" "Yes. I would like to chat in apartheid with my daughter. Do you have any issue with that?" "Not at all!" She replied turning back. Left alone, Georges turned to his niece with an anxious air. "Muse my dear, you can speak to me now. You have nothing to fear." Muse lifted her head and gave her uncle a pleading gaze. '"Please daddy, I want to go home!" She was talking crying. Georges did not understand why she was in this state. "Why do you want to return? This is your home my daughter. Who's bothering you? Tell me and I will take care of this person personally." "Nobody bothers me, but I'd rather go home. Please!"she pleaded. "Even if that's what you want, at least wait until you finish the current school year. Then you can go wherever you want." Her uncle insisted. Muse was so disappointed that her uncle refused to let her go home. If at least she had the money, she would leave without warning. But alas, she was unable to raise money into what her uncle gave her because his wife took more than half. What was she going to do? She was not ready to face another rape of Pen. If that happened, she didn't know what she would be ready to do. In the evening, the whole household was seated in the living room around Georges the head of the family. Muse could take another breath of fresh air during her uncle's stay. "I would like to know why Muse is losing weight every day when she is in no pain. Who bothers her often?" Georges asked, looking over everyone who was sitting in the living room. "Did she tell you then that she was feeling bothered?" Pauline retorted, looking annoyed by Georges' question. "Do I need her to tell me that before I figure it out for myself? You just have to see her face and her constantly haggard gaze to realize that something is wrong. And besides, why has she begged me to go home to her mother? " "It's because your niece likes a messy life that she doesn't like this house. I told her that we don't want strolls and unexpected outings here all the time! I forbade her that. It is because of that that she is sad and wants to go home to continue her prostitution." Pauline shamelessly lied. Muse couldn't believe her gross lie. But she couldn't say anything because it would be her word against hers. "Stop insulting my daughter! I don't believe you at all! Muse is a very wise child and she would never indulge in such practices!" Georges said indignantly. "If you don't believe me ask Amy. She caught her over and over again with different men in front of the gate kissing." "That's right daddy! Muse goes out with men all the time. It's because mom forbade her to do that that she's sad." Amy said shamelessly. "Shut up! Aren't you ashamed of plotting behind your sister's back?May this be the last time you report such gross lies about her! As for all of you, I warn you, watch out for Muse. She is an orphan who needs protection and not badness from you. I don't know what happens in this house when I am away, but the day I find out that youve caused harm to Muse, I will ... " "What are you going to do? Aren't you ashamed to threaten us, we your real family, for this freak?" Pauline cut her husband off in an aggressive tone. Hearing the term 'freak', Georges went into a rage. He slapped his wife who was right next to him. Pauline put her hand to her cheek. She stood up threatening "You should never have done what you just did. You and your monkey who serves as your niece, you will regret it a lot!" Pauline's gaze on Muse made her blood run cold. Why even avoiding trouble like the plague, they still stuck on her? She knew from then on that her uncle had been beating a swarm of bees and very soon she would pay the heavy price.