Poison Ivy

3. Caught

***

I woke up to the brightness of the sun shining through a window on my face. Opening my eyes, I pleaded my right hand on my forehead to stop the pounding headache. It was then when I noticed that I wasn't in my bed at the group home. The events from the previous night were coming back.

Victor finding me. Angeline betraying me. Landon capturing me.

Glancing at my surroundings, the room was very pink. The walls were painted light pink, with the floors being dark brown hardwood. Paintings of butterflies, gardens, and oceans decorated the walls. A white rectangular rug lay around the bed. The bed was in the middle of the south wall and was a king size with a white wood bed frame accompanied by a pink quilt and a gazillion pillows. The bed was quite comfortable, but I did feel like I was drowning in the amount of pillows on the bed. Next to the bed was a matching nightstand with a white and silver alarm clock, family photos on gold photo frames, a white lamp with a pink shade, and my phone charging. On the east wall was a bay window with similar coloured throw pillows and pink lace curtains on the window. Next to the bay window was a large book shelf full of novels, figures, and dolls. On the north wall was a dresser that had a 30" TV sitting on top with a variety of gaming consoles and remotes, a vanity with different perfume bottles and makeup, and two doors to a walk-in closet and a bathroom. On the west wall was a white desk with multiple drawers, and comfortable looking pink office chair with a MacBook Air sitting on top of the desk. This wall is also where the door to the room was.

This is my childhood bedroom. Almost exactly how I left it 3 years ago. My brothers took me back to the mansion I was running from.

Getting up from my bed, I realized I was wearing an oversized t-shirt. Meaning someone changed me out of my work clothes and put me to bed. I grabbed by phone to find that the SIM card had been removed. I then remembered that I threw it away while running with Cassidy from the diner.

No service. Great.

I figured one of my brothers must have taken it out to prevent me from calling for help. Maybe they wanted to kill me because I watched them kill dad. But if they wanted to hurt me, why didn't they kill me at the safe house? Thoughts were running through my mind. I knew I had to try to get out of here if I valued my life. I ran over to the door to my childhood bedroom from the middle of my room where I was standing moments ago. Juggling the door handle, I was surprised to find the door unlocked.

Peering down the hallway, I noticed the mansion mostly remained the same. A few decor elements such as paintings and pottery from my childhood was no longer hanging on the walls, or on shelves but for the most part it was just as I remembered it. The floors were a dark hardwood with a long rectangular red rug with floral designs. Kind of like those old carpets from those haunted mansions you see in movies. The walls were a lightish yellow with a similar floral pattern on the wallpaper. Along the hallway, were doors to what I assumed were my brother's rooms and a few guest bedrooms and bathrooms. Same door design as my own bedroom door.

I heard someone come up the steps and I quickly and quietly shut the door and ran back to my bed. I didn't want to get in trouble more than I probably was in, and I wanted to try to avoid death as much as possible. I heard a knock on my bedroom door with a feminine voice coming from the other side.

"Miss Romario, may I come in?" she asked politely.

"Who are you?" I questioned her. I didn't know who she was, I didn't know if she wanted to hurt me.

"My name is Lauren. I'm the head maid. I have come to speak to you on your older brother Mr. Romario's behalf." The politeness didn't leave her voice. She seemed genuine.

Getting up, I opened the door and motioned for Lauren to come in. She smiled at me and stepped a couple inches into the doorframe.

"Mr. Romario has requested your presence in his office. I was instructed to take you there as you may not know where it is." she stated.

Lauren was probably right. I haven't been here since I was 14 and I'm assuming the rest of the mansion didn't remain exactly the same in the last 3 years. I didn't even know where father's office was when I lived here. I was told not to let such business concern me as I was a child.

Lauren most likely sensed the nerves. She placed her right hand on my shoulder and tried to comfort me.

"Don't worry Miss Romario. Mr. Romario wouldn't hurt you. He and your other brothers are happy to have you back." she said with a sympathetic smile.

Happy to have me back? I know I shouldn't let my guard down, but I have no choice. I'm really hoping that Lauren is telling the truth. That Victor, Landon, and Emory wouldn't try to hurt me. After what I witnessed that night 3 years ago, I'm not so sure.

"Alright. I'm ready to talk to my brother." I stated. I tried to sound convincing towards Lauren, but I think she would've brought me to see him either way. It's her job after all and Victor is her boss. The sound convincing part was more for me. I needed to try and convince myself that I was ready. This was a scary time for me no doubt about that.

Heading outside of the bedroom, we approached another set of stairs heading up to the third floor. I wasn't allowed to go up there as a kid. I was never told why other than that it doesn't concern me.

It all makes sense now. Father's office was on the third floor. That's why I was never allowed up there since their business doesn't concern me.

Climbing the stairs, I noticed an old musty smell as well as family photographs lining the wall. Mostly of Father and the boys, but quite a few of me and mom or me and my brothers. Once we got to the top steps, Lauren lead me to giant dark wood double doors. Next to the doors on the right was a golden name plate that said 'Victor Romario - Don'. It was obvious this was Victor's office. Lauren knocked on the doors and called out to my brother.
"Mr. Romario, I apologize for the disturbance. I have Miss Romario here to see you as you requested sir."

The doors open, and there stood my brother dressed in a black suit, white collared shirt, and a black tie. He stood coldly, but his eyes warmed up as soon as he turned his glance towards me.

"Perfect. Thank you Lauren. You're dismissed." he said sternly. And with that, Lauren took her leave heading down the stairs.

He glanced at me. I broke out into a nervous sweat being face to face with the man I had been running from for the past 3 years.

"Sorella, please come in and have a seat." he instructed.

I took a big gulp. Nervous for the conversation about to happen and it's many possible outcomes.

***