Chapter 3

Muse went to her room without flinching. Either way, there was nothing she could do. Still, that did not prevent her from feeling bad for her uncle. Besides, she didn't intend to say anything. She cared too much about her life for that. Since she came home early, Muse quickly finished her chores and began to do her homework. She was quite aware that she was going to take an important exam this year. Therefore, she had no right for mistakes. Succeeding in baccalaureate will be her ticket to the exit door of this hellish house. Even if it would be by force, Muse intended to get the baccalaureate this year. There wz'as no way she would spend another year here. After all, she's a super smart girl. She just had to find the right formula to be able to organize her time. Since last week, she had been thinking about a better strategy to reconcile her studies and her house chores. Her grades had dropped down a lot this year and she had the intention to come back up. So it was with this in mind that she embarked, after having done her domestic tasks, in setting up an after-school schedule. She spent a long time on it in order to develop a good job. By the time she got finished, it was already getting late. The lights in the house were already off. She must be the only one who is awake by this time, she thought. She put her belongings away and went to the bathroom to brush her teeth.

When she returned, she ran into Pen. He was sitting on her bed. She couldn't believe it. What is this dirty pervert doing in her room? Just seeing him lay his filthy body on her bed revolts Muse right now and gives her some urges to pounce on his neck and strangle him. Nonetheless, Muse knows that she does not have this right. She began to inhale and exhale slowly in order to calm down. And indeed, this exercise managed to restore her quietness. She took a few steps towards her bed and asked Pen the question, looking him straight in the eyes.

"What are you doing in my room at this late hour in the night?"

"Good evening Muse!" Pen just told her with a mean smile. His gaze on her hardly pleases her. He gave her outright with a look. Muse seeing this, began to feel embarrassed. She looked at herself, adjusted her nightgown, wondering if she was naked. She rested her eyes on the dirty pervert, but he was still sitting on the bed with his gaze riveted on her chest.

"Get out of my room, sir, otherwise I warn you, I'll scream very loudly!" She warned him severely. He got up and said to her with a smirk

"Calm down my sweetheart, you are so beautiful and innocent. I don't mean anything wrong with you. On the contrary, I want to protect you and take care of you."

When he finished speaking, he reached out to stroke her cheek.

Muse pulling away from him, summoned in a stern voice

"I require you to free my room immediately or I will have to tell my father everything!"

Muse's gaze was hard. Pen looked at her for a moment and then went out. As soon as he took the door, she hurried after him to go and double-close the door. What a dirty pig! She exclaimed, sagging on her bed. She could hardly find sleep. The scene that had just happened made her blood run cold. What was Pen looking for? She had not appreciated his look on her, but then not at all. She could read for miles that he had unclear intentions behind his head. Muse hoped with all her heart that he won't try to break into her room once more. For the next days, she locked her door and always walked with keys on her. With all her current sorrows, Pen should not add more.

Muse thinks about her mother and siblings all the time. If only she could reach them, talk to them and check in with them ?! Her uncle being there very rarely, she could not phone them. He had told her to use the landline of the house to join them, but her stepmother strictly forbade her to use it. She did not want Muse to come into contact with her family, less she tells them about her abuse. She was afraid of being called a mean. This woman was a real hypocrite. She passed herself off in the eyes of all as a saint and a philanthropist, while she is a wolf disguised as a lamb.

In the evening, when Muse came home from school, her stepmother called her and ordered her to come. Muse obeyed and joined her in the living room. She was walking trembling. Standing in front of her stepmother, Muse was wondering what the hell she had done. She found Pen also sitting next to her stepmother. The latter was watching her with a smirk. Muse glared at him. He was giving her one of those urges to blow his bellows. When she got to their level, her stepmother asked her

"Where are the keys to your room?" Muse was frightened at this question. Why is she asking for her keys? What did this pervert tell her?

"I have them with me." She stammered her riveted on Pen"

"Give them to me!" The wicked woman Ordered stretching her hand towards Muse. Muse looked at Pen who taunted her with his cunning smile. She immediately understood that he had something to do with her stepmother claiming. What did he tell her? Muse took a pleading look at her stepmom and asserted

"Please mom, can I keep these keys?"

"Why then? What are you trying to hide in your room? I'm sure you started stealing our things from this house and that's why you keep your bedroom door constantly closed." She replied in a rude tone.

"Sorry?" Muse has felt so offended when she heard the accusations from her stepmother, which she found very insulting.

"You heard what I just said stupid girl. Pen was right. He lost effects successively. If you are so keen on keeping the keys with you, it's because you're afraid he'll find them in your room." The stepmother said again.

Muse immediately understood that it was Pen who was behind it all. He did not want Muse to keep her door closed. But why is that?

"I'm not a thief mom. If I keep closing the door to my room, it's because I'm afraid that Pen will break in at night like he did the last time." Muse retorted glancing at Pen.

"You're surely making ideas for nothing Muse. I walked into your room that night because I couldn't find my wallet anywhere. Having looked for it without success, I therefore went to your room to look there. Unfortunately, you rebuffed me like a mess. What did you think I was seeking?" Pen lied.

"But it is not true what you are saying!" Muse exclaimed at his lie.

Without expecting it, her stepmother gave her a resounding slap. Muse put her hand on her cheek, she felt so much pain. Just tears that began to bead her cheeks without her managing to hold them back.

"Let me be clear with you, you are no one in this house. You're just an orphan who got out of a rat hole thanks to my husband. This is my house here and you have no right to slander my guest. And may this be the last time I find your bedroom door open! In this case, you will go to sleep outside in the open air and in the cold."

Tears only streamed down Muse's cheeks, as Pen taunted her as he relished his victory. Yes, he had succeeded in his project. From now on, Muse would be offered to him on a silver platter. The reaction of her stepmother clearly showed which of the two she was ready to believe. Muse's word was not better than that of a dog in front of her. Muse wept for this injustice. Why does life play so many tricks on her? Poor of her! Who will deliver her from such a vulture, a predator who had no mercy for its prey? Muse finally handed the keys to her mother-in-law, her eyes clouded with tears. She climbed the stairs to get to her room with difficulty.