"Yes Dad, I'm Isabella Aderogba," I beamed with pride and turned towards an astonished Ruby, "will you assist in taking my Dad to the school's nurse? He seems pretty hurt."

I wasn't sure what made Ruby look even more shocked; that I requested her help or that I called the man my dad.

"Uh–uhm, sure I'll h–help. I just need to make a –uh– phone call," she stuttered nervously and brought out her phone to probably dial Liam's number. I envisaged the move, so it was easy to snatch away the device the moment I found the opportunity to.

"Hey!" She yelled while I busied myself with disconnecting the call that had already gone through.

"There'll be no calls necessary. Help assist my dad to the clinic and you get your phone back."

"And who exactly are you to order me around?" She yelled furiously. Seeming to have gotten over her initial surprise.

Why not give her another one then?

I walked closer to her and whispered so my dad wouldn't be able to listen in to what I was about to say, "I'm the one that knows how many rendezvous you've had with married men, with the inclusion of Liam and I have solid evidence to prove it. So if I were you I'll do exactly as told with no questions asked." The look on her face, by the time I was done, was worth it.

I smirked lightly. Bullying was very easy when people possessed dirty secrets they were try hard to keep.

"Er… what is happening?" I turned sharply to meet my dad's uncertain gaze settled on me.

"Dad, meet Agent Ruby. She's…" I paused when, I noticed Ruby visibly tense, to think for a while.

If I told dad that Liam had investigated him, I would have to tell him how I found out. I would then have to explain how I got to be in Ruby's room in the first place. I might as well just tell him how a psychopath had taken interest in me and was murdering the female population of my highschool due to that interest and I was helping with the investigation to uncover the vile creature behind the acts.

He'd been through enough already, I didn't want to burden him with even more …unpleasant information.

"She's a friend of the hag– our principal." Ruby nodded vigorously in agreement. "Come on dad, let's get to to meet the nurse," I said as I pocketed Ruby's phone and moved closer to him, trying as much as possible to avoid the sight of his bloody wound.

With the assistance of Ruby, I was able to get my dad back to the premises we'd just fled and got the nurse tend to his wounds. While the nurse was busy with him, I hurried to my dorm room to freshen up and change my clothes. 

Due to the fact that I had the entire room to myself, I took my time to dress in front of my sister's vanity mirror. I realised that I'd sustained a few more scars and other minor injuries from the revenge fiasco that seemed like it'd happened centuries ago when in reality, it was only two nights ago.

Today's date informed me that I was knocked out cold for more than twenty four hours, the second time since the second body was discovered.

As I stared at the reflection of who I'd become in the two weeks since
resumption had officially begun, I wondered if it would ever stop. The guilt, the pain, the nightmares and the hurt I was feeling. I wondered when all would stop.

More than my emotions, I wondered if the killings would stop now that they had the culprits in custody. I didn't even know if the guys they had were really the killers. There was still a fat chance that the killer could be playing a trick to keep me right where he wanted me to be. Maybe he wanted me to believe that everyone was safe before striking again.

The thought of having another death on my conscience sent me reeling in all sorts of emotions. I grasped the edge of the table like it would help the imminent nervous breakdown I was about to have.

Focus on your Dad, my subconscious chimed. Focus on the now. You have something to keep to occupied now so focus on that thing. Person.

I took in deep breaths and gave my reflection a shaky smile.

I could do it. I could focus on the now.

With that thought in mind, I quickly fished out a faded pair of blue jeans and pulled on my black piece of school's hoodie over a random tank top. I grabbed Ruby's phone, the debit card that had all the proceeds of my vlog and walked out of the room.

The initial ruckus that my dad's appearance and my reaction caused had been doused by principal hag, so the return journey to the clinic was just as uneventful as the initial journey to the dorm. I hastened my steps when the time, from Ruby's phone, told me it was three minutes past one. Classes would be ending in less than fifteen minutes.

Mrs. Lawrence and Ruby were in the room when I made it back and from their tense expressions and abrupt silence when I opened the door, I could probably tell what was going on. 

"Is anything the matter Mrs. Lawrence? Agent Ruby?" I asked suspiciously as I slowly advanced Into the room like I was treading on eggshells.

"Your father is beginning to overstay his welcome Isabella. He's beginning to think he's royalty just because we've allowed him our hospitality." The hag spouted with so much venom that I was almost taken aback.

"No one will talk about my father in that way," I warned, "at least not in my presence."

"Then tell him that he can't see Ideraoluwa. Ella, we both know that can't happen." It took my all not to show my astonishment although I wasn't sure why I felt surprised.

Of course he would want to see his other daughter after being away for so long, right? 

I paused for a while before replying, "and why can't that happen? Because you think Dera will somehow listen to his side of his story and believe him? No worries ma'am. We both know that's not going to happen." I turned around to face my dad just as the bell rang to signal the end of the day's class, "I'll find my twin sister and bring her to you if that's what you want."

Before he could reply, Ruby piped up, "I think enough ruction has happened today. The drama Ella has been causing of late is becoming too muc—"

"Nobody asked you Miss. I know all. This is my business so stay the hell outta it," I snapped in defiance and, once again, turned to my dad who was now on his feet. "I'll get Dera for you in no time." I offered once again, but he shook his head with a small smile.

"Maybe some other time Dada, I really have to leave for now." I was ashamed of the small feeling of relief that engulfed my heart.

I nodded and helped him steady him out of the room. Outside the building was a disarray of many students scampering to either their parent's car or the dorms. I made sure to walk a several metres away from the crowd before asking the million dollar question;

"Do you have a place to go?" He eyed me skeptically before shrugging.

"I'll figure something out." He mumbled, burying his hand into the mass of hair that was his beard. I shook my head and pulled out the debit card.

"Here's my card. The pin is my birth date and month. It has enough to set up a comfy place for a while." I passed the card to him but he made no move to accept it. When I looked up to meet his gaze, I noticed that amused, 'my kid is trying to help even though she clearly can't' look again.

I felt offended.

"I appreciate your gesture Dada, but it'll take more than a few thousands of the pocket money that Tilda gives you to fix up a place for me to stay. Thank you though." Even though I was sure he didn't mean to, but the way he said it made me a little bit annoyed.

"I get your point but this money is what I worked for dad. My blood and sweat," I defended weakly, "and over seven million or so can set up a place far away from here."

He looked thoroughly shocked and concerned when he replied in a whisper, "I don't understand how you can make that much money as a secondary school student. You're not into something illegal, are?" I wrinkled my nose and shook my head.

"I've been vlogging for a few years now and I haven't touched the money I've made from it asides for charity or other legal, online businesses. I was initially saving it up for the future but what future is there if my father is homeless?" And easy prey for a psycho murderer. I wanted to add, but decided against it.

"I'm really proud of you Dada, but you shouldn't throw away your money on someone like me. I mean I appreciate your kindness, but I want to struggle and find my feet on my own. Dumping seven million on me when I just got out of jail will not help me in anyway. I might end up not even learning my lesson," he explained in a voice thick with emotion. I opened my mouth to disagree with his opinion, but another voice beat me to it.

"So the sick rumours are true. Ella's father is really back from prison to beg from his very own daughter. Amazing." The voice sounded from behind me, but I didn't need to turn to tell who it was. I knew the owner of the voice like the back of my palm.

"Dera,"

"Tilda," Dad and I called simultaneously.

I whirled around when I heard my mother's name, thinking she was close by. It turned out it was just Dera and a handful of other people that she wanted to look cool in front of. When I turned back to my father, his was eyes still bulged out in shock.

It was easy to add one and two together to deduce that Dera looked like the Matilda he knew from his college days.

Oh dear.

"Ella, as the female senior prefect of this school, I'll tell you only once and won't repeat it again. Take the peice of crap you call a father off this property this minute. I don't care where you prefer to play out your melodrama, just not on this property." 

I hadn't ever witnessed Dera use her sweet words to deliver that much poison, she always used sweet voice for sweet words and enraged voices to deliver bitter words. This time, it was a case of both, her smile was plastered on in that indulgent way, but I could tell that she was trying too hard to hold it on. If I hadn't been paying attention, I wouldn't have detected that she was shocked and angry at the same time.

"I'm your daddy too Ideraoluwa me, I swear it. I'm your dadd–"

"Keep a lid on it mister. I only have one father and his name is Liam Adeoti. The sooner you fuckers understand that, the better for you. My mother will be hearing of this stunt so she can get a restraining order from the court if you fail to keep your poverty infested self away from me."

Even after she whirled around and left, everyone around was still stunned to silence. My dad, who had stretched forth his hands halfway, still held the position in his state of total shock.

"What the fuck are you looking at?" I growled when I recovered from the fact that my twinnie had said something uncool in the presence of an audience. "Get the fuck away from here. Nothing to look at!"

Even after the crowd dispersed, dad was still in shock. I was beginning to get worried.

"Dad?" I called and touched his arm slightly to snap him out of his daze. When finally blinked in response and brought down his hands, I sighed in relief, "I'm sorry dad." I offered, though I wasn't sure what I was sorry for.

The fact that I initially didn't want him to see Dera or the fact that she just denied her relationship to him. In public.

"It's fine Dada, I have to go now. I'll contact you as soon as possible. You shouldn't fight your sister about this. Her anger is justified. Don't stop being you angel. The sky is just your start point." He plucked the card from my hand and slid it into the pocket of my hoodie before engulfing me in a hug.

Despite the circumstances, I found the display of affection very comforting and at the same time, heartbreaking.

"Will I see you soon?" I questioned in a very small voice I didn't know I possessed.

"If fate wills it Dada. If fate wills it."

I watched how he helplessly stumbled the rest of the way to the gate and disappeared from my sight, crestfallen that he didn't even spare me a glance one last time.

♣

Locating the shithead that claimed to be my twin wasn't hard. The fucker was conducting a bloody meeting with the seventeen other prefects in the library with a satisfied look plastered on. I didn't know why I was so angry, neither was I sure as to the reason why I barged into her meeting and demanded that we talked but I didn't I gave a rat's ass either.

"Ella have some manners," she chided in her sickening pleasant voice, "I'm in the middle of a very important meeting." Her nonchalance only fueled the anger more, that I found myself upturning a reading table full of books. Gasps filled the air.

"Do I fucking look like I give a bloody damn about what the hell you're doing or not?! We have to talk and we'll do it now!" I yelled at her face and a dark shadow crossed her face.

"We are not talking now Ella, get out."

"As hell we aren't talking now! Fucking coward!" Her expression darkened even more, I snatched the sheet of shit she was holding and shredded it to prices in no time. By her flaring nose, I could tell that she was livid but I was already past caring at that point.

"Bode. Nicholas. Throw this hussy out!" She barked her orders and the said prefects stood up and advanced towards us. The look I stoned them made them falter.

"If anyone of you dares to touch me…!" I left the sentence hanging and as a result, they fled back to their seats with their tail between their legs. When I turned back to my sister, she was as pale as a ghost.

"There would be no talk between us Ella, no matter what you do." She snarled and I immediately shoved her backwards. The cunt lost her balance but Dave was close by to catch her.

"Where the fuck is your manners bitch. What is wrong with you?" Some fan girl of hers piped up and moved between us.

"Get out the way dear, before I bash your face in!" I warned fiercely.

"Yes Shade, get out of the way. I'll like to see the lessons she learned from her ex convict father."

Somehow, those words coming from my twin sister made something in me snap. It was the thin thread that was holding on to what was left of my sanity and when I heard those words from Dera, shit hit the fan.

"So that's why you won't acknowledge him as your father eh? That's why you claim some fucked up pedophile as your father? Because our real father is not fit to be called your own?"

"Ella I am warning you_"

"Shut the fuck up sis. Shut the effing fuck up! Did you know how embarrassed the man was?! His first few moments out of jail and he sought his children out only for one of them to deny any relationship with him because he's not rich. You disgust me Dera."

I heard something snap in her as well.

"Oh all hail the mothers of all good and bad. Everyone here knows how desperate you are for attention and the only reason you're yelling your lungs off is because that peice of shit is the only person that'll ever want the scum, drug addict that you are."

I didn't miss a beat before replying.

"My my. That's rich coming from you dear Dera, Princess of the most wanted people in the universe. So wanted that she shares her mother's matrimonial bed. So wanted that her very own father wanted her enough to fuck her three times a day like a fucking meal. So much so that she has removed thirteen of his younglings from her wretched womb, so much so—"

A sharp sting silenced me. The surprise blow was so hard that I had to stagger to find my balance. When I raised my face, I saw shame, loathe and bitterness in the glossy eyes of my twin sister.

"The fact that you slapped me won't erase the truth, the fact that your mother dresses up like a saint won't erase the truth that our father was busy serving a jail term for a crime he didn't commit thanks to her and the fact that nobody believed me when I sliced Liam open will never erase the truth that unlike you, I wasn't a coward, I was brave enough to fight back. I was brave enough to fight for us."

I turned around and rushed out of the room that was now full of people, ignoring the shameful wails of my twin sister. I ignored the baleful look in so many eyes, I ignored the astounded expression on on Mrs. Lawrence face, I ignored the fact that my face was wet with tears.

And most importantly, I ignored the fact that I'd aired my family's entire dirty laundry for all and sundry to laugh at.

Oh my my 😮. Like what on effing earth just went down between the Adeoti ...uhm... Aderogba twins?

I really don't agree with Ella's action this time and I'm trying my possible best to not judge her right now 😑

What do you think of Ella's action? And jeez! Thirteen abortions?! I really don't know what to think right now... I can't even construct a legible author's note RN 😩

Anyways, this chapter is for Mr_Me-sterious, a popular wattpad sensation that has decided  to give my humble work a space in his library. I feel immensely honoured RN😄

Regardless of the fact that I reply late, I love reading your comments, it gives me joy and drives me to begin writing a new chapter. So please to not hesitate to shower me with your comments, votes and even feedback.

Till we meet again cupcakes❤❤

I love you still,
✌illusionistic.