Inside His Womb

By MLA

Follow the harrowing journey of Anaya, a shy young girl from a middle-class family who believed she was destined to live an ordinary life. It turns out her mother had other plans. On the brink of financial ruin, Anaya's mother sold her to a terrifying cult leader, Duke, in exchange for lifelong wealth, luxury, and youth.

Imprisoned by Duke from age eighteen, Anaya quickly learns the strange truth about her origins. A reality that reveals precisely how far one is willing to go for the promise of life among the elite.

Join Anaya's mind-bending quest to expose Duke as she escapes from his clutches into a world where reality is tainted by illusion. Who can she trust?

• Language: English
• Publisher: MLA
• Release date: Apr 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224697496

MLA

Maya Anderson, a traveling nurse, harbors a lifelong passion for crafting short stories and poetry. Hailing from a small town in rural Pennsylvania, she spent her childhood years immersed in the literary worlds of authors such as Sidney Sheldon, Mary Higgins Clark, and Stephen King. Her recent years traveling abroad have been transformative, highlighting her dissatisfaction with not pursuing her desire to become a writer. Driven by a renewed commitment to her first love, Maya is taking a bold step forward by publishing her first novel and introducing readers to her distinctive narrative voice.  

Book preview

Prologue

How far are you willing to go? Vanity. Wealth. Power. Immortality. All are at your fingertips, yet they seem so unattainable. This question, bathed in the allure of decadence and infinite possibilities, lingers like a shadow, ever-present yet intangible. When given the opportunity to access the life of the elite, eternal beauty, and limitless wealth, the question becomes: How far are you willing to go?

Are you comfortable with being uncomfortable? Does your life straddle the line between reality and delusion? If the former is correct, this is undoubtedly the book for you. You are simply an anomaly, an exception, a divergent, and I’m glad you’re here. However, if the latter is correct, proceed with caution.

So, if you’re interested in following the misfortunes and triumphs of a young girl who attempts to escape her rather strange reality or delusion, you’ve come to the right place. Welcome to a narrative where boundaries blur and the extraordinary meets the mundane. Welcome to a world where reality and illusion are two sides of the same coin. Some will call this story bizarre, while others will dissect it for hints of truth. I invite you to decide. After all, life has a way of being truly unbelievable.

Chapter 1

1960

And so begins the story of Anaya, whose life started quite normal. She belonged to an average, middle-class, suburban family in Sleepy Hollow, New York. Drake, her father, was a well-known motivational speaker in her family’s community. While not her biological father, he had cared for her since she was a mere toddler, making him the only father she’d ever known. He was so charismatic that people fell in love from the moment he opened his mouth. His sense of humor could make even the coldest person burst into tears of laughter. Hailing from the gritty slums of Harlem, his childhood was littered with poverty and violence. However, it was his past that catapulted him into success. After winning several scholarships to attend college, he became living proof that persistence was the key to escaping the ‘hood, sharing his journey across disadvantaged communities in NY. In Sleepy Hollow, he was known as the miracle and used his story to motivate others. His narrative proved that someone could find light even in the darkest corners of adversity. Although his speeches were limited to churches and schools, he was revered wherever he went. He was Anaya’s everything, her celebrity.

Anaya sat on the couch and watched as he prepared dinner. He was tall and robust with smooth, flawless black skin. His darkness created a stark contrast to his perfectly white teeth. When he smiled, one couldn't help but smile back. A stranger would regard him as intimidating, but a simple conversation with him would change that perception. Drake often reflected on his brief career as a chef and how he owned several restaurants in the heart of NYC. Unfortunately, he had given up his passion for pursuing a career in public speaking full-time. Friends would often beg him to reconsider a career in culinary arts. Anaya would often ask him, herself. After all, the man could cook.

I'm gonna open another restaurant one day, Anaya; you'll see. She just smiled and nodded, fantasizing about what life would be like after he became a chef. The smell of his famous butter-fried chicken began to permeate the house.

Are you making that chicken again? The air vibrated with Sierra’s voice as she seemingly cascaded down the stairs.

You know what’s up! The enthusiasm in Drake’s voice was palpable as Sierra entered the kitchen.

Sierra was a vision. The world seemed to stop and stare when she stepped outside, regardless of her attire. She had a radiant, milky-chocolate complexion and glossy black tresses flowing down her back. However, her large, dark brown eyes held a magnetic allure. One look from her and she would expose your soul, leaving you transparent and vulnerable. Interestingly, Sierra seemed oblivious to the lingering stares, but Anaya was acutely aware. She often debated whether to confront the onlookers or adopt her mother’s unaffected demeanor. The world echoed with whispers claiming that Anaya was Sierra’s mirror image, a proclamation that Anaya found far-fetched. Sierra was singular. Unparalleled.

Sierra’s origins were cloaked in mystery, woven from untold stories she would never speak of with anyone, her husband included. Hushed whispers fluttered around the family whenever she was around, yet no one dared to voice them in her or Drake’s presence. Anaya harbored a burning curiosity about her mother’s past, especially regarding the mystery surrounding her biological father. Still, Sierra’s history was a locked chest, and the keys remained elusive, no matter how fervently Anaya searched. Anaya vowed to unravel her mother’s past one day, regardless of how long it took.

Anaya was grateful that her parents had each other. Drake appeared to be Sierra's only steadfast anchor of joy. Sierra didn’t emanate the effortless charisma that Drake owned. Instead, she was a solitary island without friends or invitations. Yet, astonishingly, in the wake of Drake’s public events at their local church, she would transform into a social siren, drawing young couples into her radiant aura.

At church, she would elevate Anaya onto a pedestal for the members to admire, embellishing her beauty and pristine academic record. With Anaya having such a fair complexion compared to the rest of her siblings, the rumor was that Sierra cheated on Drake and passed her off as his daughter. However, Sierra avoided discussing Anaya’s origins, leaving people to wonder. Anaya was unmistakably the jewel in her mother’s eyes, although the reason for this favoritism remained elusive. She often felt like a prized artifact on display for auction under her mother’s praising gaze, a sensation both unsettling and familiar. But beyond the social aspects of Drake’s engagements, Sierra found her sanctuary at home. There, she was a different entity.

Anaya observed as Sierra entwined her arms around Drake and whispered sweet secrets into his ear, their shared laughter intertwining with the music of sizzling oil in the background. They painted a picture of idyllic love to the world beyond their walls. The outside world saw a harmonious union, two souls dancing through life’s symphony unscathed.

Hey, Mom, are you going to make dessert? The youngest sibling, Miles’s sing-song voice, echoed down the hallway.

Maybe I will, she replied, winking at him.

Anaya was the eldest of four siblings, including Chloe, Darrell, and Miles. Her light caramel hue and hazel eyes bore a distinct separation from the much darker complexion of her siblings. They would often joke around that the doctor bleached her when she was a baby. She would endlessly argue and fight with them, begging her mother to tell them they were wrong. But eventually, she came to accept that she was different. Despite her contrast, Drake enveloped her in his acceptance, giving her his last name. Even so, Drake’s affection seemed to blossom more for her siblings, who were all his biological children. Anaya wasn’t envious. She figured that it was to balance the excessive attention that she received from Sierra. Often, her mind would wander, conjuring visions of the day her biological father would appear, rescuing her from the subtle discrimination.

Only a year younger than Anaya, Chloe mirrored everything that Anaya wasn’t. Her vibrant, welcoming spirit sometimes overshadowed Anaya’s reserved demeanor. People gravitated towards her at social events, whereas Anaya preferred to sit back and observe. Anaya wished that she could be like Chloe sometimes. Their relationship was labile and ever-changing. Chloe believed their mother loved Anaya more than her, which was the source of frequent conflict between them. She was frequently in trouble or on punishment for something, whereas Anaya wasn't. Chloe was outspoken to the point of angering their parents regularly.

On the contrary, Anaya was passive and unopinionated. Some nights, they would stay up screaming at each other, and others would laugh until they cried. A day with them was unpredictable. Their two younger brothers were inseparable, and Anaya envied their relationship.

She spent most of her days alone reading books, though she longed to be charismatic like Drake, constantly surrounded by people. Yet, a force within her kept her alienated from her peers. Often overhearing people saying she seemed intense or off, she found solace in her imaginary friends' unseen companionship. Anaya’s biggest fear was that she would end up alone like her mother, yet the creeping realization that she was already walking in her shadow became more apparent each day. Sierra wasn’t a difficult person, just highly misunderstood.

Sierra confided in Anaya from a young age about things an average child wouldn’t comprehend. In the quiet mornings after Drake left for work, Sierra would beckon Anaya into her room, sharing with her the essence of womanhood and their sacred duty to usher life into the world. Anaya was the silent bearer of thoughts too heavy for young shoulders.

Children are a blessing. Women should be honored to have such an essential purpose in this life.

Sierra would drill this idealogy in Anaya’s head regularly while demanding she keep their conversation private. While her siblings had an outside life in public school, making friends and playing sports, Anaya received her education at home due to her health issues. From chest pain to migraines, Anaya frequently suffered from some ailment. Sheltered from the outside world, she could only leave the house under Sierra’s unwavering watch. Her days consisted of strange cognitive function tests that would leave her exhausted. However, by age 12, Anaya was an expert in almost every subject matter without having ever attended public school. Her ability to retain information was so profound that traditional education wasn’t a necessity. Yet, she would wake up every morning unable to figure out how to regain her mental capacity.

Why can’t I go to school like everyone else? Anaya would regularly nag Sierra, wondering what made her any better than the rest of her siblings.

You’re too smart for those people. You have a greater purpose in this life.

Despite how often Anaya would beg for a chance to attend school, Sierra wouldn't change her answer. Drake was of no help, telling her to listen to her mother. Maybe I am special. Some days, she could converse with an adult about life experiences that she didn't even understand, while on others, she was so mentally exhausted that forming a coherent thought seemed impossible. And so, she would read, escaping from monotony through fantasy, mysteries, and romance novels—anything to ease her mind.

Dinner's ready!

Everyone scrambled into the kitchen, eagerly anticipating Drake’s butter-fried chicken. Sierra had set the table for all six of them. They only ate at the dinner table when there needed to be a family discussion. On any other day, Sierra and Drake ate in the living room while watching television. Something strange was going on.

Anaya watched as Sierra made everyone’s plate. She always started with Drake and then served herself last. Finally, she sat down.

We have some news for everyone. Sierra paused and looked at each of them for a moment.

Chloe and Anaya glanced at each other, confused.

We’re moving out to the countryside! We are selling the house and moving to a farm in Ohio!

Silence filled the dining room.

Isn’t that exciting?!

Sierra beamed with sheer joy. Anaya convinced herself that she was joking, but the silence from Drake said otherwise. She looked at everyone else at the table, but they hesitated to speak up.

Why are we moving to a farm?! Chloe exclaimed, her voice piercing through the silence.

After much thought and consideration, your father and I believe this is what God wants us to do.

What! Chloe yelled.

It seemed entirely out of the blue. No one had ever heard Sierra or Drake mention anything about moving, and suddenly, they were leaving their lives behind to start over in the middle of nowhere.

Will we have animals?! cried Miles in excitement. At only four years old, he didn’t realize how significant this change would be.

Of course! We’ll have a whole farm to ourselves and live off the land. We’ll even have a garden!

Anaya looked at Drake, who continued to eat his food in silence. Why won’t he say anything? Anaya felt Sierra staring at her, but she ignored her, not knowing how to respond.

This change will be good for us! Drake replied after what seemed like an eternity. His optimistic tone sounded forced as he continued. "Don’t worry, it won’t be as bad as you think. He looked over at Anaya and winked, trying to cheer her up. She gave him a blank stare as he finished up his meal.

Not only was Anaya worried, but she was confused by the sudden move. Questions stormed through her head as she shoved the rest of her meal down her throat. What would life be like on a farm? Would there be other people? Would she finally be able to go to school and make friends?

Anaya, what are you thinking? Sierra asked, masking her worried look with a smile.

I guess I’ll give it a shot, Anaya replied flatly.

Great! We leave next week.

Next week?! But what about school? What about all our family and friends?! We’re going to be there all by ourselves! Chloe shouted furiously.

Why are we leaving so soon? Darrell asked quietly.

You guys might like it out there. We haven’t even moved yet. Just give it a chance, Sierra replied with a smile. So how’s the chicken, everyone?

And that was it; the night continued like any other night. Sierra and Drake spent the remainder of the evening in the living room, watching the news, while the rest of them went to bed. Chloe and Anaya, however, stayed up that night speculating.

What if something bad happened, and they're trying to hide it from us? Anaya asked.

Like what? Replied Chloe

Well, Mom’s always talking about money. Maybe we don’t have enough money to live here anymore.

It doesn’t seem that way to me. It’s not like anything’s changed. Maybe they just want to leave.

But why, though? Is life here really that bad?

I don’t know, replied Chloe.

I guess it won’t be the end of the world if we leave. But this is still a little weird, though. Anaya replied, forcing myself to be positive. Maybe I’m overthinking this.

Yeah, it is weird, but it’s not like they’re gonna tell us what’s really going on.

Do you think God told them to move? Anaya was terrified of questioning her parents about God for fear of the consequences.

How would I know? They always talk about stuff like that, replied Chloe.

She was right. Their parents always talked about the mysterious requests that God asked of them. Why would this situation be any different? The rest of that week was a whirlwind. Within the blink of an eye, the house became wrapped in boxes of sealed memories. Sierra cleaned the house from dawn until late into the night daily until it was spotless. She worked with a determination no one had ever seen in her before. No one asked her any more questions about the big move. Drake didn’t mention it, either. Instead, he went about his days as if they weren’t about to be uprooted. His carefree attitude made Anaya wonder how he truly felt about the transition.

And suddenly, the sun dawned on their final day in Sleepy Hollow. Anaya couldn’t believe that their lives had been turned upside down in just one week. The elusive buyer never showed up to view the house in person. Still, the day unfolded in hushed tones while Sierra and Drake waited until dusk to load their flatbed truck. They left just after midnight. Anaya stared out the window of their vehicle, never taking her eyes off the vanishing city lights as they dissolved into the darkness.

Chapter 2

Year: 2018

E li!! Hurry up! You’re going to make us late!

Alright, alright, I’m coming! She’s always trippin'. We aren’t even close to being late."

Eli’s wooden study desk creaked as he leaned over its edge and peered through the window. My God, she’s beautiful. The girl sat before her vanity, releasing her long, thick braids from its clasp. Her doe-eyed face was angelic, radiating innocence. I’m going to marry her one day.

"Eli!!"

The binoculars loudly clattered against the floor as his fantasy abruptly ended.

What the hell are you doing?

I thought I saw something outside.

We’re leaving. Now!

Okay. Sorry, he muttered.

Elaine’s high heels clattered against the marble staircase as she hurried down the steps. They were heading to yet another event for Victor’s law firm. He hadn't lost a single case since he opened his firm in Sleepy Hollow almost a decade ago. His level of success was inconceivable, attracting clients from all over the country. That night, he would receive the prestigious J. Smith Award, the highest honor a lawyer could get. To the public eye, he displayed an intimidating, shrewd demeanor. However, his small circle of friends was privy to his upbeat personality. Elaine doted on him day and night. Whatever he needed, she provided to him at the drop of a dime. She would wake up before him to make breakfast and have dinner ready by the time he got home every night. Her entire life revolved around him. It was common knowledge that she used to be a high-end escort when they met. Regardless, Victor fell deeply in love with her, catapulting her into a lavish lifestyle that she could have only dreamed of. Shortly after their wedding, they gave birth to their handsome son, Eli. Elaine’s life was the classic ‘Pretty Woman’ story. Jealous gossip from other housewives would fill every room that she walked into. Despite the stories, she carried herself with dignity and self-respect. Although Eli never saw his parents do so much as kiss each other in front of me, he knew that they loved each other. His father regularly surprised his mother with gifts and dates, giving her something to look forward to outside his work events.

Damn! This traffic is horrible! The stress in Elaine’s voice was palpable as she tried to navigate the sea of vehicles. We can’t miss this!

We’ll be alright. Eli remained calm as she continued to mutter profanity. Despite them being several hours early and only a few miles away from the event, she still found a reason to be anxious.

Oh my God, Finally! The car screeched to a stop in front of the valet.

Good Evening Mrs. Johnson! You’re quite early. The valet attendant held the door open as she frantically jumped onto the sidewalk.

Eli smirked to himself. She’s always worried about nothing.

Oh, I wouldn’t miss this for the world! Eli, please get out of the car.

That’s a fine young man you’ve got there.

Aww, thank you! He just turned 14 a few days ago, she beamed at Eli as he stood beside her.

Wow! Much taller than your mother already! How tall are you, Eli?

I’m 6 feet tall now. Victor was a whopping 6’9", so he still had a long way to go.

Well, if you don’t want to follow in your Dad’s footsteps, you certainly have a good shot at playing basketball, no pun intended. The valet driver winked at him.

No chance, I’m going to be a lawyer too, Eli replied proudly. His father had made it clear that a stereotypical sports or rap career was not an option.

You most certainly will love. Elaine smiled at him as she started walking towards the venue. You have a nice day, sir.

They entered a luxurious ballroom lined with red roses. Gold-plated tables and chairs framed a crystal podium. The grandiosity of the room was almost sickening. Eli made a beeline to the extensive buffet and loaded his plate with desserts while Elaine sat at their assigned table. I might as well do something while we wait. The ballroom became progressively busy as guests swarmed through its entrance. Here we go. A fake smile plastered across Eli’s face as guests flocked to their table, praising Victor’s accomplishments.

Oh, how proud you must be. Do you plan on going to school, too? Surely, it must be hard to live with someone so successful.

He is truly one of a kind. How do you keep him?

You got lucky with him. What’s it like to be his housewife?

Pride radiated off of Elaine as she endorsed her husband’s success.

Everyone here is so fake, Eli muttered to himself. He knew that if it weren’t for his father, people wouldn’t give a damn about her. Each compliment she received was coupled with a backhanded remark. Despite this, she maintained her guarded yet welcoming demeanor and skillfully dodged each bullet.

Well, that was exhausting, Elaine muttered as she sank into her chair.

Why do we have to talk to these people anyway?

We need to publicly support your father even if it brings on a bunch of haters.

Right. Whatever you say.

You’ll understand one day, Eli.

Loud chatter filled the dining hall as we eagerly waited for the ceremony to begin.

It’s time! Elaine whispered loudly. Beads of sweat glistened across her face as the lights dimmed into a golden hue. An orchestra of ethereal music swelled throughout the building, climaxing as a spotlight shined upon the crystal podium.

Welcome to our second annual awards ceremony! Boy, we've got quite a night ahead of us! A deep voice bellowed ahead of a tall, lean, dark-skinned man. His blue rhinestone-covered suit complemented the lavish podium as he stood in place. Tonight, we honor several of our most successful and renowned attorneys. Each of them has proven to be a major contender in this cutthroat field, and they have also become indispensable members of our team and community. Please, everyone, join me in celebrating our most distinguished attorneys!

Cheerful applause broke out as holographs of each attorney appeared in front of the podium.

"First and foremost, we will present the most anticipated award of this year, the J. Smith Award. No one in Sleepy Hollow, let alone the entire state of New York, has ever received this award. Each of you is about to witness history as someone from this firm will become the first New York attorney ever