Regret was a small word to express what I felt at that time. My nails dug into my thighs as I knelt before him, cursing myself over and over for raising my voice at him. I didn't want to put my sister's life on the line because of my stupidity.
"I made a mistake. Please consider this as the first violation and forgive me." My tears streamed down while my voice quivered. "Punish me, but don't stop my sister's treatment."
He crouched down to match my level and stroked my cheek, saying, "I am not stopping your sister's treatment. I am only stopping for payment."
"Please…"
He looked at my crying face for a minute and stood straight, dragging me along with him. He took me to the bedroom and pushed me inside, saying, "Stay in this fucking room for a week."
"What?"
My eyes widened in shock.
"I am locking you up. Stay here not knowing any updates on your sister." A smirk appeared on his lips as he said, "Let's see if your lovely sister can survive without a week's treatment."
"No…" I shouted. I ran towards the door, but before I reached it, Mr. Wolfe locked it up from the outside.
"Open the door. Please." I banged on the door, frightened. "Please, Mr. Wolfe… please…"
I screamed my lungs out but didn't get any response from him. It seemed he walked away, which only scared me more.
The first thing that entered my head was to call him, but my phone was in the main hall, broken. I clutched my chest as my anxiety started to take a toll on me.
I continued banging on the door despite knowing there was no one to listen to my cries. I sat on the floor, bringing my knees close to my chest. If something were to happen to Mira because of my mistake, I wouldn't forgive myself.
The night passed, and I barely took a nap. The next day, I heard the door opening from outside, and I quickly stood straight, hoping his anger had calmed down and he had come to release me.
My hope vanished when I saw one of the guards enter with a food tray. He left it on the table, and when I stepped forward, he immediately locked the door again.
"Hey!" I shouted, banging on the door. "Open the door."
"We have strict orders to not open it."
"No… please…"
He walked away. The little hope that I had was completely gone, and my tears formed in my eyes again.
I paced back and forth wondering how my sister was doing. Even though she was doing fine based on my last day's visit, I couldn't keep my calm. Just one moment and one late payment were enough to put her life in danger.
Looking around, I tried to think about the ways to escape or at least make contact with Mr. Wolfe and beg him till he got the satisfaction he needed.
With each hour that passed, my fear and anxiety multiplied. I didn't take any bites of the food. It was left as it is.
Again, atnoon, lunch was served. I asked the guard in the utmost polite tone, "Please let me talk to Mr. Wolfe."
"We should not give you a phone." His cold reply pressed my nerve that was on the edge.
"I want to know about my sister's condition." I glared at him. "I am only asking for a phone call."
He stared at me silently. I took a deep breath and pleaded, "Please."
A smile of gratitude appeared on my lips as he nodded his head. He called Mr. Wolfe and spoke, "Sir, she wants to talk to you…"
It was the only sentence I heard him speak. The call was ended, which left me confused.
He replied, "I am sorry."
He walked away and locked the door again which made me realize Mr. Wolfe didn't even want to talk to me.
I fell to the floor, fisting my palm. It was not simply sadness that consumed me, but also rage and hatred because of my uselessness. Hot tears spilled over the floor as I began sobbing. I kept telling myself Mira would be fine and nothing would happen, but I knew and had seen worse. There were times when the hospital requested extra money and sudden treatment to get her immune system in check.
While a million thoughts entered my head, my helplessness cursed my fate for pushing me into such a situation. Having no choice, I only waited for Mr. Wolfe's arrival.
A day passed, but there was no hint of him. My stomach growled in hunger, but I didn't even feel like touching the food. Eventually, I stopped feeling hungry as my body incorporated the starvation.
"Ms. Yung! Hunger strike won't work on Mr. Wolfe." The guard said while replacing the old meals with freshly cooked meat. "If he decides on something, he'd do that. Nothing can move his heart."
There was a kind of pity in his eyes as he added, "He wouldn't even mind if it kills the other person. Please have some food."
My silence only frustrated him. He then left, disappointed.
He was right. Who was I, and what was I to the monster to even care if I ate or not? Like a superior to all of us, he gave me a punishment, and he would go to any lengths to see me suffer.
Two days had passed, and I was losing it. My eyelids drooped as I lost all my strength. I knew nothing would change because of my stubbornness, but my insanity didn't let me think anything in peace.
When the darkness surrounded me, leaving no space in my head to have any thoughts, Mira's face flashed in my head. I had been her support pillar all her life, and I didn't want to imagine the struggle she'd go through without me. I didn't want to die, not like that.
The moon rays illuminated the room and gave me a chance to spot where the food was at. In the darkness of the room, only the moonrays were the source of light.
Before I even stood straight, the door was opened. Mr. Wolfe entered with a fresh food tray while the guards took the old ones and left.
Hunger strike won't work on Mr. Wolfe.
Was I dreaming?