Kaia's hot tears streamed down her cheeks, landing softly on her lap as she sat curled into herself, trembling fingers wrapped tightly around her arms. Just moments before, in what felt like a mere heartbeat, yet another soul had slipped away from her grasp.
This time, unpressable grief threatened to drown her; she felt as if she were riding on the brink of despair. It was clear, the weight of loss had become too much to bear.
She decided it was time to seek another night job, a decision spurred by a pressing need to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the hospital.
This whole mess was her father's fault, not like she could do anything to help it. He owed a debt of about fifty million, five hundred dollars and he suddenly had to die, leaving Kaia and Eira, her sister with his second wife Edith and her demonic daughter Ivy when she was only fifteen.
Unaware of the debt awaiting her, she worked at supermarkets to make ends meet, to feed the whole family, until she discovered the debt. She sold off most of her father's properties, under her stepmother's nose and paid off thirty million. She struggled with different jobs, day and night to pay off the rest of the debt and unending bills.
As she left the sterile confines of the building, her heart was heavy, a discernible look etched across her features. The fluorescent lights flickered down the corridors, but they felt cold to her, unlike the warmth of the lives she tried so hard to care for.
Once Kaia finally returned home, she collapsed onto her bed, face down, feeling the familiar comfort of her sheets quickly becoming soaked with her tears. Eira stood hesitantly at the door, crutching her chest.
"Sister Kaia, was it our stepmother again?" Eira ventured cautiously, her voice trembling as she approached the bed, where she found her sister curled in on herself, the anguish evident in every fiber of her being. Kaia shook her head slowly, lifting herself just enough to face Eira.
"Eira, it's... it's the lady I take care of," her voice quavered, heavy with the weight of her grief. "She's gone."
Eira's eyes widened in shock as the reality of her sister's words hit her. "Mrs. Fallon??" She could hardly believe the gravity of the situation, her heart sinking deeper at the thought of the vibrant, kind woman who had meant so much to them.
Suddenly, an ominous voice broke into the heaviness of the moment, echoing through the room with an icy chill. "What's going on here? Where's dinner?" It was Edith, the woman who had taken on the role of stepmother following their father's passing, her tone dismissive, almost harsh.
"I made some chicken noodle soup," Eira countered brightly, desperately hoping to shift the mood, although the cheerfulness would barely scratch the surface of their collective grief.
"I don't want chicken noodle soup," Ivy retorted with disdain, her casual cruelty a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere enveloping Kaia and Eira.
Kaia looked at the mother and daughter and couldn't help but sigh. She basically did everything in the house, house chores, working two shifts just to pay bills, rent and her sister's tuition. She barely managed to save anything. Eira felt sorry for her, but she could barely do anything because Kaia won't let her.
"Ivy, there's nothing else left to eat in the house! I haven't been able to get my hands on any groceries…"
"Save your lies," Edith retorted sharply, her voice cutting through the air like a razor-sharp blade.
With a dismissive wave of her hand, she added, "We're ordering pizza, so get your card ready," as she turned on her heel and strode out of the room, her footsteps echoing with determination.
Kaia bit down on her lip, feeling a whirlpool of emotions churning inside her. So this was it, this was life, wasn't it? She forced a smile, but it was far from genuine. It was a twisted mask of bitterness and despair, reflecting the turmoil brewing within. Just then, Eira gently tapped her shoulder, a gesture of comfort in the midst of chaos.
"I have some money, Sister Kaia. I'll pay for their order," she insisted, sincerity shining in her eyes. Kaia managed a half-hearted smile, quickly turning away
*****************
In the early hours of the morning, the dew clung to the blades of grass, glistening like tiny diamonds in the warm sunlight. Kaia had risen long before dawn, setting out for work with a sense of urgency.
Clutched in her hands was a poorly wrapped box, its corners crumpled and barely held together. She walked briskly, her eyes fixed ahead, refusing to glance back at the world she was leaving behind.
Before long, she arrived at the grim, abandoned building that sent chills down her spine every time she approached it. The walls were weathered and crumbling, with shadows lurking in every corner. Her heart raced as she climbed the creaky flights of stairs, each step echoing her apprehension until she reached the designated room.
"I'm here for the boss," she declared with a firm conviction in her voice, refusing to let her fear show. The guards at the door shifted aside, allowing her passage. Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside the dimly lit room.
"Boss!" she hollered, her voice cutting through the thick silence like a knife. The figure seated with his back to her slowly turned to face her, and she could see his imposing stature as he rose from his chair. He strode toward her with heavy, deliberate steps, the authority in his demeanor palpable.
"Full pay?" he inquired, his voice low and rough, carrying the weight of a thousand transactions and expectations. Kaia nodded
"Excellent," he grinned. "Hope to see you again Miss Lorcan" his smile reached his ears,
Kaia smirked, she wasn't going to set foot here ever again. She twirled on her heels and walked out the door, setting off for work.
Kaia was exhausted from the two shifts she worked for the day. She strolled slowly, enjoying the night's breeze while it lasted. Suddenly an email popped up on her phone, from an unknown number. She opened the message and froze in her tracks.
' I need you to come to me tomorrow, you owe me, and I want my money back'
Kaia stared at the screen for what seemed like eternity before breaking into a cold sweat.
She looked over her shoulders as her steps increased.
Message after message popped up, she didn't want to get herself involved in another debt saga when she hadn't even cleared up the ones awaiting her, ignoring the message, she pocketed her phone.
Kaia's eyes flung open as the sun rays shone on her pale skin. Eira wasn't on the bed, she must've woken up she thought as she grabbed her phone, 78 missed calls and 43 emails, she lifted the corner of her mouth.
"This loaner must've gotten really broke" she rolled her eyes standing up
"Sister Kaia" Eira called out while strolling into the room "Your phone didn't stop ringing all night." She continued, settling on the bed
"It's just some random scammer" she lied, Eira nodded
"I've done the house chores and made breakfast, you don't have to worry, you're late for work, just get ready" Eira assured
Kaia smiled and pinched her sister's cheeks "What ever will I do without you"
"Don't get soft on me, go on you're late" she urged.
Kaia read the emails as she strided to the bus stop. She smirked at the threats, really desperate, but a particular message seemed to soothe her, the sender promised to pay off all her debts. She reluctantly asked for the address, scheduling her visit for after work.
After work, Kaia set off to the club mentioned in the email. She stood at the entrance, in confusion, contemplating on whether to move forward or go back. This one risk could either destroy her or save her.
"Follow me" a voice came from behind her, she looked behind her, a hefty man in a whole black fit stood with his arms crossed. He led her to a secluded room, at the far end of the club where only faint music could be heard.
"Miss Lorcan" a husky baritone came from the shadows. She shuddered, taking a step back
"Who are you" her sharp voice cut into the silence
"Zayne Blackwood" his voice seemed to vibrate the room
"I don't know you" she muttered
"You don't have to princess, Like I said, you owe me" he declared with an aura of arrogance
"How much is the debt, we can split the interest in a half and half payment" she speculated, Zayne chuckled, he knew she had been doing this for years.
"Forget about the money, you saw my proposal, I don't need your money" he shrugged, Kaia looked up, like she wanted to spot him in the dark and see if he was saying it with a straight face.
"Then what do you want??"
"Marry me princess" the voice carried s hint of mischief this time.
Kaia's vein pulsed in her neck as beads of sweat formed on her face "What??" She bawled
"I promised to pay off your debt did I not?, you definitely don't want to refuse this offer" he droned, leaving his sitting position, taking heavy steps towards her.
"Look, Zanne, whatever you're called, this is fucked up….if you have nothing reasonable to say, good night" she countered, moving back. The masked man didn't stop walking until he got to Kaia.
"Trying to be smart princess??, a pretty face doesn't pay your debt….oh wait, it does" she could feel his sarcastic smirk through the mask
"What do you mean?"
"Did you fuck your way out of your debts??" he taunted with a scoff, Kaia almost let her scream escape from her throat
"You psycho, I'm done with you, goodbye and goodnight" she turned towards the door, scurrying off
"500 million dollars princess" Zayne's words stabbed her like a knife, she tried to scream, no sound came out. She just stood there, like a lost puppy.
"You should've been a stripper if you were smart enough" he smirked. Kaia slowly turned to look at the monster standing behind her
"Proof" she muttered, hoping she ss loud enough for him to hear her
"Email" he whispered. Kaia's trembling hands scrolled through Zayne's messages, a 500 million dollar cheque with her father's signature. She broke into a humorless laugh, her eyes glistening with tears that she fought to hold back.
"Think about it princess, I know you're smart enough to know that running away isn't an option because I'll find you, and I'll kill you" he whipped his tie around, strolling out casually like he didn't just place a deadly threat.
"Dont cry too much, I don't want bags under your eyes" he smirked strutting out the door.
Kaia's knees gave in as she landed on the floor, bawling her eyes out, she'd have to die and be brought back to life at least a dozen time to get even one quarter of the money.
No friend, no supporter, her only hope of living was Eira.