CHAPTER 1

ARIS.

“Doctor, I'll settle the bills soon, I promise,” I pleaded.

“You know your grandmother's cancer has returned,” he continued, shaking his head pitifully.

“Doctor, please, just this time,” I begged. “Please treat my Nana.”

Tears fell from my eyes and swiped them away fast with my palm.

“Aris. This can't go on. The hospital is not a charity,” The doctor's voice rang in my ear.

“I…I don't have any money on me. Please, give me more time,” I begged.

“More time? I'm sorry but you have only today. This is all I can do for her. Without surgery, her chances of surviving are low. You might as well withdraw her now.”

He handed the result papers and the bill to me just before he walked away. My hands shook violently as I slowly opened the paper and saw the digits staring back at me.

One hundred thousand dollars?!

Where was I going to find that sum of money in such a short time?

The loan sharks? Yes.

Was it wise? Hell no!

They would skin me alive because I hadn't even paid the last part I took and it was still racked in thousands.

What was I going to do?

I dug my hands into my pocket with hope, but it was empty. I didn't know what to expect when I didn't keep any money in there.

When I checked my bank balance, the red line glared back at me.

That's when I remembered. I had some cash at home. I didn't wait and rushed out of the hospital, my heart skipping beats as I ran like a mad man, going past people and almost crushing into a couple of bikes that screamed profanities at me.

I didn't mind and only stopped to calm my breathing once I was at the front of my apartment. I got into my room and began searching my drawer.

And I found it. The envelope that had my savings. I counted it and it was barely enough but a couple of hundred dollars could help. I scattered whatever else I could find; the piggy bank, my trouser pockets and then counted everything.

It was forty thousand dollars. That was close enough. I stood to my feet, stuffed the money into my pocket and dashed out the door like a maniac with the door slamming shut behind me.

Just as I got to the front yard of my apartment, I froze. Five men stood waiting in place for me. They were armed and I instantly sucked in my breath.

The first guy, decorated in tattoos, bulky with a lean bulky build walked closer to me. He took a puff of his cigarette and blew it. Then he spoke. “Ah, nice. Pretty Bambi is right on time.” His men laughed and whistled and he continued in a wicked tone. “Do you have my money?”

Shit. Not now.

“N…no…” I stuttered. “But I promise. I'll pay you back soon.”

“What the fuck…?” His facial expression turned dark and I stumbled back. “You told me you would have your money today. No stories.”

“I know. But, my Grandma is sick and she needs surgery…”

He cut me off before I could finish. “Save it. You know the rules. You don't have my money, you get beaten. So, brace yourself.”

I nodded absentmindedly, clutching my pocket. This was for the best. I can handle it. Just a few punches and kicks and I'll be fine. I can take it.

The first hit came before I even got the chance to brace up. I staggered, hitting the wall and the next followed.

“Scream, you bitch!” the leader yelled and kicked my ribs.

I couldn't. I held tighter to my pocket and let them continue.

Then, they stopped and the leader turned my fallen body to face him.

“You're pretty strong, I'll give you that. Next time you won't be so lucky. Make sure you have my money by then,” he warned.

I managed to bop my head and he began to walk away before someone yelled. “He's holding his pocket. He's got something in there.”

Please, God. No.

The leader turned, taking the cigarette off and my heart rate instantly spiked. He looked lower to where my hand was and the anger in his eyes flared.

He walked faster, leaned down and grabbed me by my collar. “You bloody son of a bitch!”

He touched my pocket and my heart sank. I tried to hold on tighter but he was much stronger, throwing my grip off and when I made to reach back down to it, someone stepped on my hand making me screech in pain.

“Please…don't…it's for my grandma surg…” the words cut off as someone jabbed at my ribs taking the air off my lungs.

He pulled the cash out and counted it, laughing then he looked back down to me. “You should have said you had money. Now look at you. Tsk. Such a mess.”

I coughed, the blood dropping for my lips as I tried to get up but my body fell backwards.

They laughed and he blew the smoke from his cigar, crotched down and held my chin, his fingers burning into my skin as he squeezed harder. “You've still got interest, pretty boy. Make sure it's ready when next I come. Got it?”

In anger, I pushed his hand off and earned myself a quick and hard slap that made me unsteady for a bit.

I hissed, holding back the hurt as he leaned closer, took another puff of the wrap and blew the intoxicating stench of smoke on my face.

It tasted like he hadn't brushed in ages and I coughed as he spoke with a raspy tone. “I won't ask again. Do you fucking understand?!”

My eyes locked on his, shivering in fear and I nodded frantically. He let me go, and to his feet then signaled to the men as he walked away.

I slumped to the ground instantly, heart beating wildly while praying my symptoms wouldn't start now.

That was my last bit of hope, gone in the hands of those bastards.

How was I going to pay for Grandma's bills now?

My heart beat didn't calm down and white spots began to appear in my vision. I frantically searched for my pill bottle in my pocket with shaking hands until I got hold of it.

The walls felt as though they were closing in on me as I took out a pill and popped it into my mouth. And I swallowed it dry, forcing it down as my throat constricted painfully.

Slowly, my body settled, calming as my vision cleared. I stared around, and the realization that everything was over gave me the energy that I needed to stand up from the floor even as my abdomen was hurting.

The money… it was gone.

What do I do now?

How do I face my grandmother? What do I tell her? What do I tell the doctor when I got back?

Tears filled my eyes as I dragged my trembling body forward, pushing feet after feet in locomotion.

My body shook terribly and I almost fell but caught myself by holding onto the wall. I wiped the blood off my face slowly, and drew a few breaths in and out before going back to the hospital.

Soon, I arrived at Grandma's door and pushed it open. Cold shivers ran down the length of my spine when I saw two people—a man and a woman, dressed richly, standing inside with eyes fixed on me.

My heart slammed wildly in my chest as I rushed to her side, ignoring the fact that I was still in pain.

Who were these people? Why were they here? What did they want?

Was it the loan shark's boss here to take Nana’s kidneys?

And mine?

“Grandma?!” I called, my breathing heavy as I stared at the two people standing in the room. “Who the fuck are you all?!” I snapped.

But I didn't bother with them, or wait to get a reply from them. I just held onto my grandmother who was looking so weak on the bed.

“Are you … are you okay?” She nodded with a weak smile, but I didn't even believe her.

She was always fond of smiling even when she was hurting.

“Aris,” she called my name weakly as I answered her.

“Yes, Nana?”

Then she pointed at them. “These are your parents.”

My heart stopped for a second.

“They are what?”