Chapter-4

Her mother's incapability of working put double pressure on Eloisa. She worked overtime everyday but the money was not enough. At one point, she thought of asking Uncle Alex for extra money they needed to pay the loan sharks this month. But unfortunately for her, Uncle Alex went to his hometown, he was not a native here, to settle some problems with his family property he had there. He would stay there for two weeks. In the meantime, he gave Eloisa to take care of the pub as she was capable enough to do that. It seemed to her that every unfortunate thing was happening to her. Her mother's sudden accident coupled with handling the pub all by herself and upcoming date to pay loan were taking a toll on her. But she was not even within the mindset to pause for a moment and take a break from everything. Her time was running as she ran along with it. There was no time to pause. No time to contemplate. No time to turn back and reminisce about the happy times. She was running and running along the path laid out not knowing where she was going.

Eloisa ran all the way to the hospital from the pub, which was almost on the other end of the village. As soon as she heard the news, she closed the pub and ran all the way to the hospital. When she reached her mother's room, she saw her sleep and nurse fixing her saline tube. Eloisa entered the room and the nurse looked up at her. The room smelt so stale and filled with medicinal smell that it made her almost choke. She had never really liked hospitals anyway. She came to the hospital only three times including today. Not once she felt comfortable here. Hospitals always smell of stale and death to her. The nurse informed her that her mother had fallen down stairs due to fainting because of amnesia. She had been working too much than her body could handle and so she fainted while running down the stairs in a hurry. She had almost broken her waist due to the accident and she will not be able to do any heavy work anymore. She must be on bed rest. Eloisa listened to the nurse attentively while her eyes watched the slow rise and fall of her mother's chest. Only one thought was running through her mind.

At least she's alive!

Eloisa returned with her mother to their home after her mother woke up and the doctor discharged her and strictly instructed her to be on bed rest. Yoonah just nodded her head but Eloisa already knew that she was not planning on listening to the doctor. Her mother was stubborn but not more than her. She prepared for the argument that was sure to ensue between her and her mother while they were going home. 

As soon as they crossed the threshold, her mother started in the direction of the kitchen to prepare dinner. Eloisa ran and stood blocking the door leading to the kitchen. Her mother stared at her with glowering eyes. A glaring match ensued between the mother and daughter. Eloisa's brother, Ethan was looking from his mother to his sister. Her sister had told him everything that happened. He had wanted to come to the hospital but she told him to stay home. He had been worried sick about their mother. He also started to think of what would happen now that their mother could not work anymore. He knew it meant more pressure on Eloisa. But she had already been working way too hard. He felt so useless then but both his mother and sister were against him working. Whenever he brought up that topic, they both would fiercely tell him that they wanted him to study hard and do something big in the future that would solve all their problems. Defeated, he did everything he could to achieve their dreams. Meaning he studied hard. All day and night long. He was the first in his class and his mother and sister could not be more proud. But he wanted to make them more proud. He wanted to be strong like his sister, who was his idol. Be the backbone of this family like she was. And he now realized it was time to act like it. If he couldn't take her burden, at least he could help her so she would not have more.

With a firm nod to himself, Ethan went to stand between the still glaring mother and daughter. He spoke with a soft but firm voice.

"Mom, you need to rest. I have already prepared dinner. Just freshen up, eat and take rest. Sis and I can handle everything."

His mother stopped glaring at Eloisa to look at him in surprise. He never provided his opinion on any occasion. To see him standing up with his sister surprised her and made her happy. Her little boy had grown up. He had wanted to work outside before but would always back down when they protested. This is the first time he spoke up and gave his own opinion. She wanted to protest but the determined look on both of her children's faces stopped her. She suddenly hugged them and started crying. They hugged her back and all was well because they were together.

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It had been a few days after Eloisa's mother's accident. Yoonah Mullins had been on complete bed rest since then. Eloisa was working at the pub all day and night while Ethan was doing all the household work. Together they were taking great care of their mother. She was feeling better. Even though she could not do any heavy work, she tried to do lighter work so she did not feel useless and a burden to her children. They protested but stopped when she threatened to not take any medicines if they did not listen to her. She knew how much her not working was putting more pressure on Eloisa and it hurt her to see her daughter work tirelessly for the family. She wished her daughter had some reprieve from all these responsibilities. She wanted her to live a happy and solvent life that she could not give her. She sighed as she sat in her bed folding clothes. She felt completely worthless as a mother. She could not even give her children a safe shelter. Thinking of loan sharks striked fear through her heart. 

If they could be somehow free from them!

The doorbell rang and she jumped in fright. It was past midday. Almost 3 in the afternoon. 

Who would come at such an odd time?

With that though, she went to the front to open it. Ethan had also come out of his room curious to see who was at the door. Eloisa would not come at this time. Yoonah opened the door to her worst fear. The loan sharks were standing there. She silently led them inside. She had forgotten today's date. Ethan quickly went to call Eloisa. He knew her mother could not handle them alone.

Today was a relatively less tiring day for her as there were less customers. She was just going to start preparation for dinner when her phone rang. It was from home. As soon as she received the call, she heard Ethan's anxious voice.

"Sis, the bad guys are here."

Eloisa cut the call and went to uncle Alex and told that she needed to go home. He did not ask anything. Just told her to call him whenever they needed him. She nodded and left. She ran all the way home as fast as she could. When she reached the front door which was already open, she heard her mother's sobbing and begging voice. She entered the house to see her mother begging on her knees in front of the boss as one of his men was struggling to keep a hold of Ethan. Her head spinned as she understood what was happening. They were going to take Ethan.

No no. I won't let that happen.

"Take me. Take me instead."

She shouted from the doorway. Everyone looked at her. Her mother shouted "Eloisa!!" and her brother's "Sis!!" reached her ear at the same time but her brain could not comprehend them. She was looking at the boss who looked at her with no small amount of cruel amusement. She spoke as if her mouth was on autopilot.

"Take me instead of him. I'll do anything you say. Just leave him. Please I beg just take me and leave him and I'll do anything you ask me to. Please."

She could hear more screaming but she still kept her eyes on the boss as he seemed to contemplate her words. From her peripheral vision, she saw her mother clutching the boss's legs as he nodded to the man holding her brother to let go. Her brother ran towards her. But before he could reach her, one of the men standing closer to her pushed her brother and grabbed hold of her. Her mother began to sound hysterical now and let go of his legs to reach her. She grabbed her hands but Eloisa could not feel any warmth as if she was numb to everything. Her brother got up from the floor and clutched her around the middle tugging her from the man's hold. The other men tried to pull them away. A tug of war took place with her mother and brother tugging her and the men tugging them. Suddenly, a gunshot went off and everyone stopped tugging. The boss who had been standing there looking now had a gun in his hand pointing to the ceiling where he had fired. He then walked calmly towards her and pointed the gun directly on her forehead. The cold metal felt weirdly calming to her. Like it could finally give her the peace she wanted. She saw the boss talking and tried to focus on that.

"Move or she dies. Now."

Both her mother and brother moved away from her. The boss nodded to his men to go. Her mother started screaming again and tried to reach her but Ethan held her back. He was crying too but seemed to understand that there was nothing they could do now. Her eyes locked with his for a moment and she could see the promise in them. That he would get her out of there somehow. There were a million things she could have said then but her mouth was glued. She could not feel anything other than the numbness that gripped her entire being. The man holding her tugged her and she walked. The sun was almost red now and sat at the horizon. It looked beautiful and she would have appreciated the beauty if she could feel its warmth. Behind her, her mother's scream sounded like an opera singing and the crowd silent with sadness and desperation pouring out of the song. Their footsteps a melody adding effects to the song. It was a hauntingly beautiful song that will play in her mind forever.