Chapter Two

Brooklyn unlocked her door and rushed inside. For the last two days, her already hopeless life had turned into a worse nightmare. She collapsed on the floor, drenched, hungry and tired. The tears fell incessantly from her eyes and she just broke down completely. Why couldn’t her troubles lessen? It would have been so much better if she had died instead of her mom. Her teeth started clattering from the cold, thoroughly drenched clothes that she needed to get out of. Getting up, she walked over to her room to change. After ten minutes, she drank water and curled up on her bed, covering herself well. Her stomach grumbled relentlessly but she had nothing to eat apart from water. Exhausted, broken, and hungry, she might have dozed off to sleep when the sound of the doorbell woke her up. 

Who could it be? Fear gripped over her. She remembered the cold angry face of her stalker. She remembered her outburst a few minutes ago in front of him. Did he really take her seriously and come over to kill her? She trembled on her bed not wanting to open the door but the doorbell rang again, making her jump. Fearing trouble with her neighbors, Brooklyn dragged herself reluctantly to the door and peered through the keyhole again. She saw the same black suit on a stout body as before. So it was the stout man again. What did he want now? She opened the door to a crack and peered out through the keyhole. 

The man grinned at her and handed her a parcel. “Sir has sent dinner for you, Miss Brooklyn,” he said with a grin. Brooklyn’s eyes widened with disbelief. Her hot stalker had sent her dinner instead of killing her? How was it possible? She shook her head vehemently. 

“I don’t need his help. Tell him to just leave me alone and I’ll be thankful,” said Brooklyn, contemplating upon closing the door to his face. 

“Sir said that if you don’t accept it, he would come here himself to feed you,” said the man with a poker face but his eyes looked extremely amused. He held out the food packet to her again. Brooklyn gaped at him in a daze and quietly accepted the packet. His threat sent a chill down her spine. She couldn’t have her stalker arrive here and feed her! Heaven forbid it! 

The man left with a smug look on his face. Brooklyn closed the door and went to the kitchen to check what her stalker had sent her. Did it contain poison? Was it a foolproof plan to kill her? However, the moment she opened the packet, the aroma of the juiciest pork chops filled the air. She had never eaten such delicacies in all her nineteen years of life. Her mouth watered and she just couldn’t resist the temptation. Picking up a plate, she served herself the aromatic pilaf and the juicy pork chops and sat down at the tiny dining table in the corner to eat. If Brandon would be here, he too could enjoy the delicious food, she thought. 

She wondered where Brandon was. It had been three days and he hadn’t come back home even once. She took a second helping and then again sat down to finish her food. It was the best dinner of her life. Smiling and happy, Brooklyn stored the leftover food in her tiny refrigerator and walked over to her room. However, she stopped at the door to Brandon’s room. 

The living area had been partitioned to create a room for Brandon since it was a one-bedroom apartment. When her mom was alive, she and her mom used to share a room while Brandon slept in this tiny bedroom. Deciding to check whether he had come home in her absence, she walked in. The room was in exactly the same condition as he had left it three days ago. Brooklyn hadn’t come in but had checked from the door itself every night if he returned or not. Today, she just walked inside. She missed his presence. He was her only family now and yet he never stayed at home. Why did he always have to stay away? Was he into anything illegal? A chill ran down her spine even thinking about it. Brandon was a very bright boy but due to lack of funds, he hadn’t been able to do what he aspired to do. She sat on his bed and smoothed the bedspread with her hands. She fluffed the cushions properly but her fingers touched something underneath. Curious, she drew out a piece of paper that was nicely folded and placed underneath the cushion. She opened the fold and read the note.

Don’t worry about me, Brooks. I’m fine. Will be back in a while. You won’t find me at college too.

Brooklyn read and re-read the message again and again. It was scribbled in Brandon’s handwriting. She wondered where exactly he was and how long he would be away. It should be an emergency because Brandon never missed his evening college. Brooklyn sighed and walked out of his room. It was getting late and she was sleepy. 

The next morning, she quickly freshened up and warmed last night’s leftover dinner and ate it for breakfast. She packed some in a container to eat at lunchtime. Thankfully, her stalker had sent a lot and she didn’t have to worry about tonight’s dinner. It would be sufficient. Feeling happy, Brooklyn walked to her workplace. In her haste, she had completely forgotten to take the longer route. It was only when she was about to reach did she realize what she had done. She hurried the rest of the way and reached her restaurant safely, heaving a sigh of relief. However, her relief was short-lived as a few minutes later, she saw the bald man who had harassed her that night, just outside her restaurant. Had he followed her here? Brooklyn had no idea. She just prayed to God that he wouldn’t come inside. 

“What’s wrong, Brooks?” asked Mia, seeing her pale face and wide eyes. 

“That man outside was the one who had harassed me that night,” said Brooklyn in a trembling voice. Mia looked at the man and frowned. 

“We’ll drop you home tonight. You don’t have to go home alone,” she comforted her. Brooklyn nodded. She was too scared to argue. With him outside, she had no wish to walk down again. The whole day went by and strangely, her hot stalker didn’t visit her even once. Brooklyn was relieved that he hadn’t. After work, Seth and Mia dropped her home. 

Brooklyn was just about to unlock her door when she saw the notice on her door.

Evicted. You have 24 hours to vacate the apartment

The blood drained from her face. This was the worst thing that could happen to her. Where would she go now? She knew that she hadn’t been able to pay her rent for two months but  Mr. Greene, her landlord, could have given her a month’s warning at least. She felt like crying and ending her wretched life. Rushing upstairs to Mr. Greene's apartment, she rang the doorbell and waited. She would request him to give her a little time. She would plead with him not to throw her out on the streets. After a few minutes, her old landlord opened the door and gave her a displeased look. 

“There’s nothing I can do about it,  Brooklyn. Just pack up and leave. You have twenty-four hours,” said Mr. Greene, trying to shut the door on her face. Brooklyn held onto the door, refusing to let him close it.

“Please,  Mr. Greene. I have nowhere to go. Give me a little time. I’ll pay you the money and when  Brandon returns home, I’ll vacate. Please don’t throw me out now,” she pleaded as tears fell from her eyes. Mr. Greene took pity upon her and just peered down the stairs as if to check. He opened his door wider.

“Come inside, Brooklyn,” he said. Brooklyn walked into his apartment. She knew that he lived alone with his differently-abled sister. “Sit down,” he said. Brooklyn sat down and wiped the tears off her eyes.

“Look, this isn’t about the rent. I know that you’re a good girl and you’d pay me sometime later,” said the old man. Brooklyn’s eyes widened with surprise. If this wasn’t about the rent, then why was he evicting her? She had no idea!

“Then why are you evicting me?” she asked with dread. 

“I’ve been threatened to do so,” said the old man, his eyes looking anxious and frightened. Brooklyn gaped at him with shock. 

“Who threatened you, Mr. Greene?” she whispered, dreading his answer. 

“The chief of MC Black Devils, Jimmy Black was here after you left for work today. I have no idea how he knows you but he wants you, Brooklyn. He wanted me to evict you tonight. He would come to get you with his gang. If I were you, I’d pack and run for dear life just now,” said the old man. A gasp escaped Brooklyn’s mouth and her head reeled at the information. Who was Jimmy Black? Was it her stalker or was it the bald man? 

“I have no choice, Brooklyn. I wouldn’t want to cross him. I can’t give you any more information since he had warned me not to tell you anything,” said Mr. Greene, looking agitated. Brooklyn slowly got up. She would quickly pack up and escape this place before that man Jimmy Black got to her. 

“Can you do me a favor, Mr. Greene? I wouldn’t be able to take all my stuff with me tonight. Can you keep the ones I leave behind with you? Brandon is away on work. He would come to look for me. Can you hand everything over to him?” pleaded Brooklyn. Mr. Greene nodded.

“I will,” he said. Brooklyn wasted no more time. Thanking him, she rushed to her apartment to pack.

The next one hour, Brooklyn packed her bare essentials in two shabby suitcases. She was so engrossed in packing that she hardly heard the sound of cars skidding to a stop outside the building. Footsteps were heard coming up the staircase. It was only when her doorbell rang did Brooklyn panic. Her whole body froze and she didn’t know what to do. There was only one exit and she had no other way of escaping. The rickety door flew open and her eyes locked with the dark, angry hazel ones of her stalker. Was he Jimmy Black?