Deal Or No Deal!

Andromeda 

I couldn't believe Phyllis was already thirteen. Looking at her smiling and jumping around, I felt like I was looking at my mom in her teens. 

Mom was beautiful, and Phyllis is a spitting image of her. It's such a shame she didn't get to meet that beautiful woman who died to give her life. 

Every birthday Phyllis celebrated was equally our mom's death anniversary. Instead of wallowing in pain and anger toward this innocent soul, I took her to mom’s grave before visiting the amusement park after we enjoyed a hearty meal at mom’s favorite restaurant. This has been our routine since Phyllis turned five. 

I couldn't hide my smile when I saw her doing backflips so effortlessly. She would surely become a famous gymnast. Mom would have been proud of who she had become. 

[I’m the love of the love of my life…] The sound of my ringtone pulled me out of my reverie. As soon as I picked the call, I shot to my feet, dread washing over my being. 

“Impossible! Annabel, what are you saying? Dad travelled to Italy last week. He’s not even around…” 

Oh my God! How? How could…

I ended the call and quickly searched social media. I didn't need to search long, as news about the MacKnights always made top searches. 

This one, unfortunately, wasn't news any of us expected. I watched a trending video of my father, Ambassador MacKnight in handcuffs, and surrounded by a dozen policemen. 

My hands trembled and the phone slipped, hitting the ground with a bang. My knees trembled uncontrollably, and I fumbled for the seat behind me. 

“Andrea, what's wrong? You look pale.” Phyllis rushed to my side, grabbing my hands firmly. However, no words could escape my trembling lips. 

I told Dad to leave the country, but he said he had nothing to hide. I warned him. Whenever political power changed, many top politicians, especially the ones who were closest to the former president were targeted by the new government. 

Dad was adamant! He didn't agree to move out of the country. Instead of joining me in Italy, he forced me to come here for Phyllis’ birthday. 

I don't know what charges they leveled against Dad, but it couldn't be anything good. How would we get out of this? No politician ever got out of this embarrassment. For Dad to be arrested so publicly meant they had something big on him. What am I to do now?

“Phyllis, dad’s in trouble.” Those were the only words I could force out of my trembling lips, as my mind raced, weighing all the options available for us. Unfortunately, there were very few of them. 

As we raced toward our house, I spotted a black minivan chasing us, but I stepped on the gas and quickly lost them. Well, I thought I did. 

“Andrea, what do we do now?” Phyllis might be smart, but she was still a thirteen-year-old after all.

“We need to leave the country right away.” I responded, feeling my heart miss several beats. 

“What! What about Dad?” Phyllis sounded like I was a deserter. However, our first point of call would be to save ourselves first. When we were safe, we could find out about father’s charges and see if we could save him. 

“You see this?” I showed her my phone. I received a text message as soon as I cut the call from Annabel. It was an anonymous number, instructing me to leave the country ASAP. 

My sister recognized the signature at the end of the message. It was our way of communicating without others understanding us. She understood it was from Dad. I guess he knew he was going to get arrested anyway. 

“Phyllis, stay here and wait for me. I’ll get our documents and be right back.” 

I packed the car and rushed out as if my ass was on fire. Actually, my ass was really on fire. 

As I raced to the room, feeling lightheaded, I tried to wipe my sister's petrified look from my mind. Even I was scared, but I needed to be strong for Phyllis. 

“Shit! Where the heck are these documents?” I left them in my drawer. They have always been there. How could we leave the country if there was no passport?

“Where could it be?” I tossed everything around, but our passports were nowhere to be found. 

“God! Please, save us. Please, mom, watch over us. Please…” I continued praying and mumbling incoherent words, hoping I didn't misplace our passports. 

“Ana, did you see my passports anywhere?” It was stupid of me to call her, and I wasn't expecting much. However, my world crumbled further when my best friend responded in the negative. 

We are officially stuck in Hillview. 

I could vaguely picture the mangled body of the former minister of Finance’s daughter. When her father got arrested three years ago, she was abused and dumped in a dumpster. 

Another Minister's wife was sold to a brothel, and numerous men lined up to pay for her services everyday.

There was no one to get justice for them, and the cases were thrown under the wraps later. 

I was already old enough, but what about Phyllis? 

As my thoughts raced, I dialed every contact I could, but no one was willing to help. They just couldn't risk it. Even when I requested to hide Phyllis in our relatives’ homes, they all turned us down. 

How the heck were we to leave this city without a passport? Where would we even hide if we wanted to?

“Aaaaahhh!!!” A shrill scream tore through the house, and that was when I remembered that Phyllis was waiting in the car alone. 

At this point, no servants lingered. They all rushed for their lives. Soon enough this house would be left unattended. 

Why did I forget this piece of information? 

Racing down the stairs, I reached the sitting room and found Phyllis kneeling on the floor. Not only that, eight men in black stood in the same space. 

I took light steps, my legs wobbly, praying it wasn't what I was thinking. I wanted to run to my sister, hug her and ask what caused her to be so shaken just now. However, my legs wouldn't move. 

I just stood there, staring at the men in black, with their eyes hidden behind those dark shades that looked so out of place.

My heart was in my mouth, but I looked at the only person seated. He looked like a god who couldn't be bothered with mortal business. 

“W… Who are you people?”