CHAPTER 1:The Offer

Scarlett’s POV

"Scarlett, come downstairs," my mum's voice jerks me, stopping me from finally crossing the borders into dreamland.

I stared at the wall clock. The shaky short hand was struggling to stay on 11, but I understand my clock, I know it's 11 already. I have refused to change it every time my mum tried, it was one of the last gifts I got from my dad before he passed two years ago.

I was tired. I worked four jobs daily and I survive mostly on water and cheap coffee most of the time, but I can't skip my only meal of the day no matter how tired I am.

I struggled out of bed, stared at the Ravenwood application portal one last time before going out. It was showing "under review", and I anticipated it to change to "Declined" cause that has been my fate for two years now.

A little part of me hoped to see the green "Accepted" tick. I walked to the dining room, and it hit me that the smell of beef tacos that has been bothering my nose wasn't my imagination. It wasn't cause I miss my dad.

"I know this was your idea," I said, looking directly at Evan.

"Okay, it was my idea, we've not had this since daddy passed," he replied.

"Shut up!" I yelled at him. "This could pay for your uniform if we add a few bucks to it, and now we are eating it."

"Mum, talk to her," he said, looking to my mum to save him.

"Scarlett," my mum called, stretching to hold my hands. I just stared at her, I didn't answer.

"Baby?" she called, and I eventually held her.

"We can have good meals once in a while, can't we?" she said.

"Not when we have debts to pay. We have other important needs too, Mom. I'm fine with eating macaroni every day, just until those people are off our necks."

"We can live too as we figure things out. Sit down and eat."

I sat but struggled to eat, I just couldn't take my mind off it.

My mum took a bite and offered to feed me.

"You will love it," she said. I opened my mouth to take it and honestly, it was good. Of course, my mother made it!

"You see," Evan said, and I rolled my eyes at him.

Just as we ate dinner, we heard a knock and Evan went to get the door.

It was Mr. Daniel.

Mr. Daniel was my father's friend. They both worked as armed men for a mafia, escorting and monitoring their supplies. His presence comes with mixed feelings because he was our link to the mafia gang my father was owing.

He had come in three days after my father was found dead and told us that some of the supplies in my father's care went missing and he had been paying for it before he passed, and we needed to finish up the payment. We didn't even get compensated for the fact that he lost his life on an assignment, we just have a debt to pay, coupled with the fact that we didn't know much about his work. He intentionally kept us out of it as much as he could.

"Daniel, so good to see you," my mum greeted.

"Yeah, how are you and the children? I came to the house this afternoon, there was no one."

"Hi Mr. Daniel," I greeted.

"Scarlett, how are you?"

"I'm okay."

He stayed a few moments and stood to go. I offered to see him off, and just as we stepped outside...

"Scarlett, how are you managing?" he asked, and I just smiled. I didn't respond cause if I did, I'll be honest and I don't want to.

"I see you've paid 40 percent of the debt."

"Yeah, please help us plead for more time, we would surely pay back in full."

"They are getting impatient, you know, and I have tried to calm them, but I don't know how long that would work for before it fails." He paused, and I just sighed.

"They are threatening to come take your brother to work until the money is complete."

"No, they can't do that, we will pay them."

"They are making an offer though."

"What offer? Anything at all, they should not come close to my mother and brother," I responded.

"They want you to carry out a task. They will even give you a scholarship to Ravenwood. Michael taught you a few skills, I guess you can manage."

I knew the sound of these people from my father's work side; they use the word "task" for something grievous.

"Task?" I repeated, and he nodded.

"And my father's debt would be cancelled?" He nodded again.

"And I'll be getting a scholarship to Ravenwood?" This time he just stared.

"And I'll be using the skills my father taught me and asked me to use only when I need to protect myself?"

"I know what it is..." he tried to say.

"No, you don't."

"Think about it, just one task and you are free. Think of it as a kind of sacrifice you have to make."

"My dad won't want me to think of a human's life as a sacrifice to break free from a challenge. If I keep doing that, how many more sacrifices like this would I have to make when life throws its jabs at me?" I paused to catch my breath cause I was feeling a lot of feelings I couldn't express. Anger, anxiety, pity—a whole lot flowed through me.

"Good night, Mr. Daniel," I said and turned to return inside. I held the door handle, took a deep breath, and adjusted my face before I went inside cause I don't want my mum to catch a hint of what just happened outside.