Brynn Harper:

“Hello, Doctor Gale?” I said, the moment I fished out my phone from my back pocket and saw his name dancing on my screen.

The hot afternoon breeze blew through my hair, my pale skin skin being highlighted by the bright rays of the sun. It was my lunch break and though I usually ate inside with my co-worker and friend, Collie, today was a little different.

I wasn't feeling it in me to endure a conversation filled thirty minutes. Rather, I was itching to be alone, my hunger for food being almost non-existent at the moment.

“What? Three days? Doctor, I'm right at work… I have the money, okay? I'll make the transfer immediately…” I rubbed my forehead, strained breaths of exasperation slipping through my lips, “... just don't end treatment on him, please… uh, send me the account details.”

The call disconnected from his end almost immediately, leaving me to take a few minutes to calm my nerves as I was a minute away from giving in to my frustration.

Ever since my father's accident, my life has been like this, unstable and frustrating.

With a deep sigh, I dialed Collie, and the moment she answered, I told her to cover her shift and mine. I really didn't expect to call in that favor she owed me now, but my father was more important to me.

I knew of an atm machine a few blocks away from the restaurant and quickly set off, not minding that I was still in my uniform, my mind raging with panic.

Earlier this year, my dad was involved in a ghastly accident while driving home one late night and it was one of the most dreadful days of my life. I could never forget how my heart shattered and my blood ran cold upon getting a call from a police officer who broke the news to me.

I remembered how my heart broke when I rushed to the hospital and saw how bloodied and seriously injured he was, helplessly lying in the stretcher that wheeled him into an emergency room.

A day later, a young doctor broke another disheartening news to me. According to him, my dad had damaged some major nerves and the force of impact when his car pummeled down the ridge and hit the ground, had rendered him in a deep state of shock. He claimed that even if he woke up from the shock, he was now subjected to live in a vegetative state for the rest of his life.

He always said that his chances of a thorough recovery was five percent. In other words, it was a very slim chance but I wasn't going to give up, five percent was still something to hope on and I honestly didn't mind going out of my way just to ensure he got better.

And right now, making sure he still remained in the hospital was my major priority. If he gets removed from the hospital, he would die. Life support was what was keeping him alive currently.

When I got to the ATM, I was a panting and sweating mess who was incredibly glad that there was no queue. The place was empty, which made me sigh in relief because I wouldn't waste time getting back to work. I fished out my card from the deep pockets of my jeans, tucking my loose strands behind my ear. I inserted the card and entered my pin, ready to make a transfer to the account details the hospital had sent me.

I entered the account details, confirmed the transaction pin and my world broke apart when I was left to stare at the bold letters that glared at me.

Declined transaction due to insufficient funds? No, no, no, that can't be right.

I tried it again but when I still got the same message, I went into a state of frantic hyperventilation, gripping onto my chest as the color drained from my body. I felt like a fish out of water.

What happened to all my money? I had spent the past months working tiresome and tasking part-time jobs to raise money, let alone the school funding account that I emptied and transferred to my other account, all for his treatment. So I was sure I had up to fifty-five thousand dollars.

I was thrown into a state of panic, my body breaking into a cold sweat when I stared yet again the glaring message. How could my account be empty? No one else had access to my account except for myself and My aunt, Beverley.

Beverley? It couldn't be her right?

Beverley was my Father's, youngest sister and the both of them had an amazing rapport. So when med school got so hectic, making my schedule almost impossible to keep up with, with the endless exams, tests, and reports to turn in; added to the financial crisis that had struck my family due to my dad being indisposed and unable to keep up running the company as a result of his accident and the requirements for his treatment pushing us to rock bottom, I was forced to take up part time jobs.

She was always making herself available at the hospital, bringing him flowers everyday she visited and after a major emergency occured and I was stuck in an exam hall, I had decided to give her access to the account, to prevent future situations like that one. So there was no way she'd swindle her brother of his welfare money, was there?

“Shit, shit, shit!” I was honestly beginning to realize that that was one of the dumbest things I had ever done.

I immediately dug out my phone, dialing Beverley. She didn't answer. I muttered a curse word and with shaky hands, tried again. I almost threw my phone on the floor when I got the same answer as before, ready to scream out in frustration. I sniffled, fighting the shock and fear that creeped in on me. Why was her line switched off?

“Fuck!” I screamed out loud, ignoring the weird gazes I was getting from passersby.

My whole word was spinning and it was getting increasingly difficult to breathe. Remembering what the doctor had told me earlier on the phone, I ran my hand through my hair, making up my mind to dash off to Beverley’s place.

******

“Hello? Beverley? Are you in? Max?” I called out, after knocking for minutes outside, breathless from the race I just ran.

I was seriously hoping her stupid couch-potato of a son would lazily stumble out of the house but I got no response.

After knocking for yet another minute, I turned the door knob and to my utmost surprise, the door clicked and gently grew open. I quietly stepped in, staring into the oddly quiet and messy house. I closed the door behind me, looking at the state of disarray the living room was left in. It looked like a thief had broken in and ransacked the place.

“Beverley? Max?” I called out yet again, my heart beat increasing by the second as bitter realization began to set in.

The house was empty. I ran to the living room, frantic to find any hint or information on their sudden disappearance then a neatly folded white letter caught my eyes.

I picked it up and opened it and my heart tightened when I read the contents of the messy letter. It appeared she must have been in a hurry while she was writing this.

A piercing cry left my lips, accompanied by hot tears that trailed down my eyes as I read the letter:

“Dear Brynn,

If you're reading this then it means I'm already gone. I'm so sorry that it had to come to this and I honestly wished there would have been some other option but sadly, there wasn't.

You see, a few weeks back, I got a letter which turned out to be a threat for my son, Max. Apparently, he had gambled yet again but this time, fell into debt with the Mafia. They gave him two weeks to have the money ready else they chop him to pieces and feed him to the sharks.

I tried to raise the money, believe me I did, but it was honestly too much for me; so I decided to borrow from Jerome. I didn't want to at first but as the deadline was drawing closer, I panicked. He's my only child, Brynn, I can't just let him die.

I promise to repay the money as soon as I can. Once again, please forgive me and tell Jerome to forgive me as well.

Love,

Aunt Bev.

“That fucking gambling addict! Fuckkk!” I screamed.

I pulled out my phone and immediately called the police. They couldn't have gone far, the police would find them and make them cough up my money. I reported the issue to an agent I managed to get a hold of and it didn't take long for them to send a dispatched agent over.

“This is a tough one because honestly, the Mafia is very dangerous and tricky to deal with. If that money has actually been transferred to them, then getting it back would be difficult. As it stands, there are a lot of Mafias that have influence in the country currently and we don't even know the particular one we're dealing with. I hope you understand what I'm explaining.” A blonde officer that looked about thirty, said.

“What are you trying to say?” I blinked at both of them in confusion.

“What officer Brandon is trying to say is that, we don’t know if we could get your money back, and how long it will take.” A man with dark chocolate waves said.

“NO! My father is waiting for this money for his life to be saved, I need my money back immediately! My father can’t wait, please!” I didn't mean to raise my voice at them but I was increasingly getting frustrated.

“We're sorry ma'am but we're going to do everything within our power to sort this out. Have a nice day.” Officer Brandon tipped his hat at me before gently exiting the door with his partner.

I stared at them in disbelief. They were actually fucking leaving! I ran my hand through my hair in frustration, my breaths becoming shaky and strained. After hearing all that they had to say, my hope got crushed to pieces.

I couldn't let my father die. My phone buzzed again, making me anxiously dig it out of my pocket. I staggered backwards when I saw the doctor's name dancing on my screen. I didn't have the money, what was I going to say to him?

I sank into the chair, unable to coordinate my scattered thoughts. I needed to do something but I was literally out of options. Where on earth was I supposed to get such a huge amount from in such a short time?

I screamed yet again, running my hand through my hair, tugging on the strands like a woman about to run mad. I was stuck, I had no idea what to do.

After my father's company had gone bankrupt it dawned on me that I only had leaches for friends. Minutes of scrolling through my contacts for the umpteenth time and I tossed it across the sofa, burying my face in my palm.

Who else I could ask for help? My ex-boyfriend Drew? Or my ex-best friend Sarah?! Hell No! I lost contact with them a long time ago as they betrayed me, I guess they must be sleeping together and laughing at me right now!

Just then an idea popped into my mind, my body stilled because I never expected in a million years that I'd ever remember his name again.

I suddenly remembered the card that I had found in my bag yesterday and had harbored the intention of throwing out this morning when I found it still in my bag while I was changing into my work uniform while at work.

I quickly delved my hands into the pockets of my apron, my breaths growing more uneven and ragged as my shaking hands brought the business card to my eye level. I was almost relieved that I didn't throw out the card like I intended.

Gulping, I took in the company name boldly printed in gold on the silver card, sniffling as my eyes slid down to find the one name that now dominated my mind.

Rudolph Velkov.