Paid in Full

Ava

I reached the front of the house, curious to know why there were black SUVs parked out the front.

Maybe they were Ethan’s friends.

Lately, Ethan had new found friends coming over at all hours of the night. I wondered but never had the guts to ask what was going on or who they were. Ethan was my older brother although he was more like a father to me since the time our mom abandoned us. Abandon was maybe a harsh word, she had left us with our grandmother. She was young when she had us and I couldn’t blame her for wanting to start afresh. For wanting more of a life than dragging two young children along and working at a local cinema. I remember my mom’s gaze, I caught her eyes clouding whenever she was watching us play. I wondered why the frown crept onto her face, I wondered why she hadn’t smiled at us as other moms did in the park to the children. Although she always had that look when she thought we weren’t watching, she had always taken care of us and given whatever she had.

Gran passed away last year, leaving us the house and sorrow like I’ve never felt before. Since the death of Gran we had been struggling to make ends meet. I didn’t even realize, how much her savings were used to raise us, nourish us and keep us in this safe haven. In her will, Gran had left us her house but all of her savings went to Mom. She arrived for the reading, signing her name promptly to transfer the funds. She was different, wearing court heels and a chic power suit. Her hair was pulled into an updo tightly behind her nape. It really did look like she made something out of herself. She grimaced when she saw Ethan and me, not acknowledging us at all. Refusing to make eye contact. Once her business was done she turned around and marched out of there as fast as she had come.

I remember that day, hard as I tried tears seemed to flow down my face. Ethan threw the closest thing to him at the wall. It shattered into all tiny pieces like my heart did and he yelled in frustration. When he had cooled down a bit, he barely breathed out to me, “Don’t worry Ava, I got this”. Since that day, the bills were paid for on time and there seemed to be a cash flow that couldn’t be explained. It was good at first, I didn’t question where the money was coming from and I trusted Ethan was doing the right thing. Although, lately, things started to get strange. Friends coming around at all hours of the night and Ethan’s behavior was becoming skittish. Ethan was always on edge with an energy that I didn’t understand. He was agitated and at times he would lash out at me, this was not something that was common before. His frustration never seemed to be spent. He had always been by my side, like a shadow but now he distant and aloof.

Snap out of it, Ava.

I walked towards the door and slowly turned the doorknob. I thought I would creep past his friends and slink into my room, unnoticed. There was no such luck. When I peeped my head around the door, whatever chatter was going on had stopped. There were about a dozen men standing guard, all in sleek black suits. Their heads whipped towards me. All of them glared at me in unison.

“It’s ok. That’s just my sister Ava,” Ethan uttered.

He was scared, I could tell. Although he was trying to hide it, his voice shook a little.

“Sit,” one of the men addressed me.

He seemed to be the leader of the guards, the only person with an earpiece in his right ear. I hesitated, still standing at the door. He lifted his coat jacket, exposing a gun that was in his holster.

“Sit,” he said again.

I walked over and sat next to Ethan.

No, no, no, no.

My mind was going into overdrive and my throat started to feel tight. I looked down and fidgeted with the hem of my skirt, trying to keep myself from running the hell out of that door as quickly as I could.

“Can we continue?” A voice broke the silence.

I looked across the sofa, noticing a broad-shouldered figure sitting opposite Ethan and I. He was also clad in a black suit, however, the cut and material seemed to be of a higher grade. His hair was perfectly groomed and slicked back with short sides. It was perfectly in place and everything on him seemed to be that way.

I looked into his eyes seeing that his eyes darkened as our gazes met. He shifted and cleared his throat.

“Ethan, you know what you did. You fucked up. Either you return the merchandise or you pay what you owe.” He said sternly.

Ethan scoffed, “I don’t have the merchandise anymore, nor do I have the money. Isn’t that why you’re here in the first place. Look, Dante please just give me some time. I’ll find a way.”

So his name was Dante. The stranger that was sitting across from me. Not taking the chance to look at me again. After Ethan’s statement, I could see that Dante’s jaws had locked. His demeanor had changed and I could feel a chill that couldn’t be explained. Dante held the bridge of his nose for a moment and closed his eyes. When he opened his eyes again, they were darker still. He leaned forward, his muscles now shifting visibly underneath the suit. I felt my face flush and I couldn’t help but look at him from underneath my lashes while I still fidgeting with the hem of the skirt.

Snap out of it Ava!

“Ethan, you’ll pay what you owe today and right now before I leave. Either with cash or with blood. There is no other way,” he spoke again.

I was chilled to the bone.

With blood, what does that even mean?

“With blood, his blood. He’ll die today in front of you to repay what he owes,” Dante answered.

The thoughts in my mind were uttered out loud without my knowledge while the shock set it. I didn’t even know when I had voiced my thoughts. I didn’t know anything.

“What did he do? We can pay you, please,” I begged.

“Sure, pay up. Have the cash ready. I expect to have the 500,000 in cash by 5 PM today,” he sneered.

“What, 500,000! Why do you owe them this much Ethan? Is this how we have been paying for the bills for the past year?” I whispered hoarsely.

“I got this,” Ethan looked at me. “I’ll get you the money Dante, give me a few weeks.”

“I don’t think you understood when I said, the debt has to be paid in full today. Blood or money. Either way, I don’t mind.” Dante looked up at me curiously.

“Look, I don’t have the money but you can take whatever you want in this house. Take it all. It won’t be the 500, 000 but it’ll be enough for you to allow me a couple of weeks, right?” Ethan negotiated.

“Paid in full, today!” Dante rose to his feet, towering over both of us.

When he stood to his full height, he seemed to fill out the entire room. There was no space left, on his broad shoulders, rippling muscles and chiseled jaw.

“Please, can you give us time,” I begged again.

He glanced at me, a flash of irritation crossed his face. Then he did the unthinkable, he pulled out his gun and cocked it toward Ethan. I instinctively stood up, arms spread as I stood up to shield Ethan with my body. The barrel was pointed at my chest and my heart was beating so hard that I could hear it loud and clear in my ears. My face drained of color and I couldn’t think, couldn’t feel. The only thing I knew was that if I didn’t have Ethan, I would have no one.

“I think you’ve made a mistake. Ethan is honest he’ll pay, I promise,” I said, barely audible.

My mouth had gone dry and it was possible that I could have choked on the air that I was breathed.

“Look Dante, take her. She’s worth more than the 500, 000. She can work for you and surely that’s more than enough. When I get the money, I’ll come and repay you,” Ethan stammered behind me.

Take her? Who is her? No, no, no, this is not happening. This is not happening. What the fuck, what the fuck.

There was a pregnant pause, a silence which was formed. I would rather die. Just kill me right here, right now. I’ll be the blood that is paid.

“Deal,” Dante said, lowering his gun and putting it back in his holster where it belonged.

I spun around, looking down at Ethan where he had been cowering behind me.

“What the fuck,” I said out loud, “What are you saying Ethan?”

“Ava, I got this. Give me a few weeks. I will sort things out and things will be back to normal,” Ethan looked at meekly.

For the first time my protector, my savior had turned into a meek coward in front of me. I tried to push the image out of my head. He really thought this was the solution. Trading me, his human sister to someone to save his own skin. Like I was property and like I was not human. It reminded me of when I was dropped off at Gran’s house and when mom left. Are people all the same, were they just trying to get by no matter what the cost was?

“I dictate the terms Ethan. She will stay with me until I decide to let her go,” Dante said as he stared into my eyes.

Like hell.

“No,” I simply uttered.

Ethan looked at me, surprised that I refused. He looked at Dante, who had reached out to shake his hand. Are they seriously shaking each other’s hands in agreement, I looked at them incredulously.

“NO!” I said again, this time a little louder.

“Sorry Ava, I could see no other way,” Ethan said, looking down and refusing to meet my eyes.

“I’m not going! I’m not going, I’m not property. You can’t use me to trade around like I’m some sort of dispensable value,” I yelled, tears now streaming down my face.

Dante looked at his guard, who was hovering behind him. He gave a slight nod. The guard was in front of me in a flash. He sighed and threw me over his shoulders. I struggled, kicking my legs and arms with whatever strength I had. Flailing about and screaming.

“Is this what I am to you Ethan? You should have left me like everyone else did. Like Mom! You should have let me die if this was what you were going to do to me,” I screamed but no one moved and Ethan did not look up from the floor.

My words stung, I knew. It dripped out of my like acid but I didn’t care anymore. This is actually happening? I saw the way Ethan shifted and the way his eyes were glued to the floor. The pattern of the rug must be that interesting huh.

I was hurt, he was the only person I had known to be by my side. Like a shadow, from the time I was born. The only person I had trusted with every fiber in my body.

The guard made his way through the door, he dug around in his pant pocket for the keys while I was howling at the top of my lungs. Nothing could make this hurt go away and the tears felt like they would never dry.

I momentarily looked over his shoulder as curtains moved in the neighbor’s window. I saw them peeping through the curtain. There was a look of horror painted on their faces but they had quickly shut the curtain when they saw me looking. The guard shoved me into one back of one of the SUVs.

Everyone really was just trying to get by and there is no such thing as trust.

Hi all, this is my first time writing. So please be kind. Any feedback is welcome :)