Chapter 2: Money is everything

“You better bring me back enough money,” he grunted as I reached for the door.

His voice made my stomach twist.

I didn’t want to go. I never wanted to do this. But if I stopped working, we wouldn’t pay the bills. I wouldn’t be able to stay in school.

“Oh, come on,” he murmured, his voice slithering in the dark. I know you like it. Visit me once a week. I’ll double the pay. Just… do as you’re told.”

I lay on the bed, motionless. My muscles ached, bruises blooming like ink under my skin. Shame wrapped around me like a shroud. I didn’t want to cry. I didn’t even have the strength to move.

There was no food in the house. Probably hadn’t been for days.

My fingers found the crumpled bills he’d left behind on the dresser. I didn’t count them. I didn’t want to know their worth. Money earned through silence didn’t feel like mine.

I dragged my body up, wrapped in yesterday’s coat, and stepped out into the dying afternoon light. One place came to mind "the convenience store". A familiar place where I’d met the man in the suit.

CLANG-CLING.

The school bells echoed through the halls.

[Announcement over in the intercom]

“A reminder: all soccer athletes, please report to the field for afternoon practice.”

It had been three days since Camelia last came to school. That thought clung to the inside of my head like a splinter.

I couldn’t focus.

I zipped up my bag, slower than usual, each motion mechanical. My body was in the classroom, but my thoughts had been drifting since her absence started to stretch longer than usual. I'm worried about her.

After class, I dropped by the faculty office to review my university recommendations. A stack of pamphlets and forms sat untouched on the desk. None of them took an interest in me.

“Take your time, Roze,” said Mr. Thomson. “You’ve still got options.”

“I know,” I murmured. “But is there one that suits a full scholarship?”

“Well,” he offered, pulling a brochure from the pile. “This university’s far, but with your grades, you might get one. It’s worth considering.”

I nodded, thanked him politely, and left with the papers tucked under my arm like they meant something. They didn’t.

Not right now.

I went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face to wake myself up That’s when my phone buzzed.

A single notification.

Message:

Where are you? Can you meet me right now? I need you.

My heart tightened in my chest.

“Camelia…”

I fumbled to reply, but something was off. No signal. Not even a flicker. I checked the bars and it was zero. That didn’t make sense.

I turned toward the door to leave, only to find

It was locked.

“What the hell?” I muttered, jiggling the handle. It had been opened minutes ago. Something tightened in the air, like pressure building in a sealed room.

Panic began to crawl its way up my spine.

“Camelia might be in trouble,” I said aloud. My voice didn’t even sound like mine. I looked at the small window above the sink. It wasn’t a graceful escape, but it was the only way out.

I hoisted myself up, twisted my body awkwardly, and dropped.

Pain scratched up my leg as I hit the ground, a sharp scrape blooming on my knee. But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.

I tore through the courtyard, limping, eyes scanning every hallway, every building.

She wasn’t in the classroom. Not the gym,

Not the library. Where would she go?

Then it hit me. The rooftop.

The place she went the first time she’d disappeared.

I bolted toward the adjacent building and rushed up the stairs two steps at a time. Halfway up, I was shoved hard from the side.

I hit the ground, wind knocked from my lungs.

“Watch it!” I gasped, looking up only to see a girl, a fellow student, frozen as if she’d just come out in an instant. Her eyes flickered strangely like she hadn’t realised what she’d done.

“ I-I’m sorry,” she stammered, reaching out to help me up. Her hands were cold.

I didn’t have time to ask questions.

I ran as fast as I could but time slowed. I was about to reach the entrance door when suddenly someone had fallen.

Blood pooled around her like spilled ink.

The world tilted.

No. No. No. This couldn’t be happening.

I staggered back. My legs wouldn’t work.

I wanted to scream, to run, but, all I could do was stare.

She was gone.

To be continued

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