CHAPTER ONE
1472 Words
Plates slipped from my hands and shattered the moment I hit the floor.
The impact knocked the air out of my lungs, and before I could even process what had happened, something sharp tore into my wrist. I gasped, staring at the thin line of blood that began to spill onto the already messy tiles.
The floor was wet.
Of course it was.
I tried to push myself up—
SLAP!
My head snapped to the side.
“You’re useless!”
The sting spread across my cheek as I tasted blood. I didn’t need to look up to know who it was.
Chef.
“It was a simple task,” he continued, his voice filled with disgust. “One order, Rory. Just one. And you still managed to ruin it.”
My chest tightened.
“It wasn’t my—”
“Quiet!”
Another slap.
This time, it wasn’t him.
I froze.
Lin.
I slowly lifted my head, meeting her gaze. Her lips curved into a satisfied smile, like she’d been waiting for this moment all day.
And suddenly, it clicked.
The water.
The way she had “accidentally” walked past me just seconds before I stepped forward.
This wasn’t an accident.
It never was.
“Get up and clean this mess,” Chef barked. “No salary for you this month.”
My fingers curled slightly against the floor.
No salary.
Again.
“Useless,” he muttered before walking away.
A soft scoff followed.
“Pathetic,” Lin said, circling me slowly. “I told you I’d make you suffer, didn’t I?”
I said nothing.
I couldn’t afford to.
“This place isn’t for you,” she continued, her voice dropping into something colder. “You don’t belong here. You’d fit better on the streets… waiting for the next man to take you in.”
Her words hit harder than the slap.
But I swallowed everything.
Every response.
Every tear.
I reached for the broken plates instead.
“Answer me.”
Before I could react, her hands shoved me hard.
I lost my balance instantly.
The world tilted—
—and I hit the floor again.
This time, my palms landed directly on the shattered pieces.
Pain shot through my hands.
“Ah—!” The cry slipped out before I could stop it.
Lin laughed.
“Cry,” she said mockingly. “Go on. Maybe you’ll finally quit.”
“Or else what, Lin?”
The voice came from behind her.
She stiffened.
“Oh—Jude. It’s not what you think, I was just—”
“Leave it.”
He didn’t even look at her.
Strong hands reached for me instead, helping me up gently.
“Go wash up, Rory. I’ll handle this.”
For a moment, I couldn’t speak.
“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice unsteady, before hurrying out.
⸻
The bathroom mirror didn’t lie.
I looked… terrible.
Pale. Tired. Broken.
I turned on the tap, slipping my injured hand beneath the running water.
“Ash—” I hissed as it stung, my fingers trembling slightly.
I stared at the blood swirling down the sink.
I’d need to stop by a pharmacy later.
If I could afford it.
“You alright, Rory?”
I jumped slightly at Jude’s voice from outside the door.
“Y-yeah. I’m almost done.”
I quickly washed my face, trying to erase any trace of what had just happened, then stepped out.
“I’m sorry,” I said automatically. “I didn’t know you were waiting—”
“I wasn’t,” he cut in gently, straightening from where he leaned against the wall. “I was checking on you.”
Something in my chest shifted.
For the three months I’d worked here, Jude was the only one who had ever been kind to me.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I nodded. “I’m fine.”
He didn’t look convinced.
“Come on,” he said, extending his hand.
I hesitated for only a second before placing mine in his.
⸻
We stepped out through the back entrance of the restaurant.
The night had already swallowed everything.
It was late—too late.
The streets were quiet, almost empty, and the darkness felt heavier than usual.
Jude walked toward his bike.
“Let me take you home,” he said.
I shook my head immediately. “It’s fine. I can go myself.”
He sighed, like he had expected that answer.
“You always say that,” he muttered, then gestured toward the road. “Look around, Rory. It’s not safe.”
I stayed silent.
“I’m serious,” he added, softer this time. “Let me help.”
I looked at him.
Really looked.
And for a moment… I wanted to trust him.
But trust wasn’t something I had anymore.
Still—
He was right.
“Okay,” I said quietly.
His face lit up slightly as he handed me a helmet.
“Hold tight.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist as the bike started moving.
I hated bikes.
I always had.
The wind brushed against my face, but all I could think about was—
That night.
The sound of metal scraping against the road.
The way everything had spun out of control.
My mother lying still on the ground.
My grip tightened unconsciously.
“Can you slow down?” I said, my voice barely steady.
“What?” he asked, turning slightly.
And then—
I saw it.
A car.
Speeding straight toward us.
Too fast.
Way too fast.
“Watch out!” I screamed.
“s**t—!”
Everything happened at once.
The impact.
The sound.
The force throwing us off.
And then—
Nothing.
⸻
My body felt… light.
Too light.
Voices echoed somewhere far away, but I couldn’t make out the words.
Strangely, I felt calm.
At peace.
For the first time in a long time… everything was quiet.
Maybe this was it.
Maybe it was finally over.
A small, fragile smile formed in my mind.
I’d get to see her again.
My mother.
No pain.
No cruelty.
No people like—
“Handle it.”
The voice cut through the silence.
Cold.
Detached.
Unfeeling.
Even in this state, I knew that kind of voice.
Rich. Powerful. Untouchable.
The kind of people I had learned to stay far away from.
Darkness pulled me under before I could think any further.
And this time—
I didn’t fight it.
⸻
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
The sound dragged me back.
Slowly, I opened my eyes—only to shut them again at the harsh brightness above me.
When I tried again, everything came into focus.
A white ceiling.
A hospital.
I shifted slightly, wincing as pain spread through my body. My hand moved instinctively, only to stop when I felt something attached to my arm.
A cannula.
I stared at it.
Didn’t I die?
“Oh no, please lie down!”
A nurse rushed in, gently guiding me back onto the bed.
“You’re lucky,” she said as she checked my vitals. “You were brought in just in time.”
“They should have waited a second longer…” I muttered.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.”
Of course.
I was still here.
“Everything looks fine… Miss?” she asked.
“Rory.”
She nodded. “We couldn’t find any identification on you.”
I wasn’t surprised.
“There are your medications,” she added, placing a bag beside me.
“Thank you.”
“How long have I been here?” I asked.
“Just a day.”
Oh.
No one came.
Not that I expected anyone to.
“You’re lucky,” she continued. “Your friend is in a worse condition. But your bills have been taken care of.”
I froze.
“My… bills?”
She only smiled.
Then turned to leave.
“Wait—” I pushed myself up slightly. “Where is he?”
“The room next to yours.”
“Can I see him?”
“After you rest.”
I nodded.
And waited.
Only until she left.
Then I pulled the cannula out and slipped off the bed.
The hallway stretched out in front of me, lined with identical doors.
Two beside mine.
Left… or right?
I chose right.
Big mistake.
A scream ripped through the room the moment I opened the door.
“Oh my God—I’m sorry!” I slammed it shut instantly, my face burning.
I didn’t even want to process what I had just seen.
Definitely the wrong room.
I steadied myself, then turned to the other door.
This had to be it.
I pushed it open slowly.
And there he was.
Jude.
Lying still.
His leg in a cast.
- Writer
