chapter 1
1012 Words
“Your brother is going to prison, Miss Sinclair.”
Ava stared at the lawyer across the desk, the words lingering between them, cold and heavy and not possible.. Her lungs felt too empty of breath. Everything else was drowned out by the thunderous sound of her heartbeat, as a painful knot formed in her chest as her fingers curled into her hands under the table.
No!. That was not feasible, Not Ethan,.. not her brother.
The words continued to echo, each time striking more forcefully than the last, like a hammer breaking through the brittle hope she had been holding onto.
jail.
jail.
She was for a moment unable to think, unable to breathe, unable to blink at all.
"No." She didn't sound as strong as she meant to.
With a groan, the lawyer took off his glasses. "I wish I had better news."
Ava gave a headshake. "No. This wasn't done by Ethan.”
She wanted to believe her gut but however, on the desk, there was a lengthy file that said otherwise. pictures. statements from witnesses. police reports. There was so much evidence that it seemed difficult to climb. Her eyes fell on a statement's signature at the bottom. MR ETHAN SINCLAIR .
Her stomach fell, "He admitted it?" she muttered.
The lawyer's face softened. "He took accountability."
"That's not the same thing."
"No."
She could tell everything by his quiet. Ava touched her forehead with shaky fingertips… They had lost their parents, nobody else was present.. no wealthy family members. No buddies from the family. Only Ethan and her, just the two of them against the world but, it seemed the world was winning now.
"How long?" she murmured. The lawyer paused. Then he responded.
"Fifteen to twenty years if the prosecution pursues the maximum charges."
The space whirled. Twenty years. Ethan was just twenty-one years old. His whole existence would be gone by the time he emerged. Abruptly, Ava pushed back her chair and stood up. "We must be able to do something."
The lawyer averted his eyes. "Not without resources."
"Resources?"
"A superior legal team. Investigators. Money, Specialists.”
It was not necessary to say the term, the solution to everything was money. And she didn't have any. She let out a sour laugh. "How much?"
"20 million." The lawyer gave a number.
Ava's breathing almost stopped. It was more money than she would have made in years. Her last vestige of hope crumbled. She reclined in her seat. She felt genuinely powerless for the first time since Ethan's arrest. The file was closed by the lawyer.
"Miss Sinclair, I apologise."
What a tiny for such a terrible thing. In a haste, Ava departed the station. The sun was blinding in the afternoon.
Vehicles went by. People conversed. Life went on as though her world hadn't just collapsed. Her legs gave out just as she reached the curb. Her eyes was clouded by tears, hands shook as they covered her face.. All she had left was Ethan and she was also losing him. It broke her so much, as her fingers trembled violently unable to control her emotions, it was a terrifying feelings she couldn’t withheld again.. she was scared, scared of life itself, scared of being alone.
Suddenly, Nearby, a low engine rumbled but as usual She ignored it. The noise intensified. Nearer and soon a luxurious black car came to a stop just in front of her. Ava looked up after wiping away her tears softly , Outside the police station, the black car appeared completely out of place.
The back door opened. A towering man emerged with dark outfit and shoes that are polished with an expressionless face. The kind of man who had an affluent appearance. The kind of man who appeared menacing. His eyes instantly fell upon her.
not looking. Not interested. Yes. As if he already knew who she was. "Ava Sinclair." It wasn't a query.
Her heart began to beat faster. "Who are you?" The question was disregarded by the man. Rather, he took out a black envelope from inside his jacket. He gave it to her. Before accepting it, Ava hesitated. There was just one card inside. Three silver-printed words. DAMIAN BLAVKWOOD.
She didn't care about the name or know who it was. However, the response it elicited in those around it did. A policeman near the door abruptly averted his gaze. One more stiffened. Fear. and genuine terror. Ava felt a shiver go down her back, and see didn't know why
"What's this?" she asked, confusion gracing her delicate features.
“A chance." the man spoke, voice deepening.
She scowled. "I don't get it."
The man looked over her shoulder toward the station. "I am aware that your brother is being charged with serious offences."
Ava squinted her eyes. "How do you know about that?"
“well.. it shouldn't come as surprise but I have a lot of knowledge."
She shuddered again at the response. "How am I related to this?"
The man unlocked the car's back door. "Mr. Blackwood wants to meet you."
"No." The rejection was immediate, for all she knew she didn't know this people, not the man ad most definitely not this Blackwood. The stranger's expression remained unchanged,
"He can save your brother Miss Ava." The world seemed to stop talking as she froze immediately .
"W-what?" she stammered..
The man looked up at her. "The case of your brother disappears."
Her heart pounded. Not possible, impossible, Nothing couldn’t just vanish without a cost. There was always a cost. Always.
"What does he want in exchange?"
The stranger grinned for the first time. The smile was unpleasant. "Miss Sinclair, if I were you..."
He moved to the side.
“I would personally pose that question to Mr. Blackwood.”
Ava gazed at the car door that was open. Inside, the darkness waits and at the eagerness to save Ethan, she experienced something more powerful than terror for the first time. Desperation...
She knew in her heart that she would get into that car.
- Writer
