Chapter Two: Seven Days
1022 Words
I didn't sleep that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, the same words echoed in my head.
The Mafia.
One million pounds.
They're coming next week.
The words felt unreal, like something from a crime film, not my life.
I lay awake until the first rays of sunlight slipped through my bedroom curtains. My alarm rang at six, though I had already been staring at the ceiling for nearly an hour.
I forced myself out of bed.
Life didn't stop because I was terrified.
The hospital still expected me at seven-thirty.
As I passed Bella's room, I found the door slightly open.
She was already awake.
Instead of getting ready for school, she sat on the edge of her bed hugging a pillow, her eyes fixed on the floor.
"Bella?"
She looked up and quickly wiped her eyes.
"I'm fine."
I smiled sadly.
"You're a terrible liar."
She laughed weakly.
"I learned from you."
I walked over and sat beside her.
For a long moment, neither of us spoke.
Finally, she whispered, "Are they really coming?"
I knew exactly who she meant.
I nodded.
"In a week."
She looked down at her hands.
"Will they hurt Dad?"
The question broke my heart.
"I won't let that happen."
She searched my face.
"You promise?"
I hesitated.
I wanted to promise.
I wanted to tell her everything would be okay.
But after what I'd learned yesterday, I wasn't sure of anything anymore.
So instead, I wrapped my arms around her.
"I'll protect you."
She hugged me tightly.
"I don't want anything bad to happen to our family."
"Neither do I."
Downstairs, breakfast was painfully quiet.
My mother barely touched her tea.
My father stared out the window from his wheelchair.
No one mentioned the debt.
No one mentioned next week.
We all pretended life was normal.
It was exhausting.
"I should go," I said, grabbing my bag.
My mother stood and kissed my forehead.
"Have a good day."
"You too."
As I reached the door, my father called my name.
"Sofia."
I turned around.
"I'm sorry."
Three simple words.
They carried years of guilt.
I managed a small smile.
"We'll figure something out."
I wasn't sure whether I was trying to convince him...
Or myself.
The hospital was unusually busy.
Ambulances arrived one after another.
Patients filled every available bed.
Normally, work distracted me.
Today, nothing could.
Every corridor reminded me of the mysterious man.
Every black suit made my heart skip.
During lunch, I found myself standing outside the now-empty private room where he'd stayed.
The room had already been cleaned.
Fresh sheets covered the bed.
It looked as though no one had ever been there.
"You miss your famous patient?"
I turned.
It was Marco, one of the younger doctors.
I laughed.
"I don't even know who he is."
Marco's smile disappeared.
"Neither do I."
"But you know something."
He shook his head immediately.
"No."
"Marco."
"Sofia..."
He looked around before lowering his voice.
"Whatever questions you're asking..."
"Stop asking them."
"Everyone keeps saying that."
"For good reason."
I folded my arms.
"So everyone is just supposed to pretend nothing happened?"
"Yes."
"That's insane."
"It's safe."
Before I could argue, someone called his name.
He hurried away.
Leaving me with even more questions than before.
The rest of my shift passed slowly.
By the time I changed out of my uniform, the sun was beginning to set.
Outside the hospital entrance, I waited for my bus.
A sleek black car pulled up across the street.
My stomach tightened.
The windows were tinted so dark I couldn't see inside.
The engine remained running.
For almost a minute, it didn't move.
It simply sat there.
Watching.
Or at least it felt that way.
Then another black SUV pulled in behind it.
The doors never opened.
No one stepped out.
Just as suddenly as they had arrived, both vehicles drove away.
I frowned.
Maybe I was imagining things.
Maybe yesterday had made me paranoid.
Still...
I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd been observed.
When I arrived home that evening, Bella was doing her homework at the kitchen table.
She looked up and smiled.
"Aced my math quiz."
"See?" I grinned. "I told you all that studying would pay off."
She proudly held up the paper.
Ninety-eight percent.
"I'm impressed."
"You owe me ice cream."
"I never agreed to that."
"You did."
"I definitely didn't."
"You thought it."
For the first time in two days...
We laughed.
It didn't last long.
A loud knock echoed through the house.
Everyone froze.
My mother's cup slipped from her hands, shattering on the floor.
No one moved.
The knock came again.
Slower this time.
My father swallowed hard.
"I'll get it," he whispered.
"You can't," I replied softly.
"I will."
I walked toward the front door.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
I opened it.
Standing outside was a man in an expensive gray suit.
Probably in his forties.
His expression was calm.
Almost friendly.
Almost.
"Miss Sofia Romano?"
"Yes."
He smiled politely.
"My name is Lorenzo."
He held out a black envelope.
"I've been asked to deliver this to your family."
I didn't take it immediately.
"From who?"
"The people your father owes."
The smile never left his face.
"I suggest you read it carefully."
He placed the envelope into my trembling hands.
"Have a pleasant evening."
Then he turned and walked toward a waiting black sedan.
Within seconds, the car disappeared down the street.
I closed the door.
My parents were already staring at the envelope.
No one wanted to open it.
Finally, my father did.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
Only a few lines.
One week.
Prepare the money.
Failure is not an option.
At the bottom of the page was a symbol.
A black wolf.
No signature.
No name.
Nothing else.
My father slowly folded the paper.
My mother began crying again.
Bella looked from one face to another.
"What does it mean?"
Nobody answered.
Outside, the distant rumble of thunder rolled across the evening sky.
The countdown had officially begun.
Seven days.
Seven days until our lives changed forever.
- Writer
