The Devil’s Deal
1194 Words
Velvet’s heart pounded as she read what was written on the paper. She looked around again for the man, but he was gone. Her eyes returned to the paper in her hand. She read it again and wondered who it could be from.
Her grip tightened around the paper.
This has to be a joke.
A cruel, heartless joke.
But what kind of person would joke around like this?
She wanted to tear the paper apart and throw it into the trash can, but she didn’t.
Instead, she folded it and kept it in her pocket before walking back into the hospital.
Not far from her, someone was watching her every move, and when she went inside, the man made a phone call.
“I delivered the message like you asked, boss.”
“Good. Just keep watching her and keep me updated,” a voice came from the phone.
“Yes, boss.” The man ended the call.
As Velvet walked down the corridor, her mind was elsewhere.
What if it’s real?
What if this is the only chance she has to save Jojo?
What if they don’t find a donor in time?
Fear crept up her skin.
She thought about telling Shelly, but Shelly would panic and insist on going to the police.
The fear of losing her brother was something she didn’t want to think about.
“No…” she whispered. “It can’t be real. This is insane.”
When she entered the room, Jojo was still awake. He was sitting with his back resting against a stack of pillows.
“Where did you go, big sis?”
“Oh, I just went for some fresh air.” She smiled slightly, sat down beside him, then looked around the room. “Where’s Shelly?” she asked.
“She went out to make a phone call.”
The room became quiet, with only the steady beeping of the machines.
“Big sis… am I going to die?”
What?
“No. You’re not going to die, so don’t say that.”
“I’m sorry, but the pain in my chest hurts really bad.”
Her throat tightened as tears pooled in her eyes. They had already given him painkillers.
She forced the tears back, then leaned forward and pressed her forehead against his. She wouldn’t cry in front of him.
“You’re going to be fine, I promise,” she whispered, “but I want you to be strong, okay? Can you do that for me?”
Jojo nodded slightly.
“Okay,” he said.
At that very moment, she already knew what she had to do. If this person could really save her brother, then she would meet with him.
At exactly six o’clock in the evening, she arrived at the restaurant.
The moment she stepped in, a waitress approached her.
“Miss Velvet, please come with me.”
She followed her into one of the private VIP rooms in the restaurant.
Inside sat a young lady who looked to be in her mid-twenties. She was dressed in a black, tailored, body-hugging dress that stopped at her knees.
“Hello, Velvet,” the woman said with a small smile. “You came. Please, have a seat.”
Velvet hesitated for a moment, but then she pulled out a chair and sat down.
The waitress who had led her there quietly excused herself and left the room, closing the door behind her.
She didn’t expect to meet a woman here. She thought it would be a man.
“My name is Jamie, and I have a message for you from my boss.”
Her boss?
Jamie held her gaze before she spoke.
“How much are you willing to sacrifice to save your brother’s life?”
****
Velvet walked out of the restaurant and entered her car, feeling weak.
She did it. She signed a contract with them.
She looked down at the copy Jamie had allowed her to keep. Her eyes moved over the words she had been too desperate to read properly before.
“Failure to comply will result in major consequences.”
Her heart pounded against her chest.
She closed her eyes and rested her head against the car seat.
“What have I done?” she whispered.
Just then, her phone vibrated. She pulled it out of her bag and saw a message from Jojo’s doctor.
Doctor: A donor has been found. The surgery will be scheduled within two days.
Tears streamed down her face as she covered her mouth to silence her sobs while reading the message.
It was real.
God, it was real.
They didn’t lie.
Jojo was going to live.
Another message from an unknown number followed almost immediately.
“Remember, Velvet, do not speak about the contract to anyone, and whenever I call you, make sure to answer the phone. See you soon.”
She released a breath she didn’t know she was holding and placed the phone on the car seat beside her.
It’s okay, she told herself as she wrapped her arms around her body. Jojo will live. That’s all that matters. She just needs to do as they say, and everything will be fine.
Velvet wiped her tears and started the engine.
By the time she got back to the hospital, the corridors felt busier and louder. The nurses moved with purpose, and when she stepped into Jojo’s room, the doctor was already there reviewing his chart.
Shelly, who was the first to see her, quickly approached with wide eyes. “Velvet… this is incredible. They finally found a donor.”
Velvet forced a smile. “Yeah. It’s amazing.”
When the doctor was done, he turned to her.
“All his vitals are stable, but he’s still having chest pains even after taking painkillers. Because of that, we have to start the surgery as soon as possible,” he said.
“How soon are we talking?” she asked.
“Tonight,” the doctor replied. “Your brother is very lucky.”
Lucky.
If only he knew…
Two hours later, Jojo was wheeled into the operating room where his surgery would be carried out. They stopped at the double doors.
Jojo looked up at Velvet. His pale face looked calm. He smiled weakly.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” he said.
“Silly, I should be the one telling you that,” Velvet muttered, then leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead.
“I’ll be right here when you wake up,” she said softly before pulling away.
Jojo smiled back at her before he was wheeled into the room, and the doors closed behind him.
Just then, her phone buzzed. She quickly pulled it out and saw it was Paige.
Paige: Have you decided if you’re going to sign the contract?
Paige: Please say something. I’ve given you enough time to think about it.
Velvet stared at the messages for a long time.
Her fingers hovered over the screen.
She thought of Jojo’s smile. The doctor’s words.
“Your brother is very lucky.”
Slowly, she began to type.
“I’ll sign it.”
- Writer
