Marked by Lucian

My Past / Elara

I walked out of the building. I didn’t look back. A taxi was already there; I got in and handed the driver the address. On the back seat, I sit and think about everything. About my past.

I grew up in a fairly poor family. We had money for basic things in our small family house, but not for what we wanted. I have an older brother—Andrei. He was always protective of me and our family. In high school he started doing illegal things to earn money for expensive clothes. He always wanted more than he had. Through years of dealing with drugs and weapons, he met people who eventually got him out of prison. I admit he got out unfairly—he did kill many people.

And me? I’m just ordinary Elara. I always tried hard in school to find a good job so I could provide for my family. The complete opposite of Andrei. I’m 24 and I’ve always avoided trouble—until now. I didn’t know why he chose me, but I agreed. Maybe if I hadn’t, I’d be lying in a pool of my own blood right now, gasping for my last breaths.

Suddenly, I heard the soft voice of the taxi driver.

“Miss, we’re here.”

“Thank you.”

I paid him and stepped out.

I entered the building and found apartment number 27. I sighed and whispered,

“Apartment 27, new apartment, new life, new beginning.”

I put the key in the lock and walked in.

The apartment was quite modern and minimalist, but I knew this wasn’t a coincidence. Questions raced through my mind. Why me? What does he want in return? In this world, nothing is free. I felt like I had signed a deal with the devil himself.

I sat on the couch and turned on the TV.

“Maybe this will distract me.”

I stared at the screen. Suddenly the phone rang. I answered, and through the speaker I heard his deep voice, cold as always.

“Tomorrow at 6 AM, I expect you at your new job. I’ll send you the address via message.”

His voice sent shivers down my spine. I didn’t want to sound like I already belonged to him, even though a part of me knew I did, in every sense of the word.

“If I may ask… what exactly is my new job?”

He answered instantly, as if he’d been waiting for the question.

“You’ll be my personal cleaner.”

My eyes widened.

“A cleaner?! Are you insane? I quit my job just to be your cleaner?!”

His voice vibrated through me.

“Of course. You’ll be well paid, you already got an apartment and a chance at a new life—and you already agreed to all of this. Tomorrow at 6 AM. This address.”

He hung up. I froze. Be his cleaner? Wash his dirty boxers? No way. I went to bed and fell asleep.