VILLAIN TO THEM, HERO TO ME

Chapter 2 - Raven

When Raven turned 15, Hector had a terrible accident. He was caught in a pile-up and did not survive. Raven was left with nothing again, no one to help her, no one to care for her, and no one to be there for her.

"Why...why did you have to die!" Raven cried at the funeral home. She was the only person there. "YOU PROMISED YOU'D STAY BY MY SIDE! YOU F#CKING PROMISED ME!" Raven cursed as she bawled her eyes out.

She fell to her knees, hitting the floor as hard as she could, harder and harder,  crying uncontrollably.
"You promised..." Her tear drops falling on the cold concrete floor.

She walked home where Hector and her lived. They WERE happy. She entered the house. Her footsteps as light as a feather. She saw a note on the fridge as she passes the kitchen and grabbed it slowly.

Hey Rav :) I'll be out for the whole day working. Remember to lock every door and windows and always pay attention to them. If you ever need to defend  yourself, use anything that is close to you but remember it's best if it's sharp and easy to grab. Please ring me as soon as you sense something wrong! Don't forget the training we had for the past years. You can do it! I believe in you :)

P.s. I made your favourite lunch in the fridge :) eat it when you wake up. :D

                                            - Love Hector

"I bet you forgot your own lunch huh..." She said, with a sorrowful chuckle. She sticked the note back on the fridge and looked inside it. There it was, her favourite. Homemade sushi. She fell in love with sushi when she first tasted it.

Ding.

The sushi was done and she set them on a plate. Staring at it. Then she took a bite as her eyes flooded with tears. "I miss you already... Dad." She whimpered. "I wish I could just be there with you... But you wouldn't want that, would you?" She chuckled, followed by a sigh. " If I die, then all your efforts will be wasted..." She took another bite and swallowed. " I won't let all your efforts go to waste... I'll try my best, for you, dad. "

" Hellooooo? Earth to Raven!!! "

What? What's happening? Who's calling me? Before she could react, everything started to break.

The ground was shaking heavily and the building started falling apart, the floor suddenly collapsed and she fell.

"Raven! Wake up! The manager is here!!! " A familiar voice awoken Raven that was in a deep sleep while walking down the memory lane, or should she call it, a nightmare. Either way, she snapped back to reality. She was welcomed by a noisy background, full of people chattering and plates being cleaned. She was on a shift when she fell asleep from exhaustion.

She's a waitress in a not very popular restaurant. The voice was from her co-worker, Caitlyn Rose. She was gently tapping Raven on her arms, but it felt like an earthquake in her nightmare.

"Raven, do you realize how bad the situation is right now? This isn't the first time I've caught you asleep on your shift!" Raven was stunned. It took her a moment to realize what was actually going on. But she was speechless, nothing could come out of her mouth, she just stood there, looking helpless and pityful.

" I'm so sorry ma'am, It was my fault. " Raven's other co-worker, Andrew Xanders chipped in, hoping the manager would blame him instead of her. " Excuse me?" The manager said.

"Oh um right, yeah. It was my fault too. We told her to rest since, um..." Caitlyn nervously said, and nudged Andrew, signalling him to continue the story. "H-huh? Oh yes, we told her to rest cause me and Caitlyn got it covered. She was working REALLY hard." "Yeah! She worked her ass off because WE were slacking off, but we realized we were wrong and so... You know!" Caitlyn added.

"Oh, is that so?" The manager asked, looking at the three from back to back. "Are they telling the truth, Raven?" They all turned to Raven in an instant. Caitlyn and Andrew's eyes were telling her to not blow their cover and go along with the story so her ass could be saved, and so would theirs.

"To tell the truth, manager..." Raven said with her head down. "Go on..."

Caitlyn and Andrew pleaded with their eyes. They were shining with hope. After all, it was all for her own sake.

"They're being honest, they were slacking off and I did my best."
Caitlyn and Andrew both looked at each other and sighed with relief.
"I see. So, you two slacked off during a shift and Raven covered for you two by herself? I should fire you two."

Caitlyn and Andrew both looked back at the manager in shock and realization. Their made up "truth" had a hole and they were responsible for it. They gulped in fear because there's no negotiating with the manager. If they did, it will only increase their chance of getting fired by 100%. Begging is also pathetic so it's not use.

"Wait. Madam..." Raven said quickly, startling the manager.

"What is it?"

"Don't fire them,please. I know negotiating doesn't work with you but please, if you don't fire them, I'll work double shift. You won't even need to add it to my pay. I'll do it for free. Just don't fire them. They meant well."

"What? You would do that for us?" Caitlyn said with hope. "You can't do that, Raven. It's not fair." Andrew said with a concerned manner.

"Actually, it's fair. I'll consider the deal if Raven, does not take the rest of the year off, you have to work everyday from 8am to 10pm. No extra pay and no breaks. They will not be fired and I will keep my word if you are able to do everything perfectly. You can't afford to have any flaw. "

"What?! Are you serious?! Don't do it, Rav! " Andrew shouted. "Bup Bup Bup" The manager said, with a finger right Infront of his face, telling him to shut up."It is not your decision to make, my dear. One more word from that filthy mouth of yours and I will fire all three of you." Andrew stepped back and looked at Raven. She was seriously considering it.

"What will it be, Raven? Will you sacrifice your time and energy, just for these useless rats?" She asked mischievously.

"Deal."

Caitlyn and Andrew was speechless.
"Good. Now get to work, kids. You still have about half an hour until closing time. I'll be keeping an eye on you both" The manager walked away and exited the restaurant.

Caitlyn and Andrew grabbed Raven and started shaking her violently. "Are you crazy?!  You just accepted a 14 hour shift that doesn't pay you half of what you do and for what?!" Caitlyn screamed. "For you." Raven said calmly. They stopped shaking her.

"Raven... Come on. You should've just let her fire us. You just wasted our lie that we made up on the spot just to help you, now u just made it impossible!" Andrew was worried sick.

"I'm sorry guys. From how I see it, it's the only way, I didn't want you guys to be unemployed."

"Oh please, we were underpaid to begin with! There was nothing to lose!" Caitlyn said.

"You wanted to be fired?" Really? They were planning to leave anyway? What about me? Are they going to leave me too? Is it really because of the salary or is there something else?

"I mean... When you put it that way..." Caitlyn mumbled. Andrew sighed, "It's fine, we will stay after our shifts and help you." "Yeah! We'll be here and we'll help you!"

"You guys really don't need to stay, I'm fine." Raven tried to convince them but they weren't going to back down that easily. Little did they know, it wouldn't matter anyway, because she won't be doing anything anymore after this shift.

They were closing up the restaurant and Raven told them to go ahead so she can close up herself. Hours later, she was standing on the edge of a tall building. "Sorry dad. I couldn't do it. I'll be there with you now. Goodbye merciless world." Without hesitation, she leaped off the roof,  into the air, and closed her eyes. She was finally at peace.

THUD.