𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐄𝐀 ✔︎ (ongoing)

|20| basement

Time passes by until I feel like I'd pass out from the loss of blood.

Just when I feel I can't take it any longer, the sound of a key turning in the lock of the cell door jolts me back to reality. I force myself to sit up, wiping my face with my bloody hands and trying to compose myself.

The door creaks open and a young woman with striking icy blue eyes and long, dead-straight butter blonde hair steps in wearing a black hooded cloak just like Charles. She kneels down beside me and gently inspects my wound.

"I'm Jenny," she says softly. "I'm here to take care of you."

I look up at her, too stunned to speak. If she hadn't used a kindy tone while speaking I would've ordered her to leave.

Can I trust her?

"Let me clean and dress your wound," Jenny says, opening up her first aid kit. "It'll help with the pain and reduce the risk of infection."

I nod silently, allowing her to tend to my injury. As she cleans and stitches the wound, I wince, trying hard to be patient through the pain.

"I'm afraid I've got no anaesthesia, but pop a painkiller pill in your mouth, it'll help. There's a little water bottle in the kit as well."

"Thank you," I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper, reaching out for the pills and water.

"You're welcome," Jenny responds with a small smile. "I know you must be scared and confused, but I promise you, we're not all bad people here. We've just been ordered to do our jobs."

"You're very kind," I say. Then I frown. "But why would a kind person like you be working for the mafia?"

Jenny purses her lips. "Sometimes, people have no choice."

My frown deepens. "I don't understand."

Her eyes get glassy. "I'm the mafia king's step-cousin's half-niece and his future daughter-in-law. My whole family works for the Mafia of Liverpool. I've been born into the mafia world without a choice," she explains. "Plus, Richard paid more than a million for us to temporarily collaborate with him. I really have no choice."

I swallow a pill with the water bottle and then shut my mouth while she continues stitching. There's an awkward silence so I take the opportunity to change the subject.

"Why are my friends and I here?" I finally ask, shutting my eyes due to the pain. "What do they want from us?"

Jenny hesitates for a moment before speaking. "I can't reveal too much... but I can tell you this. The only way to get out safe is to follow everything they tell you to do and to especially listen to Richard."

I shudder. "I'm not speaking to Richard. I don't want to see him."

She looks at me sympathetically while she finishes off the stitches. "You and the other three have an appointment with him in an hour or so."

"What?"

Jenny clamps her lips with her teeth, as if regretful she has spilled too much information and I stand up, feeling a sharp pain in my shoulder.

"Wait! I haven't bandaged the injury yet," she says, furiously. "For God's sake, sit back down."

I sigh and sit back down, allowing her to wrap my shoulder and arm with a long white piece of cloth. As soon as she secures it, she gives a nod of approval.

"There," she murmurs, then stands up. "Remember the number one rule. Obey. You'll get out of this mess soon enough, hopefully."

I watch her walk towards the door to leave and then call out her name.