The Sin

Chapter Nine

             The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the parking lot. Dash hurried through the back entrance, the familiar scent of garlic and olive oil wrapping around him like a comforting embrace. He glanced at the clock mounted above the kitchen door; it was almost delivery time.

            “Ben!” he called, spotting his friend leaning against the dumpster, arms crossed, a cigarette dangling from his lips. The faint crackle of the flame flared as he lit it, sending a thin plume of smoke curling into the air.

           “Hey, man,” Ben replied, exhaling a cloud of smoke. “What’s up? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

        Dash hesitated, his heart pounding. “It’s Ivy… her parents died in a car accident few months back” he said, the words tasting bitter on his tongue.
Ben’s eyes widened, and he flicked the cigarette to the ground. “What? How? I didn’t hear anything about it.”

      “They were hit by a bike,” Dash continued, his voice low, urgent. “And I think... I think it might be connected to you.”

Ben’s face paled, his bravado slipping away like the smoke dissipating into the cool evening air. “What do you mean connected to me?”

      “The guy who was riding the bike was wearing a Devil's Boy helmet, but Ivy said he was reckless—just like you,” Dash pressed. “You remember last summer, when you were showing off on that thing? You almost took out a family on the highway.”

     “That was different!” Ben snapped, the defensiveness creeping into his tone. “I didn’t cause any accidents. I just... I just ride fast.”

     “Fast enough to hurt someone, Ben.” Dash clenched his fists, frustration bubbling inside him. “You need to take this seriously. Ivy’s hurting, and you might have played a part in it.”

Ben turned away, running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t mean to. I don’t even know...” he muttered, guilt etching deeper into his brow.

As if on cue, the back door swung open, and a rush of laughter spilled out. A group of servers emerged, their chatter bouncing off the brick walls. Ivy was among them, her smile bright but strained, a mask that barely concealed her pain. “Hey, Dash! Ben!” Ivy called out, her voice light but edged with something darker. “You guys coming to help with deliveries?”

Dash exchanged a glance with Ben, who quickly averted his gaze. “Uh, yeah. Just a second,” Dash replied, his heart racing.

        “Ivy, wait!” he called out, stepping forward. “I need to talk to you.”
“What about?” Her smile faltered, suspicion flickering in her eyes. “About your parents—”

        “Don’t,” she interrupted, her voice sharp. “I don’t want pity. Just deliver the food. It’s what I need right now.” Her laughter from earlier faded, replaced by a heavy silence.

        “Please, Ivy—” Dash began, but she turned on her heel and walked away, the sound of her shoes clicking against the pavement echoing like a countdown. Ben sighed, running a hand over his face. “What are we going to do? If she finds out… if anyone finds out…”

        “We need to figure it out before it’s too late,” Dash said, his voice resolute. “Because this… this could ruin everything.”