“Maybe she’s really tired.” Another voice echoed on the other side of me, a girl’s voice. This time I couldn’t help but to stir, opening my eyes to see the shocked expression of a young boy, who immediately ran over to the side of his sister. They both ran out of the room as I craned my neck to see I was in a small bedroom filled with paintings. I turned back at the sound of footsteps to see a middle aged woman walk into the room, the children following close behind.
“It’s good to see you’re awake. We were beginning to think that you wouldn’t pull through.” She smiled softly at me as I kept my gaze on hers, blushing as I realized I was only covered by a thin sheet. Chuckling, she motioned for her children to leave, their squeals running down the hallway. Walking over to the side of the bed, she sat on the edge, folding her hands in her lap.
“Thank you, for helping me.” I managed to stutter out as she laughed.
“It’s not every day that I run into another member of 13.” I froze as she spoke, her eyes locked on mine as she waited for my response.
“How did you know?”I whispered.
“My former match who later became my husband was in 13. My two younger children look up to the members, they’re like older siblings to them since he was involved. Besides, I don’t know many people who get tattoos with diamonds that don’t mean the gang.” I smiled weakly as she handed me a t shirt and jeans, the sheet lifting and revealing new stitches and bandages. I decided not to pry on why she was still alive even though he wasn’t.
“Your youngest son asked if I would ever wake up. How long was I out?” I asked her as I pulled the shirt over my head and squeezed into the jeans. She watched me intently as I move my arms and body pain or flinch free.
“Today was the third morning you hadn’t woken up. Come on, I’ll make lunch.”I followed her out of the room and into the kitchen, where her children feel silent as I sat down with them at the table. The little boy concentrated on his drawing, but the little girl peered at me with an intense curiosity. I smiled at her as she kept staring, finally opening her mouth.
“Were you matched with someone who died? Is that why you were dying?” I was taken aback by the bluntness of her question, and her mother shushed her. I lowered my head as I thought of Mikey and Niall, wondering if he considered us matched. The room fell silent as she served us food and I stared into the steaming bowl of soup in front of me.
“I was supposed to be matched, but he was killed before anything happened. I got involved with someone else instead.” I finally answered as they peered at me, blowing on their soup before blowing. The boy kept quiet, but the girl was intrigued with my story.
“So you got to meet Niall? Cool! I wish I could even see him.” She said before returning to her soup. There was something slightly disturbing about how her kids were fully aware of the matching tradition. The rest of the meal ended in silence, and I excused myself back to the room to try and gather my head. My head and thoughts were filling with fear that Niall somehow didn’t make it or was left for dead somewhere. My focus was interrupted by a hand on my shoulder and I looked up to see the mother’s tired eyes.
I ended up telling her everything, one detail leading after the other, and I just needed someone to gush everything out to. She kept quiet as I recalled first meeting Niall, Mikey, getting shot, and my last encounter with him in the room with Zayn. I couldn’t help but to cry as I revealed that I needed to find him and tell him about the rebellious group plotting his murder. Even though we weren’t matched, I felt an obligation to commit my life to 13 and his safety.
I sniffled as she tried to compose her words to me. She rubbed my arm as she spoke.
“I understand how you feel, with a loved one. My kids and I have been in hiding ever since my husband died, due to the matching rules of death. I was already pregnant when he was shot, and I couldn’t bear to leave a child behind, but 13 had always been after me. I loved my husband, but there wasn’t any way that I was going to let them be raised without a mother. They’ve been taught the ways of 13, but now they’re old enough to understand.”
Without a word she stood up and left the room, leaving me confused and hurt as what to do next. After taking a small nap, I decided to gather my things and head out to try and find Niall myself. There was bound to be members of 13 around after Kyle had mentioned they had put a price on my body. As I walked through the living room and kitchen, I realized that no one was in the house. My eyes shifted frantically as I cautiously went out the front door to see the mother and children standing in front of a tall man and stout woman. They all turned to face me, their expressions somber.
Before I could say anything, two black jaguars pulled up in front of the house, and out stepped two escorts, who kept their eyes on the mother. My heart began to pound as she walked over to me with watery eyes, kissing my cheek. Her children stayed by the unknown woman’s side, clutching her hands tightly.
“What’s going on?” I finally asked her as a tear rolled down her cheek. Her voice was trembling and soft as she spoke.
“It’s time I honored the tradition, and let my kids go to 13. I know they’ll be in good hands with them, and I can finally join my husband. I’ve arranged for these escorts to take you to Niall, they owed me a favor from long ago, and I know I can trust them. That way you can avoid Diamond and still have a chance to save him, I know I would have loved to have done the same.” My heart dropped as I realized what she was saying as one of the escorts led me to the car and I climbed in.
She waved goodbye to her children, who drove away in the second car, but my escort stayed outside, waiting till the car was out of sight. He hung his head and drew a gun out of his pocket, cocking it and pointing it towards her. My eyes turned away just as there was a bang, her body dropping to the ground in the corner of my eye. The escort avoided my eyes as he climbed in and started the car, his hands shaking. I said nothing as the silence screamed like the gunshot after us as we drove away.
YOU ARE READING
Thirteen
Hayran Kurgu-What happens when you become the ' good fuck' to the mafia king's son?
