Repaying the Debt

Chapter Three

Here I am. Back in the stupid dark alley. When most people feel fear and uncomfortable in places such as this, I have lost those feelings over the years. For I am already in such a situation many try to avoid.

I soon see the familiar vehicle at the end of the alley show up and park while quickly turning off all the lights. Which makes me begin to feel nervous, clutching the envelope tight to my heaving chest. For I now have the rest of the money my father ever owed these people in there. This will be the very last time I ever enter this damned alleyway. Last time I meet with these people. The last of my fathers enduring debt that was put onto me.

The man whom I speak to every time approaches me with such confidence it makes me even more nervous. When he is within range that I could see him in the dark, I notice with same sad smile he greets me with every week. He has admitted he never wanted to get a young innocent girl as myself into such a situation-but business is business nonmatter how you come of it.

"How have you been?" He asks.

"Fine. Quite well actually." I reply forcing my chin upwards to bring confidence to my stance.

He gives a subtle nod of approval and reaches his hand out.

"Before I give you this, I have done the math and I had acquired the last of the amount needed. This should be the final transaction." I say holding the envelope to view, hoping they don't notice it shaking within my grasp.

The mans eyes grow a bit wider as I finish my statement. His only response is to give me an approving and happy nod. We had spoken about this evening multiple times in the past. Dreamed of it. Now it is a reality.

I gently hand him the thick envelope of cash and he stuffs it in to his suit jacket. But this evening he grabbed onto my hand and patted it while sliding a card between my fingers. He pulls me in so my face is by my ears and says, "In case you need any sort of help. You've done well. Farewell." He then lets go and walks back the vehicle and takes off. Leaving me to myself in the middle of the alleyway.

The feeling of pure relief and joy inside becomes far too overwhelming to contain and I smile and let tears freely roll from my eyes onto my face. For this is a feeling I have long since forgotten. I soon compose myself and wipe my face of the now dried up rivers and turn to head home.

I walk into my apartment and sit writing a check for the home my brother's in to pay for the next 3 months. Along with payments for all and any bills I needed to pay. I address them and go to the hallway and put it into the outgoing mail slot. Three months to now take care of myself. I grab the few left over dollars in cash and decide to head to the grocery store at the end of the block. My stomach growls as if it knows that I can now afford to get enough food to keep myself healthy.

I lock my apartment and I begin my journey. As I step out onto the sidewalk a strange feeling quickly fills my gut. I suddenly feel cautious and not safe. But my growling stomach and body keeps me walking away from the apartment and into the evening. Of course I live in an area of town where maintenance isn't up to date so only every few streetlights work so I'm stuck going in and out of light. I soon begin to hear footsteps behind me. They're going the same page as myself but it still makes me feel I have to speed up. Hoping to reach the store just four blocks away where I know there's working security cameras and witnesses if anything were to happen to me. When I now hear the footsteps following me meeting with my new pace makes me more determined to make it to a safe place. I feel sweat beading my forehead and my hands becoming slippery with sweat. The footsteps no longer sound as far away from me from when they first started. I now find myself full on sprinting towards the store and at least praying somebody witnesses this.

Even though I'm so close to the store, I made the rash-and rather stupid-decision to make a bolt through an alleyway. I knew the neighborhood quite well and hoped they weren't familiar with the area. As I begin weaving through the twisted alley, the footsteps are keeping up with me. Shit.

I turn another corner and there is a trashcan in the middle that I failed to maneuver around. I find myself in the air for a split second before crashing onto the stoned ground. Groaning in pain I seemed to have forgotten my chasers until I feel cloth on my face by a large hand.

I'm in such pain and am so weak I don't even attempt fighting the intruder. After a minute my frail body begins to give into the chemical bathed cloth. I close my eyes and slip into a forced slumber.