2 Chapter 1

THE DEBTORS

A loud thud echoed fiercely on the door, making chaos in the apartment.

Laura's little brother grasped her tightly. The young boy appeared to be unnerved.

Who might be knocking this late in the evening?

Laura had a baffling look as the reflection danced into her head while she gazed at the exit. She was sure she knew who was at the door, her suspicions brought in a wave of panic that overwhelmed her. She shivered slightly at the thought of the bastard at the door. The monster has come back to harass them again!

"Who's there?" She inquired, in an attempt not to feel panicky as she heard food steps inching closer to the door. The question wasn't needed since she knew who was at the door. Still, she demanded notwithstanding, feigning obliviousness.

"Open up bitch!" the icy voice of a man roared furiously.

"Open this door now before I smash it!" His voice echoed with monster fury and alert.

Dennis held her tighter as he stood behind her back, shaking like he heard the voice of a beast. She despised seeing her little brother this terrified, but there was nothing she could do.

"Do you hear me you good for nothing piece of shit !" He growled, "Since you chose to end up like your worthless old man! This door is coming down!" Everything suddenly went silent for a moment.

Hopefully he had left, that was what she prayed for silently even though it was next to impossible, her heart beat heavily against her chest.

Suddenly, they heard a loud thud at the door. As the door was hit again with an even louder thud, the sides of the door cracked and the door fell to the ground.

Laura snatched her brother, shielding him from the scene.

"You jackass!" She yelled at the man who broke into their home and was standing on the door he had just destroyed.

She raised her head and it met the beady eyes of a furious, solid looking man dressed in black gazing at them. Behind him were two men also dressed in the black, wearing dark shades with menacing looks on their individual faces.

"Mr. Hart?" She called with nervousness in her voice.

"Don't even think about mentioning my name, you vermin!" He growled as he stepped to her and dragged her by the hair, roughly separating her from her little brother.

"Laura!" Dennis calls, crying.

He did not want to lose his sister the same way he lost his papa. Dennis thought, as the men came in and picked him up

"Honestly, just look at him. He seemed terrified. Defenseless. And all of this is your father's fault" he whispered into her ears. He placed his lips closer to her ears like a man in the great endless net of passion.

Her frightened eyes settled on the honest child whimpering in tears. He was right, this was all her father's fault. He was the one who brought this monster into their lives.

"Aww... He needs his mummy." said Mr Hat expressing a distasteful voice to mock the boy's guiltlessness. He sounded like he was partaking in their misery. The bastard!

"You don't want to end up like your useless father, right?"

Those words smashed something inside of Laura. She gazed with sharp void eyes at the edge of the room. Unexpectedly, she burst out battling against the man, while he giggled at her irritation. A surprising amount of strength filled her as she dismantled and pawed at him, yet all that she did happened to be harmless.

"This will be my last warning!" He released her and she fell to the ground cruelly, unable to find strength to support her legs.

"You have just seven days to get me my money! That is if you love useless your lives! Because, the next time I come here, I vow not to simply break your door, but also your bones too!"

He snapped his fingers and his men let go of Dennis. The kid slithered rapidly to his sister.

" Just look at them, foolish, defenseless little rats," he said, and his men joined him in uncontrollable laughter.

Just when they were about to leave, her voice stopped them.

"Mr. Hat!" Laura called furiously, clutching her head, which had hit the ground hard.

"You need your money, right? I'll get it to you in four days or less!"

Four days? Could it be said that she was aware of what she was saying? How will she find the money in four days or less!? Was this boldness or outright stupidity, she wondered... Perhaps she hit her head to the exact extent that she lost her senses.

"Gee," he grunted. "Fascinating, I know you'll get me my money." he chuckled.

"If you're implying I will be getting my money in no less than four days then you're more ballsy than I thought" he left with his men, laughing as they vanished along the street. He was certain she was simply boasting. He would find a lot of joy in snapping her bones only four days from now.

Four days? Was she really thinking? How?

Why on earth did she say that to Mr Hat was the first thought that came into her mind when the men left the room.

But, she had to defend herself for this torture to stop. If not Mr Hat would never allow them to experience harmony in their lives. He would keep on torturing them the same way he had tormented their father, which led him to go into a drinking and gambling lifestyle.

Presently it was their turn to pay for what their father couldn't wrap up. Mr. Hat, is by simple definition a relentless beast. He could care less if they were sick or even homeless. All he ever cared for and needed was his fucking money!

She didn't remember what she was thinking when those words started coming out of her mouth, but she was certainly sure that there was a way out of this mess her father had created for them.

Even though she was weak, that didn't mean she would allow anyone to continuously step on her.

"Laura," Dennis called, still crying. "H-how? How are you going to pay for the money?" The crying kid asked her.

Laura swallowed as she peered down at the helpless child. This was a lot for him to deal with at his age. She despised herself for feeling so powerless and defenseless at the same time.

She forced out a fake smile at him and said, " Don't worry. It will all be over soon" she assured him. She was certainly sure that all would be over soon, even though there wasn't a way out now, but she was determined to make sure everything was fine.

She taps softly on his back.

" There has to be a way," she murmured as warm tears escaped from her eyes.

This needs to stop, they can't continue life this way. There has to be a way!

Jasmine!

Right then, a name hit her head. Of course, Jasmine might be the solution to her problem,

Her childhood friend.

******

The Maiden Hotel, also known as Slut delivery..

Jasmine sat on a delicate sofa in a dimly lit room with a cigarette on her left hand serenely going through some files before her. She put the cigarette in her mouth and puffed out a thick cloud of smoke. It wasn't easy maintaining a business of this nature, yet she had committed her whole life to this business and had made a name for herself.

Nevertheless, it paid much better than working at the fanciest restaurant as a waiter.

Oh gosh! She hated the sight of dirty dishes and also cleaning after people.

Hell no! That was not her kind of work.....

Anyway, writing down and making requests to fulfill their client's desires was an important part of the job, that was her primary role as the manager in charge of delivery.

Her phone rang, upsetting her quiet state of mind. "What in the world!" She shouted to herself before picking up the call.

"What?!" She screamed at the caller on the line.

" Ma'am.. , a lady is here to see you," the other voice on the line said, shakily.

"A lady? Who?"

"She said her name was Laura."

"Give her access right away!" she instructed, fixing herself in a new position. Her voice had relaxed at the name Laura.

It was an unexpected visit. After a long time? She scarcely heard from Laura after she left for school. What ever might have happened that made her show up out of nowhere?

She situated herself well on the seat, not knowing how to present herself before her childhood best friend. She looked quietly at the door, hanging tight for it to open any moment.

'Click'

The door handle turned and the door made a creaking sound as it opened slowly to show a slight view. The head of a girl pops in first, taking a look around the little office.

"Laura!" Jasmine called excitedly as she stood up. "Come in!" she said as she hugged Laura in a warm and inviting embrace.

"It's been such a long time," she said with sad eyes. She saw one more shadow behind her back. She looked and saw a little boy. Little Dennis was with her.

"Gracious, you brought Dennis as well?" she asked, a little concerned . The little boy seemed happy to meet her even though it had been a long time since he saw her. He could still recall her face.

"Come here, my little cutie" Jasmine said, giving him a similar embrace she gave to his sister.

"You look pretty as usual," Jasmine said as she watched Laura.

"You as well" Laura commented, getting herself a seat.

" I had thought about seeing you again, but certainly not at such a late hour of the day. Now, tell me, what brings you here.?" Jasmine asked happily.

"Jasmine, I need your help".

Jasmine could see the desperation in her eyes. She could tell something was wrong. She knew Laura and when something had her desperate, that was just the way she looked!

Even though she appeared to be in trouble, her eyes were still as pretty as the last time they met.

Anyway, this was a surprise. Jasmine watched her watery eyes, seeing the arrival of new tears. She seemed like she had been crying before coming here.

"What happened?"

Jasmine got focused, sounding stressed. She couldn't comfort Laura the way she used to back when they were in school. Jasmine looked at Laura with concern in her eyes...

"My Dad," Laura said, unfortunately.

If there was one thing that would break Laura this way, it was the good for nothing father she had, Jasmine thought.

That jerk never thought about them after the death of their mother, the only thing he focused on was money!

That was the same money that brought troubles into the lives of his children...

" Don't tell me that asshole laid his hands on you?" Jasmine asked with her eyes burning with a full scorn. If that fool dared to lay his hands on her friend this time, she promised she would never let it slide.

"No, he's dead."

"What!?" Jasmine tossed her hand over her mouth, stunned. Mr Martin was dead? She didn't know how to feel, she didn't like him much and there was little she could remember apart from his constant stench of alcohol.

It had been quite a while since they reached out to each other. They had somehow fell out of touch when Laura's family moved out of town.

When did she lose her father? Those words ran consciously in her thoughts until Laura, out of nowhere, ended the silence by saying.

"I want to become one of your delivery escorts."