A Knife

As Leomord tidies up the front of the den, I lie on the bed, full of food.

The chicken was so tasty, but I definitely ate too much. He's indeed a great cook.

Suddenly his burner phone pings. I tilt my head, thinking if I should check who messaged him. That's kind of low of me to invade his privacy, but I'm curious.

I stiffen as I read the name of the sender.

It's Alex, my brother.

“I know Anastasia is with you, Leomord. Our mom is sick, she has lost a kidney. If you want the best for her, then come out and surrender to the police.”

Mom is sick? What happened?

I quickly put the phone away as I hear him coming back to the den.

“What's wrong? You look like you have seen a ghost,” he raises an eyebrow. “Other than me, of course.”

“It seemed like someone was there when I was taking a bath today,” I try to divert the topic to something else, though I feel sick in the stomach.

“Really? Must have been some rats or rabbits. Trust me, I'm not that cheap to peek,” he leans on the corner of the bed, looking kind of tired. Then he glances at the phone and picks it up. His expression changes a slightest bit when he sees something.

“I have to go see mom,” I blurt out.

He spares me a glance, saying nothing. And when he speaks, his voice is undeniably cold, “You choose to leave your home, Anastasia. Can you imagine the danger if you go to the city now? The police can capture you. They're heavily bribed by Marcus’s family, so they won't care if you're a victim or not. In the meantime, I'll get caught too.”

“But my mom is sick!” I scream, sobbing. “Alex said she has lost a kidney? How could that even happen? I have to go! Because it's all my fault!”

His eyes soften, “It's not your fault, Anastasia. Alright, we can go, but we have to be extremely careful. And we will go in disguise.”

I wipe off my tears, relaxed now. “Thank you. So we're going tomorrow, right?”

“Yeah, we're going. Sleep now.”

I lie down and close my eyes. I feel so anxious. Will mom be alright?

~

The city hasn't changed much. As it's not supposed to. We slowly walk through the road, cautious. We both have masks and hats on. We don't look at people much, not letting them see our faces either.

After we stop in front of my old home, he gives me a gentle pat in my shoulders.

“Go now,” he offers me tight smile.

I nod my head and go inside. I notice mom's car in the garage, so she must be in home.

The house is incredibly quiet. I wonder if they're even inside.

“Mom?” I call out.

No response.

I rush to her bedroom, it's empty. I hear a click sound behind me, in that moment, and Alex comes out. His clothes are messy and dirty, his face covered with stubbles and red eyes. He reeks of cigarettes. And looks like a drug addict.

“Hello, Ana, my sweet sister is here finally,” he laughs bitterly. “My little sister has the guts to come home after finally ruining the family.”

“What do you mean?” I stiffen.

“What do you think I mean?” he steps closer dangerously. “Marcus’s family is after me. They can't forget the pain of their son's death. I have been tryna do business, but they don't give a fuck to me cuz my lil sis got pregnant by some rich dead kid. Mom got sick and is in the hospital. But that woman,” he spits on the floor, “won't even let me have a penny outta her savings. Says it's for her daughter and her grandkid. Like what the fuck? Does she know that her daughter is fondling with a criminal? I need money. I have been watching over her, admitting her in hospital and stuff. And I don't even get a penny?”

“Yeah, because you're a drug addict with heart,” I reply coldly.

“You're no better. You're a whore,” he smirks.

It's taking every inch of my strength to not to punch the shit outta him.

"You should watch your mouth," I warn him.

"I don't think I'm going to," he scoffs, then pulls out a cheap cigarettes packet from his packet. "Want one?"

"No," I throw him a disgusting glare.

“By the way, mom needs money for her kidney transplant," he inhales a huge loaf of cancer." Can you give her some?” he slowly says.

I have fully saved the money I earned by crocheting. I will my last penny to mom for her treatment, but not to him. What if he scams me? He's not my brother, he's just a monster.

“Yeah, of course. Which hospital is mom in? I have to go see her.”

“Why don't you give the money to me?” he throws the burning cigarette on the floor, frowning.

“I don't trust you, that's why. Tell me the hospital name, I have to go quick.”

“You think you can?” he laughs menacingly and suddenly grabs me by my hair. “You bitch, I'll kill you and your kid right now.”

I scream, trying to push him off. But there's like a giant in him, he pushes me to the floor without any effort, gripping my throat. I gasp for air, trying to kick his vein, but I can feel slowly the life drain out of me.

“Leomord!” I somehow manage to whisper. “Help me!”

“He's not living either, you bitch!” he gets off me and runs to the kitchen, grabbing a huge knife. “Where's he? Tell him to come in too!”

The front door bursts open in that moment. And I see Leomord standing in the doorway.

“Don't come here!” I yell, trying to shake the dizziness away from my head. “He has a knife!”

In just a split second, Leomord pulls out a gun from his pocket and shoots Alex in the leg, without any hesitation.

And I watch in horror, as his blood drains the kitchen.