Chapter 47: Life Bargain

The young woman clutched her abdomen as she collapsed on the ground, face contorting in pain. For a second, nobody moved.

“CC!” Mariana dropped her gun and immediately rushed to the girl’s side. “What are you doing? Why did you do that!”

The gun that was originally aimed at Stacy shot Cecilia instead as she rushed in in time to block it from reaching Stacy. Stacy’s legs gave out as she fell to the ground with a plop. She watched the woman she loved with her whole heart cradling the girl she thought to be Hank’s daughter whose mom had passed away giving birth.

She didn’t want to believe any of it at first, but seeing her “mother”’s concern and all that happened in front of her right then prevented that. It’s an ‘in-your-face’ scene. She closed her eyes, hoping for everything to go away. Maybe when she opened her eyes, she’d wake up somewhere else in the world and someone would rush up to her and tell her that she’s actually a rich family’s lost daughter and that she’d had a really long nightmare from her long coma after an accident.

“Please stop,” Cecilia breathed out while clutching her wound. “I told you to wait for me outside. Why didn’t you listen to me?” Mariana’s tears streamed down her cheeks as she held Cecilia.

She gave her long lost mother a small smile. “If I had listened, I wouldn’t have known the truth,” she said, “I want to know. I want to be a part.. of everything. Stop.. leaving me out.” A tear rolled down her eye.

Mariana began looking left and right frantically. “You’ll be alright. Everything’s alright.. Where’s the medical kit? Where..” She started losing it again. Her panic was evident in her eyes. “Don’t leave me.. please! You’re the only family member I have left.”

Cecilia smiled. “It’s nice.. to have someone worrying about me.. before my death.” Mariana started screaming like a mad woman. “NO! STOP!! Don’t say that!” She looked up from her spot, eyes unfocused. “Do something! ANYONE!! DO SOMETHING!! Save her..”

Cecilia stopped her by grabbing her arm weakly. She looked down at her daughter. “When you see Mike,” she said despite her condition, “please pass him a message.”

Mariana stopped her immediately. “STOP! Stop saying these.. you’re going to be alright!” Cecilia pushed, “please.. it’s important.”

Only then did Mariana calm down long enough to listen to her. “Tell him.. that I’ve never stopped waiting for him. I’m sorry that I had to wait for him at all. I know he’s always busy trying to climb the ladder.” Mariana clutched her hand tightly and cried.

Cecilia looked behind Mariana and her eyes met Stacy’s. “We’re even now,” she said. Her voice faded out and her eyes were on the verge of closing.

“If the next life is a thing..” she slurred, “I want to be born male.” Those were her last words as she closed her eyes and her free hand hit the ground.

Mariana’s wail of agony filled the dungeon as she hugged her daughter tightly. The sound was really heart-breaking. It sounded as if it could travel far and touch the heart of someone and make them sad.

Suddenly, she stopped altogether, like she remembered something. She propped her daughter up by an arm and started walking to the exit.

Chad stood in front of her at the exit, blocking her way with his body. His face was blank. “Move,” she said with a clear intention of leaving. She looked like a bull, ready to charge forward no matter what.

“You came here drugging everyone and leaving with a hostage as you please. What do you take the Reapers for?” Chad held his ground. Mariana wasn’t having it. She repeated, firmer, “move.”

Chad maintained his steady stance. He didn’t move an inch, simply stared at the woman. “I SAID MOVE!” She shouted like her life depended on it. A bunch of men rushed in through the entrance. “Chad.. we’re back from patrol. What happened?” James was confused as he scanned their surroundings.

“She happened,” Chad gestured to the lady in front of him. She pulled out a remote and flashed it in front of them. “Move! Or we die together,” she announced. All the men stood in attention at her threat. “What’s that?” One of them asked.

“I’ve planted bombs around your clubhouse before I enter,” she explained. Whispers erupted among the group.

Mariana’s tone was dangerously low as she said, “if my daughter dies, I’m going to bury all of you together with her.” The men looked around at each other, unsure of what to do. “MOVE!” She howled, making a few men behind Chad jump.

Chad watched her closely as he pondered. “We have a doctor here at the clubhouse,” he finally said, “I can ask the doctor to take a look at her.”

Mariana shook her head in exaggerated motion. “Move! I said move!! Why won’t you move?!” She started shouting like a mad woman. “If you keep on dragging, she might not make it!” Chad had to scream sense into her over all her shrieking.

She pointed at Chad. “You! You’re lying. You are here to harm me.. and my baby girl..” she hugged Cecilia’s unconscious body tighter to herself, “you.. you.. you.. and you! All of you.. are here to harm us.” She moved her hands around, pointing at the men with wide eyes.

“When Chad says he will help you, he will,” an annoyed voice sounded from the group of men at the entrance. “And when I say I will blow this place up, I will,” she held the remote up high, finger dangerously near to the button.

Clack! A hand landed on her neck, hitting a spot with the edge of the palm. Mariana passed out cold. Hank stood behind them, catching the remote.

“My life for hers,” he said, gesturing to Cecilia. His steady gaze met Chad’s and both the men stood in that position for a while.

“Call Nelly over,” Chad said without breaking eye contact.