Daniella trembled with fear, her eyes wide in panic, as her knees burned with pain from kneeling on the marbled floor for hours. Warm tears fell in her cheeks, wetting her blouse.
Angry pairs of eyes surrounded her as Justice, the first in command to the mafia boss, snarled, "Tell me why I shouldn't kill you now?" His voice was taunting, as he glared at her with his deep brown eyes.
Daniella shivered as she muttered, "Because you won't get your money if you kill me. Look, I will do anything okay? anything."
Justice laughed hysterically. "Will you do anything? Mr. Somo, my boss, needs a virgin tonight but I know you are not so you don't possibly have anything to offer," he snarled.
Daniella thought hard. Her life was at stake and she dared not offend the man in front of her. The hardness of the floor she had been kneeling on for so long made her knee painful. "Yes, I am not a virgin, but my sister is. I can get her to Mr. Somo."
Justice gulped down a glass of vodka. His face was deadpanned, and his voice icy. "If she fails, you die. You don't mess with me."
Daniella looked for a way to run but the mere presence of his bodyguards sent her defense on reverse.
"And if she doesn't? What if she succeeds?" She said in a trembling voice, as she hugged her frame with her small hands.
"Well, Mr. Somo pays very well. We will settle your debt, and give you back whatever is leftover," Justice assured her and she believed him. Justice has always been a man of his words but also one to not mess with.
He is so skilled at what he does, which makes his boss, Mr. Sommo to always trust his judgment. However, greed would always take Daniella to him. She has been involved in all manner of devices because of him and due to her insatiable hunger for expensive things she can't afford, she doesn't want to stop.
Daniella grinned at his statement. "Alright. Tonight it is," she said, lifting herself from the floor and wobbled due to the pain in her knee. It's not the first time she found herself in such a situation so she knew the pain would be long gone before the night.
"And remember. If you fail, not even your corps would not be enough to pay," Justice warned before she hurried out of the door.
Daniella gave a smile that did not reach her eyes and took a cab home.
From the door, Daniella could smell freshly-baked muffins and instantly knew her sister was at it again. Her stomach roared in hunger and anxiety, as she made her way to the small kitchen to speak with her twin sister for the first time since their parents died two months ago.
"Danica, can I have some of the muffins?"
Danica's eyes widened in shock. Her twin sister had never asked her for anything or accepted anything from her. She treated her like an enemy and blamed her for her misfortunes. This sounded like a complete surprise but this is just what she has been praying for. It seemed to her that God had finally answered her prayers.
"Why not?" Danica responded, placing some muffins before Daniella with a glass of milk on the small dining table.
"Thank you," she mumbled and started eating. Danica stared on in shock, startling Daniella.
"Are you going to watch me eat?" The former asked, completely uncomfortable with her sister's gaze.
"No, I'm just surprised. You know, I've always wished for us to live like true sisters," Danica honestly said, shoving a strand of her brunette hair behind her ear.
Daniella gazed at her sister with hopeful eyes. She knew what she was going to say would be rejected without a second thought but her life depended on it. It's just going to be a one-night stand for Danica and Daniella would be free. To her, it wasn't a big deal.
"Great. Why don't you come to the pub with me tonight? A friend of mine is celebrating his birthday and he just wants people around."
A frown appeared on Danica's face. "I can't go to the pub. You know mum and dad-"
Daniella cut her before she could finish her statement. "Enough, Danica, they are dead. Even after their death, you are still being obedient to their grave. You are always the angel and me, what am I?" Daniella did not hide her anger.
Danica was calm. She expected her sister to flip so it wasn't a surprise when it happened. "Daniella, you know they loved you just as much as they loved me. You just never gave them a chance and kept asking for things they couldn't provide. There is more to life than expensive things, money and all. You know what, the best things in life, are for free. Look at the air you breathe, the life you have. You never paid for it and yet, you have it."
Daniella chuckled with disappointment. "Now you even talk like them. It's like death is not enough to keep them away since and they are living their second life through you. Hearing you talk like this, seems like they are still here and I hate it," Daniella yelled, pushing away the half plate of muffins.
"Look, Daniella, you don't have to stop eating your food. We can talk about this. Why don't we go to church together? There is Bible study this evening. It would be a great way to spend the night."
Daniella grew more furious at the mention of Bible studies. Of course, she couldn't tell her sister that her life was at stake and could only take her frustration on her. "Not another word, Danica, you come with me to the pub or you lose your sister. Choose now."
Danica bit her lower lip. Did she spend every day praying for God to unite her with her sister for this? Growing up, she has always followed biblical standards. Her dresses not being too short, little or no make-up, praying every morning and evening, not forgetting short prayers during meal times. She read her bible regularly and went to church every Sunday and sometimes, mid-week bible studies.
This is what their parents taught them. A strict and firm Christian foundation but unlike Danica, Daniella was the black sheep of the family. She did as she pleased and obeyed no rules. She even lost her virginity as soon as she turned sixteen, standing on the fact that the law permitted so at sixteen.
With this contrast between them, the two sisters have lived like enemies. Things turned out worse when their parents died. Daniella was completely out of control and would go clubbing all night and be involved in all sorts of things, including borrowing money from the mafia, which she wasted on expensive shoes and bags.
Danica has always tried to bring unity amongst them but it all fell on cold shoulders. She resorted to prayer, as her parents did before, praying day and night, that a miracle would happen for Daniella to be like her sister Danica. It seemed to Danica that God must have heard her prayers and that of her late parents wrongly. If not, he wouldn't have put her into this situation.
"On one condition," Danica said reluctantly.
Daniella's eyes lit up. "What?"
"That you would go to church with me on Sunday," Danica proposed defeatedly