My heart pounds so hard I can hear it thundering in my head. With every step, a knot tightens in my stomach, but I don't slow down. I know this won't solve everything, but I can't just sit back and hope it'll all end on its own.
Sofia doesn't deserve this, and no one else is going to protect her. I have to take responsibility for the mess I've dragged her into. I move forward with determination, though a gnawing sense of dread lingers.
I step into the stale, cigarette-scented stairwell and climb to the top. We agreed to meet on the roof—a strange place to settle things, which only adds to my unease.
When I reach the door, I pause. I take a deep breath, but the foul smells and tension are suffocating. I force my hand to the handle, but my fingers tremble, refusing to obey. I stand there for a moment before finally pushing open the door and stepping into the cool night air.
In the darkness, I can barely make out three silhouettes in the far corner. Three? My heart skips painfully—I hadn't considered he might not be alone.
I approach, struggling to catch my breath. The night is oppressively muggy, without the slightest breeze. One of them notices me, elbows the other, and then turns to face me. As I get closer, I see his face—he looks irritated. I stop at a safe distance, hesitant to begin.
"I told you I don't tolerate games," he breaks the silence. "What kind of bullshit are you trying to pull?"
"This has gone too far. I'm done," I say, trying to sound strong, though my voice falters.
Nausea rises in me. He exhales one last puff of smoke, drops the cigarette, and grinds it into the ground with his heel.
"I don't know what you're expecting, but you won't get it. We never agreed you'd just quit in the middle of everything," he sighs.
"I can't keep treating her like this," I say. "If I keep going, Sofia will get hurt too."
He smirks.
"Nathaniel," he clicks his tongue, "you knew exactly what you were getting into from the start. Don't mix personal relationships with business. First, you say you're doing this for her, and now you want to quit because of her? Enough bullshit."
I clench my fists. Anger bubbles up, but I feel powerless. Her voice echoes in my mind. It's always been just me and Sofia. We fought tooth and nail to survive; I won't throw it all away.
"I did everything you asked, but I can't go on like this. I won't let her get caught up in this shitty drug mess. I'm out," I say firmly.
He slips his hands into his pockets and starts walking toward me slowly.
"Sofia already knows what you do. Wouldn't it be nice if the whole family worked together? I'd make sure she'd have everything she needs. All it takes is one little thing," he sneers, stopping just a step away, "her body."
"I'm not selling my sister, you crazy fuck," I growl.
Each heartbeat sends hot blood to my muscles. Reason and logic feel distant, replaced by fury. I'm aware of this feeling's destructive power, afraid to lose control. He looks back at me, a wicked smile spreading.
"Know your place." he clamps his hand down on my shoulder. "I won't let you ruin everything."
My attention is fully on him, so I don't notice his friends slipping away until it's too late.
A powerful blow hits the back of my head, and sparks explode in my vision. I stay on my feet, growling softly as I turn. His lackey stands there with a wooden club—the one he just used on me.
Adrenaline surges, and I can't hold back any longer. My fist rises and slams into his jaw. I know I've lost control, but it doesn't matter. I might not win against three, but I won't go down without a fight.
Each move is calculated, every punch driven by survival instincts. But I don't last long. In a blink, I'm down on the ground. My scraped knuckles burn, and I taste blood. It doesn't stop there.
"You. Pathetic. Piece. Of. Shit," he spits, kicking me with each word.
I can't breathe.
At some point, rain begins pouring down, filling the rooftop with puddles and soaking me through. I cover my head with my arms, but the pain radiates everywhere. Soon, the kicking stops.
Blood drips from my mouth as I cough. I see him motion to the others to step back. He comes closer, grabs my collar, and drags me across the ground. My body is weak, all attempts to resist pointless.
Wet hair falls into my eyes, but I see we're nearing the edge. He lifts me, tilting me over the railing. I struggle, but his grip is unbreakable.
"You know, you've always been a knife at her throat. The reason for all the problems. It'd be better if you were gone, wouldn't it?" he sneers, his crazed eyes staring down at me.
My feet no longer touch solid ground. My heart skips a beat. I try to fight, to hold on, but he only smiles. I can't tell if it's fury or pure madness in his eyes. He gives me a final shove and lets go.
I fall.
For a brief moment, I claw at the air, clutching at nothing, knowing the abyss waits. A million thoughts whirl in my mind. I think of the building's height. I think of Sofia, and what she'll do. I regret letting my pride stop me from apologizing for all the hurtful words. I regret that I probably won't get the chance.
Somewhere in the chaos, a quiet call for a miracle rings out. If I had another chance, I'd do things differently—so no one else would suffer from my bad choices...
Moisture. Cold. Darkness. I can feel everything deep inside my bones. My body doesn't respond to any signal from my brain. I can't even lift a finger.
The glass shards beneath me dig deeper, slicing through skin, tearing at the layers. My wounds bleed profusely, spreading a warm, sticky sensation.
I'm not sure what just happened. I tremble uncontrollably, each spasm bringing excruciating pain. I wish for it to finally stop.
Raindrops shoot down from black clouds, soaking through my bloody clothes, plastering my hair to my burning face. Each drop feels like needles. Lightning flashes, illuminating the darkness, and thunder rumbles through the steady sound of rain.
I lie on the cold pavement, vulnerable and exposed. I'm getting weaker, and my consciousness begins to slip away. I can feel myself letting go, not sure I even want to resist it. My eyes close, but I hear a new sound—a different one.
Someone's approaching, but I can't turn my head. I only see the blurred, overcast sky. All I know is I'm not alone. The footsteps come closer, stopping nearby. I feel someone's gaze fixed on me.
Bright flash.
Deafening thunder.
Footsteps on the wet asphalt.
A deep sigh.
His laugh.