The dim glow of the streetlights leaked through the cracked window, casting long shadows across the peeling walls of Becca's tiny apartment.
The room smelled faintly of old takeout and cigarette butts.
Becca's eyes fluttered open, a tangle of red hair falling across her face.
She groaned softly, pushing herself up from the thin mattress on the floor. Another day, another struggle. She sighed, scanning the cluttered room for something halfway decent to wear.
She grabbed a plain white shirt from the back of a chair, fastening it quickly before slipping into her favorite pair of blue ripped jeans. The fabric was worn, but it was familiar, comforting in a way nothing else in her life was. She shoved her feet into scuffed brown sneakers, the soles nearly worn through.
Just as she tied the last knot, a sudden knock rattled the door, sharp and unexpected. A small voice followed, soft but insistent.
"Mommy."
Becca's heart tightened. She rushed to the door, yanking it open. Standing there was Emily—her daughter. A little girl of five with the same wild, red hair and bright, tired green eyes. She clutched her stomach, a soft growl escaping from within.
"Hey, Emily. What's wrong, baby?" Becca knelt down, brushing hair from Emily's face.
Emily patted her belly again, lips trembling. Becca's heart sank. She squeezed Emily's small, cold hand tightly.
"Hang in there, sweetheart. I'll figure something out. We're a little short right now, but I'll make you your favorite, okay? Peanut butter and tea. Just wait for Mommy, alright?" She led Emily inside, trying to keep her voice steady, her face brave.
Emily settled on the tattered couch, clutching her worn-out tiger doll. The poor thing was missing an eye, its seams fraying at the edges, but Emily loved it like it was brand new. Becca flicked on the TV, finding some bright, cheery kids' show to keep Emily distracted. The colors danced across the room, masking the shadows for just a little while.
Becca stepped back slowly, her heart aching with every step. She grabbed the trench coat hanging by the door, slipping it on like armor. Her fingers closed around the cool handle of the dagger hidden in the coat's pocket.
"Time to get to work," she muttered to herself, her voice barely a whisper as she slipped out into the night.
---
The cold air bit at her skin as she stepped outside. She pulled out her phone, heart pounding as she opened the message from the loan shark. It was simple, like it was nothing more than a casual errand.
We need you to kill this man and steal these rings.
Attached were two photos. The first was of a man—brown hair, piercing blue eyes, dressed in a crisp white and blue suit. His briefcase lay open, revealing ten gleaming diamond rings, each one glittering with a different gem.
The second photo detailed his name: Axel Brando. Unmarried. Owner of Black Rose, a company Becca had never heard of but already hated.
Becca's stomach twisted as she typed a reply: I'm outside the building.
A car horn blared nearby, and she turned to see a sleek, black car idling at the curb. The window rolled down to reveal William, his smug grin glowing under the streetlights.
"How's my favorite girl doing?" he drawled.
Becca's grip tightened on the dagger hidden in her coat. She slid into the backseat, biting back the bile rising in her throat.
"Not even a hello? Maybe Emily will say hello next time," he sneered.
Becca's heart clenched. She forced a hollow smile, her voice trembling.
"Hello, sir. It's a pleasure to meet you."
William chuckled, satisfied. "Better." He pulled away from the curb, leaving Becca with nothing but the sound of her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.
---
They arrived at The Golden Arrow Hotel, a gaudy, over-the-top penthouse that screamed wealth and power. William parked the car across the street, hidden in the shadows. From their vantage point, they had a perfect view of the entrance.
"There he is," William whispered, pointing.
Axel stepped out of the building, the briefcase in his hand gleaming under the streetlights. His stride was calm, confident—like he owned the world.
"Go. Now," William ordered.
Becca slipped out of the car, the dagger a comforting weight in her pocket. Her mind raced as she approached. How the hell am I supposed to kill him in public? People would notice. There were too many eyes.
But then… something strange happened.
The world around her seemed to slow. The hum of traffic faded. The people on the street froze mid-step, their faces blank, their bodies still. The only ones moving were her and Axel.
Becca's heart thudded painfully against her ribs. She rubbed her eyes, trying to make sense of it, but nothing changed.
"What... is going on?" she whispered.
Axel stopped. Slowly, deliberately, he turned to face her. His blue eyes locked onto hers, and in that moment, Becca felt it—a vision, a flash of how easily he could end her life if she dared to move closer.
Fear rooted her to the spot. She sank down by a mailbox, her body trembling, unwilling to fight.
Then, just as suddenly as it began, the world snapped back. People moved again, cars honked, and Axel... Axel was gone.
Panic surged through her. She turned back to the street, but the car—William's car—was gone too.
He left her behind.
---
(Flashback)
The sterile white walls of the hospital felt colder than the winter air outside. Becca cradled Emily against her chest, tears streaming down her face.
She was barely more than a child herself, no high school diploma, no family to turn to, no friends to lean on.
Emily's father? A shadow from Becca's string of bad choices.
She whispered softly, her voice breaking,
"Hey, baby girl… I'm your mommy. I'm sorry it's me. You deserved someone better, but… you're stuck with me. And I'll do anything to give you the best life possible, Emily." She pressed a gentle kiss to her daughter's tiny forehead.
But life didn't get better. It got worse.
Becca became nothing more than a pawn to a loan sharks. They paid for her survival—if she did their dirty work. She left Emily alone more times than she could count, two goons babysitting, guns pointed at the crib for motivation.
For five years, Becca lived with the guilt, the shame. She knew she was a bad mother. But Emily? Emily was her whole world.
(End of flashback)
---
Becca's legs felt like lead as she trudged back to the apartment. Her stomach growled, but it was nothing compared to the ache in her heart. Emily wouldn't be eating tonight. Again.
Her skinny frame shivered in the night air, but Emily always came first. Always.
"Shit…" she whispered, swiping at her tears.
That's when she saw it—William's car, parked right outside her building.
A fresh wave of panic crashed over her,
"Emily!" she screamed, sprinting up the stairs. The door to their apartment was opened.
She burst inside, breath hitching in her throat.
William sat in her chair, Emily sobbing quietly on his lap. His hand rested lazily on a gun.
"What happened?" he asked, his tone casual, like they were discussing the weather.
Becca's body trembled with fear, "Please… I—I can do better. Give me another chance, please."
William sighed, shaking his head,
"You've outlived your usefulness, Becca. But don't worry," he smirked, tightening his grip on Emily, who kicked and screamed. "I've found a suitable replacement."
Becca's vision blurred with tears and rage. She yanked the dagger from her coat,
"LEAVE HER ALONE!"
But it was useless. One pull of the trigger, and pain exploded in her stomach. She crumpled to the floor, the dagger slipping from her fingers.
"MOMMY!" Emily's screams echoed in her ears as the world dimmed.
William stepped over Becca's crumpled body, satisfied. He paused at the door, looking down at her one last time.
"You lived your life as a disappointment. You'll die as one too."
Then the door slammed shut, leaving Becca in silence, her crimson blood pooling around her, staining her hair.
But then… time froze.
A soft light filled the room. Becca's fading eyes drifted to the window.
Axel sat on the windowsill, a staff in his right hand, the holy bible in his lap. His voice was gentle, like a lullaby.
"Hello, fallen child. It's not your time to see the Lord."
He tapped the ground with his staff, and the gem at its tip glowed brightly. The room filled with radiant light, washing over Becca's broken body.
A sudden prompt appeared in her mind.