Angelica's Point to view
The slap came without a single warning. My head snapped to the side. My ear rang and
my head spun.
"Go to your room," my father shouted.
I tasted blood.I stared at him, shocked. He had never hit me before. Never ever, Not even
once in eighteen years.
"What did I do?" I asked.
My mother stood near the kitchen counter. Her face was pale, She would not even
look at me.
"Go," she whispered.
Her voice scared me more than the slap."I am not a child," I said. "You cannot
just hit me and say nothing."
My father's chest rose and fell fast. His hands shook. "You should not have
come home early," he snapped.
That made no single sense. "I live here if you have forgotten, dad," I said.
The front door banged open. Heavy footsteps entered the house.
I turned. Three men walked in like they owned the place. Dark clothes, Hard
eyes. One of them locked the door behind him. My heart dropped into my
stomach.
"Uhmmm, Who are they?" I asked. No one answered.
The men spread out across the living room. One leaned against the wall,
Another sat on our couch like it belonged to him.
"This is private property," I said, my voice shaking. "You need to leave, or else, I'll call the cops,
"
One of them laughed. It was so low and ugly.
"Your daughter talks too much," he said. I looked at my father. "Daddy, what's going on?" He
looked broken.
"Angelica," he said slowly. "Do not say anything else." That was when fear truly
hit me.
"What is happening?" I asked. "Why are they here?" My mother pressed her
hand to her mouth. Tears slid down her face.
One of the men checked his watch. "You said she was going to cooperate.
"
"I did," my father said quickly. "She is just surprised."
"Surprised?" I repeated. "About what exactly?"The man stood and walked toward me.
I stepped back. "Do not try to touch me," I warned.
He stopped inches away. I could smell smoke and metal on him.
"You are coming with us," he said.
I laughed. I could not help it. "That is funny." No one laughed with me.
"I am serious," he said.
I looked at my parents. "Tell him this is a joke." My mother sobbed. My father
looked at the floor.
My chest tightened.
"You promised," the man said to my father. "No problems.
"
"I know," my father said. "I know.
"
Promised what? "Daddy," I whispered. "What did you promise?"
Silence.
The man reached for my arm. I screamed, "No!"
I ran toward the stairs, but another man blocked my path. He grabbed my
wrist, His grip burned.
"Let me go, please," I cried.
My father shouted, "Stop!" For one second, hope sparked. But he was not
talking to the man, He was talking to me.
"Angelica," he said. "Please. Do not fight them." I stared at him. "Why?" I asked.
His voice broke. "Because I already agreed."
The room felt too small, I could not breathe.
"Agreed to what?" I asked.
My mother finally looked at me, Her eyes were empty. "We owe someone," she
whispered.
"Everyone owes someone," I snapped. "That does not mean this.
"
The man tightened his grip. "This means exactly this," he said.
My father walked toward me slowly. "You are going to stay somewhere else for
a while," he said.
"With who?" I asked. He did not answer.
"Say it," I demanded. "Say the name.
"
He swallowed, "Leon Mercer.
"
The name hit like ice. "No," I said quickly. "No, that is not real.
"
"It is," he replied.
"That man is very dangerous," I said. "People disappear around him."
"That is why we must keep him calm," my mother whispered.
I stared at her. "By giving him me?" She cried harder.
"You are collateral," my father said. The word echoed in my head.
"What?" I asked softly.
"You are the guarantee," he continued. "Until the debt is settled."
I shook my head. "I am your daughter.
"
"And I am trying to save this family," he shouted. "By destroying me?" I
screamed back.
The man pulled me toward the door.
My graduation dress bag slid off the chair and fell open. The white fabric
spilled across the floor.
I stared at it. "I graduate tomorrow," I said quietly.
No one moved. "I have finals," I continued. "I have plans.
"
The man dragged me forward. My mother grabbed my shoulders and pulled
me into a tight hug.
"I am sorry," she cried into my hair. "Please forgive us.
"
I pushed her away. "Do not touch me," I said.
They pulled me outside. The black car waited at the curb. "No," I begged.
"Please.
"
They shoved me into the back seat. The door slammed shut, The sound echoed
inside my head.
The car started moving.
I pressed my hands to the window. Our house grew smaller, My room light was
still on upstairs.
My phone buzzed in my lap. A message from Brad.
Are you home yet? I want to see you before tomorrow.
Tears blurred my vision.
I typed, Something is wrong. Before I could send it, the man reached back and
grabbed my phone.
"No phones," he said.
"That is mine," I cried. He turned it off and pocketed it.
I screamed until my throat hurt. The car drove through the night.
Tall gates appeared later. They opened slowly, The car rolled forward and
stopped.
The door opened. "Out," the man said with a rough tone.
My legs shook as I stepped onto stone ground. A massive house stood before
me. Bright, Cold, Silent.
The front door opened. A man stood there. Tall, Calm and was staring at me.
Leon Mercer. His eyes locked onto mine.
"So," he said. "This is the girl they traded."
My heart dropped.