HAZEL ARORA

As I stepped out of my door, I noticed a flyer placed carelessly in my doormat. I had a trashy one-bedroom apartment in a nasty alleyway in France. Somehow, I had landed a job at a call center, which obviously didn't pay well, but it was doable.

It wasn't a regular flashy flyer you would normally see. It consisted of three lines only. I picked it up to throw away but something in it caught my eye. 300K EUROS. That sparked my interest.

 GREWZONG FOUNDATION PVT. LTD. OFFERS YOU A

SIX MONTH COURSE JOB FOR 300K EUROS.

CONTACT US VIA: [email protected]

But that was probably just a bluff. I was about to throw it away when my phone rang from an unknown number. I picked it up and before I could say anything, the caller said, "If I were you, I wouldn't throw that flyer away." I froze. Is this person watching me?

I asked, "Who are you?" He ignored my question and continued, "Imagine the money, it could let your dear Zoya survive rather than die a slow death" I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Tears filled my eyes, but I couldn't say anything.

My precious sister Zoe or Zoya had been suffering a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which restricted her respiration, and its treatment cost a fortune. I had been trying to get a job to pay it off, but as my luck keeps fucking with me, I couldn't land a proper job. But that wasn't a bigger problem now; the problem was how did this person know about her? I would love to ask him, but no words would come out of my lips. I had been taken so off-guard; it took me a while to come back to notice his words.

He spoke again, "This is not a bluff, for your information. If you wish to get the money, you're expected to come to 181 Street in Boulevard du Nord at 4 AM sharp. You will be taken to a journey for the stated time period. Au revoir!"

Stupid guy, didn't even let me speak. But that guy was anything but stupid. He knew about my past, my secrets. I called that number again, but it turned out to be a blocked number. I looked at the flyer again. Maybe this could really bring an end for me. The chances of getting a proper job were long lost. So why waste any more time. I decided to give it a go. But I couldn't possibly tell this all to Zoe. So, I came up with an idea.

"Zoey, I have decided to apply for the military training program you suggested me... for London" I managed to lie, with great hurting.

"Are you serious? I am glad you did, but you will be gone..." She said in a surprised and sad tone. I felt bad for her, but I was doing it all for her after all. She had been asking me to join something, anything that would bring us some money. From scholarships to community colleges to militaries, she had been asking me to get into something productive than gambling. She always reminded me to value honesty and hard work. She was the complete opposite of me. But I have never been the one to sit my ass at an office to earn money.

I replied, "I know, but I am doing this for us. And you ain't dying without me." I tried to joke, but we both knew that was the truth. I had been providing for both of us, since she couldn't take up any job due to her illness. She was able to live with sickness, but jobs could create a hurdle in her health. But that wasn't the problem. The problem was me getting any proper jobs.

That was the hardest part, to leave her by herself. The last time I did this got her kicked out of her home.

"Here," I said, handing her a giant diamond cladded necklace which I had stolen from my mother before running away. I was glad this thing wasn't ever taken away, and now was the most righteous time to utilize it. I had always been tempted to sell it the first minute I landed in my flat, but my guts told me the right time is yet to come. So, I followed my gut gladly.

"Sell it and use it until I come back. Please be safe." I said quickly. Her mouth fell wide open, and her eyes bulged wider with shock, "Is that Mom's? Did you really fucking steal a family heirloom?"

"Don't take her name in front of me. This might be the only time she has produced herself as useful to me. Besides, she wouldn't even realize it's missing, she probably got a ton of these." I said in a tone that didn't hide my seething anger.

Nonetheless she was glad I took up the offer, she agreed lastly.

***

I took a last look at the flyer and took my bicycle to go to Boulevard du Nord.

Who even calls you at 4 AM? I looked around and there was nothing but darkness. There was no one to pick me up.

That shit was really bluff, wasn't it?

I face palmed myself. Just as I took a turn to return back, someone grabbed me inside a limousine. I quickly grabbed the intruder's face only for him to choke my neck up.

What the fuck?

He then made me sit down inside the car and whispered, "It would be in the best interest of mine and yours if you comply here, and it would be much better if you keep your mouth shut."

"What the fuck is going on, where are you taking me?"

"The information on the flyer would have cleared that up for you and here-" he said, reaching my pocket to retrieve my phone.

"Hey, what the fuck? Give that back." I said in a furious tone, with a failed attempt to take my phone back.

"It's a long journey and I would suggest you get some sleep, and this stays with me, that's the rule." The man said in a hurried voice, thrusting his palm over my mouth to stop me from shouting further.

Eyeing the other direction, I saw the car had black windows, impossible to view outside and the car was filled with a bunch of people of around my age, all asleep or...

"Don't worry, they aren't unconscious, they are sleeping." He said as if reading my mind.

I asked, "Why the fuck would you not bring me here like a normal person?" He smirked in a response and said "Well, what you are about to experience would be anything but normal."

What the fuck again?

"What are we supposed to do?" I asked, slightly feeling threatened but trying not to show.

He said, "You will get to know soon, you aren't going to die by the end of this program, maybe. You are here in your own will honestly, so I suggest you have some sleep; it's a long journey."

Well challenges have never been a problem to me. So,I thought it was better to grab some sleep.