Chapter 26: Repossession

Chapter 26 is written from Caleb's perspective.

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C A L E B

I push the door to a close after I see the final few strands of Rayna's silver hair flow away from sight.

I considered asking if she wanted me to go with her before she ran off, but I ultimately decided that it would be better not to. I'm about to become this beautiful girl's ruin. What good would come from pretending to be her resolve just a few moments before smashing her to bits?

After several minutes of standing uselessly in the centre of the room, I decide it's best for me to just get an early night. There is nothing left I can do, both for myself and for Rayna. The damage is already done.

I walk over to the light switch and make a move to flick it off and lock up for the night, but another loud set of bangs at the front door causes me to stop.

That can't be her, can it? She can't be back from the hospital this quickly. She only just left.

I swing the front door open again, and this only confirms my suspicions of it not being the Rayna who had knocked. No, it's a far worse reality than facing her, even after our rather tense conversation before Aurelia arrived.

"Caleb Fitrei," a man I recognise all too well speaks. He has shaggy black hair, a husky tone of voice, and stinks of cigarettes. "I'm here for Maggie's money for the flat. It's time to pay up."

Despite her rather soft and kind-sounding name, my landlord—Maggie Murphy—is far from that kind of person. She's as wealthy as you could ever imagine, but her endless funds are not down to the money she gets out of me as rent. Her main source of income is far more sinister.

Maggie is a dealer.

I happened upon this information when she offered me a little 'side deal' when I first became her tenant, but I said no. Those bleak days of my life are over and I do not plan on heading down that route ever again.

"I know, Ivan," I mutter, dropping my head. "I... I don't have it right now. Could Maggie give me a few more days?"

"Maggie has already given you an extension for this month, she will—"

"Look, I made an agreement with a woman I've been working with. I signed a deal... the money will come in within a day or two," I bite out, still ashamed of what I did earlier today for the cash. "I swear I'll have it in your hands for Maggie as soon as I get it."

Ivan stares at me, eyes boring into my skull. "More."

Nearly choking on air, I sputter out an almost incoherent, "more?!"

"Yes, you will need to give Maggie more. Consider it interest," Ivan tells me cooly. "This is the second month in a row we've given you an extension. She deserves a little... compensation, don't you think?"

A shaky gulp leaves me as I ponder the best plan of action. I don't even know the exact sum of money Flo is giving me for signing that deal, so paying Maggie far more than usual could make avoiding repossession and shunning Rayna all for... well, nothing.

I exhale, seeing no other way around the matter. "Deal."

"Good," Ivan responds. "Oh, and Caleb? If you cannot provide her with what you owe next time I pay you a little visit, I have commands to remove you from this flat." He reaches into his denim jacket and pulls out a small object—a pocketknife. "One way or another." He twiddles the knife between his fingers. "Alive or dead."

My lips tug into a line. "I... understand, Ivan."

"I can't promise it'll be a pretty process," Ivan says as he comes even closer to me, his six-foot-five figure towering effortlessly over mine. "Might break a few things here and there, starting with that skull of yours." He hits the side of my head—not with enough force to cause any major damage, but hard enough to leave a mark in his fist's wake. "Or maybe your legs." He then kicks me in the shin and, this time, it really hurts.

When I fall to the floor, clutching hold of my leg and hissing through gritted teeth, Ivan seems satisfied.

"Don't forget, Caleb Fitrei," he tells me as his footsteps disappear down the hallway. "Maggie is waiting. I'm sure she'll make necessary arrangements should you disappoint her again."

Thanks for reading chapter 26!

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Amber