"Good job, Anne-Marie."

"Thank you, Christopher."

"You did so well today, Anne-Marie."

"Thank you."

"Nice work today, Marie. Keep working like this, and you could even be a real actor one day, maybe even a main character."

"Thank you, Sir Boyce."

Compliments kept coming her way as Anne-Marie walked away from the crew van, each one making her smile a little brighter. The warmth of their praise wrapped around her like a comforting blanket, lifting her spirits despite the exhaustion that weighed down her every step. Today's shoot had been the longest and most grueling she'd ever experienced as a stunt double, and her body was paying the price. Every bone and muscle seemed to protest as she stretched her arms, feeling the deep ache that had settled into her limbs. All she wanted now was a hot bath and some much-needed rest.

But the day wasn't without its rewards. Her smile widened as she reached into her pocket and felt the crisp envelope containing her payment. Pay day was always a highlight, but today it meant something more. Finding Keisha had been a frustrating dead end until now, but with each payday, Anne-Marie felt like she was inching closer to solving her problems. Soon, she would have enough to show Abel and Mickey, and she couldn't wait to see their faces light up.

With that thought, she pulled out her phone and quickly dialed a number. Mickey's face appeared on the screen, and Anne-Marie's heart lifted at the sight.

"Marie!" Mickey's voice was full of excitement, and Anne-Marie watched as the little woman hurried to the bed. "Abel, Marie's on the phone!"

Anne-Marie's smile grew even wider when Abel's pale face appeared beside Mickey's. Despite the scarf that covered his bald head and the lack of color in his eyes, he still managed to beam at her with a warmth that made her heart swell.

"Anne!" Abel's wave was enthusiastic, his smile infectious.

"Hey, you!" Anne-Marie greeted him, her own smile reflecting the joy on his face.

"Marie, I've got good news," Abel began, his voice bubbling with excitement. "The royal family donated a bunch of new TVs to the hospital today. They just installed one in our room!"

"Oh, really?"

Abel nodded eagerly. "Yeah! It's huge and has all these amazing channels and shows. Even 'Keeping Up with the Royals'!"

"Wow," Anne-Marie feigned surprise, though she could hear the genuine thrill in his voice. "That's incredible."

"It is, isn't it?" Abel's eyes sparkled with delight. "Where are you? The show's about to start,we should watch it together."

"Yes, Anne-Marie, where are you?" Mickey chimed in, her face close to the screen.

"Uh," Anne-Marie glanced around briefly, then returned her gaze to the phone. "I'm still at the shooting venue, we just wrapped up the final scene for this movie."

"You went stunt doubling again?" Abel's face fell, the excitement draining away to be replaced by a deep frown.

"I got paid too," she said, holding up the envelope for them to see. "And it's a better amount this time."

"But you promised," Abel's voice was tinged with hurt. "You said you wouldn't take those jobs anymore. It's illegal for you and you could get caught and sent away to foster care, remember?"

"And dangerous," Mickey added, her tiny voice filled with concern. "You're too young, and inexperienced to be a stunt double, Marie."

"It's not like I'm dead or anything," Anne-Marie chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.
"I don't see what the problem is if we remain discrete. No one here knows the truth about me, plus this job pays better than all the others. We won't have to worry about getting the rest of the money for your treatment, Abel. Just a few more and we're set. The bills keep piling up, and they aren't going to pay themselves. It's already tough enough that Mickey had to take out a loan from her office just to get you admitted and start your treatment. We need the money for your treatment and to pay off Mickey's loan."

"And there's the rent," Mickey added quietly.

"And there's the rent," Anne-Marie echoed, her tone more subdued. "I can't sleep at the hospital forever," she said with a playful pout.

"Oh, don't worry about the loan, Marie," Mickey said, trying to sound reassuring. "Let's just focus on getting Abel treated first, everything else will fall into place eventually."

Anne-Marie exhaled, her smile fading as she noticed the deepening frown on Abel's face. His silence weighed on her, and she could see the guilt written all over his features.

"Are you mad at me?" she asked softly, her voice laced with concern.

Abel shook his head slowly, but his expression remained pained.

"I just feel like I'm a burden," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I keep getting sick, and it's making you work so hard. I wish there was something I could do to help, but I'm just too sick. Maybe if I were dead, you wouldn't have to struggle so much taking care of me-"

"Don't say that," Mickey whispered, wrapping her arm around Abel in a comforting embrace. Tears welled up in Anne-Marie's eyes, and she quickly turned away from the screen, using the back of her hand to wipe them away. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear the tears before turning back to the phone.

"Hey, Abel!" Anne-Marie called out, forcing a brightness into her voice. "Who said you could die huh? Who said I want you gone? Do you know how hard I work just so you can get better? If you really want to help me, then eat well and get well soon. That way, I won't have to work so much, and I won't have to sleep in that tiny hospital bed with you."

Abel sniffed, nodding as he tried to hold back his tears. "I'll get better, I promise."

Anne-Marie smiled, though her heart ached for him. "Good."

"Marie," Mickey called out, her face pushing closer to the screen. "Are you coming here straight from the site, or do you have another job to go to?"

"Uh," Anne-Marie sniffed again, composing herself. "I'm done working for the day. I've got a few hours before my night shift at the supermarket. The shooting venue is close to the hospital, so I should be there in about fifteen minutes."

Mickey nodded, relieved.

"Can I get a burger, please?" Abel asked, his voice small and hopeful. "Can you bring me one on your way here?"

"A burger?" Anne-Marie repeated, grinning. "Of course! I'll get you five burgers with French fries if you want. You need to eat well, remember?"

Mickey chuckled, the tension easing slightly.
"See you soon, Marie."

"Hurry, the show's about to start," Abel urged, a hint of excitement returning to his voice.

Anne-Marie nodded, and they ended the call. She slipped her phone and the envelope back into her jeans pocket, then mounted her bicycle and pedaled toward the hospital.

When she reached a nearby food truck, she stopped to catch her breath, the hospital in clear view just down the street. Her thoughts were entirely on Abel and Mickey, so much so that she didn't notice the black car that had been following her since she left the film site. The car pulled up beside her as she dismounted her bike and walked it over to the food truck, a bright smile still on her face.

"Can I get three burgers, please? And three portions of fries?" she asked the old man in the truck, her voice cheerful.

"Would you like any specials in your order?" he asked, smiling back at her.

She shook her head. "I'm fine with anything."

"What sizes?"

"One extra-large and two medium, please."

He nodded and turned to prepare her order. Anne-Marie took a deep breath, reaching into her pocket to pull out the envelope and take out some money from it. Meanwhile, the men in the black car quietly exited the vehicle and began to approach her, their movements deliberate and calculated. Oblivious to their presence, Anne-Marie's thoughts remained on the joy she would bring Abel with the burgers. She loved seeing him happy; it made all the hard work worthwhile.

She was just about to turn around when she felt a hand grab her from behind, a rough cloth pressed over her nose and mouth. Panic surged through her as she tried to scream, her arms flailing in an attempt to fight off her attackers. But they were too strong, their grip unyielding. The smell from the cloth was overpowering, and despite her struggles, darkness began to close in.

Her vision blurred, her movements slowed, and before she knew it, she was unconscious.

The men quickly and efficiently carried her limp body to the car, their eyes darting around to make sure no one was watching. The food vendor, who had just turned to hand Anne-Marie her order, froze in shock as he watched the scene unfold. His heart raced as he tried to raise an alarm, but the street was eerily quiet, and no one else seemed to notice what was happening.

The car sped off, leaving the vendor standing there, the bag of burgers still in his hands, as he watched helplessly.