Anthony's Angel ✓

VIII. Devil's Proposal

"Room 546," she said, handing back my ID. I replied with a thank you and ran towards the elevator. Taking a peek behind me, Anthony was standing there, looking at me with what I can only identify as concern.

I jumped into the elevator, again, waiting for the brutal changing numbers. Once reaching the fifth floor, I saw several girls being questioned by the police.

Why are there so many girls here?

When I reached Lily's room, two cops approached me. One of them was blonde, and the other had dark hair, both chocolate brown eyes. They were good-looking, but Anthony looked better.

No, you have no room in your life for a relationship.

Plus, a good-looking man like him isn't the type who gets into a committed relationship.

"Miss Chisai?" the blonde guy said.

"Yes. That's me," I replied, glancing inside the room, but I couldn't see anything since it was dark.

"Can you follow us, please?" the other one said.

I nod hesitantly and follow them to one of the corners of the hospital.

"Miss Chisai, I believe that you are roommates with Miss Minnie and her younger brother, correct?" the dark-haired guy questioned.

I nod, "Yes."

"And you are under her emergency contact."

I gave them another nod, "That is correct."

"We are here to inform you that nothing bad happened, but there was a fight occurring at Teasers, and it seems that Miss Minnie got sucked into it. We already question her, and everything is clear."

"Oh, that's grea - wait, Teasers? Isn't that a strip club?"

They glanced at each other, "Yes, that's correct."

"No, you two must be wrong, Lily works at a hotel as a maid," I corrected them.

One of them scratched their neck while the other gave me a look of concern. "Thank you," I replied.

My hands halted at the doorknob. I hoped that what I was thinking wasn't true.

I open the door and switch on the light. Glancing down, her swollen red eyes were avoiding mine. She was sitting on the floor, arms wrapped around her legs, fatigue engraved on her worn-out face. I closed the door and slid down on the cold tile floor next to her.

"Please tell me it isn't true." 

Tears continued racing down her red cheeks, her mouth opened a few times, but nothing came out, not a single sound.

"Why? Why did you lie to me?" I said as the water swelled up in my eyes.

"I had to," she said, barely in an audible tone.

I turned towards her, hands on her shoulder, forcing her to face me. "No, you don't."

"Yes, I have to Ann. The bills are piling up, even with the insurance and our parent's savings. It's not enough to feed six mouths. We need the money."

"I'll pick up extra shifts. We can cut bac-"

"Ann, don't you understand? We are already cutting back, but it's still not enough. We are low."

"We are that low on funds? How come you never told me?"

She bit her inner cheek as her hands shook, "Because I'm the big sister. I'm supposed to take care of all of you." As Lily cried, her bottom lip quivered, eyes became a deep brown shade, no longer did the beautiful green glisten. The tears flow down without a pause.