The devil's bargain

Chapter 9: The Devil's Bargain

I woke up with a start, my heart pounding. The ring box on my bedside seemed to tease me, a sparkling reminder of the choice I faced. Adrian's proposal resonated in my head, intriguing and horrifying in equal measure.

One year of my life for financial freedom. It seemed easy, but nothing involving Adrian could ever be simple.

I pulled myself out of bed, my body hurting after a sleepless night. As I made coffee, my phone rang with a text from the hospital. Dad's health has worsened overnight. They needed to work soon, but without cash, they couldn't continue.

My hands shook as I read the message. The walls of my little apartment appeared to close in, crushing me with the weight of my worries.

I needed air.

Grabbing my jacket, I stepped out, meandering mindlessly around the busy downtown streets. People raced by, wrapped up in their own lives, ignorant to the rage blazing within me.

My feet brought me to the park where Mom used to take me as a kid. I fell