Three weeks later...408Please respect copyright.PENANAAJmiAqzqJq
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"What...what the h-"408Please respect copyright.PENANAAeXUmH5Ops
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"Be careful, take your time."408Please respect copyright.PENANAY5PTXutPJN
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A rush of bright light poured into the room as my eyes adjusted to the harshness.408Please respect copyright.PENANAMFW1cgTdJc
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"Where am I?" I asked, confused. I looked around the bleak yellow room with flower paintings hanging on the walls and a little TV mounted above me playing some MTV show. "Am I...dead?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAp5zKdmM6m6
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"The hospital, Robbie." The voice spoke again and stepped into view.408Please respect copyright.PENANAzq6QZ29dUp
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She's a pretty, young woman with olive skin and black hair contrasting beautifully against her light blue eyes. She had a brief case tucked tight to her side and was dressed in a tight black suit jacket and pants.408Please respect copyright.PENANA18lZGMommd
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"How did I get here?" My brows furrowed and I looked down at the white sheets beneath me. "Where's Josh? He's going to be so worried."408Please respect copyright.PENANAloPvhK8YJX
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She eyed me cautiously, "How much do you remember, Robbie?"408Please respect copyright.PENANA0AaYuWyeEt
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"W-what do you mea-?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAJnWb9fLOVy
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I stopped as that night hits me like a train.408Please respect copyright.PENANAFrNRW0bGLf
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The birthday cake ice cream. The ski mask. The gun. Josh dead.408Please respect copyright.PENANAWfxgJT3Sqy
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Josh. Blood. Bullet. Dead.408Please respect copyright.PENANAOm8qm1AC2b
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"No..." I breathed out as the shock hits me. The girl continues to watch me, her eyes scanning for something.408Please respect copyright.PENANAPHXTqXc6cR
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I started to panic, "NO!NO! Fuck you all, get me out of here." I tossed the blankets off of me and noticed the wires.408Please respect copyright.PENANAmPGDusH8fX
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So many little wires and needles. I probably looked like some weird science experiment.408Please respect copyright.PENANA0MdIR1FKpC
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The woman standing near my bed watched anxiously as three nurses rushed in immediately.408Please respect copyright.PENANA0Onwh6gmrp
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"You need to relax, Robbie." She said and stepped back to sit in the chair behind her. "Let us help you."408Please respect copyright.PENANAxzA3QzEwSX
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"No! Let me go! I can't be here, this can't be real!" I laughed manically. My emotions wrecking havoc on me. "Josh can't be dead! Not him too."408Please respect copyright.PENANA1BOcOgF26H
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"Please, calm down." A nurse begged as she came closer to my exposed arm. "We're going to give you something to relax now, Roberta."408Please respect copyright.PENANAbvIUFSiUS4
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I ripped my arm from her grip. "Don't call me that!"408Please respect copyright.PENANAe9v77eRSAi
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She just looked over towards the other two nervously waiting for her instruction. Instead, the pretty blue-eyed mystery woman spoke up.408Please respect copyright.PENANAnsZHT56b6o
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"Robbie...can we give you something to just help the pain and help you relax? After that, they'll leave and I'll answer anything you want."408Please respect copyright.PENANAuaF8jQoY0G
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I stared hard into her blue eyes searching for anything I need to be wary of.
Should I trust her? Is she here for Jagger?408Please respect copyright.PENANAL11w6viAr2
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"Fine."408Please respect copyright.PENANAjuO2d999jj
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She smiled softly and stepped away as the three nurses administer a painful sting to my arm and check my vitals. I kept my eyes locked on her as they finished up and leave the room just as quickly without a second glance at the crazy, orphan girl.408Please respect copyright.PENANAFcgnB2EaYn
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The mystery woman piped up again. "Sorry about that, Robbie." She stood up from her chair and moved closer to the bed. "I wish you would've been brought to a hospital with a better bed side manner."408Please respect copyright.PENANAjMSDcjAfGw
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I scoffed, "How am I not dead?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAqHi9wjoeJr
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"It took these doctors a lot of work to bring you back, Robbie." She replied, bleakly.408Please respect copyright.PENANAlbiCHz07BI
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"Wait...I d-did die?" I stammered.408Please respect copyright.PENANArbdwvk5KsV
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"For a few minutes, yes. You lost a lot of blood."408Please respect copyright.PENANAeRbIv5D5L7
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I shook my head, "I saw Josh dead...the bullet hit him?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAUZ32AjmHqj
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She nodded, "It did, yes. It also went through him and pieces of it embedded in you pretty severely plus, you hit your head on that brick wall which did cause some pretty significant internal bleeding."408Please respect copyright.PENANAFlYnmxywP0
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"Why didn't they just let me go..."I moaned out in misery. "Why do I have to keep suffering?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAgpEpuLiSCA
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"Robbie, don't be ungrateful." She snapped harshly. I looked over at her in surprise. "You're alive for a reason, be thankful."408Please respect copyright.PENANADuIDAFNdRJ
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"Sorry...it's just been rough." I muttered and rolled onto my side.408Please respect copyright.PENANAg96ChjXFZI
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The bed shifted as her weight sunk into it, "I apologize for my reaction. I do understand you've been through a lot. Losing your parents and your only brother is a pain I can't imagine, you need to grieve...to heal."408Please respect copyright.PENANAdHrco0OS9J
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"I just want it to end...it's like my family is cursed." I laughed darkly. My eyes stung with the tears fighting to escape.408Please respect copyright.PENANAPfZpp66yPv
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"You're not cursed, Robbie. Sometimes bad things happen to those who are strong enough to handle it. From what you've experienced, I'd say you are one tough chick."408Please respect copyright.PENANAloy1dVgOU9
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I smiled a little bit. "How long have I been here?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAB1NZRswC9c
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Her jaw flexed and she looked up towards the clock in the corner of the room.408Please respect copyright.PENANAbbzkEJM3bV
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"Three weeks."408Please respect copyright.PENANAoYOzeU7S3X
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My mouth fell open,"I...I've been asleep for THREE fucking weeks!"408Please respect copyright.PENANA9c8ZsS9ow3
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She glanced anxiously at the door and moved off of the bed, "Please calm down. You don't want them to continue to sedate you."408Please respect copyright.PENANAGrvymsK3ls
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My heart picked up fast and I could feel the cold sweat breaking out all over my body.408Please respect copyright.PENANAj8Deqp5pHy
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"H-how...w-hy...what the fu-" I started to panic again, clutched at the wires attached to me.408Please respect copyright.PENANAN6rwyuj4NT
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She hurried over and grabbed my hands in hers. Her touch so soft and gentle.408Please respect copyright.PENANA6B3WNboOKx
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"You're okay, Robbie. You were put in a medically induced coma to let your body heal and rest. They had to do a lot to save you and prevent you from permanent brain damage. You were monitored closely the entire time."408Please respect copyright.PENANAhNWYgRHT5d
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I nodded a little bit, trying to slow my breathing down. "Who are you?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAvMOXdRU1Vd
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She smiled crookedly, "My name is Angel Ramirez and I am actually here to ensure you are well taken care of, Robbie."408Please respect copyright.PENANAsMnh3hvgXo
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"With what...exactly?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAPjIrhmsw2X
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Angel moved to sit on the bed again, "Do you have any other family, Robbie?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAID3jLVPSTs
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The question made my heart swell.408Please respect copyright.PENANA55VcNmWiDk
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I shook my head, "N-no..."408Please respect copyright.PENANA8tVfLNLiLs
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"Grandparents? Aunts? Cousins?"408Please respect copyright.PENANANaSG9b9fVc
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"Nobody...nobody I have communicated with in years." I frowned and looked down at my bruised hands. "It's always just been my parents and brother..."408Please respect copyright.PENANAItOy3nfzZd
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"Never communicated with your parents family?" She pushed, pulling out a pen and pad.408Please respect copyright.PENANABVPWwaq4Ox
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"My dad's parents died when he was a young..my mom never knew her biological father and her mother disowned her when she got pregnant with Josh. I never knew anything about her, I don't even know a name." I murmured feeling so low. 408Please respect copyright.PENANAZI4vm2qtaI
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I laughed, looking up at her with tears. "I guess...I guess I'm an orphan, huh?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAsjolVgdYlw
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She shook her head and closed the notebook. "Don't think like that...we want to make sure you are able to have a stable home. You are finishing your senior year right?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAsKkfzk7Toq
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"Yes...finals already passed though, so I'm not sure what will happen now," I replied and stared up at the ceiling fan. "I'm sure the school has blown up my phone."408Please respect copyright.PENANAHHCvVacsjN
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"We took care of it," Angel laughed lightly. "They just want you to rest and heal, you'll be able to finish school when you are ready and if you are healed before graduation they want you to walk with your class. They spoke very highly of you."408Please respect copyright.PENANAI1fbCYGcGn
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"School has been the only thing I've felt successful in," I smiled to myself. How sad and pathetic does that sound? "Any chance if my job ever called?" I continued.408Please respect copyright.PENANAb4Z1EbNOTs
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"Yes, we contacted your manager. She was a bit snarky but is aware of the situation," She chuckled. "Everyone just wants to give you time."408Please respect copyright.PENANAK7TNBbLsgo
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"Well...what do you suggest? No family, no car, no money." I shrugged indifferently. Struggling has always been a normal thing to me. "I'm sure the asshole that owns the apartment we were in would be thrilled to see me out on my ass now that the lease holder is...gone."408Please respect copyright.PENANAPwTTI6AMyv
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"I do have a proposition for you," Angel interjected, changing the topic. "Do you know anything of your brother's closest friends?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAqocl1TMn0J
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"Aside from them being low lives?" I snorted. "Not at all, I've met a handful of them and don't envy their lives to say the least."408Please respect copyright.PENANAtJJS9Lus2H
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She didn't laugh, "Do you know anything of a man named Kalon Wolfe?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAZZunzNgpVD
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"No...why?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAWckMBDlpwl
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"Your brother had listed out Kalon Wolfe as an emergency contact for you...do you know anything about that?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAph40VB2hWs
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My brows furrowed, "No? I don't even know who this Wolfe guy is?"408Please respect copyright.PENANA27Z5uan82h
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She nodded, "Well, I've had the pleasure of chatting with Mr. Wolfe and it seems he had offered your brother some kind of security as long as your brother had upheld his end of their agreement."408Please respect copyright.PENANAjQm6lXDyEp
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I stared at her blankly. "I'm lost."408Please respect copyright.PENANAGXrmw2auOI
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"How much did you know of your brother's life, Robbie?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAJApQ6a7OQJ
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"He slept in a lot, sold pot, and ate too much of the food in the house." I shrugged.408Please respect copyright.PENANALH8h8NRuEy
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"Anything else?" She queried.408Please respect copyright.PENANAh8tEhBTgsF
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I just stared at her hopelessly. I really wasn't prepared for yet another news bomb involving my family.408Please respect copyright.PENANAgyxwTykeCT
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"Your brother made an agreement with a group of men who provide security in exchange for service and devotion such as helping with transportation of goods. " Angel explained and passed something towards me. "Have you ever seen these men with Josh?"408Please respect copyright.PENANA1VAJv4Xsk6
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I looked over the picture in my hands. It's a photo of Josh in his favorite red hoodie with two other men dressed in sleek black suits leading him into the back of a very expensive looking sports car.408Please respect copyright.PENANAKxYPwolP5q
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"I have no idea who they are...Josh never hung out with people who owned cars like this." I pushed the photo back towards her. "Even if he did...what does that have to do with anything?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAllXRcpIr5a
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"Everything, Robbie." She replied as she tucked the photo away. "I'm going to give you this proposition because it change everything for you. Before I do, I need to know that you will swear to secrecy and not speak a word on Mr. Wolfe's business to anyone?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAo5pPYUuLoU
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I laughed loudly, "Did you join his cult or something?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAks904kdAFa
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This chick is insane. 408Please respect copyright.PENANAiiKAbBLb2s
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Her eyes narrowed, "No, I didn't...I did agree to his terms though in order to make sure you are taken care of, Robbie. Mr. Wolfe reached out to the hospital directly and I was connected with him. I met with some of his direct men and we discussed the terms and conditions."408Please respect copyright.PENANABPuTbYqYVA
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"Okay, just spit it out." I rolled my eyes. Her dramatics really weren't doing it for me. "What are they a secret society or something?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAO0ePJ392Qk
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"In a way, sure. This contract here details that if you agree to these terms and conditions set in place by Mr. Wolfe that you will be given absolutely everything you will ever need. They will provide you shelter, food, and clothes. Anything you could possibly want, they will make happen for you within reason." She muttered and played with the edge of the papers. "When Josh signed that agreement with Mr. Wolfe he was sworn into this family forever until death. Josh agreed to loyalty, secrecy, and services in exchange for both you and him to be protected and cared for if it ever came down to it."408Please respect copyright.PENANAMCISR7gdCa
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"So...you want me to sign this and swear that everything I see with this Wolfe guy is kept to myself so I can have...the life of my dreams?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAI4hdodqoPC
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"Your silence is vital, Robbie."408Please respect copyright.PENANAzHFdZutokH
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"And what if I break this contract or don't sign it at all?"408Please respect copyright.PENANAwZv9D7AstS
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"It's your life," she shrugged her shoulders, "If you don't sign, you are on your own after you are discharged from here. If you do sign, you will be under his contract and if you break that contract in any way..." she trailed off and looked down at the contract. "It's just not in your best interest."408Please respect copyright.PENANAxK4tEYqMgi
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"Great," I chuckled and laid back against the bed. "This is what my life has come to."408Please respect copyright.PENANAveXpz4YEky
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"I understand it's a lot," She responded softly. "I'll leave his agreement here for you to review and consider. He expects a response tomorrow by noon."408Please respect copyright.PENANAmlELv37wij
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I took the contract in my hands, skimming over the front page.408Please respect copyright.PENANAH3lIrS6ZgF
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Mr. Wolfe408Please respect copyright.PENANAFR1hZPzorS
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Family Contract Offer408Please respect copyright.PENANAOGPzPN3BuY
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Roberta Quinn 408Please respect copyright.PENANAQoDuPEB7tP
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Simple and weird. Just like a cult.408Please respect copyright.PENANAFxBHBUYBqE
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"Alright," I looked back up at her. "I'll read it over and get back to you."408Please respect copyright.PENANArIvhp2cdbP
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"Of course. Take care, Robbie."408Please respect copyright.PENANAQhhOF900ob
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I watched as she gathered her belongings and headed for the door. She glanced back briefly at the papers in my hands as the door closed in her face.408Please respect copyright.PENANASbFqiCjDig
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What the fuck am I getting myself into?