Matt

Your brother was in an accident. The second the news spread, your phone lit up with a notification from Matt's nemesis.

"I heard your brother was in an accident? Poor thing," he wrote with a sly grin, not even hiding his glee.

Back off, Matt!

you answered, feeling rage and resentment boiling inside you.

Have you completely lost your fear?

Go to hell!

You tossed your phone aside, not wanting to waste another second on this idiot. Your fingers trembled as you typed a message to the only person you could trust, Sam.

-Sam...

"No!" came the immediate reply, as if he already knew what the conversation would be about.

“I beg you, please... I feel really bad,” you wrote, feeling tears welling up in your eyes.

There was a painful pause. And then:

• Okay. But promise me that this really is the last time.

—I promise. Honestly.

Sam sighed heavily and put his phone in his pocket. He and Matt were old friends, something you had no idea about.

An hour later, Sam called Matt:

“Damn...” Sam’s voice sounded worried.

“What happened?” Matt responded, twirling the car keys in his hands.

—Can you deliver the order for me? I'm completely overwhelmed with work.

• No problem, of course.

"Thanks, Matt, you helped me out. Listen, she's a close friend of mine. Don't take money from her, okay? And just make sure she's okay."

“I’ll do it, don’t worry,” Matt said, jumping into the car.

Matt pulled up to the right building, glanced at the address on his phone, and confidently walked up the stairs. Three distinct knocks on the door. The lock clicked. The door swung open, and two people stood frozen on the threshold.

Matt froze, his mouth open, his face white as a sheet. His voice sounded uncharacteristically worried.

“You...?” he breathed out, not believing his eyes.