Riley

They owed too much.

The sum was unimaginable. It was unforgivable how much an alcoholic man would lend just to satisfy his problem.

Your father, a man who had fallen into ruin after your mother's death, had turned to alcoholism as a refuge from his grief.

After living in a nice house, they now survived the cold dampness of the basement of a building they had managed to rent. Upon arriving there, your father met a woman who would soon leave him, abandoning him and leaving your brother in your care. A small baby.

As time went on, you had taken on the responsibility for him, letting your father ruin himself. Everything was going smoothly, until one night, the worst happened.

After an hour of closing the door to the room you shared with your little brother—who was now around four years old—you felt loud bangs and a lot of unusual movement inside the basement.

Men were speaking loudly as you listened to your father complaining. You put a hand to your mouth as you sat down by the door.

After a few minutes passed, someone broke down the bedroom door, waking the child who began to cry. When you tried to protect him, several others grabbed your arms and dragged you outside.

Upon arriving at the room, one of them spoke.

—Chief, we found her in a room with a small child.

The man they were talking about turned around. He was elegantly dressed, in fine suits, and wore a perfume that filled the place. He came closer and grabbed your face by the jaw.

—What do we have here?