Chapter 2 2

*FLASHBACK*

I sat on my bed, my cute velvet colored dress next to me pleading with me to put it on and show off the genes I was given by my mother.

While staring at the dress, I got a text from my boyfriend Lucas saying he "couldn't get the thought of me out of his mind"

I smiled at the screen and began to text back "Oh hush you'll see me tomorrow." Hearing footsteps coming up to the bedroom, I watched till my doorknob slowly turned revealing Antonio wearing his black suit and maroon tie. "Hey, buttercup, you ready? We gotta go in like 15 minutes, dad doesn't enjoy being late, you know."

"Mmm, that's the thing I don't feel like going do you think he'd be upset?"

"No way you are not letting me go to this stupid shit alone get your ass up"

As soon as I all but launch a pillow in his face, my mom pops her head in and the bastard moves to the side hitting my mom in her gorgeous face.

"If you didn't want me to come in Alima, you should have just said so."

"Shit, Mom I'm sorry that was meant for asshat over there to your left"

"language Alima"

"Yeah, language buttercup," Rolling my eyes at him, I began to slowly get up and make my way toward her. "Mom, I don't want to go"

"And why is that sweetheart?" "These cramps are killing me, mommy," I said with an extra baby voice just for effect. I could see it in her eyes, she didn't believe a word. After all, I had gotten my period last week and she had given me some tea that took the pain away.

But to my utter astonishment, she said "Oh honey I'm sorry you must be in a lot of pain it's fine you can join us next time."

Antonio's jaw was on the floor. "What!? She doesn't have to go but I do. That's bullshit!"

"HEY, your sister is in a lot of pain here and if you want a broken arm to feel her pain just say that and I will be glad to do it."

"Whatever Mom, I bet it's not that serious anyway." Rolling his eyes, he left the room.

Rolling our eyes, we both said "Men." As we said, a heavy pair of footsteps were heard coming our way, and as if I cued my father, he poked his head inside. "Hey sweetheart, and did you say you aren't feeling well, that true?" My mom beat me to the punch and said "Yes, Vince, it is, she has bad cramps."

"Oh my pobre principessa"(poor princess) "I hate to leave you home, but if you're not feeling up to it, it's fine bambina." (Baby) Both now leaving and me trailing behind them to the front door, I see my father setting up the alarm system. While my mom goes off to the kitchen. "You really got out of it, huh, buttercup?"

"Sure did asshat" Winking at my brother I turn to my father handing me the panic button. "Now bambina, if anything seems off you know where the safe room is, and the weapons are, keep the button with you at all times and lock the door behind us so the alarm sets."

I nod obediently and grab the remote. "Papi, why do you have to worry so much, it's not a big deal, I've stayed home plenty of time, I know the drill."

"Just being safe coccinella you never know" (ladybug)

"Come on Val, we can't be any later baby we have to go!" He all but yelled to my mom in the kitchen. Scurrying out of the kitchen, my mom grabs her purse and hands me a butterfly knife.

"Remember sweetheart only use it if you must." "Yes mami"

Looking at them all, I give them each a hug and kiss goodbye while I shut the door.

Finally, alone I activate the alarm as instructed and head to my room.

I grab my phone and read the messages from Lucas "Hey, gorgeous, it's not my fault you're stuck in my head."

"You should blow off the business meeting and hang out with me ;)"

"Hey handsome, you read my mind, I'm all alone."

"Alima baby I'm on my way." Laughing at the text, I tell him to come through the window like always because I figured out how to turn the alarm on my window off one night, I was really craving chocolate so I did what any girl would do.

I climbed down my 2nd-floor window for some chocolate. 100% worth and I found my loophole to sneak out and sneak people in.

While off in my own world, putting my dress away and slipping on some comfy clothes for a movie and popcorn. I hear three steady knocks on my window, watching over and looking out, I see Lucas in all his glory hanging in waiting for me to open the window.

Opening the window so he could come in, he didn't say a word. He turned around, closed the window and grabbed my face gently kissing my lips. We kissed till I pulled, and with swollen lips, I was a blushing mess.

"Hey there gorgeous," I shyly said, "Hi." Not being able to look into his eyes, I instead grabbed his hands and led him to my kitchen, pulling out the popcorn and popping it into the microwave. "Why did you suddenly not want to go to the meeting?"

"Mmm I had a better idea, one that involves you and me with some delicious popcorn."

"I like that idea, Bebe," the microwave beeped indicating time was up. Taking it out, I dumped it into a bowl and began walking to the theater room.

"So, what do you want to watch handsome?"

"Anything with you sweets"

Smiling, we sat down and I put the panic button on my left side while grabbing the remote for the projector on the other.

Picking a random horror film, I sat back and began eating.

Lucas suddenly slipped his arm around my waist, picking me up and setting me on his lap.

Getting comfortable and lying on his chest, we began to watch the movie.

*time jump*

Not knowing when I dozed off or how I got to my bed, I woke up to my phone blaring, while trying to reach for it, I realized I had Lucas's arms around my waist.

Smiling I slipped from his grasp and grabbed my phone. Realizing it was 2 AM I reluctantly answered.

"Hello,"

"Yes, hello. Is this Miss Alima Smith?" suspiciously I replied with

"Speaking, who is this?"

"I'm sorry to be the one to have to tell you this, but your family had a terrible accident."

"The vehicle they were driving seemed to have lost control and crashed off the road into a cliff, it tumbled and caught fire."

"I am so sorry for your loss, miss"

"Miss Alima, hello?"

"Hello?"

In that moment everything faded out, no noise could be heard, I began to tremble and fell to my knees.

Crying hysterically, I must have woken up Lucas because he was holding me, asking what was wrong.

Holding me and picking up the phone while talking to someone on the other end.

His face pales as he holds me even tighter.

In that moment my whole life changed and was over. I lost my whole family and didn't even get to say goodbye.

*flashback over*

Alimas POV

I don't know what happened, one minute I was calming myself with a shower thinking about my life and how downhill it went in a matter of hours.

So now I wake up disoriented and cold from the water turning lukewarm.

I gave myself a second to come back to the land of the living before turning the water off and getting up.

On wobbly legs, I slowly step out of the shower and grab a nice fluffy yellow towel.

Looking into the mirror again, I look at myself drained of any emotion or light.

I just don't understand.

How everything became so pointless.

How just a year ago I was happy and living with my family in my childhood home with the sweetest boyfriend a girl could ask for.

And now I am in a small apartment utterly and completely alone.

I lost everything and everyone, including myself.

Stepping away from the mirror, I do my hygienic duties, I am surprised I still have the energy, and step back into my room.

Looking at the clock on my nightstand I see it's a quarter past 11.

Walking into my walk-in closet, I begin to get on my pajamas for the night.

Before the intrusive thoughts come into my head.

At first, they play nice, they say "Oh I miss them so much it hurts"

Then they get aggressive "You fucking dumbass how could you be so selfish and let them die like that!"

Followed by depression "How can you take this? Not seeing their smiling faces, or hearing dad's stupid jobs aren't funny, but we still laughed."

"What about Earl, he was so annoying, but always had your best interest at heart."

"And mom or our sweet mommy. You remember when she let us skip school because we had cramps?"

"I miss you guys so much"

As I say it out loud I can't help but begin to cry.

The salty tears coming from my eyes like a faucet that can't be stopped.

I somehow make it to my bed and crawl in clutching my pillow for dear life imagining it were my family.

Before dozing off, I hear a ping coming from the kitchen, alerting me that I got a text message.

Slowly getting out of bed, I head to my kitchen.

On the marble island in the kitchen, I see my phone sitting there just waiting for me to reach for it.

So I do. I take a look at who is texting me at 11:55 pm on a Friday.

On my screen, I see a name I had been anticipating for weeks on end but eventually forgot about it.

Seeming as though I had hit a dead end.

Now I see.

I immediately open the text and see what they have to say.

In black bold letters on the screen, I see a phone number.

And under the phone number, it's simple instructions. The text reads as follows:

From CorbbyX1X:

708*******

Don't call just text Sunshine.

A-limz333:

I appreciate the work, took you long enough. I hope they're as reliable as you say.

CorbbyX1X:

Sunshine, I assure you they're the best I've got, you will not be disappointed.

A-limz333:

It's your ass if not.

CorbbyX1X:

Sure, sure let me know how it goes. Stay safe sunshine k?

A-limz333: don't get mushy on me anyway I got to go you be safe too don't worry about me ;)

CorbbyX1X: this guy no joke sweets be careful I mean it. <3

Setting my phone down and going into the living room to get a piece of paper and pencil, I come back and write the number on the paper.

Closing out my phone and shutting it down, I go back into my room and grab my dad's old phone from under my pillow.

Turning it on, I see his home screen is a picture of all of us at a picnic.

I still remember this day. The breeze in my hair, the sunlight in my eyes and the smell of mom's spaghetti she packed for lunch.

I miss them so much I just can't let them go.

Dad forgot his phone that night, that's why I still have it.

I remember him telling me that a buddy of his had installed an encryption code on it for "fun" because he was testing it out and needed a dummy, so my father volunteered.

Getting into the phone and putting the number in, I contemplated texting them.

Doing this, there is no way back. No pause button no restart.

I sat on my bed feeling numb, not knowing if I should just send the text or not.

Thinking of seeing my family again, hearing their voices and looking into their eyes.

I swallowed all the fear I had and began the text

3x3x.Dex: I have a job for you.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

Waiting for a response with sweaty palms and shallow breathing

I felt like one wrong move and it would be game over.

I felt like I was walking on eggshells.

3x3x.Dex: She is a 5'6 blue-eyed brunette living in the east side apartment 1104.

It's been put into motion. I can't stop it now. What the hell am I doing? I feel like I'm committing a crime....

Well, I guess I am- taking a hit out on myself because I don't dare to do it myself

I just want to see my family again.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of that day, I just feel like being here without them hurts more than just ending it all.

Staring up at my ceiling thinking about what I had just done. I feel my phone vibrate beside me, my heart stops, and I pick it up to read

From 0000💀: payment to 1xxxxxxxxx of 50,000 and another 50,000 after it's done.

I go ahead and do it, but I wire the money in full because I won't be alive to put the other half in.

0000💀: you trust me enough to not run with the money ragazzo? (Boy)

Understanding the guy is Italian like me, I unconsciously smile for whatever reason

It reminded me of my father and his rough accent.

God, I miss him.

3x3x.Dex: Not so much trust, let's just say I've heard enough to know you won't disappoint.

0000💀: Consider it done.

I didn't respond after that. I just blinked at my screen. Breathing calmly as if all this weight I had on my shoulder had been miraculously lifted

It's done.

I just single-handedly bought a hitman's service for myself.

Not only that, they are the best money could buy.

Looking at the clock, it was now officially the anniversary of my family's deaths.

I got off the bed and on my knees and prayed.

I prayed for them not to be upset about what I was doing. And to be happy because I'm going to see them again and we'll all be together as A family.