6:30
"Sophie, baby, it's time to wake up now. You're going to be late for work if you don't get up soon."
Sophia groaned and hollowed deeper into her thin pillow, pulling the threadbare blanket over her head.
"Just five more minutes, Mum. Please, just give me five more minutes," she mumbled into the fabric.
"You said that an hour ago, Sophie. Come on now, I made breakfast for you. It's already getting cold, and you know how terrible cold tea tastes."
Sophia forced her eyes open and immediately regretted it. Bright morning sunlight was streaming through the threadbare curtains.
Her mother stood beside the narrow bed, already dressed. Jessica Brooks was forty-eight years old, yet she looked younger than her age you could hardly believe she was suffering from kidney cancer.
"That's my daughter," Jessica said with a warm smile as Sophia finally sat up. Her hands trembled slightly as she reached out to smooth down Sophia's messy hair. "How are you feeling this morning? Did you sleep well?"
Sophia wanted to lie and say yes; she didn't want her mother to worry and ask her to quit her jobs. But her body told a different story. Every single muscle ached in a way that shouldn't be possible for a twenty-three-year-old.
"Her head hurts like someone hit it with a hammer, her back feels like someone spent the night hitting it, and her feet ache from standing all day," she thought.
"I'm okay, Mum. Just tired. Maybe if I take painkillers, I would be perfectly fine. Nothing to worry about, Mom."
"Sophia, you look like someone who hasn't slept properly in weeks and we both know you haven't. You are working yourself to death with all these jobs, Sophie. You are human, for crying out loud! At least quit just one job. You can't be handling five jobs," Jessica yelled.
"I'm fine, Mom. Don't worry about me so much. We need the money for your treatment. If I quit one job, how can I raise ten million dollars in two months? The doctor said your treatment shouldn't be delayed."
"Sophia, it's all my fault you are suffering like this. This wasn't the life I wished for you. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. I'm sorry I don't know who your father is. I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promises," Jessica sobbed.
"It's not your fault, Mom. What matters is that I love you, and I will always be here for you. Now, let's go have breakfast, Mom. Go without me; let me take my bath," she said, running to the bathroom.
"I'm waiting for you! Be quick!" Jessica yelled.
She followed her mother to their excuse of a kitchen, which was really a corner of their studio apartment with a hot plate, a mini fridge, and a sink that dripped constantly, no matter how many times Sophia tried to fix it. The card table staggered dangerously when she pulled out a chair and sat down.
Two fractured mugs sat on the table, steam curling up from both of them. She grabbed a piece of bread and chewed.
"Mom, did you take your medication this morning?" Sophia asked, facing her mother.
"Not yet, sweetheart. You know I don't take my pills alone. It makes me feel sick or something, and I don't want to feel that way. When you are with me, it feels more like having breakfast together—like a normal family."
Sophia reached across the table and grabbed the pill organizer, bringing it over and setting it between them.
Popping out the drugs, she handed over the tea. Jessica took the pills one at a time, frowning as she swallowed each one with a sip of tea.
"These things are disgusting, Soph. Every single one tastes like lemon."
"I know they taste bad, but you have to take them. The doctor said it would keep you safe for now before your surgery."
"The doctors say a lot of things, and most of them cost more money than we have. Sometimes I wonder if it's even worth it taking all these pills just to keep me alive a little bit longer."
"Don't say that, Mom. Don't ever say that. You are worth everything to me, and I am going to make sure you stay healthy for as long as possible. I'll make sure your surgery is successful. I don't care how many jobs I have to work or how tired I get."
Jessica's eyes filled with tears, and she reached across the table to take Sophia's hand in both of hers.
"Oh, baby girl. You shouldn't have sacrificed your life for me, Sophia. I've lived mine already. You shouldn't have abandoned your dreams just to take care of me."
"My dreams can wait, Mom. Right now, the only thing that matters is making sure you are okay. And speaking of which, I need to tell you something I picked up another shift last night. It's at the downtown club called The Inferno..."
"Sophia, you are not going to that club. That club is dangerous. You can't be seen there," Jessica cut in.
"It's just a cleaning job, Mom. I'll be going in after hours, when they're closed and everyone has gone home. The manager specifically said that I'll be there by myself, so there's no danger at all. I'll just mop the floor..."
"You are still not going there, Sophia. Don't even think of going there. You should listen to me," Jessica snapped.
"But..."
"No, but, Sophia. You are not going there. End of discussion." She stood up and went to her room.
9:15
Humphrey Diner
The bus ride to Humphrey took forty-five minutes, and Sophia spent the entire time staring out the window, thinking about why her mother didn't want her to work at The Inferno, why she had snapped at her it was the first time her mom had snapped at her.
When the bus finally stopped at her corner, Sophia climbed off and walked the remaining three blocks to the diner. The neighborhood wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either. Bars covered most of the windows, and some groups of young men stood on corners, looking like they were up to no good.
The bell above the door rang when Sophia pushed her way inside. The familiar smell of coffee and pancakes hit her immediately, and her stomach growled loudly in response. She couldn't remember the last time she had a proper breakfast.
"You are late!" Ruby's voice boomed from behind the counter.
Sophia hurried toward the back of the diner. "I'm sorry, Ruby. The bus was delayed because of an accident on Fifth Street. I got here as fast as I could."
"I don't want excuses, girl. I want you in your apron, taking orders, and you shouldn't come last again. If the boss finds out, I won't be able to save you; I'm just a manager here," Ruby said.
She left hurriedly to attend to customers, rushing from one table to the next, pouring coffee, taking orders, and delivering food.
By the third hour, she was running on autopilot. By two o'clock, when her shift finally ended, Sophia was exhausted but grateful. Ruby handed her cash for her hours worked plus her share of tips. Sophia counted it quickly: seventy-five dollars.
"Good work today, Sophia," Ruby said as she prepared to leave. "You've got the other jobs now, right? At the convenience store?"
"Yeah, I need to catch the bus over there. My shift starts at three."
"And you are working at the club tonight too?"
"Hmmm..."
"It's dangerous, Sophia. You shouldn't go there. Bad things happen in places like that."
"I'll be fine, Ruby. I'll be careful. But don't tell my mom; it should be our little secret."
"You better be fine, and I won't tell your mom if you promise to share half of the payment with me."
"Half is much; ten percent. Don't negotiate," Sophia replied.
"Fine, then. Be safe."
Sophia grabbed her bag from the back room and hurried out of the diner. She had fifteen minutes to catch the bus to the convenience store, and she couldn't afford to be late.
When she was done with her shift at the convenience store, she caught a bus ride home. She greeted her mom, went to her room, grabbed her piggy bank, and broke it open. She gathered the money—it totaled up to two million dollars. She had to deposit it at the hospital for her mother's treatment.
"Mum, I'm going to the hospital to deposit the money," Sophia said.
"Be safe and be careful," Jessica replied.
The Inferno
She stepped into the club. It was very busy; everyone was dressed in their clubbing best. Some danced on poles, while others smoked or played games. Sophia needed no soothsayer to tell her this was where illegal activities were carried on.
She went to the manager, and they both exchanged pleasantries. But as she stepped further into the shadows of the club, Sophia couldn't shake the feeling that eyes were watching her eyes that didn't blink, eyes that belonged to someone very dangerous.