Giving In

The light was so bright, and for a moment she thought “Death shouldn’t be so blinding.” Then she blinked, in bed and very much alive while the dawning sky rose outside her window. Today was the day practice test scores were released. With the real Step 2 exam being so close your practice score was practically your exam score which more or less dictated your future as a doctor. Daela looked at the alarm clock and bolted up right. 7:30 glared menacingly back at her with its red face. She was late typically She and Rebecca were already on their way to school by this time.

She checked her phone, seeing if Rebecca had gone on an early morning jog and was running late when she saw it. The notification on her phone alerting her of a deposit into her account from an unknown number. Her breath caught in her throat as the numbers stared up at her in the most pleasing way. 20,000 dollars had been transferred into her account from someone unknown.

Looking at her bank account Adela saw the deposit receipt. This was insane. “Rebecca!” she yelled shoving her phone into her pocket, before tossing on a sweater and running out of her room. Maybe Rebecca knew something about it.

“Rebecca?” She pushed open her roommates door to be greeted with an made up bed. Her backpack was gone from the table as well.

There is no way she would leave me not on test day.

“maybe in the kitchen then.” She mumbled running down the wooden stairs. She turned the corner at the bottom to fast and nearly knocked over Rowan who was headed up. Daela felt her face turn red as her hand brushed his thigh to not fully collided with the gorgeous man.

“I know who you’re looking for an she already left. But…” he pursed his lips, “… that means I can give you a ride to school today mi’lady,” He teased slightly bowing his dark locks covering his face momentarily.

For a second the money was forgotten as anger boiled in Daela stomach at the thought of being left behind, on today of all days.

“Are you turning red because you think I’m cute of because your mad?” Rowan chuckled swearing he could hear the younger woman brain misfire.

“I’m upset because we have a routine and now its broken and I won’t get to school early enough to review before class.”

“Well,” Rowan smiled placing his hand on her arm. Instantaneously dirty thoughts began to play in Daela’s head. He has a girlfriend. He has a girlfriend. She reminded herself. “you can be a slacker like the rest of us.”

“It’s just… it’s my routine.” She mumbled deep in a fantasy of unspeakable acts.

“Ah is the imminent practice exam scores scaring you?”

Daela blinked back in reality, “Of course not,” she replied trying to sound unbothered. In all reality, she was terrified but did not want to admit it in front of Rowan.

“Sure, give me a few minutes and we will leave for school in a few,” he flashed her another smile before disappearing up the stairs. Daela started packing her back pack as she remembered the money. She decided to let her self-indulge a little, thinking about how she would spend the money, and what she would do to Rowan if she had the chance. There was a strange tug in her stomach along with warmth; it felt good.

After a silent car ride, due to someone’s day dreaming, Rowan and Daela went their separate way before class. Daela slide into her seat, checking her phone again. The money was still there, a shiver ran down her spine as she actually considered keeping the money. Besides shell be a doctor one day, and on that day when she makes the big backs she promised to donate 20 grand to some misfortunate children.

“Hey.” A quiet voice from behind made Daela jump. Rebecca smirked, “sorry about not getting you up I had a thing and Rowan said he could give you a ride.”

“Don’t talk to me.” The words shocked both women at first, but it felt so good to lash out Daela continued.

“s..sorry?” Rebecca looked hurt.

“I said don’t talk to me, you don’t abandon your best friend for some mystery especially on a day like today. Your so selfish.” Daela had a talent for knowing how to hurt people, a talent which she normally kept hidden but right now it felt so good to let out.

“I had an emergency, besides I thought you wouldn’t mind right with Rowan.”

“He has a Girlfriend Rebecca grow up, and stop talking to me, I don’t want to hear a lousy excuse.” She knew it was mean but for some reason or another Daela couldn’t help herself. IT felt good to watch Rebecca go over to her seat and sulk.

The rest of the class began to filter in and Rowan sat with Sarah in the corner, and as they chuckled quietly, Daela felt her envy nearly turn her green. She knew Rowan longer than that stupid little…. Why am I so on edge today? She stopped her thought process and tried to focus on other things. The scores would be released in the next few minutes but until then…

She pulled out her phone and looked at the beautiful twenty-thousand dollars in her account, but now there was a message from someone who she did not recognize.

“Hi, my name is Carl Vanthroph. I accidentally sent money to the wrong number. Can you please send it back?”

Panic replaced the warm feeling in her stomach and she quickly shut her phone off again, her eyes widening. Carl Vanthroph. Why did that name sound so familiar? Her phone chirped again and so did everyone in the class. The scores were up! She quickly accessed her email to check and…

Her heart fell into that pit which was where her stomach used to be. Her score was lower than imagined. True, it was only a practice exam, but in Medical school, everything felt like life or death. Tears prickled her eyes as she hooded her face. Her phone chirped again.

Rowan: “Worse than expected?”

She rolled her eyes and looked over to the older man who looked back at her sympathetically. She quickly texted back.

Daela: “It’s fine.”

Rowan: “I can help you prepare for the next practice exam.”

Anger stewed inside of her. Why on Earth would he think I need his help! Before she could stop herself, she replied.

Daela: “I do not need you mansplaining to me every stupid detail. Go back to fawning over Sarah.”

She looked over when Rowan looked down at his phone. A sickening pleasure curled in her stomach at the confused and hurt look that flashed on his face before he put away his phone and started taking notes.

School passed in a blur. Daela, too prideful to ask Rebecca or Rowan for a ride, ended up walking home. She didn’t feel the need to apologize to either of them, and she wouldn’t. But she didn’t want to be put in a situation to have to thank them either. Luckily, it was still relatively warm in the evenings, and they all lived pretty close to campus so the walk was pleasant. All the lights were off when she got home. It was Friday so she expected Rebecca to leave for the weekend, and Rowan was probably out with Sarah. It was Daela’s turn to wash the dishes and take out the trash, but screw it! She wasn’t going to do anything but relax after the day she had.

She took a bath before remembering about the money and Carl Vanthroph. Taking her phone, she Googled him. Letting out a gasp, her suspicions were confirmed, Carl Vanthroph was the hotshot who owned Van’s Estates. He would buy houses and rent them out, the guy was a millionaire. She checked her messages; he had not texted her again aside from the message that morning explaining the money mix-up.

Maybe if you give back the money, he will reward you. Or maybe if you give back the money you’re out of 20 grand. This decision required alcohol. She slipped out of the tub and into her robe before going straight to the shared liquor cabinet.

One drink she thought. After she finished the long island iced tea while mindlessly watching television she decided to throw away her cares. No one was going to be home tonight so she could do what she wanted. The warm feeling of pleasure built in her stomach again this time aided by the alcohol she consumed.

Hours later she was dozing in a blissful drunken stupor when the front door slammed open. She shot up on the couch. The room spun for a moment before it stilled enough that she could make out who it was.

Rowan stood in the doorway drunk and upset, rambling incoherently to himself. As if she had taken a cold shower and downed coffee, Daela was suddenly stone-cold sober.

“Rowan, what’s wrong? Why are you home?” She felt almost like a predator sneaking up on her prey as she walked over to the man.

“Sarah…”, his voice broke, “Sarah got really upset with me tonight, and I don’t know if we’re going to be okay.”

“Sit sit,” she urged him to the couch. “What happened?”

“There was this stupid bloke at the theater who was talking so I yelled at him, and we all got kicked out. She told me I was always snapping at people and that I shouldn’t be a doctor if I couldn’t get my temper under control, which is dumb because I don’t even get mad often.” He sniffed; Daela smelled the liquor on him.

“So I told her I don’t think I could be with someone as manipulative as her, and she slapped me and left,” He pointed to his reddened cheek which, up until this point, Adela thought had been a drunken flush.

“So I went to the bar and I just…I don’t know. They cut me off, and I took an Uber here, and… I can’t believe it’s over!”, he yelled. A fresh wave of tears pouring down his face.

This was her chance.

Adela leaned in and claimed Rowan’s lips on her own. Rowan instinctively kissed her back before pushing her off.

“Adela, no what if… What if she comes back?”

Adela smiled, knowing exactly what to say. “Rowan, she was unhappy for a long time. She told me and the others she likes someone else and just needed a reason to break up with you.” Rowan’s face fell into utter despair.

“We were together for so long… How? When?”

“That doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m here for you,” Adela purred into his neck. Any resistance he had was gone as Adela climbed on top of him. He was hers for the night.

Adela drifted off to sleep in Rowan’s bed to the sound of his soft breathing. She did it; she dominated the day, took what she wanted. She was THE boss.

I’m keeping that money! Screw Carl Van-whatever. As her eyes drifted shut, a bright light exploded in front of her. She was floating in this beautiful golden abyss.

“My child,” a voice that sounded like the wind boomed in her ears. “You failed your test.”

“Test?” She was terrified. She had to be dreaming again.

“You died. As a human, your flesh craves sin, and I cannot accurately judge you. After death, I place your soul into the dimension where it is tempted by all seven deadly sins. You gave into all seven without regret; you have failed. Your soul is corrupted.”

Suddenly, she was falling. The golden light turned darker, then orange and then red. Flames licked at her face as she fell. Down, down, down, toward the tortured screams.