Enos had forgotten his radio and coat by the stairs when he left minutes ago. I figured it'd be polite to send them back to him. Spare Enos the trouble of having to return here after all the work he'd done.

I grabbed Enos's stuff and headed for his house.

There was a black expensive SUV parked outside his driveway with guards by each side. I moved slowly along the sidewalk. A bad feeling waved through me as I looked at the two men. They seemed rather odd, buffed up and too serious. That made me wonder who paid Enos a visit. The person must be extremely loaded to own that type of vehicle and those bodyguards.

But I did not falter, it's not as though they're bad people, Right? I will give Enos his things and return home. That simple.

I walked past the men after mastering a quick hello that wasn't even reciprocated and then proceeded ahead.

I rang the door bell a couple of times but Enos wasn't there to receive me in a scale of five minutes or so. Strange, I could've sworn to hearing people talking from the otherside.

"Enos." I called out. "It's Elisabeth."

No response yet again and for a second I suspected something wasn't right. Or perhaps he wasn't paying me any mind. Is it possible that Enos is in company of a woman?

"You left the radio and coat at my house." I exclaimed by the door. "I've brought them back."

Why isn't Enos coming out? I don't appreciate being ignored.

I glanced over my shoulder at the guards by the entrance. They appeared rather uninterested. May be I should go inside.

"Leave them by the porch." I heard his voice addressing me from the livingroom as he finally acknowledged my presence. But truth be told, Enos sounded a bit distorted.

I wanted to do as he instructed, place the stuff by the corner and go away, but my guts convinced me otherwise. Was it just me or did Enos seem off in a way? His response was kind of forced.

So I opened the door myself and stepped inside while holding his things securely then shutting the door behind me and turning around.

I froze.

My hands discarded Enos' stuff to the tiled floor in an instant.

What in the name of God?

A gun was pointed to my face. An actual freaking gun.

"Don't scream or say anything." An unfamiliar man warned. "Try and you're dead."

My heart dropped to the ground as I turned pale and cold, frozen in place and beyond terrified. The wires in my head began spinning as I held my breath, I felt weak in the knees, confused, afraid and regretful that I walked through that door.

What's going on? For the love of christ! What is happening?

"Leave her alone, this is between us." That was Enos talking. "She has no part in it so keep her out." His voice was threatening but the panic penetrated that cold exterior.

I can't believe this is happening right now. What the hell is Enos involved in?

The room had three men inside. Two of them, I noticed to be twins. I kept staring ahead, not at the gun, but at Enos.

My chest tightened and my eyes went wide in horror and fear as I swallowed, hard. Enos was kneeling on the floor, hands and feet tied up, a deep bleeding cut by the side of his shoulder, blood drying to the floor, and a gun pointed at him.

The third bandit looked awfully dangerous, angry, and nothing less of a devil. I was scared, and I don't think I've ever been that afraid in my life.

One of the twins began to speak. "The girl must be important to him boss. I suggest we deal with her first."

What does he mean by that? Deal with me?

I tried to remain calm but my whole body was shaking. It can't be anything good. I glanced at Enos with bloodshot eyes but he was already speaking in rage.

"That's an innocent person." Enos growled. "We've talked about this Russel. Stop dragging her."

The so-called boss landed a hard bone crushing blow on Enos's face. More Blood gashed out his mouth in an instant.

"We call the shots here." The man barked. "Better shut the fuck up before we burst her brains open." He was being serious.

I could tell the boss wasn't bluffing with his threats.

I don't want to die.

This is bad.

This is really really bad.

"I'm the one who owes you money. Elisabeth knows absolutely nothing." Enos kept on talking.

That wasn't a good idea because another punch settled on his face.

I grimaced upon seeing all the blood.

"Another word from you and she's dead."

Enos looked at me, and I could see something in his luring stare. The only thing preventing him from beating the hell out of these men were the metal cuffs around his hands and feet.

The twin placed a gun to my neck. "Elisabeth, that's a sweet little name." He moved the gun roughly against my cheek.

It was painful because he was pressing hard on the surface there. My insides whimpered from the feeling of the cold steel on my skin. I wanted to scream so loudly but I knew that yelling won't save me.

That would only make matters worse.

Why in the world does Enos owe these criminals money?

I'm starting to think his mother had strong reasons for acting the way she did this morning. Something could seriously be wrong with her son. What was I thinking by expecting a guy with threatening looks could be any good? They say the bad ones come with glorious faces, that can't be more true.

Enos is no good.

"Don't harm her." Enos was beginning to sound rather paranoid.

That reaction terrified me.

"I'll come up with the rest of the cash by tomorrow." He tried to assure the armed men.

"Time's up Enos. If you can't provide the rest of the cash right now, then that beautiful woman over there is going to be in deep shit." The boss told him. "I made everything clear to you, remember? Nobody double crosses me."

I couldn't seem to breathe, the air in my lungs felt highjacked as I desperately tried to steady my breathing. A wave of absolute panic was washing over me. I inhaled and exhaled deeply to calm myself before I had a serious panic attack. My lips went dry, and my eyes watery as I felt suffocated inside that house.

From the way Enos was glaring at him, I realised that we're fucked.

Enos has no cash.

God.

We're screwed.

"Start with her legs." Their boss ordered.

"What?" I galbed.

The guy pointed that gun to my foot.

"No." Enos exclaimed through tense jaws. "Listen, I'll do whatever it takes to raise the cash, just don't shoot her."

Sweat drenched my forehead as I scratched my mind for ideas.

There's no way am dying this way.

"None negotiable." The boss replied, smirking.

"Tape her mouth so she doesn't scream." He instructed. "Make it tight."

"Please, d_don't do this." I stuttered while holding back the tears.

Enos was standing up, but got kicked on the chin.

For Christ sake.

"Shoot me instead." Enos offered.

His eyes and face were crimson red from the beating he'd received. He stared at me, apologetic.

"To late for that." The man said. "She doomed herself by getting inside the house."

I hate my guts.

If I don't die from the gun shots, then I'll die from shame.

"Start with the right leg." He ordered the twin.

My heart began to pound so hard as the adrenaline rose.

"No stop." Enos panicked trying to get up. He fell back because of the cuffs on his feet.

"Shoot her now." The boss ranted.

The guy was about to pull the trigger.

It was hard focusing my thoughts as Enos's rants for them to stop shooting echoed in the air.

I spoke out loudly. "I'll give you the money."

I swear.

"I'd shoot you straight on the skull if you don't stop messing around." The twin warned me.

I shook my head, swallowing on a fit of nausea.

"How much does he owe you?" I could hear the slight stammering of my own voice as I talked. "I'm going to provide it."

The gun was pointed to my face again.

"Are you serious?" The boss asked me.

"I have money at my house." I said. "It's true."

The attorney handling my mother's case. I was planning to pay him soon so that my mother could leave prison. Guess that plan is shut to hell.

What's the point in all this struggling if I die?

Enos didn't look relieved at all. It was obvious, he doesn't want me paying his debts. But It's either that, or we're corpse. And he knows that.

I'll be so fucked off if we get murdered.

"Tell me the amount due?" I repeated.

They mentioned the exact amount.

Its alot of cash.

"Do you have it?

I think it took me ten seconds too long to answer because Enos got stabbed on the arm.

I almost threw up on the floor as Enos screamed.

There's too much blood.

It didn't help that his hands were tied up.

"Yes, I have that amount." I answered.

This was life's crude way of mocking me.

I sacrificed my dignity working at that strip club to earn enough money to get mom released from prison.

Spent hours at Inez's fashion house to earn a salary. And now, it's gone.

But I can't let Enos and myself die this way.

We don't deserve such a cruel death.

I understand we've done horrible things before, but we certainly don't deserve any of this.

"Where do you live?" The boss questioned.

I told him.

He instructed the twins to come with me.

"The girl's pregnant, don't touch her in anyway." Enos interjected suddenly.

I quickly understood what Enos was implying. These men might have had other plans.

"Why didn't you mention anything sooner? We could've killed her earlier." One of the twins asked.

"As if that would stop you." Enos replied.

The guy chuckled. "It would've made things more interesting for us actually. Making you watch us hurt your precious family."

These people are monsters.

"Calm down Enos." The boss said, exasperated. "They won't do anything that involved taking her clothes off. You're child and his mother are safe, as long as she pays up."

These disgusting bastards.

Well, that was a nice thing to know. It still didn't rule out everything sexually related.

Enos wasn't convinced, I could see it.

It's safe to say, After I handed the men every amount Enos owed, they drove off and left us alone.

"Thanks for saving us." Enos said. "I'll give you that money back." He promised.

"You better."

Or my mum is not leaving prison this year.

___________