Devil’s Deal

MIA

“I’m sorry I can't help you.”

I was a few seconds from breaking down completely especially when he stared at me like I was dirt and I was disturbing him.

“What do you mean you can't help me?” I asked him, gritting my teeth.

Howard stared at me like I had lost my shit before he burst into a mocking laughter.

“I can't help you because I don't care what happens. You can't barge into my house and force me to save your mother.”

“But she's your sister!” I cried.

“So?” he arched an eyebrow at me, his mocking smile never leaving his lips.

I saw his wife scoff as she stared at me before continuing to scroll through her phone.

“Filthy beggars,” she muttered under her breath but I heard her.

I've always wondered what the history was between my mom and uncle. My parents weren't as wealthy as my uncle but when my father was alive we were comfortable.

Ever since the accident, all our wealth got drained into keeping my mom alive and now she needs to have surgery. I couldn't afford to take out another mortgage on the house.

The bank already foreclosed on the company after my father died and I had been trying to make ends meet for myself and my mom with drugs and medical bills by working three jobs while all our savings got drained.

“Uncle, please!” I whimpered, kneeling on the floor.

The tears finally broke free and streamed down my cheeks as I wailed uncontrollably overcome by exhaustion at how I'd had to work all these years to make ends meet.

“Only the money for her surgery. I promise I’ll pay you back, please,” I cried, groveling on the floor.

Groveling before my uncle and his wife was better than selling my body to that arrogant doctor, I mused sadly.

My uncle exchanged glances with his wife and she gave him a smug look. I knew that look wasn't good but I hoped it would at least offer a way to save my mom. At this point, I was desperate and willing to do anything.

“How much do you want to save your mother?” Howard asked, smiling maliciously.

My skin crawled with fear as I wondered what he had in mind. As a child, I never interacted with my uncle or his family. Even growing up we were never close so I had no idea the kind of person he was.

I had only come here because I thought he would have the decency to save his sister when he heard her life was in danger.

“I want to save her else I wouldn't be here,” I answered.

“Good. Because I've got a solution but I don't think you'd like it,” he grinned.

My eyes peeked up, “Tell me.”

“Well, there's this hospital that needs surrogate females and they would be paid handsomely,” he stated.

I frowned, “I would be giving birth to someone’s child?”

“Yeah, but it’s not forever. You can do it once and stop and they will help you snap back and give you all the necessary treatment you need till after you feel better,” he explained.

“And the money is huge. We’re talking about one hundred thousand dollars upward,” his wife finally chirped in.

I rolled my eyes, “How legit are these people?”

“You’ll receive fifty percent of the money once the insemination has been done and it’s successful,” he answered.

“Hmm,” I mused, tapping my jaws.

It wasn't entirely a bad idea. An IVF procedure would be carried out and I would have to carry a baby for nine months. Within that period my mom would be fine and we would have enough money to start over.

“What’s in it for you?” I asked my uncle, suspiciously.

“Forty percent of the money,” he shrugged.

I gasped, “Twenty percent.”

“Thirty-five,” he haggled.

“Fifteen percent,” I glared at him.

“Twenty-five.”

“Ten percent,” I stressed.

He laughed, “You are just like your mother. Twenty percent then. Let’s go.”

I nodded at his compliment, my heart swelling a bit at the fact that I had a way to raise money for my mom’s surgery.

He drove me to the hospital and the drive was quiet and long. He didn't say a word to me and I was too busy wondering what my mom would say to my decision to initiate any conversation.

The hospital was big and classy, I noticed as my uncle led me to the doctor’s office.

“Aren’t we supposed to fill out a form or something before the doctor sees us?” I asked him as we sat waiting in the doctor’s office for him to see us.

He shook his head, “Nah, the doctor is my friend.”

The doctor came in shortly. He was a short middle-aged man and he walked me through the process of surrogacy before giving me the contract to sign.

My eyes widened with shock when I saw the number of zeroes on the document. I read through it and then signed it.

“Alright, Mia, I'm just going to inject you a bit so your hormones can start to produce more estrogen,” he explained.

I nodded as he took my wrist and prepped my vein before injecting me.

“Is that all?” I asked.

My uncle smiled, “That’s all for you, my dear, it’s been a pleasure.”

I felt a wave of dizziness hit me as the room blurred and I struggled to stand up. I staggered a bit as the voices in the room zoned out.

“Is… this supposed to happen?” I asked, slurring.

The walls felt like they were closing in on me as I saw my uncle and heard his raucous laughter. He and the doctor walked out and locked me in the office.

“No, come back! What's happening?” I asked, struggling to stand and stay awake.

The second wave of dizziness hit me and this time it slammed into me with full force. I couldn't resist it. I fell to the floor as I welcomed the darkness. Maybe I will finally find peace.