Chapter 12: The Pawn Request
261 words
The pawn shop smelled of dust and desperation. Elena kept her oversized sunglasses on, pulling her scarf tight around her damaged jaw. The man behind the counter, a guy with grease under his fingernails, didn't even look up as she placed the velvet box on the glass.
Inside lay a platinum ring with a two-carat diamond—her mother’s, the only thing of value Elena had left. The specialized data recovery service Kendra found needed $2,500 upfront to salvage the corrupted video file.
"I need three thousand," Elena said, her voice steady despite the nausea roiling in her stomach.
The broker laughed, a wet, hacking sound. He pulled a loupe to his eye, scrutinized the stone, and then looked at Elena. His eyes lingered on the scar tissue visible just above her scarf. He sneered.
"I know who you are. The monster lady from the news." He tossed the ring back onto the counter. "Bad luck attached to this, I bet. Five hundred bucks. Take it or leave it."
"It's worth ten times that!" Elena cried, slamming her hand on the glass. "This is pawn shop value theft!"
"Then go somewhere else. Oh wait, nobody else will let you in the door." He crossed his arms. "You need quick cash? That's the price."
Elena looked at the ring. Then she thought of Thorne holding that flask, laughing while he ruined her face. The rage rose up, hotter than the shame.
"Done," she spat, snatching the filthy bills. She didn't sell it for the money; she sold it to buy a weapon.
End of Chapter 12
