Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4567 | Page 154

‘Are you going to GAMBLE again?! You should stop it or otherwise you would be addicted to it!! Go back
home!!’ I grabbed her hand furiously and pulled her to follow me home. She threw off my hand and shouted at
me.
‘That’s NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! We are different! Poor people like you won’t understand and
experience how the rich live! Don’t bother me from being a privileged lady! Get away from me, ugly lady!’
The world seemed to freeze at that moment and my heart was broken. I burst into tears and turned to rush
back home. That was the worst day in my whole life. I HATE MONEY.
How could Pandora change suddenly? Was money really that important to her? That was ridiculous! We
stayed as siblings even though we needed to suffer from hunger in the past … But we now broke up due to
money! Money was EVIL. I blew out the candle and went to bed in a depressed mood.
Knock! Knock! ‘Holly … HOLLY! Please … please open … open the door for me! I’m Pandora’s mom!
Help!!!’ Pandora’s mom cried.
‘Aunt! What happened? Come in, please!’ I helped her into my house.
We sat down and Pandora’s mom started sobbing.
‘Ho… Holly! Please help Pandora! She … she hasn’t come back home yet … some … some neighbors
told me that my daughter lost in gam…gambling but she still borrowed money from the usury to keep … keep
on gambling. She will be KILLED by the usury! SHE LOST!!! Holly! You must save her!!! I beg you … I beg
you …’ she held my hands with a hopeful gaze. I nodded instinctively. That was friendship.
The night was extremely cold and the wind stabbed at my face like thousands of needles. I rushed to the
casino in Sipai Road and was stopped by a few strong and muscular security guards at the entrance of the casino.
I guessed they were employed by the moneylender. Something bad would be happening. My mind went blank
and I did not know what I could do to save Pandora…
‘Pandora! Pandora! I’m Holly! I’m here to save you!’ I shouted these words automatically. My heart beat so
quickly that it seemed to jump out of my mouth. I wiped my sweat with my hand and waited for a response:
even if I would be killed.
‘HA HA HA! An idiot is coming to save you, pretty lady!’ a deep and low and crafty sound of a man was
heard.
I pretended to be calm but I was shivering internally. Those huge men took one step backward to form a
blind alley for me. I stared at this road of no return and was shocked. My shoulders were then held by two
powerful men and I was being pushed towards my hell.
I was then pushed over in front of a disgusting and lewd ‘gentleman’. He tugged Pandora’s hair tightly with
a filthy smile.
‘Little lady… are you this lady’s friend?’ he pointed at Pandora.
‘Yes!!!’ I answered firmly.
‘Noooo! She’s not my friend. You let her go!!’ Pandora screamed.