I groggily opened my eyes and rolled over to the sound of a faint tapping on my bedroom door. The bright red numbers of my clock illuminated the dark room, revealing that it was almost ten in the morning. A throbbing headache pulsed at my temples from the beers I had consumed the night before.

“Sobbie, you there?”

Leo spoke in a hushed voice, coming from the room right next to mine. I was living in a dreary apartment owned by Ursula, the evil sea witch—yup, the one from The Little Mermaid.

Don’t get confused, I just gave that nickname to my landlady as she had an uncanny resemblance to Ursula. Her form was heavy-set and she wore a black strapless evening dress with an empire waistline, which revealed her double chin. The finishing touch of her resemblance was a single beauty mark - a small black mole - on the right side of her chin.

Not only did my landlady resemble Ursula, but she had the same personality traits too. She constantly made deals where the other party could hardly keep up with their end of the bargain, and was not against cheating to get ahead. In fact, it almost appeared as if she enjoyed manipulating people. My landlady also boasted a high opinion of herself despite being quite unremarkable in appearance. She portrayed herself as an emissary of hope to those who were unfortunate, but in reality she brought death into their lives.

I didn't respond to Leo; I just stood there, blankly gazing at the wall and reflecting on all that had happened in the recent months. It felt like the gods had abandoned me - not so long ago, I had a good life. But after my father vanished, everything went to pieces. It was as if I were living a dog's life.

I don't know who my real parents are; I have no memory of them. My father said he found me in a trash can on his way home from work.

Even though my Father wasn't technically my biological dad, he raised me as if I was his own child. He was more than just a parent to me; he was my best friend and teacher.

However, one day Father didn't come home. I waited for him, but after days passed into weeks and weeks turned into months, it became clear that something had happened to him.

His relatives blamed me for his disappearance

“I knew it He is a cursed child” 

It’s obvious that they weren't worried about my father, they just only interested to my fathers inheritance and insurance money.

After a few more weeks, they forced me out of the house; seeing that I wasn't related by blood with them, I did not have much of a choice except to move out.

"It's alright, I'm at the right age, and I can keep moving forward."

I had been searching for temporary lodging when I encountered Ursula. At first glance, I thought she was an angel, but little did I know, she was a fallen one.

She offered to help me, and naively, I believed her intentions were pure. However, as time passed, it became evident that she had ulterior motives. This experience reinforced my belief that people cannot always be trusted.

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Suddenly, I heard another, louder knock coming from Leo's room

"Hey, Sobbie, are you awake? Hey, bro."

I groggily responded,

"What?"

Leo's urgency jolted me awake.

"Oh God, Sobbie, you need to pack your things now. I overheard Ursula yesterday, and if you don't pay the rent for the last three months, she's going to force you to marry her. You know what will happen if you refuse; you'll be in deep trouble, bro."

Fear surged through me as I quickly stood up. Leo wasn't one to joke about such matters, and I knew he spoke the truth. Becoming Ursula's plaything was not an option I could bear.

"I have to find a way out,"

I desperately wanted to pay her and escape this predicament, but my current circumstances made it impossible. Ursula held power and wealth that could easily involve dangerous individuals if I rejected her advances, leading to a horrific fate. Her connections in the black market were vast, and with a snap of her fingers, she could make my body disappear, leaving no trace behind.

Living under her roof was like walking on thin ice, constantly fearing that one wrong move could lead to my downfall. I had seen how she dealt with those who dared to cross her - their lives shattered, their dreams crushed, and their existence wiped away as if they never mattered.

Yet, deep down, I knew I couldn't continue living like this. Ursula's manipulative grip on me had to be broken, and I needed to find a way out of her clutches. But how could I escape from someone so cunning and powerful?

With a heavy heart, I began packing my few belongings, knowing I had no other choice.

"Thanks, Leo. I'm going to leave."

"You're welcome, bro. Take care, and I hope that the next time I see you, you're still alive and your body remains intact."

Making sure to avoid any potential confrontation, I stealthily made my way out through the window, hoping to escape Ursula's clutches once and for all.

*******************************************

As I strolled along, contemplating how to spend my day, a disturbing noise caught my attention from a nearby corner.

"Please, stop! I am begging you," a desperate voice pleaded.

My curiosity and concern led me closer to the commotion, and what I saw chilled me to the bone. Two menacing figures, unmistakably gang members, were assaulting a young man. Both wore black, sleeveless leather jackets, with one sporting a Green Snake tattoo on his arm and the other a wolf tattoo on the back of his neck.

Intrigued by the unfolding scene, I continued to watch from a distance. The young man's eyes silently implored for help, tugging at my conscience.

Approaching them slowly, I noticed the gangsters' eyes fixating on me. I could sense their readiness to lash out if I dared to intervene. To avoid escalating the situation, I raised my hands to show I meant no harm.

"Hey guys, I'm not here to fight. I just want to get that money,"

I said, pointing at the dollars scattered on the ground. I surmised that the money belonged to the battered man.

Steeling myself with determination, I slowly approached the scattered money, all the while keeping a watchful eye on the wounded young man. His desperate cries for help echoed in my ears, and I felt a deep pang of empathy for him.

His blue shirt was now marred with crimson stains, and the sight intensified my resolve to intervene. We were of similar age, and I couldn't fathom the tragedy of his life being cut short in such a senseless act of violence.

As our eyes locked, the wounded young man's silent plea for help tugged at my heartstrings. I understood that he needed a way out of this nightmarish situation, and that realization compelled me to act. My gaze fell upon a wooden rod discarded nearby, and without hesitation, I seized it,

"THANK YOU,"

he whispered gratefully, acknowledging the understanding that passed between us. I knew that even in the face of danger, he trusted me to aid him in whatever way I could.

As I whispered,

"I hope you don't die,"

my smile attempted to convey both reassurance and concern to the battered man. His expression showed a mix of confusion and surprise, likely trying to make sense of my unexpected response.

In a split-second decision, I assessed the risk and potential consequences of my next move. With an air of confidence I didn't entirely feel, I threw the wooden rod toward the two menacing gangsters. Their expressions turned to be wilderment as they tried to comprehend my unexpected actions.

"Just continue what you're doing and use the rod to finish him off effortlessly,"

The gangsters, seemingly confused by my cryptic words, hesitated for a moment, glancing at each other

Quickly, I turned away and increased my pace, putting distance between myself and the scene. I heard his voice again, this time filled with frustration and anger,

"Damn you all!!!"

As I walked, clutching the money I had just acquired, conflicting emotions churned inside me

I really did a good job,  I had helped the young man find a way to end his suffering

Also, I am not the bad guy here.

************

Author POV

hi guys thank you for reading, this is my first story and i apologies for my poor English as this is not my first language.. I did this for fun so i hope you will have fun also..

love you all :)