Chapter 3 THE PRICE

A loud metallic sound forced me out of sleep   "Hey, wake up." My cell mate grumbled, I forced my eyes open and stared blankly at the grey ceiling and suddenly remembered where I was, jail. I was really in jail.    I pushed myself up, wincing from the pain in my back. My whole body was sore from sleeping on the prison's thin mattress.    A guard stood by the cell, tapping his baton against the cell door. "You, you're entitled to a phone call." He said pointing at me.    I swallowed hard, who would I call? The thought of calling Liza made my chest ache. I got up and followed him as he led me to a small room.    I picked up the phone with shaking hands and dialed the only number I could. Liza.    She answered on the second ring. "Hello? who's this?"    Her voice made tears form in my eyes. "Liza." I said gently. "Wait, Jasmine?" She replied.    "Where were you yesterday? I waited hours for you." She said angrily, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "I... I can explain Liza." "You promised me you'd come." She said with a tang of hurt in her voice.    "I'm sorry." I said quietly.    "Where were you?"   My hands gripped the phone tighter, I couldn't tell her. How could I?    "Did something happen?" She asked. "You're weirdly quiet."    "I'm just tired, Liza." I replied quickly. "Are you okay Jasmine?" She asked.   "I'm fine Liza, don't worry about me." The lie tasted sour, I hated lying to Liza.    I forced myself to sound normal. "How are you feeling?"    "I'm okay sis, the doctor said my treatment is going smoothly." I breathed a sigh of relief, "that's really good to hear."    "Jasmine.... You don't sound okay." She said hesitantly.    "I'm fine Liza I promise."    "Okay, if you say so." She said dejectedly.    "I'll see you soon." I said quickly.   "When?"   I didn't have an answer, I didn't know when I'd be let out, I didn't even know if I'd ever be free.    "Soon." I managed to say. Before should could ask anything else, I ended the call.    I never ended the call first, but I had to before she asked any more questions.    I took a deep breath and wiped my tears, I turned to the guard by the door. "Please can I make another call?"   He looked at me blankly. "You can only make one call."    "Yes, I know." My voice cracked. "But please... just one more." I begged.   He took a deep breath then sighed. "Just one minute."    "Thank you so much, Sir."    I took the phone again and immediately dialed Aunt Mika's number.    She answered on the first ring. "Hello, this is Mika. Who am I speaking to ?" She said sweetly.   "Aunt Mika, it's me Jasmine."    Her voice changed. "What do you want, Jasmine." She replied harshly.    "I need your help, please."    She scoffed. "How dare you call me?"    My chest tightened. "Aunt Mika please, my bail is fifty thousand dollars."    "Yes, I know, and?" She replied.   "Wait, you know?"    "Obviously, the news is everywhere." She laughed.    "Then please help me." I begged.    "I can't."    "You can lend me the money."    "No, I won't, Jasmine, this is your problem, not mine."    Tears fell from my eyes. "But I don't have fifty thousand dollars."    "You'll figure something out, I trust you."    "Aunt Mika, please."    The line went off.    I stared at the phone, she really ended the call.    She didn't even ask if I was okay, I don't think she cares.    I walked slowly to the door, and followed the guard back to my cell.    When I sat down on my bed, Mika's words rang in my head. "You'll figure something out."    But how, there's no way I could figure something out.    I'd spent three years working at the Red Velvet because she promised to pay for Liza's treatment.    I believed that if I had tolerated enough, worked hard enough, and paid every penny back, I would finally be free.   I was supposed to be free yesterday, instead, I'm here sitting in jail for a murder I didn't commit.    "First time, huh?"    I looked up, the woman sitting across from me was looking at me.    My cell mate, I hadn't paid much attention to her since yesterday. She looked older than me, maybe in her late 30's.   "What?" I asked. "Your first time in here." I nodded.    "So, tell me what did you do?" She asked. I hesitated, "Nothing, I didn't do anything."    A light laugh escaped her. "That's what they all say."   Tears rolled down my cheeks. "I really didn't do what I was accused of." I explained.    She looked at me shocked, she didn't press further. Instead, she walked over and sat next to me on the bed.    "Why are you crying girl?" She asked, wiping my face.    I took a deep breath, trying to stop the tears. "My sister."    She looked at me puzzled. "What about her? Do you want to talk about it?"    "I had to do some things I'm not proud of to save her life." I explained.   I sighed, then my mind drifted to the day everything fell apart.    One minute, Liza and I were making pasta, she was busy complaining about how hungry she was, the next minute, she was on the floor.   I screamed for Aunt Mika and rushed Liza to the hospital. There, the doctors ran multiple tests before finally telling me she had a tumor near her heart.    They said she needed intense treatment, intense treatment meant expensive treatment. Treatment we couldn't afford.    I had sat by her hospital bed that night, sobbing looking at her sleeping face, wondering how I was going to save her.    Then, Aunt Mika finally arrived, I had begged her to help with the money for the treatment. She told me she would pay for everything.    I was happy, I thought she was finally choosing to help us without asking for anything in return.    Until she explained she would only pay for the treatment on one condition. I thought she would say I should help around the house everyday without complaining.    I was wrong, she revealed she owned a private club called "The Red Velvet". She gave me a choice, work for her at the club and earn back the treatment money or watch Liza lose her life.    I should have walked away, I could have searched for jobs, but I knew no job could pay the high amount the doctors asked for.    I had to save my sister's life, so I agreed. For three years, I suffered and did what I had to do.    Thankfully, Aunt Mika didn't make me work every night, she saved me for her important clients, the ones who paid more.    I hated my life, but every time I wanted to quit, I thought about Liza.    My cell mate snapped her fingers, dragging me back to reality.    "I understand more than you know." She said softly. I nodded and gave a warm smile.    Suddenly, a guard opened the cell. "Jasmine Hart?" I stood immediately, "Yes? That's me."    "Come with me, you're being released."   I froze. "What? Really?"    "Yes, your bail has been paid." The guard explained.   I stared at him. "Wait, by who?"    "No idea."    I immediately ruled out  Aunt Mika.   Who would pay fifty thousand dollars for me?    Anonymously even. I don't understand why.   My things were returned to me in a clear plastic bag.    I held them tightly against my chest. The guard walked me toward the exit.   Before I stepped out, I turned to look at my cell mate. "Good luck." She mouthed.    "Thank you." I said.   "You're braver than you think, girl." She yelled.    I smiled weakly, she's wrong about that. I'm far from brave.    Then, I stepped outside the cold night air immediately hitting my face.    I looked at the empty street in front of the station and took a deep breath.    "You'll be okay." I whispered to myself.   I walked forward with only one question in my mind. "Who paid my bail?"