Chapter 2

2

I was stunned. I thought I had misheard her.

"Ma'am, could you move? We have a patient waiting for us," I said.

I grabbed some cold water bottles from our fridge and handed them over with a polite smile.

It was a scorching day, and I figured they deserved something for moving the heavy stumps.

But the next second, the woman slapped my face with her fan.

I recoiled, terrified by the sudden aggression.

"You think a few bottles of water will pay the toll, brat? Pay the money and stop wasting our time!"

I touched my cheek, feeling a sharp sting.

There was a trace of blood on my fingertips.

"Evil people come from miserable places. I heard about this town from the girls on the night shift, but I didn't think it was this bad," Mia said.

She stood up and shielded me, her eyes flaring with anger.

"Do you people have any conscience? Blocking an ambulance? You're going to rot in hell for this!"

The air turned thick with tension.

If I hadn't held Mia back, she would have jumped out to fight them.

I finally realized that Blackwood had an unwritten rule.

Any outside vehicle passing through had to pay a "maintenance fee."

They claimed they paid for this asphalt road themselves.

"Two hundred dollars, not a penny less! If you won't pay, get the hell out. Nothing in life is free!"

The driver, Bill, lost his patience too.

"I'm done. You think we actually want to be in this dump?"

"Fine, keep your road. Go scam someone else. I'm out of here!"

He slammed the gear into reverse, ready to turn around.

But right then, the emergency phone in the back rang.

When I answered, I heard a little girl sobbing.

"Please, help my grandma! She's stopped moving! Please!"