6. Loan Sharks came knocking again

After we finished our meal, Evan quickly gathered the dishes and set them aside, his movements efficient and practiced. I watched him for a moment, my heart heavy with the burden of our situation.

Despite his youth, Evan carried himself with a quiet strength and a resolve that didn't belong to his age. But just as I was about to speak, perhaps to thank him or ask more about our current situation, a sharp knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.

Evan froze, his eyes darting toward the sound. The lightness that had briefly filled the room during our meal vanished in an instant, replaced by a tense silence. He turned to me, his expression cautious. "Stay here," he whispered, his voice low. "Let me handle this."

"Evan, wait," I began, but he was already halfway to the door, his steps careful, almost hesitant.

I stood from the table, my heart beating hard in my chest. Something about that knock felt off. It was too forceful, too demanding, like whoever was on the other side wasn't there for a friendly visit.

Evan reached the door and paused, his hand hovering over the handle. He glanced back at me, his eyes silently urging me to stay where I was. I gave him a slight nod, though every instinct in me screamed to go to his side.

He slowly turned the handle, the door creaking as it swung open. A tall, burly man stood in the doorway, his face partially hidden by the shadow of the hallway. His presence filled the small space, his broad shoulders almost brushing the door frame.

"Morning, little boy," the man greeted, his voice rough like a hooligan. He stepped forward, but Evan didn't move, blocking his path. "I've come to collect what's due."

My breath caught in my throat. This had to be one of the loan sharks Evan had mentioned earlier.

"We don't have it," Evan replied evenly, though I could see the tension in his stance. "You'll get your money, but not today."

The man's gaze shifted past Evan, landing on me. His lips curled into a smirk, and he took another step forward, forcing Evan to push back against him. "And who's this? Your legendary elder sister?"

I stepped forward, unable to stay silent any longer. "Leave her out of this," Evan snapped, his voice firm, although I could see he was trying very hard to hold out and act strong.

I could see the veins in his neck bulging, the strain of trying to hold his ground against a man twice his size taking its toll.

The man chuckled, a low, menacing sound that sent a chill down my spine. "A feisty one, aren't you?" He leaned closer to Evan, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "But you know how this works, boy. No money, no mercy."

Without thinking, I took another step toward them, the need to protect my brother overpowering any fear. "We'll pay you back," I said, my voice steady. "Just give us more time."

The man's gaze flicked to me, his smirk widening. "And what do you have to offer, girl? Got something of value hidden away in that shabby little room?"

I clenched my fists, anger flaring in my chest. "We don't have anything, but we'll find a way. You'll get your money."

The man tilted his head, considering me for a moment before he shrugged. "Fine. You've got one week. After that, I'll be back to collect. And if you don't have the money by then…" He trailed off, his meaning clear. "Well, I'm sure you'll think of something to offer."

He turned and left without another word, the sound of his heavy boots echoing down the hallway as he disappeared into the morning light.

Evan closed the door, leaning his forehead against the wood as he let out a shaky breath. "I'm sorry, Sis Rain," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't want you to get involved in this."

I walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to apologize. We're in this together, remember?" I gave him a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Besides, I'm tougher than I look, and I am the elder one here!"

"I know, Sis." Evan let out a small, humorless laugh, but the tension in his shoulders didn't ease. "We have to figure something out, sis..." he said, turning to face me. "That guy… he won't hesitate to hurt us if we don't pay up."

I nodded, my mind racing. "We will. We just need to stay calm and think."

Evan bit his lip, worry etched into his features. "I don't want you to get hurt again, sis. You've already done so much for me."

"I'm not going anywhere," I replied firmly. "We'll get through this, Evan. We just need to stay strong."

For a moment, neither of us spoke, the weight of our situation pressing down on us. Then, as if sensing the need to lighten the mood, Evan managed a small smile. "You know, for someone who doesn't remember anything, you're pretty good at handling loan sharks."

I laughed, the sound surprising even me. "Maybe I've done this before in another life."

Evan chuckled softly, the tension easing just a little. "Let's hope we don't have to do it again in this one."

I nodded, my thoughts already turning to our next steps. We didn't have much time, and the clock was ticking. But as long as we had each other, I knew we could find a way out of this mess.

"Come on," I said, taking his hand. "Let's figure this out together."

Evan squeezed my hand, his grip firm. "Together," he agreed, and for the first time since that knock on the door, I felt a flicker of hope. We would find a way. We had to.