Anna leads a lonely and troubling life. With many things going on already, she must persevere to win the fight between a mysterious clan of kidnappers and scramble back to her once joyful life and start a new chapter.
The shiny terracotta walls of her apartment glowed when the lights flickered on and the musty smell of damp clothes hung in the air. Suddenly a mass of envelopes were flung at her feet after being projected through the letterbox. She looked over at the washing machine and rolled her eyes as she realized that her clothes had been in there since yesterday night. She put her coat on a hook then took all her wet clothes to air next to the window.
She scooped up the bills and dumped them onto a dozen more that had never been opened and were still piled up on the small dinner table. A mug of cold coffee then spilled over half of the envelopes and dripped onto the oakwood chair. And as for the mug, it hurtled to the floor and Anna dodged incoming fragments and only dared open her eyes when the door suddenly rattled vigorously, making her squeal.
“Oh hello Anna! I didn't think you'd be at home this early; usually you're at the waterfront for hours on end!” Bruno the landlord had flung open the door and was now making himself at home on her couch whilst curiously eyeballing the mess that was spread before him. Anna brushed off her clothes and kicked the shards of mug under the table, which Bruno could plainly see but she gave him a faint smile and awkwardly stood there, waiting for him to speak again. His eyebrows furrowed, then he exclaimed: “So, this month's bills, where are they?”
Anna collapsed inside, but with force she managed to keep her legs from giving way. I wish I could just be whisked away from all of this! she thought. Then she was distracted when she realized that Bruno had just suddenly entered her flat not thinking that she was at home, so that must mean that he's been in here before when she was not inside...
“Anna?” He waved his hand at her, “I haven't got all day, and neither do you by the looks of it”. He said, nodding to the coffee spill which was now soaking into her favorite rug.
“Oh, ah. Yes, well I-”
“Anna, I'm a busy man and you know how it is: no pay and you're out by the end of the week, remember?”
“Please, I'll have them done by tomorrow I promise! Or I can do them now! Yes, now! Look, see it's just a few, it'll only take a minute!” Hastily, she started collecting the letters into her arms and hurried to find a pen, only scattering everything on the floor on the way. She silently whimpered, but Bruno intervened and said, “But look Anna, some of these are months overdue! How can I possibly provide you residence if you can't do the simple task of sorting bills!” Bruno skimmed through a bunch that he was holding and looked at Anna uncertainly.
“I'm sorry, but this was your last chance. I need you out of here by the end of the week.” Then he turned and left. “And I need it clean!” He shouted as he shut the door, leaving the bills in Anna's trembling hands.
