The Purge Five Years Ago

I did five years in prison, taking the fall for my company.

The day I got out, a lone G-Wagon was waiting outside the iron gates.

My boss's assistant cracked the window and tossed out an envelope with a single sentence.

Nina. Compliments of Mr. Price. Two hundred and fifty bucks.

Whats this supposed to mean?

The assistant, Kevin, sneered. The companys about to ring the bell and go public. Mr. Price said, to keep things civil, this two-fifty is your bus fare. The farther you go, the better.

Where is Victor? Where are the others?

You really think the boss himself would come pick up an ex-con?

I scrolled through my social media feed. Pinned to the top was a photo of my boss on a yacht. Champagne, bikinis, and his fat, smiling face.

The caption read: The ship has cleared the storm. Grateful for shedding the dead weight five years ago.

I clutched the two hundred and fifty dollars and smiled, too.

If you dont want to be civil, then none of us will survive this.

The G-Wagons engine roared to life. Its tires spun, kicking up a spray of filthy water that splattered all over me.

Nina, the boss had one more message for you.

I brushed the mud from my clothes. Spit it out.

He said if you dont keep your mouth shut, the mud on the ground will be your final resting place.

The window slid up. The taillights vanished down the road.

When I finally made it back to my old apartment in the citys tenement blocks, I froze on the third-floor landing.

The familiar iron door was gone. In its place was a new security door, adorned with a festive sticker.

I knocked for a long time, but no one answered.

The neighbor across the hall, Mrs. Gable, peeked her head out. When she saw me, her jaw nearly hit the floor. Nina? Is that you?

Mrs. Gable, wheres my mom? What happened to our apartment?

She pulled me inside her apartment and locked the door, as if afraid of being seen. Oh, you poor thing

Not six months after you went in, those men started coming.

Every day, they were here. Splashing paint, leaving funeral wreaths, shouting through a megaphone that you were an embezzler.

Your mother couldnt take it. They told her you lost the company a fortune and she had to pay it back. They said if she didnt, youd be beaten to death in prison.

So she sold the apartment? My knuckles were white as I gripped her doorframe.

Sold it for nothing! They said it was to pay the debt, but those thugs took every last cent! Mrs. Gables eyes were red with anger as she spoke.

Where is my mom now?

She said she was going to rent a cheap place in the slums, to wait for you I didnt dare ask for the details.

Following Mrs. Gables vague directions, I made my way into the deepest, darkest corner of the slums. The air was thick with the stench of raw sewage.

The door wasnt locked. In fact, it wasnt much of a door at alljust a rotting piece of plywood propped against the frame.

I pushed it aside.

The room was dark. An old woman was curled up on a filthy mattress she must have salvaged from the street. She was gnawing on half of a moldy bread roll.

At the sound of my entry, she flinched violently, clutching the bread to her chest, her whole body trembling.

Dont hit me please, dont hit me Im getting the money I swear I am

Just please dont hurt my daughter

I rushed forward and threw my arms around her. Mom! Its me! Its Nina!

The body in my arms went rigid.

She slowly lifted her head. Her left eye was a sunken pit, the eyeball shrunken and cloudy with a grayish-white film.

Who who is it? She reached out, her hand grasping at empty air.

Its me, Mom. Its Nina. I took her hand and pressed it to my face, tears streaming down my cheeks.

Nina? Her good eye twitched. Her hand fumbled across my face, from my forehead to my eyebrows, then down to my nose. When her fingers found the small mole on the bridge of my nose, she let out a gut-wrenching sob.

Its really you Its really my daughter

Mom, what happened to your eye? And your leg

Its nothing Im fine She tried to hide her leg under the thin blanket.

I pulled it back. A grotesque lump protruded from her shinbone.

Victor Price did this, didnt he? I wasnt stupid.

My mother was silent for a long time before she finally spoke, her voice trembling. Two years ago, I went to find them, to ask what really happened. I never believed you would steal

They hit you?

They said I was in the way, that I blocked Mr. Prices car A security guard pushed me, and I fell down a flight of stairs We had no money for a doctor, so it healed crooked.

And your eye?

From crying

I said nothing. I saw the words PAY UP spray-painted in red on the wall and knew the whole story.

Wheres Dad?

My mothers sobs stopped abruptly. Two years ago there was no money for his dialysis Hes gone.

Nina, you must be hungry. My mother tried to press the moldy bread into my hand.

Victor Price. This is what you meant when you promised to take care of her like your own mother?

I clutched the stale bread, looked at my mothers broken body, and gritted my teeth.

Mom, Im going to buy some medicine. And Im going to get back whats ours.

02

I tucked two hundred dollars under her pillow and, with the remaining fifty, walked to the Price Holdings tower.

I had chosen the location for this building. I had secured the loans.

Now, it was a place I couldn't even enter.

What do you want? Scrap collectors use the back entrance, a security guard said, swinging his baton and eyeing me dismissively.

Im here to see Victor Price.

You think you can use the CEO's name like that? Do you have an appointment?

Im Nina Shaw.

Nina who? Never heard of you. Get lost.

The lobby was bustling with people. Dressed as I was, I stuck out like a sore thumb.

I ignored him and tried to walk past.

Hey! You asking for it? The guard grabbed my arm and twisted it hard.

A sharp pain shot through me, but I bit my lip and didn't cry out. I used his momentum, dropping into a squat to break his grip.

The guard was momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting me to know how to defend myself. Enraged, he motioned for his partner to help him restrain me.

Stop.

The sharp click-clack of high heels echoed on the marble floor.

The elevator doors opened, and a group of executives walked out. The woman in the lead wore a designer suit, her makeup flawless. The limited-edition Herms bag in her hand was a gift from me, years ago.

It was my former protge, Amber Reed.

Well, well. If it isnt my old mentor. Amber stopped and took off her sunglasses. What happened to you? I thought you were a homeless person.

Employees nearby slowed their pace, whispering amongst themselves.

Is that the former CFO? The one who went to prison?

The embezzler, right? So shameless, coming back here.

I stared at Amber. The shares Victor promised me, and my mothers medical bills. Pay up.

Mentor, youre hilarious. Amber took a step closer. She lowered her voice. The world has changed in the five years youve been away.

Victor is a billionaire now. You really think hes going to see an ex-con?

Thats my money.

Yours? Amber laughed, her perfectly styled hair bouncing. Wheres your proof? That little agreement we had?

Burned long ago. The books are clean now. I did them myself.

Everything you taught me? I do it better.

She took a step back and raised her voice. Security, be more vigilant from now on. Dont let just any riffraff in here. If something happens, whos going to take responsibility?

Kevin, the assistant whod given me the money, came running out, pointing at me. Thats right! Shes just here to extort us! Throw her out!

Two guards grabbed me, one on each side.

Youll regret this, Amber, I said, my eyes locked on hers.

Regret it? Amber looked down at me. I live in a penthouse and drive a Porsche. What do I have to regret? You, on the other hand, look like a stray dog.

Consider this one last piece of advice from your mentor: shut your mouth and walk away.

If the company wasnt in the middle of its IPO, with so many eyes on us, do you really think youd still be walking around?

Kevin waved his phone at me. Leave now, or we call the cops. They can send you right back where you came from. This time, itll be for extortion and causing a public disturbance. Thats another few years for you.

Amber shot him an annoyed glance. Why are you wasting your breath on her? Security, throw her out!

My body was lifted off the ground and then slammed onto the concrete outside.

A torrential downpour started, soaking me to the bone in seconds.

Amber stood behind the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out at me. Through the glass, I could read her lips.

Useless.

I wiped the rain from my face. A mixture of blood and mud trickled into my mouth, tasting of salt and rust.

03

I didnt leave. I went around to the buildings underground garbage depot.

A crumpled invitation. Half of a burnt itinerary. A few empty bottles of Evian water.

I spent my last fifty dollars on a second-hand janitors uniform.

Wearing the foul-smelling clothes, I slipped into the citys most extravagant and exclusive private club.

No one stopped me.

Outside the top-floor suite, bodyguards lined the hallway. The heavy, soundproofed doors couldnt contain the raucous noise from within.

To Mr. Price! That was a brilliant move, shedding your old skin!

I pulled my cap down low and pushed my cleaning cart forward. Collecting empty bottles.

A bodyguard glanced at me. Get in, get out. No dawdling.

The door opened.

Victor Price was flanked by two women. His business partner, Marcus, sat beside him with a famous starlet in his lap. Amber was there too, pouring Victor a drink.

A banner scrolled across a large screen: Celebrating Our IPO, and Getting Rid of Old Baggage!

I pushed my cart into the center of the room.

Mr. Price, I said, my voice cutting through the noise. The old baggage is here to offer congratulations.

The air in the room froze. The music was still playing, but everyone had fallen silent. All eyes were on me.

Victors glass stopped halfway to his lips. He squinted at me for a few seconds, then burst out laughing.

Well, Ill be damned. Look who it is.

Our greatest contributor, the one and only Director Shaw.

He put down his glass. Whats the matter? Didnt like the food upstate? Came here looking for scraps?

Marcus pushed the starlet off his lap. What bad luck. Security! How did a beggar get in here?

I ignored Marcus. My eyes were fixed on Victor.

My mothers leg. And the 30% equity payout we agreed on.

Two million. The money hits my account, and I disappear.

Victor stood up. He walked over until he was standing right in front of me.

Two million? he sneered. He turned to Amber. Amber, our Director Shaw wants two million. Should we give it to her?

Amber glided over, a full glass of red wine in her hand. Mr. Price, our mentor just got out. Shes a bit ripe. I think she needs a wash.

Splash.

The entire glass of wine was poured over my head.

The sticky liquid ran down my hair, into my eyes, and into my mouth.

The room erupted in laughter.

Hahaha! A good wash!

Much cleaner now!

I wiped my face.

Victor pointed to the wine stain on the expensive carpet. He pulled a thick wad of cash from his pocket. At least ten thousand dollars. He threw it onto the stain.

Nina, he said, his voice dripping with condescension.

Dont say I dont remember the good old days.

You always liked things clean, didnt you?

Lick the wine off the floor. This ten grand is yours.

The laughter stopped. Everyone was waiting for the show.

I looked at the money on the floor. Slowly, I bent down, my hands on the carpet. My face was just inches from the stain.

Just as I was about to touch the carpet, BAM!

A leather shoe slammed into my shoulder. The force sent me flying backward, my head cracking against the corner of a table. A sharp pain exploded in the back of my skull.

Victor pulled his foot back, his face a mask of disgust. Fucking disgusting.

I told you to lick it, and you actually were going to do it?

Nina, when did you become so pathetic?

He picked up the money and tossed it onto a sofa.

Youre not getting a single cent from me.

Throw her out.

Seven or eight bodyguards swarmed me, lifting me up like a piece of trash and dragging me toward the service exit.

I didnt fight back. I just stared at Victors fat, smug face.

Victor, I said, my voice cold and clear. You are going to beg me.

You are going to get on your knees and beg me.

Victor roared with laughter, grabbing a handful of melon seeds and throwing them in my face. Me? Beg you? Nina, did prison fry your brain?

For the second time that night, I was thrown out into the rain.

Before I could even catch my breath, my phone rang. It was the hospital.

Is this Nina Shaw? Your mother was frightened by a burst pipe. Shes in cardiac arrest and were trying to resuscitate her. A family member needs to come to the hospital immediately to pay the deposit.

Can you please just save her? Ill get the money.

Im sorry, its hospital policy. The system is locked. We cant proceed without payment.

Okay! I didnt even have five hundred dollars.

As soon as I hung up, a text from Kevin popped up.

How was the wine tonight? The boss says you should know your place. Take your old hag and get out of this city. Or this is just the beginning.

It was followed by a countdown timer emoji.

Years ago, my father needed half a million for a kidney transplant. Victor Price slapped the money on the table in exchange for me taking the fall for a twenty-million-dollar hole in the companys finances.

Nina, you take this hit for us, and the company will cover your fathers surgery, and Ill take care of your mother for the rest of her life.

I traded five years of my freedom and my entire future for my fathers life.

And what was the result?

My father died waiting for the money.

My mother was blind and crippled.

Victor, since you wont give me what you owe, Ill just take it myself.