Contract of Fate

1. Ivy

I really hate hospitals. The smell. The bright lights. The stark white walls. The shiny floors. Everything. I hate everything about them. I have spent most of the last couple of years in and out of hospitals for my brother, Luke. It started with heart palpitations and high blood pressure. They treated those symptoms, and then it was seizures and muscle pain. Severe pain in his stomach, chest, back, and legs. Constant digestive problems, whether it was nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. Brown urine. Horrible breathing problems. Hallucinations have started recently. The doctors finally diagnosed him with acute porphyrias. While it is a relief to finally know what is wrong, there is no cure. Medication and lifestyle changes are all that can help him. Luke is only 18 years old and has lived through so much. Our parents died when I was 19 and he was 12. I have been his legal guardian ever since, and it has never been harder than these last couple of years.

"Hey sis," Luke's voice says quietly from the hospital bed. "I wasn't sure I'd get to see you today." I have been working 3 jobs for a while trying to keep up with the regular bills and medical bills, but they're coming in numbers that I can't match. Unfortunately, today I lost one of those jobs so I'm down to 2 jobs and even less money.

"You know I'll always come see you no matter what my schedule is," I say, leaning in to kiss his forehead. I love my brother. He is the only family I have left and it kills me to see him this way. "How are you feeling today?"

"I'm hurting, but they've been giving me pain meds to keep my comfortable," he replies with a small smile, trying to put on a brave face for me. A knock on the door catches our attention and I turn to see the doctor standing in the doorway. "Hey doc. My sister is here now."

"Hello Miss Hayes. Luke is legally adult, but he refused to talk about his condition at all until you were present," the doctor explains, Luke nodding proudly at the announcement. "Do you have a moment for me to talk to you two?"

"Even if I didn't have time, I'd make time for this. What's up?" I ask, sitting down in the chair next to Luke's bed and wrapping both hands around his hand.

"Unfortunately we are to a point where Luke is going to need a liver transplant. All of the medications over the treatment course have damaged his liver to the point of irreversible liver damage," the doctor explains, a sob escaping my lips before I can stop it. My brother is dying. "We have him at the top of the transplant list so the first organ that is a match will be his."

"What is the cost?" my brother asks in a forced, raspy voice, my head snapping in his direction.

"Low end is around $400,000. High end is $700,000 or more," the doctor replies.

"I don't care what the cost is, Luke. We will pay it," I say firmly, Luke looking at me with a deadpan expression.

"Pay it with what, Ivy? You're barely making ends meet as it is. Take me off the transplant list. Just make me comfortable. I won't be a burden on my sister like that," Luke says, a gasp leaving my lips.

"Don't listen to him. He's not thinking straight," I say to the doctor, the doctor nodding as he stands up.

"I'm going to give you guys some time. I'll be back to check on you later, Luke," he says, turning and closing the hospital room door behind him.

"What are you thinking, Luke?!" I shout at him. "Take you off the transplant list?! That list is going to save your life."

"Save it for what, Ivy?! To watch you kill yourself working 2 and 3 jobs, but still not make ends meet? No. Mom and dad wouldn't want this life for you," he shouts back at me.

"They wouldn't want you to give up like this either," my voice cracking as my eyes fill with tears. "Lukey, you're all I have left. You are my baby brother and I need you to fight for me. I'll find the money. I promise. You can't give up on me."

"Ivy, don't cry," he says, squeezing my hands. "I don't want to be a burden on you. I don't want you to miss out on life because of me."

"YOU are my life, Luke. Please promise me that you won't give up. Promise me that you'll keep fighting," I say with tears running down my face. "Promise me before I have to go to work."

"I promise, Ivy. I'll leave my name on the list and keep fighting... For you," he replies. "Don't be late on my account. I'm gonna take a nap." I nod, kissing the top of his head one more time.

"I love you, baby brother. I'll be back tomorrow," I tell him, picking my bag up from the floor before heading towards the door.

"I love you too, big sister."

I hold myself together until I reach my car, the sound of the locks engaging breaking the dam that was holding back the tears. I pull my phone out and call my best friend, Chloe Foster. It rings 2 times and then her voice floats through the speakers of my car.

"Hey gorgeous," she says in a singsong voice, but my only reply is a loud sob. "Woah. Hey. What happened? What's going on?"

"Luke has to have a liver transplant. The doctor said it could be anywhere from $400,000 to more than $700,000. I just lost my job at the restaurant. What am I going to do Chloe? I can't lose him," I cry, my body shaking so hard that my car is shaking as well.

"Could you get a loan, babe?" she asks genuinely, trying to brainstorm ideas.

"My credit is crap. No one will give me that much money," I sniffle, taking several deep breaths as I try to gain some composure. We talk back and forth about things I could sell or do in order to make the money, but continue to come up short.

"You know, I hate to suggest this, but there is always the option of a marriage contract. Like... marrying a rich guy for a hefty chunk of change? We could look into that," Chloe says hesitantly. "Blackthorn Contract Services... The Blackthorn Madam. She's known for that sort of thing."

"You know what? I'll do it. Let's find out what I have to do to apply. Maybe she'll match me with someone that will help," I reply. "Get the information together for me and we can look at it when I get home from work."

"You got it, babe. I'll see you later tonight," Chloe says, disconnecting the call before I can reply. We have some semblance of a plan in place. I'm going to sell my body. That's fine. I would do literally anything to keep Luke alive. Even this. I open my text thread to Luke, hesitating before I begin typing. Do I tell him what I'm doing or just assure him that the money is going to come through? I shake my head, deciding that it is best he doesn't know I am selling my body... my virginity... my future... All to save his life.

"I love you, Lukey. Call me if there's any changes, okay?" I text him before I get out of the car, my phone buzzing almost immediately with his response.

"I love you too, Ivy. Don't worry so much. I'll see you tomorrow," his reply makes me laugh. Not worry? My brother is dying and I'm supposed to not worry? I roll my eyes, shoving my phone into my pocket. Come hell or high water, Luke was going to get the transplant and I was going to get out from under these medical bills.

I just had to get through this shift first and then apply for a match through the Blackthorn Madam first.