Blood poured from her torn flesh; the color was somewhat brownish red, darker than regular blood. It was like the color of a scabbing wound, but the blood definitely was still fresh.
Thalira's mind reeled as she thought of a possibility. Sera had gotten sick for a while… Was she turning into a zombie? But according to the original owner's memories, zombies hadn't started appearing in this current timeline yet.
"Who are you? Little girl, do you want to interfere in our business?" The arrogant voice from the burly man who had just struck Sera rang in Thalira's ears.
She snapped out of her thoughts, lifting her head while pushing Sera behind her. Luckily, that wound was covered by Sera's long hair and long sleeve, so none could see the proper color of her blood. Even if some got into her garment, they would think it was dried blood, which had a similar color.
"Let's just grab her," the thin man beside the burly man said, while rubbing his hands. His eyes openly stared at Thalira from head to toe. "And the other one. If you two little girls can make us happy, we can extend the loan period."
There was a woman and a man who looked to be in their forties behind Sera, and a little boy nestled between them. The boy's eyes were laced with fear.
"But the due date of the payment is supposed to be in a few days, not now." The woman muttered while taking a few steps forward, grabbing Thalira and Sera. Her eyes filled with concern when she looked at the shaken Sera, who had half her face covered by her hair.
The pair of two thug-looking men were instantly dissatisfied. "We are the ones who lend you all the money. It's our money, so isn't the decision supposed to be on us whatever we want to do with it?"
Their words were completely unreasonable, sparkling anger in whoever heard them. The woman had her lips pursed, yet she didn't refute the men's words because it was useless.
Thalira frowned. Her fists clenched at her sides, itching to beat them up. However, she still considered that there were strangers around.
"Our offer still stands. How about you two serve us?" The thin, sleazy looking man glanced at Thalira and Sera suggestively. Thalira's hair stood up in disgust. Then she felt Sera's hand grab her, shaking her head.
"This matter is only between you and me. Leave my aunt and my friend out of this." Sera lifted her head, her eyes flashing with strange light with a hint of eeriness. However, because of her slender build, she didn't look intimidating at all.
"So, are you offering yourself to us, little girl? That won't be enough." They walked forward a few steps, making Sera grab Thalira's hand tighter, and they took a few steps back.
The man behind them finally spoke. "We will pay the money. Just give us more time."
"Are you deaf? We are giving you time, but you all seem unwilling." The men sneered at him, looking at the only grown man among the group with disdain.
Just as they were about to grab Thalira's shoulder, she sidestepped, dragging Sera's figure with her. She took out her phone and dialed a number. "Hello, Mr. Slade. I am currently in trouble. There are some people who want to harm me. Oh, their names? I will ask them…"
She smiled almost innocently and asked, "May I know who your names are?"
The two thugs were instantly dumbstruck. Just as Thalira guessed. Mr. Slade was such an arrogant bully, and he easily hired some thugs to harm her just because of his pettiness, so he must have a direct link to those people.
"What relation do you have with Mr. Slade…?" The thin man trailed off before turning to his companion with uncertainty on his face. "Boss, do you think she is lying?"
"Hand over your phone." The burly man reached for Thalira, ignoring his henchman's question. Thalira managed to evade him again.
Her pupils dilated when she figured out his intentions in a split of second. In a loud voice, she spoke into the phone. "They don't want to tell me their names, so I will just show you their pictures."
With that, she pretended to direct her phone on their faces. The two men turned on their heels and ran away, perhaps not willing to bet on whether Thalira really had a close relationship with Mr. Slade or not.
Thalira blinked, and Sera came to her, clutching her hand as the latter muttered a few words of sorry and apology repeatedly.
The couple gave her a complex look and then invited her in. Of course, Thalira didn't miss the displeased look on the husband of Sera's aunt, directed at Sera. She faintly figured out the girl's condition. Most likely she had moved out of the dorm because she couldn't pay for it any longer.
"Let's talk, Thalira." Sera mumbled under her breath, her voice almost inaudible. Then, she added, "if you don't mind that, of course…"
"That's fine." Thalira nodded and followed Sera to her small, cramped bedroom. Sera's aunt most likely still cared about her orphan niece, but the husband didn't like her so much. So, that was the small kindness they could gather for her.
She rummaged through her memories, wondering how the original owner and Sera could get along somehow. Then, she found out it was because both were loners and found solace and companionship in each other.
"You can tell me if you have any problem…" Thalira muttered, sending a discreet glance at her arm that was now no longer bleeding. Weirdly, Sera never once showed any signs that she was in pain at all.
Sera lowered her head. Although she looked expressionless, Thalira could sense her troubled emotion.
"When I got sick and hospitalized, Aunt had no choice but to seek a quick loan from the loan sharks. Now, we are in debt, but…" Sera stopped and lifted her head. "I don't want to make them owe money like that… it's me who owes those loan sharks, so I am considering selling the family's supermarket to pay the debts back."
Sera bit her lips. "All the workers have been laid off, and it's temporarily closed until it changes owners."
Thalira went through the original owner's memories and found out such a detail. Sera lived off the income from the supermarket that her deceased parents had left for her. Her aunt helped her to manage it and she received a few percent of the income in return.
She bit her lips and contemplated something.
"Sera, I bring the medical kit. Let me see your wounds." Sera's aunt suddenly appeared at the doorsteps. Sera's pale complexion became faintly even more pale. Before she could respond, the aunt came over and tugged at her long-sleeve, rolling it up.