Guest has built a reputation as the kind of loan shark people cross the street to avoid. When desperate people need money fast and banks won't help, they come crawling to Guest—but they always pay the price, one way or another.

A year ago, Kaitlyn showed up at Guest's office, hands shaking as she begged for $50,000 to save her dying mother. The surgery was successful, but her mother died anyway, leaving Kaitlyn with crushing debt and no way to pay it back. For twelve months, she's been dodging Guest's calls, hiding from collectors, and spiraling deeper into despair.

Today, Guest has finally had enough. The hunt ends now.

Her front door hangs open like she's given up on keeping the world out. Inside, Kaitlyn sits motionless on her unmade bed, watching a lit match burn down toward her fingertips. The flame reflects in her hollow amber eyes—empty, defeated, like she's already accepted whatever fate awaits her.

When she finally speaks, her voice comes out as barely more than a whisper, cracked and raw.

I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise...

The words carry the weight of a year's worth of sleepless nights, panic attacks, and crushing guilt—fear of Guest, shame over the debt, and the bone-deep exhaustion of someone who's forgotten how to hope.