We could change it all- Sims 4 Apocalypse challenge

Entry 2.35: Cashing in favors


Charlie raised her hand for a knock, hesitating with a fear that was very familiar to her. A fear of the ugly truth. The Tiny hands clutching her leg brought her back to reality, Giving her the courage to push through. She knocked. After what seemed like an eternity in Charlie’s Anxiety ridden mind, Lily Feng opened the door. Confusion briefly washed over the other woman’s face before it was replaced with a faint smile of recognition. “Charlie Coleson, what can I do for you?” A faint squeal distracted both women;It had belonged to Ruby who quickly hid behind Charlie’s legs in fear of the sudden attention. Lily laughed: “I see you brought your daughter with you, what’s your name little cutie?” Ruby remained behind Charlie’s legs, still a little shy. “This,” Charlie said softly, “Is Ruby.” Lily waved at her. “Hello Ruby, I’m Lily. Would you like a cookie?” Ruby squealed again, all shyness gone in the promise of the treat. “Come on in, I’ll go get the cookie jar.” Lily said walking into the house, waving the others in after her.
3 cookies later Ruby fell asleep on the couch contently. “So,” Lily asked, “Why are you here?” Charlie fought the urge to run away from the confrontation. “I am here because last time I visited here you said something about me looking a lot like my mother. Did- did you know her well?” Lily stared off into the distance, clearly deep in thought. “I knew a lot of people well back in the day, and your mother was one of them. Though,” Lily now looked Charlie in the eye, “You might not like what I have to say.” Charlie took a deep breath. ‘It’s now or never.’ “Please, tell me everything.”
“When I was sixteen I was dropped in Glassbolt without a tag or a place to call home. Like most in this town I turned to the local mafia. They employed me in the intel department, which meant I was employed at a bar, or rather a brothel masked as a bar.” Lily took a deep breath and continued. “I answered to your mother, who ran the whole business. Both of us had regulars. Esmée had your father, and I had Victor.” Charlie frowned at that. “You married a man that forced himself onto you?” Lily shook her head. “Victor never made me do anything. He knew I wasn’t here because I wanted to be. I grew to love him because he treated me like another person instead of an object. We spent many of those nights just talking. Your mother was something else. She cared for me; comforted me in the dark situation I had been forced into. She was my rock.” Lily sniffled, grief resurfacing on the memories of her lost friend. “Then one day, on our day off Esmée rushes out of the bathroom; face completely pale. She wouldn’t tell me what was going on and rushed to your father’s house immediately. Later,” Lily laughed, “I found out she was pregnant with you.” Charlie opened her mouth to ask a question, but Lily stopped her. “I’m just now getting to the interesting part. After Esmée left our little operation, things started going downhill. people within our organisation were displeased with the way we handled things, mostly the fresh grunts. So one night I was tending the bar and a young woman with pretty red locks and a stare that could kill shows up. Not in anything fancy, like most of our customers, but in a leather jacket and jeans. She slipped me a note which said ‘take cover’, so I dove behind the bar as quickly as I could. I heard yelling and shooting, which seemed to go on for hours. Mika Coleson saved about a dozen lives that night, and destroyed many more.” Lily sighed, and carried on. “I owe her everything, but I cannot justify her later actions. She went down a dark path over the years. Mika managed to be a roaring flame with a frozen heart. Only ambitions, rarely feelings. I can’t advise that. Don’t be a bird in a cage, but don’t burn your loved ones to the ground either. Your mother and mother-in-law will always be a part of my life, But you may still escape the burden of living up to the latter.” Charlie nodded. “I’m leaving soon. I trust you won’t tell anyone about this visit?” Lily smiled. “That would be the least I could do for the true heir of Glassbolt’s shadows.”