Chapter 4
Fuck.
Well, no other option, I was outa there. Not even a chance to blink before I was already halfway down the street.
"HEY!" Antonio gave chase. If it wasn't for my head start he would have caught up to me already, damn he was fast. Slowly the little energy I had left started to fade, and Antonio was gaining on me.
"Shit" I panted. I turned a sharp corner into a smaller alleyway, and as luck would have it, stairs.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me!" I was about to turn around when I saw a coated figure turn the same corner.
"Wait!" the bastard was barely affected by the long run. Reluctantly I scaled the stairs two at a time till I came to a large busy market street. I merged in with the crowd with Antonio in hot pursuit.
"Lovi!" I ducked into a dark doorway and watched Antonio grab a stranger and spin him around; shocked and heartbroken it wasn't me. He quickly apologised and released the man looking around desperately before someone, part of his crew I guess, lead him away.
I bet you're all wondering how I got away from him huh? Well it's simple, I swapped hats! The guy in front of me was walking slowly and I couldn't get around him so I waited till I couldn't see Antonio and swapped hats with the man. Oldest trick in the book. Now Antonio was dealt with, I proceeded with my mission, to find a post office.
It was a beautiful sunny summer's day in Italy, Feli and I were playing under a large olive tree, watched over carefully by our neighbour who looked after us while our grandpa was away. I remember there was this strange blonde boy who always watched my brother and I had to beat him up when he made Feli cry trying to take him away. But he wasn't here today so Feli and I played happily. There was this beautiful blonde Belgium woman who came to deliver flowers every once in a while, I hated flowers but I pretended not to so she would come over, she was my first love. Of course I was a child then so she didn't take my confession seriously. I sulked for weeks but today Feli convinced me to come outside to tend our home-grown tomatoes, that always made me feel better, it truly was magnificent day. But that wasn't the reason I remembered that day...
'Grandpa, grandpa!' Feli raced over towards the tall, tanned, golden eyed man who was our grandpa. I was a cubby child I'll admit so it took me longer to catch up to Feli and grandpa was swinging him around gleefully.
'How are my precious little grandsons?' Grandpa was a lot like Feli, always smiling, cracking jokes; but he had a serious side too. It was a rare treat that grandpa came to see us, he was always busy sailing around the world, he told the best stories. As usual we talked, played, laughed, got the best presents, and had the most amazing pizza grandpa made. Feli liked to help in the kitchen but I could burn anything by looking at it. We got to stay up later than usual because grandpa was home, but finally he tucked us in and sang us an old Italian lullaby. In the morning grandpa was gone again, that was the last time we saw him...
I woke up cold and cramped from sleeping in a hard doorway. It was before sunrise, the fog was so thick, and I could hardly make out the shop-sign two buildings away. It's been a long time since I thought of grandpa, sometimes Feli wonders out loud what happened to him, I always tell him to shut up. I guess you could say I was pissed that he dumped us like that, the one man who could stop Feli from being taken away. Some people say it his fault I'm so untrusting and angry all the time, that, and the fact I was sent to a children's workhouse, usually it makes people toughen up. When I got too old to work there anymore, they kicked me out and I had to find my own way, I got a job, bought a house and found my brother. I was glad I didn't have to kill anyone for harming my brother or corrupting his innocence, if anything he was an airheaded nitwit.
I had nothing to do and nowhere to go so I wandered through the foggy streets like a lost soul. I shivered through my thin shirt as the fog wrapped around me, slicing me with its talons. It was quiet, eerie. The only sound was from creaking rotten wood, the vicious waves and the occasional seagull squawking causing me to jump. I caught a glimpse of a group people heading my way, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I shoved my hands in my pockets and looked down as they got closer, quickening my pace. It was a group of about six or seven men, drunk and staggering through the slowly fading fog. As I neared them, one called out to me.
"Hey kid! Wanna hang out with us blokes for a little fun?" they reeked of alcohol. I kept my mouth shut to avoid confrontation; two or three I could handle, not this many.
"Oi! I was talking to you!" the drunkard shoved me into the wall holding my shoulders painfully.
"Geroff me!" I kicked him away but his buddies prevented my escape.
"Oooh! We got a feisty one over here boys! A virgin too I guess. How 'bout we teach this kid bedroom etiquette" a different one said smirking, running his dirty finger across my cheek. I took a bite at him; he flinched away and fell over, rolling around like a beached whale trying to get back on his feet.
"You son of a... Get 'im!" before I had a chance to brace myself, I was punched in the gut simultaneously and when I couldn't stand they kicked me as I curled into a ball and tried to protect my head. There was an awful ringing in my ears and black spots blurred my vision along with my tears. It was when they finally stopped that I realised they were tearing at my clothes. Not here, in the middle of the street, I wanted to call out for someone, anyone. Only one person came to mind...
I was so numb I didn't feel my attackers wrenched away from me, couldn't hear the yelling over the ringing. But I did see my saviour, my beautiful, green-eyed Spanish angel.
'Antonio...'
A/N: I'm so cruel! Another dreaded cliff-hanger! I decided to leave you hanging on again, but I really did intend to continue! Don't look at me like that, at least I updated quickly! I'm working on the next chapter which will have some juicy juicy lemon in it so hold out for a little longer! So I will take my leave and write the next chapter.
P.S. Please review because it provides endless entertainment for my friends who love to see me flip out in public areas. Sadistic bastards...
P.P.S. It's decided! I will do Antonio's back-story as an extra chapter and it will be huge by my standard.
P.P.P.S. Stick around for the next chapter...
