Chapter 11
Reno stood before Vanessa, his fists clenched tightly and his entire body shaking with anger.
"Don't you dare talk about family in front of me." he said through gritted teeth.
"Why, whatever do you mean?" she replied, with mock puzzlement.
"You killed them. All of them; right in front of me."
"But, Reno, think about it. You destroy people's lives everyday, family after family you've torn apart." she smirked. Reno's muscles relaxed slightly. She was right. He was no better than her; a cold hearted, brutal murderer.
"And even I'm not as bad as you." she carried on, smiling so her sharp teeth showed, "I only killed two people."
"Three." he said quickly.
"Let me ask you this then; how many of your family did you actually see me kill?"
"Three." he repeated.
"Try again."
Reno had come home that day covered in cuts and bruises. He walked into his house to meet his sisters wide, green eyes, filled with concern.
"Reno!" she hugged him tightly. "What happened? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." he pulled out of the hug and knelt down to her level. "Just don't tell mom or dad, okay?"
"Okay." she sounded unsure.
Reno's family had always been short on money, and he was desperate to help make a bit extra. He started off with errands for the richer people he knew, like cleaning cars, cutting grass, and his least favourite; baby sittng. After leaving one fo the large housing he spent most of his time in one day, he bumped into a woman. Instead of just smiling and carrying on, she grabbed his arm and pulled him towards her.
"You look like you could do with some extra money." she said kindly. Reno looked at her. She was quite a lot older than him, but strikingly beautiful. He long, raven-black hair was tied back in a neat ponytail, and her scarlet eyed gleamed in the midday sun.
"My name's Vanessa." she smiled at him. It was a smile he would never forget.
"Reno? What happened?" his sisters sweet voice brought him out of his reminiscence.
"Nothing Rihanna. Just forget it."
He had never meant to get involved. He was just so peeved at anyone better off than him, he would anything to get his share of wealth from them. So he joined Vanessa and her gang. It was perfect; every couple of days, they would plan robberies, and split the profits within the group. This gave Reno enough to support him and his sister. He couldn't give his parents any, because he knew that they would ask questions. Things were finally starting to look up for them . At the time he hadn't known the amount of danger he had put his family in.
"Reno, did you try to leave?" Rihanna asked.
"Leave? What?" he said. How much did she know?
"You got involved with bad people didn't you?" The sound of her innocent voice made Reno so disappointed in himself.
"Things are getting a little too...bad now." he told her. Suddenly they heard shouting downstairs. Reno got up and left the room, Rihanna right behind him. She didn't want to be left alone.
"...Please, leave. I don't want my family involved in this any more." they heard their mothers voice say. Reno's heart leapt when he heard Vanessa's voice reply.
"Just hand over Reno and I'll leave quite voluntarily." she snarled. Reno and Rihanna listened from outside the door.
"No. Please." she sounded desperate now.
"Fine then. You asked for it."
Rihanna gasped as their mother screamed. Reno could take no more and entered the room, Rihanna at his heels.
Vanessa was standing with her back to them, their father laid on the floor, and their mother was slumped at the kitchen table. Both of them were quite clearly dead. Rihanna burst into tears and ran over to their mother.
"Mom?" she said, choking on her own tears.
"It's nice of you to join me, Reno." Vanessa said, turning to face him. He could not say anything. Instead he ran at her, fist at the ready, but she dodged him.
"Nice try, Reno." she said smugly. Reno turned, his eyes fixed on his sister's tear-stained face, he wide eyes staring back at him. Suddenly he felt a sharp pain on the back on his head, His vision blurred and he fell to his knees. He wasn't even able to tell his heart-broken sister to run before he blacked out.