Episode 2: Proposition

Two weeks later

School was a the best and worst of Anthony's day, though this is where he encountered Niccolo and his goons primarily it was also an escape from home and both jobs. Though he liked working for old man Mick, the walk from school to there was both long and dangerous in some cases. And for his other job working at the gas station which was more of a mini-mart, he had to deal with unhappy customers and strange characters almost daily. It wasn't bad but it was more draining than anything, it was always the same routine each and everyday. Rarely did he ever get to sit down and be a kid which made growing up tougher. But then there was his home life which was-

"Silverson..." A voice called out from behind him. It seemed like someone else wanted to get a piece of him which in certain circumstances. Thinking it was someone else wanting to punk him because he got his ass kicked by Niccolo.

He turned to see a rather cute girl staring him down.

"Ma'am." He simply acknowledged.

The girl took a few steps closer till there was nothing but inches of space separating their faces. Though Anthony kept a calm demeanor and level head in awkward situations, this girl radiated a weird feeling that he couldn't help but feel disturbed by. From the devious look in her eye to the way she walked she seemed so menacing. Her looks as well seemed to intimidate him, she was a girl of fair skin, with jet black hair which was tied into a thick bun, she wore a tan cardagin, and around her neck was a thick green scarf.

"What is it?" He muttered out.

After another long period of silence and her looking him up and down she simply responded.

"You don't look like all that. I don't understand what makes you so special."

All he could do was raise an eyebrow at her remark. He never thought of himself as special in any sort of way. The girl examined him once again then cupped her chin when she was done eyeing him down.

"But perhaps you have potential, would you like a job offering?" This peaked his interest, though he didn't need another job her character interested him enough to hear her out.

"Can't guarantee I'll accept but what's the offer?"

"It's more of a family instead of a job, in lamest terms you'll become one of us and will be treated as such. No longer will you have to worry about being beaten, extorted, or be treated like anything less than you really are if you join us."

"So you're Mafia?" He asked.

"Yes, Vicario family to be exact."

"And if I say no what'll happen?"

"You'll be made an enemy of the Vicario household, just as much as the Borgia family."

This was a hard decision, due to past experiences he knew that gangs were nothing but trouble. But the protection and good cash were two really good job perks, especially when compared to Mick's comics or the gas station. He would've taken her offer, if he were even more naive than he was now.

"I'll have to respectfully decline, Captain Planet told me to stay away from gangs." He turned on his heels and began walking back. This annoyed her very much, her hand latched onto Anthony's shoulder.

"The one chance you're given to fight back against Niccolo and you walk away from it? This may be your only shot."

She did have a point. He may never get a chance to hurt him back for all those years. But knowing how the mafia is, he'd be hurting innocent people and poisoning New York.

"I'd much rather be beaten to a pulp than join a gang." He broke free of her grasp and continued to his class.

He arrived to gym class a bit late, when he entered the gym he noticed everyone was doing sit-ups. One of his least favorite times of the school year, it was fitness week. He called out to Kirby from the doorway, and he sneaked over towards the door.

"Yo what is it?" Kirby asked.

"You're not gonna believe this, let's head over there first." Anthony and Kirby walked back over to the fitness mat.

"Mind counting for me?" Anthony asked as he laid on his back.

"Yeah bro, so what happened?" Kirby tallied each time his friend come up from the sit up.

"You know that chick that where's the cardigan?"

"Should I?" Kirby asked, raising a brow.

"Uhh yeah, she's apart of the mob or some shit." He stated as he came up from his sit up.

"Oh shit, you're talking about...damn what's her name?" Kirby took a moment to think, missing several of Anthony's sit ups.

"Well fuck her name, that girl wanted me to join the mob."

"Did you say yes?" Kirby asked.

"Of course not, Brooklyn is already shitty enough."

"Well...what family is she in?" Kirby asked, whilst he tried to remember each family's name.

"Vicario, they're-"

"The Borgia family's biggest rival!" Kirby exclaimed finishing Anthony's sentence.

"Kirbs not so loud, you'll draw attention."

"Sorry bro, well that girl must've been Daria Vicario then." Kirby formed his goofy smile as he seemingly came to a conclusion.

"I should know who she is? Right?" Anthony asked.

"That depends, do you wanna knock Niccolo down?" As Anthony came up he furrowed his brow.

"What makes you think that they'll help me take him out?"

"They're the Borgia's biggest enemy. Why would they not help?"

"Because she only said that to recruit me."

Kirby frowned a bit, he went silent for a few minutes before he opened his mouth to speak.

"Y'know I'll support you no matter what bro, but I'm just saying this could benefit us both. It's your decision but please reconsider it."

Anthony took a minute to take what he said into account, after a few minutes he decided that he'll take the advice.

"Aight bro." He gave Kirby a playful punch on the arm and got up. "Your turn."

Sometime later

School had ended and the two boys were walking back home, throughout the whole trip, Kirby wouldn't quit talking about Daria. The Vicario house had a reputation, it was for community service...that is unless distributing drugs and prostitutes is community service. Once he finally made it home, he took a second to do a check of his surroundings. Hoping that Niccolo wasn't at the bottom of the stairs when he went up each flight. Before he could even take his keys out, the door opened revealing his mother staring him right in the eyes. A blonde haired, blue-eyed, Caucasian woman who didn't look a day over twenty despite being forty-five, however her personality left much to be desired.

"Where were you last night?" She practically hissed out through her teeth.

"I was sleeping."

"Bullshit Anthony, I heard you come through the door, walk around, and cause a ruckus in the bathroom. You also forgot to clean the blood out from the carpet and stained it."

"What blood? I wasn't bleeding."

"Anthony, I'm not on my period."

She had him beat there.

"Well, I'm happy to see you too mom, I gotta study for a test." Anthony had walked over to the pantry and grabbed a can of lasagna. Without batting another eye at the woman, he entered his room. Anthony lazily threw himself on the bed and popped open the lasagna, he slowly tipped the can over into his mouth and the contents of the can slowly slid into his mouth.

ECHHH

Anthony coughed up the lasagna onto the wall, he wiped his mouth on his jacket sleeve, the white sleeve was stained with orange sauce now. He let out a deep sigh, feeling intense embarrassment and frustration at his recent action and consequence.

"I won't try that again."


Meanwhile, in the Bronx

"Niccolo! Niccolo!" A small girl, no older than a middle schooler had called out to him.

Niccolo turned and got onto a knee, he planted his palm on the little girl's head and ruffled through her hair. The girl slapped at his arm in an attempt to stop the boy from messing up her hair.

"Cousin stop!" She exclaimed loudly.

"Can't I just show love to my cousin?"

"Not like that! But that isn't why I'm here, your papa told me something really important." Niccolo raised a brow at the small girl, father never has anyone relay good news, which was a just reason for his suspicion.

"What is this message?"

"Your actions have caused some great consequences." His eyes had widened, last time his father had a message relayed to his child. They were no longer apart of the Borgia family, though he was afraid he didn't show it. Niccolo would be damned if she saw her big cousin scared.

"Alright, run along now Giselle. I'll go talk to father."

"Okay cousin, but brother Luigi isn't happy with you either."

Niccolo watched as the girl ran off down the street. He knew he messed up, but didn't know what exactly he did to bring upon this summoning from his father. He'd have to answer to his father. As for Luigi, he'd deal with his cousin another day.


Back in Brooklyn

"Fuck!" Anthony woke up again, it was the fourth time this night that he woke up drenched in sweat and burning up. Something was definitely wrong with him but he didn't know what. There was no way in hell it was just a simple cold, for all he knew, it was a new form of the Black Plague. He felt a tightness grow in his throat as he struggled to breath, what was wrong with him? His body was on fire, it was as if heat bursted through each and every pore in his body. He struggled out his bed and onto his weak legs, he felt fatigued. Anthony struggled to the sink and doubled over salivating uncontrollably. When it finally stopped, he felt the hairs on his arm stand. It wasn't cold at all, as a matter of fact it was the very opposite. A mist began to raise into the air from behind his shoulder, a feeling of dread began to creep it's way up.

This feeling of dread wasn't normal, it was akin to the day he faced Niccolo in the hallway. When he stood in the empty void and Niccolo glowed, he felt a strange chill blew across his neck. And now that he thought about it, Niccolo wasn't the only one with a strange presence behind him. Something loomed over him with an imposing presence, and the more he thought back to that day. He could see the thing that stood behind him. The thing had orange crystalline skin, yellow streaks ran down it's arms and at it's shoulders large grey spikes protruded. It's hands were grey and instead of fingers, it had three large white talons. It's legs were long and orange as well along with the same yellow streaks, it's feet were a large and instead of toes it had white talons as well. The creature's elbows jutted out into large grey spikes as well. In the center of its chest was a large hexagonal golden gem, farther up its body the creature had a featureless face asides from the golden diamond in the center of its "face". On top of it's head were smaller bright orange spikes with frost white tips.

He snapped out of his trance like state, he was no longer burning and sweating. His throat was fine and he could breath, but the disturbing chill still blew onto his neck. The mist still remained and it began to maneuver around forming a shape. He turned to see that the creature was forming right in front of his eyes. The creature was easily eight feet tall, and was looking rather bulky now that he's up close to the boy. The creature appeared breathing heavily, it's breath was visible and flew out from under it's eye gem. It's fists were clenched tightly and the creature brought it back high into the air. The beast floated off the ground and into the air, and within the blink of an eye it shot forward throwing a heavy hook into the boy. But right before it connected with Anthony's cheek, it vanished into a gust of air.

"Wha...what the fuck?!" He managed to get out, before gasping for air. "I gotta tell Kirby abou-" He could hear his phone ring from inside his room. He exited the bathroom and grabbed the brick phone resting ontop of his nightstand. He answered it and pretended to be disturbed by a call this early in the morning.

"Kirby it's three in the-"

"Anthony we have to talk, I think it's time I tell you what's going on."