Act Five: The First to Ask

At age sixteen, Skull became officially known as Skull the Immortal.

Why you ask? Well, during his stay with the Carcassa he found himself bored during his rare breaks in his usually busy schedule. So he did what he loved. Ride.

But soon he found himself doing much more than that. He did stunts, broke records, and constantly put his life in danger. These stunts often lead to dangerous situations.

For example, when he was diving into the Atlantic Ocean from a plane a ten thousand feet up the force of the impact would've killed anyone, but Skull survived and just came out with a mild cold due to the freezing water, and his cold quickly disappeared too.

Another time was when he was attempting to break the fastest motorcycle speed record. He had just reached 367.65 miles per hour and rising, when he had hit a small rock. Usually such a small insignificant rock wouldn't do anything, but because of his speed Skull's bike flew up throwing him off.

He was thrown into the cement divider on the freeway, his body smashing right through it and landing on the asphalt on the other side, and got right back up, absorbing the damage.

Skull was jokingly compared to an immortal and the title stuck, and with that followed Skull from Hell. He honestly had no idea where that one came from.

He became widely known as a stuntman and his profits went to the Carcassa Famiglia.

"Skull. In my office. NOW." Seethed the third Carcassa boss. Skull knew full well what made his boss so angry. He didn't know however, how his boss would react to reason behind Skull's behavior.

"Now," said Vittorio sitting down. "Would you mind telling me why you acted like that to the boss of the Red Tail's gang?"

Skull nervously pulled at his lip chain. "Um, well, that... that's just how I've be-been for a while?" he offered. Vittorio cocked an eyebrow.

"Skull, what are you talking about? I've never seen you act like this before!" He slammed his hands down on his desk, "I need an explanation for such outrageous behavior that cost us a possible alliance!"

The purplette shrunk back and bit his lip, thinking. I can't- no I don't want to make up a lie. I won't lie to boss, the Carcassa. They may be a bunch a criminals, but they were the first and only I don't feel the need to pretend with.

With those last thoughts Skull opened his mouth and spoke to the man who saved him from his own lies.

"We-well, you see back before I was forced to join the famiglia, that's how I used to... act. " Skull quickly looked down.

Every time he thought of the past his heart clenched. Especially when he thought about them. I miss them.

Vittorio calmed down. He had long since grown attached to the kid and he couldn't stand seeing Skull's helpless expression. "Used to? Why?"

Skull trained his eyes on a pen on Vittorio's desk. He started sweating, highly aware of his bosses eyes trained on him.

"Skull, tell me."

Skull tugged at his jumpsuit taking a long breath. "I gu-guess if you want to hear, I'll tell you."

Carcassa Vittorio became the first that Skull told his story to. The first to ask.

"Wahh! How touching! To think that Skull could be so selfless!" Ramone wailed. Surrounding family members were crying too finding new respect for their young commanding officer.

Vittorio had asked Skull for permission to tell the family, and he reluctantly agreed.

Skull walked into the training room and gaped. It was full of sobbing mafioso. I know boss told them, but I didn't think they would have such an extreme reaction.

"SKULL!" Cried Ramone. The muscly man tackling him.

"Gya! Ramone you're heavy; get off!" Skull yelped. For such a big man Ramone could be really emotional. Ramone reluctantly stopped hugging Skull and helped him up.

"Sorry for that." Ramone muttered before smiling evilly.

"So, how about some training?" Skull looked at him. Did Ramone just say training? How could he call such blatant sadism training?

Ramone chucked four meat cleavers at Skull who dodged, and when Ramone pulled out javelins he then preceded to run for his life.

Two thoughts passed through Skull's mind: Where the hell did he get those from? and This is gonna hurt.

And unfortunately his second foreboding thought came true.

It was his nineteenth birthday. Skull rolled over on his bed; Vittorio had given him the day off. He let his mind drift off.

It had been about four years since he had last seen their smiling faces. Heard their voices. He didn't particularly care for his birthday, but his parents loved celebrating it.

His mother would hug him the first thing in the morning until his father pointed out Skull was turning blue. She would then have the chefs make a cake, each year with a new theme. The last birthday he celebrated with them the cake was motorcycle theme.

They would sing happy birthday, he would blow out the candles making a wish, and they ate together.

I wish I could just see them once without putting them in danger.

Skull rolled onto his back staring at the Carcassa symbol on ceiling tapestry.

Even though everyone in his family learned about his arrogant, selfish, and crybaby act around others, that didn't mean that he stopped.

In fact, it became one best kept secrets among their famiglia. It made them feel happy that they were the only one's that saw Skull's real self. Smart, childish, and hardworking were what they saw him as.

From time to time they would also see Skull's darker sides too. It scared them shitless. These sides only came out when Skull was pushed to a certain point. Luckily, this deadly point was rare for Skull to reach.

A faint presence appeared. Skull stiffened, but soon let his tension recede.

"Who is it?" Skull croaked not bothering getting up from his bed. A laugh was heard and a man wearing a mask and a checker tattoo came out of the shadows.

"Wow, a bit relaxed, aren't you?" The checkered face man said, "The others were so tense. What a nice change."

"And why should I be?" Skull asked.

"I could be here to kill you, like so many want." The strange man pointed out.

Skull laughed, "You have no killing intent nor can I feel any bad intention. No reason in getting worked up over nothing." The man chuckled pulling out a clear pacifier and twirling it on a finger.

A pacifier? Skull would've laughed if in any other situation.

"I am collecting the world's strongest, the I Prescelti Sette."

Skull chocked on his spit. The world's strongest? He was one of them?

The checker face brought out a map, "Go here to meet up with the others." He laid the map on the nightstand then turned walking away.

"Wait!" Skull shouted. The man stopped, but didn't turn. "Why should I go? There's no reason for me to, and I can't possibly among the 'strongest'."

"It's vital that everyone is present. And trust me, you are qualified, more so than others may think."

And with that the man disappeared.

(A/N) First off, an apology. I've been trying to make these chapters longer, but I just can't seem to. Secondly, what do you think about the story's pace? I'm worried that I'm going to fast and skipping around to much, so let me know what you guys think please!

Ciao~ Ciao~!