Author's Note:
Right, the action starts in this chapter, and I hope it is conveyed well enough to draw in the readers' attention. Not much else to say...
Chapter 4: Awakened.
As the three of us walked down the now-empty streets, we chatted and laughed about our everyday lives. Sergio would do the least talking while Gina would hum out some of her favorite music in a soft, gentle tone. Once in a while, Gina would fidget the bag with the hat I bought her, with a smile on her face. I wonder why? Strangely, the streets had become so quiet that you can even hear the breath of the wind itself. The pale lights still shining around the area makes it feel like the town has been deserted.
It was almost as if the people had a reason to stay out of the streets.
The hustle and bustle of the Shopping District disappeared in a flash before any of us could realize it. Something feels... wrong.
"I think.. we should get home. Now." I uttered, and, judging from Sergio and Gina's reactions, I have to say they agree. I just hope this is not what I think it is.
Unknowing to us, a hooded figure walks towards us a few blocks away, staying out of our sight. His posture is one without compromise. As he walked, he reveals a katana from his robes, with a blade as black and dark as the abyss. Dragging the blade across the floor as he moved closer to us. The hood shifts back slightly to reveal a smile on his face.
The emptiness of the streets was really creeping us out. It was just barely past ten, there was no reason why Venice is reduced to such a ghost town. Our footsteps went from slow steps to brisk-walking in a matter of seconds. The only sound heard was the sound of our foot knocking on the ground with each step, resonating across the streets as loud as any drum beat. Each valley's shadows seems to curl and turn towards us, raring to sink their claws into our flesh. Well, it just felt that way.
Halfway through the whole thing, what I did not realize was that Gina was holding my hand as we moved.
We slowed down as we noticed that we were already in the Residential District, Gina's house should be a few blocks away. Huh, maybe it was all just my imagination...
"Ha.. Ha, it looks like.. we made it." I said so with a tone of relief.
"Yeah." Sergio replied, still walking behind us. That was when Gina and I realized we were holding hands, and quickly pulled our hands apart.
"S-Sorry." I gave out with blushing cheeks.
"Uh.. I-It's okay.." Gina replied with a similar reaction.
After that, there was this awkward moment of silence when neither us spoke, only Sergio was left standing behind us with a smile on his face.
Thmp. Thmp. Thmp.
The steps came as suddenly as it is. The fact that it was not my own brought it to my attention. Sergio and Gina must not have realized it as I cannot see a change in their reaction. I think I could also hear a faint sound of metal and stone. It sounded like someone dragging a piece of metal against a stony surface.
That was when the hooded figure approached us. He made no effort to conceal his presence, yet, I feel like he did not need to.
He looked to the skies and the sides, his eyes indistinguishable and shrouded by the shadows of the hood. It was if he was looking for confirmation, or permission. All I could see when I turned to that direction for a quick glance was the edges of rooftops as well as the dark sky itself.
What was he loo- "Chink!" The sound rang in my ears as soon as I dodged the blade and it hit against the stone-floor. With such force that it created a dent. A dent! Through solid stone!
"Whoa!" was the only response I could give out as I leaped back by instinct, falling and rolling on the ground. As I turned my head up and got to my feet, I came face-first to the figure holding out a jet-black katana to my face. I could not see what was happening to Gina and Sergio, but they should be fine, I should be his only target.
"Amato!" I hear Gina calling, her voice that of one confused and afraid.
"Keep your heads up, watch out!" Sergio commanded, as the figure threw another slash in my direction.
"Ka-Chink!" Another slash rang across the streets. I tried to dodge it again, jumping towards Sergio and Gina. This time I was not so lucky. I did not manage to dodge the slash completely, and its blade grazed my left shin. The cut, in the form of a fang, started to bleed and the sharp pain appeared in my left leg.
"Stop!" I called out to the figure. I know it is mostly useless, that the Mafia take their jobs very seriously, but I must try. Unexpectedly, the figure stopped in its advances, giving me enough time to limp to my friends.
"Listen, get out of here while you still can. I'll take care of this." I called out, occasionally giving out grunts as the pain throbbed.
"But, Amato! You're injured!" Gina called out. I am surprised this chain of events has not shocked her to tears yet.
"We can't just leave you here! And what did you mean you'll take care of this?" Sergio yelled out, his tone partly angry, partly concerned, tearing a piece of cloth from his sleeve to tie around my shin and close my wound. Sigh, fine.
"All right, just stay here and be safe." I give them my alternative. "And Sergio," I called out as I turn back to face the figure.
"Take care of Gina."
"Ha ha ha ha.." Suddenly, as it was the most random thing to happen, laughter came from the hooded figure. "HA HA HA HA HA HA!" His ghastly laugh continues, his hood dropping down in his fits, revealing shaggy white hair and a pair of red eyes. He is Albino? "Aw, this is rich! So much drama! It almost makes me not want to kill you!" His voice making a mockery of the situation, of our lives. Yet, his actions is both ruthless and precise.
"Sorry kid, Venice is too good of a location not to have, and it's wasted on that weak and run-down excuse for a famiglia of yours!" That said, this time he lunged at me, charging and swinging his katana, aiming to slash my body, specifically, my chest.
There is no time to lose, and certainly no time to think this through. I immediately readied my stance to throw a back thrust with my right leg, aiming for his chest instead, hoping to knock his strike off trajectory. This was not part of the regular Tae-Kwon-Do maneuvers, so I had little practice for this kick. I could feel my heart beating in anticipation on whether it would connect.
"Thwack!" Yes!
Out of nowhere, I feel a hand grabbing my leg and then I felt my vision tilt and fall. In truth, my kick did connect, but it was not strong enough to knock him down. He grabbed my leg and threw me instead. I fell to the stony ground once again, with a loud 'thud'.
"Argh." I gave out, my body a bit numb from the impact.
"What are you doing kid?" His voice had a cynical attitude to it. His face was of one who is uninterested in this whole thing. He walked slowly towards me. I find it difficult to get up to my feet. "I heard that you had potential and have yet to take up your title, but this is ridiculous. What, you think with strength like that you could beat me?" He explained loudly.
Huff, puff. So this is Mafia, huh? Crazy strength, out-of-this-world reflexes. Sounds about right.
"And if by some miracle you stopped me today, you think this would stop?" He cried out with a smile, almost as if screaming to the world. "Didn't you see what happened to your members? Your death would mean a release for them! Their lives would be safe!" He cried some more as he picked me up, and held me by my collar.
What if he is right? Maybe it is better for me to die, it is definitely better for my famiglia... I looked into his eyes with mine of confusion. My hands had stopped struggling as my mind comes to a conflict.
Elsewhere, another hooded figure was running towards us, only to be stopped by two girls that appeared out of nowhere. They are dressed in the suits Mafia would wear. Their pink hair and mask almost a trademark. Instantly the hooded figure knew who they were.
"Get out of my way, Cervello." A calm and familiar voice shout out from the hood, with a hint of concern.
"It's better this way, Zanna must be removed." The twin girls, with features similar, spoke out in unison.
Then, as if in response to those words, the figure put down her hood. It was none other than Kiera. Anger was painted all over her face, but, she still retained calmness in that anger. On her back and under her robes, she pulls out her weapon of choice: A giant winged shield about the same height and width as herself, strapped to her right arm. The design of wings and lightning is emblazoned all over the shield, and with one declaration she brought it down on the Cervello.
"I DON'T CARE!"
As expected by Kiera, the two jumped out of the way to dodge the strike which created a crater from where they stood, but that created an opening, and it was all she needed. As soon as the path is clear, Kiera dashed onwards towards me.
"You think some of us aren't low enough to target your friends, your family, those loved ones around you?" The silver-haired assassin yelled to my face once more. Maybe it was what he said. Maybe it was Gina's voice, crying out. Maybe even Sergio's. All I know is immediately after the words end, anger erupted from my mind like a volcano, and I threw a head-butt as hard as I could.
"Crack!"
"Argh! Bastard!" He cries out as he dropped me to the ground, this time, I landed on my feet. As he staggers from the strike, I made my way in front of Sergio and Gina, shielding them with my body.
"You think I don't know what my Famiglia has been going through?" I yelled out instead. "For five years, I watched as they return from missions injured or even dead. I watched as their family members cried and attended their funerals. I watched as they get from their beds, ridden with bandages and casts, just to greet me every morning!" I went on, almost like I am complaining about it all. "And worse of all.. Worse of all! They don't even blame me! They smile and say that they are happy to die for me! I feel like running away! But, I know I can't! I just can't abandon them!" I gave out my thoughts. Strangely, my words seems to drive the assassin to a pause. He even had a surprised look on his face.
"I can see your potential now, but, orders are orders." The guy declared, his loud and unruly disposition now replaced with a calm one. Raising his dark blade to strike me down.
That was when Kiera jumped to our side, her robes blown by the wind revealing her still in her maid outfit, her weapon still on her right hand.
"Whoa, Battle-maid. I thought they only existed in cartoons." Sergio exclaimed with a surprised look.
With no hesitation, Kiera took out a pistol from her robes. It had pale-white metallic pieces adorned over a black metallic finish. The barrel's design is common among some of the earlier pistol designs, and is sculpted with ridges that seems to resemble short spikes, giving it a wild look. It's handle ends with an attachment of grey fur that finishes its design, resembling a wolf's tail. With haste, Kiera threw it over to my side.
"Lord Amato!"
As if by reflex, I effortlessly grabbed the pistol in its mid flight and turned to aim it at the assassin. Yelling out the name of my Legacy Arm, I begin to call forth it power.
"Fenris!"
It was then that a huge blast of energy surged out of my body. Only Kiera and I remained calm, everyone else was surprised. The assassin was even blown back a few steps because of the sudden blast.
"What is this?" He yelled out, his calm disposition slowly eroding from the pressure. Around me formed a pale-white translucent aura, its jagged edges and shape coming together to form the shape of a wolf. I could feel my senses sharpen and my wounds heal instantly as if bathed by a mysterious power. As the power burst forth to the surroundings, the wind blew accordingly. My pendant glowed with power and suddenly, a hologram-like word burst across its surface:
FANG
"What's happening to Amato?" Gina cried out, shielding herself from the wind and waves of force.
"Is he under attack?" Sergio yelled out. Kiera only raised her left hand with her eyes closed.
"Don't worry, he's not hurt. In fact, I would be more worried about the assassin." Kiera explained with a smile.
"What's happening to him?" Sergio ask, noticing that my eyes had taken a more feral look.
"He has... Awakened."
Oh look, it's Accelerator.. No I'm not gonna let him have his cheat-code Vector manipulation here. Well, how was it? As you can see, it's not so easy to be boss of a weaker Famiglia. Does the story interest you? Remember, praise, comment or criticize in your reviews!