It had been two months now. Life returned back to normal and I had kept my job at the farm with applejack. Winter had now passed and spring began moving in. Grass began growing, flowers started blooming, and the air was growing warmer. We were now nearing the end of March and the first day of April was tomorrow. Working at the farm was hard work, but I liked it a whole lot better than my old job, plus I'm being paid more than my old job too, and since applejack doesn't really give me checks I just get envelopes of money. I keep half of my paycheck on me and put the other half in a new bank account that i opened up a week after I started working at the farm. So far I've got almost 1000 bits saved up, and my life is finally starting to look up now. I've been able to afford better food now than just shitty frozen dinners, and I've got better at cooking, it helps though when the boxes of food I buy have instructions on them. I have to admit though, the first couple of times I tried using the stove or oven I've burned myself, not severely... But it stings like a bitch nonetheless.
Me and twilight have been hanging out more often now, we meet up almost every other day and usually walk though town together and talk. She always said that she's been meaning to introduce me to her other friends, but she's never really gotten the chance. And as for applejack, well we've become good friends. Me twilight and applejack would sometimes go through town, or I would see applejack at her stall sometimes and we'd talk. I applejack only has me working the weekdays, so I've got plenty of free time on the weekends to do whatever. My days aren't as exciting as other peoples, but just having friends is plenty of excitement for me. I've also seen Noel a few times too! I sometimes see her leaving her house or we catch each other at the laundry room downstairs. She's a very nice girl, but I still find her bringing other men into her apartment in the later hours, sometimes the faces are the same, probably regulars, and sometimes they're different, or I can't remember them from other times. Any way you look at it, she's a busy woman.
The old lady grey, the old mare who lived below me actually moved out of ponyville and went south where it's warmer. I made sure to give her a fond goodbye and I haven't seen or heard from her since. She was a kind old mare, she had moved out about three weeks ago. It's still a bit strange with her gone, she was famous around this complex for leaving pies out on the windowsill. The scent of apple or cheery pies could be smelt from the road and it often drifted up and came in through our open windows filling the other apartments with their sweet scent. Sometimes I think she was just showing off her cooking skills, and I know that she wasn't eating all those pies on her own. She shared with everybody, even me... And to be honest, I miss the taste and smell of her pies. Especially now that it's spring and she loves to cook blueberry pies in the spring. I guess it's just one thing we'll all just have to live without, we were lucky in the first place to have such a wonderful old mare living here, but not all good things last forever.
It was a Friday afternoon and I was at home sitting on my computer. I had gotten back home from applejacks farm and was just paid. On my way home I stopped at the bank and deposited half of the paycheck, leaving me with 95 bits left over. I kept that money in my wallet and it was always enough to keep me going through the week. 95 bits is a lot of money for a guy like me, and that's just half of my paycheck. I know that I need to save up my money, though I'm not really sure what I'll buy, maybe a house... In the very distant future. But I won't worry about things like that, I'm happy where I am now, but I was always thinking that if I did save up enough money I could at least rent a nice place in north ponyville, it would be nicer than the slums i live in now, but I still like it here, it's like home. Even though there are thugs and drug dealers in almost every alley, it still feels like home. The drug dealers and thugs don't really bother anybody, they just seem scary. They have been on my case as of lately. I've noticed them looking at me and whispering in the alleyways.
I was on my laptop just browsing the internet when I got a notification that I had received an email. I didn't really bother with it and went to close the pop-up when the address caught my eyes. Usually I just get emails from marketing sites or other websites I'm subscribed to, but this one was from an actual person. I hovered my mouse over and clicked the link and a window opened up with the letter on it. Just judging from the email address it wasn't really anybody I knew, some guy names john travers, I don't now anybody by that name. It was only when I started reading the email that it had caught my attention and made me start to clench my fist.
"Dear Zack..." The email started. "You may not know me but I am the assistant of Big Donnie, and he's taken a sudden interest in you. We would like to invite you to a social meeting on Saturday the 1st of April at around four thirty P.M. Donnie strongly advises that you attend this social function and would be pleased to meet you there. The location is 22 south street, the old factory building. In high regards to secrecy, I advise that you delete this message after reading it. We hope to see you there Zack." The letter stopped and was formally signed from "-The Family.".
" damn..." I said softly to myself. I don't really want to go, but I don't really have much of a choice. I knew that Donnie really wanted me back, and I knew that my past wouldn't die quietly like I had hoped. The fact that he strongly suggests that I attend means that I'm going to end up there anyway. It would be better that I show up on my own instead of having two thugs drag me there. The whole thing smelled fishy, so I figured I'd better have a good plan, or at least some defense. Even though I'm not in the underworld anymore I still know what's happening, I've got my ear to the street and the word is that there's a gun dealer two blocks down in a back alley apartment who doesn't work for Donnie. I've got something like 300 bits in my wallet, and that should be enough to buy a basic handgun and ammo.
I sat at my computer for a moment and started thinking if I wanted to do this... And I do. I got up and set out for the gun dealer. I grabbed my hoodie and threw it on and pulled the hood over my head. I walked out of my house and out the door locking it behind me. I started making my way down the street and kept an eye out for suspicious looking characters in the alleyways or walking down the street. It was more lively in the spring than the winter, and there were other people and ponies walking around. None of them seemed suspicious, if anybody looked sketchy, it was me. I made my way down to Patterson way and took a left into a dark alley making sure that nobody saw me. I walked down and came across a door in the wall not too far down. It was a heavy metal door with a sliding peephole. I walked up to it and banged twice on the door. I heard footsteps as the metal slide opened up revealing a pair of eyes.
"What you here for?" Asked the man behind the door.
"I'm just looking for some firepower." I said.
"Do you work for Donnie?" He asked.
"No..." I said. He looked at me straight in the eyes and then closed the slide and opened the door. Once the door opened I walked in and it was promptly closed behind me. I turned to see the man behind the door and he was roughly a couple years older than me. He had brown hair being covered by a cap and a sweatshirt on. He wore torn jeans and had a small scar on his left cheek. Looking around I saw all types of guns and weapons everywhere. Some of them were very high caliber and others were just simple handguns.
"So what can I do you with." He said.
"Well..." I said. "You see I've been having a bit of trouble from local thugs... Probably working for Donnie, I just need something to show them that they can't fuck with me." I said. In this type of business you have to talk tough or you won't get anything except dead. I was pretty good at talking tough, even though I didn't like to. "And I gotten make sure those bastards won't see it coming either."
"Ah, yes... What you need is a small gun... One sec, I've got something that you might like." He said. He walked over to a counter with a wall of guns behind it and ducked down under. He pulled out a case and opened it up. He reached inside and pulled out a handgun. It was a simple 9mm pistol, capable of doing enough damage, but it certainly wasn't military grade equipment, something like that wouldn't even cost 100 bits. "This little devil is a simple 9mm pistol, a smith and Wesson lead special." He said. "It's light and easy to fire, and it doesn't jam easily. Twelve shots per clip and it comes with three extra mags."
"Looks promising..." I said walking over. He handed it to me and I half it in my hand. There was already a clip in it, but when I ejected it the cartridge was empty. It had a smooth grip and was light. Then in noticed that on the grip of the gun was a small engraving of some kind of runic circle. "What's this...?" I asked showing the man.
"Ah, that's the best part." He said. "The gun might be small, but that's a magic circle my friend... It makes it so the gun is completely undetectable by any means, not even unicorn magic could sniff out that gun. Like you said, you don't want to see them coming." He said smiling and leaning over the counter.
"Hmm... I like that. How much?" I asked.
"For you friend, and because you plan to put a few of Donnie's boys six feet down... 200 bits and I'll throw in a case of ammo." He said, "if you even look at the extra clips they have the same engraving, so you can carry them without worry." He said.
"Hmm..." I said. Two hundred bits for this gun alone is ridiculous, but it does have a very powerful rune on it, and that kind of magic is very useful, especially if I'm going to carry this around with me. For two hundred bits, that's actually a good price. "You've got a deal..." I said sticking my hand out. He grabbed my hand and we shook. I paid him the two hundred bits leaving me with only 80 or so bits left in my wallet, but that was fine by me. He included the box of amor and let me load the gun up. I filled one of the mags with its capacity of twelve shots and slid the clip into the gun and cocked back the top. I flicked the safety on and put the gun between the back of my pants so that I could hide it with my shirt or sweater. I emptied the bullets from the rest of the box into multiple pockets of mine and sorted the clips in my jean pockets. I thanked the man and left the store. I couldn't exactly leave the store holding a few clips and a box of 9mm bullets, people would freak out and I'd probably get shot myself.
I suspiciously made my way home from the alleyway and unlocked the door to my apartment and walked on inside. Once I was inside I locked the door and walked to the living room. I closed the blinds to my window and turned the TV on. I flicked to a random channel which just happened to be the news and I emptied my pockets onto the coffee table. I ejected the clip I had from the gun and put another bullet in it since the gun already had one in the chamber, so I'll have to remember to count thirteen, which might give me an edge too if a problem should break out and the other side is counting my bullets too. I put the other clips on the table and started loading them with the rounds. I managed to fill the other three clips perfectly with the amount of ammo I had. I will have to go back eventually and buy more bullets, but I'll do that another day, right now I've got everything I need. I loaded one of the clips into the gun and grabbed it along with the other clips. I took them into my room and hid them in one of my drawers. I went back out to the living room and sat down and ended up staring at the news. When I looked at the time it was bout six in the afternoon.
The reporters on the news were talking about the spring fling happening on Saturday when April first begins. It's the same thing that they do every first of April. A bunch of rich people and ponies gather around at the princess's palace in Canterlot and brag about how much money they make, or how many acres of land they own. People and ponies like that make me sick. They brag about how much power they have, but they don't have power... They have influence. If they had power then they would be blue to stop an assassin from putting a bullet in their head, but as we learned from the Fargo assassination, that isn't true. Even though it would be great to put all those snooty bastards in their place, I have to admit... Attending a party like that wouldn't be half bad... But there's no chance in hell that I'm ever going to get an invite to that party.
I think the only ponies there that aren't going to be total snobs are twilight and the friends she said that were invited. I was a bit surprised when twilight said she was invited, but I keep forgetting that she is the student of the princess herself, and she and her other friends have history with the princess, they're also the elements of harmony... So there's also that. Just thinking back to the other day made me start to chuckle and smile. Twilight was actually apologizing to me the other day about not getting me an invitation, and I told her that I would never be caught dead at an even like that. Besides I've got my own party to attend to. I kept my eyes glued on the TV for a while and kept watching the news, but there wasn't much on, the same old gloomy stuff. Shootings, missing kids, and horrible accidents. Once was getting hungry I walked into my kitchen to make some dinner.
I opened up my fridge and looked through it and spotted some leftovers that I had from when me twilight and applejack went to a restaurant in north ponyville. I took out the styrofoam box. It was chicken Parmesan. I grabbed that and heated it back up in the microwave. Normally I don't eat many microwave dinners anymore, but this was a bit of an exception, I wasn't feeling too hot today after all the news and all that, but I was somewhat excited for tomorrow. I don't want to have to use the new gun I bought, but I'm somewhat eager to try it out. From what I know about Donnie, he isn't going to make this easy on me. He's a really sick and twisted man who loves to toy with people and ponies alike.
Once my dinner was done I ate it up and watched TV until later at night. Then I went to bed and waited for the next day. I had trouble getting to sleep at first, and I laid in my bed wide awake for an hour or so, but I soon fell asleep and was off in a world of dreams. It wasn't much later after that morning had risen and rays of sunlight cut through the blinds covering the windows in my bedroom. I slowly opened my eyes and skunked out of bed. When I checked the time on my clock to the right I saw that I had slept in a bit and it was already noon. I slowly skunked out of bed and got dressed. I put on a torn pair of jeans and a black T-shirt. I filled my pockets with my keys, and my knife. I put my hoody on and opened the drawer where my gun was hidden. Getting a bit excited, I put the gun between my pants and put the clips in my back pocket. I pulled my hoodie down to hide them and went out into the living room.
Like a ritual, I opened up the window of my apartment and sat down on the window ledge and lit up a cigarette. I put it to my mouth and took a deep breath. I held it in for a moment and let out a deep breath of smoke. It's nice having an apartment at the end of the complex since I get this nice window to sit on. Noel is three doors down from me, the second apartment on the second floor. I'm the fifth, apt he last one at the end. I smoked my cigarette carelessly and I could already feel myself starting to relax and get a bit more confident. Only four more hours until the party, or should I say, social function, that Donnie is hosting. By now twilight and the others should be heading out to canterlot. Just then there was a knock on the door. I put my cigarette into the ashtray I had bought some time ago and got off the windowsill. I walked into my kitchen and opened the door to see twilight wearing a very fashionable star dress. When I saw her I knew what she was here for.
"Hi Zack..." She said with a smile.
"Hey twilight... Heading out to canterlot?" I inquired.
"Yeah, the others are waiting for me at the train station, but I decided to teleport here to say goodbye." She said.
"Make sure to have fun." I said.
"I will." She said giggling and smiling. "We won't be back for a while, not until Tuesday so you're going to be alone until then."
"That's fine... I'm used to it, at least it's not forever."
"That's true." She said. "Well... Goodbye then, I hope you have just as much fun as I do." She said smiling and waving as she backed up to leave. "Take care."
"I will..." I said lying with a smile. "Don't worry." She smiled back and stuck her horn into the air as it began to glow. Her body shuttered and she disappeared in a puff of smoke and purple light. When my eyes readjusted she was gone, teleported away to the station. I kept the smile in my face, until I closed the door then the smile faded into a sullen and gloomy look. I turned back and walked back into my living room and flicked on the TV. The news channel was the last thing I watched,so it was the first thing that came on. They were doing an airing about the spring fling at the royal palace. They were zooming around in a helicopter and getting good shots of the ponies setting up the decorations. Huge ice sculptures and hanging lights were brought out for display. Large tables were set up with expensive tablecloths. Fine wines and professionally prepared foods were brought out on silver platters, made me sorta jealous, but when I remembered who was going to be eating all that food I didn't care anymore. I just hope twilight and her friends have fun.
I didn't do much, but time seemed to pass by slowly as I eagerly awaited the clock to strike four thirty. It was only three now, but it seemed like it had been hours more than that. I decided to have a small snack just to hold me over for the social function that's being held at the old factory building. The last time I went to one of these was when I was 21. He always holds one of these when the spring fling is going on. Usually all the gang member are there, but so are some other important people and ponies who are under Donnie's influence. They usually come from all around, all the gangs and mafia families from all over Equestria. It's going to be a big thing, it always is. The factory building might not look it, but the inside might as well be that of a castle. I sat down in my couch and pulled out the gun from between my pants. I held it in my hand and looked it over, just sitting there for a while and examining it.
I held it up In front of me and aimed it at the TV at the news reporters head, just to get the feel for the accuracy and aiming. It's been a while since I've ever fired a gun. I don't like the idea of it, but I'll do what I have to do if it means that I can escape my past. Although, I don't want to have to kill... I haven't killed anybody before, and I'm not sure if I'd be able to live with myself even if it was in self defense. If it does resort to violence though, I've learned not to hold back. I kept the gun pointed t the TV and made sure the safety was one before pretending to squeeze the trigger. I was a little nervous that something would go wrong and it would fire anyway, but it didn't and the trigger didn't even budge. Suddenly there was another knock on my door and I stopped for a moment. I put the gun down and then put it back between my pants. I got up from the couch and walked over to the door and opened it up. I half expected some thugs to be waiting outside, but to my surprise when I opened the door it was Noel.
"Oh... Noel, hey." I said.
"Hello Zack..." She said. She was standing there in a sequence red dress with a very furry scarf around her neck. She wore dark makeup and matching red high heels. She had large golden hoop earrings, diamond rings, and a large pearl necklace. If I didn't know any better I would say that she was heading to the spring fling.
"What's with the fancy clothes?" I asked.
"Well, I'm heading over to a party." She said. "Pi was invited to Donnie's palace, you know... The old factory building."
"Oh... Were you now." I said with my smile quickly fading.
"Yes, and my invitation is also a plus one, so I was thinking if you wanted to come with me, you must be lonely today, and I'm not looking for anything further than a friend to come with me to the party, it's going to start in a few minutes." I looked back to see it was already past four. Time must have flew by when I wasn't looking.
"Uhm... Well, the thing is that I've already been invited." I said.
"Oh... That's wonderful, then we can go together." She said. "You and I can head out... It'll be fun, I heard that the Yakuza clan from the east is going to be there."
"And also the Don from the Italian mafia in manehattan." I said. "I've been to these before, I know what they are."
"You have?" She said.
"Mmm..." I hummed. "They're just extravagant parties that Donnie hold every April first to keep the peace between his small gang of thugs and the rest of Equestria. If you ask me it was pretty smart of a big wig like Donnie to hide his HQ in a small and unassuming town like ponyville."
"So are you going to come?" She asked as if I hadn't said anything at all.
"Uh... Yeah." I said. "I might as well, Donnie seems really eager for me to drop by and say hello for old times sake." I said shaking it off like it was some kinda reunion. "Why don't we head out then." I said walking out and locking my door behind me. Noel smiled and we started to make our way from the building and soon down the street. We walked down the streets and didn't talk for the most part. A big part of me was really hoping that this was just a casual invite, and that maybe Donnie really did want to just say hi for old times sake, but Donnie can be unpredictable. The only way to really know what's going to happen would be to go there and find out for myself. But now that I think about it, it could just be a casual thing, he would never want to cause a scene I front of his honored guests.
Me and Noel sauntered through the streets, and soon we started getting closer to the old factory building which was lit up beautifully from the inside and out. The front entrance of the building had two well dressed men standing outside and greeting some guests that had rolled up in cars and limo's. They were all well dressed and wore beautiful clothing, clothing that I could never even dream of affording. We approached the entrance to the factory and scarlet moved close to me and grabbed my arm and put it between hers. I looked over at her with a face that asked her why she wanted to walk arm in arm.
"Don't worry, this way it seems like I'm your date, don't worry love... It's just for show." She said smiling. We approached the door and the two men guarding the place stopped us in our tracks. It was easy to tell that they had guns under those suits.
"Invitation please..." Said one of them.
"Of course, mine is right here..." Said scarlet reaching into her purse and pulling out a red and gold card that she showed the bouncers. They gave her a thumbs up and she moved forward.
"Uh, I... Don't have one." I said.
"I can't let you in then," said the guard.
"Hey what's the hold up?" Asked a rather rich looking Italian couple behind me. "Let's move it sonny."
"Zack... Here you can use my plus one." Said Noel walking back.
"Wait... Are you Zachary miles?" Asked one of them men.
"Yes... That's me." I relied.
"Well, my apologies, please, come in and enjoy the party." One of the guards said as they both stepped out of the way. I walked past them and rejoined Noel by the door. We walked together through the door to a small security pass where they were checking a rich couple for weapons with unicorn magic. I really hope that what that weapons vendor was telling me about my pistol wasn't bullshit. We walked forward and I recognized the unicorn who was doing the scanning. When he saw me he flashed me a smile.
"Well well well... Look what the cat dragged in." He said. His name was Purple Heart. He was one of the right hand unicorns next to Donnie. He used his magic to levitate a bottle of water over to him and took a drink.
"Trying to wash the taste of Donnie's boots out of your mouth?" I asked. He laughed and levitated the bottle away.
"That's funny..." He said. "You always did have a sharp tongue, surprise that you left... Shame, but if you ask me we don't really need you, we've been just fine since." He said.
"I'm sure..." I said as he started to search Noel. He used his magic and Noel started glowing with a blue tint then it vanished. "Alright sweet stuff, your all set, have a good night." He said.
"I'll find you later." She said walking off into the party. Just beyond the checkpoint was a large room which used to be the assembly line of the factory which was cleared of its machines a long time ago and they were all sold for parts. Now it's just a large room to conduct business, but all the real business happens in the office complexes just next to the large room with its decorated tables, music, and hanging lights.
"Alright hot stuff... Your turn." He said. I walked forward and used all my strength to keep a straight face as Purple Hearts horn started glowing a faint blue and so did my body. "You know it would be a crying shame if you were stupid enough to bring a gun here..." He said smiling. I just stared back at him.
"I've been around long enough to know that would be suicide." I said even though I brought one anyway. "I knew there would be some kind of checkpoint or security gate."
"Well it's good to know you haven't lost your touch." He said as the blue light faded away and vanished. "Your all good." He said smiling at me. I started to walk past him and towards the stairs to the party. "Have fun..."
"I will..." I replied walking past him and towards the stairs leading up to the factory floor where the party was. I walked up the stairs and got to the party and started looking around. There was a band playing off In the corner, but it was all classy music played on piano's and harps and violins and stuff like that. There was a long train of tables stretching the width of the factory floor which was packed with food, lots of it looked really good. There were men and ponies in suits walking around with appetizer plates and fine wines. Ponies and people were on the dance floor mainly in couples. Groups of rather powerful and important looking people and ponies gathered around with drinks in their hands and told jokes or shared stories. The people here might not be as snooty as the ponies and people at the spring fling in canterlot, but this still ain't my kind of party.
"So, you've arrived." Said a voice beside me. I turned to see a large man walking towards me with a tribal tattoo on the right side of his face. That was Jackson anvil, also known as Hammer, in the underworld. He's the bouncer and right hand man for Donnie. He was a big huge muscular black man who could probably pick me up and snap my spine like a toothpick, definitely don't want to get on his bad side, but he doesn't have much of one. All in all, if you look past the outer looks, he's got a heart of gold, and doesn't like to kill, the only reason he's turned to this life is so he can support his family and his sick child Emily.
"Ah... Hello Hammer." I said. He was the only one here who wasn't a total criminal, in fact, he's the only one I actually like. "How's Emily doing, is she getting better?" I asked.
"Yes, she is doing much better." He said with a smile.
"That's good to hear... Glad you've got something going for you outside of this place." I said.
"It's good to see you Zack." He said. "You know, you're the only other one that's like me."
"Yeah, we look it... But we don't fit in with the crowd." I said. "Is there a reason you aren't at Donnie's side right now?"
"He asked me to come and get you once you've arrived."
"So he's that eager is he..." I said. "Alright, I suppose there's not much I can do."
"Please, follow me." He said turning and walking me through the crowds of peoples we made our way through the party and walked over to a door at the side which was guarded by two men in suits. They moved to let us through and so we did. Once we were out the music was muffled slightly and the halls we entered were dim. Hammer started making his way through the hallways and I followed him. I followed him to a staircase and we went all the way up to the very top. Once we were up there was a single carpeted hallway with a single set of door at the end of it. We walked down and hammer pushed open the two mahogany doors and I stepped into the room. The room I walked into was Donnie's office. It was a large room with suited men with guns all around me. To the left was a large glass wall which overlooked the entire party. In the front of the room with his feet kicked up on the large mahogany desk, sat Donnie.
"Ah... There he is." Said Donnie with a gangster accent, as he smoked a thick cigar. Donnie was a lean, and tall man. He didn't have much in the physical strength area, but he was one of the smartest people I knew, which is why he can run this business. He wore a black tuxedo with thin grey stripes running down it. He was a bit of an older man, so he had short crew cut hair which was fading and starting to bald. His hair was gray at the top and grew whiter as it moved down his face. He wore a red tie under his tux and a corset on the left which was a red rose. He stood up from his desk and smiled with the cigar in his mouth. "It's been a while Zack."
"I suppose three or four years is a bit of a long time." I said. I didn't want to make Donnie angry, if he wanted to h could snap his fingers and all ten of the men in here with fully automatic Tommy guns will open fire and reduce me to a pile of meat and lead. In fact, this could very well be the place I die, and there would be nothing I could do to stop it, but if I know Donnie, he won't kill me... Not yet, at least.
"Tell me Zack. What do you think of the party?" He asked waking over to the large wall of glass and looking over everybody down there.
"It's just as big and bright as it is every year." I said.
"Recognize any faces?"
"Some..."
"I noticed you came in here with a woman... Are you two...?"
"No... We just recently became friends, and she lives in my apartment complex. We came here together." I said. "She's the one in the red sequence dress... Probably the only one."
"She seems familiar." He said.
"She works the corners... I'm not sure which ones, but she's bringing home a different piece of meat all the time... Some times the same ones twice." I said.
"I guess that's to be expected in this town." He said walking back from the wall of glass. He sauntered over to his desk and gestured me to come forward. Hammer escorted me to the desk and pulled up a nice leather chair. I sat down and Donnie pulled out a box of expensive looking cigars. "Go ahead... Take one." I did as he asked and took one of the cigars. One of the guys next to me handed me a lighter and I lit up the cigar. I put it to my mouth and took in a deep breath, it was very strong, but I'm used to smoking so I could choke it down, but my eyes were watering slightly. I let out my breath of smoke filled air and kept the cigar in my fingers.
"Thank you..." I said.
"You know Zack, I don't like to be a bad guy. I'm just doing what I can to make a living in this town." He said. "And I know that before we may have left on some... Shaky terms... What with your parents and all..." He said. "You were young then, it's understandable... But I see that you've grown up to be a fine young man, and I invite you back into the family." He said.
"Do I have an actual say in this, or are you offering me the easy way?" I asked.
"Zack, you and me. We are a lot alike, I was never the most popular guy on the block, got picked on at school, didn't have many friends... So I know where your coming from, and that's why I brought you in... Took you under my wing and cared for you... Now I offer you that chance again, if you do not want it... I then I promise you there won't be trouble."
"And if I do join back in?" I asked.
"If you do come back, you'll make more money, you'll get deeper connections and better fixes for anything you might need. You might even be able to get enough money to buy a house, maybe find a nice gal and start a family, be a real provider... We could use you. You were our wild card." He said. As I sat there thinking about it I couldn't help but think about it. I could make more money, and be able to live a better life. I was already used to the underworld, it wouldn't take long to get back in to the sway of things. As I thought I took another puff of the cigar and let out a long breath of smoke.
"You promise there won't be trouble if I say no?" I asked.
"You have my word, and I never break a promise." He said. "Put if you ain't with me, then I can't protect you. And you know that there are some dangerous people and ponies out there... The world ain't a pretty place." I kept thinking about it and looked over to the left out at the party. Even though all these people and ponies seemed like just rich and eccentric people they were all wanted criminal masterminds and the heads of drug worlds and mafias all around Equestria. Being in this these people isn't the greatest lifestyle, but it could give me good connections, and who knows what I could do with those many powerful friends.
As I sat there smoking my cigar looking out the window it had just dawned on me that I still have that pistol in my jeans. It wouldn't take much to end everything right now. I could make a slight move and pull out the gun, they wouldn't expect that, and shoot Donnie right between the eyes. Of course, if that happened all ten guys in here would unload there guns on me and I would be dead in seconds, and that's not looking too good right now. Part of me wants to join, the other part doesn't want anything to do with this anymore. I know that I left for a good reason, though I can't really remember what it was now. I turned back to see hammer by Donnie's side and he gave me a blank look, but I could see the words in his eyes. He wanted me to do what's best for me, but he knew that getting involved would only get me in trouble.
"I'll tell you what..." Said Donnie. "Since it's late, and there's a party out there... How's 'bout I give you a couple days to sit on it." He said. He got up and so did I. He walked over to me and put his arm over me and walked me towards the door. "Just think about it, and get back to me once you come to a conclusion." He said. "I'll give ya till the end of Monday, if I don't hear from ya, then I'll just assume No."
"Monday sounds good." I said.
"Great, now hammer, why don't you show Zack here back to the party... Have some fun, I'll stay here in the office for a while and come out to greet the guests."
"Yessir..." Said hammer waking over and standing next to me with the door open.
"Just... Think about it." Said Donnie patting my shoulder and walking back to his desk. I walked through the doorway and followed hammer down the hallways and stairs back to the party. We walked in silence for the most part until we got about halfway down the staircase then I looked over to hammer and spoke up.
"What should I do hammer?" I asked.
"Well Zack, I can't tell you what to do." He said. "At he pay is going to be good, I can tell you that, especially since Donnie likes you. But running with these kinda people, it isn't something you should do unless you have a purpose... Do you have a purpose?" He asked.
"I'm not really sure..." I said.
"Like the boss said... Think about it, if you do decide to come back, don't worry... I'll get your back. You can trust me Zack... In the end it all works out for the best." He said patting me on the back as we arrived at the door back into the party.
"Thanks hammer," I said as we exited the door and entered the party again. The music was still playing but it was a slow song now and couples were out dancing. He just smiled at me and walked off into the party. I did too and walked over to the side near the food tables because I was hungry. I scoped out some good food and made myself a plate. Pasta salad, steak, chicken, rice, corn, lots of good food. I decided not to worry about things right now and just enjoy this great party I've been envied to. So I did, I ate good food, drank expensive wine. I tried to drink responsibly, but I admittedly got a bit tipsy, so I stopped drinking the wine. It was about an hour or so later that Donnie had come out to greet the guests and would be seen walking with other people and important ponies. Not too long after I suddenly remembered that I came in with Noel, but I haven't even seen her yet, and I've been walking around for quite a bit.
I thought that maybe she had gone to the bathroom or something. I waited a bit longer by the bathrooms, but people and ponies came and went but she never did, so maybe she left, or went out for a smoke or something. So I started heading out to the exit to see if maybe I could catch her outside. I walked over and got back to the security checkpoint. I walked there and Purple Heart gave me a smile.
"Leaving so soon?" He asked.
"Did you see that woman I was with walk out here?" I asked.
"I need more details than that man..." He said obviously tired now since he was practically done with his job.
"She was wearing a big pearl necklace over a red sequence dress." I said.
"Oh yeah, I saw some broad walk out in the getup, that was like a half hour ago, I think she might have gone home."
"Oh..." I said. I figured that she was probably fine and that I should get back to the party. But ever since I was little I've always had this kind of sixth sense that tells me something is wrong, and I've got the worst feeling right now that something is definitely wrong. This feeling of mine that I get is going to be the death of me, and almost has been on several occasions. "I'm going to step out for a few minutes..." I said letting my gut get the better of me.
"I'll be counting the seconds..." Said Purple Heart sarcastically. I just sneered at him and walked out past the checkpoint and out past the doors. Once I was out the two men guarding the entrance were still there.
"Hey..." I asked looking back to them. "Did you guys see a woman in a red sequence dress?" I asked.
"Yeah, she came out here for a smoke then headed off that way." Said on of the men pointing to the right. I thanked the two guys and started heading off that way. I was concerned now because this isn't the way back to the apartments, but I could be overreacting. I started walking down the road and kept my eyes peeled. This part of town is the worst, these slums around the old factory building. All the other thugs that aren't in Donnie's gang huddle around here and act like they are. I kept walking down the street and soon a terrible smell hit my nose and I stopped for a second. I winced and covered my nose. The smell was awful, but it was a kind of subtle smell, and it was very familiar. The smell was blowing in from the alley I was standing next to. When I covered my nose and leaned over a bit I noticed that there was a ripped piece of a red sequence dress of the ground. I stared at the piece of dress for a moment and prayed in my head that it was just an illusion, but sure enough it wasn't.
Suddenly my mind began racing and putting together the pieces of the puzzle. The smell in the air was familiar to me, because it was the scent of death. And this piece of clothing on the ground was Noel's, the only thing I had to do now was look to my right at the alleyway I stood by and see if my horrible assumption was correct, so I did just that. I turned my head to look into the alleyway and it was dark, I couldn't see much. I peered in closer and started to see a figure laying n the ground. Soon it became apparent who it was, and my worst fear had just came true. I quickly shot off the ground and bolted into the alleyway next to the body on the ground. I knelt down by Noel's body and propped her head up.
Her clothing had been torn off, and she was naked. Her eyes were open but they stared off into the sky, slightly rolled back in her head. Her stomach had cuts and open stab wounds all over it as well as her chest. There was a small quantity of blood that leaked out of her mouth when it rolled to the side and stared at the brick wall of the alley. All of her belongings were gone except for a pile of torn clothes beside her. The pile of clothing was her red sequence dress. She must have come out here and was ambushed. The guy, or guys must have raped and killed her. I felt sad, this is the first time I've ever had a friend die on me, but above all else I felt angry... So incredibly angry. Had to restrain myself from gripping my fists in anger since they were being used to hold up Noel's head. I want to find whoever did this and I want to make them suffer, I want them to plead and beg for their lives. They deserve to die, and I swear I hope that I find them. Then, as if god himself had just answered my prayers there was a voice from deeper in the alleyway.
"Ay... Who dis?" Asked a juvenile sounding voice from deep in the alleyway.
"Yo man I told you we been through here already." Said another voice. Suddenly two black men walked out from the shadows. They wore thick coats and heavy, baggy pants. They looked at me and then at the body I was holding.
"Ay... This your bitch?" Asked one of the men.
"What did you just call her?" I asked angrily gritting my teeth and gently letting Noel's body down and standing up.
"I told you we'd been here... Dis the bitch we jumped earlier..." Said one of them.
"Did you kill this woman?" I asked.
"Yeah... So what, you wanna pull something lil man, you gonna get cut bitch." He said as they both pulled out knives from their pockets and switched them open. The two guys ran after me with their knives in hand. I quickly reached back and pulled the pistol out from between my jeans and pointed it between them and they stopped immediately and put their hands up. "Woah woah..."
"Shit man..." Said the other one.
"You fucking pieces of shit..." I said angrily. "Drop the knives... FUCKING DROP THEM!" I shouted. They quickly dropped the knives and slowly started to move backwards. "Now... Get on your knees." I demanded.
"C'mon man, let's be cool about this...can't we just..." Pleaded the other man before I aimed the gun at on of his kneecaps and pulled the trigger. A loud back shook the night and the first guy dropped onto the ground screaming and holding his knee.
"I SAID ON YOUR FUCKING KNEES!" I shouted. The other man quickly dropped to his knees without question. The other thug rolled around on the ground holding his knee a writhing and moaning in pain.
"Oh, you mother fucker, that hurt." He said. "I'll fucking get you man." He said he pulled something out of his pocket and it was another knife. I didn't find it as a threat because he couldn't cut me from there. He held the knife up and then threw it at me. I had been shocked and frozen from firing the gun that I didn't react, and the knife stabbed me right in the shoulder and I cried out in pain as I fell to the ground. "Get him..." Said the thug as the other one got up from the ground and sprinted towards me.
In the moment I froze up and everything seemed to slow down. Everything got quiet and I could feel my heart start to beat. I felt every second of the moment, and then my arm started to raise up into the air. I lifted my arm and pointed my gun towards the man charging me. it was like my arm had a mind of its own. I had the gun pointed at him now and everything seemed to stop for a moment, and then I pulled the trigger. Another gunshot rattled the night sky and echoed through the neighborhood. Suddenly the man after me tripped and hit the ground and fell of his face. I sat there thinking that I had missed him, But he didn't get back up. A small pool of blood started to form around his head and the other thug just sat there in shock.
I was afraid now, I didn't know what to do. Suddenly I found myself pointing the gun at the other man. He put his hands out like he was telling me to stop, but I pulled the trigger anyway, and he fell too. He stopped moving and laid on the ground. I sat there and got back up on my feet slowly. I still had the gun in my hand and i was shaking. I suddenly then turned and ran, I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. My shoulder hurt and my mind was racing. As I turned the corner to head back home my eyes caught the body of Noel, and everything stopped for a second. I wanted to head back, I wanted to grab her and bring her with me, but I couldn't bring myself to stop, I just ran, ran as fast as I could.
I bolted down the street, past the old factory, past the houses, and past all the stores and shops. I bolted all the way back to my apartment. Up the stairs and down to my door. Once I got to my door I suddenly stopped, I don't know why, but I stopped. I was still shaking and I reached into my pocket for my keys. I got them out and tried to unlock my door. I had trouble at first since my hand was shaking so much, but I finally managed to unlock my door. I opened it up, walked in, and locked the door behind me. I made my way through my house slowly and soon walked up to the door of my room. I opened it up and walked in like it was a whole new place. I closed the door behind me and walked into the middle of the room.
I stopped and stood there for a minute then I lifted my hand up and looked at the gun I had in my hand. I was still trembling and shaking, them I felt weak and dropped the gun to the floor. Then I too dropped to my knees and knelt there in my room. The small knife that the thug threw at me was still stuck into my shoulder. I looked at it, but I didn't feel any pain anymore. I knew I had to do swim thing, my conscience was screaming at me now, but I don't know what to do. I just shot and killed two people, and now I'm scared. I don't know what's going to happen now. I can't believe that I had just killed two guys, that makes me a murderer now.
Suddenly after sulking for a moment I suddenly burst into action. I got up from the floor and rushed to the door. I quickly opened it up and blew past it into my bathroom. I ran into the bathroom and rushed up to the sink and looked at myself. I was dirty and bleeding, I had a bit of blood on my face and on my clothes. I reached up and grabbed the knife in my shoulder and gripped it tightly. I grit my teeth and looked at myself in the mirror. I got a tight grip and prepared myself and then suddenly I tugged on the knife, but I chickened out halfway through it and only pulled the knife out partway. I yelled in pain and blood spilled out from my open wound. I raised my fist up and slammed it on the sink counter out of anger. I grit my teeth and clenched my fist before gripping back onto the knife on more time. I was shaking now, but to be honest, I've never felt such a rush. I prepared myself one last time and yanked the knife clean out of my shoulder.
I quickly covered my mouth and shouted in pain, it didn't do much to hide the noise, but it muffled it just a little. It probably isn't very good for the neighbors to hear me screaming bloody murder this late at night. Once I was done screaming I uncovered my mouth and started breathing heavily. I quickly took off my shirt and checked out the wound and it looked pretty bad. I quickly rushed over to my cabinet in the bathroom and looked for some kind of pain medicine, or bandages. I did have a roll of bandages and some gauze. I quickly moved around and went to work at trying to heal myself, but if don't think I've ever been in so much pain in my life.
I cleaned out the wound with a wet cloth and water. I had rubbing alcohol, but it don't think I could rinse out the wound on my own, somebody would have to hold me down and pour the alcohol on my wound. I just rinsed it out with water and then put some disinfectant on the gauze pads I found and placed them over the wound and unraveled the bandages. I wrapped my shoulder with the bandages and kept the wound covered by the gauze. Once I was done wrapping I clipped the bandages and the clip held the bandages in place. Once that was done I just took a deep breath and let out the deepest sigh ever. I sat down and leaned up against the base of my bathtub and looked around. I did a good job of keeping the bloodshed under control. All the blood that I did spill was in the sink, but I still lost quite a bit of blood.
As the adrenaline in my body started to run out my body began to feel weak, and faint. I could feel my eyes growing heavy and my heart beat was slowing down. I felt like I was loosing blood now, but I already lost blood, so I'm probably just passing out from lack of blood. There's nothing I can really do now but close my eyes and go to sleep.
and hope that I wake up in the morning...