Two

Stephany’s POV contd

My mind travel back to that horrifying day as I stand there watching in envy at the family through the transparent glass across the street. The sound of the zooming cars and footsteps fade away slowly.

My heart ache again at the memories of the state his body was when Elise and I experienced the misfortune of seeing our father lifeless on the ground.

His cold cracked skin, his dead eyes that haunts me the most, the gaping wound on his chest that continued to spill blood, the scent of his blood that lingered in the air. It was a bright day like this one.

Elise called out to him multiple times but there was no answer. She sank to her knees beside his body shaking him, pleading for him to wake up.

“Dad please…please wake up, it’s Elise, I’m here dad…please wake up” . Her cries of plea filled with so much dread hollowed in my ears and even after almost a year I still remembered exactly how she sounded. And I?

I stood there frozen, the air grew so thick with death that my lungs scrapped for whatever air they could find. I told myself it was a bad dream, one that I needed to wake from. I pinched myself till I bruised but I didn’t wake up neither did dad.

Dad was supposed to protect us, he promised but in the end he couldn’t even protect himself.

He was shot and no one ever told us who did it. Some said he got in too deep with the wrong people, others said he had it coming.

But I never believed their words, I knew my father wasn’t perfect but I also knew he cherished us enough not to make reckless decisions.

However barely after a week of his burial, still picking up the pieces he left us in, we heard a knock on the door.

It felt like a doom sentence as the knocks got heavier and heavier. A cold chill ran down my spine as I urged Elise to go hide.

I thought about ignoring it but the knocks turned into bangs, one that would tear the door if I didn’t respond to it. I walked to the door breathing heavily as my shaking hands unlocked it.

There were two shady looking men at the doorstep dressed in all black. “Are you Stephany?” The taller one in leather jacket asked, his brows hung in anger.

My stomach sank at the sight of their appearance, Elise stood at a corner in the back trembling. “Yes, what do you want?” I answered shaking the fear in my voice away.

“Don Mario wants to see you” the other one wearing a shade spoke, his voice much more calm but also intimidating.

“What does he want with me?” I replied again washed with confusion as the blood in my body grew cold.

 Why would the boss of the notorious Mafia want to see me? I never crossed paths with him so what did he want from me. My heartbeat quickened at the thoughts that crawled slowly at the edge of my mind.

“You’ll find out” the taller one answered gesturing his hand for me to step out of the house. I took a step back in fear and immediately his hand caught my wrist and dragged me violently.

Elise screamed rushing to my direction but she was stopped by the other man who pushed her back in and slammed the door.

“Where are you taking me?” I protested, my voice trembling as I tried to free myself from the painful grip.

His hands only tightened the more I fought and dragged me outside. I could still hear Elise screaming as she opened the door to come outside as well. Scared for her safety I try to get her to stay behind.

“Go back inside Elise, I’ll come back I promise” I yelled at her with firm eyes. She stood there crying helplessly as she watched me dragged away by the two men into a black Van which sped off.

As we reached the Don Mario’s estate, my stomach sank even further. The large black gate that loomed over me and the large mansion sent a chill that spread throughout my body.

For a moment It felt like my life flashed before my eyes as we approached the tall building. My nose pumped out air vigorously as my mind ran back to Elise.

What was she doing now? She’s all alone by herself, she needs me.

When we entered the building, the dread that filled me increased pulling down on me, my blood coursed violently throughout my body making me tremble.

The fear in me doubled no tripled as it gripped me. I was led down a long dark hallway, as we walked and walked, my gaze latched unto the walls.

Each sounds of the footsteps echoed through my mind and the thick scent of dread lingered in the air making it hard to breathe.

The atmosphere weighed heavily like I was walking into hell itself, the dark walls that I couldn’t stop looking at were decorated with picture frames with people that looked ominous.

The walls itself seemed to whisper to me to get out, like it had witnessed so many horrific things. I imagined how many people had been dragged the same way I was being dragged in and never came out alive.

My heartbeat shot up at the thought of it, I took a sharp breath at the realization. I might not come out alive…What if I was brought here to be killed?...no no!..I can’t die here…Elise needs me…I can’t break my promise as well”.

I begin resisting again but the taller one jerked me into submission raising his hand as if to hit me across the face. I quickly turned my face in defeat.

We finally reached the last room where Don Mario’s office was located. I was dragged into a room where Don Mario sat, pumping his lungs with the thick heat of the tobacco he inhaled and exhaled repeatedly.

He sat on a large leather sofa that looked expensive but also cheap. He was hard to look at.

His rough, wrinkled face was filled with scars, particularly one that ran along his left eyebrow. His dry, chapped lips curved into a twisted smile, making my face scrunch in plain disgust.

 I quickly wiped it away as his gaze met mine. I was forced to my knees before him. A wooden table separated us as he gazed curiously at me, a hint of a smile on his face.

“Ah, Stephany… it’s nice to finally meet you,” his old, raspy voice broke the silence. A horrid breath, a mix of tobacco and faint whiskey, hit me from where I knelt. I held my breath as he opened his mouth to speak.

 “Sorry my boys were rough with ya,” he continued.