SIX MONTHS LATER
A man was running through the crowd in the market and pushing both people and things out of his way. He received a lot of yells and kicks, but he would stand up almost immediately, and run even faster. He was being pursued by two men and preferred to run forever, than to be caught by them.
“Get out of my way!” he screamed at a bunch of kids buying ice cream. They sauntered off and he dash through the spot they once we're. He looked back and saw the men still running after him. He panted faster and took a turn into an empty alley. He scaled the fence and jumped into the other side. Blocks of houses were scattered there and he hid between them. The men jumped over the fence too but did not see him, even though he could see them. They looked around and decided to check around, but they passed the house he was hiding beside. He heaved a deep sigh and slid off.
The men, after searching fruitlessly, return
Avril had walked into their room and she exhaled. She was tired after supervising the distribution of jewelry to the people who ordered. Alejandro owned a backroom company that sold jewelries. Illegal jewelries, either stolen or bought from a black market. He only had the expensive ones, and sold it to greedy people who did,n't have the real prize. He made a lot of profit, because he had numerous customers who preferred to buy half the original prize from him.Since he was out of Tijuana, Avril took over. The customers were greedy and cunning. One even requested to have sex with her and he would pay her the original amount, and she could keep the extra money to herself. She had to threaten to give him a lifelong impotency before he let her be.Without Alejandro, she was an angry woman. Over the past six months she spent with
“Jandro,” Avril called with her body shaking, and her heart beating fast. His eyes moved from Arturo to her and they were the darkest and coldest look she had ever received since she knew him.“Alejandro, it's not what you—”“Cover yourself, Avril,” he cut her shut. She swallowed and pulled the blanket over her body. Arturo was standing there, not knowing what to do.“How long has this been going on?” Alejandro asked as he diverted his gaze to Arturo.“Alejandro. I... Its—”“Arturo, I asked a question. You know I don't repeat words,” Alejandro drawled. He was still standing by the door.“What I did was not wrong. It's not against our code,” Arturo said with a new courage. He stood straight and looked his brother in the eye. Alejandro scratched his beard and nodded.“Yes. It's not wrong. What's w
Avril raced from the back of Alejandro's mansion to the front. She crossed the street and ran straight to Arturo's house. Her men were right behind her, together with two of Alejandro's men and the man who had come to announce to them that Nana was dying. Avril entered the house and raced up the stairs to Nana's room. In the hallway, she noticed blood stains on the floor. She flung the door open and saw Nana on the floor, writhing with pain and crying her eyes out. She was bleeding from between her legs and cute were all over her body.“Nana, what happened to you?” Avril asked immediately and bent over her. She held her friend and found out she was bleeding from her mouth too.“Help, please,” Nana muttered and Avril looked to the door. Immediately, her men dashed in.“Bernardo, help me! Manny, get a car! Feliz come help us carry her,” Avril ordered and the men rushed to help her carry Nana. She was in a very terrible state. Th
Two Years LaterAvril and Alejandro are not married. He never even spoke of it to her. They were much closer than before and Alejandro laughed like a kid whenever Avril told a joke. They were close to the extent that Avril confided in him about Dakar, and why she loved that wolf bracelet a lot. Alejandro was not surprised when he heard about him. He said he was in the Mafia, and had come across things that defied explanation.“If you want, we can go trace him. Find the island again,” Dakar muttered into her ear one evening by the poolside. They were in the poolroom on his floor, laying on the lean-on bench, with Avril wearing a bikini and Alejandro only shorts. She was sitting between his legs and leaning on his chest, while he smoked cigar as usual. They had just got out of the pool.“I doubt he's still there. It's been two years,” she replied.“He stayed there for how many years again?”“Fifty four, befor
The Vincaso Family needed the sincere help of The Lucian Brothers to back them up against Xpresso, a gang of fearless terrorists who were under the single leadership of a powerful man—Luca Aguero. They had gotten into a very big fight with him and had no way to back out, except if they were able to kill him. They decided to seek the help of The Lucian Brothers, but were scared Alejandro would not agree to help. So, they called for a sudden meeting first. An inside man who was amongst the Vincaso Family leaked the news to Luca Aguero, that they were seeking the help of another Mafia family. This inside man did not know it was going to be the Lucian Brothers, so he did not report it.On the day of the meeting, they sat round a table in the VIP section of the club. It was their own hotel, so having meetings in the VIP room was not a new thing. Luca's inside man had sneaked in men to start shooting randomly at the members of the Mafia. Alejandro was just in a
“Present me to who?”“Luca Aguero. The leader of Xpresso and the real Mastermind behind the massacre today. He would love you as his woman. And you would give him all the information you know about The Lucian Brothers. You will be so much of an asset to him.”Avril burst out laughing and that seemed to put of Miguel. Why was she laughing?“What? So I'm some sort of object that is being passed off from Mafia Lord to gangster now?”“Is that how you see this?”“Yes. And I will not take it,” she said with a deep frown. He smirked and rubbed his goatee. He looked out the window and Avril used that opportunity to do an eye language they used well in the Mafia. She glanced at Chidi and to Miguel, then back to Chidi. This happened between two seconds, and Chidi understood. Even Nana and Xiào Wéi understood.Miguel looked back at Avril.“You don't have a choice. Yo
They reached the top of the hill and began to walk faster in order to get as far away from the van as they could. The ground was covered with leaves from the trees, twigs and sticks, stones and pebbles. This was to the girl's advantage, because they was no way another person could follow their tracks. Their footprints didn't even show a little sign.The girls continued to walk in silence until they got very tired. They had covered more than five kilometers and it was very late into the night. Only the moonlight guided their feet.“Is there anywhere we can get water? I'm so thirsty,” Nana whined and sat on a large log of fallen wood.“There's water in this bag. But it can only last us tonight,” Chidi stated and opened the driver's bag that she had taken. Five bottles of water were in it, with a bar of chocolate.“You only live once,” Nana said in relief and took a bottle from Chidi.&ldqu
The hunting was very successful. Avril returned with two medium sized hares. They had dinner and slept off on the floor. Avril was grateful she was feeling sleepy, but unfortunately, she had a nightmare. She saw bullets raining down on Alejandro and screamed out. She sat up panting heavily.“God,” she muttered and palmed her face. Her friends were still sleeping despite her scream. She looked at the still burning fire and moved closer to it. She arranged the wood untill the fire blazed up even more. She stared into the fire while thinking of what was going to become of her life, now that Alejandro was gone. How were they going to locate Arturo when he arrives Italy to take them back to Mexico? Her phone was probably still at the hotel. And she didn't even know where exactly they were. What if Miguel had successfully driven them out of Milan?It was not until two hours later that Avril could fall asleep again. This time, she had a nightma
“No! No! Give me those!” she screeched and flew at Camper who didn't move an inch. But before she could reach him, she was blasted off into the cage Avril's friends just vacated. Camper hurried over to Prince Dakar.“You came right on time. They've hurt Avril,” Dakar said. Camper looked at the white fog and clenched his teeth.“Verona will help. She's coming. They are coming.”Dakar nodded and took one of the clear crystal balls and lifted it up.“Camper feels emotions more than anyone else can. Which is why he's a playboy, he enjoys the pleasure a hundred times than an average person. And when someone is overexcited, or is hiding something where they've channelled all their protective information... Camper can trace where all those emotions are headed,” Prince Dakar said as Athena began to rise.“Where your treasure is stored, there will your heart be,” Camper recited. “While you were busy flirting and trying to make him take you there on your garden floor, he was looking deep into
Avril had only just slept for a half an hour when she heard a masculine scream pierce through the serenity of the room. She jerked awake, causing a terrible headache to erupt in her head. The scream continued on. Obviously, that person was in deep agony. She rubbed her weak eyes with her weak fingers and realized this agonized person was right there on the floor in front of her. Then she realized it was Dakar.“Dakar!” she screamed and ran out the bed, only to fall on the bed because of how numb her legs were. She groaned but crawled on foura to where he lay. His scream and cries were terrible. She grabbed his arm but he shoved her off as he continued to twist and contort in pain.Avril burst into tears when she noticed he was bleeding from his nostrils, mouth and ears.“Help, please!” she tried to shout but no way her voice could be heard above his.She crawled back to the bedside, grabbed the pitcher of water and tossed it over him. He stilled immediately and lay unconscious. Avril
“Gently get the girls to wake up. We're leaving. Pick up everything. Leave no personal belonging behind,” Dakar warned strictly. The two men nodded and darted into their room.“Where's Verona?” Avril asked.“I'm here,” she replied and showed up too. Verona looked agitated and vigilant.“I can't believe I was such a fool to bring you all here,” Dakar said to himself and looked her he could slap his own cheek. The candlelights were enough to show the look of regret on his face. He held Avril's good hand and led her out while Verona also darted inside the room. The others were already frantically moving and packing stuff.In less than ten minutes later, everything had been packed as affirmed by Camper. They then quietly started out without a word or sound from anyone.They got to the throne room which was empty and dark too. Instead of them to go through the main entrance, Prince Dakar turned them to a different direction. He tugged gently on what was like a door and a secret passage ope
Athena plastered a too wide smile on her face as she smoothly walked towards them like she was gliding and not actually taking steps. Her outfit was all gold, blending too much with the throne room itself. If her visible skin and hair were also gold, she would be invisible in the hall.“Pleased to meet you again, Athena,” Prince Dakar said with courtesy. Athena turned her full attention to him as she stood a few feet away.“Ah, my handsome nephew. You look amazing despite everything you've been through. I guess strength and good looks runs in the family. How is your father?” she asked and cocked her head to the side.“He is doing very well. Sends his kind regards,” Prince Dakar answered. Athena grinned and moved closer to him. A little bit too close. She looked up into his eyes and tucked loose hair behind his ear.“When this is all over, I would love to see his final look,” she said then grinned again.Avril frowned but quickly tucked her face right. What did she mean by ‘his final l
Prince Dakar got up, then jerked his jacket by the lapels to get it aligned with his body. He took a deep breath, relief flooding in that Avril was not dead. And she was right at the other side about to come over. He heard a feminine gasp like the one had made and made a quick turn to see the person who had come out. But he was disappointed to see the slim, black friend of Avril. Chidi. She wasn't crouched down like he was, but she was standing straight and breathless.“Are you all right?” he asked as she stood rooted to the spot, oblivious to him standing there. After he spoke, she raised her eyes abruptly and saw him. Then she looked back at the innocent look archway.“Congrats. You got out. Come over, let's wait for the others,” he said again and walked a few feet from where he was standing. Chidi followed silently and leaned against a tree with her eyes closed. Dakar was tempted to ask her what she saw, but he didn't want to intrude. Chidi however surprised him.“T saw Avril fall
The Porta Metus was situated in a vast region of land that was very mountainous. Solid, smooth rock was the ground and scorpions could be seen tittering around. Flying, giant bee-like creatures swarmed about and scared the living daylights out of the traveling group.The gateway itself was an archway of smooth grey rock that began on the ground but went over to cover the small bridge. There was a deep ditch dividing the rock terrain, and earthy terrain.“We have to be very careful. The Porta Metus is the archway. It doesn't come up this time of year so I'm worried about you all. The Porta Metus brings out your greatest fear. Between you and your greatest fear, only one will make it out. To reach your destination, you must defeat your greatest fear against all odds.”After Prince Dakar's information, everyone stared still at the harmless looking archway of rock.“What if you do not have a greatest fear but just little little fears?” Xiao Wéi asked.“Then I consider that person the luck
“What in the world are those thing?” Nana yelled amidst the screams. The horses that were at the far end of the cave startled up and began to neigh and thump around.“Stealth wraiths. Half-dead creatures but more dead than alive. Which means you can't see them. They're very rare!” Camper shouted out.“How do you kill what you cannot see?!” Avril shrieked as Camper sliced through the air again and black blood poured out of nothing.“They are as cold as ice. You feel their chill and strike,” Verona answered as she trotted to the entrance to assist Camper. The rest shifted back but didn't lose their guard. The horses were causing a scene on their own and Avril instinctively ran over to calm them down. It didn't work.A cold chill was taking over the entire cave, the entrance had turned into a battle ground. Camper and Verona were fighting invisible, shrieking creatures that seemed to be pushing them backwards and not the other way around. Whatever does things were, they were plenty and t
They trespassed through the Soot Forest, as Camper had called it, for five hours straight. They only rested at most ten minutes while standing because of the human girls who were not as tire-proof as the wolves. Avril and her girls even surprised Prince Dakar. They didn't tire as easily as other humans.“One more hour and we'll be out,” Camper announced to the group.“I hope there's a place we can sit our butts down?” Nana grumbled.“Well, I see sitting your butt down is very important to you. Seeing you carry a lot over there of course,” Xiao Wéi joked and the girls burst into laughter except Verona who had not smiled since the journey began. As was usual of her.“If we don't sit soon, I'm afraid I'll lose all my assets,” Nana replied. Avril slapped Nana's butt.“Nope, you're still good even if you walk the whole day,” she teased and Nana butt-kicked her. Avril wasn't expecting that move and it pushed her, making her feet unbalanced on the ground. She yelped as she felt herself desc
Avril laughed loud again and everyone rushing food at the table looked over at them. “Is there a comedy show going on there, Fiorella?” Verona asked grudgingly. “Are there any tickets left? I need a good laugh also,” Nana spoke and Chidi elbowed her. “Don't mind them. Just talk and laugh all you want. You're not bothering us,” Chidi said and glared at Nana who shrugged. She looked away and her eyes caught Camper staring at her friend in amusement. He had his fork twirling in his salad as he stared at Nana. “It's going to be too obvious that you like this girl. Put that face straight,” the new guy ordered with a frown. Everyone at the table frowned except Camper who smirked at him. The way he spoke was so authoritative and haughty. Who was he? Avril's laughter rang up again but nobody looked back at them this time. “Why are you all looking at me like I said something bad?” he questioned. “That's because you sound like a nagging mother. It doesn't suit you,”