The Mafiuso (Book One)

"Fourteenth Years Ago" 'Him' 'Every darkness can be frightful, The night when moon and stars were afraid of showing off their soft glow and reluctantly hid behind the smooth blanket of clouds.' Away from the darkness Away from reality But my life wasn't born to be secured or being afraid when thunder was roaring and threatening dangerously I wasn't allowed to hide back in my house with my mother when she embraces me to her and sing a lullaby and protect me from the darkness. And monsters. It was my fourteenth birthday eve when I supposed to receive numerous gifts just like every other child. I was happy and delighted, desperately waiting to cut my favorite cake which is obviously like my past birthdays only baked by my own mother. she was everything to me. "My Best friend" "My Mentor" "And my life" At the age of fourteenth, I was still the mama's boy,  I slept with her when she read bedtime tales for me, I was a nerd that gets bullied by every student of my high school. You know why? "Like I said before" "Because I was a mama's boy" "And that was my mistake" "My biggest mistake" And just like everyone my Dad loathed my closeness to my mother, it irritated him to death. He wanted me to grow up as him, dangerous and all mighty, he was ruthless, cold hearted, and feared by all, he was a monster. And a Boss of the mafia. And his main propaganda was that I will become like him. Killer Murderer Heartless His biggest aim was that I took over his bad business and adopt his "good deeds" But before everything gets even started he wanted one thing from me which I gladly gave him. "My mother's life" >____________ 'Her' 'I ran' Whilst Clutching my doll closed to my chest. 'To my heart' It was heavy pouring, black scenery of darkness welcoming me wherever my short strides led me. I was soaked, broken and retarded my bare feets aching painfully blood trail their ways behind me. My clothes were ripped and my body was terribly whipped. Wet layers of tears flowing selflessly through my eyes, my throat was dry from the unwanted gulps I did from the fear. I was running like my whole existence were depends on it, I couldn't stop or take a full breath, I need oxygen, my lungs begging and screaming me to get some but I didn't want to be get caught. Caught by the minions of my stepfather. He was a sinister and a beast in the attire of human and he wanted me to fulfill his desire. his s****l desire. I have lost my biological dad one year ago and my mother got married to my stepdad, he was her great friend and I liked him too. He often visited our house and bring lots of toys and candies for me. We even played together and go park together. He was a nice person when my dad passed away my mother become broken and shattered, then he was the one who provides his shoulder to my broken family and looks after us. He proposed my mother but she wanted my opinion and acceptance firstly which I gladly gave in. I always wanted to see my mother happy and healthy, when she got married to my stepdad we both shifted to his house. My mother sold out my dad's house just because to help her spouse to build his new business. Everything seems perfect for three months. My stepdad was alcoholic and drowned both of his business and our money in the club, he beat mom, cursed her and abused her. But she always locked me in my room. She wanted to protect me from the devil eye but life becomes unfaithful and snatches one and only last dear person I had in my miserable life. My dad's always been my superhero and super husband for my mother, his astounding words still rang repeatedly behind my head when he scooped me in his arms. "Don't let anyone ever hunt you because hunting is always aimed for animals, and if somehow you become targeted don't let your guard down, be an animal and hunt him back" So that was the theory of my life and with newfound potential- "I did it" "I hunt him back" "I killed him" "Killed my stepdad" Ten years old little girl, who loved chocolates and marshmallows, surrounded by dolls and loads of toys. When her hobbies were just to collect huge amounts of colorful butterflies. who had faith in fairytales and wanted her life to become one, waiting for her prince charming will come one day on the white horse and take his princess far away from the filthiness of this fake world into his beautiful, dreamful wonderland. But like I mentioned before, This world is nothing but filth which is ruling by no one but monsters and beast. But I did my part, I paid my right. at the age of tenth, I embraced the bitter reality of this world. I'm the beast And a bloody murderer And from now there wasn't any turning back... No Escape... Nothing... I have to accept this bitter truth and live my whole life. I was so engrossed in my own train of thought that I didn't notice the headlight brimming through the heavy rain. I blinked several times to get a better view of the car owner but got none. My heart was beating frantically and my brain was ordering me to run. Runaway from the person whoever he is. Run from another disaster. But I shrugged it off deliberately. I stepped forward placing my doll near to my heart. My vision was getting blur by the heavy droplets, But still, that sight already captured my attention. Which I have to examine. I took my time and take baby steps. when finally I got to see a clear view. I was dead stopped in midway My eyes were widely open Shock washed all over on my face And I couldn't able to utter a word There was a boy, probably a few years older than me. Wearing a white T-shirt and grey sports shots . his skin was a different shade of purple his eyes were bloodshot he was numb and seems lifeless. if his chest wasn't falling or rising I could say that I consider him as a dead body. But one thing which grabbed my attention horribly, a spank of shudder ran into my whole body and left me gag and dumbfounded. "Blood" "and a gun in his tiny hands" I yelped in horror and ran towards him. For mere seconds, I thought he might kill himself. But fresh tears on his face consummate me his living being. I sighed in relief and knelt down, taking a quick check of my dark surroundings but found none, nada. And why in this hour of midnight and at this deceivingly state of weather someone can roam around, there are still some fortunate people living who are peacefully sleeping in their own cozy and warm homes with their perfect family by their side. "Unlike me" "Unlike this guy" "Go away" his raspy yet firm tone pulled me back to my envious revere. I flinched by his deep voice and struggled to look into his face properly "But you are..hurt" I said and noticed his swollen lips and bruised cheeks. "I'm fine. Get back your home" his chin wobbled and he swallowed down the number amount of lump in his throat "it's unsafe here" Hot tears started to well up in my eyes and a pang of loneliness hit me deep in the core "I don't have any home" I was fighting between my sobs "and neither any family" His green eyes suddenly shot open and met my grey once. They were intense, lost and red from crying but most gorgeous pairs I have ever seen in my entire life. They held emotions, betrayal, pain, and his miserable mystery, he was staring me deep in my soul, pain dripping each ounce of his face, he looked me as he painting me in his vision, saving me for his own purpose "Same here" he confessed brokenly I sat beside him folding my baby legs underneath me "what is this" I pointed out my poking finger to his hands where he holds something shiny. He looked down at his hands and smiled faintly imagining something special to his heart, sorrow lingers in his green eyes and his Adam apple wriggled stoping him to cry "This is my mother's broach " he said, a lazy smile still plastered on his face "she always wore it, I gifted this to her from my saving money at her last birthday..and she loved it" He filled me from this news and I instantly got him as a mama's boy "this is so beautiful, can I touch it ..please" I pleaded him His eyes lit up with an unknown emotion and he nodded his head slightly"Sure" A huge toothy grin took over my lips and I examine the beauty in my hands, it was a piece of metal which is beautifully designed as winter leave, countless diamonds jutted in between tearing it into two waves giving it a soft yet elegant glow. "This is so beautiful," I said in awe "you indeed have a pretty choice" He smiled for the first time in the night which is taking my heartbeat into a whole another level "thank you" he said casually but that smile still mustered on his face as he was in his own world. "His magical world" The rain has already settled down long ago but the chilly breeze of October was enough to send volts of cold shiver throughout my body. My lips were wobbling and teeth chattering, my pink cotton frock was ripped and drenched, I armed my body by my small hands but got no avail. Picture of my stepdad climbed up in my memories once again that how he used to hit me with his giant yet rough hands. "What is this" thankfully his deep voice brought me back to the reality ..to Him "I looked up and his bruised face focused on me. Doll" "She is Clara" I smiled and hug my doll more tightly "she is my lucky charm my dad gifted me this on my seventh birthday, she is so naughty you know and couldn't sleep without me nor eat. We watched movies together, played together, sleep together. She is like a sister to me. And the great thing is whenever I got upset at any reason she became my helpline, and if I want something she brings them to me. I love her so much" I babbled involuntarily. "Really" he inquired interestingly I nodded profusely "Can she help me to bring my mother back". As I was about to open my mouth to say that yes she will help you like a loud shot of gunfire boomed around us making both of our squealed in terror. A known glint masked on his face as he intertwined our fingers and start running, we ran until loudness of fire shots has died indicating us on save mode. What was that? who were they? did they catch me? "No" I was fidgeting mentally, fear of being caught eating me alive, I didn't wanna go back to his world, he was dead but I know his men didn't leave me alone and find me one day. They all were so dangerous and sinister, they killed me whenever they approach me. They were hungry, hungry to take their revenge from me, for my blood and life, I killed their boss, their guru. Their mentor, They won't let me live in peace. They will dig me out and then kill me brutally "Listen you have to go now" a feeble voice of him emit me out from my dangerous thoughts, I stared him in bewilderment "it's not safe here and this place wasn't secure for you" I trembled in fright, the rain started to pour once again "But where would I go, I was homeless, I didn't have any place to go" I cried harder and think I have lost every certain thing and relation. His body stiffens under my cries and his face becomes rigid "Just run and cross the highway station and you will find the orphanag parker which leads by my grandma you will be saved there" I chugged all the information apparently but one query was indulging in my head. "And you?" I asked him "where would you go"? Just for a mild second, He was taken aback by my question a pang of regression rushed through his face but he composed himself flatly "An another life is waiting for me ahead" He replied blankly his face void of any emotion. "Will we meet sometime in life..again?" I questioned him which answer I knew well "Never," he said as he familiar to my thoughts "we will never meet again" he stared deep into my eyes, his green eyes now turn an even darker shade of green. Fireshots once again echo around us but this time none of us made any move to run, we stayed still under the rain a gigantic tree shielding our frame, protecting us and become evident to our first and last encounter in this life. we both stared in each other irises as we know each other since forever "take this...it will cure you in your worst" I handed him my doll, which I loved from every fiber of my being but right now he is the one who he needs most. She will protect him just like she ever does to me. The loudness of fire nearing us by the seconds he yanked my arm and pushed me back to run restlessness And I ran, ran from the gunshots and ran from...Him. unless I noticed something cold digging in my hands. I looked down hastily and saw it 'His lucky charm' "Brooch " his mother's brooch When a sudden realization hit me, I forgot to ask him his name. What was his name? I need to know the name of my savior, my armor And then I turned around and screamed from the top of my lungs as my life depends on it. "WHAT WAS YOUR NAME" I shouted He seems to hear my voice from the difference and distance we drew together. "Ethan Destefano" he shouted back