The beginning of a miserable end
Friend of Sinners
Lord Jesus,
You chose to be called the friend of sinners.
By your saving death and resurrection
free me from my sins.
May your peace take root in my heart
and bring forth a harvest of love, holiness, and truth.
- Author Unknown
It was dark.
A trembling breath escaped her throat.
Darkness.
She was running, running away.
Pitch black.
He was hovering over her small, fragile figure like a giant monstrous shadow.
Still no light.
He was gradually getting closer.
A starless sky.
She instantly opened her eyes. She was in her room. Touching the sheets beneath her to reassure herself she was back from hell, she looked around to be completely certain. The nightstand beside her bed, the chair near the widow, the shelves – they were all in place. Her eyes closed in relief. Well, now that she was awake might and as well get up. She slipped a shirt from the chair, long enough to cover up her tights.
She took a cup and filled it with gin, then proceeded to the balcony. She leant her elbows on the rail.
The day had barely begun – the sun was still rising, it was chilly and the wind was playing with her hair. No one was awake but her – bliss. Only at this time of the day one could experience this town like this. It was so quiet and peaceful that one would say it was abandoned. She loved it. The empty streets beneath her, the chirping of birds somewhere far away, the sound of the wind hitting the building’s tall walls and the rustling of leaves being tossed around, it did bring her happiness.
She sipped from her cup.
-Tastes like shit… - murmuring, she gave it another sip.
She pulled by the car to park. Once she had parked it, the door opened.
- Please. - a man in his late 20’s purred. He was smiling at her but she just rolled her eyes and got out of the car.
- What are you so happy about? – She asked indifferently. He said nothing and continued on smiling down at her as if she were crazy for not smiling along with him.
- Tsk, let’s get going. I wanna go home. – She complained with a straight face. The man chuckled.
- You are always like this, aren’t you? – He remarked.
- You see, I do not have a good feeling about being surrounded by enemies, maybe unlike you, Leo. - She scoffed and started walking ahead of him, rummaging through her bag. He shook his head and caught up with a few vast steps.
They arrived before the entrance of a fancy restaurant. “Caravella paradise” said the signboard just above the massive doors. They were wide open and on each side stood a bodyguard. Ave held her hand out to Leo as he handed her his invitation immediately. Before the bodyguards could even stop them, Ave shoved the invitations in the chest of one of them and walked right in. Leo smiled, bowing politely, while in a hurry, trying to catch up to his companion.
-You didn’t have to be so rude. – He murmured. She just gave him a quick glance. Her eyes looked apologetic and yet she was still angry about something. Leo said nothing more so they crossed the vast and long corridor of the restaurant in silence. Their steps echoed. The floor was of white marble; the tall walls were upholstered with floral pattern wallpaper with details of gold paint. It reeked of luxury. At the end of the hallway, they reached an enormous garden with a fountain in the middle. Tables covered with white tablecloths were surrounding it, nicely trimmed evergreen shrubs hiding the fencing behind them. The smell of heavy cologne, expensive alcohol and the aroma of hydrangeas filled the air. People in fancy clothes were laughing and drinking, waiters were walking around, serving alcohol, snacks and sweets.
-Well. – Leo started but stopped midsentence probably not knowing what to say. Picking a glass of Champaign from a passing by waiter’s tray, he walked confidently as if he had no care in the world. Ave was unsure whether she was jealous of him or annoyed. Nonetheless, she followed suit grabbing a glass of white wine.
She was barely capable of keeping that smile. Leo, though, was greeting people he knew, complete strangers, even chatting and laughing alongside them. Ave just made sure to stay close to him but always remained silent. Fortunately, no one showed any particular interest in her. She only found happiness when they finally, to her relief, sat on a table secluded in the corner of the garden. Next to it was located the table where the waiters kept all the glasses, bottles of alcohol and trays full of snacks ready to be taken. She sat down and let out a long, throaty sight.
-Remind me why we are here, please… - She simpered. Leo took a sip from his Champaign and looked at her and then back at the glass.
-We got invited, I guess… - he stated a-matter-of-factly but he himself sounded unsure. – So we came. – He added, stating the already obvious.
-Hmmmmm…..- She looked up at the sky.
A pause followed.
-Bullshit. - She blurted out. Another very short pause followed during which it felt like time stopped, including Leo and her, including all the people at the party. – Inviting us to the opening ceremony of their restaurant!? Are they begging to start a war? – She snapped gazing ahead of her while clenching her fist around the glass of wine. Leo did not look at her. He was observing the bubbles in his glass. At some point he snapped out of his trance and scratched the back of his neck letting out a sight.
-You know what the Don said. It is all about peace, both of the families gathering here today, peacefully…
-Peacefully, huh? – She chuckled.
-Don’t. – Leo objected.
-…I won’t. – She smiled having a big sip of her wine. – Who do you think you are threatening? – She tittered, swinging her glass in a circular motion.
-As if I wouldn’t know. This is driving you crazy… That far, I know. – He somewhat scolded her but his voice was soft. Ave looked at him; he was smiling with the corner of his lips. She looked away.
-We might have company. – She sang frowning. Leo looked ahead and visibly frowned as well.
-Did he not get married a week or two ago?
-Didn’t your dad use him as a peace tool, though? - She asked him not so curiously.
-I suppose so. A marriage like this is beneficial… - he said indifferently. He kept on staring at the man, though. Ave was sure he was drowning in both sorrow and anger. This man was his best friend or at least used to be. Well, until he did not agree to this marriage. This man broke his promise and betrayed him in order to gain power. Pathetic, she thought.
And there he was, he turned and started approaching them the moment he noticed Leo staring. Leo did not avert his gaze while the man was smiling.
-Congratulations on your marriage, Pagolo. –Leo whispered loud enough for him to hear him but he passed them by. Leo could not believe him; the feeling of betrayal was getting fueled so much that it felt like thorns were growing inside his throat all the way up to his mouth. Ave knew that now of all times is neither the right place nor the time for Leo to snap. She looked behind her since he was still recovering from the shock. She did it out of sympathy; they used to be brothers after all, otherwise, she would have killed him, perhaps. However, Pagolo seemed unbothered. No, he was rather enjoying this. He re-filled his glass of wine, sniffed it and slowly brought it to his lips.
“I am dying to punch him.” Both of them thought to themselves.
After a good minute, Pagolo turned around, glanced at Leo and then looked Ave straight in the eyes. His smile was wide, it annoyed her.
-A beautiful day, isn’t it? - He asked but did not expect an answer. As expected he did not receive one. Leo kept on looking away, gritting his teeth in frustration; Ave was glaring holes in his skull.-Let’s talk bu-
-Yes, we are having a good time. Thank you for your concern. – Ave exclaimed happily, interrupting him. Her lips were curled in a wide, bright smile. She could have easily fooled anyone. But he knew better, how her eyes were sparkling with hatred, they were speaking death. Pagolo was staring at her in shock, sweating intensely. He very well knew what she meant.
-I am delighted to hear that. Please, make yourselves comfortable. – He smiled, clenching his fist. Ave nodded nicely while all he did in return was walk away.
Leo said nothing after that so did Ave. She had started tracing the rim of her glass with her pointy finger when suddenly Leo got up from his seat and looked at her.
-We are going home early as you asked. – His face had lit up almost immediately. She stared at him for a little while and then looked down, smiling slightly. Was he really that carefree or was he solely stupid? She did not know, she didn’t ask, he didn’t really care. She just followed him out of the restaurant back to her car.
-Where are we going? – She asked while plugging the key in.
-You are going to meet someone. I really want you two to meet. – Leo said softly, putting his seatbelt on the passenger’s side.
-A friend? – Ave asked, seemingly uninterested on the outside.
-You could say so. – Leo stated happily. Ave did not object, nor protest. Leo was easy to talk to, despite his personality and that definitely did not suit what had been planned for him.
She just drove off as he asked her to.
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