ALZENA

Midnight Hunt.

After a few moments of staring at the ruins of my former home, I decided to find somewhere to sleep. I trudged my way to the end of the street where I had left my suitcase and got out my phone.

Google said that there was an affordable apartment a few blocks from where I was, so I decided to crash there for the meanwhile till it was midnight. I was also trying to avoid people seeing me sitting on the floor of a blown-up house.

On getting to the apartment, it was already past 10 in the evening.

'Wow, I spent a while at the house'

I know that you're probably thinking about why I wasn't grieving her death. Well, the answer to that is that I don't grieve, it's not part of me, I can cry there but not for too long. Majority of the grieving and emotional part of me died with my father leaving only bits of it left.

On getting to the apartment, I realised that it was quite furnished for 20 euros for a night. After settling in, I got out my laptop and notepad, trying to figure all this out.  Suddenly, I remembered what my mom's friend told me when I visited the spa.

~~~~~~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Hey Zena, is that you??' Bella called out once she saw me entering the spa.

'Aunty Bells, yes it's me. Oh, my gods, I didn't know you still worked here, how have you been over the years?' I asked being excited about seeing my favourite aunt in Italy. Bella has been a part of our family, even though we aren't related.
She and mom were best friends until dads death.

I still remember our outings every Sunday afternoon with Aunt Bells. It was fun until the accident happened. I guess mom and her had a falling out after that.

'I've been good, how about you. How's New York treating you? Not to be rude or anything but why are you back home now?' She asked quizzically.

'I am actually here to see mom, do you by chance know where she is or any of her whereabouts?' I asked, hoping that she would put their differences aside to help me.

The smile on her face faltered for a few seconds before placing it back, only this one was now fake. She then answered in a tight voice, almost like she was hiding something
' We haven't actually seen each other for a few days now, like 3 or 4 days ago, she stopped by to tell me something about her needing money to pay off some guys she was owing. I thought she was looking for money to buy booze so I told her to leave. Haven't heard from her since.'

'Oh, well that okay then. Thank you, did she by chance drop the name of the people she was owing?' I asked with a hopeful look on my face. 'Um... I think she said the name was ALM or so, I'm not so sure.. Its been a while.' She replied, trying not to give too much information.

'She knows something and she isn't telling me. '

' Okay, thank you, Aunt Bells. I'll be off now. I have to go find her, bye!' I said, wanting to leave, not feeling so safe around her anymore.

'Alzena?' She called out.

'Yes, Aunty?'

'Smetti di cercare, stai turbando le persone che non devono essere arrabbiate. quello che stai cercando non è quello che speri di trovare. Ti amo mio caro.'  That was all she said before she went outback.

'Stop searching, you are upsetting people that are to not be upset. what you are looking for is not what you will hope to find. I love you, my dear.'

~~~~~~~~~~Flashback over~~~~~~~~~~~

After buzzing myself back to reality, I searched up the name ALM hoping to find something that relates to my mum.

~~~~30minutes later~~~~~

Nothing!!

  Absolutely nothing on ALM. What are they and how are they not even on google??

'BEEP BEEP'

After hours of fruitless research, it was finally 11:30. It was time to start heading to the coffee shop. Hopefully, what I'll see there will help me find out who did this to her.

I hopped into the shower, took a quick one and came out by 11:40. I put on a pair of black midnight leather pants, a grey long-sleeved turtle neck shirt and a pair of combat boots. I grabbed my purse, put my hair into a messy bun and speed-walked out of the apartment building by 11:45.

The walk to the shop is about 10 minutes, so I got there by 11: 55.

The door is freaking locked. I come all the way here only to find the door locked. How am I supposed to go in?

I picked the note out of my bag and used my phone light to read it again, hoping to find a clue on how to get in.

'CLICK'

I turned immediately to find the door standing ajar.

I  entered carefully, trying to make as little noise as possible. There was no one here.

'So who opened the door'

Well, that's a mystery I don't want to solve.

I made my way to the back of the shop to mom and I's favourite table, and on the table was a black box, probably about the size of a shoebox staring at me. It had a note on top of it. This time it was in English.

'Alzena, what a lovely girl you have turned out to be. As said in the previous note, the content of this box will help you succeed in the avenging of your mothers murder. Use this information wisely for it will not be said again. You must start as a maid in the home of Madame Alesso. She will unknowingly give you all you need. Be careful and smart my dear. A lot of people are counting on you .
                                  Yours truly -Lorenzo'

I will avenge her death and make those who are responsible pay. If it means for me to become a maid for one of the most dangerous women in Italy, then so be it.

I will not fail you mother.