Blood and Roses

32 | Only One Winner

~Angelo

Camila’s urgency was palpable as she swiftly carried me back to the car, cradling me tenderly due to my weakened state. With a gentle touch, she carefully laid me down in the backseat, while Luca promptly ignited the engine. Camila settled into the passenger’s seat, and with a determined acceleration, Luca smoothly maneuvered the car out of its parking space, seamlessly merging onto the main road for our journey homeward.

Despite the discomfort, I managed to raise myself up, finding solace against the door. Throughout the entire drive back to our apartment, Camila’s concern remained evident as she periodically turned her gaze towards me. In a moment of quiet strength, our eyes met, her countenance softening into a reassuring smile. A reciprocal gesture of connection ensued as she extended her hand towards me, and I responded with a firm, reassuring grasp.

“You managed to pull through, didn’t you, baby? You gave us all a bit of a scare, you know.”

“I’ve made it back in one piece, breathing and all. Don’t let those worry lines permanently etch themselves onto that pretty face of yours. You did play guardian angel, didn’t you? I’ll admit, your concern is touching in its own twisted way. It’s quite the sight, watching you try to shield me from the big, bad world. Oh, and before we start composing ballads about your newfound mercy, let’s not forget the instances when you’ve had that blade dancing a little too close to my throat.”

“Oh, Angelo, always a comedian, aren’t you? Now, about our little Felix predicament. Can’t deny he’s got a hankering for payback after this spectacle. So, yeah, we better dust off our survival instincts. Step one’s a no-brainer: let’s get cozy with the playbook he’s been scribbling in the shadows. Break out those magnifying glasses, we’re in for a scavenger hunt. Step two’s where the real fun begins: we turn his own puppet strings against him. But here’s the kicker, my friend. If Plan A and B decide to ditch us, there’s always a Plan C. You see, Felix might be more tightly wound up than a jack-in-the-box, but he’s got a soft spot, buried deeper than his secrets: his brother.”

“Suppose Plan B decides to take an extended vacation. What then?”

“If, by some unfortunate twist of fate, Plan B decides to pull a vanishing act, I suppose we’ll be left to admire Felix’s handiwork from the front row seats. It’s like a cozy nook where you can curl up and accept your doom with open arms. After all, what other choice do we really have? Felix, our puppeteer extraordinaire, certainly has a knack for choreographing these life-and-death dances. It’s quite the theatrical flair, orchestrating either your demise or our collective plunge into the abyss. Should the curtain finally fall, we’ll be going down together, like a jolly little family outing.”

“A singular victor, a crowned ruler of this peculiar little realm we call existence – and who else but our illustrious Felix would don that coveted mantle? It’s plain as day, Camila, that the scales are heavily tipped in Felix’s favor. His mastery of this particular domain is undeniable. Let’s spare ourselves the illusion of defiance and face the reality head-on. Why engage in a futile struggle when the outcome has been preordained?”

“Oh, Angelo, your knack for gloomy monologues is a real treasure. My ears are just aching with the symphony of despair you’ve composed. But enough with that, let’s break out a bit of sunshine, shall we? Yes, I hear you. Felix might have his macho charms and a few cards up his sleeve, but we’re not exactly a bunch of wallflowers, are we? If the cosmos decides to flip the script for once, there’s no law stating we can’t defy the odds. It’s a stretch, sure, but who doesn’t love a good underdog story? Now, I must say, that dagger of truth you just tossed at Felix was a real zinger. But you’re right, facts are facts. He’s riding solo on this merry-go-round, while we’re a tight-knit, charmingly dysfunctional unit. And if the stars decide to play their usual tricks and paint a picture we’d rather not see, well, at least we’ll have the comfort of going down together, hand in hand. Just imagine the adventures we’ll have on the other side, eh?”