Silent Eyes

42, The Lena Dilemma Pt. 1

The jet touched down, and Andreas emerged, squinting against the blazing sun as he stepped out. Shielding his eyes, he descended the stairs to the waiting Emil, who greeted him with a teasing remark. "You look like an old man now!" Andreas chuckled, walking toward Emil who stood beside a luxurious car, hands in pockets. "Shut it!"

Reaching the bottom step, Andreas approached Emil. They embraced, exchanging a friendly pat on the back. Despite staying connected through phones, it had been a while since they last met in person. Emil was now taking charge of things on Andreas' behalf, and Andreas felt grateful for such a reliable friend by his side.

Andreas' smile faded, turning into a frown as he surveyed the surroundings. "Where's Tobias?" he asked. Following Emil, Andreas settled into the passenger's seat. As they buckled up, Emil dropped the news. "You hadn't heard?" he questioned. Andreas shot him a sideways glance. "Well, I wouldn't be asking you where he is if I did, now would I?" Emil rolled his eyes, seemingly unaffected by Andreas' shitty attitude.

With a dramatic tone, Emil spilled the beans. "Angelina is pregnant, and Tobias decided to take the day off for one of her ultrasounds." Andreas gasped in disbelief. "My cousin?" he exclaimed. Emil grimaced, mirroring the earlier sneer. "No, Angelina Jolie," he retorted. Andreas glared, and the car started rolling off.

The scorching sun and warm breeze made it sweltering inside the car. Emil had the windows down, while Andreas, struggling with the heat, had unbuttoned the top rows of his shirt for some relief. Sweating profusely, he pleaded, "Emil, can we please turn on the AC? This heat is killing me!" But Emil chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Really?" he teased. "You used to endure this heat like it was nothing! Don't tell me that American soil is getting to you."

Fanning himself, Andreas sat up and began searching for a spare water bottle. Emil, still amused, asked, "What are you looking for?" Andreas, irritated by the heat, replied, "A damn water bottle, Emil. It's fucking hot, and it's making me nauseous, for Christ's sake."

Emil turned to check on his friend. Andreas, clearly struggling with the heat, appeared drenched and exhausted. "Want to stop by a station and grab a drink?" Emil suggested. Andreas just sighed, nodding. "Ναι παρακαλώ," he replied in Greek. The car turned, and Emil headed toward the nearest station. After arriving, they grabbed drinks and stood outside, sipping to cool down. Emil leaned against the wall as Andreas breathed out, wiping his mouth.

"I forgot how hot it can get here," Andreas remarked. "Monica must've been dying when she first landed." At the mention of Monica, Emil grew curious and asked about her. "By the way, how's Monica doing? I haven't seen or heard from her in forever." Andreas flinched at the question, clearly a sensitive topic, but he still responded. "She's fine," he said, taking another swig. "But she's in a relationship with a μάλακας I want dead."

Emil's eyebrow raised. "Ένας μάλακας?" he questioned. As Andreas fished out a pack of cigarettes, Emil offered him a lighter. While lighting up, Andreas exhaled smoke and began explaining, "I'm letting her date for a while." Emil, taken aback, turned to face him. "Why?" he asked. Andreas took a long drag of the cigarette, then admitted, "I broke her fingers." After a pause, he chuckled, adding, "But once the time is up, she will come back to me." With that, Andreas returned the cigarette to his mouth, leaving Emil in stunned silence.

Finally, Emil spoke up, saying, "Wow, and I thought I was the toxic one." He pulled out a cigarette and started smoking. The two men stood side by side in silence. Andreas noticed a shady figure nearby and nudged Emil, who also observed the stranger. "Who's that?" Andreas demanded. Emil, reaching for his gun, mumbled with the cigarette between his lips, "I don't like the way he's staring over here."

The man approached the building, seemingly heading inside, but his gaze remained fixed on Andreas and Emil. As he drew closer, he swiftly pulled out a gun, pointing it directly at them! Emil reacted swiftly, firing back, but it was too late. One of the man's bullets struck Andreas' side, causing him to double over in pain, swearing through gritted teeth. "Fuck!"

Emil shouted at Andreas to run as he continued to exchange gunfire with the assailant. Chaos erupted as bullets flew, and people scattered, seeking cover. Some jumped into their cars and sped away, while others rushed inside to find refuge. Meanwhile, Andreas, clutching his side and bleeding, staggered off, hurt and in search of safety.

As Andreas sprinted, he noticed another group of men in pursuit. Pulling out his gun, he fired, and fortunately, one man went down, clutching his bleeding leg. Seizing the opportunity, Andreas made a break for it, vanishing down a dark alleyway. However, the excruciating pain in his side intensified with every step. The burning sensation and electrifying shocks left him staggering, using the brick wall for support.

In the middle of the chaos, Andreas couldn't help but question his delayed reaction. It wasn't like him to hesitate; he was usually quick to take action and kill. Shaking off the thoughts, he refocused on the immediate danger. He needed to find safety and quickly, as he was bleeding profusely. Ignoring the pain as much as possible, he pressed on, knowing that without medical help, he might be the next unfortunate soul to rot in hell.

Despite his pain, Andreas pressed on. He stumbled, leaving a trail of blood that guided his pursuers. Relentless, they kept shooting, closing in on him. Another bullet hit Andreas' shoulder, prompting a shout of pain as he collapsed to the ground. Determined, he rolled over and fired back, even though each movement was a struggle. The odds were against him, and he knew it. Yet, he wasn't willing to go down without a fight.

Explosive gunfire erupted behind Andreas, knocking down his pursuers. He turned to find his stepmother, of all people, standing over him. Looking somewhat unhinged with a smoky machine gun in her hands and a large cheetah print coat, she seemed like an unexpected savior. "Katrina?" Andreas gasped, bewildered. She glanced down at him, adjusting her sunglasses.

"Get up," she ordered in her thick Russian accent. "I can't have you dying like some little whore in the street." Despite his exasperation, Andreas tried to gather himself and, once on his feet, staggered a bit. He pointed his gun at her, but Katrina remained unfazed and bored. He shouted, accusing her, "What do you mean, get up?" Then, almost tearing his vocal cords, he added, "ISN'T ANY OF THIS YOUR FAULT!"

Katrina sighed, rolling her eyes. "I'll fix this," she stated dismissively, but Andreas couldn't let it slide. He pushed closer, shoving the barrel of his gun against her head. Unfazed, Katrina glared up at him and challenged, "Shoot me. IF YOU REALLY THINK I'M A TRAITOR THEN SHOOT ME!" Her defiant voice echoed, bringing everything to a standstill.

He hesitated. Despite their tumultuous history, he knew Katrina wasn't one to betray them. He had known her since his teenage years, and she may be a chaotic witch, but she was never a rat. Lowering the gun, he demanded, "What's up with Lena snitching on us, hmm?" His eyes held a murderous intensity. Katrina just sighed, looking exhausted. "Didn't I say I'll fix it?" she replied, waving her arms dismissively.

Andreas exploded, "HOW!" and Katrina fired back, "I'LL HAVE HER RETRACT HER STORY!" Her voice rang out, but she quickly composed herself, speaking calmly to avoid attracting any unwanted attention from armed men who might be lurking nearby. "She's my daughter, I can have the bitch take back everything she ever said!"

The man was taken aback but intrigued. Despite his pain, he staggered closer, whispering, "And why are you willing to help me?" He observed Katrina's blue eyes soften momentarily before she covered it up with an obnoxious smirk. "Without you, your father is nothing but a broken bum," she teased, her tone playful. "And why, I love money!" She gestured widely, spinning in a playful circle. As she stopped, her smile turned dark. "And if you're dead, who's going to buy me all the luxurious Chanel bags?"

Not particularly keen on this woman, Andreas hated her. But Katrina's words struck a chord of truth with him at that moment, and he took her word. "You better make Lena shut up quick or else-" Katrina interrupted him with a grimace. "I know, I know, I know," she said, her grin stretching wide. "If my daughter doesn't close her mouth, she's dead. And you know what? I'm totally fine with that!"

"You're crazy," Andreas said, shaking his head. Nevertheless, he turned to limp away, and Katrina joined his side, teasing and smiling. "But this crazy lady just saved your life!" she declared, revealing the shiny machine gun. Despite his reluctance to admit it, she truly had. "Thanks..." he mumbled.