𝑾𝑰𝑪𝑲𝑬𝑫 𝓖𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓼

MILITARY.

Oct 25. Tuesday, 12pm.

Carefully setting the porcelain bowl down I pull the cereal bag from the box slowly and pour it. Wincing with every sound that rang throughout the quiet house. "Yo." A couple taps on the wall startled me.

"My bad, I was-" He quickly cut me off.

"You good. Help yourself." My body relaxed a bit and I moved a lot faster. Sitting down at the wooden table I munched on my cereal. I saw him adjusting the same red hoodie that was hung in the closet, he held up a camo one. "Hope you still like this shit. Last time I talked to ya moms was some time ago."

"That's fire." I lay it across my lap finishing my cereal. Afterwards he took my bowl and washed up some dishes. I threw it on as we had a conversation.

"Soon as my P.O gives me the greenlight, we can head out." He dried his hand on his pants and shoved his phone in his pocket. It didn't take long for that to happen. As we were ready to leave I went into the room to grab my pistol. "Youngin'," I heard from behind as I was about to put it in my pocket. "Leave it here. You too youthful to be living like that."

***

We were in his whip driving to a nearby park to meet up with my mom. He parked and texted her asking if she was there. He got out and I followed. I hope this isn't some lie, or I find out the woman I grew up with also isn't my mother. "Y'Excited? You lookin' down."

"Just nervous." I nod trying to reassure myself. Walking along the trail, my head hangs low, staring at each little rock embedded in the sidewalks. I glanced up to see a woman, same complexion, and eyes. My mom.

"Abel?" she cupped her mouth. Her face scrunched up, "Makkonen?" Once again I was met with this feeling of confusion, I didn't know if I should break down and confess everything I'd done. Stay silent waiting on her to explain, or just accept that this is how it is and let everything go. Before I could Think I was being pulled into a group hug. "I love you boys so much," she cried. I heard them kiss each other right next to my ear. Normally I'd tell them to save it, but at least they still loved each other. My own family.

After long embraces in the cool breeze we were back in the heated car. They were talking about the restraining order in the front, I didn't mind being in the back spectating, but I was dragged into the conversation when they noticed I hadn't said a thing since they brought up Julius's missing persons report. "What's wrong Abel?" my mother turned back to look at me. I shook my head leaning against the window. "What about Antonio and Aphrodite, you boys still hang out?"

"We all kinda fell out."

She frowned at me in the rearview mirror. We kept on back to Makkonen's house everybody silent as the woods right on the outskirts of Toronto. We parked and he let my mother in so he could speak with the officers standing outside his house. Getting out he pulled up his pants greeting them with a respect. Turning back to me he waves me over.

Getting out of the car I head over to see what they want. Makkonen doesn't say anything, instead he goes back to the car and takes a seat with his leg hanging out. "What's up?" I say.

"Abel Tesfaye, hopefully you don't have any guns again." I could tell he tried to lighten the mood since he was the same officer I flashed it to, but I want him to get to the point. He signed off on a piece of paper and gave it to me. "We need to see you back at Black Empire Nov, 13th for questioning and 14th for follow up in court. Any questions or concerns call our number or email me."

I sat staring at the piece of yellow paper, my government name printed across the top. Hannah Bellerose scribbled near the bottom. My life really is over. I took a deep breath for good measure, tried best to keep my composure and sat in the passenger seat next to him. "What's the matter? You lookin' real damn guilty."

"It's that obvious?" I know I can't hold in everything so well, but I didn't think he'd notice out of all people.

"Not to everyone else, but to someone who knows guilt like no other, it's very obvious." He was a criminal himself. I wouldn't doubt he knew something was off. Everybody I stay truthful to ends up gone. Nowhere near my side. I know I'll have to tell the truth, though I'm not sure I can.

'Pull the trigger' rippled through my mind just like a bullet. Toni blamed me. Even though he told me to do it. In the end I guess I'll be the one going down. Alone. "Shit was all my fault. I shot him, right in the kitchen. Black Empire had been on my shit ever since I went to Montreal, but for Hannah Bellerose, now I have court. I fucked up I know." I burry my head in my hands.

"Don't say a word to your mom."