How Things Are

forty-two

After reaching the park I told Lucas about we all took a seat, leaning against the trees. The mayor followed us there and a few people lingered but they still didn't do anything further and neither did we.

Lucas fell asleep holding the rope attached to me which irritated me enough. So why was he just napping? I looked around some more and realized some of the other veterans were napping as well.

Teedo saw the curious look on my face and came to sit by me. "You know, that look on your face always gets you in trouble."

He leans back like most of the others and begins to relax. "Why is everyone treating this place so lightly after what I told them?"

He opens one eye to look at me then closes it again "Lucas never treats things lightly as you say." He sighs when he sees I still don't understand "Earlier we weren't just wandering through the city, we were scouting."

My eyebrows raise in surprise "Scouting for what?"

He sighs again "Not for what. For who."

"For who we're dealing with?"

"There you go. You're using your brain." He yawns

"So who is it?" I push

Then he looks into my eyes "Not a gang" then he looks towards the people still lingering. "But they are dangerous."

Teedos face becomes hard "How so?"

"There are hidden laws even in this life." Teedo lowers his voice "Then there are people who do things to get us to break those laws."

I tilt my head "But it's said that there haven't been laws since times when there were authorities to enforce them." I remember the stories Simon used to tell me of policemen who stopped gangs before they could grow as big as they are now.

Teedo looks at me "There were. You know your history. Do you know who stopped those authorities?"

I shake my head

"The Mafia" He leans back, pretending to relax. "They went to war against them and won."

My brother never told me that

"That's why we are on top." He continues  "That's why Lucas will always be respected."

"So what are the hidden laws if Lucas's family got rid of them all?" I ask

"It's more of a sign of respect. I'm surprised you never heard of them before." He smirks

He's making me feel inferior. I'm already having to pretend to be a slave.

"OK, so if you're a part of any gang, clan, Mafia, whatever your tattoos or insignia represent and are within your territory they expect respect."

My eyes widen for what seems like the hundreth time today.

"You understand now?"

I nod "They don't acknowledge themselves as anything so Lucas chose not to speak to them."

Teedo nods once "However we are in there territory... and they know our history." He whispers

"Wait. What history?"

"Of our family fighting theirs."

I nearly jump up but the rope around my neck tugs me down. "So you're saying these people are some kind of authority?" I whisper

Teedo has a smug look now "Their ancestors probably were once." He leans back to relax for real this time. "This city is full of generations of people who has been or once was. They're living on hopes, dreams and fairy tales, thinking they can change the past."

I glance at them "So these people want us to break our laws?"

"Yes. I'm sure they have something hidden up their sleeve. If we excepted the invite their mayor gave us he'd try to find a way for us to disrespect them in their territory or break one of Lucas other hidden laws."

"Is that what they did to the other guy I saw?" I ask

"More then likely. These people have always been about law enforcement. Destroying any outsider when they get the chance."

"So we should be OK then. If we just relax here then leave..."

"Don't let your guard down. If they find out we're Mafia they'll us regardless."

After that pleasent new history lesson, I had a hard time relaxing. This place wasn't a cult after all. It was full of decades worth of raging families raised on wanting revenge against the person I'm roped to.

At least Lucas allowed me to carry my sword still. I squeeze the handle as sweat trickles down my forehead.

How are most of them relaxing? One day I hope to become as calm as Teedo. Lately it seems I'm scared of everything. Derrick, Lucas, my father, being caught. I use to be so brave. I give out a heavy sigh before laying flat on the ground.

A few remain wide-eyed and alert. Knowing the history now, I can't blame them. There are still lingering citizens fake smiling or playing whenever we look their way. How does one become a mayor of a place like this anyway? Whoever is best at torture? After what I saw in his basement I don't understand how they can keep on that friendly face.

Ether way, that mayor was right. We need to clean up and eat before heading to the next place. They'll know Lucas there. Seeing him a mess would be an embarrassment. What is he going to do?

These thoughts plague me until I hear Lucas begin to stand, causing everyone else to rise. He hands my rope to Joey and he starts leading everyone again. It's becoming boring and I'm growing impatient. Now more so with the rope. I miss traveling alone. There was more freedom.
I can't hear the conversation among the others again no matter how much I strain my ears. I still have to focus on the people following in the shadows and Mr. Mayor who seemed to appear when Lucas woke up. So we were being watched.

There is something I noticed. I can't see any women. Only men here. Perhaps they keep them all inside. Ether way it's another thing that creeps me out about this city. I look to Lucas and he seems to have a blank expression on his face as Teedo talks to him. He looks around then we begin heading somewhere I've never been before...