Shattered Vows

Unanswered Whispers

The day dragged on with an eerie quiet. Marco hadn't returned, nor had he given me any commands. For once, I was left to my own devices in this house, which felt more like a prison than a home. I spent most of the day in my room, lost in a book, trying to distract myself from the gnawing fear of what Marco's absence might mean. Occasionally, I wandered through the house, taking in the unsettling stillness that replaced the usual tension.

I ventured out onto the balcony, letting the cool air brush against my face, attempting to calm my racing thoughts. It was a rare moment of freedom—one that felt both liberating and unsettling. I walked around the rooms, my footsteps echoing in the emptiness.

As I roamed the hallway near the kitchen, I overheard voices through a partially closed door. The conversation was low but clear enough for me to catch fragments.

"I'm telling you, we've been called for something important," one of Marco's men said, his tone laced with impatience.

"Why?" another voice questioned. "What's so urgent?"

"It's the Alessi family that's been threatening Marco," the third man replied, a hint of frustration in his voice. "They're one of the strongest families around. This won't be easy. Marco's really getting himself into things he might not be able to handle."

The second voice interjected, "Do you think this will finally be the end of it? Maybe Marco's going to do something drastic."

"Probably," the first man said. "He's been itching to take action. If they keep pushing him, he'll retaliate hard."

The third voice chuckled. "Well, if they're smart, they'd better be ready. Marco doesn't take kindly to threats."

Another man, with a more casual tone, added, "Yeah, and let's not forget that his retaliation usually involves a lot of mess. I'm just hoping we don't have to clean up after this one."

The second man sighed. "If it's really as serious as Marco says, then we'll need to be fully prepared. I'm guessing he's going to want us geared up and ready to go."

The third man grunted. "Fantastic. More gear to haul around. I'm sure it's going to be a real party."

There was a brief pause before the first man spoke again. "Have you heard any more details about what's going down? Anything we should be worried about?"

The second man's voice was filled with concern. "Not much. Just that the threats are escalating. Marco's been on high alert, and from what I've heard, it's not just idle talk. They're pushing hard."

The third man's tone was darkly amused. "So, it's either a big showdown or a lot of bluster. Either way, we're in for a busy time."

I stood frozen, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn't care less about Marco's predicament. My feelings toward him were complex—mixed with fear, anger, and deep-seated resentment. But in that moment, my concern was purely driven by curiosity. I was just being nosy, wanting to understand the details of the situation with the Alessi family. The fact that Marco might be facing significant challenges was merely a backdrop to my interest.

As the conversation continued, my thoughts quickly shifted away from Marco and his troubles. I barely gave the conversation a second thought before moving on, my mind already wandering to other distractions.

My stomach had been aching all day, and I realized I hadn't eaten anything. I headed to the kitchen, grabbing an apple and a water bottle. As I walked back to my room, the pain in my stomach was more pronounced, and I pressed my hand against it in a feeble attempt to ease the discomfort.

When I reached my room, I put the apple and water bottle on the bed, then began to tie up my long, medium-length hair while gazing at my reflection in the large mirror that dominated one side of the room. The quietness of the room was almost oppressive as I stared at myself, the image of weariness and determination evident in my eyes.

Just as I was about to turn away from the mirror, something caught my attention...