Arduous

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen [Little Pistol - Mother Mother]

[Catherine, 21:45, Outskirts of Ottawa]

Anne just finished bossing us around, and Lucas and I were on our way to sell non-sellable crushed cookies.

"I feel like girl scouts!" I commented.

"We are nothing like girl scouts!" Lucas tried to defend his pride.

I ignored him, like usual, and headed to the first house. It was a light shade of blue, with garden gnomes on the front lawn. We headed to the front door.

"Knock!" Lucas persisted. "Why aren't you knocking? It's easy! All you have to do is..." That was when I knocked with his head. It made a nice loud clang throughout the neighbourhood.

Lucas was still rubbing his sore head when the door opened. A burly man in his fifties (it was hard to tell his age through the mess that was his face) was standing there.

"Hello sir, would you like some cookies?" My voice cracked at the end, and I cleared it the best I could without looking stupid. Well, without looking even more stupid.

"Oooo! Yes please! Do you have those mini mint ones? I just love them!" The man exclaimed.

I looked to Lucas for some help, but he only shrugged. This was our only box of cookies and we couldn't give it away!

"Um... Did I say cookies? I meant... RUN!"

I shot past Lucas and into the street. It didn't take him long to catch up. The man squinted after us, confused, before shutting the door with a shrug. We didn't stop running until we were certain we were from his view. In fact, we found ourselves away from the houses. I didn't realize just how far we had run.

The cookies slipped to the ground. As I bent down to pick them up, a shot rang so close to my ears, making me nearly deaf. I cowered, but found no injuries on myself.

I jerked up and around. "Lucas! Are you alri..." The words disappeared from my mouth, as I found it was Lucas with the gun pointed straight at my face.

I kicked up, just in time for another shot to go over my head. The gun flew away from both of us and into the shadows.

"Why...?" The word exited without permission, seeming to ring around us.

This seemed to be where Lucas was having fun. He smirked at me. "I wasn't taken by the Russians. I was taken by mom. She was undercover for the Russian mafia when she met dad. As she recalled, 'it was love at first sight, have two children, then realize the mistake.' She never loved you, Catherine. You were too much like dad. She took me back to the Russian mafia, where I've been training. I've been learning to fight you, Catherine. Did you know that?"

I was stunned into silence.

"She's still alive, Catherine. But she's never coming back for you. She never loved you, Catherine! I've never loved you!"

Thoughts were swirling around in my head, but they all kept coming back to my mother was alive! But if what Lucas said was correct, and she was with the Russian mafia, this wasn't the time to be rejoicing.

Instead of asking more questions, I resorted to fighting. With all of my weapons at home, since it was to be safe mission as to not injure Anne, no weapons were allowed. Stupid, I know.

I aimed a kick at Lucas' stomach, but he grabbed my ankle and twisted me around. I flipped into a handstand, bringing my heels into Lucas' face, landing on my feet once again.

"I'd have thought you would be more spectacular, after hearing of all the horror stories from the surviving Russians." Lucas taunted. I knew that he was only trying to get me more riled up. I guess it worked.

I growled before pouncing on him. Lucas fell onto the pavement. We struggled, and thrashed, until I was able to get Lucas into a chokehold.

"I can't believe I ever trusted you, Lucas. I should have known it was too good to be true." I cried.

Lucas put all his weight into thrusting me onto my back. I loosened my grip, and he pulled out of the hold. His hand went to my throat, all the while keeping his calm composure. It infuriated me.

I gagged, trying to breathe, but Lucas' hand didn't allow any air to enter.

I gasped, and thrashed around. Lucas had squashed his body against me, leaving me unable to move my arms. My legs were trapped as well.

My left arm escaped from under Lucas' body and I swung it up, smashing it against his head. He released my throat. I gulped for breath. I pushed at Lucas' chest, managing to move him just enough to free my other arm.

With all my strength, I pushed Lucas off of me. I scrambled to my feet, not daring to take my eyes off of Lucas.

It seemed I've met my match, and it just happened to be my brother.

A shot rang around me. Lucas wasn't in possession of the gun though.

Lucas smirked at my confusion. "It seems Lucina has taken care of Anne!"

I was too surprised to react when Lucas punched me in the eye. It seemed I'd have a nice big black eye tomorrow.

I stumbled back a few paces, but didn't fall.

"The only way to defeat us," Adam said, "is to kill us all. We will meet again, Catherine, Im certain of that."

I watched my twin brother rush down a secret pathway. I had a decision to make. Did I follow Lucas by myself, or go to Anne and get help from dad?

I sighed, and knew the right thing to do. Anne would always come first.

I sprinted down the lane, hoping to get to her before she was hurt.