Kaleidoscope

|| Chapter 1: The Beginning ||

Florence

I believe that what makes you, you is molded through your experiences and the people you surround yourself with. 

They influence who you are, and who you are to become. 

So I guess you can say I started to become me the day I moved to California.  

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I watched out the window as the sun was just beginning to set. Its rays warmed my face, illuminating it in golden light  "I hate this place" I grumbled. To my dismay, my parents only chuckled in response. I rolled my eyes, of course they didn't get it. 

For eleven years, my home had been Chicago. I belonged to its bustling streets, the windy city was where I felt at ease. It was at complete odds with my new setting of California, ick. 

I hated the palm trees dotting the landscape, the phony people, but above all else I hated the heat. Frizzing up my already unruly hair, and making my unsightly face now gleam with a fresh sheen of sweat. 

I looked toward the front of the car, hoping to see similar reactions on my parents faces, but by the looks of my mother's smile she obviously did not feel the same way. I sighed, my hopes of moving back home seemed less and less likely by the minute. 

My parents actually used to live in Los Angeles before I was born, and before my father was made the Underboss of the Chicago Outfit. I don't really understand the nuances of the business, but he ran the streets of Chicago and that provided me with a luxurious lifestyle, at least up until now. 

It was all I had known, I grew up being Chicago's mafia princess and was used to being doted on by all of my aunts and uncles. It sounds bratty to be upset about this, but in this new, and entirely unfamiliar environment I didn't know who I was anymore. 

The Consigliere to the Boss had recently passed away, unfortunately for me and I suppose... for the dead guy as well. But, my father was awarded the, as my mother put it, honor to be the Boss's new second hand. To me, it was the worst thing to ever happen. 

I've heard stories about the Boss, whispers from my father's soldiers talking about how cruel the man is and all of the horrid acts he's committed. My nanny would often use my fear of him to keep me from disobeying. "Eat your vegetables Florence, or else the Boss will come and chop your fingers clean off!" I got a chill down my spine just thinking about facing him. Which I would have to do very soon. 

We were on our way to the Boss's residential home in Bel Air. Which consequently, is the city where our new home would be located as well. 

I wanted to delay our arrival as much as I could, perhaps if I'm lucky I could derail it altogether "I look like a blue marshmallow" I shared grumpily "I don't want to go, and..." I searched for the right thing to say, "I will only ruin the night with my bad manners!" 

"Oh, you look fine" my mother chided, "and I know you know better than to disrespect the Boss, sweetheart." I gulped, she was right I did know better. She smiled, "he has two children around your age that you can play with, so chin up we're almost there!"

Her cheerful disposition was not going to fool me. His children were probably trained to kill on sight, and in this dress you couldn't miss me. 

I wasn't lying when I said I looked like a blue marshmallow, it was a monstrosity. I doubted that I would leave this night with my life. I sighed, I guess what they say is true: the good really do die young.