The Critical Puzzle Piece (A Death Note Short) [DISCONTINUED]

Partners

     Just as I had predicted, the man we were looking for was in Los Molinos. However, it wasn't really a surprise to everyone considering that I hadn't been wrong before. If I had, I wouldn't have had the pleasure of watching them torture and finally kill the man once he had given up the information that the Mafia needed.

     And with this final act of violence, the Mafia had everything that they could ever want: free reign of the drug world. To this, they celebrated which made me nervous for my own safety. For the time being, I had holed myself up in the surveillance room just watching the outside. If you angle the cameras correctly, you could see different sides of the city. It's strange to think that that was where my home used to be. But then again, I had no one looking for me anymore since my parents were both dead. No money, no family, no search. To those who did know me before all of this, I had probably become a memory, a faint voice that they could no longer place with a face. It was kind of unsettling, but I had gotten used to these types of thoughts. They were all I knew for quite some time.

     From downstairs of the hideout, I could hear the laughter, yelling, swearing and the overall intoxication that was taking over everyone. In an hour or two, Ross would definitely call me over there and my role in the Mafia would continue. I shivered. I should've been able to find a way out, but each time I was close, I knew that I would end up dead. I tapped my fingers on the keyboard though there was no reaction from the monitors.

     "Mel," I turned my head to see one of the girls who I recognized from being downstairs. I balled my hands into fists, "the, um, Boss wants to see you." I thought so, I sighed. I rubbed my arms, feeling colder than I had before.

     "I'll be there in a minute." I turned to the monitor in order to check my reflection. Ross tended to get angry if I wasn't looking "my finest". I have yet to understand what that really means to him. I fixed my hair so that random strands weren't sticking out all over the place. I adjusted the hem of my shirt and pulled up my shorts so that they weren't sagging. My nails continued to pierce the palms of my hands. My feet forced themselves forward.

      I peered over the railing to the seating area. Everything was extremely loud. Every man seemed to have a woman near them, which meant they wouldn't be bothering me that much. It gave me a sense of security. However, I saw that Ross nor Mello had any woman near them. I scoffed.

     "Mel!" Ross looked up towards me, gesturing his drink in my direction. "Come over here with that fine ass of yours!" The men all guffawed at his remarks. I could only let a fake smile on my face. I walked down the metal steps slowly in order to think of a way to talk myself out of whatever Ross was going to force me to. I had run out of the "I'm not feeling well" excuses since I've used them so much in the past. I had to be a bit more clever than that, "Why weren't you celebratin' with us?" He raised an eyebrow at me, slightly leaning forward. I instinctively moved a step back.

      "I was just resting my eyes for a moment." I smiled at him, a little to forcefully considering he didn't really buy it. He scoffed.

     "Well, I guess in order to congratulate Mello on being a full fledged member, we give you to him." Even Mello's head popped up at this comment. My heart fell. I didn't want to become anyone else's toy for them to use and abuse. I, like most girls, just wanted my freedom, but I knew that while the Mafia continues to exist, I would stay here. My heart continued to sink, "Now," he patted Mello on the back a little to roughly, "I want you to make sure that she won't even be able to walk in the morning." He laughed with all of his henchmen doing the same. The girl who retrieved me gave me what could have been a look of remorse or jealousy; they all looked the same to me.

     "I'd rather not." Mello put bluntly. It was awful that I couldn't tell if I should feel relieved or offended.

     "Oh, don't be like that." Ross leaned back in his seat, "Just take her to your room." He regarded me like a piece of trash, "Go on."