The Stare Games (editing)

34

I was wrong was the first thing I concluded after both Axel and Amine skilfully climbed the gate while I awkwardly tossed myself over it, hoping I didn't land on my bum. Wrong, because the dust bacteria was sure to come and eat me up with this many piles. How could anyone live in this dust fiasco?

However, I seemed to be the only one really worrying about hygiene as the two boys hurried along, leaving me, pinching my nose with one hand and holding a gun like it was a used tissue in the other. Step by step, I trailed their tracks like a fox following its prey. Although I wasn't quite sure what my actual prey was.

Their faces both bore a serious expression. I saw Axel's eyes darting from place to place while his brain studied the area before him. Amine, on the other hand, kept his gaze straight ahead as if watching out for Axel. That left me staring at the floor as it got invaded with dust balls.

All the bravery from before seemed to have vanished as soon as we entered the warehouse that I found myself biting on my left cheek from screaming. I knew I was better off in the car...

Just as I started chanting profanities in my head for my stupid, stupid decision, Axel placed a hand up. Luckily for me, Amine was the only one actually paying attention and he stopped me in my tracks before I could bump into neither of them. I smiled sheepishly. Axel the leader used his index and middle finger to usher us behind a concrete wall. We followed through. Puzzled, I looked around for a reason to our halt but gave up when a voice beat me to it.

"So, Ace, want to tell me why I'm tied up to this chair? AGAIN?" a dominating voice boomed from behind the wall. Since it only blocked half our view, the nosy me crouched to the ground and took a larger peek. There sat in a wooden chair was a man with glowing yellow hair and devilishly handsome looks. If it wasn't for his wrinkles and eye-bags, he could definitely pass as a high-school student. In fact, he could pass as Axel...

An evil laugh made its way around the room, sending shudders running up and down my spine. "Now, now, Andrew, is that a way to greet your beloved brother?"

Axel's eyes suddenly shot wide open as he stumbled to peek with me. It grew even wider when he saw what was before him. His body went stiff shortly after as all oxygen seemed to have been depleted from his body. Confused, Amine took a look for himself. Soon enough, they were both neither breathing.

Was that...? That couldn't be.

Axel's father? And his uncle? Together?

Now, I stopped breathing.

When we all regained the will to live, Axel was the first to react. Gripping onto his gun so tight that his knuckles went pale white, he took a step forward as if he was ready to make an entrance. However, Amine stopped him. He placed one hand on his shoulder and shot him a stern look that we both understood.

We wanted to listen longer.

"I wouldn't really call a brother who destroyed my family 'beloved'."

"Ah, but I didn't, did I? Your son is still safe with me."

We froze at the mention of Axel. I clutched his hand and rubbed circles into it absentmindedly.

It seemed that we weren't the only ones who got slightly triggered as Andrew, Axel's father, started getting aggressive. He leapt forward and would've caught Ace with ease considering their body sizes if it wasn't for the ropes holding him back. When they didn't work, he stopped trying but that didn't stop the rage of bulging veins and gritted teeth from appearing. "If you ever, ever lay a hand on him, I will make you regret it. Do you hear me?"

Another deep chuckle came out of the cruel man with shaggy dark brown hair and a crooked nose. "Relax, nothing will happen to your dear Axel as long as you do me a little favour."

"What is it?"

"I need more money, Andrew."

So, this was all about money?

I remembered that story Axel had told me of how his father had to make his family all go into hiding in different parts of the world. Was this connected to that?

Andrew sighed, "Why can't you get it by yourself, like last time? And you know, blame me for it after?"

"Because," Ace replied with a tsk, "I can't do it on my own. This time, I need Axel."

"Why?" he croaked, his voice cracking at the sound of his son's name.

"He was the best fighter the Laurent family has ever seen since Aaron. I would ask him myself if I could but I'm afraid the boy still has respect for you." Ace replied, anger and hatred laced his tone. Perhaps even jealousy... "He only listens to you, Drew."

"What if, what if I took his place instead of him?" Andrew pleaded for the sake of his son's life. "Sure I'm a little bit rusty, but I was one of the highest rankings back in Dragon Noirs."

Ace thought about it. His hands rubbed the stubble on his face, making him look like a homeless man. "That might actually work..."

Just as the two men seemed to have come to an agreement, Axel jumped out of our hiding spot and raced towards them. All hell broke loose, when Amine cursed under his breath and ran behind him, leaving me once again with the floor. Scared to death, I watched from behind the wall, not daring to move a step.

"No, father!" Axel cried, his hands reaching out to grab the air as they came to a halt.

"Axel." his father whispered back as relief filled his heart and tears filled his eyes.

"What are you doing, boy?" Ace mumbled at the sight of his nephew.

"You know what this means, don't you? I can't let you sacrifice your life for mine!" Axel continued talking to his father, taking a further step forward. Amine didn't move.

From my angle, I could see Ace's hand on his belt that seemed to have a holster but I couldn't tell if there was a gun in it or not. In case anything happened, I aimed my gun at him.

"I'll do it." Axel confirmed. All colour drained from the three faces of those who loved him. He couldn't be serious, right?

I couldn't lose him.

Grabbing all courage and power left in my body, I pushed myself off the ground and walked towards the four of them. With my gun pointed at the enemy, my sneakers shifted on the dirt-filled floor until I was in hearing range.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you take my boyfriend away." I said in the bravest tone I could foster.

"Good, because you don't have to." Ace replied just as his finger moved to the trigger.

But mine was already there. Before he could pull it, a silver bullet came darting out of the gun in my hand and shot him in the right shoulder, causing him to drop his gun and clutch the wound with his other arm.

The force made me take a few steps back. Breathless, I looked at the horrifying mess I made.

I can't believe I just did that.

Axel came to my side immediately as Amine rushed to the injured's side and phoned a hospital. He pulled me into a tight hug, soothing me with quiet shushing.

I pushed his chest lightly, my mascara marked his cream shirt.. "Axel, I-I... Did I kill him?"

"No, no, it's going to be just fine..." he replied, "But if anyone asks, say I fired the gun, okay? Promise?"

"Axel, I-"

"Promise?"

"I promise." I said, gulping down the fear of him taking the fall for me.

When the ambulance came so did the police, but we had made it look like all parts of defence. Fortunately and unfortunately, the rope gave Axel's father slight cuts at the wrists as evidence of him being tied up. And there was the creepy warehouse under Ace's name. The only thing not in our favour was the gun lying on the ground alongside the bleeding man.

But I was told not to worry.

The ambulance quickly took Ace to the nearest hospital while we all stayed back to talk to the officials.

"Officers, please, before any of us say a word, would you mind speaking to my lawyer?"

***