Royal Sinners (Sinners 1)

Chapter 12: La Recluta

Fear can haunt a person in many forms. An image, a scent or an actual situation itself. But it was just a name, his, that had sent my mind in frenzy.

"Oh, so you heard about the boss of the North. Good. Good." The messenger said as he nodded. "See you soon." Then he was gone.

He found me; the demon has reached its claws outside the North. Impossible. It has been almost a decade, I am Hanna Mamori now.

Before I knew, I was already on the floor, chasing my breath and my vision pushing along to the pounding of my chest. It took time before I convinced myself that I was strong enough to stand and lie to the impatient Greco outside that I lost track of time.

"You look like someone before they were buried alive. Weird, sure you're alright?"

"Don't call me weird," was all I said. I was jumpy the rest of the day. A messenger, the man said, I didn't even get to know his name.

"The first one to blink is the loser."

Pete snapped me out of paranoia.

"You lose," he declared. "So now, tell me what you're thinking."

I shook my head.

"Or if you want, you can tell Zak."

No. Not him or any of them. He wasn't able to sway me. At this time, there's only one person that I can run to-Uncle.

The scissors' owner is close. I need you.

That was the message I gave to the staff. A cryptic message only Uncle and I will understand. If things come worse, how can I convince Zak to give up the package to the North? They are strong, but Gustavo Qapone is a league of his own evil. He would end them. Just like my mother.

Yes, Fortunello is strong. But compared to Famiglia Qapone that controlled almost all of the northern hemisphere, fighting is futile.

"Boo."

It was Pete again with a grin.

"A gentleman doesn't fluster a lady, Mr. Charleswin," Alfon disapproved.

"You're not fun, Gentle. I'm just curious why Precious had been jumpy these days."

"He's got a point though," Bino agreed and messed my hair. "You've been spacing out. What's wrong Mutie?"

It's break time and I was too wrapped up in my thoughts that I didn't notice all of the Fortunello was at the classroom. Zak sat quietly behind with his eyes closed. Other students had gone out, surely, to avoid them.

"Are you...are you sick, Hanna?" Inno shyly asked. Beside him, Q was worried too and even touched my forehead to check if I was sick.

"I..."

Kut kicked Jah and Pink's seats before I could finish. "Wake up you good-for-nothings!"

Jah had his eyes still closed. "Two more minutes man, lemme sleep for two more minutes." He then adjusted on his seat to make himself more comfortable.

While Pink pointed to Zak and complained. "It's unfair! Wake him up, too!"

"Go wake him up," Kut taunted, "I dare you."

Of course, Pink won't. He placed his feet on another chair and sulked. "Why are we even here in the first place?"

"Shut up you two, Hanna is about to say something," Greco intervened, sitting on top of the teacher's table.

All eyes zeroed on me.

"What's the problem?" Kut asked.

"Are you on your period or something? I swear girls are like that at times of the month. My sister was like that. One moment she's cool, next thing I knew, she wants to kill me!"