"I don't do shit halfway, sweetheart. You step in my flames, you'll burn to ashes!"
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The Kings of the underworld are in a bit of a predicament; their rule over the city is challenged as an old enemy...
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Innocent people are not fools, they just think everyone has a heart. ~ Aman Jain ___________________________
It was a chilly November afternoon the day she buried her last parent. The warm, layered coat she wore did nothing to shield her from the cold wind hauling all around. The burning feeling in her eyes she was fighting all day long at seeing another person she loved dearly being swallowed by the dirt, was winning the battle now.
A single tear betrayed her running down her chin, as she silently said her final goodbyes to her father. She could see the weird looks everyone gave her, but couldn't care less. She partially understood them. Her father was her weakness and she had barely cried in his funeral. Marcella has ignored their stares, it wasn't like anyone here felt greater pain at the loss of her father than the one crushing her chest right now. Well, perhaps with the exception of her brother.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Daniel kneeling over the grave. Head in his hands as silent tears run down his face. Slowly she made her way to him, finding no words she opted for a warm backward hug instead. She carefully crouched down leaning her head on his back while her arms wrapped around him. Seconds later, she felt his warm palm wrapping gently around her small hand resting on his arm.
It was a silent 'thank you' she valued.
They were orphans and there wasn't much they could do or say to each other to soothe the pain at that time, but they could have done so many other things differently if they'd been more open towards each other.
Maybe it was partially her fault.
. . .
She walked down the quiet street uncaring of the noise the hard heels of her boots made as they collided with the pavement. She tightened the leather jacket around her and rearranged the dark blue scarf around her neck all in an attempt to shield her body from the biting cold. As she neared her final destination, memories of these last few years came rushing back. Guilt came in waves.
. . .
She remembered the first night she finally went out with some colleagues from work to celebrate something she couldn't even care to remember now. Ashley was difficult to resist. She used to hate her for her carefree attitude and ability to have fun anywhere with anyone. The girl had the gift of forcing people into a good mood and she was no exception to that rule.
She remembered getting wasted and having the time of her life for the first time in a long time. Ashley personally saw to that. But that was also marked as the night she found out that her brother was using drugs and dealing them. Her brother! Kung Daniel!
The horror of seeing him in the back of an alley with that thing in his hand and the dreaminess in his eyes was enough to make her wince even now.
