'Mackenzie.....'
Those words I hear it speaking my name in my dreams and even in reality. It's been one year since I became the bearer of a power that's part of a legacy n my family line. I tossed and turned in my sleep as I had dreams and visions from the past. Most of them were from either when my father died or from my past lives. Most of them were women. They had the Darkness like their other relatives.
Many thought I was Jackie's twin, but here's the thing. He's two years older than I am and also more aggressive. But I have so much more rage in me it's not even funny. I am so on edge these days. Especially during this time. I woke up at the sound of my cat Cheshire jumping at my back and he meowed at me.
"Okay okay I'm up. Let's go feed you."
I walked down the stairs and I see Aunt Sarah cooking something. What was she making at this hour? Then I saw the time and it was almost 8am. I pulled out a bag of cat food and poured some into his bowl by cup full.
"You're awake huh? I'm almost done making your special breakfast, dear."
Special? What in the world is she talking about? Then I saw some decorations up and I realized one thing. It was my birthday.
I go up to shower real quick and ran down after getting dressed to where she had finished making the food for me. She placed it in front of me and I knew I had to eat it. So I started eating the food and it filled me up after a good fifteen minutes. I was turning 22. Hard to believe that as well. I made it through the year of becoming The Darkness. And also the same year that I killed two Franchettis.
"Eli and Melanie will be here soon to take you out for your birthday, Mackenzie. I already told them you were going to go with them.", she says to me as she sits down with me and has coffee. I almost choked on my food and I sipped my coffee also.
"I don't recall agreeing to that. What if there's work to be done?"
She shook her head. "Your uncle said he would handle it for today. You deserve a day off."
Damn it. But I couldn't say no to my aunt. I finished up my coffee and went to get ready to go. For a long while of the day, we went shopping at the mall and went to an amusement park after dropping off bags at my house. Melanie knew it wouldn't be fair if I had to work on my own birthday. I've done it before. Almost. But as we got there and had fun, there was a few people running about as we heard gunfire. Here? Now? I can never catch a break.
"Look there she is! That Estacado chick!!", one shouted out and aiming his gun at me. I rolled my eyes and grabbed my two friends to hide behind a thick wall. They fired guns at us and we dodged it all. I felt my armor cover up my body and I knew it was dark enough around the area.
"You two better take cover. I'll handle these losers."
"What and leave you to die??", Melanie asked as she was worried for me, I ran out toward one part of the park and went inside the hall of mirrors. They followed me in there and I looked down at them as they watched their surroundings. I took out my gun I snuck in and leap downward and I fired my gun at them. They aimed theirs at me and I aimed mine, but it was a crossroad here.
"You're surrounded, Estacado. There's no escape."
"No escape? Hahahahahaha. Good one."
"Famous last words from a girl who's about to be murdered in the name of Franchetti."
I rolled my eyes and aimed my gun at the only lightbulb there was and screams can be heard in the dark. I walked out of there and had blood on my armor as Eli and Mel watched me walk out.
"Ewww..you didn't do it, did you?", she asked me.
"I let them one of them live. But they mentioned the name Franchetti. I found this in one of their coats."
The armor slipped under my clothes and into my skin which made Eli cringe at it. We looked at it and saw it had one name on it. Appolonia. Wait, my so-called cousin sent these men after me?! Then, I saw one of them get up and drag the bodies out of there. I walk up and slam him against the wall.
"You've got a lot of nerve trying to kill me. Might as well get in line. What's Appolonia doing sending you and others after me?! Especially on my birthday."
He spits blood at me and I punched him in the face. He just laughed at me.
"I'm glad you find this hilarious. Tell me. Now or I'll leave you to your friends the way they suffered."
Then, I saw him change emotions in five seconds. "No!! I have a family!! These two don't have much at all!"
I searched for his wallet and checked it for pictures. He had kids and a wife. But I wonder if they know what he does. I threw it at him and pushed him down. Eli searched the others pockets and took their money. Me and Mel stood there staring at him. Seriously?
"What? They won't need it and they're loaded too. Seems they were paid in bounty to be sent after you.", he says and I looked down at the man who has been having a rough day.
"Get out. Go before I change my mind and take your friends with you."
"You'll regret this for letting me live. I'll make sure you won't make it out alive this day. Just like your father---"
A gun shot fired at him and it wasn't mine. I turned around to see where it came from and it was Jackie. He had killed that man for me.
"He lied to you, Mack. He doesn't have a family. That was long before he went to his bad ways.", he says as he walks over toward me. I couldn't help but aim my gun at him and he raised his hands up with his gun in the air.
"You followed me here didn't you? Why should I trust you?"
He shook his head at me as he placed his gun away. "I wanted to help you. You should be saying "Jackie you saved my ass thank you." But you don't sound grateful why is that?"
"Last time you shot me that's why."
He sighed. "That's because I wanted Franchetti to shut up. He seemed to believe you didn't deserve to have the family. But you made it this far and I'm proud of you. You may not believe it, but you have to trust me."
Was he telling the truth?? I lowered my gun hesitantly and still kept my gaze on him.
"Come on, let's get out of here before they show up. Besides there's something going on at the house."
I nodded and headed back with them through the shadows and brought my friends with me. There was a party waiting for me and I noticed the bags we had brought over were moved and I might as well enjoy this day. Though it was ruined by three dudes that wanted to kill me. Then I realized what had happened. This has been a birthday massacre for me.
Later that evening, we went to my father's grave and brought flowers. I lit a candle and we stood there as we celebrated the life of my father even though it's been 7 years since I lost him. We went to a diner and ate food there. Afterwards the car we rode in took them home and I was taken back to my home as I sat in my room that night as I looked at the sky.
Jackie walked in my room and saw me staring out my window. I looked down at my solitude was broken when I heard gun shots from the garden. Jackie stands beside me as he looks down at me.
"Did you enjoy your birthday?, he asked me as he held a box in his hand.
"I did actually. Except getting attacked and having to change clothes when I got home. What's that?"
He held it up and hands it to me. I opened it up and sigh of relief escapes me as I saw it was a necklace.
"I thought you were trying to kill me at first."
He gave me a look. "Why would I want to kill my only cousin? Well, between you and Appolonia. Heard she wants you dead now."
"Don't get me started."
He raised his hands and he took the box and then placed the necklace around my neck. It had a warm feeling to it. It looked like an amulet of some kind. But he said he got it at some weird shop and he saw it and thought of me. Still, a gift given is free.
This is the best 22nd birthday I have had.
