Rataloise And The Russian Mafia

I don't really like myself without you

It had been three weeks since Caseloise dropped off the balcony. After Rataloise ran the police arrived, taking Elenore into custody. Since then, everything had been quiet, too quiet.

    Rataloise hid out in Garbonzo's basement, snacking on cardboard and children's souls.

    "They're still looking for ya." Garbanzo's russian accent filled the empty space as he slapped down a newspaper.

    The newspaper depicted ELenora behind bars, screaming like a rabid moose. The title read CRAZY JEALOUS GIRLFRIEND KILLS Caseloise.

    Rataloise couldn't bring his eyes to the image. He couldn't stand seeing the deranged look in Elenora's eyes. The very look he was responsible for.

    Underneath was a blurred image of Caseloise's dead, crushed body.

    Garbanzo flipped the pages to an article, and article relating to the police's search for Rataloise. Offering a 100 pound cheese reward for those who had any information on him.

    Rataloise hesitantly looked up to meet Garbanzo's sparkling black eye. However he could only see Caseloise's.

    "Do you know what this means?" Garbanzo slammed a fist down on the paper.    

    Rataloise gulped, guilting weighing down on his shoulders. Garbanzo waited expectantly.

    "Somebody really likes mayonnaise?" Rataloise guessed, pointing to an article about the recent boom of mayonnaise sales. 

    "NO!" Garbanzo howled, flipping over the miniature table. His small rat-sized arms flickered in the dim light. Midnight seemed to echo across his fur.

    Garbanzo pressed a paw to his forehead, hoping to regain himself. "No." He said much calmer. "This means you've become a very valuable asset."

    "Is that it? You're gonna turn me in?" Rataloise glanced between Garbanzo and the newspaper.

    Garbanzo collapsed into the chair behind him. He licked his lips, smiling. "I don't know, should I?"

    Tension filled the room. Static from the TV prevented an awkward silence. The flickering light made Garbanzo seem a hundred times scarier.

    How did this happen?

    His brain went numb to any thoughts. After Caseloise died he felt nothing. His life became nothing but empty, black, static. He could still hear the dull thud of her human body hitting the ground

    The Russian Mafia King Garbanzo sat in front of him, dangling his fingers between his scarred paws.

    "N.No." Rataloise finally answered.

    "And why shouldn't I?" Garbanzo questioned, lifting his only eye.

    "Because I can help you." Rataloise spoke confidently."

    "How so?"

    "This." Rataloise pointed back to the Mayonnaise article. "These. . . Mice have stolen your thunder. Tell me, how many mayonaise sales have you made this past month."

    Garbanzo averted his eye, embarrassment filling them.

    Ever since Angelina the Ballerina blew up, a competing mafia's mayonnaise sales went up while Garbanzos only sunk. Nobody liked rats anymore, they wanted mice.

"So what?" Garbanzo snapped. "How could a puny rat like you possibly help?" Disgust shined in Garbanzo's eyes as he continued. "We aren't trying to seduce humans."

Caseloise immediately filled Rataloise memories. He pinched his eyes closed, trying to block her out.  Her smile, her laugh. Caseloise. . .

He got a grip on himself and reopened his eyes. Garbanzo's crooked teeth glimmered in the TV light. He knew he'd gotten to him.

"That is exactly how I would help you." He ground out between his teeth.

Garbanzos's smile turned into one of confusion.

"I know humans better than anyone else. I've helped them, lived with them." He hesitated before continuing. "Loved them."

Garbanzo's eyes flickered when he spoke of love. Rataloise heartbreak obvious in his eyes. Anger soon replaced grief.

"I know how to sell to them. Humans love me. And if you have me on your side I can make them love you."

Garbanzo scoffed, a sick russian laugh filling the air. "How could you make humans possibly love this." He gestured to his own mangle body.

Scars covered his skin, preventing the orange fur from growing. An eye patch covering his right eye. His teeth were yellowed, and broken. His nails chipped and long. A psychotic look echoed behind his left eye.

Rataloise's face grew into a proud smirk, and he offered his hand. "Deal?" He offered.

Garbanzo looked Rataloise up and down. The puny blue rat looked soft, and delicate. Too delicate for something as extreme as the russian mafia mayonaise business. But he seemed determined, and that was enough.

Garbanzo shook his eye.

"Let's get to work."