Probably in denial

"I'm going to the grocery store!" I shouted in the general direction of my brother.

Moving as fast as I could, I grabbed the nearest car keys and a back pack full of clothes, before running towards the door.

"Oh no you're not!" My brother yelled, grabbing me around the waist and picking me up. I flailed around a bit, trying to wiggle out of his hold.

"Let me go!"

"No!"

"Let it gooo, let it gooo, can't hold it back anyyymore. Let it—"

"Not again," I heard Bret groan from behind me. "Why can't you just stay here and stop singing Frozen."

"Let's be honest, the only reason I haven't escaped yet is because of your cooking."

Alex carried me over to a couch, tossing me down. "Now stay there and watch Power Rangers or something."

I'd been here for a week, without any further contact from Antonio, and they still hadn't let me go anywhere.

"At least let me get some breakfast."

Standing up, I wandered into the kitchen to find myself some cereal. Did the Russian Mafia have Lucky Charms?

Turns out, yes. Yes, they do.

I grabbed myself an apple too, because you need to eat a healthy breakfast, so you can run from the cops. I'm full of so much wisdom, I wonder why people don't listen to me more. Or ever.

After I finished my breakfast, there wasn't much else to do. I'd already played animal crossing for three hours, and everyone in the house, except Elena, were off doing mafia things. Maybe I could convince her to take me shopping, so I wouldn't die from boredom.

I searched for her, but surprisingly she wasn't around. Maybe I'd bother Antonio.

Me

Bro

Broski

Brotien

Brosicle

Broseph

Brotastic

Han Brolo

Broba Fett

Brotato Chip

Bromosexual

Mean Mafia Boss

I was wondering when you would text

Are you alright?

Me

Yeah

Do you think koalas get angry

Mean Mafia Boss

Do I look like national geographic?

Me

Ngl you kinda do

Mean Mafia Boss

I'm going to pretend you didn't say that

Send us your location

Me

Idk where I am tho

Somewhere in Russia

Mean Mafia Boss

Do you know how big Russia is?

Me

That's what I said!

I heard the front door opening and I looked up, startled. Elena walked in, followed by a scary looking man who I assumed was one of Alex's 'co-workers'.

"I smell weed," I said, crinkling my nose. "If you aren't going to give me any, don't bring it in here, it smells bad."

The man grumbled something about not being a lowly drug dealer and stepped outside, probably to put the stuff away.

"Wanna watch some TV?" Elena asked, trying to lighten up the mood. I nodded, walking over to the couch to flip through channels.

"What's on the news?"

I nearly jumped out of my skin from the voice behind me, turning around to find the scary guy grinning back at me.

"I need to get some sort of alarm system. Everyone walks so silently, it's unnerving."

Still, I turned on the international news station, ready to bore myself to death with politics and petty men.

"Well Josh, enough about the angry koalas," a lady news report said, smiling but still looking dead inside.

"So they DO get angry."

"What's going on in your part of town?"

"Seems like I'm a bit late to the scene, but a giant fire is raging through Italy. How it started, authorities still aren't sure, but we are at the place it originated."

The camera zoomed in on a white mansion, flames licking the caved in roof and smoke billowing out through windows.

A very familiar white mansion.

"Antonio!" I gasped, scooting closer to the TV and turning up the volume.

"It is unknown if anyone was in the house; however, no bodies have been reported yet."

I pulled my phone out, frantically dialing Antonio. After the third try, I went over to Rosa, then Sergio.

"Why aren't they picking up?"

"While numerous people may have been inside, firefighters have not reported any victims."

I shot to my feet, grabbing some car keys, and sprinted out the door.

"Come on, come on." I muttered, searching the driveway. A pair of headlights flashed and I slid inside, fastening my seat buckle.

This couldn't be happening. I hallucinate all the time right? How was this any different? Everything around me was covered in the aura I saw, anytime I saw things.

A slight change in color, a dull shimmer.

A soft hum in the background.

I turned on the car engine, effectively drowning out the soft noise. I could worry about that later, right now I needed to focus on finding out if they were alive.

My phone buzzed and I yanked it out, sending it flying. It landed on the car seat next to me, screen face up so I could read the text.

Mean Mafia Boss

We're alright

One of our tech guys tracked you, meet us at this location

He sent some coordinates and I plugged them into google maps, backing out of the driveway.

I ignored the way the trees stood unnaturally still, the way they always did.

It's for the best.

............

"In three hundred feet, turn right."

"Jesus, could you have told me any later?" I yelled at my phone, taking the sharp turn.

"Your destination will be on the left."

"Finally."

I pulled up in front of a diner, its open sign flashing. Stepping out of the car, I hesitated before walking inside.

There weren't many customers, only a mom and her two kids who were playing with some sugar packets.

"Can I help you, sweetie?"

I spun around, coming face to face with a middle aged women. The first thing I noticed were her brown, doe like eyes. The second was how she held herself, like someone had slipped an ice cube down her back and told her 'be still'. Or like a poorly done painting that lacked the small spark of life.

Shaking my head from my thoughts, I smiled at her. "Yes actually, a friend told me to meet them here, but I'm not sure where they are."

"Was it a tall man, handsome and kind of scary?"

"That would be him."

"He's out back, I'll bring you around. Follow me."

She spun around, going behind the counter. I trailed behind her like the lost puppy I am.

At least puppies are cute.

"Just go out through this door." She said, falling short. Seeing my wary glance she laughed. "Don't worry. He just stressed the need for privacy, and I don't want to push it by coming too."

I tentatively pushed open the door, stepping outside. "Antonio?"

"Eva?"

I rushed over to him, jumping into his arms. "I thought you were dead!"

"Why?"

"The fire!"

"Oh that? That was on purpose, we needed to move bases and destroy any suspicious evidence."

"So setting it on fire was the best option?"

"Yeah."

We stood there, holding each other, and I got a sense of déjà vu from the ball.

He felt light in my arms, like I was grasping at a sheet of paper.

One small squeeze and everything would tear apart.

"I missed you." He murmured in my ear, rocking us back and forth.

"I missed you too." I pulled away slightly, looking up into his eyes. It was completely silent, not even the sound of wind or chirping of birds.

His hand reached up, cupping my face.

Maybe I was crazy. Maybe I'd finally lost my marbles, and I was rolling around in a straight jacket, but right then, I didn't care.

I knew I'd been ignoring the signs, the way backgrounds faded out, the unnatural movements, the dialogue cut short. But it all felt so real.

I wanted it to be real.

"Come back." He whispered, his eyes never leaving mine.

"I don't want to," I said in the same hushed tone, leaning forward slightly.

Our lips met, and it was nothing like how I imagined. There were no sparks, no tingling sensations, no overwhelming warmth.

That's because this isn't real.

It tasted salty, and I realized I was crying, tears dripping down my face. We pulled apart, breathing heavy, lips still parted.

"I have to go now, Eva. Promise me, you'll get better."

I closed my eyes as we swayed back and forth.

I felt him slip through my finger tips, the world fading out.

I never did end up making that promise.

...........