The Boy

Chapter 6: Inheritance Part 1

"Alright kid. Time to see who from the family tree wants to bump you off" Bryce said. Getting right down to business. The day being early yet for the boy he struggled to get much sleep. Teo having a nightmare where he imagined three of the relatives who disliked him the most being fused together in some disgusting mound of flesh that shouldn't be put together. Looking like the three if they weren't fused together wouldn't even go as far as to bury him in a ditch if bury him at all because they disliked him that much. The kid let out a yawn and Monkey asked if he was okay. Yet because he couldn't understand monkey it still sounded like grunts and screeching. "I'm fine Monkey. Maybe once this is done I'll take one of those power nap type things that Batman does" Teo replied with a small smile. Yet Monkey still looked worried. The ghost said that later they would introduce him to a new friend called coffee but that now they needed to focus on who would want a hit on a seven year old child. Bryce told the kid to think on who in the family would want him dead and he could already imagine a few relatives who wouldn't mind him being out of the picture. Saying that he had a cousin who was slightly older and wanted to go to medical school when she was older. Yet although she wasn't getting any of the inheritance he doubted that a nine year old could be able to find the cash to order a hit from an assassin. He thought of others out loud saying that the most likely suspect might be someone from his dad's side of the family. But added that at least one or two from his mum's side were sponging and entitled. 

Bryce asked how many of his relatives were in New York to which Teo replied that there were five. His cousin Sinead, his Uncle Dick and his dad. They decided to start with his Uncle Dick first as he was old enough to order a hit and the three went in the direction of his house. "You know Monkey. I think if we both live to tell the tale here. I might keep you around" Teo said with a smile on his face. The idea of the suited snow monkey finally having a place to go back to where he could feel safe sounding nice and making him smile. Before a memory of Akiko offering the same thing once her uncle became prime minister replayed in his head. Followed by a flash of her face showing immense anger at him for killing him to prevent another innocent person getting murdered. The sound of Teo snapping his fingers in front of his face and Bryce calling his name made him snap back to reality and he quickly growled slightly in annoyance before showing the boy's hand away from his face. Going past him being both angry and a little upset. The boy asking the ghost what Hit Monkey's problem was before yawning again. Bryce replying that it was probably complicated before saying that maybe they needed to find a Starbucks if they could get his inheritance money now. Over in her bedroom his cousin Sinead was drawing with some crayons before she heard the sound of a small stone hitting her bedroom window. The girl opening her window and looking outside seeing nothing. Before looking back at her drawing wondering if she was just hearing things. "Hello cousin" Teo said. Surprising her and making her whip her head around quickly seeing he was floating in the air. Soon entering her bedroom followed by the ghost as well.

"Teo your alive" Sinead said. Quickly hugging him and making the ghost surprised. Bryce asked if he was sure his cousin didn't like him to which the girl replied that for about a week she was a little jealous but didn't want her cousin dead. A sad frown appearing on her face when she said she saw their Oma's funeral. Teo said that he didn't have much time to explain things but his cousin said that she wanted to help. The ghost asking where her dad was to which she replied both her dad and uncle were downstairs with her mum. Downstairs through a door that was slightly ajar the three could hear the voices of both the brothers before Teo just decided to enter the room as he was. The boy asking both his dad and uncle if they were surprised to see him still alive. Before asking if things would be more intimidating if he wore a suit like the ghost who was behind him. His uncle asked if he thought any of them would want him dead to which the kid said he knew one of them was guilty. Sinead asked if they were going to let the ghost haunt the relatives until one of them caved but the boy said that someone else might be a little better at getting answers from them. The fireplace soon revealing Hit Monkey come out of it with his gun ready. Hooting that he wanted answers before letting out a low growl. His eyes coldly looking at the three relatives who were in the room. His aunt said that they needed to call the police as the monkey was dangerous before Teo said that for days both Monkey and Bryce had been keeping him safe. Telling them that someone put a bounty on his head for the inheritance money but his aunt said it sounded ridiculous. The interrogation of sorts continued with his dad saying that all they knew was that the boy was missing while his mum was buried next to his dad. Before a knock came at the door. "Who on earth is it now?" his aunt asked. The two cousins looking confused before Sinead went and opened the door. "Auntie Anne?" Sinead asked. Sounding surprised. "Mum what are you doing here?" Teo asked looking just as confused. "Hi kids" his mum said. Sounding happy yet her face said otherwise.

Suddenly a shot rang out from the living room and the boy's aunt fell to the ground dead. Everyone getting down onto the ground before Hit Monkey went to return fire. Looking out the window to see it looked like Lady Bullseye herself. Only something was different. Bryce asked how this was possible as he helped to kill her back in Tokyo only more shots and some throwing stars getting tossed making some of the family scream. Monkey looked more closely and then he screeched that the one trying to kill them was Akiko. The ghost looked as well and then guessed out loud that Akiko was blinded by revenge and wanted Monkey dead. Dick said that they needed to call the police but Teo's dad said that they needed to flee. The boy said that his dad had lost his mind but Bryce agreed saying Lady Bullseye wanted to go after Monkey for killer her evil uncle back in Japan. Adding that even though Akiko might not be as experience as the last Lady Bullseye. She might not hesitate to kill others if she wanted to. Monkey opened fire yet his aim was a little off. Still remembering the good times where she would take care of him. The memories making him feel at war on if he should kill her or not. A shot getting him in the shoulder and making him hiss in pain. Before the sight of the boy going to him made him surprised. "Try to find me again" Teo said. Hugging Monkey tightly as they both crouched down. The suited snow monkey doing so back. But he grunted for the child to go. Calling Teo his friend.  Anne and Sinead yelled for Teo to run and he did so reluctantly. Monkey wishing him good luck before the family quickly started to flee through the back door. 

The ghost and the monkey fired more shots. Bryce getting her in the leg yet Monkey kept struggling to hit his target. Bryce told him to get his head in the game or try not to die and told Monkey to focus as they needed to stay alive and keep protecting Teo. Adding that bigger players might want his inherence money after all. Hit Monkey tried to keep focused this time as he remembered what the leader of his colony told him. Saying what his destiny was and to be a killer of killers. The words starting to make him get focused again. Yet by the time he was almost out of the clouds he saw Akiko with a rocket launcher. "Bye bye. Monkey" Akiko said before she pulled the trigger and Bryce quickly used his powers to help shield them both from the blast. The house being quickly reduced to rubble and fire as several car alarms went off in the area. Bryce and Monkey got both of themselves out of the rubble and Monkey groaned a little again in pain. His suit now having bits of plaster dust, specs of broken concrete and blood staining it. Yet getting it fixed at a tailors would be the least of his problems. The ghost said that they needed to leave as Akiko was proving to be just as bad as the last Lady Bullseye. Yet a quick thought of the boy made him want to check if Teo was okay. Wanting to know that he was okay even if it put his own life at risk for a second. "Kid? Where are ya?" Bryce asked trying to use his ghost powers to find him. Then hidden amongst the bushes in the backyard was Teo's cousin Sinead whimpering and cowering in fear. The two asked if she was okay and if she knew if Teo was alright. The girl sniffling saying that her mum was dead and that her cousin was gone. Monkey let out a small whimper with Bryce saying that he might not have gotten far away enough from the blast. Yet what Sinead said next surprised them both. The girl saying that the lady who killed her mum took both her cousin and her uncle. Adding that both her dad and aunt tried to stop her but were knocked out by the lady. The three leaving much to Teo's dismay. The duo knew she was talking about Akiko with Monkey knowing he had to get his friend back. Even if it meant having to kill his old flame to keep him safe.