Property of the Mafia

[37] Black Hole

It all happened in a second.

I couldn't help but recall saying goodbye to Leon, Arc, and Marcel back at the Tyrian Estate. I had seen Leon and Arc leave safely with my own eyes, and I had merely assumed Marcel was right---but if that was the case, then why had Ares not received the news? Considering it would only take a couple seconds to contact Adonis (Ares' father), it was somewhat strange that Ares seemed oblivious to the truth.

We all watched in horror as the bullet grazed Frey's arm, not so much wounding him as startling him.

And just like that, he fell.

In what seemed like an instant, he was gone. We were travelling too high up to even see his---gulp---body in the forest.

I thought I would be happy, or maybe more accurately, relieved to see someone with such a black heart finally have to face karma. But somewhere deep inside, I couldn't help but remember his smile, his confidence, and even though I had not known him that well, he had seemed like a true friend, especially to Leon.

Ares fell to his knees, trembling and wide-eyed. The gun fell from his grasp to the floor, and I could not completely understand his ambivalent expression---a mixture of shock and disgust of his own impulsive actions.

"I.... k-k-killed him."

The helicopter stayed silent.

Tarra easily climbed back onto the helicopter into the driver's seat, now free of the man who had been clawing at his throat.

We met each other's gaze, and a small smile spread across his lips, which seemed almost grateful, if not a little forlorn. With a small tip of his head, he left just as quickly as he had arrived.

The entire helicopter hummed with a dreaded silence. No one had anything to say.

Was it all over now?

Frey, one of our primary enemies, was gone. Things with Tarra finally seemed resolved, and the Tyrian estate was in pieces.

No. It was not over.

The core of the problem, the heart and soul of this entire fiasco still remained alive, though bedridden. If we were to truly resolve the situation at hand, we would find the Tresora and deal with him afterwards.

That seemed to be the best course of action now, anyways. Focusing on a goal seemed to rid Ares of the guilt he was feeling. I couldn't blame him, after all, especially recalling that time at the host club. To end a man's life was no easy thing.

Alyssa, just as upset and perplexed as Ares, comforted him. The researchers in the back, screaming and squealing before with a mixture of fright and excitement now stared at Ares with absolute horror. I glared at them, and their stares changed direction to the window.

"Linette, are you okay?" Rei asked, his voice soft and understanding. "I know it must be a little unsettling to see someone... yeah, but we have a bigger objective at hand. We can't slow down for anyone or anything, right?"

I gulped, my voice getting caught in my throat.

"Linette?"

"Yes." I breathed. "You're right. We're almost at my house anyways. Let's get this over with."

And maybe finally we could resume our normal lives.

... Like hell that could happen.

 "We're here." Rei announced, the atmosphere in the helicopter softening a little.

Ares seemed a little less shaken, and had finally stopped crying. He had broken down on the way here after hearing the truth about his brother----but Alyssa seemed to be doing a pretty good job soothing him. I was surprised to hear that even she had gotten her hands dirty before.