Chronical Wounds

Chapter 10: The Silent Resolve.

Bilal sat at the head of a long wooden table placed on the upper floor of his mansion. I sat to his right, and Ace to his left. A handful of other men were seated at the table as well. The dimly lit room bore witness to the gathering of the mafia leader and his inner circle. Shadows danced across the faces of hardened men. The air was thick with tension. I cast a steely gaze across the room, my fingers tapping rhythmically on the wooden table as I looked at every face, one by one. "We strike back," I stated in an awfully calm voice before I stood up. Maps of the city sprawled before us, marked with the territories of rival gangs and potential allies. "We strike back, but not blindly." I repeated as I tapped on one of the maps. "This is our game now. We didn't start it, but we sure as hell will end it." with every word, my voice got louder. "We need information, we need alliances, we need everything! We need to hit them where it hurts most. Jack, talk to our contacts. I want to know everything about Cecilia Leontios and her gang. I need to know every move they make before they even do it. Every breath they take." The room erupted in muttered affirmation. I felt silent then as I looked around the room and shook my head. All eyes were on me, and the room slowly went silent again. "We were allies once, not so long ago... but things have changed. It's one thing to stop being allies, but it's another thing to be attacked by one. We don't accept that on this side. Let the echoes of our enemies' arrogance be the precursor to their downfall. We're not out for vengeance; we will orchestrate justice. Ready yourselves, for the orchestration of retribution, is on the horizon, and they are about to experience the resounding echo of our unwavering determination." The group cheered.As the night wore on, calls were made. The maps weren't only marked by territories anymore but also with routes. The strategy unfolded, a chessboard of crime where every pawn and queen had a role to play. "Tomorrow, we take back what's ours. But remember, this is not just about territory. It's about sending a message. We don't forgive. We don't forget. Each one of them will know the cost of crossing us." I ended the meeting there. The room emptied with a sense of purpose, leaving only me and Bilal behind as Ace walked the crew out.

I sat in my chair as I stared at the maps. Bilal hadn't said much today. Yet I knew Bilal had a lot to say to me. He always did. So after a moment, I looked at him. "This is not what I w-". Before I could finish my sentence, Bilal snapped. "You are such a fuck up! You never mean what you do right? You are the reason we got shot at today! You know that damn well. I swear boy, I could just murder you right now. The things I want to do to you are unimaginable!" Bilal shouted out. "If it wasn't for your grandmother, I would've gotten rid of you a long time ago! Don't think I won't kill you though. Because listen carefully, if someone gets hurt because of what you caused, I'll be coming for you. Mark my words. I'll go to the end of the world to find you. I fucking loathe you." I didn't say a word. Bilal slammed hard on the table, but I didn't flinch. He spit on my shoe and then left, slamming the door behind him.

My straight posture slowly melted away like a fragile sandcastle under the rising tide of pain. My trembling hands found their way to support my falling head. My grandfather's words echoed and reverberated in my mind. I already knew that my grandfather didn't like me, to say the least. But today was different because I knew that all of this really was on me. All because of Cecilia Leontios.

Just as I began to sink into the depths of my thoughts, the door creaked open, and Lyra entered the room wearing her pink PJs. Her eyes were wide and empathetic. She tiptoed towards me, sensing my need for her company. "What happened?" she asked, her voice soft and filled with concern. I managed a weak smile, grateful for the solace she offered. "Ah, just a tough day, sweetheart." Lyra reached up and gently placed her small hand on my cheeks. "Don't worry, Zain. Grandpa can be grumpy sometimes, but it doesn't mean he's right." I chuckled, touched by her innocence and wisdom. "You're a wise one, Lyra. How did I get so lucky to have you as my sister?" Lyra shrugged, a twinkle in her eyes. "I think we chose each other." My heart warmed at her words. "You might be right, kiddo." Lyra sat beside me, and the room filled with a comfortable silence before she spoke again. "You know Mama used to say, 'Hugs are like magic.' Do you want a magic hug?" I couldn't resist the genuine innocence in her offer. "I could use a bit of magic right now." I smiled. Lyra wrapped her little arms around me, squeezing me tightly. "There, magic hug activated." I couldn't help but laugh, the heaviness in my heart lifting, if only for a moment. "You're absolutely right. Hugs are like magic. Thank you for being my little magician." Lyra beamed.

As Lyra's magic hug worked its wonders, the door creaked open again, revealing Norah. She observed the scene with a knowing smile, aware of the family dynamics that often left me seeking solace. Norah entered the room, her presence carrying a sense of calm. "Hey, what's going on in here?" she asked, her eyes shifting between me and Lyra. Lyra looked up at Norah, her face beaming. "Zain had a tough day with Grandpa, so we're doing magic hugs." Norah chuckled, appreciating Lyra's ability to distill complex emotions into simple gestures. "Magic hugs, huh? I could use one of those myself." Norah smiled. I patted the seat next to me, inviting her to join. "group hug!" Lyra giggled. Norah sat down, and Lyra, not missing a beat, extended her magic hug to include both of us. The room filled with a shared warmth as we formed a tight circle of support. I looked at Norah, gratitude in my eyes. "Today was just tough." Norah nodded, understanding the unspoken pain behind my words. "You know how he gets. Don't let his words define your worth, Zain. You're stronger than you think." I smiled, appreciating Norah's unwavering support. "You're right. And I'm lucky to have both of you in my corner." The three of us exchanged smiles before Norah stood up. "Alright, Lyra, it's time to head to bed. You go ahead, and I'll be with you in 5 minutes." Lyra gave me a kiss on my cheek and walked away.". "Sleep tight, Zain." she smiled before she disappeared.

Norah closed the door and turned to me. My smile from before disappeared as if it was never there in the first place. Norah sighed. "Alright, spill it. What is really going on, Zain? It's never good when there's a meeting at the house. I just saw them leave, and Grandpa stormed to his room." I sighed, the weight of the day settling back on my shoulders. "My ex, Cecilia, is out for revenge," I explained. Norah's expression tightened with a mix of surprise and worry. "Revenge? What happened? I thought you guys just stopped seeing each other." I stood up and poured two glasses of liquor. "It's way more than that, Norah." We sat down again and I handed her a glass. "I fucked up bad this time," I sighed deeply. Norah listened intently. "Zain, you're scaring me. Just tell me already," she quaked.

"I hurt someone... I stopped talking to Cecilia because things changed." I confessed. My gaze was fixed on a distant point. "I hurt someone connected to Cecilia."Norah's eyes widened with concern. "Zain. What happened?".

I shook my head. "I don't know, Norah. I woke up in a hospital bed... apparently, there was this girl who had found me. She stayed with me all night until I woke up. The details of that night are a blur, and it's like a piece of my memory is missing. After that day, I haven't heard of Cecilia. I think I killed him.".

Norah abruptly stood up. "When did this happen? Why didn't I know of this? Who knows?" Norah trembled. I slowly looked up at Norah. Her eyes were filled with tears and worry. And I quickly looked down again. "I am so sorry, N. I didn't mean to fuck this up too. This was a couple of months ago. No one knows except Ace. But there's more." I groaned. "There's more?!" Norah gasped. I nodded. "This morning we had an exchange with Mr. Leontios' gang. Usually, he would turn up himself or his right hand, but today it was neither. She came instead and was being disrespectful. While they left we got shot at... They've started a war, Norah. You'll have to be even more careful than before. The others don't know why they attacked us exactly. They think she is just hurt because of the breakup. But she's out for revenge. I can't shake the feeling that this is just the beginning. Cecilia won't rest until she hurts me back."

Norah's gaze changed to a fierce determination. "Then we'll be ready for whatever she throws our way. No one messes with our family and gets away with it. Did anyone get hurt today?" I looked up again. "No one got hurt, but Grandpa was there too. So, it's all just a very messy situation." A silence fell over the room. I finished my drink, and Norah just stared at me. Suddenly she placed a gentle hand on my shoulder as I grappled with the weight of the revelations. "Zain," she said softly. "I need you to promise me something. Promise me you won't beat yourself over this. We're family, and we'll get through this together." I met Norah's gaze, my eyes reflecting a mixture of pain and gratitude. "I promise. I'll make this right." Norah squeezed my shoulder in a silent affirmation. "Good. Reach out when you need to, alright?" I nodded, but secretly I knew that I wouldn't ever reach out. For I refuse to drag my family with me down this hole I dug myself.