Lemon Like Love

Dodging bullets

~Few weeks later~

I was finishing up my paperwork before I could go home, but just then someone knocked on the door to my cabin. 

I groaned, not wanting to deal with anyone else at this point in the day. But duty called, so I got up and made my way to the door.

"Lenna, can you do me a huge favor?"" Melody begged.

"Uhh depends-"

"Great, so can you do my paperwork for me? I have to go to this important event, and I'm going to be late, but I haven't finished the papers, so please!" She gave her best version of puppy eyes.
I sighed, knowing that Melody was always getting herself into these situations.

"Fine, give me the papers, and I'll take care of it," I said, trying to hide my annoyance. Melody thanked me and rushed off, leaving me with even more work to do. 

As I settled back into my seat, I couldn't help but wonder when I would finally get a break. Just then, Melody came back to my cabin.

"Also, I forgot, but here someone left a letter for you." She handed me an envelope with my name on it.

"Oh, ok, thank you." I took it from her and examined the envelope. It was plain and unmarked, with no return address.

 My curiosity piqued, I tore it open and unfolded the letter inside. As I read the first few lines, my heart sank. Another death threat from Donovola

This time was more gruesome than the previous.

I tore up the letter and threw it in the trash. I couldn't believe that Donovola was still after me, even after all these years. 

It seemed like every time I thought I had left that life behind, it would come back to haunt me. I knew I needed to do something to protect myself, but I wasn't sure what. 

As I sat there, lost in thought, my phone rang. It was an unknown number, but I answered it anyway.

"Hello?" I said cautiously.

"Look behind you, sweetheart."

Just that minute, I ducked down, and my cabin's window shattered as a bullet pierced through it.

My heart was racing as I dropped to the floor, trying to stay out of sight. Goddamn Donovola!

I needed to figure out a way to get out of this mess before it was too late. As I peeked out the shattered window, I saw a dark figure in the distance, and I knew for sure it was him. 

I couldn't stay here any longer. I quickly grabbed my bag and headed out the door, panicking when I crashed into Matteo. A lollipop in his mouth with a glare directed towards me.

"Why the hell are you running?" he asked.

"Home-"

"Wait a minute, is that shattered glass in your cabin? What did you do?" He said as he hurried towards my cabin when I saw someone aiming the gun towards my window again.

"Matteo!" I yelled as I tackled him to the floor and closed his mouth. A gunshot rang in the air as more glass rained on us. I shielded both Matteo and me.

After a few moments of silence, I cautiously peered out the window. The figure was nowhere to be seen. My heart was pounding in my chest as I realized how close we had come to danger.

"What the hell is going on?" Matteo asked, his voice shaking with anger. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down before responding.

"Oh, nothing much. Just a little game of Russian roulette with our lives. A fun way to spice up our afternoon, don't you think?" I replied sarcastically while rolling my eyes. "Of course it's someone trying to kill us, you idiot!"

"I meant who the fuck dares to-"

"Donovola."

"THE DONOVOLA?!"

"Yes, the donovola. He, like you, thinks I killed his son, so almost every once in a week he tries to kill me."

"Why haven't you told this to someone?!!"He yelled. I scoffed.

 "Who would I tell? The people who have been searching for Donovola for years? They will laugh out loud and call me a jokester, and I can't even prove it because I would have to tell them my past, and besides, I've got my own ways of dealing with him." 

I could see the disbelief on his face, but I didn't care. He didn't understand the world I lived in or the rules that governed it.

"So you just dodge bullets on a daily basis?" He asked.

"Oh no, not just bullets. I also dodge flaming arrows, flying knives, and the occasional ninja star. It's all in a day's work for someone like me. But I guess you wouldn't know anything about that, would you? You probably spend your days sipping tea and enjoying the sunshine, while I'm out here almost dying."

He looked at me wide eyed.

"Are you for real-"

"No, you idiot. I was being sarcastic. This was the first time he has tried to shoot me. It's usual for him to send death threats. I guess I have to actually try to catch him now."

"Why don't you tell the chief?"

A sad smile graced my lips as I looked up at the moon.

"I don't want anything to happen to my family. I love them too much.." I whispered.

We sat there in silence for a few minutes, the only sound being the soft rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. 

Suddenly I heard the sound of a lollipop wrapper crinkling and turned to see Matteo unwrapping a lollipop before he handed it to me.

"Here.."

"I don't want it."

"Just eat it."

"Fine."

I popped it into my mouth and immediately puckered up at the sour lemon flavor. It was intense and tangy.

"Oh god, that's sour.." I whined. He chuckled before popping a lemon lollipop in his mouth.

"Just like your personality."

"Excuse me"

"Your real personality that you hide."

I rolled my eyes as he grinned. He was still an asshole...

We sucked on the lollipop as we stared up at the moon sitting on painful shards of glass. This entire thing reminded me of a sad poem. 

Wonderful, now my life is a sad poem.
But as I continued to gaze at the moon, I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over me. 

Maybe it was the company of the asshole beside me or the bittersweet taste of the lollipop, but for a moment, everything felt okay. 

The shards of glass beneath us didn't seem as sharp, and the weight of my problems didn't feel as heavy. 

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to hold onto that feeling of calm. Maybe tomorrow won't be as bad as today...