<-I-L-A-<<< I opened my eyes and instantly shut them with major regret. Everything was so bright as if a flashlight was shown directly into my eyes. It's been a considerable amount of time since I saw sunlight.

"It's locked. That's weird, the side door of the garage is always opened." I heard Claire's voice from far away.

"Do you have the keys?" Stefan asked, sounding like he was next to her.

I heard the jingling of keys and figured he was trying to unlock the door that led into the garage. In a distance, I could hear people yelling, some screaming, and the sound of guns being fired. We're my mafia already here? I forced my eyes opened to see the situation. Claire and Stefan were focused on opening the door a few yards away that they laid me down against the garage, leaving me unattended. I turned to look at the other side to see the house. The windows were broken, a sign that Il Bisbiglio had come and forced an entrance. I quickly closed my eyes and went back to the position I woke up in, pretending to be unconscious.

"He's got all this damn money and can't even fix a goddamn door," Stefan muttered, talking about Stollo as he started to kick at the door.

"Would you hurry?" Claire asked. "It sounds like it's going bad in the house and I definitely don't want it to catch up."

I deeply inhaled and exhaled. My heart started pounding as I got nervous. I was going to try and make a run for it. I needed more time. I was moments away from getting pushed into a car and goes to who knows where. Then, there will be no guarantee that Matteo will ever find me again. My attempt to escape was going to happen on the count of three.

One.

Two.

I hesitated. Doubts flood my mind right at the last second. Fuck it.

Three.

I was on my feet in a ragged movement. Not looking back, I pushed myself to lift up my legs to run away. I bit my lip, trying to distract myself from the old pain and the newer pain of my feet hitting the gravel.

"Stefan! Look!" I heard Claire yelled. The sounds of running footsteps followed after me.

I tried to quicken my pace. I ran not knowing where I was going, following the road that led away from the buildings. It was seconds later until I was tackled to the ground. I landed foreword with Stefan's arms wrapped around my waist. Even with Stefan holding me down, I tried to get him off of me. My attempts were useless.

Claire came running to us. "I opened the door already. Let's hurry."

She crouched down and gripped my arm. With Claire securing me, Stefan got up and grabbed my other elbow. The got me to my feet and began to drag me. I tried digging my feet in the ground and squirming in order to get free but I was too weak compared to them.

"Stop going against us," Claire said, whipping out her gun in threat.

"You wouldn't," I said. "Stollo doesn't want me dead yet."

"Who said I couldn't shoot you and you'd stay alive?" She motioned at my feet with her gun.

Stefan stopped. We were halfway to the garage and decided to take a new approach.

"I'll carry her," he said. Stefan, then, me over his shoulder

"Help! Somebody help me!" I yelled, resorting to my last option.

>>>-M-A-T-T-E-O-> All the rooms were empty. Those that weren't were taken cared of. I finished clearing the first floor and I could hear kianzo doing the same upstairs.

Marcella joined me right as I exited the last room I searched.

"Did you check the basement yet?" She asked.

"No, let's go together," I suggested. I step aside in the hall and let her take the lead.

We found the basement in no time. The door had a hanging sign with "basement" written on it. I was the first to enter, doing a quick check for an all clear. I gave her a signal, telling her that it was safe to come in.

Fortunately, there was no one there. Unfortunately, that included Ila. The only things left here were signs of a hostage. At the center, dried blood covered the floor. Pushed slightly towards one end of the room was a chair and ropes of thick twine. Surrounding the chair were unidentifiable human waste.

"What the actual fuck?" Marcella yelled. She stormed out, probably trying to find one of Stollo's men to take her anger out on.

After taking one last look around, I went after her. After me, a strong sense of guilt followed.

<-A-I-D-E-N->

The garage's side door was opened. Before walking in, I scanned the area to see if anyone saw me. I slipped between the door once I confirmed that there wasn't anybody inside and locked the door behind me just in case. If someone came in, I'd be notified.

I walked to hide behind a car, picking a cute red slug bug to crouch away from view. I leaned against the vehicle and dug into my pocket, pulling out my fidget spinner to play with as I waited.

I woke up to yelling.

"Help!" I heard a coarse female voice yell out. "Somebody help me!"

I shook my head, trying to shake the sleepiness away. I had fallen asleep from being bored of waiting. The fight spinner that was once in my hand had fallen to the floor. I picked it up and exchanged it for my gun. I got up to a crouch and looked at the door. I was propped open. Regarding the sounds of gunshots from the distance, I heard footsteps coming in closer.

First to walk in was a woman. She ran her hand over the wall. When she finally found the switch, the woman turned on the lights.

She didn't move from the door as if she was waiting for someone to catch up to him. My guess was right. In walked another man, carrying a woman. I knew it was Ila, but it was hard to recognize her.

"Matteo, she's here," I whispered, loud enough for Matteo but quiet enough for the two enemies to not hear. "She with a man and a woman."

"Don't let them get away. I'll be right there." Matteo replied.

Seeing how Ila looked broke my heart. She had thinned down and looked exhausted. She had stopped yelling and started to cry. She sobbed so hard that her bruised-covered body shook. She thrashed around in the grip of the man.

"Let me go," she begged.

"Hurry and pick a damn car, Claire." The man with Ila over his shoulders said.

Claire took out her car keys from her jean pocket and pressed the bottom of the remote to unlock the car. The vehicle's headlights next to me flashed.

Fuck. I had to start taking them down before they discover me, or else the element of surprise would be ruined. I aimed with my gun, the man carrying Ila or the women, Claire?

If I shot one, it'll notify the other. I frowned. They walked towards the car and I waited for them to align, hoping the events would turn out like the phrase "killing two birds with one stone."

Once they were side by side, I choose not to waste the opportunity. Right as I pulled the trigger, Claire dropped the car keys and bent down to pick it up. The bullet hit the dude carrying Ila, sending them both to the ground.

"Holy shit!"Claire cursed.

<-I-L-A-<<< It happened out of nowhere. At the sound of a gunshot, I was falling. To break my fall was Stefan's dead body. A bullet has pierced his heart and blood leaked from his open chest.

I gasped and scrambled away from Stefan as he took his last breath. I looked up and spotted Aiden.

"Holy shit!" Claire cursed, just as surprised as me.

She whipped her gun to the direction of Aiden and started shooting. With her back towards me, I watched every bullet she fired miss and lodge into the surrounding exterior of the cars.

As for Aiden, he couldn't shoot because of his unclear shot. To better his aim, Aiden moved away from the car he was hiding behind, revealing himself. This was a good opportunity for Claire, and she took it.

What was he thinking? Why would he let himself be in the wide open?

Claire raised the gun and aimed at Aiden. Out of instinct, I channel my strength. I had to stop her because there was a great chance of her shooting Aiden. They both raised their guns at the same time, but Claire beat him to it.

I watched in slow motion as her finger wrapped around the trigger as I jumped at her. I was able to tackle Claire to the floor, but I was too late. The bullet was shot out of the gun and into Aiden's direction.

"Aiden!" I yelled out, even though I knew my warning was useless.

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