Chapter 4 APOCALISSE- ENEMIES' PLAYGROUND

10PM*

APOCALISSE•••••

Apocalisse was nothing but a wilderness, an abandoned land fenced in by tall, lifeless trees. A land of silence, built on blood, carrying only the stench of destruction and death.

The first sound to disturb the stillness was the roar of engines. Five cars cut through the broken path and halted in the clearing. One by one, the doors opened. The Nightshade Clan had arrived.

From the lead car, Serena stepped down first, her face unreadable but her presence commanding.

Erica followed, arms folded, her sharp eyes flicking over the surroundings like a hawk.

Venetta came out next, restless, already sniffing cocaine as if she couldn't wait for the blood to spill.

Jazzlyn slipped out quietly after them, hugging one side of a tree, her expression calm, almost detached. Behind them, their men took formation, standing cold-faced, ready with blood in their eyes.

Not even a full minute passed before another convoy of cars pulled in...the Hades Fruit Clan. The air itself seemed to harden as their doors opened.

The atmosphere shifted when Padrino stepped down. The wind blew against his slicked-back hair as he exhaled a long stream of smoke from his tobacco. Renzo and Ace flanked him immediately, sharp and alert, while Glacier walked behind them without interest, as though this gathering meant nothing at all.

The breeze grew colder, the weather darker, as the clans drew nearer to the center. There, bound against a tree, was their prey...his body bloodied, his face covered with cloth.

"Remove the cloth from his face," Padrino commanded.

A guard obeyed, yanking the stained fabric away. The man's swollen, bruised face appeared, his eyes blinking against the dim light. Blood caked his mouth, yet there was still fear and a plea left inside him.

Venetta leaned lazily against a tree, sniffing another line of cocaine. She slapped her head lightly, restless, uncaring of the scene before her. Whoever the man was, she wasn't interested.

And why should she be? Who in their right mind would dare to preach peace between two clans that had warred for generations? The man before them had tried...and now he stood as an example of how such foolishness ended.

"This is the fate that awaits anyone who dares to bridge the gap between our clans," Serena declared coldly.

Padrino chuckled under his breath.

"Please....have mercy!" the man begged, voice trembling, his body straining against the ropes.

Padrino raised his hand slightly. His tone was flat, almost bored.

"Glacier. Shoot him." Padrino said and Renzo eyes darkened with what seemed like pure jealousy.

Jazzlyn shifted where she stood, leaning further into the shadow of the tree. She had no part in this...she never had. She did not know how to shoot, nor did she care to learn anymore since it wasn't her fate. These things never touched her, yet she could not look away.

Glacier frowned as he stepped forward. From his coat, he pulled a gun, sliding a single bullet into place. Everyone knew he never missed his shot. He leveled the weapon....then suddenly, as though changing his mind, he let it fall from his hand.

A nearby soldier quickly handed him a long, sharp sword. Glacier gripped it, eyes flat and cold. In the span of a heartbeat, he swung.

The man's head fell cleanly, blood spraying across Glacier's face. The body slumped against the ropes, twitching once before going still.

Silence pressed against the trees, broken only by Glacier's voice...

"Let this serve as a warning. Anyone who betrays our clan by forming an attachment with someone from the rival clan will meet the same end."

He paused, his eyes narrowing. "Even me."

Serena's voice rang out after his. "Even if you are my daughter."

Padrino's followed. "Even if you are my son."

Venetta rolled her eyes and scoffed. "We don't need to be reminded, do we?"

"They're not even my type," she added, hissing as she glared at Ace and Renzo.

Erica smirked faintly. "Pointless talk. We all know the rules."

Glacier wiped the blood from his face with the back of his sleeve, then turned his gaze toward Jazzlyn. He lifted his hand in a slow, mocking wave.

"Bye."

Jazzlyn only stared back at him, her face calm, her eyes unreadable. Unlike the rest, who exchanged confused glances, she betrayed no reaction. Inside, though, questions thundered through her mind.

Was this some cruel game to place her in danger?

Without another word, Serena turned away, her daughters following. Their guards fell into line behind them.

Padrino and his sons returned to their cars as well.

One by one, the engines started, and the clans left the clearing behind....leaving only the corpse tied to the tree, headless, a warning carved in blood.

The cause of Nightshade enmity was simple.

The Nightshade Clan and the Hades Fruit Clan were rivals right on time based on competition in wanting favor from the capo and the Capo then forced them into a joint mission, demanding that the both clan lead together despite their enmity.

The mission was sabotaged. Shots rang out, the deal collapsed, and blood stained the streets.

Nightshade swore Hades betrayed them, while Hades swore Nightshade had set them up.

In the chaos, Serena's elder brother was killed.

From that moment, hatred was sealed. Serena blamed Padrino. Padrino blamed Serena. And what should have been one mission turned into a vendetta fierce enough to be passed down to their children.

Inside Serena's car.....

Erica leaned against the window, arms crossed, humming under her breath with a smug look.

Venetta was slouched in her corner, tapping her fingers against the door.

Jazzlyn sat at the far end, head turned slightly, staring at the passing trees. Her body was still, but her mind wasn't.

That word wouldn't leave her.

Bye.

One syllable. Spoken casually. Yet it echoed in her head over and over. Why her? Why in front of everyone?

"Jazzlyn."

Her mother's voice cut through her thoughts.

Jazzlyn blinked, slowly turning her head. "Yes, mother?"

Serena's eyes met hers through the rearview mirror.

"What was that?"

Jazzlyn frowned faintly. "What was... what"

"That little gesture," Serena said.

"That shit of a 'bye' Glacier threw at you. Do you know something I don't?" Serena asked further.

Erica perked up at the words, her lips curling into a grin. "Ohhh. Now it makes sense. I was wondering why the bastard looked at her like that."

Venetta laughed suddenly, smacking her thigh. "Don't tell me Glacier's waving at you like some schoolboy crush." She sniffed, shaking her head. "That would be rich."

Jazzlyn felt the weight of all their eyes on her. Her tongue froze in her mouth.