Shadows of Deception

He's alive?

He's alive!

I couldn't get that Enigma out of my head. I couldn't get that possibility out of my mind. All these years I thought my brother was dead. I tried to suppress the uncontrollable urge to just jump to a crazy level. It couldn't be possible that he was still alive, he met with an accident back home in Florida. He died three years ago. Didn't he?

Yet, the solid piece of evidence in my hand staring right at me said otherwise. I gave the little card another glance to ensure I wasn't tripping of my sanity. It was real. The writing was his and it was addressed to someone Called 'B,883.' The card had my brother's very own signature, last week's date and a request to meet at an apartment building with the number in it.

Honesty, I found the card by accident At the bank when someone pushed me by mistake and I dropped my bag. Low and behold, the card was staring right at me on the floor. It seemed as though someone had accidentally dropped it.

Maybe it was planted for me?

Was that even possible?

I mean, things like that only happen in books and movies right?

Well, whatever. I could handle myself.

I'm not some sort of Barbie doll who needed a Ken, or a Disney princess who needed her Prince Charming. Plus, I kinda have a white belt in martial belt that I mastered through online class.

It counts right?

Alright. Fine I agree, I have a police friend on speed dial. Not that I needed to use it that much. I nervously made my way through the stinking building to the addresses room on the card. What the hell kind of place was this? No respectable lady should even set foot here. Men crawled around this place like ants on sugar. They were probably on the heaviest stuff, I figured. The place literally reeked of disgusting smell and sweat. I seriously wanted to puke. What was Daniel even doing in a place like this in the first place if he was alive? The looks and glares I got from these men were to another level. Look of seduction and abduction. Like they were thirsty for something.

Talk about thirst, these men needed some water. Holy water.

I pushed my brown lock around my ear as I tried to walk in the modest way possible to avoid more piercing eyes. No way was I throwing candy for these dogs. I came here to find my lost brother and so help me God. I will.

Stepping at the room door, I felt my heart clench harder that I couldn't breathe properly. I was about to knock on the door but I noticed it was already opened.

Gently giving it a knock, I pushed it open to reveal an empty room inside. Taking careful steps inside, I took notice of the surroundings inside the room. It was dull, and it was as if someone was here some time back. Was. The apartment was cleaned out, empty, as if someone had just recently moved out. I made my way to the kitchen when I stepped on something solid on the ground. It was a phone that looked like it was smashed on purpose. There was another kind of writing on a card on the ground. Exactly like the one I got in the bank. My heart was suddenly skipping beats that I swore I needed to go see my doctor on my way home. Although the writing on the card seemed to be completely useless items such as grocery list, I was shocked that it was actually my brother's writing. The very one I've come to master right when we grew together.

My brother was really alive.

Infact, this was his apartment and now he's not here anymore.

God no!

I sunk into a state of panic.

Why would he do this?

So many questions I needed answers to but my grieving heart was preventing me from even thinking about them.

No.

I needed to find him now. I had to. Looking at the phone again, I realized that it was a form of hope. It could be fixed if I spoke to the right person, no? I had to do this! I dipped the phone safely inside my bag and took one final look around the room when something caught my eye. If I wasn't this observant of a person, I wouldn't have noticed the bend picture frame on the wall. Moving to take the frame out I saw a box behind it. like a safe box but it was opened. It was as if someone was rambling through the box's contents before. I dropped the frame and started going through the files inside the box. I needed something, anything to pin me to my brother's location. I was at the verge of tears already. A strange folder caught my eye. Opening it I saw some perculiar stuffs. Drug trade transactions? Italian Mafia reports? What the heck!? There was another folder that hooked my eyes. It was the draft of a partnership with some guy named Sinister Salvaltore and Daniel Grey...?

My.... Brother?

God no!

Daniel? The door creaked and I shot my eyes to it. The voices downstairs was getting much like an activity or something was happening. I needed to be quick. I dragged the file containing my brother's name and dipped it in my bag. The voices downstairs was getting closer as if they were moving to the room I was. I needed to hide. God I don't want to be caught now, Not after seeing these illegal folders.

I dashed towards to bathroom and twisted the lock. The voices became audible as few steps rushed inside the room. They began rambling everything, as though they were searching for something. " vrado, It seems as though he has been gone for long."A voice was heard. A male voice.

"He wouldn't have been able to take the files, he left in a haste." Another male voice. From the hearing of things, I could tell they were farmiliar with the person living here before.

The first voice shot out again." So you believe their words now, don't you think they are working for him?"

"I don't care, take everything in the box."

The second voice ordered and they began shuffling again. I was trying so hard to suppress my voice, my heart was beating too fast and I couldn't see properly. Some minutes past and when I didn't hear the voices again. I moved from the bathroom into the room. It was in a mess now, the box wasn't there anymore and the door was open.

God no.

What has Daniel gotten into now? On my way out I stopped at the receptionist at the apartment to enquire if my brother Daniel Grey had booked a room there. The answer honestly, screwed with my head.

She said no.

This discovery made me more than just anxious about what was happened. What the actual heck was going on?

Taking a frustrated breath, I decided to calm my self down. There was no need getting all flustered about something I wasn't so sure of. I still had that cell phone and the document and it was my only hope. I had to get it repaired no matter what, maybe it will help me about my brother's whereabouts.

The cold night breeze laced through my hair as I walked outside. Yet the chilling feeling of unease never left me. It was almost as if I could feel myself being watched.

Haha! Who knows me?

I practically came to this town just find my brother. I felt stares creeping on me as I took a turn towards the hotel I rented. For some odd reason it felt like it was impossible for me to move faster. I gripped my bag and brought it close to me.

Was I walking too slow? I only do that when I feel unsettled.

Abruptly, I felt a hand snake around my waist and muffled my mouth from behind. For some reason I didn't drop my bag, maybe because of fright. I bit the person's hands to let go of me and surprisingly, he did. But another man stood in front of me. Around five other individuals approached me as well. They were all men dressed in black.

God. This was not good.

"Give me the folders girl." One of the men said.

"I will repeat myself for the third time, give us the folder miss."

Hot mess!

This is hot mess!

How did they know I had the file on me. It was deeply tucked in my bag.

And who were these people?

"Uhm, I'm sorry I think you have the wrong person. I'm not from around here and I have nothing with me." I replied with the most polite tone ever. "

You work for Salvatore right?" Another of them asked with a Russian accent.

Salvatore?

Was that a name of a bird?

"We can help you if you give us the folder willingly, we do not have to take it forcefully." The first man said again as he began moving close to me.

I took a step back.

And another.

And another, until I bumped on what seemed like a wall.... No I mean, a human .

"You don't have to make it hard miss, give us the folder." He said from behind me making me shudder in fear.

"We know you work for Salvatore, and we won't hesitate to end you this instant."

"What? No! I have no idea who Salvatore is." I stated quite angrily getting frustrated at this.

"So you know who Vladimir is as well?"

Vladimir?

Wait!

Vladimir?

Wasn't he the man from one of the folder I picked earlier?

No, i couldn't let them know that I have known him. They might actually think I have something to do with this bu la la.

"I don't know what you are talking about. Now be a darling and let the lady pass." I said as I tried to move away from them but one of the men stopped me, crushing my arms tighter.

"Ahh, you bastard" I screamed.

"There are ways in which I can make a lady talk" the man replied with the most vicious chuckle I've ever heard.

My body froze with fear,

oh God this man.... Am I seriously destined to die tonight?

"I-I'm talking right now aren't I? Do you need me to talk more than this?" I asked trying to buy myself some time.....

Buy some time?

What was I thinking!

Nobody was coming to save me.

Okay, martial art skills, I need you right now.

"I can make you say whatever i want to hear.." he replied huskily.

"Can you now? A strange voice echoed from behind.

"Salvatore!" The guy who held me by the hand gritted at the other guy who just came.

" You should be more mannered, you know how skeptical I am about first name basis."

The new guy said. I couldn't turn to see him because of the guy standing behind me, but I could tell from his voice that he was intimidating.

"I'm a man of very tight schedule, so I'll be quick about this. A bargain, this girl here in return for a partnership in my next project." He stated in the most detailed way possible, giving the other guy the time to sink the preposition in.

Wait!

Which gurl?

I believe I'm the only female here, so who? Me?

"I'll even cut you in 50% profit and throw in the fact that you'll be the only limited partner." The young man said quite confidently as if he had nothing to loose.

What the heck!?

Was he bargaining.... Me?

I pushed myself off the guy holding me and turned to this self centered guy to give him a piece of my mind. "Wait a minute, are you talking about me-"

Holy cows!

He wasn't wearing any mask. I could see his face, every defined detail about him. He was standing there.. with his hands in his pants pockets. The posture he stood in, in general, emitted arrogance and a sidedly intimidating kind of aura. He seemed like a magnet, which by nature, did not need to exert any force to have things drawn towards him, because it's simply... Captivating. Yes, simply that was the word that fit him perfectly. I gulped.

The Adam before me noticed me gawking but gave little or no effort to render his sight on me as he continued... " What do you say, Vargo?"

This girl must be quite important to you Salvatore, it'd be a shame if anything happened to her, no? she your girlfriend?" The guy, Romano asked with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

" That's not important." The Adam added, with no remorse. Without even shooting me a glance.

"Alright." The masked man, Romano as he was called turned around to the other men as though he was thinking about the preposition.

I could run away right?

As much as this Adam is looking really appealing, I do not want to go anywhere with him and certainly not with this masked individuals. We were standing somewhere close to a flowing river, My eyes shot out to the bridge nearby. If I just run fast I could jump inside and get lost from both of them right? As though reading my mind. The Adam before me spoke.

" Don't be an idiot."

Wait!

Did he just call me an idiot?

Wow!

The masked guy Romano turned back around around, " I've made my decision and I decline. " As he pulled out a gun towards me. Before he could shoot, another gunshot was heard. It was fired towards.... Him? He yelled as he got the shot in his leg. Panic flew through me as I gave a shriek and dropped my bag. " Damn you!" One of the masked guy cursed as he pulled out a gun but before he could aim, he was shot at. Another dragged me by the neck and brought me to him as a shield. " you little wretch! Trying to trick us! You called Salvatore here! You ruined our plan." He pressed the gun on my head as he started dragging me away.

" If I were you Elvin, I'll drop my gun and run for my life. You have a countdown till 8 to do just that. 1.... 2...." The Adam, still standing tall with his hands in his pocket started counting while fixing his deadly gaze on me.

" Haha, you think I'm a fool? It's either her or me. If you want to hurt me , you'll have to go through her first." Elvin screamed at the Adam as he tightened his grip on my neck.

I couldn't breathe. It was as though I was underwater and I was drowning, but this time, I was drowning in my own sweats.

"6....7....8..... Alberto!" A gunshot was heard.

I felt something on me.

something cold and sticky splashed on me as a strong smell of metallic smell hit me.

Blood.

That was all my brain registered as I passed out.

My head ached.

My eyes were so heavy it hurt.

The light on the ceiling made it more difficult for me to fully open my eyelids.

Wait, I don't know this place!

Where was I?

I tried myself to move up from this oddly comfortable bed. It was like I had someone shoot arrows through my stomach.....

Forcefully, I got myself off the bed and took notice of the room I was in. It was large and unbelievably neat. Everything was in perfect order, from the books to the pencil in the bed head. Walking towards the full sized mirror I saw how shattered I looked, my hair was everywhere and my clothes- Good lords! Oh my Lord! I wasn't in my regular clothing I had on before, instead I was wearing this white shirt three times bigger than me.

Where am I..... whose shirt was this?

Panic shook me as I ran my hair through my already horrible hair and paced around the room.

Wait. What time was it?

I rushed to open the curtain just across the room where I was met with the most spectacular view ever! The New York night light made a kaleidoscope of colors which sparkled like the first pour of open wine. The curtain covered all the walls of the room when I realized that it wasn't actually walls but glass windows from the floor to ceiling. The heck!!? One thing I knew, I wasn't anywhere near the motel I had lounged. I think I was in a real hotel, probably on the top floor.

As I left the room, I found myself in another room, the cold marble floor kicked my soft sensitive feet. Was this.... An office room? At the center of the large space sat a great rich wooden desk and a massive, but quite comfortable looking leather chair. I noticed another room. The door was ajar and the movements of people were evident on the other side. Nearing it, I became a bit more nervous as I picked on the voices and what they were arguing about. Slowly I opened the door to step out when suddenly, gazes feel upon me. Everyone was silent..

There were three men, I distinctly recalled their faces from the event last time. They all kept staring at me like a prizeless ugly antique until one of them walked up to me with a smile on his face.

" you're awake.... I was so worried. How are you feeling now?"

"Umm....I....I'm alright." I said weakly trying to smile back at him but with everyone looking at me, it was just so uncomfortable. The stare I got from the second individual was disturbing, it was like he was chewing me mentally. I rigged the end of the oversized shirt I was wearing realizing I was in a room filled with men. The first guy laughed at my reaction," Don't worry we don't bite. We won't even think of hurting you, you already went through so much. He said putting his hand on my head in a playful way. I always knew I was short, but not this small to the extend that I was looking like a baby around these tall intimidating men.

"I'm Alberto but just call me Aby. That's Ricardo and Fernando."

were they-

" No my love, they aren't brothers." He answered almost immediately as if he could read my thought.

Ricardo, his state was more intense than the one Fernando was giving me. His stares literally was like he was reading who I was, where I came from, who I do, and he also had on a hint of 'I'm going to step on you like the tiny bug that you are' kind of look.

"My my, you look pale kitten, do you want something to drink?" Fernando asked.

"Oh no no, I'm fine. Thank you." I replied almost immediately. The aura was too tensed enough for me.

"Our friend back there was really holding you by the neck eii?" Alberto asked, hinting at the visible marks on my neck.

"Well, for a moment I thought I was going to die because he-"

"What exactly did you come to do in New York, miss Grey?" Ricardo asked for the first time since I've been here.

Wait miss Grey?

He knew my name?

" H- How did you know my name?" I asked with tremble.

"You should give an answer to my question." He replied calmly this time, like a lion ready to pound on his prey.

" Umm.. I came in search of someone." I answers truthfully but i could still feel the burning stares on me. " I'm sorry but I have to go now, please I need back my bag and thank you for saving me." Something was raising my precaution level about these guys, and honestly if they had anything to do about those mafia stuffs I saw in that folder, then they were not the kind of people I'd like to be around-no matter how nice they could be to me. At this point I didn't care if I walked out on the street in a man's shirt, I just needed to get out of here this instant. As I headed for the door, Alberto held me back. " You can't go yet."

What?

Fernando suddenly stepped in front of me, "Sorry about that kitty girl."

"What? Why can't I leave?" I asked shouting and letting my panic and fear out.

" Listen, I too don't want a lady on my neck, we'd let you go too but he doesn't want to let you go just yet." Fernando continued.

"H-He" "Yes, a friend of ours." Ricardo replied calmly.

"How dare he! Who the hell does he think he is? He can't keep me here! He can't decide if he can keep me here or not, I'm a full grown lady." I screamed like a lunatic.

"Kitty, Maybe you should calm down. It's not good for your health and I'm no doctor." I could sense a hint of mockery as Fernando spoke.

Now they think I was a lunatic huh?

" Well, I have a few things to say to this Friend of yours.... I demand to meet him."

"No need ranting like a manic, why don't you tell me yourself." I heard a velvety voice from behind me. Speak of the Devil's son..