THE HIDDEN RIVAL

"Mom, where are you going? Please, I wanna go with you!" I pleaded, tugging at the hem of her silk blouse, my voice trembling. I wasn't stupid. I knew if she crossed that door tonight, she wouldn't be coming back not until next month, maybe not at all. But this time... this time was different.

Her hands trembled as she reached for the wardrobe, eyes darting toward the front door like she expected it to burst open any second. She opened the wardrobe slowly, then turned to me. Her eyes were wide, terrified .... not the usual cool, composed woman who used to take me on private jets to Milan or gave me strict etiquette lessons in between designer dress fittings. No, this version of my mom was shaking, sweat running down her temple, her lips pressed tight to stop them from quivering.

She bent down to my level, cupped my cheeks with both hands, and stared right into my eyes. "Baby, listen to me," she whispered, her voice cracking. "No matter what you hear, you stay here. You do not move, okay? Can you promise me that?"

I nodded quickly, too scared to even speak. Her lips quivered before she kissed my forehead.. soft, lingering, then gave me the light pat on my head she always gave me when I'd done something right. Her version of I love you.

Then she gently shut the wardrobe door, cloaking me in darkness.

I sat there, tucked in between hanging coats and stacks of shoeboxes, trying to hold in my breathing. The silence outside wasn't comforting, it was suffocating. Minutes crawled like hours. Then I heard it.

BANG!

A loud gunshot ripped through the air like it had torn the world in two.

I froze.

No, no, no...

I might not have been old enough to drive a car or sign a contract, but I wasn't naive either. My parents were deep in the mafia. That's why we were filthy rich. That's why we had bodyguards and security systems that could rival the Pentagon. And that's why they had enemies.

I knew.

I knew enough to understand that the gunshot meant something bad, something irreversible.

I pressed my hands over my mouth and listened as heavy boots stomped across the marble floor. Then came a voice, very deep and musculine like.

"Sir, I don't think the remaining rival is still here. Maybe they slaughtered her before we did."

His voice it was like gravel, like broken glass scraping on pavement. I memorized it. Etched it into my brain. I knew I'd be hearing it again someday.

The footsteps moved closer... closer... then suddenly stopped. My lungs were burning, but I didn't dare exhale. I wasn't ready to die. Not like this. Not today.

Then, just as suddenly, the footsteps retreated. The silence returned.

I waited.

Then slowly, carefully, I opened the wardrobe door and stepped out. My bare feet made no sound on the polished floor as I tiptoed through the hallway like a ghost. I didn't want to see it, but I had to.

I reached the living room and stopped cold.

My parents... were lying there Motionless and Lifeless. A pool of blood was spreading across the pristine white tiles. My mom's hand was stretched toward the hallway, as if she'd been trying to get to me.

I didn't cry.

But I felt like vomiting even Screaming or practically Ripping something to shreds... just Anything.

I ran to our computer room, hands shaking, and yanked up the city surveillance network. The cameras were still intact.

And there they were.

The bastards.

Their faces.

I stared at them, searing every scar, every tattoo, every smug, careless look they wore like trophies.

I wasn't gonna just let this go. No, Never.

I was going to come for them. Every last one of them.

And not only will I kill them once...

We are gonna still meet in hell in the afterlife.

After my parents got killed by the mafia, some kind of lawyer came to me and did the normal blah blah blah process. According to him, my parents were already aware that they would be dead sooner or later, so they wrote a will. Since I was the only survivor, I got it all to myself.

I didn't have many relatives, at least none I could remember, so I took care of myself. I was smart with money, so as little as I was, I knew what investment meant because if I really wanted to survive, if I was going to strike the mafias, then I needed one. So I invested in some business ventures and managed to multiply the inheritance my parents left me. Slowly, I built a small empire of my own not huge, just something a curious teenager could come up with. I think I actually started living properly the moment they killed my parents. And deep down, I knew that revenge was still on my mind.

The lawyer's words kept ringing in my mind as I sat alone in his office each time I came to do my normal check-in. It was necessary I came every month. While he was surrounded by the success he earned for fighting for people's innocence, I was just a normal teenager who didn't know what next to do with her life, apart from rendering it useless in a way.

Not long after I entered his office, he came in with his usual suit and tie and sat down in his chair.

"We've passed the stage of greeting, huh?" he asked. That was when I realized I hadn't greeted him yet. Ugh. Whatever... it's no big deal though.

"Good day, if that's what you wanna hear so bad. Let's just get this dumb meeting over with. I've got stuff to do." And when I said stuff, I meant nothing, actually but I just don't like this man. He always weirds me out.

"And that's part of what I want us to address today. Though, I already came to a conclusion and you have to follow suit."

Now this guy is really scaring me...

"Okay... that doesn't sound scary at all. What's it you wanna talk about, huh?" I said out of curiosity. I didn't trust this man a dent, because I knew what he was capable of.

"Well, I've arranged a place for you. It's called a foster home. That's where teenagers like you, what word should I use for it? Bastards like you who don't have parents, that's where they go. And I already signed all the required documents for you to move there."

He spat it out proudly, like he didn't just ruin my life.

I opened my mouth and the first thing I asked was:

"And what about my business and everything? Wait... what do you mean I have to go? I ain't going nowhere." I refused bluntly.

"Ah, ah.. it's not a choice. And as for your properties? They're written in my name now. It's all mine."

He said it with a grin. He was really enjoying this show he was putting on.

"You are worse than them... you son of a bitch! You traitor! I swear, if anything should be taken away from me.. I will find you later. I swear...!"

I was so furious. But he didn't even flinch or say anything to me. He watched me talk like I was just a clown making a fool of myself. And I'd be lying if I said it didn't hurt. Low-key, it did. This time, it hit me really hard. I don't think I was breathing through my nose anymore, I could feel myself breathing through my ears.

"One more threatening word and I might get you killed even before you get to the foster home. So better watch it, kid."

He said that with an amused face. This demon of a human was enjoying my pain. He was no different from them, he just waited long enough to strike. And it hurt so much.

I stood up from my chair, took one look at him with tears threatening to rush out, but I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction he wanted. I immediately moved to the door and left the building.

Hot tears were streaming down my face. I got into my car. No, I couldn't hold it anymore. It hurt. I cried until I was sure I was now tasting blood instead of the normal salty liquid I was crying earlier. I wiped my face, turned on the engine of my car, and drove right back to the house.

If I really wanted to survive, I needed a plan. I needed to make it fast, because my mind was telling me the foster home was going to come take me tonight or perhaps in the morning when I least expected them. I really needed a plan.

At least I was grateful for one thing: that I was smart enough to invest most of the inheritance money, most of which that devil of a lawyer isn't aware of. I went to the fridge and got out a table water to calm my nerves first, because my knees were practically shaking out of fear. I knew I had threatened him, but I couldn't even hurt a fly. And his words were echoing in my ears:

"One more threatening word and I will kill you before the foster home gets to you."

Yeah, I heard him correctly. And of all the things I knew about him since I've known him, it's that he doesn't bluff. He means it.

I needed to think of something he wouldn't think of. A place he wouldn't go looking for me if I dared run away, because that's exactly what I'm going to do right now: run. There's no second option. And I'm not trying that shit called "face your problem." Nah...this one is way more than me, and I need to act fast, or I might be joining my parents soon.

I kept pacing back and forth from one end of my room to the other. Then an idea clicked. I started packing my bag, the little one I could lay my hands on. I needed to look normal. I took all the necessary documents that would be needed if I was going to survive wherever I was headed and hid them at the back of the garden. I grabbed whatever clothes I could and zipped my bag.

It was late already, maybe around ten or eleven p.m. I took one last glance at the house I was about to abandon just because I was threatened by a lawyer.

It's pathetic, I know. But if you were in my shoes, you might actually commit suicide. That would be my next plan if this one didn't work out. I didn't bother taking my car, I knew him well enough to know he might've secretly planted a tracker on it.

I walked out of my compound and raced off. Nothing was chasing me, I was just running. I needed to free myself from all the thoughts I had. But me running got me into trouble this time. I ran for like thirty minutes nonstop and halted a little to sip some water.

I didn't know where I was, but I didn't care-as long as it wasn't near that demon.

I continued running. But I noticed a swift movement. Something ran past me maybe a person, I didn't know. But my legs became limp and I froze in my steps. I paused and looked back. Something was approaching me. It was huge. I didn't know whether it was a human shadow...

I took off immediately.

I ran, and I swear, my legs weren't even touching the floor. I was floating. I was running with every single muscle I had. But I was stupid not to watch where I was going. I felt like I already lost them... and then boom, I ran into a dead end.

I was stuck. Jesus...

I looked around to find somewhere to run, but I was already too late. He....no, they....yeah it wasn't just one person who caught up with me. My breathing hitched. I wasn't breathing properly. It felt like I was breathing in the wrong chemical-like it wasn't oxygen anymore.

I turned to get a clearer view of what my reckless self had gotten into. If I had just humbled my proud self and gone to the goddamn foster home, I would still be breathing. Because judging by the height of what was in front of me, I didn't stand a chance.

I turned. There were like four of them, I think. I stood there like the idiot I was. I formed my hands into a fist at least to save myself a little piece of dignity, which was probably lying on the floor, watching me disgrace myself.

"Ha... he's actually pulling a fist at us. He looks tough though, I like the energy. We could take this one back to Boss. He likes them fisty,"

The tough one among them said. And they all started laughing...wait they think am a boy... I don't blame them though , I have flat chest and i cut my hair short thats what i feel comfortable with .. yeah laugh all you want.

They seriously thought taking me to their boss was a joke.

Since my first plan was wrecked, I needed to act fast. I lunged at the one closest to me and threw a punch. He didn't even move. He gave me one last look and slapped the living daylight out of me. Though it was midnight, I think I saw the sun just now.

I hit the floor with a thump and winced. Before I could get my lazy ass up, he injected something into me. My body went limp. My soul left my body. My eyes became weak and slowly shut.

The last words I could think of were:

"I'm doomed..."

"Ahh," I winced when I noticed I hit something. My eye was a little blurry, maybe from the fact that I was drugged. I slowly took in my environment and it clicked... wait, where am I?

"Take it easy, boy. I don't wanna take a wounded stuff to boss," he said, and the others started laughing. That was when I took in how many they were. I was really stupid to think I could defend myself and run away yesterday. I looked around to know where exactly we were and... what the... I'm on a plane. I'm on a fucking goddamned plane with strangers I don't even know.

That was when panic hit me fully. I looked at the one who had been sort of quiet while the others were laughing.

"Sorry sir, um, where exactly are we?" And yeah, seems like I asked the wrong question, 'cause he gave me a death stare, but not without throwing the insult at me.

"Boy, you can't be so dumb not to notice we are on a plane," he said and moved his attention back to what he was doing like his life depended on it.

It was useless if I even tried to run like, they were all giants with huge, masculine bodies. Whatever it is they wanna do with me, I'm totally in, 'cause I already gave up my life when I stupidly ran out of the house yesterday. And I can imagine the smile on the lawyer's face when he realizes his threat actually worked. So much for getting revenge for my parents when I can't even run out of the house peacefully.

I sat there for what felt like a quarter of my life before the person I assumed to be the pilot gave a brief notification for us to tighten our seatbelts that the plane was about to land. Yeah, I immediately buckled mine. As much as I wanna die, I don't want it to happen on a plane.

The plane landed with ease and I just sat there waiting for what they were gonna do to me next.

"Hey boy, get your ass up from there. We don't have all the time, yeah," said someone who was practically dragging me off the plane. I tried to have at least a little stimuli, at least to make a good impression on the boss, as they called him but with me not eating last night, I think impression should wait for a while.

When we all got down from the plane, well, first thing I noticed was that it was just the few men that came out, which practically means it was a private plane. Wow, that's actually cool. Yeah, don't mind me. I know I'm gonna die any minute, but the least I could do is be observant.

When they got their bags all out, they stood in salute. That was when I turned to see who they were greeting and I almost fainted. The figure before me was no different from Goliath, to be sincere.

He was tall and had broad shoulders. I don't wanna even talk about how masculine he looked. I'm starting to hate myself for running instead of going to the foster home.

"What's this little thing you got back here?" he asked like he was confused to see something that wasn't human. And before you ask, yeah, I'm the one he just called a thing, and I gladly agree.

"Sir, we found him at the coast of New York. He ruined our plan and also tried to punch one of our men."

Uhh, that is such a silly excuse. How the fuck did I ruin their plan?

"You know I don't take shits, but he seems tough. Bring him in." With that, he turned his back and left me at the mercy of these men.

"Bro, that was lite. But thank goodness we got this boy. If not, our ass would be five feet down right now. Naldo, move him to the room," he said, and with that, the quiet one I asked the question stepped forward. Seems like he's the errand boy here. He came and dragged me down to the so-called room, but not without me asking him questions.

"Um, sir, where are we... I mean, the state we're in..." I asked out of curiosity, and the idiot started laughing at me, which was even more annoying.

"Boy, we are in Vegas, okay? And do me a favor and don't ask me any silly questions again." With that, he thrust me into a dark room and shut the door.

Nope, this room being dark was an understatement, we need another color darker than black, Jesus. For like the hundred hours I stayed there, I felt like I was already blind. And it wasn't a funny situation.

First off, we practically left New York to Vegas, and my sleepy ass didn't wake up till we were halfway here. And talking of sleep... ahh, my eyelids are heavy and they really wanna rest. As much as I love my life, I also love sleep. And don't forget to add food, I love it.

I stayed for a moment, and my eyelids did me a favor and went shut...

I woke up when I felt like I was floating. And when I noticed I was really moving up, that I wasn't exaggerating that was when I did the stuff that almost ruined my reputation: I started shouting for help.

"Somebody help! Oh my God, I'm floating, I'm-" I stopped my statement when I immediately took in where I was...

A ring.

My legs went limp immediately. I looked around and saw kids my age chanting, "Boris! Boris!" Maybe that was the boss. And I saw a figure sitting down... then I heard somebody speak through the speaker, saying:

"Boys, let's welcome our new inmate rival!"