Chapter 62: LA PAURA DEL BUIO

Chapter 62: LA PAURA DEL BUIO

Bruno rented out a fucking moving truck. I dont know how he managed to shell out that much and certainly hadnt expected the gesture, but nonetheless, I woke up at the ass crack of dawn to see the big guy outside in a rental. It was a little overboard to show up to Mas and say Im a goner, like this, but, well, if I were having second thoughts, Bruno gave me no choice to back out now.

The drive there was dead silent. I think the big guy picked up on my nerves running haywire. Between that and the Soul-Sickness, it was clear Id been through hell.

But regardless of my physical state, the flashes of my Ma bawling her eyes out kept playing through my mind. It was a poison thatd set in deep and reached my heart. No matter what, there wasnt a chance shed forgive me for how bad Id screwed up. How I continuously fucked up. She might lie and pretend she did, to try to pull me back and prevent me from leavingshed always been like that, always the one to sacrifice her life for the sake of her family. But I knew the state accepting that lie would leave her in. That was a heavy weight to bear. Even if I had a century, I could never prepare for this day, but time has a way of making us do what we must, even if we dont want to.

The truck pulled up in front of the same broken-down property Id called home. I sighed as I looked at the door still hanging on its hinges. Shed at least covered the windows with cardboard.

Hey, gimme a few minutes before ya come in and start hauling my shit, alright? I looked at Bruno. Even though he was my best friend, I wanted to keep him out of this drama. He deserved that much. He nodded, unrolling the truck window, and swiftly abused his Soul Ability to light a cigarette.

Soul Ability jealousy was a real pain. Every time he did his little party trick, I felt keen envy. The heavens truly blessed some. I slammed the door and dragged my heels all the way to the house.

There wasnt a door, so I didnt need to dig for keys. Inside was still an absolute mess, though Mad cleaned the broken glass and piled in cornersa table missing a leg, only two of the four dining room chairs were left intact. When I swung through, I didnt take the time to appreciate how fucked things were, how badly Id hurt them.

I heard Alex and Ma chattering in the living room. Unable to bring myself to say anything, I lingered near the entry. It took a bit to work up my courage, but eventually, I walked forward. Strange how placing five thousand chips down for a bet felt so easy, but this was torture.

Alex was on the ground with his legs crossed in the living room, arm in a sling. He must have gotten hit by Tristans Soul during the fight, and I never noticed. This was all because of me. Id brought them into my mistakes, and even worse, the moment he saw me, a light came to his eyes. Luca! He said, tone filled with joy. Me, the bastard who dragged him into getting busted up since I refused to live a peaceful life like the rest of the people in this fucking city.

Ma was on the half-busted couch, tears already coming to her eyes. Oh, my son! Im sorry, I didnt mean to

I threw a hand out to stop her and choked down my sadness. No, dont, I dont deserve it. Ya were right to say what ya saidAlex, Im sorry. Neither of ya deserves to have someone shitty like me in your lives. I did the bare minimum to make some things rightand Im not done. Me taking that bastard down is the start; once I get more chips, Ill throw it down on furniture for you to replace what ya lost. As long as it takes, Ill pay ya back.

Stop it now! I was hurting; I didnt mean to say what I said. I dont blame you. Ma drew back, shed started to rise to no doubt embrace me, but my tone warned her.

Alex looked confused.

I hurt yall. Its been my choice not to go to school and stir up all this trouble; I lied and threw myself into risk after risk without thinking about what might come your way. I could sit here, let ya forgive me, and blame Tristan all day long. But he aint the real reason ya got hurt, I am. I lowered my head. Ya were right Ma. I dont belong here because I aint the man I need to be to make sure shit like this wont happen again.

We forgive you. We're family, aren't we?" she asked with hurt in her voice.

"We'll always be family, but that aint a good enough reason to let me hurt ya again. I'm moving out. I'll be fine, and I got friends to take care of me now. There aint no reason to worry."

- - -

I expected Bruno to live in some place in Southside or Uptown since he said hed been living on his own for about a couple of years. Like me, the man had never spent a single day working an honest job. Even if he had a side hustle of underground fighting, there was only so much you could make on brawling like that.

But he had an apartment in Seaside. It strangely bothered me to take an elevator and arrive in a goddamn apartment with an ocean view. I stared out the window for a long moment and looked at a view that gave Romeos apartment a run for its money. From here, I could see the tourists swarming the beaches. Why the hell aint we ever been here before. Bruno, what the fuck? This is the sorta place Id expect some big-business dude to live in or some wealthy banker. Like Romeo. I gestured to the granite counters and leather sofa overseeing a fireplace and television. How the fuck can ya afford this?

Bruno shifted around, giving a short laugh. No need to question it! Simply accept my offer. He gestured towards a spare room, door askew and showing a barren interior. As you can see, plenty of room. To be honest, I dont spend much time here.

Too good to be true. I raised an eyebrow. Bruno, did ya just break into this place to throw some practical prank? I woulda expected Eve to pull this, but you?

Luca, this is where I live; now you do too. Now come, let us get your things up here. Well sort rent later,

Bruno, I aint seeing any sorta life where I can afford this, hell, even if I was slinging alchemy supplements, I doubt it.

Dont worry. Herepay what you can each month. Thats all I ask. Nothing more, nothing less.

This is crazy. I gazed at the flawless granite counters and shook my head. Did I die? Was this the afterlife?

Bruno helped me haul the rest of my crap up to his apartment. By that, I mean Bruno carried most of my crap to his apartment while I lifted something, then ran out of breath after a minute or two. Luckily it wasnt much. Id be sleeping on a mattress for some time, which left a weird feeling in my gut. It was as if this place silently judged me for being too poor to afford a bed frame or box spring.

Then he gave me a tour of his apartment building: a pool, workout facility, and even a lounge for tenants. Surreal to think Id live here, but despite all of my questions confirming I wasnt losing my mind, Bruno insisted it was all legit. If he didnt have the keys, Id have called bullshit. That and seeing his full name on the mail slotBruno Reichart, right there in bold white letters on a metal flap.

A bit fucked that Id ruined my Mas home, then moved into a place fancier than shed lived her whole life. And that guilt sure did burn in my chest. But, well, Im not going to lie, I had no choice but to take what I could. Grateful didnt even begin to explain how I felt.

When I tried to press Bruno about how he even afforded this place or lived here, he evaded the question with some insane mental gymnastics. He decided to turn it around on me and asked why I thought he couldnt afford it.

When faced with the reply that he was a street rat in a gang, the crazy fuck tapped the side of his head and said Street Rat is just a mentality. He shot me a wink like I understood the shit he just spewed.

I let it go. I was far too tired and overwhelmed by the situation to continue complaining or forcing an answer. I didnt want to portray any rudeness to him, and Id been lucky he let me stay here. If he wanted to keep his secrets, he could. Not like I didnt have a few of my own, and Id respect it for now.

With the tour over, he gave me a set of keys and some sort of a magnetic keycard to get into the apartment building. He bid me goodnightsaying he and Eve were going out to get trashed at some gig she was playing. He even went so far as to invite me to join them after I finished with my uncle; I gave him a tentative acceptance, even though I knew full well Id slink back here to sleep after I got done talking to Romeo. With that, I was on my own.

All I had to do was face Romeo.