Vengeance is mine

MARGAUX

Blood. Blood was dripping from my forehead. It just occurred to me then that I had several wounds.

I must look worse than I was imagining myself as of the moment. But, I could hardly care about my appearance anymore. The soles of my feet must be bleeding too, the rough asphalt making scratches as I continued to run.

Panting, I tried to catch my breath. For a minute, I was tempted to look back and see if the Japanese Yakuza was chasing after me. Or if Mary was still running with me.

But I refused to slow down.

I muttered a curse, trudging through the quiet street, making sure to hide in the shadows, avoiding all streetlights. One eight of the neighborhood where I lived was composed of an entire Mafia community and right now, I can't trust anybody.

Though these people had worked with my father, I was aware that tonight there was a division of loyalties.

Take Paul for example. Briefly, I saw him standing with Takahashi's men, pointing a gun towards the cowering few individuals who had survived the onslaught.

My brain was not able to process right earlier and I was busy fuming and trying not to lash out in front of Takahashi that it was only now that I remembered this tiny detail of tonight's betrayal.

I was led to wonder, what did the Japanese Yakuza offer to make Paul take their side instead of defending my father? Also, I was left to question whether he had been planning the slaughter with Takahashi for a long while.

His parting words which had me confused earlier had now found its way in my head for understanding.

Stupid Japanese Mafia Boss and his claim to rule the mafia world.

But I will never let him.

Not after killing my entire family.

Thinking about them, a brief flashback of my father screaming for me to flee before a bullet passed through his head, instantly ending his life, appeared in my line of vision. Following that was Mikee and the resolve on his face before Takahashi had pulled the trigger, ending my dear innocent brother's life right before my eyes.

I clenched my hands into fists, sadness and fury burning inside me.

I will make sure that the Japanese Mafia will pay for what they did.

I will avenge my father. My family.

From this day forward, they have declared war.

And war they shall have. That's my promise, vengeance will be mine.

Finally being hit by exhaustion, I slowed down and eventually came to a stop, throwing myself on the cold cement, unable to stop the tears from falling. My shoulders began to shake as everything that had happened tonight came crashing down on me.

I felt Mary's hand gently surrounding me. I let myself get wrapped around her arms.

"Mikee. Mikee wanted some chocolates." I sobbed, feeling weak and helpless against Mary's hold. I had wanted to run towards him both before and after Takahashi pulled the trigger but Mary stopped me and had pulled me away. I was screaming my brother's name while being dragged by my best friend.

Takahashi was still smirking when I last saw his face before Mary and I broke into a run. The stupid Mafia Boss allowed us a few minutes as a head start before he let his men chase after us. The emotions swirling inside me was both rage and sorrow.

"Mads. Mads was going to stay overnight and we were planning to watch a movie together early the next day." I went on despite the difficulty in trying to speak and at the same time crying.

"Mom. She was scolding me about slouching."

"Dad." I wasn't able to say anything after that. I have witnessed both my father and Mikee's deaths. But my father's eyes still haunted me the most.

I closed my eyes, the scene was vividly replaying in my head. There was pure fear reflected in his usually bright and jovial eyes.

But it was not for himself. It was for me. Even on the brink of death, my father didn't think of himself.

'Margie! Run! Go!' His last words echoed in my ears.

It was enough to throw me in another round of a crying fit. I never cried this heavily as far as I could recall. I never usually cry, period.

But my chest felt like it was going to burst and I guess, I didn't have any reason to cry until tonight.

My mother, my sister, my father, and my younger brother. I was not able to save any of them. I was powerless to save them. I was powerless to do anything.

"You and I, Margie. It's just you and I now." Mary said, making me realize that I wasn't the only one who had lost people whom I cared about. She did too.

Fresh tears sprung from my eyes.

I knew that life was never meant to be forever. But it never occurred to me that I will lose the people I cared the most in a blink of an eye.

If I did, I would have done some things a little differently.

I would have showered them with more love and showed more care than I ever did.

If only I was more capable, I might have done something.

I could have saved them. I could have prevented my father and my brother from getting killed.

I can never forgive the people who had done this. I will never rest until I have obtained justice for my father. For my family. And for every person whom they have killed ruthlessly.

"I'm sorry Mary, for pointing a gun at you." I said after a while, realizing that I haven't properly apologized for threatening her life and actually pulling the trigger.

Knowing Mary, it must have scared her but she won't admit it.

"It was nothing. I know you wouldn't shoot me for real." I let a minute of silence hang around us, grasping something else.

"I'm sorry but I can never forgive Takahashi for what he has done."

"Ssshhh. We both suffered losses for tonight."

"He killed my entire family. He killed both my father and brother right in front of me."

"I'm sorry, Margie. I truly am."

I wiped at my eyes, smearing blood across my face. I grimaced.

"I wish your sorry could bring back the dead, Mary. Maybe then, I could just accept that and move on."

She was silent.

I clenched my hands into fists.

"I'll make sure that Takahashi pays. Him and every last one of the Japanese Yakuza."