Chapter 6 [ Just Like That? ]

Oops! I didn't finalize my story, earlier. So, let's proceed with the treaty.

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"What do you imply by a pact I can't decline?" I interrogated him with furrowed brows. By him, I mean the dead man's ghost. So, let's not get confused alright!

His response was quick, "I meant exactly what I said, Santo!"

How blunt!! You require assistance from me, and you are this dignified? Peccato!! Bloody rich folks! They are the same; dead or alive.

[Peccato! — Too bad!]

"Wait! Wait! Wait! Just halt for a minute alright! Fuck this pact and gibberish bullshit!! Can someone tell me what the actual fucks is going on!?! Santo!!!" Antonio shouted at me; his manner of speech was a bit unsettled. Okay, maybe more than a bit.

"Shut the fuck up! Antonio!! I am as confused as you, alright!" I yelled back at him, in frustration.

My aura displayed my confusion. How could he not see how tensed I was? Everything was very odd.

"I need you two to work together not cut each other's throats." Again, with the dead man's ghost and his disturbing speech; it was driving me nuts with unhealthy rage.

"You too Gustavo! Just shut the fuck up! I need to thin-"

"Think about what exactly!?!" Antonio cut into my clause before I could finish, "Look! I am not ready to be a party to your mental breakdown, Santo! I am out of here, man!"

As soon as he turned around to walk away, I found myself barking at him, "And where do you think you are going? Have you forgotten that it was your messed up idea to have us take this route in the first place!?!"

"True, but I am choosing to walk away from this manic bullshit!!" Antonio's dark eyes had become laced with a combination of irritation and panic.

I had no immediate reply to give him. So, I let myself breathe in some calm while watching him turn around to take further steps away from me.

He stood stationary after a minute or two and swirled around to look at me once more. He strode some steps back to where I was before speaking in a surprisingly faded tone, "Look at you, brother. I don't even recognize you any more. You are talking to no one but your imagination. It's nothing but the parched route, you, me and a lifeless body before us. Can't you see that things are getting out of hand? We need to call the fucking cops and right now!"

"And tell them what exactly? It's just us two and a corpse like you've rightly said. What do you think would happen when they come here? And who are we, penniless commoners? We're not even originally from Palermo. That would even make us more easy prey." It became evident that I was the only one making use of my brain at that point. So, I knew I had to get Antonio to think straight and fast too.

All those times I was conversing with Antonio, the dead man's ghost stayed silent.

**

I walked closer to Antonio and placed my hand on his shoulder to speak, "Look! Antonio, take a deep breath alright! There is no need to panic. I know you can't see Gustavo—only I can. But let's just listen to what he has to say. I believe fate doesn't make mistakes and nothing happens from sheer coincidence. Remember, Il destino da le carte, ma chi le deve giocare siamo noi. So, trust me alright!"

[Il destino da le carte, ma chi le deve giocare siamo noi — Fate deals the cards, but we have to play them.]

My words caused Antonio's nerves to calm down entirely, "Okay. So what is he saying?"

"Firstly, he wants us to move his body somewhere safe," I informed him.

"What? Santo are you sure about this?"

I shrugged, "What is life without a little adventure?"

"But this is a risky adventure, Santo!"

"Well the riskier, the better. Don't you think?"

Antonio scratched his head for a bit before speaking, "I don't know Santo! But whatever you say," He continued his speech, "If that's the first thing you just mentioned, what is the second?"

"I need to ask him. So, let me alright!" I turned to Gustavo's ghost to continue my enquiry, "So where do you want us to move your body to? We have to do things quickly."

"Oh, now you have become aware of that."

"Just speak alright," I intercepted his arrogant speech.

"Mm, there is an old cathedral about some forty kilometres(40 km) from here. The question is, does any one of you know how to drive?"

I didn't hesitate to respond, "Yes. I can drive a car."

Antonio stared at me in utter astonishment.

"Don't look at me like that! If I say I can, then best believe that I can."

He sighed with weary resignation.

"But since you were trailed here with this car, what is the guarantee that our lives won't be in danger as well from driving it?" I proceeded with my enquiry.

"Thank the heavens, Santo! Your brain cells are still alive."

I waved off Antonio's comment not seeing the need to reply or pick offence.

"You asked a very smart question, Santo. I was hijacked on the highway and driven here but now that you've mentioned it, let's walk closer to the car. I want to show you something; the two of you I mean."

I signalled Antonio to walk beside me as we headed towards where the luxurious car remained in a state of inertia.

**

"Now reach out for that yellow button and punch it softly with your thumb."

"You mean this one?" Before I could touch it, Antonio's words hindered me.

"Santo! Don't touch anything. What if the car explodes, and we all die? He's already dead, it won't hurt him."

I couldn't help but laugh, "Hahaha. Quit whining like a woman and just trust me, Antonio."

He shut his eyes firmly as I attempted to punch the button. I did so but nothing happened, talk more of an explosion. Haha!

Gustavo's words soon echoed in my ears, "Go and check! You'd realize that the plate number of the car has been altered and replaced with a new one."

Crazy son of a gun! How smart can one be? Still, he didn't see his death coming. How tragic!

**

"So, what happens at the cathedral and what pact were you referring to?" I kept my eyes glued to the road while peeping at Gustavo's ghost from the rearview mirror. He was seated in the passenger seat of the vehicle. While Antonio was looking out the window, not giving a hoot about the ongoing conversation.

"You will meet father Ernesto. He will have my corpse prayed upon and cremated. I already told him this some few years ago."

"What? Just like that? You are not going to inform your wife or the rest of the family?"

I was asking because why wouldn't he? I mean, I could deliver the message for him or not.

"She doesn't need to know, yet. She is safer not knowing as well as the rest of my family. As for the pact, I need you to pretend to be me, rich and famous Gustavo Rodrguez. Not a difficult task as you already look like me. With just a little touch-up and appropriate clothing, you become me and also get to be the-"

"Husband to your wife. I get it."

"Well yes... Most importantly, I need you to help me take down the enemy within; maybe a friend closer than a brother or vice-versa. I fear that even my mum and wife, Belinda, are not safe."

His final words caused an old saying to come to my mind, "Dai nemici mi guardo io, dagli amici mi guardi Iddio!"

[ Dai nemici mi guardo io, dagli amici mi guardi Iddio! — I will protect myself from my enemies, may God protect me from my friends!]

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