001

The silence felt thick, for my ears that were covered by bandages.

The surface under my fingertips wasn't cold like before.

It was warm and cozy, as if I was sleeping in my favorite bed.

But why does it hurt so much?

"You bxtch! You deserve to die!"

My eyes narrowed as I heard a voice so close to my ears.

But unlike every time I'm asleep, it wasn't Jackson or Jennie but an unfamiliar female with a high-pitched tone which actually began to give me a headache.

"I'm sorry baby, but you have to endure this…for us… and for our baby."

What the hell? Baby!? What the heck is happening!?

I frowned as my eyes shot opened.

Sitting on the bed that felt so unfamiliar, my breath seemed to be rigid as my body weakly quivered.

I looked at every corner of the room and all I saw was a table that contained folded clothes and fresh fruits along with a few bottles of medicine.

I frowned as I looked back at the table again.

Clothes? In white and blue color? What is this, an asylum?

My eyes immediately averted to my hand that was stinging with so much pain.

Right, of course, it will hurt when it's plugged in by several needles at once, doesn't it?

But why the fxck am I in a hospital?

I was supposed to be at the mansion, ain't I?

I rubbed my head as I tried to remember what happened to me.

But before I could even try to do so, the door opened swiftly.

I turned my head and when my eyes blinked to adjust to the bright lights, they widened.

My body went cold the moment he walked to me.

I clutched the bedsheet as I, with my wide eyes, looked at him before my lips parted to say,

"G-grandpa?"

His gentle and soft smile made my eyes soften.

Is this really happening?

Why am I seeing my dead grandpa smiling at me while looking so lively?

Does this mean I'm also dead?

"My dear.."

I blinked as he slowly kept his hand over my head and smiled at me with tears in his eyes.

The warm wetness on my cheeks made me touch them and when I touched them, my fingers didn't go through my skin like I thought they would.

I'm not dead? Then how is this possible?

"H-how…grandpa, you're alive!"

I hugged him tight as I sobbed with my arms wrapping around him ever so trembling.

But his emotions didn't seem to match with what I'm feeling right now.

His slightful chuckle accompanied by a gentle laugh made me frown before I broke the hug.

His hands took a hold of my cheeks for the first time as my eyes widened at such caress I had always desired for.

Is this how it feels to be held by your own blood?

My lips trembled to form a smile as I gaped at my grandpa.

My grandpa, he is alive and is holding me like I wished all my life!

"Oh my, Mei Mei, did you have a nightmare again?"

Mei Mei?

My eyebrows narrowed before my face lost all the colors.

"M…Mei Mei?"

Grandpa blinked as he looked at me while I doubtfully whispered out the name.

"Mei, how is your head? Does it still hurt?"

Grandpa said as he tilted his head, looking at me.

Mei Mei, where did I hear this name again?

I tapped my fingers against the sheets, as I didn't realize that I hadn't answered grandpa yet.

"Now...I'll rip your face!"

This bitch..

Rubbing my forehead as the high-pitched tone came back to my mind, my face completely turned away as I tried not to let their voices consume my energy.

"W…what happened to me?" I managed to ask as I looked at the sky that was full of gray clouds with thunder ready to storm any second by now.

Grandpa gently sat down beside me before he kept his hand on my back.

"I heard you fell down the stairs, you hurt your head so much that you were in a coma for 3 days, dear. I was so worried about you."

A heavy exhale left my lips before my head turned to him unconsciously.

"I know, but shouldn't you be in Paris?"

My eyes widened at my own words and the tone before I looked up at my grandpa.

No..no no! There's no way I said that! How would I know his whereabouts when he has been dead all my life!?

The confusion took over my mind as I touched my head, feeling the rapid increase in pain at the back of my head.

"Mei Mei, It may have been important but not more than you."

Grandpa said with his softening gaze falling over me.

I opened my eyes only to look at my lap while I tried to recall how I ended up here.

Yes, Grandpa is right, I did fell down the stairs. But..

Flashback starts -

The dim golden lights with the mansion painted in black looked sexy, but not more than me who is dancing my life out in the shower. I was showering with my charcoal soap being rubbed over my skin ever so soothingly. It was warm and relaxing with wolves howling in the dark forest that was covered with spine—chilling cool clouds.

Yes, that's right. I'm living alone in a mansion, that too, in the middle of a forest with not even an inch of me being scared of it. Guess why?

"Tiptoe through the window-"

The song by Tiny Tim which I kept as my phone ringtone echoed, and I was fast enough to pick up the phone from the table that was placed against the window where my favorite pet Henry—which is an owl— always sits at.

"Yes?" I spoke, waiting for the person on the other side of the call to respond, but all I heard was heavy breaths and in annoyance, I rolled my eyes and looked down at the screen of my phone, which showed the caller ID to be unknown.

I hung up the phone before settling down on the sofa with a cigarette lit up and placing it between my lips. "Call Jennie." I said and Alexa was quick to dial Jennie on my personal phone. The phone rang for a few seconds before I heard her voice.

"Yes, Boss?"

I didn't respond for a sec as my hands ran through my wet hair while the black silky gown I wore fell loose down my feet.

"Did you finish him?"

I asked as I glared right through my reflection.

With my straight blonde hair reaching my waist, I looked pretty and vicious with no makeup on.

Jennie hesitated to speak before she took a gulp and I clearly heard that, which only triggered me more.

"Y-Yes, Boss, but he had no information on him like we expected. But Z—18 found out that they pitched a place to stay tonight!"

I froze in my tracks when I heard Jennie say. Z—18. How come I never knew there was a new member?

"Z—18, it is." Jennie didn't respond, as I mumbled before she hummed through her trembling tone.

"Y-Yes, Boss."

I chuckled, sneering at how much of a bad liar she is and has been for 14 years. I still remember how we met. It was on my birthday.

I was kidnapped by a mafia group named Mafioso. It was the most dangerous Mafia organization to exist in more than 16 countries, including the whole continent of Asia, Italy, America, the UK. As much as I remember, there was a big misunderstanding between the people who wanted the mafioso to bring who. I was mistaken for that 'who' they were asked to be brought, but in the end, I was taken far away from my only family.

I was told that my family had been murdered by Pen, one of the main members of Mafioso, and I didn't have a choice but to live with them. Live under their feet and listen to whatever they say and that was until I turned 11. Big story short, I took over the Mafioso Organization at the age of 14— which is five years ago. Five years it has been, and I have never been so doubtful of my friends, who gave their hand to hold whenever I had obstacles.

But now.. I could feel it. Their hesitance, their loyalty and their unsure behavior which, at the beginning, may have frightened me, but as days passed by, I felt nothing but empty, like I had been alone all along.

"Boss? Boss! Are you there? Boss, can you hear me?"

I heard Jennie shout, snapping me out of my thoughts before I heard the doorbell ringing as well.

"I'll call you back in a minute, Jennie. Someone's at the door."

"Boss, I-"

"Alexa, end the call."

I spoke before the call ended.

I stood up from the sofa before I wore my slippers.

Walking down the stairs, I wondered who might come to my door, in fact in the middle of the forest? It seemed so strange and when I stood on the first floor, looking at the door that was down the hall. I was one more row of stairs away to reach. I took a deep breath and my feet slipped on the floor that was full of candle drip.

I remember that time was going slowly. So slow that everything I went through flashed in front of my eyes like this is the end. As if I was going to die then and there.

How happy I used to be. I remember how fearless I used to be.

But suddenly, the fear of my life ending consumed me as I watched the blood spread from my blonde hair to spread on the white floor.

Tears formed in my eyes, but I began to feel less and less painful.

I blinked weakly when the doors in front of my eyes slammed open. The light was bright behind his frame, preventing me from seeing his face before it dimmed. As much as I wanted to reach for him, my weakening body didn't help at all. My teary eyes slowly began to take in the features of his face before a small smile formed on my lips when I saw my favorite person in front of me, holding onto my hand ever so gently. Is this what they mean by a dream coming true? Unlike when I fell down the stairs, I didn't cry this time but smiled through the pain, through my ending life.

"I'm dying, Chris, aren't I?" And I took my last breath.

Flashback ends -

Yes, I died, didn't I?

To anyone who isn't in my shoes it would look so funny—the way I died, The Mafia Don died.

Funny or not, if I died, then it should end my life, my journey should end, but why am I still alive and,

Why am I being called by my sister's name?!