Echoes of The PAST
Scene 1 – Restless Night
The room lay draped in shadows, the dim glow of the moon casting eerie shapes on the walls. Raul lay on his bed, his eyes wide open, sleep refusing to claim him. A sudden thump echoed from downstairs, breaking the silence. His instincts sharpened. Without hesitation, he reached beneath his pillow, fingers curling around the cold metal of his gun. Moving with practiced stealth, he slipped out of bed, every muscle coiled with tension.
Raul: (whispering) "An uninvited guest?"
Before heading downstairs, he paused outside her room. His hand hovered over the doorknob, his mind drifting to her—wounded, exhausted from the chaos of the night before.
Raul: (softly) "Let her rest... I'll handle this."
The soft rustling led him to the kitchen. The fridge door stood wide open, spilling pale light into the darkened room. A shadow shifted.
Raul: (aiming) "Wild cat!"
The figure froze. A spoon halfway to her lips, cheeks smudged with ice cream—Valentina.
Valentina: (muffled) "Mmm?"
Raul let out a quiet chuckle, lowering his gun.
Raul: (teasing) "Cute."
He stepped closer, brushing his thumb against her cheek to wipe away a stray smear of ice cream. Her body went rigid. Her breath hitched. Her mask—her shield—wasn't on. Panic flashed in her eyes as she started to retreat, but Raul's arm shot out, blocking her path, caging her between him and the fridge.
Raul: (softly) "No mask tonight. Looks like the wild cat has a face after all."
Before she could respond, a low, menacing growl rumbled through the air. Raul's body went taut. He spun just in time—a massive wolf lunged from the shadows. As it leapt, its claws snagged a crimson cloth draped over a large portrait. The fabric tore away, revealing the painting beneath.
Valentina reacted instantly. She grabbed Raul, yanking him down with her. They crashed onto the cold tile floor, her body pressing against his as the beast's path sailed over them.
Valentina: (commanding) "Stand down! He's not a threat."
The wolf halted. Its piercing eyes locked onto Raul, nostrils flaring, but it obeyed, retreating into the darkness.
Raul exhaled sharply, blinking in disbelief.
Raul: "A wild cat... taming a wild dog. Impressive."
Valentina turned back to him, their faces barely an inch apart. Tension crackled in the air.
Raul: (grinning) "Full moon tonight, huh?"
She rolled her eyes and tried to push off him—only for her injured leg to give out. She stumbled forward, her lips grazing his.
Time froze. Her breath caught. His eyes darkened. Before she could retreat, Raul flipped their positions, pinning her beneath him. He ran his tongue over his lip, tasting the faint sweetness left behind.
Raul: (husky) "Mint chocolate. Sweeter with your flavor."
A rare blush crept across her cheeks.
Raul: (softly) "You look better without the mask."
Flustered, Valentina shoved him off and staggered to her feet. But as she turned, her body went rigid. Her gaze locked onto the uncovered portrait. The color drained from her face.
---
Scene 2 – The Portrait of the Past
Raul followed her gaze. His breath hitched in his throat.
The painting was more than a memory—it was a ghost from another life. A regal man with the aura of a king, a stunning woman with kind eyes, a boy with a gentle smile, and a little girl bursting with mischief. Beside them stood another man, strong and noble, with a young boy clutching a book at his side, his expression wary yet curious.
Raul's voice came out rough, barely above a whisper.
Raul: (hoarse) "Valentina...?"
She stiffened, eyes wide as they darted to his face.
Valentina: (stammering) "How… how do you know my name?"
Raul swallowed hard, his voice steady despite the storm raging inside him.
Raul: "Because I'm Raul Vince Rinaldi."
The world tilted beneath her feet. She staggered back, her voice breaking.
Valentina: (shocked) "You… you're…"
Raul nodded, his gaze locked onto hers.
Raul: "Yes. It's me."
Memories crashed over them like a tidal wave.
---
Flashback – The Lost Childhood
A golden era. The Marchese estate, alive with laughter and warmth.
Ralph Lorenzo Marchese—the powerful Mafia king. His greatest treasure—his family. Valentina, his fierce little fire. Romeo, his kind-hearted son. Eveline, his beloved wife. And at his side, Antonio Chris Rinaldi—his brother in arms.
And Raul. The shy boy who always had a book in his hands, watching from the shadows—until Valentina pulled him into the light.
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Garden Scene – Young Trio
Valentina, small but fierce, found Raul beneath a tree.
Valentina: (grinning) "Hey, bookworm! We're family. Come play with us."
Raul clutched his book, hesitant.
Romeo: (gently) "C'mon, Raul! The world's too big for just books. We can be best friends."
They tickled him until he laughed—a sound that felt like home. From that day on, three became one. Partners in crime, in joy, in life.
---
Flashback Turns Dark
But joy never lasts forever.
A stormy night. Blood. Gunshots. Screams. Their world torn apart.
The parents—gone. Romeo—shot, life stolen too soon.
Valentina and Raul—ripped from each other.
She fled into the forest, waiting in the darkness, waiting for Raul to find her. But days turned into months. No sign of him.
And Raul—lost, broken, but alive. Taken from the ruins, vanished into a world of survival and vengeance.
---
Back to the Present – The Vow
The flashbacks faded. The present sharpened.
Valentina's voice broke the silence, trembling with emotion.
Valentina: "You… were alive?"
Raul's jaw clenched, his voice thick with pain.
Raul: "I had to be. I couldn't die—not without making them pay."
Her fists clenched his shirt, her voice raw with fury.
Valentina: "We'll make them beg. For every drop of blood they spilled. For every piece of our hearts they shattered."
Raul's grip tightened over hers, his voice cold as steel.
Raul: "Together."
Their eyes met—burning with the same fire. The same grief. The same vengeance.
Raul & Valentina (in unison): "We'll avenge them all."
-End of the chapter-
To be continued.....