Mascara Tears [ON HOLD]

8. Malo's Invitation

Ace

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‘So that will be that.’ Malo announced, dismissing the various gang members that had gathered there.

Mel sat across from Ace, a tactic to hide their connection from any attendants that did not already know. Marv was there too, seated next to Malo on two chairs set up so as to obviously loom over the rest of them. It fascinated Ace that even though two rival gangs gathered there, the atmosphere remained calm… orderly. Not at all as if were people who’d been killing each other for years having a meeting.

Malo and Marv had taken turns explaining their strategies, dictating who’d do what but never why. The main objective of the heist remained a mystery and it seemed no one dared ask at it. So Ace too remained silent, obedient. He knew the dangers secrets posed in this world. Life was hard enough without them.

Ace was given the task of initial infiltration, meaning Mel would do the same thing. The place would be filled with teenagers and their ages made it perfect for them to blend in. Ace was pleased with himself, regardless of how complicated their situation was becoming, with the meeting even taking place at his hideout inside the old factory building, a move Malo was using to demonstrate how much control she had over him, he still felt a sense of relief.

Malo had not objected to Mel being on Ace’s team. He’d approached and informed her before the meeting and she’d simply nodded in her usual silent way and moved off, attending to the more important people. She liked doing that. She’d dismiss a person or give them an uninterested piece of her attention to make them feel…less. Even though Ace knew this it still had an effect on him. The aching discontent of not having been fully heard, of the person you want to understand totally disregarding your views.

Ace grew angry at himself. Why had that bothered him so? Was it that he still viewed Malo as a motherly figure? She had after all, raised him, fed and protected him… at a cost… but Ace’s heart seemed to love acting oblivious towards logic. It would waver in its hatred and sometimes force him to look fondly upon the woman who’d taken him in.

Foolish thoughts!

Ace scouted around the departing gang members who were leaving in groups. He spotted Mel, locked in a sort of a staring contest with Marv, the bearded man stared daggers down at her, as if he’d jump at her and strangle her very bones out of her. Mel stood her ground, refusing to avert her eyes. Instinctively Ace’s hands went for his pocket knives, his feet braced themselves against the ground, ready to pounce, ready to die.

‘I’d prefer it if you did not start a fight during one of my meetings.’ Malo’s voice said from behind him.

‘I won’t be the one starting it.’ Ace responded coldly.

‘Camille dear!’ Malo called out. Mel turned away from Marv who stormed off, accompanied by four of his goons.

‘Yes?’ Mel responded, composed, standing up straight and walking toward them like she was the healthiest person on earth.

‘So you and my little son here want to start your own little gang?’ Malo asked, incredulous.

‘No. I mean-’

‘Just for this one heist.’ Ace cut in.

‘Hmmm…’ Malo raised her heavily jewelled hand and stoke her chin, thoughtful.

‘Join me.’ She finally said to Mel who, caught aback, searched around the room unable to find a response.

‘Don’t worry,’ Malo added with a smirk. ‘I will not sell your alredy “harvested” organs.’ She smiled at Ace. ‘I’ll even get you an actual doctor to get that wound looked at.’

Mel moved a few steps closer to Ace, as if trying to use him as a shield from Malo’s temptations.

‘No…’ She responded. ‘I can’t.’

‘Hmmm…’ Malo smiled, the ring pierced through her nose seeming to flicker knowingly. ‘See you at the party then.’

After throwing a final smirk towards Ace, she walked off, without any goons following her like Marv had. Ace briefly wondered where the men she’d sent after him were as they had not attended the meeting. A part of him felt pleasure at seeing Malo walk out on her own like she did, he had been the one who followed her around wherever she went. He had been her blade and knowing that he had not been replaced made him feel good. Why did it make him feel good?

Once Ace and Mel were the only ones left in the factory house, Mel retreated to her corner and sat there, wrapped in dusty sheets.

‘You okay?’

‘Yeah… think I should have accepted Malo’s invitation?’ She asked.

‘No.’ Ace responded, the answer coming out too quickly for his own liking. Should he not ask if she wanted to join?

‘So… It’s a party huh?’

‘Yeah, makes it easy for us to infiltrate. It won’t be as dangerous a mission as I thought it would be.’

‘Unless there’s a shootout.’ Mel said.

‘Unless there’s a shootout.’ Ace echoed…

‘Yeah…’ Mel raised the sheet, beckoning for Ace to join her. He did, and they both sat silently, backs against the wall, watching speckles of dust glow as the evening’s sun streamed in through the window.

‘You know what they are after?’ Mel asked. ‘Two rival gangs don’t just cooperate on a heist you know, and one taking place at a high schooler’s party?’

‘The less we know the better.’ Ace said. He stroke her cheek affectionately before pulling her down to rest on his lap. She moved obligingly and sighed a heavy sigh, resting all her weight upon him.

Ace smiled, everything was roughly going their way. If this heist was all it took to repay his debt to Malo then he could finally focus on getting Mel out of this world they were trapped in. He could take the next step and have run further than his past could hope to reach. Yes, this was what he wanted, saving her was his goal. He’d stopped fancying a girl who meant nothing to him and now he would focus on the one who really mattered. The only thing that mattered in his life.

He reached into his jacket’s pocket and retrieved a bright red rose. It had been flattened from staying there too long, the edges of its petals slightly blackened. He went to hand it to Mel but she’d fallen fast asleep. He lay her head down and placed the rose next to her.

So peaceful… He thought, watching her sleep, the glowing dust making her seem almost magical.

He’d make her a world where she would be equally peaceful awake. One she would consciously enjoy living in and not have to wonder why she feared death though life brought only suffering. It was what he wanted to do. Yes, it was what he was going to do…

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