Mafially Yours

12

Elena

I wasn't sure how long my eyes stared at the ceiling as they let out tears I couldn't control. But my thoughts were deadly to me. The image I had of my father was ruined. My father was everything to me. I always thought that he was a great person, to be a father and a mother, even without telling me about her. I knew he had his reasons, and I knew that she hurt him by the looks on his face every time I asked about her. I always thought he was brave to be able to raise me all on his own. I loved him so much. He was always there for me when I needed him. All my friends, throughout the years, were jealous of me for having such a father. The father who attended all my matches in elementary, who attended my competitions in high school, who used to drive me to school and pick me at the end of the day every single day. The father who I used to go to when I needed someone, who was a shoulder to me when I cried and a hand to high-five when I laughed. How can a perfect father, who all along was a hero, turn out to be the villain?

A gang king, creating and selling drugs, killing people, breaking into houses, that man is my father? I shut my eyes tight and sobbed. I hit the pillow beside me for the hundredth time that day. And after all of this, he was killed, and the people who hate him want to kill me. And I was hiding in his hideout with his gang, with killers and thieves and drug dealers. I widened my eyes. I needed to leave. I needed to leave this place as soon as possible. Where to or how I go didn't interest me as much as wanting to get out of this place.

I place my hand on my chest, trying to catch my breath. My fingers met with the warm silver around my neck. I looked down at the necklace my father gave me. I didn't know whether I should smile or cry. My anger didn't stop boiling up the more I thought about the necklace. I took it in my palm and ripped it off. I ripped off the only thing that was left to me from him. I look at the way Nana was written, seeing my father's smile as he handed it to me the same day he left me. I groaned and threw it on the ground.

I quickly wiped my eyes and sprinted to the door. I placed my hand on the knob and took a deep breath before opening the door, knowing that there were men outside who would ask me where I was going and probably stop me. I cleared my throat, then twisted the knob.

As soon as I stepped out of the room, all eyes were on me, and the whole noisy room turned silent. I gave them a small smile and acted stupid. I started walking to the stairs.

"Elena, are you okay? Where are you going?" Marco asked me.

"Uh," I paused when I heard my voice. I cleared my throat first, then resumed, "I just need some time alone, in the backyard," I pointed behind me.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Fred asked and gave me a warm smile. I answered the smile with a smile and shook my head.

"No, it's okay, it won't be long. I just need a quick breath of fresh air, and I will come back."

Before being interrupted again, I made my way down the stairs. As soon as I was sure that no one was on the first or second floor, I galloped like a crazy horse down the stairs and to the front door. I didn't waste any time before opening it and making my way out, letting the cold breeze of the night hit my warm skin. I softly shut the door behind me.

I scanned the space in front of me before taking the steps down, then walked closer to the cars parked right in front of the door. The walk to the gate was long, and I knew that it was full of security.

"Think, think," I hit my head, looking behind me and then in front of me again. My brain wasn't functioning anymore, and I refused to waste time trying to find a solution, so I started running towards the front gate, hoping for a miracle. My soft pyjama wasn't helping me escape this place at night, but I didn't give it a second thought. I needed to leave, and that was all I knew.

I ran for a couple of minutes on the grass until my eyes were able to make sense of the gate. I stopped and groaned. There were two fully armed security guards standing at the door. I rolled my eyes. Of course, Huncho would do that after what happened that day. I crouched down behind the bushes. I started to look around for plan B. The wall was too tall for me to be able to jump over, and the gate was too huge to open without anyone noticing. To leave, these two security had to be gone, and the door had to be open. I shut my eyes, letting my lungs collect as much oxygen as they wanted, my heart to stop yelling at me, my feet to stop burning and my brain to find me a solution.

I opened my eyes and leaned over my knees. My eyes met a rock on the floor, then widened. I grabbed it and scanned the dark place. I gulped and searched for another one. I bit my bottom lip, then threw one to the far left to hit the wall that separated me from the outside. I watched the two security guards stand up, grab their weapons, and look around. I wasn't sure what they said but as planned, one of them walked in the direction where I threw the rock. I walked on the right side, closer to the gate still behind the bushes, until I was right behind the gate wall. I took a deep breath and then threw the second rock on the other side of the gate, making the security on the gate open it and walk out.

My adrenaline rushed through me as I quickly made my way out. I took a quick look at the back of the security guard who was out looking for whoever was there before passing the other side of the street and hiding behind a tree. I knew it would be safer to wait for him to go back inside before starting to run. I watched him walk back, and I mentally prepared myself that as soon as he shuts the gate, my legs will not stop until I arrive somewhere safe.

And I did so. As soon as the gate closed, my legs started running on their own. My feet were hitting the ground, passing trees and bushes on each side of me, creating a synchronized rhythm with every breath I took and released. I refused to look back in fear of seeing someone run after me, but I was getting tired. I was sweating, and my knees and feet were starting to burn. I started to lose control over my speed, and little by little, my legs couldn't run anymore. I sobbed and shut my eyes tight. I had to keep going, and I knew that, but I physically couldn't.

I heard noises behind me, causing my head to turn in a swift motion. My eyes widened when Huncho's Jeep's beams flashed into my eyes. Being in the middle of the road didn't help me either, but I was confident that he didn't see me because of how dark it was. I quickly made it to the side and hid between the trees.

The more I thought about it, the harder it was for me to find a solution. I didn't know the way out, and I wasn't sure if there was even a way out of this place without any transportation. But on the other hand, I wasn't going to go back with Huncho. I refused to go back to that place. To my father's place. To a criminal's hideout. I'd rather die in this forest.