*sips da tea*

Cameron

By that Johnathan. I mean the one that Mad Maddie goes on about all the time and likes to compare me to:

'Oh, how clever my nephew Johnathan is' 'he has a PhD in blah blah blah.' and 'he got offers from Oxford and Cambridge. Yet he rejected them both. Hahaha.'
and 'dear, you never mentioned which university you went to, oh you didn't go. What a shame.'

The old hag doesn't bloody know me!

Well, I guess she has tried to get to know me and still is trying to. And to be completely honest has made some progress as she has now gotten me to come to one of her dinners, even though the reason I am here was to avoid whoever was in my apartment.

"Nice to meet you, Caramel." He said, extending his hand to me. I didn't know this guy and he didn't even know me and he is already taking the piss out of my name. Well, what he seems to think my name is.

Oh well, I wasn't planning to tell this stranger anyway.

And even though how much Mad Maddie talks about him and complements his gentlemanliness, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was trouble lurking behind those thick-rimmed glasses of his. After assessing him I saw that Mad Maddie had gone off, to the kitchen presumably, so I firmly and stiffly shook his hand, replying with a blank look on my face.

"Likewise."

I took a seat at the table as he chuckled.

He looked at me curiously before opening that big gob of his.

"Seat comfortable?"

"What kind of fucking question is that?"

"What could have Aunt said about me this time that makes it seem as if you already hate me?" He said with a smirk on his lips as he took the seat opposite me. The way he spoke made me realise how far up his own arse he was.

"Oh, Mad Maddie's never mentioned you. Why do you play a somewhat significant role in her life?"

I thought I might have riled him up or something as his face became a light shade of red as well as the tops of his ears. I didn't know people could be this bloody sensitive. I fisted my hands under the table thinking he might turn into the incredible hulk as I saw an already prominent vein on his forehead bulging unnaturally, but instead, he burst out laughing.

"M.. M... Mad Maddie. Oh, that's quite hilarious."

It wasn't even that fucking funny.

Doubt ran through my mind giving me an excuse of how a grown man, well my age, was acting this fucked and still had a higher IQ than Einstein. Supposedly.

Yup, I had come to my conclusion whilst watching him clutch his sides. He is like one of those clever people you see on t.v, that have mastered the theories of the solar system, made amazing scientific discoveries and cured seemingly incurable diseases but don't know the first thing about socialising and humour. They spend their entire lives surrounded by books to the point when they have to actually communicate with another human being, this weird cringe shit happens.

I am fucking out of here. I have bigger problems to deal with. I have to go back to my apartment eventually.

I got up from my seat and made my way into the hallway but was stopped by Mad Maddie.

"Leaving already? You haven't even tried my lasagna yet." I was about to tell her something had come up, but there was a certain look of distraught on her face so I decided against it.

"No Mad Maddie, I was just going to come to ask you if you needed any help with anything. I mean, I can't cook or anything but I can carry things?" I rambled on, my last statement sounding more like a question.

"Oh, no no, it's okay Caramel. I've got it handled just fine. You are my guest so please take a seat."

"Alright then."

And so, I sat back in my seat.

Johnathon had calmed down from his laughing frenzy, or whatever the hell that was, and sinfully smirked at me at my failed attempt at escaping this dinner. I didn't like this guy.

I sat down as Mad Maddie placed food bowls on the table. She had made a large dish of lasagna accompanied by piles of garlic bread. There was also salad and some other things that I don't specifically know the name of.

I ate wearily as I could feel the lingering gazes of both Johnathon and Mad Maddie. Mad Maddie watching that I tried everything and ensured I ate enough by consistently piling more food onto my plate. Johnathon's gaze, however, made me want to sock him.

There wasn't any talk and I was quite happy eating that way until Johnathon felt the need to break the silence.

"Smells delicious as always Aunt."

"Well, I am free practically all the time and would love to make you my 'delicious' food all the time, but you rarely come to visit me." She huffed in annoyance ad

"What do you mean? I visit you whenever I can." He replied looking ever so slightly guilty. But Mad Maddie did not finish it there she continued to take a jab at him, to my amusement.

"Caramel here visits me more than you and she is not even blood related to me."

"Well, that's unfair of you to say. She's your next-door neighbour whereas I live in the other end of town," Johnathan exclaimed in disbelief.

"Do not lie to me, Patricia from seventy-three told me she saw you just last week down Coke street. How long have you been here and not came to see me? And whenever you come over it is because I have to call you and practically beg you!"

Okay, this is starting to get a little heated.

"You should be happy that I come to visit you and you know how hard it is for me to visit you with what I do."

"Well, who told you to get involved in such a profession then? You are more than capable of finding another!"

"Out of all people, you know it isn't as easy as that Aunt. I can't leave my job. Not that I want to." He sighed.

It stayed silent for a minute or two and the tension was thick in the air so I decided to change the topic rather than let the situation grow. Not to mention I had yet to handle a situation of my own.

"So, Mad Maddie didn't know you could cook this well. I'll have to come over more often."

"Thank you. At least someone appreciates my efforts." She snapped, though her hate was directed towards Johnathon. I hope.

"Do you think you could teach me?" I asked for the sake of asking, not wanting to learn. Well, I do. But what's the point? I can always order takeout.

"Teach you what?"

Gosh, do I have to spell it out?

"Cooking."

She burst out laughing.

"What?!" I exclaimed as she snorted within giggles.

I slouched down in my seat, glaring at her as she continued to mock me for absolutely nothing.

"Does laughing at me for no apparent reason, run in your family! Honestly, I was just trying to be polite." At my last word, she burst out laughing and so did Johnathon. I rolled my eyes and thought it was a good time for me to go.

"Ugh, fine, I am leaving."I stood up to leave when they both began to compose themself as quickly as they could.

"No no, Caramel dear, don't leave. I was just trying to picture you in an apron cooking in the kitchen. I just could not, hahaha aagh." She said before laughing and snorting again.

As I was still standing I looked down at the pair as they exchanged glances every so often causing each other to laugh. I felt the corner of my lips lift a little as I saw Mad Maddie smiling once again. I felt eyes on me and I turned to see Johnathan looking at me with seeming shocked at my show of emotion. And I did not feel so annoyed, seeing that they had clearly made up without the use of words and they were back into the comfortable atmosphere of a family dinner. At that thought, I felt incredibly out of place. And then I remembered how Mad Maddie had said that Johnathon rarely visits, so I thought I was intruding their rare time together and I left saying I needed to go to the bathroom. As I slowly departed to the bathroom I could hear them speak again.

"So Aunt, that was the neighbour you have been telling me ever so much about over the phone."

"Yes, that's her. Isn't she a darling."

"Well, if you wanna put it nicely."

"Johnathon! I did not bring you up rude. Those 'friends' of yours have been a bad influence on you."

"Oh come on Aunt, trust me. You would know the difference if they had an actual influence on me. Besides this character trait, I learnt from you."

I heard the soft thump before Johnathon squealed like a little girl. I tried my best not to laugh.

Great, I am turning into a laughing psycho, just like them.

I shook my head, deciding that I had heard enough.

I walked around until I stumbled upon the bathroom. When I walked in and locked the door to waste time before going back I realised that I did need to pee. Just as I was about to sit pull my pants down to pee I heard a knock. Someone was at the door.

But we had already had dinner. If someone was coming why would they bother to come at such a time. Plus, Mad Maddie did not mention another visitor after Johnathon.

Hmm... fishy.

Oh well, not my fucking business.

The only business I have right now is...

"You damn Cheeseball!"

Cheeseball?

What on Earth?

I quickly finished up in the bathroom, washed my hand and slowly crept to the bathroom door. I laid my head on it, trying to hear what the commotion was about before realising that I could just open the door and see, which would be easier.

And when I did, I saw the face of Johnathan, pushed up against the wall in the hallway with blood trickling down his nose and Mad Maddie's unconscious body on the floor.

I saw the face ... the... bodies...My friends.

First I felt scared, then sadness and guilt and after that, I just felt anger. Pure and blind anger.

I could not see how many intruders there were, it seemed as if it was just the two. As soon as I was about to leap out, another three came inside through the main door. They locked the door behind them. Oh, they are gonna wish they never locked that damn door.

"Go check the kitchen and the bathroom." The one holding Johnathon commanded to the three that had come in.

Two of them went into the kitchen and one came towards the bathroom. I wondered who these people were, my thoughts drifted to Ivan but he works for a legal agency and needed me, why would they pull a stunt like this. Then I came to a more reasonable conclusion, Beefy Fucking Bert. To conclude my suspicions, I tried to get a good look at his face before I backed away into the bathroom, but he was wearing a mask. Fucking great. I guessed they may have been some of the ones from my apartment.

I stepped out of the way of the door and waited for the guy to come through.

When he did I stepped behind him and waited for him to move out of the view of the door. When he was out of view of the outside I crept up behind him and swiftly snapped his neck. I held his body and carefully laid it down, trying to make minimal noise.

"She's not here boss." One of the two from the kitchen spoke.

"You checked everywhere?" The guy holding Johnathon spoke. The guy nodded but then turned his head to the bathroom as if remembering that one of his friends, or whatever they are, was meant to check the bathroom. I quickly moved out of the way, hoping he hadn't seen me. I took out the guns from my backside and held them close to my body switching the safety off.

I perked my ears like a cat, trying to listen for any sudden movements since I didn't want to risk sticking my head out the door again.

"Now, boy, you are gonna tell me where the fuck she is."

"You know, as much as I would love to help the man who has knocked my Aunt unconscious, punched me in the face, broken my nose and is holding me against my will, I don't know who the bloody hell you're on about. " Johnathon sighed, clearly faking sadness as I could practically hear the smirk on his stupid face. Can he ever not act like an idiot?

There was a loud thud which was immediately followed by a groan of pain from Johnathon.

I heard the sound of something clicking very close to the bathroom door. I realised that it was the click of switching the safety of a gun off or on. My guess was off.

After that click everyone fell silent even Johnathon.

I glided to the side so I had a clear shot of whoever was about to enter, I raised my guns and was about to switch the safety off but realised it already was. It's been a while since I held a gun this many times in one day. I felt somewhat nostalgic. And then a little sick. An all to a familiar sense of De Ja Vu overtook me.

my fingers trembled while holding the gun

The door was pushed open by the guy who was looking in the direction of the bathroom before and his gaze settled on the limp body of his member on the floor.
He looked around quickly his gaze finally settling on what was before him: the barrel of my gun pointing in the gap between his eyebrows.

Well, where I thought his eyebrows were, it was hard to tell with the mask on his face.

"Toodles."

And with that his body fell to the floor as a heap, joining his buddy.

The chaos and disruption caused, left no place for silence and peace.

There were shouts and commands from outside, demanding what was going on. Three masked figures slammed open the bathroom door with their guns raised.

I was kneeling on the floor near the door before I jumped the guy closest to me, my foot colliding with his chin and the impact causing him to drop his weapon. The other two pointed their guns at me but I got a hold of the third guys gun and knocked it out of his hands before I dropped to the floor and kicked the second guy's legs from under him, causing him to stumble into the other one. The masked men in the hallway began to shoot so I quickly shot the last guy in the head before grabbing his body as a shield from the bullets. The sound of so many bullets piercing through the air caused my ears to ring which made me lose my focus long enough for the guy that I had tripped to get up and yank me by the hair.

Their screams continued to pierce through the air.

I pushed my whole body weight on him my legs jumping and linking around his neck, the movement made my neck and head hurt as he suddenly pulled on my hair to stop me from choking him. Using beefy Bert's gun I shot him wherever I could from that angle which causing him to scream out in pain but made him loosen his hold on my hair. I hit him with the back of the gun and knocked him out completely.

Limp and lifeless.

Before more could enter the bathroom full of bodies I ran out shooting at every masked man I saw. There was about ten in total, excluding the guy that was holding Johnathon at gunpoint. All his men were dead, he was the last one standing, but not for long.

"Damn, that was hot," Johnathon spoke up, which earned him a rather hard slap on the back of his head by the masked man that was holding him.

"You bitch, we'll get you next time." He muttered before practically hurdling Johnathon's bloody form at me. I tried to catch him but he just fell on top of me, knocking the air out of me and distracting me for long enough for the last man to escape.

"Oh for fuck's sake," I swore as I shoved Johnathon's body off of me.

"Oww, be a little gentle."

"Shut the fuck up. I am not in the mood. Now how am I gonna sort this mess out before Mad Maddie wakes up." I started by speaking to him but trailed off, talking to myself. He answered me instead.

"Don't worry, help is on the way."

"What? I swear if you've called the police or sommat. You are dumber than I thought. "

"No no, I called a few friends of mine."

"Oh great, you're nerdy friends are coming. We're saved! What the hell are your bloody friends gonna do, calculate x before some neighbour calls the police? "

He just laughed in response, choking on some of the blood in his throat. I walked to him, crouched down to his level before slowly trying to lift.

"Try to pick yourself up mate, I can't carry all your weight." He nodded slowly and did his best to stand and walked as I held him till we got to the couch in the living room and he laid down, groaning in pain.

"Wuss. Can't take a broken nose."

He just glared and huffed in clear annoyance before facing his back to me.

Immature brat.

I walked out into the hallway again, picking up Mad Maddie before dragging her slowly to her bedroom. I checked for any serious injuries before I pulled the sheets over her and leaving her to rest.

I quickly checked through the apartment to make sure there were no more masked people, and once I was satisfied I got up to get myself a drink but stopped in my tracks at the sound of someone knocking on the door.

I shrugged my shoulders, hoping it would just be the help and not someone else as I stepped into the blood-filled hallway.

And there, on the opposite end, I saw someone I thought I would never actually see in person and hoped I would not get involved with.

Raffaele Bianchi.

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