AKILA'S POV
[ one of my favorite ]

Nightmare. An evil spirit formerly thought to oppress people during sleep. A frightening dream that usually awakens the sleeper. Something such as an experience, situation, or object having the monstrous character of a nightmare or producing a feeling of anxiety or terror.

An unexpected nightmare, an nightmare so close, so thin to the line of being impossible, immortal and imaginary.

My lungs are crying out, my breath is struggling and my skin is burning, it's itching and pounding against my body, it's trapped, it's fighting to break free, to break free from the distress, the agony, to wake up, escape the depths of the nightmare, the depths of the unfeasible and run far away, run back in time where terror never existed, never dared to reach us, never got close enough, enough to pull me down on my knees, repeating his name uncomfortably, trembling from the inside out, begging for him to wake up, asking the sky and the universe to bring him back, to take me instead, to kill me instead, to give me his pain, to give him my strength and power, every drop of my blood if that's what it takes, if that's what will rewind time and resurrect him.

I never thought it would be him, I never thought it would be him before me. He always dreamed of a peaceful death, an ending where he sacrificed everything for the sake of those he loved the most, for the sake of loyalty and love.

I'm not focused enough, I'm not in the right mind to check if he's alive, if his heart is still pumping blood and keeping him alive just for a bit longer, just a few more minutes so I could save him, so I could speak to him and say many things, tell him for hours and hours while he listens with a smile on his face, with joyful eyes and warm heart.

I'm not strong for this, I'm not strong enough to check if he's breathing or if his lungs failed him, failed me and failed us. I don't have the courage, the bravery to admit it, to accept that the day has come, the day Alessandro dies and never comes back, never opens his eyes and looks at me like a star up in the distant dark sky, never stands and wraps his arms around me, never stares into my eyes with no shame, with no regret nor embarrassment to tell me how beautiful I am, how much I impress him, how much he admires me as a person and my work, how much his words will never be enough to tell me, to express what I mean to him.

He thought I don't understand, I don't get the feeling of your heart being overwhelmed, filled to the edge and it feels like exploding. I know how it feels, I know the pain, I feel the pain whenever I'm around him, whenever our fingers touch by accident, whenever he carries my hair gently, whenever his smile appears and dimples deepen. If he can't find the right words to form his love, I must be in a misery, in a dark hole with no words at all to tell him, to speak for my heart and confess, I must be a fool and maybe I am, I am a fool, I am a fool for him.

And I can't stand it. I can't let it slide through my veins and welcome this, welcome this faith because it wasn't supposed to be that way, it wasn't supposed to end like that, it's not supposed to end here, not now, not ever.

I run out of tears, tears run out of me, leaving me with a hole in my chest, a hole like his buried deep into his ribs, causing more blood to surround us, to show me more evidence that it's real, it's happening, it happened in front of me and I let it slip, I didn't do anything to stop it, to prevent it from occurring as I once promised to do, promised to do anything in my power, promised to protect him, promised my soul to him and here I lay, unable to take in reality and let it slap me in the face, too fragile and irresolute, too weakened and lost for him, for his health, his love, his life.

I would give him up, I would give myself up just for him to arise, to get knocked back into the world and move along, live again and forget about me, erase our memories and go back to the way it was, the way he was before I crashed in and changed so many things, things I may or may not shouldn't have changed, things I'm doubting when I've never doubted myself before.

I blame myself. I drop it on me and take the guilt when no one else will, when I won't allow anyone else to. I should've been more careful, I should've stood by his side and not wander off to kill more. My thirst for blood made his expose, my selfish actions caused this, my inconvenience led us into this and I will stop at nothing, nothing to fix it.

If this is my fault, I will challenge it, I will drag it back down and order it to fight me, to end me and then will see what really happened.

I look around and they all gather around us, they panic, colors run out of their faces and fear dominante the atmosphere. Armando tried to take a step forward and I rose to my feet. "Get the hell away from him" his eyes widen and he stares at me in disbelief. I warn him with a look, I warn each one of them not to mess with me right now because I'm on the edge, on the last nerve to slice their throats open, one by one, slowly and painfully to death.

My gaze lands on Dante, he's looking down at Alessandro's body, covered in blood, pressed on the sand, too still, too motionless and lifeless for normal.

"You" I call for him, he waits a moment, observing Alessandro current state and finally manages to lift his eyes up, he looks at me in surrender, in weariness as if he's been torn away from his own body but he's ready to fall down, to give up after the loss of his best friend, his boss and only family left.

You didn't lose him. I repeat in my head, I assure myself with truth and lies, with right and false accusations. You would think I want to confront Dante, to push out a few words to make them feel better but it doesn't matter, if Alessandro dies today as we stand, this ground will split in half, we will attack and kill to the very last breath, to the very last second the eye will blink and witness, to the very last second we get to live.

Today, we sacrifice. Today, we use our power, we fight back until it's over, until they either finish us or we finish them.

"Take him somewhere safe" I order Dante and only him, he advances and walks past me to get hold of Alessandro's body. We watch him gently lift him up and I squeeze my eyes shut, I hate this, I hate seeing this, I hate seeing him in this condition, I hate it, I hate them, I hate them for hurting him, the only person who wanted to take care of his family, his friends and his men, the only person who wanted good upon his people, the only one who stood by me and believe in me no matter what, the only one who doesn't deserve this, he doesn't deserve this, he deserve more than that, much more for what he gave, much more for who he is and what he got from life.

I stop Dante and grip his arm, I open my eyes and look at him in desperation, I look at him and ask him to be careful, to take care of Alessandro and keep him safe just until I come back, I go back and hold him in my own matter and touch his face, mess with his hair and tell him everything will be okay, he will be okay, I will be okay, we will be okay.

Dante battled through the pain we're all aching from and nodded. I let him go and lower my gaze, I step aside and allow him to leave, leave with Alessandro who I don't know will make it or not, who I don't know if I will ever get to see again, get to talk with and laugh with.

I swallow a mouth full and get rid of my tears, I force the throb away and stand still. "Whatever it takes. Kill those bastards. Whatever it takes, you hear me" I hear my voice stiff, with a broken harmony of sadness and the urge to lose hope, to lose faith but I fight back, I dismiss it for Alessandro, I refuse to go down, I refuse to submit and achieve what they dream of. I get into position and load my guns, I swing my knives and feel a rush of air hit me, push me forward, push us all forwards as if he ordered the wind, as if he's flying within the wind surrounding us, cheering for us, encouraging our broken hearts and leading us into victory.

I smile. I smile and remember his smile. I smile and remember his lips. I smile and remember our kisses. I smile and remember our time. I smile and remember our I love you. I smile and remember the nights. I smile and remember the days I woke up on his chest. I smile and remember us. I smile and remember him and I. I smile and remember him.

I hold my smile, I cut through men and knock them down. Each body drops dead after the other, I have a target, one singular target I'm hustling for, I'm going for and will reach, will catch and destroy with the palms of my hands.

He sees me through blood, he sees me watching him, his moves and planning. I've met Enzo numerous times throughout my life, years he helped my parents to capture and get rid of me. He's scared, he's scared of the things I know, the secrets I discovered and holding against him, against them, against the whole world.

He knows where my power extends, how far I could go and ruin, how far I could reveal and devastate, wipe out their existence with just one move, one word, one story, one act, one sentence.

I can blast it with a snap, I can start a war, but not one between two empires, no, I can start a worldwide war, I can start war that ends the human race, that ends reality and fiction, time and matter.

I've become too much, I've uncovered earth's deepest points, deepest and most hidden clandestines. I've become too much for a human being, I've determined too much for a normal creature, I've unraveled and tore down many lands, I've crushed and demolished bones, I've become a villain, an evil mortal who lives among homosapience with no warnings, with no good but mine.

I benefit from them, I take and snatch away to my liking, I satisfy my own mind, I feed my cursed pleasure off their suffer, off their torment and I create chaos, I drag the worst with me, I spread hatred and fear by the mention of my name, how amazing.

I'm vicious, I'm an asshole and cruel, bite me.

I mentally shrug and stab a man in the heart. What about it? I don't get why people hate it so much, let me be who I am and you remain the innocent chocolate bar while I fulfil my craving and addictions.

Yes I'm a ruthless arrogant jackass, hi, now you do your thing and I do mine, as easy as it gets. I pin a soldier down on the sand and crawl on top of him, I bury my nails into his skin and choke him. He attempts some ridiculous movements to escape when I pull him back and break his leg. He lets out a howl, grabbing more attention towards us. "Bad move" I hiss at him and snap his neck. His head falls and his lips separate for life to evade from his body. I rush back on my feet and crack the bones of my neck, let's get this over with.

One, two and nine men are running to me. That sounds very twisted from what's actually happening, doesn't it?

I chuckle and charge, some of them hesitate from my reaction to their huge number but it's too late for a shocker right now.

I caught from the corner of my eyes Emilion and Armando fighting by my side, they each hold a weapon and shoot at the men trying to approach me.

I fix my eyes on the group in front of me and we finally collide. They tried to seize me but I slid on the sand, I kicked two of them down. I let one of them grab my arm and I use him as a shield, his friends shoot at us and I dodge the few bullets passing right by my head.

I throw the dead body away and snatch my knife out, I waited for the guy to try his luck and attempt my sweet murder. He misses and I aim my knife, I release and it connects with his throat.

Five left. I hear one of them shouting and coming at me, I frown not really knowing why he has to make the loud noises. I give him a confused look and duck, I turn around and serve him a generous knife in his skull.

I hear another guy gasp, what else did he expect? My God, these men need help.

The so shook guy sneaks behind my back and before he could lay a finger on me, I strike him with my elbow right onto his chest, he stumbles a few steps back and coughs. "hai bisogno di aiuto principessa" I title my head, my voice full of mockery and scoffing. [translation: do you need help, princess?]

He doesn't respond, he smirks and glances behind me. Wrong move. I swerve the bullet baited at me and swung my right leg in the air, I boot him in the face and shift back to the other one. His eyes flash with fear and he backs away. I take steps forward and he terrifies, I smile and no longer walking, he turns around and runs, he runs for his life, he runs for one last heart beat before I capture him, I get hold of his arms and cross them behind his back, his scream echos around the island, causing birds to awaken, drawing more notice, more blood and death.

But lucky them, I caught Enzo.

My lips creep into a grin, he's been watching me, he's been observing me slice into his men with rage, with very bad and angry eyes.

And I'm set, I've targeted him and only him. I don't resist anymore, I walk through men as they seek for my gore and concentrate on his motions, his gestures and green eyes, so green and dark, stained and sickening to look at unlike his son, his beautiful son with glamorous emerald, heavenly eccentric fox eyes that could kill you, pin you down with a simple peer, pin you down with so much pain, so much pleasure and bliss.

I can't help myself and smile at the thought of him, I detach myself away from the bad, I remember our memories and crave revenge, I hunt for his body swaddled around my finger, my mouth water for his blood, I thirst and feel my throat go dry. I wet my lips and my tongue moves around, it's ready, it's settling and waiting, my hands form into a fist and fight the urge to rip his head open, I dig my nails into my flesh to distract the images, to control and tame my psychological side that's eager, that's pounding and searching for decease.

I take a deep breath in, allowing the air to fill in my lungs and calm my nerves because the introspections are getting out of authority, they're getting wilder and vicious that I won't be able to guide them back in, to stop them from the unveil, the exhibit of their hazards brought upon this land, upon those many fooled faces and souls, deceived and lonely souls with a very terrible ending, very pitiful and grievous finale.

Enzo is stuck in his place, frozen and absorbing my moves, he's preparing, he's prompt to unleash, to face me, to live the tales people marked my name with, to witness the sinful deadly history of my life achievements, of my famous, well known and feared sight.

I'm close enough, to hear him, to kill him, to do many things. "You think you're helping him?" he spits with much fury, too much that it shows behind his mask where he's horrified, he's shaking in agitation he can't block, he can't put an end to unless I do because I've became the only one who can, the only one who has the force and power to finish, to rise the earth and let it fall, to manipulate life and death, to synthesize and operate mortals into my command and lead.

"They're coming for you. They will take you back and you will relive your old life, you will get locked up and stay there until you turn into ash, into dust, into nothing" he tells me, he uses the same words for both his son and me.

But I don't shiver, I don't fall and it scares him, it's feeding on him alive and engaging, it's growing and expanding, it's getting into his head and frightening him.

I lean in, I get in his face and stare into his eyes, I stare and look for absolutely nothing, I just like that glimmer flickering in his damned spirit.

"Try me" I whisper, my voice steady and husky, threatening and low but not quiet. His jaw clenches, he bites on the inside of his cheeks and grits on his teeth. He cracks his knuckles and I smile, I smile so bright it angers him, it displeases and upset him because he knows I'm not intimidated, I'm not afraid of him and never will, he knows, he knows which one of us is petrified to death.

His knowledge causes more, merge and erupts more fear and terror he's too weak to handle, too miserable and failing to contain.

"You're not going to kill me" he spoke again, in hope to get any reaction, any signs of startling and astonishment but he finds none, he finds an amused face, a woman less than half his age playing around, playing games with his head and disrespecting every second of his living, the woman his son chose over himself and family, the woman the entire world is after, the woman who knows too much, the woman who should get executed out of here before she arises and bursts, exposes and explodes.

Enzo may be right, his conclusions may be accurate and I won't kill him but it doesn't stop here. "Yet" I blurr and before he knows it, I clocked him and he loses balance, trips over his ass and lands on the ground.

I take my dagger out, I swing it in my grip, I throw it from hand to hand and fix it on him. "Don't. You will regret it later. They will catch you, you will die. You were meant to die" he hisses and shouts, pushing his body away from me.

You were meant to die. Ah. How it feels to hear those words again, how it sends chills down my spine and excites me. Years back, if they came to me and spat those words I would cry, I would dream about it, it would hunt my nights and days but now, they awake something in me, they fire me up and thrust my body into this irresistible, unconditional endless urge to break out, to beat and storm.

"Regret" I repeat after him before stretching my arm, gripping the neck of a man who tried to help their little leader.

I don't release Enzo's stare and smirk, telling him words to tremor any of his moves against me because they will end with failure, with more misery but if he needs more, I will be glad.

Enzo tried to reach his pistol hooked by the side of his pants, wrong. I cast the dagger into his hand, it went through his bones and came out of the other side, his sweet precious palm.

I let the sound of his scream travel through my eardrums and satisfy my nerves. I go down to his eye level and lift his chin up with my other dagger. I move my head from right to left slowly and observe his eyes with so much care and guard.

My lips are disparate and my teeth show through a sinister smile of my own. I tighten my grip around the dagger and stab him, I stab him and he crawls, I stab him and he agitates, I stab him, I stab him in one eye, I stab him in a green eye, I turn it red, I turn it into blood rolling down his cheeks, blood everywhere, blood all over him, blood splattered all over me.

I watch him for a moment, I take my time to enjoy the view, to please my thoughts, my desires and I stand back up. I walk to his hand and snatch my dagger, "I have to take this back, it's one of my favorites" I kindly inform him and set the dagger where it belongs.

I turn around and notice men gathering around me, they're not in position, they're not preparing to fight me, they're standing still, wide eyes and traumatized. I see Adriano and Armando on my left side, I gaze around every face and wonder what got them to stop.

Oh yeah. I just took down their leader, I took down the previous leader of The Italian Mafia, I took down the man who won over the Russians, I took down the man they fear, I took down the ferocious man who never got defeated, who no one dared to touch him until I came in, until I showed up in his nightmare, until I became his worst nightmare.

I took down the father of our Italian leader, I took down Enzo Santoro, the father of Alessandro Santoro.

I won. I won against him and left untouched, I won and left no crumbs.

I take a step forward and they take one backwards. I chuckle and continue, I pass them one by one and they clear the space for me. I overhear Armando and Adriano's steps behind me, following me wherever I go, wherever I demand as Alessandro once ordered them, gave them up for my sake, gave his men, his best friends for me, for me over him.

I feel the ache in my heart appear again and I shut it out, I'm going and I'm coming for him, he will be okay, he will live and I will kill them, I will vanish each one of them but just in the right time, in the right battle because this one is just a troll, it's just a warning sign for the future, a future where they surrender, they lose, they get eliminated but not from the fight, not from the war, they get eliminated from the world.

I'm crazy, crazy enough to let this opportunity go, crazy enough to give it up and let him run away but DON'T BLAME ME, LOVE MADE ME CRAZY.

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