~Four Months Prior~
Hector and Ernesto were sitting at the ice cream parlor that Hector and Ernesto had regulated a lot when he was a kid. Not a spot that they had gone to in a while. Hector wasn’t sure what it was that Ernesto would need to clear his head, but he knew it wasn’t something that could be simply eased. Seeing a child die, killing her and her mother, all because someone told you to. For Hector, that was all his life was for. That was what he was told ever since he was part of the Falcone Family. If he was told to kill someone, he’d do it. But Ernesto, he was different. He wasn’t meant for this kind of life. He looked over across from the table, Ernesto having just ordered a water, staring down at the glass. Hector had only finished his soda as his eyes gleamed over at the traumatized boy. Hector hadn’t known what he could do. He never wanted kids. But he knew that he cared for Ernesto, for Frederick. When no one else would care about them. But Hector couldn’t help but feel that he was just as responsible for the path they went down. If he had done more, if he had stepped in rather than let Falcone make such a ridiculous plan that was twelve years in the making, he would have just fought against it. But with things now, Hector wasn’t sure he could make things right. Not after tonight. Neither one of them had even spoken until they stepped out of the shop, heading back to the car. With a lit cigarette in his mouth, Hector looked over at the somber Ernesto and he spoke again, “Ernesto… what you did… It-”
“Don’t say it wasn’t my fault” Ernesto interrupted almost immediately. “Even if you tell me that I was scared, even if you tell me that I didn’t mean to do it. Even if you tell me that I regret it, I still saw that kid die. I still put a bullet into a little kid. And there’s nothing I can do about that-”
What had happened next, the very next move, it shocked Ernesto to his core. When Hector, with his one arm, pulled Ernesto toward him in a hug, holding the young man close to him. It was the first time, the first time in all his life, that Ernesto had been hugged by someone. From someone he felt couldn’t care less about him. Even his brother was too scared to hug him. His father never wanted him, his mother never wanted to acknowledge them, and Hector was far too cold, too awkward with kids, to return any form of affection or care. So when Ernesto was hugged, it was like a shotgun blast in his chest. A sudden shocking feeling taking over him. Hector held Ernesto close to him, regardless of the odd looks by passersby, regardless of how he felt undeserved to speak the words that came after.
“It was always my fault, Ernest. Since the first day, it was all my fault.”
Ernesto looked up at Hector, and for the first time since he was a young boy, he could see tears falling from Hector’s eyes. But he didn’t hide them. Not this time. His eyes were locked on Ernesto as he held him in a comforting hold, all with his one arm. Ernesto was at a loss for words. The evening, it was a night of events, of unforgettable tragedies and changes. And this, how Hector treated him now. It was only another unforgettable moment. Another unforgettable tragedy
~March 1st~
~Four Months Later~
Frederick stepped out of the subway, finding himself passing by businessmen and regular workers, their phones in hand and their attention on their own thoughts. Frederick stuck out in his college clothes, casual wear for someone going to a university, but something he wanted to wear on his return to the home for the week. He had spoken with Hector time and time again, but his falling out with Ernesto only made him wonder what he was doing. He stopped talking with Ernesto after his incident with his bully years ago, but a part of him worried. Worried what Ernesto was doing. Hector always told him that Ernesto was fine, but Frederick always worried. Especially for someone like Ernesto. He wanted to be sure himself. He remembered the path to the bar. Or, he thought so. He was certain that it was the right spot, but when he found himself standing outside of a more refurbished bar, with neon lights, fancier decor, it was unlike the bar he grew up in as a kid. He wasn’t sure if he would be recognized, but as soon as he took his step on the door, he was greeted by some familiar faces. Tommy was there manning the bar, his bald head and sunglasses hiding his stoic expression. Sitting at the stools was Mikey, his wrinkles only growing and his silver hair turning more grey, but he kept his usual smile. And as Frederick stepped inside, the two turned over with a smile, greeting the young boy.
“Hey, college boy” Mikey said, raising a glass in the air. Tommy greeted Frederick with more of a nod and the faintest smirk on his face. Frederick gave a smile and wave, though an awkward one to the two men, before asking, “Is, uh, Uncle Hector around?”
“Just caught him in time” Tommy said, “Me and him were about to head on out. Ernesto should be upstairs though.”
“Oh… okay” Frederick said, his enthusiasm dipping at the sound of Ernesto. His attention, however, was grabbed by the strange Japanese goblin mask on the wall. He pointed at it and asked, “Is that a Tengu mask?”
“Yeah” Mikey answered. “We thought it was tacky, but Blue-Eyes Benny insisted that we keep it up there. Says it gives Ernesto something to think about or something.”
“I.. see.” Frederick replied dryly.
The talk was short lived, as Hector soon found his way downstairs, his attention turning to Frederick with a smile as he waved, “Hey, Fred. I didn’t think you’d be here so early.”
Frederick’s smile returned at the sight of his uncle. He approached him with his hand extended as he spoke, “Well I took the train to get here. Thought I would surprise you.”
“Color me surprised” Hector said as he shook Frederick’s hand. “I’m sorry to leave so early, but I promised you guys a surprise when I got here, and a surprise is what I want to give you. I swear you and Ernesto will love it. When I get back, we can have some fun around the city, alright?”
“Oh, uh… sure, Uncle Hector.” Frederick said, disappointed that they couldn’t talk longer
“Tommy, with me!” Hector said with a snap of his finger
“Got it” Tommy replied, placing the cup he was cleaning on the counter, leaving Mikey to run the front and hurry out the door toward the car. With a wave, Hector stepped out after, leaving Frederick with Mikey. Fred turned his attention to the older gangster and asked, “So, uh… what have things been like?”
“Why don’t you ask Ernesto, kid?” Mikey said with a shake of his head. “Boy’s been worried sick about you. And it isn’t my place to get in between two brothers. Even if you two got your differences and disagreements, that doesn't separate you two. You two don’t have much family left.”
“H-How did…” Frederick stuttered, but was immediately answered.
“I’ve been in this business a long time, kid. And doubt and regret is clear all over you. Go on. Won’t kill ya to at least check on him.”
“I… guess so.” Frederick said, and with a faint wave, he made his way up the stairs, the wooden stairs losing their creek after the renovation. Despite the stairs being small, it felt like a full hike up a mountain toward his old room in the attic. And once he stepped inside, he saw how vacant it was. Only a single laptop that he kept hidden to work on websites and chat rooms. A single air mattress to sleep on. And a TV with a PS4 now, all complete with RPGs still, as well as his old collection of games. And as he sat there on the floor, playing what looked to be Dark Cloud on the TV, when the door creaked, Ernesto’s headshot over, expecting it to be someone from the family. But at the sight of Frederick, his eyes shot open, and he could only stare at his brother, who he hadn’t heard from in so long. It was like a dream. A dream he would prefer to stay in at this point.
Hector sat in the passenger seat, smoking on his cigarette with a long drag. Tommy was always silent and not one to speak his mind much unless the conversation was started or if it was Mikey, but Hector knew Tommy to be a good guy, if a bit of a brute. As he rested back in the seat of the black Sedan, his eyes looked out to the city, seeing businesses like shops and bars and such, all filled with men in suits, all with a style to them. And Hector knew them all as new recruits to the family. The fall of the Cornello Family only brought in new attention to the side of New York and to the Falcone Family. To Melvin, his plan had been a success and he controlled all the business in the city. And as far as Hector was concerned, he kept his end of the deal. He let out a sigh as he spoke, “Doesn’t it just upset you to see all these mom and pop stores getting drained for money? Who do they need protection from? No one will step up to Melvin, not after the bloodbath at the hotel.”
“It’s just business, Hector. You of all people should know that.” Tommy replied.
“Well you know that I’m done with that kind of business” Hector responded in an agitated tone, his feet tapping on the car floor impatiently.
“Right. The day you leave the family.” Tommy said sarcastically. “You really think that Melvin will let you walk away?”
“If he doesn’t, that’s fine by me. But Ernesto… At least him. He did his job. He’s just a kid. He doesn’t deserve this.”
“Listen, Hector” Tommy spoke up. “Nobody likes this. Well, nobody sane does. Benny’s a cocksucker who enjoys torturing people, and Melvin is a paranoid man of power. But me and Mikey, we can’t stand for it. But that’s just…”
“Let me guess? Business?” Hector interrupted, looking back toward the window. “Listen, we all got ambitions. Outside of the family. Sure, we had nothing when we came in. I was an immigrant, you were either gonna go to prison, and Mikey was brought in by his dad. We never had choices. But now, we can make our own choices. Melvin’s got power, a new crew, everything. Tommy, I know you hate this life as much as I do.”
“Course I do. Who doesn’t?” Tommy replied. “But… I don’t know if I can do anything else outside of this. I’ve got too much blood on my hands, Hector. Mikey and Benny too. And you do too. And I hate to say it, but so does Ernesto. There’s no place for people like us. Nowhere but here.”
“Bullshit” Hector retorted. “There’s always a chance. This is it. If not for me, for Ernesto. I gotta take that chance. Whatever Melvin thinks, I don’t care.”
Tommy was unable to think of a word. He just looked over at his companion that he has worked with for years. He wasn’t sure if he was a bull-headed moron or was one of the more real and brave people he worked alongside. The ride to the building was in silence from then on. Not a word more was spoken on the subject.
“Freddie! I can’t believe you’re here!”
“Yeah, I can’t either”
Ernesto and Frederick had already sat down on the floor, having spoken in awkward pauses, Ernesto having much to talk about. Frederick got a better look at Ernesto now, taking a look at his unkempt hair, his tired eyes, yet his high energy was… off. He was more brooding the last time he met him, more angry. But Ernesto now, it was different. He couldn’t focus on one subject from another. Frederick shook his head as he spoke, “So, uh, Ernesto, what have you been up to?”
“The usual stuff. The yoosh” He replied casually, much to Frederick’s confusing. And with that question answered, Ernesto’s eyes lit up as he snaked over to his laptop, taking it and opening it up for Fred, “Oh, check this out, by the way. You remember how I used magic to burn that dickhead Benny and still used it a few times? Turns out there’s more than just me. So I’m not a special superhero. There’s like a bunch of people like that. Though it’s only reports, and some call it bullshit, it looks like a thing that some people get. Here, look.”
Ernesto turned the laptop toward Frederick on the floor, showing a strange website called ‘The Enigma’, which Ernesto looked at proudly as he replied, “I made this website. All to document all the strange things I find. Like magic and monsters and stuff. I thought I was just a freak, but it turns out it’s all real, bro.”
“That’s, uh…. Pretty cool, Ernest.” Frederick replied, looking at the amateurish website with doubt and also concern. But what really caught his attention was the name on the side. Alongside Ernesto was another name called Mason. Frederick looked at the name and spoke, “Who’s that?”
“Oh, that’s Mason.” Ernesto replied casually before adding, “He’s like my editor and some guy from Ohio. Apparently he’s going on a trip soon with a friend of his to Florida to find more strange happenings. Gonna find all sorts of shit on the way there. Stuff in Kentucky, Georgia, North and South Dakota. Can you imagine that?”
“No, I… can’t say I can, bro. Sounds like you’ve been busy.” Fred said, looking at the name Mason, only thinking it was some guy feeding his insanity.
Joel sat in his apartment, looking over some reports of the hotel massacre. He was told that this was a cold case, with no witnesses aside from a bellboy that was traumatized and some people seeing a masked man leave on Halloween night, among a hundred other masked people. They weren’t sure any evidence was left behind. No bullets aside from the ones fired from the thugs, no blood samples, and any hair or fingerprints were all traced to an unknown source. Some people have called this killer The Phantom. Twenty-three victims in one night. “The Phantom. You gotta be fucking kidding me!” Joel said as he looked over the scenes. And as he did, he couldn’t help but remember that incident of the boys house burning down. Same thing. No evidence, no fingerprints, all reports of a young Hispanic boy but no ties to anything. Even when it was reported to a crime family, it went cold without evidence of any kind and the family was no longer considered. Though Joel was more than tempted to check it out, his partner told him to back off. But still, with these reports of a person with some source of fire, able to burn people in such a horrid manner, fire bullets without a gun. It all sounded like madness. Of course, Joel wasn’t without more issues. As he looked over the reports again, resisting the urge to start smoking again from the annoyance, he turned his eyes over to the window to get a glimpse of something other than words and words of graphic murder. But as his eyes were down on the street below, seeing the cars passing by, a black car caught his attention. Sitting in the car was a young looking man in a suit, all professional. And right next to him, that same man from the house fire. The same man with the Korean women. And at the sight of them, Joel bolted down to the apartment halls and down the stairs as quickly as he could, nearly crashing into one of his neighbors and almost tripping on the third set of stairs before throwing the front doors open. But once outside, no car was parked. He turned his head to see the car driving down the street quickly, having long since pulled out before he could get a closer glimpse at them. He wasn’t sure who they were, but he knew that they were related in some way. And it was clear they had different sides in this case than Joel was on.
Hector stepped into the office that Melvin now occupied, a building that was now part of a high rise apartment, much nicer than the old bar. After reaching the seventh floor, Hector and Tommy walked into the bosses room, passing a few guards that occupied the building. And at the bosses room with him sat Benny, his scared eye looking over at Hector as he spoke, “Hey, amputee. You here to chat with the boss.”
“Yeah, one eye. Think you can let me through?”
“Prick!” Benny spat as he opened the door for him, Hector merely giving a shrug to the insult as he stepped inside. The lavish room of the bosses office was an eyesore to Hector. The blood red carpet mixed with the bright yellow wallpaper with a dark brown desk. None of it blended well and just looked tacky. But to Melvin, it was expensive and just right for him. Hector stepped forward before speaking up, “Melvin!”
“Ah, Hector” Melvin said, leaning back in his seat, wearing a more immaculate black suit with his hair slicked back now. He looked at Hector with a more annoyed stare, as if his presence was disturbing his high. He asked, “What can I do for you?”
“You know what you can do” Hector replied. “Cornello is dead. You got what you wanted. I paid my debt and then some. Now you let my nephew out of there.”
“Right, right. I hear ya. Alright, it’s done. Your nephew is off our leash.”
“Thank you, Melvin,” Hector said, though the idea of having any thanks for him was enough to make him sick. But he turned and made his way to the door. But stopped quickly at the next sentence that came from Melvin. “Oh, but, you know… That doesn’t exactly give him the right to leave. Oh, sure, he did wonders for the family. But he still caused lots of trouble. Hurting Benny here, causing so much trouble for us after he burned that house down. Even had to cut up my best hitman. Oh, I can give Ernesto a nice place in the family. Even give him his own crew and power. He’s a good boy to have in. But to let that golden goose go? I’d have to be a fucking retard to do that.”
“You promised me that he’d get out of here when Cornello was dead!” Hector replied, turning to Melvin with a stare of boiling rage, rage that only grew more and more
“You seriously had that on your mind for twelve years?” Melvin said with his hands raised in confusion. “Hector, you have to do something better with your time.”
“Melvin, you listen up! I want you to get my nephew out of this shit right now! You’d better or-”
“Or what?” Melvin said, sitting up now. And as he did, all the goons behind Hector sat up as well, all of them staring him down. Hector knew that whatever move he made next, it could get him killed. Even he wouldn’t be able to take on these many men.
Melvin continued, “Listen here, you slippery shit. I own you and I own your nephew. Without my damn kindness, I would have sold their asses years ago, even with you paying your debt. I told you not to get involved with family. I brought you up when you and your brother were busy trying to hop the border. I owe you nothing. And if you ever try to demand anything from me again, I’ll make you regret it.”
“You got a lot of regrets, don’t you? I’m sure you regret Tony too.” Hector said, staring the boss down
Melvin was silent as he stared right back at Hector, and he replied, “You are about to cross the fucking line!”
Hector stared at Melvin, the thought of at least killing him a promising idea. But his eyes looked back around at the goons, before his attention went back to Melvin and he replied, “Whatever.”
With that, he passed the goons, all of them keeping their eyes on him as he walked out the door, none of them turning back to see the anger rising in Melvin.
The day had crept into night. Hector had spent some time with Frederick and Ernesto, Ernesto being the more cheerful one of the group to the shock of Frederick. Hector was silent. He let Frederick drive the car around, sitting in the back with this distant look in his eyes. Whenever they had spoken to him, Hector would only respond in faint answers or ask what the question was. Clearly, he was lost in his own thoughts, far from the conversation. Frederick had been expecting this from Hector. He didn’t expect him to be back with the warmest smile and hope. It was Ernesto that shocked him the most, though. All of their trips to the store to check out some of the stuff sold, eating at a burger restaurant, it was all met with total silence. It wasn’t until they had reached the port, near the end of the day, did they even have a conversation.
Frederick or Hector didn’t have much interest in the rides, leaving Ernesto to explore the place with this sort of curiosity about him. Having helped himself to some of the cotton candy and a few of the games while the other two wandered around, it was odd. Frederick and Hector sat back as Ernesto was indulging himself in a ring toss game, like watching a small child enjoying something. Frederick crossed his arms and spoke, “Uncle, why do we let him do this kind of stuff? He’s twenty.”
“I know.” Hector replied. “But he’s been through a lot. More than you can imagine, Fred. I can’t expect you to understand. I hope you never have to. But Ernest deserves some fun in his life. He deserves to enjoy his free time, the small things. How much has he been dealing with training, with being told by the mafia that he’s gotta stay in the bar, barely get a chance to leave. Fred, you have a life outside of this, and I couldn’t be happier. But Ernesto… He never got that chance. Twenty years old and this is the first time he’s gotten to enjoy anything that wasn’t using his magic or being cooped up in that room.”
As the two spoke, Ernesto found himself walking back, holding a stuffed alien plush, looking between the two as he asked, “Yo, what are you guys talking about?”
“Oh, just life and all that” Hector said, putting his one arm into his pocket
“Ha! Sounds really boring” Ernesto said with a smile
“Ernesto!” Frederick shouted immediately
“Nah, don’t worry about it” Hector replied with a smile, “Hey, it’s just good that Ernesto is having some fun finally”
“See, Fred” Ernesto jokes. “Uncle Hector gets it”
“Can’t be serious all the time.” Hector followed up on it. “I know I’m the last person to say that, but… It’s just that you gotta enjoy life for what you have. And well… I can say me and Ernesto didn’t have much. Growing up in the mob, having to do what we were told. Not easy. But… In a way, it helps you see the good in life. When you just focus on the bad, it stresses you, it makes you think ‘what’s even the point?’”
Hector looked out at the ocean, staring at the reflecting lights in the water, the pink and purple evening sky out in the distance. His words had trailed off as he looked out, the faintest smile on his face, but a distant one all the same, one still lost in thoughts
“Uncle Hector?” Frederick asked
“Huh?” Hector replied. “Sorry. Just… thinking about a lot. Seems I do a lot of that now.”
Before Hector could add onto that, his phone rang. He was slow at first, taking in the sight of the sky, letting it ring a few times before he picked it up and put it to his ear, speaking into it, “Hello?... You sure?... alright, thanks. Yeah, I’ll be there.”
Once he hung up, he turned back to Frederick and Ernesto and replied, “I gotta head back to the office. Sorry to cut the evening short, but you two know the way back from here. I’ll meet you two back there.”
“Sure thing, Hector” Ernesto said, giving him the biggest smile he could
“Yeah, will do, Uncle Hector” Frederick said, with a wave
Hector couldn’t help but smile again, only wavering a bit once he turned his back to them. With a wave, he stepped down the pier, walking away from the two nephews that he raised as his own kids. To him, they were his kids. The one thing that kept him sane for the past twenty years.
“Last night, in the Manhattan Transfer Subway tunnel, seven bodies were found down below. A shoot out took place amidst the empty subway with only a few witnesses. Police reports suggest the shooting to be an act of gang violence, but the ties to who are unknown. Among the casualties were Ricardo Cameron, George Palma, Kent Copela, Ian Lynch, Jacob Coen, Luca del Toro, and Hector Menendez. Witnesses are still being found, but no one has stepped forward. It isn’t sure what caused the attack, some police suggesting it to just be a regular turf war. As of now, the case is still under investigation.”
It was only a few days after Hector’s death was announced on the news. Frederick had long since left back for college, distraught at what he had heard. He was hoping to stick around for Ernesto’s sake, but he insisted Frederick go back to school. Frederick didn’t know why and he was scared to know, but he did so. Ernesto, for the first time in four months, found the bar to be suffocating, cold and empty. He couldn’t stand to sit around. Instead, he decided to go to his old training spot to practice. He wasn’t sure what he needed to practice for. Revenge on Hector's killers. Protection in case they wanted to come for him. Something for him to do. He wasn’t sure, but he did. The old construction site, still a slow process since Falcone had held it off for the sake of training, but it just brought back more memories of his time with Hector. But his training wasn’t without interruption. As he fired a set of bullets straight through the bullets, creating a bullet hole without shattering the bullets, he would hear the sound of approaching footsteps before calling out.
“Careful, it’s just me!”
Ernesto turned around to see Tommy approaching him, his eyes hidden behind sunglasses. He stepped forward, his hands in his pocket as he spoke, “I’m… I’m really sorry about Hector, kid. I didn’t… I didn’t think it would happen to him.”
“How the hell did it happen!?” Ernesto struggled to say, barely turning his attention to Tommy as he took another set of bullets from the ammo box to set them in his hand
“I… don’t know.” Tommy answered. “I thought we got all the Cornello Family, either by killing them or scaring them off. I… I thought that they were-”
“They were!” Ernesto shouted, turning back to Tommy, “I made sure of it! I killed every single fucking one! So tell me! Who the fuck was left standing to kill Hector! And why Hector!? They should have come for me!”
“Look, no need to scream at me, kid!” Tommy retorted. “I get it, it shouldn’t have been Hector. He was a good man. But you can’t blame yourself. He would never let you take that fall. He wasn’t that kind of person. He watched out for everyone. He was worth more than all of us.”
As Ernesto kept his back to Tommy, he let out a sigh. Tommy took out a pack of Marlboro and took a lighter out, lighting his smoke with it. As He took a long drag on it, Ernesto asked, “Hey, you were with Hector yesterday. What did you guys talk about?”
“The same old stuff” Tommy replied dryly. “About what he wanted to do for you and Fred. How he wanted you guys to get out of this life. What I would do to get out of this life. All that on the way to the office.”
“I’m not talking about the office, Tommy” Ernesto replied, turning back over to face Tommy. He stared him in the face, and replied, “I’m talking about when you took him to the subway.”
Tommy looked back over to Ernesto, staring at him before he asked, “How’d you know?”
“I didn’t.” Ernesto replied. “I was hoping you’d let it slip. And you did!”
Tommy stared at Ernesto. Even through his shades, Ernesto could feel the glare that Tommy was shooting back at him. Tommy tossed his cigarette to the ground and replied, “Listen, Ernesto, I don’t know where you’re going with this, but I suggest you get any doubt out of your head. I just drove him to the subway. He was told that he wanted to go there, I don’t know what for. Maybe a train ticket to get you and him out of there. I don’t know what it was.”
“Don’t bullshit me!” Ernesto replied. “Ricard, George, Kent! The news and the cops don’t know it, but I know those were Falcone guys! They put a hit on Hector! What for? To get him out of the way of me? Because Melvin was getting paranoid? I don’t know what, but I know that fat fuck Melvin killed Hector”.
Tommy took a step back as he looked at Ernesto, looking at Ernesto in shock before he spoke, “Listen, Ernesto, whatever you’re getting in your head, you gotta believe me, I didn’t do it.”
As Ernesto took a step forward, moving closer and closer to Tommy, he was forced out of fear to pull out his gun. Tommy aimed his gun at Ernesto, shocked that he was already close to him. Close enough to put his one finger into the barrel of the gun. Ernesto looked at Tommy, staring through his sunglasses to look him in the eye. Ernesto replied, “Tommy, listen. You’ve been a friend of my uncles and watched over me and Fred for twenty years. I want to believe you had nothing to do with my uncle's death. But trust me… the Falcone family is done. Melvin is going to die. Today. You can choose to let me go or stop me. It all comes from pulling that trigger. But if you do it… You won’t live long enough to regret it.”
“Ernesto… You’re insane… You’re…”
“Let me guess. I’m subhuman?” Ernesto replied. “Heard it before. Lots of times. But this time? No, I’m not taking it from criminal fucks. Tommy, you can choose your friends or the family. Pick now.”
“E-Ernesto…” Tommy replied, his finger resting on the trigger. And as he looked at the boy, now turned into a cold blooded killer, he replied. “You’re not the same anymore!”
His finger closed around the trigger, and…
There was a bang, but not from the gun. Or rather, not from the barrel. The gun had exploded. The entire gun was blown into pieces. Ernesto’s hand was just fine, looking down at Tommy with a cold stare. But Tommy’s hand, it was blown to pieces. His fingers were strewn about, his hand now a lump of dangling flesh, bone and blood exposed from the remains of his hand. But he didn’t even have time to scream. The shock from the sight as well as the new magic was lost before Ernesto grabbed hold of Tommy’s face, and like a hot iron, his hand was already melting the flesh on his face. Tommy let out a scream as Ernesto squeezed and squeezed before his hand melted through Tommy’s face and skull, shattering it in his hands with ease before he threw his once guardians torn body onto the ground, letting the boiling blood seep out onto the sand. Ernesto’s plan was in motion now. He was going to kill the Falcone Family tonight. But he wanted to be ready. He stepped out of the construction sight, making his way out. That is until he heard the ringing of Tommy’s phone. Reaching down with his blood soaked hand, Ernesto picked up the phone and answered, “Hello?”
“Ernesto? Where’s Tommy” Said a voice on the other line. No surprise, it was Mikey. Ernesto let the question linger a bit before answering, “He’s dead.”
“W-What do you mean he’s dead?”
“He tried to kill me. I had no choice?”
“W-What? You can’t be serious. He- He only wanted to talk with you.”
“I thought so too, until he pulled the gun on me.”
“Shit. Kid. Listen… I… I can get you back to the bar, is that alright?”
“Yeah, that’s fine” Ernesto answered, and before adding onto it, he hung the phone up and made his way toward the exit, tossing the phone back onto Tommy’s mangled corpse.
Ernesto sat in the black car as Mikey was driving it back to the bar. The night had already long since set in, with Mikey driving in silence. It was easy to take notice of the red on Ernesto’s hand. It was one thing to kill a friend, but to not even hide the fact. Mikey wasn’t sure what to make of it, of someone killing so easily. But he spoke up, “Ernesto… listen… I know why you killed Tommy.”
“Because he tried to kill me first” He replied
“No, I know why you really did it.” Mikey added. “What he did… He was there with the other family. It was told to us by Falcone, a job for all of us. Kill Hector. Seven guys went to kill him. Hector went with the intent of fighting everyone, and thought that Tommy was a trusted person. I know this, because… Tommy told me. After he did it, he came back, got drunk, and cried about it. While Hector gunned down the others, Tommy abused Hector’s trust and put the bullet into his chest. But… I wouldn’t. I was hoping to warn Hector, and I… Ernesto, listen, when the family gets word of Tommy, they’re going to come after you.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Ernesto replied dryly. “I killed your friend.”
“I know, but… It was to be expected. Tommy was a good friend, but… He was never smart. He was always doomed for this, and… Killing a kid, I just… can’t do it. I’ll help you get out of the city, but you gotta-”
“No. Melvin is going to die.”
“Ernesto, please” Mikey replied. “You don’t understand-”
“No, Mike. You don’t understand” Enresto spoke, his tone raised. “He killed my uncle. He wants to kill me now. I kill him or he hunts me and Frederick down. I don’t care if I die. But I’m not letting Frederick live for my screw ups. I appreciate you wanting to help, but I’m not leaving until Melvin’s dead. You don’t have to help.”
“Jeez, kid” Mikey replied. He stared forward, trying to understand the words coming from him. He gave a sigh and spoke, “Okay, okay, I’ll… I’ll take you to the office and… Fuck, kid. You have any idea how crazy this is?”
“I do” Ernesto replied. And he left it at that.
The bar was more dark than usual, not a soul in sight. Not so now that Tommy was dead, and the Falcone’s ownership would end by the morning, as far as Ernesto was concerned. Once the car parked, Ernesto stepped out, pointing at Mikey before replying, “Wait here, I’ll get what I need.”
“Just don’t take too long” He shouted back, sitting in the car with this distant look, staring back at the mirror, “What the fuck have you gotten yourself into, Mikey.”
But as he stared back through the windshield, he saw another black car parking in front of him, with a person stepping out of it. As Mikey looked forward, he could see a man in black, carrying a revolver in one hand and a sawed off shotgun over his shoulder in the other, walking toward the bar. And his most noticeable feature, the burn on his face. And as the man stepped to the bar, he looked back at the car.
“Benny?”
But he was greeted with a fire from the revolver, the bullet striking Mikey in the chest
“Don’t take too long!” Mikey shouted back as Ernesto rushed inside the bar. He looked around the place, along the walls in the dark until his eyes fell onto the thing he was looking for. The mask. He wasn’t going in where witnesses could see his face. As he slid the mask onto his face, there was a gunshot heard from outside. And it was immediately followed by a loud kick of the door, a voice calling “Hey, wetback! Let’s party!”
Ernesto knew that voice, clear as day. The voice of his regular tormenter. Benny, unable to see in the dark, fired a shotgun blast into the walls, shattering the bottles of wine on one of the shelves as he stepped inside, looking for Ernesto. He kept his ears and eyes opened, waiting for any sort of movement. And at the sound of a rolling bottle, he fired the shotgun again, shattering it and the floorboards again. But when there was no sound, he froze. And it wasn’t until he heard footsteps did he turn around, swinging the but of his gun around, hitting a solid surface clearly. Knocking Ernesto to the ground, he gave a chuckle, “Fucking retard. Can’t do shit unless you're close. And you’re going after the Falcones. Yeah, nice try, dickhead. Say hi to Hector for me.”
With the shotgun raised, he pulled the trigger and
“Click”
Nothing. No gunshot. Benny looked down at the gun, seeing the bullets empty. And as he did, Ernesto, through a grin behind the mask, replied, “Who’s the retard?”
And before Benny had a chance, Hector raised his hand with the bullet and fired it forward, striking the bullet into his crotchal region, causing Benny to let out a pained scream and falling onto his back. The pain was excruciating, more than his first encounter with Ernesto. And as he screamed on the floor, blood staining the ground and his pants, Ernesto climbed on top of him, grabbing Benny’s head to face him as he jammed his now hot thumbs into his eyes, pushing into his skull. His eyes melted down further and further into his head, Benny screaming in agony, feeling the searing pain of what was like hot metal inside of his skull, his brain frying from the inside, until the back of his head exploded, blood, skull fragments and burnt brain matter falling out the back of his head. Ernesto let out a sigh, kicking Benny’s body as he replied, “That’s for calling me a fucking wetback!”
Ernesto stepped out of the bar, approaching the car before noticing a bullet hole in the windshield. Rushing over, he threw the door open, seeing Mikey with a pained expression on his face, clutching his bleeding chest. Ernesto shouted, “Mikey, shit, we gotta get you to a hospital.”
“B-Bullshit! I’m.. I’m this far in, aren’t I? Gotta have a getaway driver!”
“Stop talking like a dumbass! If you don’t get to a doctor, you’re gonna die”
“I’m a sixty eight year old man. I’m gonna die soon anyway. Besides… I’ll be fine! W-We gotta get to the office or Melvin’s gonna get away.”
“Shit!” Ernesto shouted. He knew that if he did go to the hospital, Melvin would go into hiding. He had to attack now, or never. Ernesto replied, “Fine, but move over. I’m driving”
“J-Jeez, you’re bossy. Reminds me of Hector” Mikey replied, moving over into the passenger seat with a pained groan, bordering on a scream.”
Once Ernesto got into the car, taking the wheel, Mikey asked, “You… know how to drive this thing?”
“I’ve got a few experiences!” And with a rocky start, having to hit the break hard a few times to avoid crashing, Ernesto was on his way to the office. His plan was set now. He knew what he had to do. He knew that revenge was coming for Melvin. For the Falcone Family. He knew that Hector wanted him and Frederick away from this life. And as far as Ernesto saw it, this was the only way now.
~The Time is Now~
Hector and Ernesto were sitting at the ice cream parlor that Hector and Ernesto had regulated a lot when he was a kid. Not a spot that they had gone to in a while. Hector wasn’t sure what it was that Ernesto would need to clear his head, but he knew it wasn’t something that could be simply eased. Seeing a child die, killing her and her mother, all because someone told you to. For Hector, that was all his life was for. That was what he was told ever since he was part of the Falcone Family. If he was told to kill someone, he’d do it. But Ernesto, he was different. He wasn’t meant for this kind of life. He looked over across from the table, Ernesto having just ordered a water, staring down at the glass. Hector had only finished his soda as his eyes gleamed over at the traumatized boy. Hector hadn’t known what he could do. He never wanted kids. But he knew that he cared for Ernesto, for Frederick. When no one else would care about them. But Hector couldn’t help but feel that he was just as responsible for the path they went down. If he had done more, if he had stepped in rather than let Falcone make such a ridiculous plan that was twelve years in the making, he would have just fought against it. But with things now, Hector wasn’t sure he could make things right. Not after tonight. Neither one of them had even spoken until they stepped out of the shop, heading back to the car. With a lit cigarette in his mouth, Hector looked over at the somber Ernesto and he spoke again, “Ernesto… what you did… It-”
“Don’t say it wasn’t my fault” Ernesto interrupted almost immediately. “Even if you tell me that I was scared, even if you tell me that I didn’t mean to do it. Even if you tell me that I regret it, I still saw that kid die. I still put a bullet into a little kid. And there’s nothing I can do about that-”
What had happened next, the very next move, it shocked Ernesto to his core. When Hector, with his one arm, pulled Ernesto toward him in a hug, holding the young man close to him. It was the first time, the first time in all his life, that Ernesto had been hugged by someone. From someone he felt couldn’t care less about him. Even his brother was too scared to hug him. His father never wanted him, his mother never wanted to acknowledge them, and Hector was far too cold, too awkward with kids, to return any form of affection or care. So when Ernesto was hugged, it was like a shotgun blast in his chest. A sudden shocking feeling taking over him. Hector held Ernesto close to him, regardless of the odd looks by passersby, regardless of how he felt undeserved to speak the words that came after.
“It was always my fault, Ernest. Since the first day, it was all my fault.”
Ernesto looked up at Hector, and for the first time since he was a young boy, he could see tears falling from Hector’s eyes. But he didn’t hide them. Not this time. His eyes were locked on Ernesto as he held him in a comforting hold, all with his one arm. Ernesto was at a loss for words. The evening, it was a night of events, of unforgettable tragedies and changes. And this, how Hector treated him now. It was only another unforgettable moment. Another unforgettable tragedy
~March 1st~
~Four Months Later~
Frederick stepped out of the subway, finding himself passing by businessmen and regular workers, their phones in hand and their attention on their own thoughts. Frederick stuck out in his college clothes, casual wear for someone going to a university, but something he wanted to wear on his return to the home for the week. He had spoken with Hector time and time again, but his falling out with Ernesto only made him wonder what he was doing. He stopped talking with Ernesto after his incident with his bully years ago, but a part of him worried. Worried what Ernesto was doing. Hector always told him that Ernesto was fine, but Frederick always worried. Especially for someone like Ernesto. He wanted to be sure himself. He remembered the path to the bar. Or, he thought so. He was certain that it was the right spot, but when he found himself standing outside of a more refurbished bar, with neon lights, fancier decor, it was unlike the bar he grew up in as a kid. He wasn’t sure if he would be recognized, but as soon as he took his step on the door, he was greeted by some familiar faces. Tommy was there manning the bar, his bald head and sunglasses hiding his stoic expression. Sitting at the stools was Mikey, his wrinkles only growing and his silver hair turning more grey, but he kept his usual smile. And as Frederick stepped inside, the two turned over with a smile, greeting the young boy.
“Hey, college boy” Mikey said, raising a glass in the air. Tommy greeted Frederick with more of a nod and the faintest smirk on his face. Frederick gave a smile and wave, though an awkward one to the two men, before asking, “Is, uh, Uncle Hector around?”
“Just caught him in time” Tommy said, “Me and him were about to head on out. Ernesto should be upstairs though.”
“Oh… okay” Frederick said, his enthusiasm dipping at the sound of Ernesto. His attention, however, was grabbed by the strange Japanese goblin mask on the wall. He pointed at it and asked, “Is that a Tengu mask?”
“Yeah” Mikey answered. “We thought it was tacky, but Blue-Eyes Benny insisted that we keep it up there. Says it gives Ernesto something to think about or something.”
“I.. see.” Frederick replied dryly.
The talk was short lived, as Hector soon found his way downstairs, his attention turning to Frederick with a smile as he waved, “Hey, Fred. I didn’t think you’d be here so early.”
Frederick’s smile returned at the sight of his uncle. He approached him with his hand extended as he spoke, “Well I took the train to get here. Thought I would surprise you.”
“Color me surprised” Hector said as he shook Frederick’s hand. “I’m sorry to leave so early, but I promised you guys a surprise when I got here, and a surprise is what I want to give you. I swear you and Ernesto will love it. When I get back, we can have some fun around the city, alright?”
“Oh, uh… sure, Uncle Hector.” Frederick said, disappointed that they couldn’t talk longer
“Tommy, with me!” Hector said with a snap of his finger
“Got it” Tommy replied, placing the cup he was cleaning on the counter, leaving Mikey to run the front and hurry out the door toward the car. With a wave, Hector stepped out after, leaving Frederick with Mikey. Fred turned his attention to the older gangster and asked, “So, uh… what have things been like?”
“Why don’t you ask Ernesto, kid?” Mikey said with a shake of his head. “Boy’s been worried sick about you. And it isn’t my place to get in between two brothers. Even if you two got your differences and disagreements, that doesn't separate you two. You two don’t have much family left.”
“H-How did…” Frederick stuttered, but was immediately answered.
“I’ve been in this business a long time, kid. And doubt and regret is clear all over you. Go on. Won’t kill ya to at least check on him.”
“I… guess so.” Frederick said, and with a faint wave, he made his way up the stairs, the wooden stairs losing their creek after the renovation. Despite the stairs being small, it felt like a full hike up a mountain toward his old room in the attic. And once he stepped inside, he saw how vacant it was. Only a single laptop that he kept hidden to work on websites and chat rooms. A single air mattress to sleep on. And a TV with a PS4 now, all complete with RPGs still, as well as his old collection of games. And as he sat there on the floor, playing what looked to be Dark Cloud on the TV, when the door creaked, Ernesto’s headshot over, expecting it to be someone from the family. But at the sight of Frederick, his eyes shot open, and he could only stare at his brother, who he hadn’t heard from in so long. It was like a dream. A dream he would prefer to stay in at this point.
Hector sat in the passenger seat, smoking on his cigarette with a long drag. Tommy was always silent and not one to speak his mind much unless the conversation was started or if it was Mikey, but Hector knew Tommy to be a good guy, if a bit of a brute. As he rested back in the seat of the black Sedan, his eyes looked out to the city, seeing businesses like shops and bars and such, all filled with men in suits, all with a style to them. And Hector knew them all as new recruits to the family. The fall of the Cornello Family only brought in new attention to the side of New York and to the Falcone Family. To Melvin, his plan had been a success and he controlled all the business in the city. And as far as Hector was concerned, he kept his end of the deal. He let out a sigh as he spoke, “Doesn’t it just upset you to see all these mom and pop stores getting drained for money? Who do they need protection from? No one will step up to Melvin, not after the bloodbath at the hotel.”
“It’s just business, Hector. You of all people should know that.” Tommy replied.
“Well you know that I’m done with that kind of business” Hector responded in an agitated tone, his feet tapping on the car floor impatiently.
“Right. The day you leave the family.” Tommy said sarcastically. “You really think that Melvin will let you walk away?”
“If he doesn’t, that’s fine by me. But Ernesto… At least him. He did his job. He’s just a kid. He doesn’t deserve this.”
“Listen, Hector” Tommy spoke up. “Nobody likes this. Well, nobody sane does. Benny’s a cocksucker who enjoys torturing people, and Melvin is a paranoid man of power. But me and Mikey, we can’t stand for it. But that’s just…”
“Let me guess? Business?” Hector interrupted, looking back toward the window. “Listen, we all got ambitions. Outside of the family. Sure, we had nothing when we came in. I was an immigrant, you were either gonna go to prison, and Mikey was brought in by his dad. We never had choices. But now, we can make our own choices. Melvin’s got power, a new crew, everything. Tommy, I know you hate this life as much as I do.”
“Course I do. Who doesn’t?” Tommy replied. “But… I don’t know if I can do anything else outside of this. I’ve got too much blood on my hands, Hector. Mikey and Benny too. And you do too. And I hate to say it, but so does Ernesto. There’s no place for people like us. Nowhere but here.”
“Bullshit” Hector retorted. “There’s always a chance. This is it. If not for me, for Ernesto. I gotta take that chance. Whatever Melvin thinks, I don’t care.”
Tommy was unable to think of a word. He just looked over at his companion that he has worked with for years. He wasn’t sure if he was a bull-headed moron or was one of the more real and brave people he worked alongside. The ride to the building was in silence from then on. Not a word more was spoken on the subject.
“Freddie! I can’t believe you’re here!”
“Yeah, I can’t either”
Ernesto and Frederick had already sat down on the floor, having spoken in awkward pauses, Ernesto having much to talk about. Frederick got a better look at Ernesto now, taking a look at his unkempt hair, his tired eyes, yet his high energy was… off. He was more brooding the last time he met him, more angry. But Ernesto now, it was different. He couldn’t focus on one subject from another. Frederick shook his head as he spoke, “So, uh, Ernesto, what have you been up to?”
“The usual stuff. The yoosh” He replied casually, much to Frederick’s confusing. And with that question answered, Ernesto’s eyes lit up as he snaked over to his laptop, taking it and opening it up for Fred, “Oh, check this out, by the way. You remember how I used magic to burn that dickhead Benny and still used it a few times? Turns out there’s more than just me. So I’m not a special superhero. There’s like a bunch of people like that. Though it’s only reports, and some call it bullshit, it looks like a thing that some people get. Here, look.”
Ernesto turned the laptop toward Frederick on the floor, showing a strange website called ‘The Enigma’, which Ernesto looked at proudly as he replied, “I made this website. All to document all the strange things I find. Like magic and monsters and stuff. I thought I was just a freak, but it turns out it’s all real, bro.”
“That’s, uh…. Pretty cool, Ernest.” Frederick replied, looking at the amateurish website with doubt and also concern. But what really caught his attention was the name on the side. Alongside Ernesto was another name called Mason. Frederick looked at the name and spoke, “Who’s that?”
“Oh, that’s Mason.” Ernesto replied casually before adding, “He’s like my editor and some guy from Ohio. Apparently he’s going on a trip soon with a friend of his to Florida to find more strange happenings. Gonna find all sorts of shit on the way there. Stuff in Kentucky, Georgia, North and South Dakota. Can you imagine that?”
“No, I… can’t say I can, bro. Sounds like you’ve been busy.” Fred said, looking at the name Mason, only thinking it was some guy feeding his insanity.
Joel sat in his apartment, looking over some reports of the hotel massacre. He was told that this was a cold case, with no witnesses aside from a bellboy that was traumatized and some people seeing a masked man leave on Halloween night, among a hundred other masked people. They weren’t sure any evidence was left behind. No bullets aside from the ones fired from the thugs, no blood samples, and any hair or fingerprints were all traced to an unknown source. Some people have called this killer The Phantom. Twenty-three victims in one night. “The Phantom. You gotta be fucking kidding me!” Joel said as he looked over the scenes. And as he did, he couldn’t help but remember that incident of the boys house burning down. Same thing. No evidence, no fingerprints, all reports of a young Hispanic boy but no ties to anything. Even when it was reported to a crime family, it went cold without evidence of any kind and the family was no longer considered. Though Joel was more than tempted to check it out, his partner told him to back off. But still, with these reports of a person with some source of fire, able to burn people in such a horrid manner, fire bullets without a gun. It all sounded like madness. Of course, Joel wasn’t without more issues. As he looked over the reports again, resisting the urge to start smoking again from the annoyance, he turned his eyes over to the window to get a glimpse of something other than words and words of graphic murder. But as his eyes were down on the street below, seeing the cars passing by, a black car caught his attention. Sitting in the car was a young looking man in a suit, all professional. And right next to him, that same man from the house fire. The same man with the Korean women. And at the sight of them, Joel bolted down to the apartment halls and down the stairs as quickly as he could, nearly crashing into one of his neighbors and almost tripping on the third set of stairs before throwing the front doors open. But once outside, no car was parked. He turned his head to see the car driving down the street quickly, having long since pulled out before he could get a closer glimpse at them. He wasn’t sure who they were, but he knew that they were related in some way. And it was clear they had different sides in this case than Joel was on.
Hector stepped into the office that Melvin now occupied, a building that was now part of a high rise apartment, much nicer than the old bar. After reaching the seventh floor, Hector and Tommy walked into the bosses room, passing a few guards that occupied the building. And at the bosses room with him sat Benny, his scared eye looking over at Hector as he spoke, “Hey, amputee. You here to chat with the boss.”
“Yeah, one eye. Think you can let me through?”
“Prick!” Benny spat as he opened the door for him, Hector merely giving a shrug to the insult as he stepped inside. The lavish room of the bosses office was an eyesore to Hector. The blood red carpet mixed with the bright yellow wallpaper with a dark brown desk. None of it blended well and just looked tacky. But to Melvin, it was expensive and just right for him. Hector stepped forward before speaking up, “Melvin!”
“Ah, Hector” Melvin said, leaning back in his seat, wearing a more immaculate black suit with his hair slicked back now. He looked at Hector with a more annoyed stare, as if his presence was disturbing his high. He asked, “What can I do for you?”
“You know what you can do” Hector replied. “Cornello is dead. You got what you wanted. I paid my debt and then some. Now you let my nephew out of there.”
“Right, right. I hear ya. Alright, it’s done. Your nephew is off our leash.”
“Thank you, Melvin,” Hector said, though the idea of having any thanks for him was enough to make him sick. But he turned and made his way to the door. But stopped quickly at the next sentence that came from Melvin. “Oh, but, you know… That doesn’t exactly give him the right to leave. Oh, sure, he did wonders for the family. But he still caused lots of trouble. Hurting Benny here, causing so much trouble for us after he burned that house down. Even had to cut up my best hitman. Oh, I can give Ernesto a nice place in the family. Even give him his own crew and power. He’s a good boy to have in. But to let that golden goose go? I’d have to be a fucking retard to do that.”
“You promised me that he’d get out of here when Cornello was dead!” Hector replied, turning to Melvin with a stare of boiling rage, rage that only grew more and more
“You seriously had that on your mind for twelve years?” Melvin said with his hands raised in confusion. “Hector, you have to do something better with your time.”
“Melvin, you listen up! I want you to get my nephew out of this shit right now! You’d better or-”
“Or what?” Melvin said, sitting up now. And as he did, all the goons behind Hector sat up as well, all of them staring him down. Hector knew that whatever move he made next, it could get him killed. Even he wouldn’t be able to take on these many men.
Melvin continued, “Listen here, you slippery shit. I own you and I own your nephew. Without my damn kindness, I would have sold their asses years ago, even with you paying your debt. I told you not to get involved with family. I brought you up when you and your brother were busy trying to hop the border. I owe you nothing. And if you ever try to demand anything from me again, I’ll make you regret it.”
“You got a lot of regrets, don’t you? I’m sure you regret Tony too.” Hector said, staring the boss down
Melvin was silent as he stared right back at Hector, and he replied, “You are about to cross the fucking line!”
Hector stared at Melvin, the thought of at least killing him a promising idea. But his eyes looked back around at the goons, before his attention went back to Melvin and he replied, “Whatever.”
With that, he passed the goons, all of them keeping their eyes on him as he walked out the door, none of them turning back to see the anger rising in Melvin.
The day had crept into night. Hector had spent some time with Frederick and Ernesto, Ernesto being the more cheerful one of the group to the shock of Frederick. Hector was silent. He let Frederick drive the car around, sitting in the back with this distant look in his eyes. Whenever they had spoken to him, Hector would only respond in faint answers or ask what the question was. Clearly, he was lost in his own thoughts, far from the conversation. Frederick had been expecting this from Hector. He didn’t expect him to be back with the warmest smile and hope. It was Ernesto that shocked him the most, though. All of their trips to the store to check out some of the stuff sold, eating at a burger restaurant, it was all met with total silence. It wasn’t until they had reached the port, near the end of the day, did they even have a conversation.
Frederick or Hector didn’t have much interest in the rides, leaving Ernesto to explore the place with this sort of curiosity about him. Having helped himself to some of the cotton candy and a few of the games while the other two wandered around, it was odd. Frederick and Hector sat back as Ernesto was indulging himself in a ring toss game, like watching a small child enjoying something. Frederick crossed his arms and spoke, “Uncle, why do we let him do this kind of stuff? He’s twenty.”
“I know.” Hector replied. “But he’s been through a lot. More than you can imagine, Fred. I can’t expect you to understand. I hope you never have to. But Ernest deserves some fun in his life. He deserves to enjoy his free time, the small things. How much has he been dealing with training, with being told by the mafia that he’s gotta stay in the bar, barely get a chance to leave. Fred, you have a life outside of this, and I couldn’t be happier. But Ernesto… He never got that chance. Twenty years old and this is the first time he’s gotten to enjoy anything that wasn’t using his magic or being cooped up in that room.”
As the two spoke, Ernesto found himself walking back, holding a stuffed alien plush, looking between the two as he asked, “Yo, what are you guys talking about?”
“Oh, just life and all that” Hector said, putting his one arm into his pocket
“Ha! Sounds really boring” Ernesto said with a smile
“Ernesto!” Frederick shouted immediately
“Nah, don’t worry about it” Hector replied with a smile, “Hey, it’s just good that Ernesto is having some fun finally”
“See, Fred” Ernesto jokes. “Uncle Hector gets it”
“Can’t be serious all the time.” Hector followed up on it. “I know I’m the last person to say that, but… It’s just that you gotta enjoy life for what you have. And well… I can say me and Ernesto didn’t have much. Growing up in the mob, having to do what we were told. Not easy. But… In a way, it helps you see the good in life. When you just focus on the bad, it stresses you, it makes you think ‘what’s even the point?’”
Hector looked out at the ocean, staring at the reflecting lights in the water, the pink and purple evening sky out in the distance. His words had trailed off as he looked out, the faintest smile on his face, but a distant one all the same, one still lost in thoughts
“Uncle Hector?” Frederick asked
“Huh?” Hector replied. “Sorry. Just… thinking about a lot. Seems I do a lot of that now.”
Before Hector could add onto that, his phone rang. He was slow at first, taking in the sight of the sky, letting it ring a few times before he picked it up and put it to his ear, speaking into it, “Hello?... You sure?... alright, thanks. Yeah, I’ll be there.”
Once he hung up, he turned back to Frederick and Ernesto and replied, “I gotta head back to the office. Sorry to cut the evening short, but you two know the way back from here. I’ll meet you two back there.”
“Sure thing, Hector” Ernesto said, giving him the biggest smile he could
“Yeah, will do, Uncle Hector” Frederick said, with a wave
Hector couldn’t help but smile again, only wavering a bit once he turned his back to them. With a wave, he stepped down the pier, walking away from the two nephews that he raised as his own kids. To him, they were his kids. The one thing that kept him sane for the past twenty years.
“Last night, in the Manhattan Transfer Subway tunnel, seven bodies were found down below. A shoot out took place amidst the empty subway with only a few witnesses. Police reports suggest the shooting to be an act of gang violence, but the ties to who are unknown. Among the casualties were Ricardo Cameron, George Palma, Kent Copela, Ian Lynch, Jacob Coen, Luca del Toro, and Hector Menendez. Witnesses are still being found, but no one has stepped forward. It isn’t sure what caused the attack, some police suggesting it to just be a regular turf war. As of now, the case is still under investigation.”
It was only a few days after Hector’s death was announced on the news. Frederick had long since left back for college, distraught at what he had heard. He was hoping to stick around for Ernesto’s sake, but he insisted Frederick go back to school. Frederick didn’t know why and he was scared to know, but he did so. Ernesto, for the first time in four months, found the bar to be suffocating, cold and empty. He couldn’t stand to sit around. Instead, he decided to go to his old training spot to practice. He wasn’t sure what he needed to practice for. Revenge on Hector's killers. Protection in case they wanted to come for him. Something for him to do. He wasn’t sure, but he did. The old construction site, still a slow process since Falcone had held it off for the sake of training, but it just brought back more memories of his time with Hector. But his training wasn’t without interruption. As he fired a set of bullets straight through the bullets, creating a bullet hole without shattering the bullets, he would hear the sound of approaching footsteps before calling out.
“Careful, it’s just me!”
Ernesto turned around to see Tommy approaching him, his eyes hidden behind sunglasses. He stepped forward, his hands in his pocket as he spoke, “I’m… I’m really sorry about Hector, kid. I didn’t… I didn’t think it would happen to him.”
“How the hell did it happen!?” Ernesto struggled to say, barely turning his attention to Tommy as he took another set of bullets from the ammo box to set them in his hand
“I… don’t know.” Tommy answered. “I thought we got all the Cornello Family, either by killing them or scaring them off. I… I thought that they were-”
“They were!” Ernesto shouted, turning back to Tommy, “I made sure of it! I killed every single fucking one! So tell me! Who the fuck was left standing to kill Hector! And why Hector!? They should have come for me!”
“Look, no need to scream at me, kid!” Tommy retorted. “I get it, it shouldn’t have been Hector. He was a good man. But you can’t blame yourself. He would never let you take that fall. He wasn’t that kind of person. He watched out for everyone. He was worth more than all of us.”
As Ernesto kept his back to Tommy, he let out a sigh. Tommy took out a pack of Marlboro and took a lighter out, lighting his smoke with it. As He took a long drag on it, Ernesto asked, “Hey, you were with Hector yesterday. What did you guys talk about?”
“The same old stuff” Tommy replied dryly. “About what he wanted to do for you and Fred. How he wanted you guys to get out of this life. What I would do to get out of this life. All that on the way to the office.”
“I’m not talking about the office, Tommy” Ernesto replied, turning back over to face Tommy. He stared him in the face, and replied, “I’m talking about when you took him to the subway.”
Tommy looked back over to Ernesto, staring at him before he asked, “How’d you know?”
“I didn’t.” Ernesto replied. “I was hoping you’d let it slip. And you did!”
Tommy stared at Ernesto. Even through his shades, Ernesto could feel the glare that Tommy was shooting back at him. Tommy tossed his cigarette to the ground and replied, “Listen, Ernesto, I don’t know where you’re going with this, but I suggest you get any doubt out of your head. I just drove him to the subway. He was told that he wanted to go there, I don’t know what for. Maybe a train ticket to get you and him out of there. I don’t know what it was.”
“Don’t bullshit me!” Ernesto replied. “Ricard, George, Kent! The news and the cops don’t know it, but I know those were Falcone guys! They put a hit on Hector! What for? To get him out of the way of me? Because Melvin was getting paranoid? I don’t know what, but I know that fat fuck Melvin killed Hector”.
Tommy took a step back as he looked at Ernesto, looking at Ernesto in shock before he spoke, “Listen, Ernesto, whatever you’re getting in your head, you gotta believe me, I didn’t do it.”
As Ernesto took a step forward, moving closer and closer to Tommy, he was forced out of fear to pull out his gun. Tommy aimed his gun at Ernesto, shocked that he was already close to him. Close enough to put his one finger into the barrel of the gun. Ernesto looked at Tommy, staring through his sunglasses to look him in the eye. Ernesto replied, “Tommy, listen. You’ve been a friend of my uncles and watched over me and Fred for twenty years. I want to believe you had nothing to do with my uncle's death. But trust me… the Falcone family is done. Melvin is going to die. Today. You can choose to let me go or stop me. It all comes from pulling that trigger. But if you do it… You won’t live long enough to regret it.”
“Ernesto… You’re insane… You’re…”
“Let me guess. I’m subhuman?” Ernesto replied. “Heard it before. Lots of times. But this time? No, I’m not taking it from criminal fucks. Tommy, you can choose your friends or the family. Pick now.”
“E-Ernesto…” Tommy replied, his finger resting on the trigger. And as he looked at the boy, now turned into a cold blooded killer, he replied. “You’re not the same anymore!”
His finger closed around the trigger, and…
There was a bang, but not from the gun. Or rather, not from the barrel. The gun had exploded. The entire gun was blown into pieces. Ernesto’s hand was just fine, looking down at Tommy with a cold stare. But Tommy’s hand, it was blown to pieces. His fingers were strewn about, his hand now a lump of dangling flesh, bone and blood exposed from the remains of his hand. But he didn’t even have time to scream. The shock from the sight as well as the new magic was lost before Ernesto grabbed hold of Tommy’s face, and like a hot iron, his hand was already melting the flesh on his face. Tommy let out a scream as Ernesto squeezed and squeezed before his hand melted through Tommy’s face and skull, shattering it in his hands with ease before he threw his once guardians torn body onto the ground, letting the boiling blood seep out onto the sand. Ernesto’s plan was in motion now. He was going to kill the Falcone Family tonight. But he wanted to be ready. He stepped out of the construction sight, making his way out. That is until he heard the ringing of Tommy’s phone. Reaching down with his blood soaked hand, Ernesto picked up the phone and answered, “Hello?”
“Ernesto? Where’s Tommy” Said a voice on the other line. No surprise, it was Mikey. Ernesto let the question linger a bit before answering, “He’s dead.”
“W-What do you mean he’s dead?”
“He tried to kill me. I had no choice?”
“W-What? You can’t be serious. He- He only wanted to talk with you.”
“I thought so too, until he pulled the gun on me.”
“Shit. Kid. Listen… I… I can get you back to the bar, is that alright?”
“Yeah, that’s fine” Ernesto answered, and before adding onto it, he hung the phone up and made his way toward the exit, tossing the phone back onto Tommy’s mangled corpse.
Ernesto sat in the black car as Mikey was driving it back to the bar. The night had already long since set in, with Mikey driving in silence. It was easy to take notice of the red on Ernesto’s hand. It was one thing to kill a friend, but to not even hide the fact. Mikey wasn’t sure what to make of it, of someone killing so easily. But he spoke up, “Ernesto… listen… I know why you killed Tommy.”
“Because he tried to kill me first” He replied
“No, I know why you really did it.” Mikey added. “What he did… He was there with the other family. It was told to us by Falcone, a job for all of us. Kill Hector. Seven guys went to kill him. Hector went with the intent of fighting everyone, and thought that Tommy was a trusted person. I know this, because… Tommy told me. After he did it, he came back, got drunk, and cried about it. While Hector gunned down the others, Tommy abused Hector’s trust and put the bullet into his chest. But… I wouldn’t. I was hoping to warn Hector, and I… Ernesto, listen, when the family gets word of Tommy, they’re going to come after you.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Ernesto replied dryly. “I killed your friend.”
“I know, but… It was to be expected. Tommy was a good friend, but… He was never smart. He was always doomed for this, and… Killing a kid, I just… can’t do it. I’ll help you get out of the city, but you gotta-”
“No. Melvin is going to die.”
“Ernesto, please” Mikey replied. “You don’t understand-”
“No, Mike. You don’t understand” Enresto spoke, his tone raised. “He killed my uncle. He wants to kill me now. I kill him or he hunts me and Frederick down. I don’t care if I die. But I’m not letting Frederick live for my screw ups. I appreciate you wanting to help, but I’m not leaving until Melvin’s dead. You don’t have to help.”
“Jeez, kid” Mikey replied. He stared forward, trying to understand the words coming from him. He gave a sigh and spoke, “Okay, okay, I’ll… I’ll take you to the office and… Fuck, kid. You have any idea how crazy this is?”
“I do” Ernesto replied. And he left it at that.
The bar was more dark than usual, not a soul in sight. Not so now that Tommy was dead, and the Falcone’s ownership would end by the morning, as far as Ernesto was concerned. Once the car parked, Ernesto stepped out, pointing at Mikey before replying, “Wait here, I’ll get what I need.”
“Just don’t take too long” He shouted back, sitting in the car with this distant look, staring back at the mirror, “What the fuck have you gotten yourself into, Mikey.”
But as he stared back through the windshield, he saw another black car parking in front of him, with a person stepping out of it. As Mikey looked forward, he could see a man in black, carrying a revolver in one hand and a sawed off shotgun over his shoulder in the other, walking toward the bar. And his most noticeable feature, the burn on his face. And as the man stepped to the bar, he looked back at the car.
“Benny?”
But he was greeted with a fire from the revolver, the bullet striking Mikey in the chest
“Don’t take too long!” Mikey shouted back as Ernesto rushed inside the bar. He looked around the place, along the walls in the dark until his eyes fell onto the thing he was looking for. The mask. He wasn’t going in where witnesses could see his face. As he slid the mask onto his face, there was a gunshot heard from outside. And it was immediately followed by a loud kick of the door, a voice calling “Hey, wetback! Let’s party!”
Ernesto knew that voice, clear as day. The voice of his regular tormenter. Benny, unable to see in the dark, fired a shotgun blast into the walls, shattering the bottles of wine on one of the shelves as he stepped inside, looking for Ernesto. He kept his ears and eyes opened, waiting for any sort of movement. And at the sound of a rolling bottle, he fired the shotgun again, shattering it and the floorboards again. But when there was no sound, he froze. And it wasn’t until he heard footsteps did he turn around, swinging the but of his gun around, hitting a solid surface clearly. Knocking Ernesto to the ground, he gave a chuckle, “Fucking retard. Can’t do shit unless you're close. And you’re going after the Falcones. Yeah, nice try, dickhead. Say hi to Hector for me.”
With the shotgun raised, he pulled the trigger and
“Click”
Nothing. No gunshot. Benny looked down at the gun, seeing the bullets empty. And as he did, Ernesto, through a grin behind the mask, replied, “Who’s the retard?”
And before Benny had a chance, Hector raised his hand with the bullet and fired it forward, striking the bullet into his crotchal region, causing Benny to let out a pained scream and falling onto his back. The pain was excruciating, more than his first encounter with Ernesto. And as he screamed on the floor, blood staining the ground and his pants, Ernesto climbed on top of him, grabbing Benny’s head to face him as he jammed his now hot thumbs into his eyes, pushing into his skull. His eyes melted down further and further into his head, Benny screaming in agony, feeling the searing pain of what was like hot metal inside of his skull, his brain frying from the inside, until the back of his head exploded, blood, skull fragments and burnt brain matter falling out the back of his head. Ernesto let out a sigh, kicking Benny’s body as he replied, “That’s for calling me a fucking wetback!”
Ernesto stepped out of the bar, approaching the car before noticing a bullet hole in the windshield. Rushing over, he threw the door open, seeing Mikey with a pained expression on his face, clutching his bleeding chest. Ernesto shouted, “Mikey, shit, we gotta get you to a hospital.”
“B-Bullshit! I’m.. I’m this far in, aren’t I? Gotta have a getaway driver!”
“Stop talking like a dumbass! If you don’t get to a doctor, you’re gonna die”
“I’m a sixty eight year old man. I’m gonna die soon anyway. Besides… I’ll be fine! W-We gotta get to the office or Melvin’s gonna get away.”
“Shit!” Ernesto shouted. He knew that if he did go to the hospital, Melvin would go into hiding. He had to attack now, or never. Ernesto replied, “Fine, but move over. I’m driving”
“J-Jeez, you’re bossy. Reminds me of Hector” Mikey replied, moving over into the passenger seat with a pained groan, bordering on a scream.”
Once Ernesto got into the car, taking the wheel, Mikey asked, “You… know how to drive this thing?”
“I’ve got a few experiences!” And with a rocky start, having to hit the break hard a few times to avoid crashing, Ernesto was on his way to the office. His plan was set now. He knew what he had to do. He knew that revenge was coming for Melvin. For the Falcone Family. He knew that Hector wanted him and Frederick away from this life. And as far as Ernesto saw it, this was the only way now.
~The Time is Now~