To Kill a Mafia Boss

The air was heavy and dark, and the pistol in my right hand has never felt more exhilarating. My fingers clenched it tightly, the metal felt cool, a contrast to my sweaty palms. The room was filled with the scent of old books and the perfume that the indoor flowers gave off. It was a regular family room, not anymore. Now it’s a battlefield, and a soon-to-be murder site.

The person I’m killing today is Father, who used to be the boss of a famous underground organization: The Gray Wolves.

Just a meter more, then he will be in my range. Father was on the leather couch, looking at his phone. His light gray hair had grown long over the years and was let loose, flowing a silver river down his shoulders. The sofa was emitting a constant creak as father kept shaking his right leg, it was a habit of his. I slowly advanced, careful as to not make a sound.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a family photo hanging on the wall. There was Father along with his new wife and new kids, smiles were painted across all their faces… was that really the new family Father raised? Looking at it gave me a hint of jealousy.

The grip on my pistol remained firm as I took a step forward, then another. Father suddenly raised his phone up a bit, tilted it just a little, he then stretched out his right hand. The fancy watch on his wrist caught the light of the overhead lightbulb and reflected it, bouncing it right off my pistol.

…

くそ！(SHIT!)

5 knives came flying towards me. I rolled to the left and my back crashed into the wall. I quickly took out a ten yen coin and held it between two fingers right in front of my thigh.

THLANG!

A knife hits the coin, deforming it, it still comes for my thigh, however, it has lost its momentum and trajectory, the knife tilts slightly and only the flat side of the blade hits me. I then pushed back off the wall.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

3 bullets went to 3 spots where I used to be. Dust and wood shavings flew into the air as holes were made in the walls. My eyes teared up as the small particles flew into them.

BAM!

That last bullet grazed my hair. I grit my teeth as strands of my hair were uprooted. I stood up and kept walking forward while making subtle movements to dodge each bullet. Suddenly, at the last possible moment, I noticed how unusually bulky his phone was.

Concealed weapon!

I did a high backflip, heading towards Father.

BAM BAM!

Not even half a second later, two bullets at the same time went to two places where my chest could have been.

While midair, I saw Father reaching for his pocket. But, before he even took his next weapon out, I kicked the overhead light bulb and everything went dark. I landed and crashed into a table, I quickly rolled to disperse the momentum and my back hit against the wall. Without a second to waste, I pressed my stomach flat onto the ground just as 2 bullets made holes on the wall, right above me.

Despite aging, Father’s hearing was as sharp as ever, being able to accurately pinpoint my location just from the sounds I make. I quickly slowed my breathing, taking large, deep breaths. I listened closely for Father’s breaths, he had slowed his as well, but being old, his breathing was raspy. I aimed my gun’s barrel straight ahead, but before I was able to shoot, Father shot first.

BAM!

CRASH!!

His shot was way off, it broke the window across from me and the wind came howling in, carrying with it a cool breeze that entered the room. My gun remains pointing straight ahead, I shot.

BAM!

I missed him.

I tried listening for his breathing, however, it was impossible to pick up. The wind blowing through the room made it hard for me to hear any subtle sounds. This is also the same case for Father. I can breathe normally now.

I noticed that the wind was blowing my way, so I closed my eyes and visualized the room. I took a deep breath, and noted every scent I smelled. Carpet, wood, dust… and gunpowder. I pinpointed where the scent of gunpowder was coming from. Suddenly, Father shot.

BAM!

BAM!

BAM!

3 bullets went 3 seperate directions, and broke 3 windows. Now all the wall’s windows were wrecked, and wind came rushing in from all directions.

CRAP.

I can’t track the scent anymore now. Father had made it so that we are both fighting blind. This situation had me thinking of one of Julius’ teachings:

“He who controls his surroundings controls the flow of the situation.”

Ah, ありがとう (thanks) Julius. I have an idea of what to do now. I took out some flashbangs from my bag, then plugged my ears with ear plugs and threw the flash bangs. I opened my mouth wide, squeezed my eyes shut, crouched down and braced for the impact.

BANG!!

BANG!!!

BANG!!!!

The room lit up in a burst of light, and the house shook from the shockwaves. It’s as if a large bolt of lightning had split the house apart.

Despite wearing ear plugs, I still lost my hearing. My head was throbbing, and my ears were ringing. I felt the urge to vomit. The sharp tang of smoke was suffocating. I texted to Red the signal for escape. Two people came in through the kitchen door, my men. They hoisted me up on both their shoulders as we fled.

I saw red and blue lights flashing ahead. We hastily escaped the scene, however, I’ve lost some blood from the shards of the lightbulb I kicked entering my ankles. Not good, I’ve left evidence behind! I struggled against my men, I tried to tell them to go back, however, I was so dizzy I couldn’t coordinate myself. I felt a hand on my back. I turned around and just about made out Red’s silhouette, I can’t hear him, nor can I see him clear enough to read his lips. However, Red tapped on my shoulder…

Tap tap tap… tap tap…

Coded Morse code, in english as well. I see now, Red is saying he will take care of it. I let out a sign of relief. The mission was successful, however, I don’t feel any sense of achievement or joy, I just feel empty, and terrible that I took a life away.

Before I could think anymore, my vision went dark as I slipped away from this world.

…

…

…

The air is stale and musty, the ceiling was speckled with dark patches of mold. The only source of light was seeping through a small window. This room, it’s familiar. I looked around and found a girl sleeping on the bunk bed, she had slightly wavy black hair and looked to be around 10 years old. I walked towards her to get a better look. Her eyes were closed, and her mouth slightly opened. Her pale face was flushed, it was my little sister.

Oh.

Right.

Now I remember, this was one of the hiding places that Julius had shown us. Father would never find us here, we’re safe. In this basement room, the only air coming in would be from the front door since the window doesn’t open. The stuffy room had Momma’s allergies acting up. Momma… Where did she go?

“母？！” (Momma) I cried.　

Suddenly, there was a tap on my shoulder, I jumped and then a hand went over my mouth.

“Shhh” Said the woman behind me, she had her finger pressed to her lips, she looked to be around in her late 20s. She had her straight black hair tied up into a bun. Her skin was very pale and sickly, only a shadow of her former beauty remains. It was Momma.

“Your sister has a fever and finally fell asleep, try not to wake her up.” She said with a smile.

“Ok Momma” I replied. I leaked a smile as well, since little sis looks so cute and funny.

“Momma, can you tell me that story? The one about the stars?” I loved hearing the stories that Momma makes up. If life had been fair to her, I think Momma could have been a very famous children’s book author.

“Alright, but after this one you’re going to the vegetable garden to bring back some green onions and coriander, it’s almost time for me to make lunch.” Whispered Momma in a gentle and soft voice.

“Ok!” I whispered back.

Momma sat me down on her lap, took a deep breath, and then started.

“There are countless stars floating in the sky, they make up the vast and unexplored universe. Each star is more than a million years old, some of the older ones might even be more than a billion years old! The stars were large, much larger than planet earth, and each star was unique. Some stars glowed a bright blue, while other stars had brilliant storms happening at their core. The universe was their playground and that’s where the stars play.

One day, a little star was born into a cluster of stars, they were her family. For millions of years, she would grow up and mature along with everyone. However, this star had the longing to explore the universe, she wanted more than just to stay in one place. But, her parents were against it, her siblings as well. They told her it's best to stay here with everyone, don’t go out!

So, the little star was sad, she really wanted to explore! However, she also didn’t want to leave everyone. The little star decided to live in peace with her family. One year, the father star had gotten very sick, and was on the verge of dying. He had started to expand, growing larger and larger. However, it didn’t look like father star was going to die peacefully, he might go supernova!

Father star told the little star to grant him a wish. Father star wished for her to warn everyone, tell them to leave before the supernova happens. The little star agreed and went to warn her family.

“We have to leave! We have to leave! Father is going supernova!!” The little star was desperately trying to get everyone to leave, however, none of the stars budged.

“We know you just want to leave to explore the universe!” Said her older brother.

“Father was not a big star, he won’t go supernova” Reassured her mother.

None of the stars believed that there was any danger!

“We should just stay here, no need to leave” Said her sister.

In the end, the little star decided to leave. As she left, the father star had gone supernova, destroying anything and everything that was within its area. The little star looked back tearfully, knowing that her family was gone. Her old life had come to pass. She felt sad and regretful that she wasn’t able to grant her father’s wish.

This little star would later become known as a shooting star, a star that wanders around, lonely in the universe. It is said if you were to wish upon a shooting star, she would try her best to make your wish come true.

The end”

I got off Momma’s lap as she went upstairs to prepare our lunch. I thought the story about shooting stars was a very sad one since this star would be alone for a long time. Leaving everyone seems scary.

I followed Momma upstairs to go to the vegetable garden when suddenly, Momma started coughing, really badly. She couldn't stop, and was having trouble breathing. Momma was making scary sounds. Her frail body was suddenly overcome with spasms and her eyes were rolling back. Momma tumbled down the stairs, her body shook as she thrashed against the harsh edges of each step.

“MOMMMAA!!” My sister had woken up, a scream was etched onto her face.

“Don’t worry, I will get Julius over, he should know what to do!”

I rushed outside and made a beeline towards a payphone, I have to get Julius now!

My mind was a mess of thoughts and my breathing was on overdrive. I’m sweating yet I feel cold. Please let Momma be okay, please please please!!!

Hot tears started to blur over my vision as they raced each other down my cheek. I wiped my tears away but they kept coming. I can’t afford to slow down! With that last thought, I put on an extra burst of speed.

DOOF!

I crashed into a man and fell on the pavement. Pain seared through my knees as I felt gravel pierce through my flesh. All the wind was knocked out of me and my head was spinning.

I have to get up…

I have to keep running…

“WATCH IT YOU LITTLE SHIT!” Boomed a loud and intimidating voice.

I wiped my tears and looked up. A tall man, in his late thirties stood atop of me. His Gray hair was gelled back and his figure was huge. It was Father! My heart started beating faster and faster and my breathing got more desperate, I felt like a fish out of water.

“I thought Julius cleared all the shit out of this part, guess I was wrong hm?!” Father glared down at me. At this instant, my fight or flight instincts came on. Blood rushed from my heart and carried oxygen to every single fiber of my body, I was on full alert. I chose to fight.

“You’re the shit he hasn’t cleared yet! You’re the one who made Momma sick! It was you!! It was you!!!” My emotions were a tempest inside me and propelled me right at Father. I used my fist to bash his nether regions. I grabbed onto them tight and started squeezing and twisting.

“AHHHHH” Father screamed as tears of pure agony rolled down his eyes, he quickly grabbed onto my hair, sending thousands of pain signals digging into me, and with a massive force, threw me onto the ground. Father also fell down right after, clutching his crotch.

“With your c*ck crushed, you won’t be able to screw anymore women!” I felt triumphant and defiant. I had crushed the same c*ck that had defiled my momma over and over, until her body broke. It was him and his c*ck that made Momma sick.

However, my air of victory quickly stagnated as Father got up. In his eyes, there seemed to be monstrous hatred, which in turn fueled his strength. He let out a loud scream as he charged at me like a mad bull. I tried to get up, however, my leg was at a weird angle, and couldn’t move. I grit my teeth in pain and tried to summon the same monstrous strength that Father had. However, I couldn’t do it.

All I could do was lie there, clenching my fists and biting my lips. I closed my eyes and prepared for the worst.

Moments passed and nothing happened. I opened my eyes and saw Julius standing in front of me.

“I’m sorry Boss, looks like this runt somehow slipped under my radar. It’s my fault, please let me deal with him” Julius was trying to save me! However, Father didn’t look like he would budge. Instead, he eyed Julius with a heavy air of suspicion.

“No need to trouble yourself with my filthy lowborn son Julius, someone like him ain’t worth shit.” Father spat at me, I flinched.

Suddenly, Julius turned around to face me, his eyes were filled with malice and the intent to kill. I whimpered, I’ve never seen Julius like this, was he going to turn on Father?

違います(No)

Instead, he betrayed my expectations and ran at me. He hurled his heavy fist at my face, once, twice. Blood spurted out my nose as it got displaced, pain instantly rushed through my body. I felt my teeth getting bashed out and the taste of iron filled my senses. My vision turns red, my eyes sting.

Julius then proceeds to pick me up, he raised my ear to his mouth and whispered ever so lightly “Bear with it, You and your mother will be just fine”

He then kneed me in my stomach and then slammed me against the wall.

I lost consciousness.