Chapter 8 #2
"I've never been to a place like this before.
My brother thought it would be a good idea to take my mind off things," he said, to my surprise, the first time?
"As if sleeping with a seventeen-year-old girl would make me forget that my wife and children had been blown to pieces before my eyes," he sneered, tapping his cane on the floor as my breath caught in my throat.
So his family was really dead, he had lost them forever, he would never see them again.
He was like me, hopeless, stuck in this life we were enduring.
But me? My sister was alive, somewhere on this earth, we were looking at the same sun, the same moon, the same stars.
"In that case, I would advise you to be wary of your brother," I replied without even thinking, and he froze at my words, his expression darkening and giving me a questioning look.
"Why is that?" he asked, tapping his cane on the ground, his gloved hands tightening their grip on the lion's head on his stick.
"Because anyone who brings you here surely doesn't have your best interests at heart," I replied, simply shrugging my shoulders as he raised an eyebrow, "Are you badmouthing your job?
" I rolled my eyes and put my hands on my hips, "I can go back to being a whore if you want," I grumbled, which made him smile.
"How did you get yourself into this mess, kid?
" he suddenly asked, shaking his head. "My sister was kidnapped by an Italian mobster.
I trusted my boyfriend, who told me he knew someone who could help me.
He ended up selling me to the Master to pay off his debts," the words poured out of my mouth as I clenched my fists.
The way I described things was sadly comical.
I had been a real fucking idiot. "But I'll find a way to save her, no matter when or how.
I'll save her…" I continued, then froze as my words echoed around the room.
Save her? I thought I'd given up, hadn't I?
I... I wanted to save her, I had to save her, I was going to save her. Selina was waiting for me.
The man suddenly stood up with the help of his cane and approached me as I stood still.
Was he finished with his questioning? Did I have to undress now?
Why was he asking me all these questions?
Was this another one of the Master's traps?
If so, I had just told him about my sister, a secret I had kept hidden all this time, a secret that had cost Kenji a lifetime of suffering.
No. Nausea rose in my stomach as fear twisted my insides.
Suddenly, he raised his hand to my face and brushed my cheek before stepping back, my eyes fell on his damp fingers.
Damp? I touched my wet cheeks and frowned, I was crying.
I was crying hot tears. When was the last time I cried?
At Kenji's bedside two months ago. I looked up, my eyes wide, at the man who was staring at me with his brown eyes, with a look that was.
.. warm. He had the same look as my father, and that thought made me tremble.
"My name is Ganesh," he said, holding out his scarred hand to me, I looked at it for a moment, hesitant, and finally took it "Sienna," I replied, using my real name.
I wanted him to know who I really was. I was tired of pretending all day long.
I was tired of hiding my emotions. I was just..
. tired. A sob escaped me as I felt the warmth of his calloused hand gently squeeze mine, I was so cold, I was shaking inside, a cold so deep that I felt like I would never be able to warm up again.
He suddenly pulled me toward him, wrapping his arms around me, holding me close as I began to sob like a baby.
I missed my father, his voice, his smell, his warmth.
My hands clung to Ganesh's jacket as his arms tightened around me, the smell of incense filling my lungs, it was like… home.
Suddenly, the door flew open, making me jump, but I was already behind Ganesh as he pointed a blade he had just pulled from his cane.
A blade? "Kenji?" I whispered as he looked at me worriedly, "I heard you crying," he said, taking a step forward as Ganesh slowly lowered his blade, looking at us in turn.
"So this is your Shadow?" he asked, sheathing his blade before handing me a handkerchief he pulled from his pocket.
"Yes," I replied after thanking him, "I'm fine, Kenji, don't worry," I reassured my Shadow as I sat down on the edge of the bed before wiping my cheeks and grimacing when I saw my makeup staining the fabric.
When the silence stretched on, I looked up and frowned when I saw the two men staring at me.
"What?" I asked, confused. "I... nothing.
It's been a long time since I've seen you.
.." Kenji didn't finish his sentence, just shrugged, "I'll leave you two alone," he sighed, turning to leave, but Ganesh stopped him.
"Wait a minute, kid. Come in and close the door," he said, tapping his cane gently on the floor.
Kenji gave me a confused look but obeyed, closing the door behind him.
"What's the name of the mobster who kidnapped your sister?
" Ganesh asked me, while Kenji gave me a surprised look.
"Antonio Rasili," I whispered, just saying his name disgusted me, "I know him.
He's a despicable man," Ganesh said after a moment's thought.
"Even his own hate him. He's a real piece of trash," he continued, sitting down next to me.
"You know him?!" I exclaimed, sitting up straighter, more excited than I had ever been.
It had been almost a year since my sister had been kidnapped, and this was the first time I had made any progress on the matter.
"Oh yes, daddy's boy, the only heir to his family with a few screws loose," he said, scratching his cheek and staring into space.
"If the Italians could replace him, they would do so without hesitation.
Too bad his cousin is dead. He was a real bastard too, but at least he could have run the business properly.
" I froze at the mention of Emilio, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Kenji freeze too, he gave me a questioning look and I shook my head gently.
Suddenly Ganesh began to laugh, tapping his cane on the floor.
"Well, well! Which one of you killed him?
" he asked, looking at us in turn as we remained silent and frozen.
"Well, never mind, what's done is done," he sighed, rising with a smile dancing on his lips.
"It's been a long time since I laughed like that.
You remind me of my children," he said, taking a few steps around the room before turning to us, his empty eyes now shining with an indescribable glow.
"Do you want to save your sister?" he asked me, looking at me as I jumped up like a shot.
"Yes," I said without even thinking, without even hesitating, feeling my blood boil.
"Yes, more than anything in the world." He nodded before turning to Kenji.
"And you? What do you want?" he asked him, and Kenji stared at him for a moment before his gaze slid over to me.
"I want to become strong. Strong enough to protect her," he said, his gaze diving into mine as my lips trembled.
My eyes slid over his scar as the memory of his scream still echoed in my head.
I shook my head gently. "No, you... I don't want you to suffer because of me anymore.
.." he took a step toward me and grabbed my shoulders.
"All I wanted when they brought me back to this institute was to die, Sienna.
Until I saw you crying in that bathroom, until you asked me my name," he said, his gaze locked with mine.
"I felt like I was looking in a mirror, Sienna, but with one difference: the determination shining in your eyes to save your sister," he whispered, and I felt my heart break.
"It reminded me of who I was, what I was," he said, his eyes shining.
"But these last two months have been hell, you understand?
Seeing you like this, a shadow of your former self, like a dead person carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders," he shook his head, closing his eyes.
"No, I can't. I am your Shadow, Sienna, I am," he whispered, pressing his forehead against mine.
"I will always be your Shadow," he suddenly murmured. A promise.
"Well then, I would be honored to help you achieve your goals," Ganesh suddenly interrupted, placing each of his hands on our shoulders, his cane leaning against the wall.
"You will be my own goal in life, otherwise I'm afraid this old fox won't go far," he said, shaking his head.
"So, do you accept?" Kenji looked at me, waiting for my answer.
He would follow me no matter what I chose.
I turned to Ganesh, looking for any sign to refuse.
Why should I trust him? He was just another man.
All the men I had met so far, except Kenji, had hurt me, they had betrayed me, so why should I trust him?
What if it was a trap set by the Master?
What if it was all a game? It wasn't, I could feel it deep down inside.
He had the same look as my father, he had the same warmth, so I nodded.
I wanted to trust him, I wanted help, I wanted help for my sister. Ganesh smiled.
Two months later