For how long will I be strong? I know I'll be ready when it's time to fight, but for the meantime, can I have a break? I need to rest before my wounds reopen.

~

Vivian

~

"I can't believe that man!" I yell, when I enter my room, throwing my purse on the bed.

Serena, who is busy watching a movie on my laptop, looks at me with concern and fright.

"What happened?" She asks, pausing the show she was watching.

Serena has been using my things since she moved here.

I did get her new clothes and gadgets a day after she moved in, but she's yet to touch them.

I don't mind, though. She's my sister and sisters got to share, sometimes.

"That fool called Azrael, is a fucking pervert." I say through clenched teeth, pacing in the middle of the room.

Serena still looks confused, a frown present on her face.

"Can you please sit down and explain what he did?" She sighs, crossing her legs.

Serena has this 'I know you did something' expression on her face, and I know that whatever I will say will turn against me.

But I don't care. I want to rant and she'll have to listen, without taking Azrael's side.

I eye the bed, pouting as I lay down.

My eyes close in satisfaction when my bottom meets the soft silk sheets, and I almost, almost forget what happened an hour or so ago.

"Vivian!" Serena kicks my arm, making my eyes open, my hand shooting out to touch the spot she kicked.

"You hurt me," I breath out in shock, dramatically gasping while I rub my arm.

Serena rolls her eyes when she sees my reaction, leaning against the headrest, her eyes still on me.

"Your majesty, saying sorry won't hurt," I mutter, looking at her irritatedly.

"Oh, please... My weak ass can't hurt you, even if I tried... The punches you've received during your boxing matches are nothing compared to my little kick," She utters, which makes me nod my head in agreement.

"That's true." I hum, now laying on my stomach.

"Now, will you please tell me what happened?" Serena begs, her full concentration on me.

She lays down on her stomach as well, leaning her head on her arms.

"Will you pay me if I do?" I question, and as a response, Serena punches my arm.

"Save some violence for your man, sis... You'll lose all your energy on me, if you aren't careful." I sigh, rubbing the spot she just hit.

Serena blushes when she hears my words, rolling her eyes as she looks away.

"Fool,"

"Stupid, goat." I reply, daring her to say something else.

Serena looks at me annoyed, knowing fully well that I am the violent one between the two of us.

I'll clap back with something bad if she tries me.

"Just tell me what happened," She says, defeatly.

I make a kissy face when she utters the words, happy to have gotten the last word.

Serena is nothing like me. She's too lady like and very well mannered.

She doesn't like cussing or saying bad things to people, even when she is provoked.

Serena is someone that will cry when angry, and she will also let someone harm her without fighting back.

She actually got bullied a lot in school, and I was always the one to help her out.

Serena is too good of a person; sometimes I even wonder if I'm the friend she needs in life.

I do so much shit, and I also get her into a lot of trouble, something she doesn't deserve.

I know that I'm the bad influence in this friendship, and I sometimes want to back away from her.

But no matter how much I try, I always find myself in her presence, laughing and gossiping about things that don't even concern us.

I love my sister and best friend. And I'll always look out for her, even if it costs my life.

I know she would do the same for me.

"So, I went to Azrael's office today," I begin, Serena's eyes not once looking away from me.

"Continue," She murmurs when I pause, nodding her head.

"I went to comfort him, because Dad knows that I went to the manor yesterday."

Serena's eyes widen when I finish speaking, panic showing on her face afterwards.

"Relax before you get a panic attack," I place my hand on top of hers, trying to calm her down.

"Are we in trouble?" She hurriedly asks, and I shake my head in response.

"I don't think so... I haven't spoken to Dad about it," I shrug, removing my hair tie, my afro finally getting the chance to breath.

I forgot how much buns hurt. I don't know if my head's too big, or if my hair is too much.

I'm sure it's both, though.

"Vivian, be serious,"Serena worriedly says.

"I am being serious... You don't have to worry about anything, though. I told you that you won't get into trouble; everyone knows that I'm the troublemaker here. Even if we do shit, you'll never be blamed, because I always drag you in my messed up world." I ramble.

The words I just said make me frown, I don't know if I made any sense. But as long as Serena understands, I'm good.

"You aren't going to get into trouble alone... I am not going to allow that to happen," She shakes her head at me, her eyes daring me to argue with her.

"I need to start sticking up for you, like you do for me." She adds.

I sigh, knowing that I'll never win with persistent Serena.

Serena is someone that is never persistent, and when she is, you can't do shit to change her mind.

"Alright, ma'am." I salute, grinning when I see her beautiful smile.

I left early today, but I still got to see Serena before I stepped out.

And I remember seeing her bloodshed eyes, which reminded me of what happened yesterday.

I know that Serena pretends to be well when she isn't. She knows how to act strong when she is slowly dying inside.

It pains me to see that she can't let go of her past, but I also understand that she will never let go of it.

Her past, no matter how many times she tries to erase it, will always be right there.

The nightmares Dave gave her might reduce, but the scars he created will always be there, reminding her of the life she was given.

"So, as I was saying; Azrael touched me when I got to his office, without my permission," I emphasis on the last sentence, making Serena's eyes widen in shock.

"He didn't?"

"His ugly ass did!" I breath out, remembering everything so clearly.

"What did you do? Did you look into his eyes romantically? Did you feel good? Did he kiss you? Did you kiss him?" Serena asks everything at once, and with a tiny smile, I reply.

"I did something way better; I kicked his jewels," I smirk proudly, which makes Serena's mouth open in shock.

"Vivian!" She yells horridly, to which I grin.

"Vivian, be serious... Please tell me you're lying?" Serena pleads.

"Alright; if you want me to lie to you then I will." I shrug.

Serena looks at me with disappointment, grabbing my pillow afterwards. She pulls the pillow to her face, screaming into it while I watch on with a smile.

I wish I had some popcorn right now.

"Vivian, why are you like this?" Serena questions, disbelief clear on her face.

"What are you talking about?" I reply with a question of my own, my eyebrows furrowed.

"Why are you so unromantic? Why did you want to destroy the handsome man's baby making machine?" Serena cried out as I laugh.

"Firstly, I don't believe in the romantic shit. Secondly; baby making machine, really?" I gasp for air, placing a hand on my chest.

"I haven't heard those words in years." I wipe the tears that manged to escape, breathing in.

Serena has her arms folded as she looks at me, unimpressed, might I add.

"It's not funny, Viv... I heard it hurts when a man hurts himself down there," Serena blushes when she utters the last sentence, making me smile at her innocence.

"The idiot deserved it, Serena... Who told him to put his filthy hands on me?" I question, rolling my eyes.

"I wonder what goes on inside that head of yours, sometimes," Serena sighs, knowing fully well that I don't regret what I did.

Azrael isn't the first man I've hurt, and he won't be the last.

"Let's change the topic, ho–" A knock is heard before I can finish my sentence, confusing me.

"Come in!" I shout irritatedly.

A guard enters the room, standing in front of me with his head bowed, making me roll my eyes.

I've tried telling everyone in this place to stop bowing their heads for me, but no one ever listens.

"Yes?"

"Don Shawn wants you in his office... He said it's urgent." The guard says, robotically.

I almost feel bad for the guy. The employees in the mafia, guards especially, are trained to be robotic.

They are taught to not show emotions and to always be alert, because men are not suppose to be weak; which is bullshit to me.

Everyone's allowed to have emotions. Animals have emotions, so why should a human be restricted?

Male or female, everyone is allowed to be sad, happy, angry, frustrated and to feel.

The only thing that they shouldn't do is to allow the emotions to take over their bodies.

I've seen so many people destroy themselves because of their emotions, and that's why I advise Serena to cry for a little while.

Because I know that neglected emotions will one day want to be set free, and when they do manage to be let loose, they can not be held back.

"Alright. I'll be out soon," I murmur, watching the guard as he bows for the last time before leaving the room.

My eyes move to Serena when the door is locked, furrowing my eyebrows when I see her biting her nails.

"You good?" I ask, giggling when she shakes her head rapidly.

"Do you want to come with me?" I raise my eyebrows in question.

Serena stops biting her nails, looking at me with fear while she fidgets.

"Ye–yeah. I just have to relax first," Serena breaths out, wiping the sweat on her forehead.

I grab my purse, grabbing the chocolate bar I put inside earlier.

I watch Serena as she begins murmuring words of encouragement to herself.

I decide to take a picture of her, which I send to her phone. I want her to see how adorable she looks when she's nervous.

"Are you ready now?" I question when I see her stand up, chewing slowly.

"Yeah... I'm ready." She sighs, dusting the invisible wrinkles on my– her sweatpants.

Smiling, I place the remaining chocolate inside my mouth, standing up as well.

I pull my dress down, removing my socks before grabbing Serena's hand.

"Dad won't kill you; you're his daughter as well, and the man doesn't hurt his children. He values family, and you're my family– you're our family, babe." I mutter, hoping to ease her nerves.

Serena plasters a small smile on her face, and when I'm sure that she won't faint, we begin our journey to Dad's office.

~

Third person

~

Dave paces around his office, chewing on his fingernnails as he waits for his superior to answer the call.

Sweat rolls down his forehead and onto his cheek, a sign that he is nervous.

His superior will be angry. He will kill him. He will end him for not paying attention to the business.

Dave knows that he is in trouble.

He shouldn't have hurt Serena. He should have let her be.

"I should have listened to the voice that told me to not hurt that little bitch– I should have poisoned her instead. I could have lied to Zack; I could have told him that the little bitch was poisoned in a bar." Dave thinks to himself.

His head feel foggy. He feels like his time is up. He knows that his time is up.

"Hello," Dave speaks into the phone when he hears a very familiar voice, a voice he hasn't heard in a very long time.

"I can explain what happened–" Dave cries out when the voice begins shouting at him.

Dave begins telling his superior what happened. He tells the man how sofia ran away– twisting things in his favor.

"I have a plan to get her back, though," He smiles, feeling overjoyed when the person on the other end of the line calms down.

Dave begins telling the sinister man his plan, forgetting that even walls have ears.

Author's Note.