05

Alessandro's frown remained as the images of everything that happened flooded his mind. He hated remembering those memories, but he just couldn't get rid of them, not when he was experiencing different nightmares every night. His chest rose and fell in anger as he couldn't help but remember.

SIXTEEN YEARS AGO

Ten-year-old Alessandro was coming back from school, happy because he got the highest grade in class. He couldn't wait to tell his parents; they would be thrilled and get him the bicycle they promised. He smiled as he stared at the ice cream he got for his little brother, who was only one year old and whom he loved so dearly. His family was the best.

Arriving at his house, he saw people surrounding his family. He quickly hid at a corner and watched everything in confusion, his little brow furrowed. He could only recognize one person among them - Doctor Antonio Argento, his father's friend, who had visited their house twice. He saw a man wearing a face mask, making it difficult for him to see his face, but he looked like the leader since he was the one talking to his parents.

His father was also saying something, but Alessandro couldn't hear since he was hiding in a far place. He saw how his brother was dragged forward while his parents shouted. His brother was injected with some liquid and started groaning on the floor, soon not moving anymore. His mum stood up and ran toward her son, who was motionless on the floor, but she was shot straight in the head before she could get to him.

Alessandro gasped from where he was watching, tears in his eyes. He started recording a video, witnessing everything he just saw.

Seeing the death of his son and wife, his father was furious. He tried to fight the men holding him, but he was overpowered. Doctor Antonio Argento injected him with a liquid, and Alessandro watched in shock as his father's skin started peeling, smoke coming out of his ears, mouth, and nose. He looked toward Alessandro and mouthed, "Run, Alessandro, run," and he did, running away with tears, knowing he just witnessed the murder of his family.

When he returned later in the evening, his house was already burned to ash, his family's bodies burned with it. They painted it as an accident, everyone believed it except him, who had the proof with him. He was taken to an orphanage home, where he kept watching the video every night, tears in his eyes. He might not know the others, but he could recognize his father's friend, Antonio Argento.

He decided to go and show the cops the proof, and...

"Sir, we are here already," Reaper said, opening the door. Alessandro snapped out of his thoughts and came out, still angry.

"Hello, hey," Harmony shouted, running after Alessandro, still confused. Why were they brought to this dangerous place? Everyone looked so scary that she almost peed in her pants.

Harmony grabbed his shoulder since he didn't respond. He turned back and glared at her, his eyes red.

"I...I mean, why are we here? I don't know what's going on. Can we go back home?" she asked naively.

"Let's go," he said with everything in him, he was trying to calm down.

"But..."

"You hear me," he cut her off angrily, and she quickly moved back in fear.

"Don't yell at her," Hardin said angrily, moving closer, but some guards quickly grabbed him. Some gang members started watching.

"Who are they?" Ghost said loudly.

"Maybe a sex slave," Stalker said beside her, they were buddies.

"She's so pretty, though. Poor her," Hacker pouted sadly.

"Pretty my foot, she looks like a fool. And mind you, Venom is never interested in sex slaves," Snake scoffed angrily. Butcher just watched silently, his expression unreadable. He was the quiet one among them, only speaking when necessary. But don't get the wrong idea - he was just as violent and ruthless as his name suggested.

"Who knows, he may want her," Ghost smirked, intentionally trying to provoke Snake.

"That's bullshit," Snake glared at her before storming away.

"But look at that guy, he's fire," Ghost said with a sly smile, referring to Hardin.

"I think I'll fuck him," Stalker said with a smile, while Hacker just rolled his eyes.

Harmony was about to run after Alessandro again when someone was dragged forward. The person was battered and bloodied, looking like they'd been beaten to a pulp.

"He's a spy, he snuck into the clan and went to the store room," Reaper said.

Alessandro looked at the man angrily.

"Who sent you?" he asked coldly, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Please, I have a family, and I..." the man pleaded, but his words were cut short when a bullet rammed into both his eyes. He yelled in agony as he bled profusely. Harmony gasped in shock, her eyes wide with horror.

"I asked you a question, and I don't want a story," Alessandro said coldly, his expression unyielding.

"Please, Venom, I don't have a choice, I have to..." the man begged, but Alessandro shot him repeatedly in the head, unleashing all his anger on the poor man.

"Dispose of his body," Alessandro said coldly and left. Harmony's eyes were wide with shock, her mind reeling with what she had just witnessed.

"What did she just witness? Has she saved the devil?" she thought to herself, shivering in fear. She was dragged away, and they were both put in the same room. The door was locked, and Harmony was left breathing in and out, trying to process what she had just seen.

Hardin moved closer to her and hugged her to his chest.

"You don't have to worry, I promise to protect you, okay? I promise," he said, his eyes filled with concern. She wanted to ask him a lot of questions since he seemed to know a little about this, but she was still in shock at the moment. The quest for answers would have to be postponed to another time.

"Are you hurt?" he asked worriedly, checking her body as if she was a little kid who couldn't take care of herself.

"I'm okay, brother. Don't worry about me, treat yourself first," she said, pointing at the bruises he sustained while fighting.

"It's nothing, okay? I'm okay when you are," he smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

"Are you hungry?" he asked worriedly, his brow furrowed in concern.

"I'm not," she muttered, her eyes cast down. They remain in the room while waiting for their fate.

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