"...ey....up."
I groaned in my sleep, the sound barely reaching my mind as I adjust myself against a rough surface to my back.
"...said...wake..."
I forced my eyes to stay closed out of habit. Whenever I slept at home, screaming and loud noises were common place. No way was I going to lose sleep on her account.
"I said, wake up!"
This time the voice was clear, demanding, and to my surprise, very male. Unfortunately for me, it was also accompanied by a firm kick to my side.
"Gah!"
I rolled over, effectively falling onto my face as I moved from the tree due to the force of the blow. I groaned and held my side, turning to look at my attacker. It took me a few moments, but I recognized the serious glare, and his signature fedora hat. The face of a man I hadn't seen since I was fifteen.
"N-Nico?"
"That's Uncle Nico. Don't you kids have any respect for family anymore?"
I shook my head and stood up, holding my side he had just kicked.
"Depends. Is it normal to respect your family when they kick you in the ribs?"
The man simply flashed his trademark smirk.
"In this family it is."
I chuckle quietly, straightening up, folding my arms across my chest. It was pretty normal for our family to behave like this, and it was only the barest tip of the iceberg. I met his eyes, and they almost seemed to suck me in. It actually started to give me a headache.
I was beginning to catch glimpses again, images flashing before my eyes. I had it figured now that they were memories. It was still painful, and it always seemed to happen with eye contact. It was maddening.
"So, what brings you here? Surely you aren't here just to visit me and my mother."
Nico raised a brow, his smile remaining as he put his hands casually into his pockets.
"I have my reasons. Still, why can't I just be visiting my family?"
I scoffed at his question.
"Because you guys hate mom and haven't had any interest in me for a while. Ever since we left, you have barely even called for the last three years."
His smile waned, and he withdrew a hand to remove his hat. It was apparent it was time to be serious and professional. So, I knew I had a good idea of why he was in town.
"Aidan, you probably have a good idea why I'm here. We could use some help, your skills are useful. More importantly, you belong with your family."
My face contorted slightly as I flashed him a confused glare.
"Figures. You talk so much about family being important, but don't come around until you need something. Even if that weren't the case, you know that I stopped doing that stuff. I'm staying clean and out of trouble. I don't need the money that bad either."
My uncle grinned, glancing around before moving in closer to me, leaning In close.
"That isn't what I heard. I saw your mom, the state of your place, and I also happen to know that your mom is about to be evicted."
My eyes widened.
"What? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Oh, she didn't tell you? Shocking. She usually tells you everything, doesn't she? Did you know that she had also borrowed a great deal of money from us that she has refused to pay back?"
My expression melted into an angry grimace, my blood beginning to boil. He couldn't have been serious. Even an alcoholic with mental issues couldn't have shit away a large sum of money.
"Bullshit. My mother may be a drunk, but she wouldn't be stupid enough to borrow money from you mobsters when we all left to get away from your criminal bullshit. Even my father, asshole as he was, was wise enough to get out."
Nico chuckled and placed his hat back upon his head, apparently preparing to leave.
"Maybe I'm lying. Maybe not. You should take both possibilities into account. It's in your best interest to help us regardless. If you decide to do the right thing and help us, meet me at apartment 17 in the parkview apartment complex.
We take care of our own, no matter what. You should remember that."
He turned his back, beginning to walk away, planting hisbhands back into his pocket casually.
My mind raced, images of my uncle's violent past still occasionally flashing before my eyes. My veins were burning, rage and confusing twisting in my gut aggressively. What the hell was I to do? I needed to clear my head, and fast.
I dashed away, jogging towards town to get away. After about ten minutes my mind began to clear, the images finally fading completely. I stopped, leaning back against the small ice cream shop I used to visit every week in the summer. The sight of the large smiling ice cream cone sign brought back a few pleasant memories.
With a soft sigh, I glanced at my watch, noticing the time.
"Aww fuck."
I groaned, realizing I was late for my first class of the day. That's fine, I could use a good workout, and the latter half would better suit me anyway. I sped into a sprint, ducking into a nearby alley that my free running friends brought me to. I saw the low awning of the building next door, and the dumpster next to it. Too easy.
I sped over to the closed dumpster, jumping up onto the sturdy metal side of the container, then jumped up and grabbed yhe awning, pulling myself up onto the roof. From here, most of the buildings in this area were close enough that I could move among the rooftops all the way to the main campus.
I moved with a quickness I usually reserved for fleeing, heading towards my destination. Another ten minutes or so got me there, and I dropped down onto a parked van, then dropped from the hood into a forward roll, coming up into a standard walk. I adjusted my jacket, wiped a little sweat from my brow, and walked into the main building.
It didn't take long for me to make it to class, seeing everyone already taking notes on the current lecture. I did my best to move quietly to my usual seat, which was thankfully vacant. My professor, fortunately didn't pay me any mind, continuing on. I sighed softly, my mind already beginning to wander again.
