THE MAFIA'S PENANCE

NIGHT WITHOUT STARS

The view of the sky that looks beautiful because the fireworks have disappeared, as well as my sense of joy when hearing the sound of people shouting and the sound of gunfire from inside the ship.

I immediately hugged Vernon's arm with a fear of attack as Vernon looked at me with concern. He held my hand that hugged his arm. I could feel that his palm was currently feeling so cold.

"Have you contacted the others?" Vernon asked his men.

"We're in the middle of the sea, sir. The signal doesn't exist." Reply to one of Vernon's men who stood on standby with a long barrel gun coiled around his neck.

"Find a beacon, we must signal for help from those on the ground." Vernon. "How many people are Sacra Unita?"

"They are so many, more than fifty people."

"They're looking for you sir, you and your mistress should just hide here."

I agree with the words of his men. If the people of Sacra Unita found Vernon, they would definitely kill him immediately. My hand that still hugged Vernon's arm the more I approached Vernon to understand not to go anywhere.

"We should try to get in and look for a flare." Vernon. "Keep trying to call them."

"Good sir."

Vernon looked at me and let go of my hand that was holding his arm, then put his suit on me, put my hand in it and pissed on it.

"Take a good look at your nona." Vernon cried to Pablo.

"Yes, that's my job here." Pablo replied, both hands were holding the gun.

"Stay here, Viv." Vernon looked at me, letting go of my hand that was holding his arm.

"Where are you going? Stay with me." I love the fear that is engulfing me right now. "Don't leave me, Vern. I'll be with you."

"Viv, you take it easy, I'll be fine. I'm gonna go inside to pick up a flare for help to come." Answer Vernon. "The two of you are also here and protect her, don't let anything bad happen to her."

"Okay sir" answered one of his two men who Vernon ordered to take care of me with Pablo.

"Vern..." Call me to hold Vernon's arm about to step up.

Vernon looked at me and gave his kiss to my forehead after that walking away with a gun given by his men. Vernon went to enter the ship with his two men.

I looked at her with fear because of my concern for her.

The gunfire happened several times. It made me even more afraid of Vernon's current state.

"Miss, we have to hide." Pablo broke my daydream that still looked towards the departure of Vernon even though he was no longer there. "Come, miss."

I still didn't budge from where I was standing, but Pablo invited me to the corner to hide.

"Miss, come on." This time Pablo held my arm to follow him.

I stepped up to follow him, but suddenly from a very close direction there were gunshots along with the cries of some very loud people. My legs feel so shaky that to pinch right now makes me hard.

"Miss, all right?" Pablo asked as I propped myself up holding the ship barrier to hold my body. "Miss, did you hear me?"

My head is down I look up at Pablo. My fear made my gaze not very clear because I was holding back tears right now, until my eyes turned red.

"Miss take it easy, before we set sail I've contacted Mr. Art. I felt something strange earlier, so I asked Mr. Art to send help." Pablo's words brought me a little relief.

But suddenly there were footsteps of some people who had just opened the door to the deck where I was. Both of Vernon's men peered towards the door.

"Five people came." Said one of the men peering towards the sound of footsteps.

After that the two people fired several shots so that the people who must be the Sacra Unita stronghold returned fire with many times more. Pablo just stood behind me and didn't shoot.

I gasped a little when a Vernon boy was shot in the arm.

Pablo immediately joined the shooting until suddenly the sound of a flare from the stern of the ship, and visible light in the sky. Making a night without stars again makes the sky look luminous.

Looks like Vernon found his beacon, it made me a little relieved to know he was okay. The sound of people shooting from the entrance of the ship on the north side was also not heard.

One of Vernon's men came right out to see the situation there. But unexpectedly he was shot and immediately died on the spot. I screamed in fear, while Pablo looked up to see what was happening. A shot was heard again and this time more and more footsteps sounded. Pablo and Vernon's men, whose arms were shot, tried to shower them with long guns they were carrying.

"Miss, we better get out of here." Pablo called me to follow him south of the ship.

I ran after Vernon's men and behind Pablo saw the situation. I started to feel pain in my stomach right now.

Suddenly Vernon's men who were in front of me fell down when someone from in front of us fired a shot at him and hit his chest.

Pablo swiftly pulled me behind a tank that was enough size for us to hide from the gunfire. For a moment Pablo was silent to read the situation, and it seemed like he was waiting for the person shooting at us to run out of bullets.

When there was no gunshot, Pablo came out and shot the man several times.

"Come Miss!!" Pablo exclaimed at me that I should follow him back running as the voices of the people behind us drew closer.

I ran in front of Pablo with the pain in my stomach. Now I feel like we should have gone home and not seen the fireworks. I should not have listened to the ship's owner. No, we shouldn't have come to this party. I should have stayed in the hotel room.

My steps came to a halt with gasping breaths as we almost got to the stern of the ship. I grimaced with the pain in my stomach. I knew something wasn't okay because the pain in my stomach didn't hold back.

"Miss, all right?"

At the same time Pablo asked me, the people who were chasing us from behind started to look and open fire. Pablo immediately pulled me into a corner, hiding behind the curve of a door.

"Miss, listen to my words. I'll get in their way, you'll have to run as fast as you can to the stern, Mr. Vernon will be there and soon Mr. Arthur will be there." Pablo.

Hearing Pablo's words made my tears come out. I know what will happen to Pablo by saying something like that to me.

"You heard me, didn't you, miss?"

I nodded with my sobs held back at the thought of how Pablo had always taken care of me even though I always did not want to be taken care of by him.

"Prepare Miss, I'll come out after that run in the corner to avoid gunfire." Pablo. "Miss..." This time Pablo held my head so I could look at him. "Everything that happened ten years ago, it wasn't your fault."

Pablo's words surprised me. I forgot about it, Pablo must have known about what happened ten years ago. Why did I never ask him before?

"All right, lady, be prepared. I'm going out." Pablo.

Not long after, Pablo came out of our hiding place by directly raining fire on the people who were close to us. I immediately ran to Pablo's instructions, but I stopped my steps when the gunshot was no longer heard plus the pain in my stomach became more and more.

I turned to look at Pablo who had been covered in blood falling down at a considerable distance from me. I could see Pablo staring at me, while one of the two remaining enemies fired his shot once more into Pablo's chest, which left him instantly dead.

The two men looked at me, and it seemed like they were intent on catching me for not shooting at me. I tried to run as I could withhold the pain in my stomach.

Until the gunfire was heard again. I was the one who ran by focusing my steps by looking down, raising my head and seeing Vernon running towards me.

Seeing him I felt so relieved that I smiled. Vernon came by shooting the two men who were chasing me. I fell limp when I saw him running towards me.

But without Vernon knowing behind him there are already some people who saw him and fired several shots at Vernon.

With tears in my eyes and my neck choked, I saw how Vernon had fallen from the gunshots that hit his back

My vision was dark because I couldn't see what was happening. But before I lost consciousness I heard the sound of a helicopter along with dozens of shots that led to the people shooting at Vernon. Arthur and Renata are coming.

Before I closed my eyes, I saw blood coming out of Vernon's body that was already below.

I love you, Vernon.

...–NATZSIMO–...