La Famiglia Di Scudi
Outside of the giant, steel warehouse the members of Nocturne looked nervous. Each of them was on high alert after hearing from Azrail that the Scudi Family boss would be visiting tonight. They jumped at any noise around them and dropped several of their weapons. They knew if they messed up, they're boss would kill them or sell them off. The guards were finally starting to relax when they heard a loud noise in the distance getting closer. With each passing moment the noise got louder and easier to make out. A few more minutes passed and they could clearly hear what it was.
"IT'S ME!!!" A voice shouted.
"NO, IT'S MEEEE!!" The other shouted.
"ME!!" The first shouted again.
"NO, ME!!" The second responded.
This continued until they could make out the figure of two big people running towards the warehouse from the alleyway across the street in a full sprint. They kept growling, shouting and butting heads as they ran forwards, not paying attention to where they were going.
"It- IT'S THE SCUDI FAMILY BOSS AND THE SPADA FAMILY BOSSS!!!" One of the guards shouted.
"DON'T GET IN MY WAY!!!!" The two shouted in unison as they ran over the guard and sprinted inside of the warehouse, ignoring the others.
"Ha! Ha!" The two panted.
"I… win…!" Rico said through deep breaths.
"No… I… definitely won..." Marco said after catching his breath.
"Where are we?" Rico asked.
"Don't ignore me!!" Marco shouted.
Rico stared at the inside of the giant warehouse. Towards the top there were metal scaffolds that were stretched out, going side-by-side from one side to another while others were criss-crossed over each other. The walls were barren with no windows or ways of entry or exit leaving only the giant shutter as the only way to leave or enter the building. On the ground, instead of giant shelves and creates there were what seemed like metal boxes scattered around and some placed neatly against the walls. In each corner there was a cage full of assault rifles, explosive launchers and sub-machine guns. There was only one giant light in the middle of the warehouse making the center bright and the corners invisible.
"Why are there so many metal boxes, and why do they have gaps in them?" Rico asked.
"Those aren't metal boxes you dolt!" Marco said nervously, "Don't you hear the breathing?"
Rico focused on a box nearby and clenched his teeth when he realized what they really were. From far away they seemed like normal crate boxes made of metal but if you looked closer you would see that they were cages. Inside each of these cages was a human ranging from old men to young children. Marco went up to see who was inside one and his heart sank, dropping him to one knee. Inside was a child, no older than eight or nine that had a collar tied around his neck to one of the bars and wearing a large, dull grey shirt. He wasn't sobbing, or crying, but sitting quietly, as if it were in a trance. He had dirty, black hair and red eyes that had lost hope and energy. On his hands were brown bags, stained in blood where the fingernails should be.
"Marco! Rico! I'm glad you could come, though I wasn't expecting you to come as well Marco..." Azrail said in his raspy voice.
"Where's my son?" Rico asked calmly.
"Now, now, don't you wanna-" Azrail stopped halfway.
He reached inside his coat and pulled out his scythe barely blocking the initial impact of Rico's charge before knocking him backwards and throwing his arm to the side, letting the scythe's handle grow until it was at its full length.
"You bastards, get out here!!" Azrail shouted.
Slowly from the shadows behind Azrail the large man came out along with the two others who had been with Azrail at Skunk's base along with the other grunts of the family. The largest one was holding Avecii who had been beaten to a pulp and tied.
"Stupid...geezer..." He said half consciously.
"I wouldn't do anything reckless like that again, otherwi-" Azrail was interrupted with the sound of loud lightning crackling, and a sharp gust of wind blowing past his right followed by a sting on his cheek.
When he turned around he saw his giant henchmen on the floor with several large gashes cut across his body. His blood rapidly rushed out as he convulsed for a few seconds before going still. Another loud crackle sounded throughout the warehouse and another gust of wind blew past Azrail, this time a sharp pain spread throughout his back, turning him around to face Marco and Rico. When he placed his hand on his back, there was a large gash and when he stared at Rico the boy they had taken was now held in his arms while his cane blade dripped with deep red blood.
"Scintillante pugnalata" Rico said as he slowly placed Avecii on the ground.
There was a dangerous look in his eyes as he slowly exhaled. Marco turned to him and then looked at the nearby cages before grabbing his shoulder.
"I'll make sure these people make it out of those cages and this area safely, so feel free to go all out." Marco said as he bent over and picked up Avecii and took him outside.
"Marco-!"
"Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to your son, I promise!" Marco said with a smile.