章 9: Return #9
Reaching the Great Eagle statue, I found my gaze irresistibly drawn toward the tower once more. Its imposing structure seemed even closer now, just an old, worn-down set of stone stairs away. Vito appeared beside me, his expression a mix of excitement and smugness.
"The tower is so close you could almost smell it. Aren't you even a little bit tempted?" he said, his voice dripping with the allure of the unknown.
Indeed, the tower loomed just beyond my reach, its ancient stones whispering promises of secrets and danger. I felt a pull, a desire to explore its mysteries. But common sense prevailed. "It's tempting," I admitted, "but it also looks very dangerous. I'll be back for it someday-- to figure out what the hell it is if nothing else."
Vito rolled his eyes. "You're such a killjoy, John."
Ignoring him, I focused on the statue before me. The sky had already darkened, and the eerie calls of nocturnal creatures began to echo in the distance. It was time to head back. I touched the Great Eagle statue, feeling its cool surface beneath my fingers. The statue lit up with a blue glow, and I prepared to fast travel back to base.
Suddenly, my body began to shine with the same blue light, and I felt an unsettling tugging sensation pulling me away. Panic surged through me, my heart pounding in my chest. "The fuck?" I managed to say, my voice trembling.
Vito frowned, a rare look of genuine concern crossing his face. "Why are you panicking? I mean, I'm no scientist, but I've seen a few movies, and this looks exactly like teleportation..."
"I haven't activated the fast travel yet. Something is—" My sentence was abruptly cut off as my vision darkened, the world around me fading to black.
The sensation of being pulled intensified, as if unseen hands were dragging me through the very fabric of reality. I tried to focus, to understand what was happening, but everything became a blur of light and sound. Fear gripped me, and I could hear Vito's voice, faint and distant, trying to say something, but his words were lost in the void.
As the darkness swallowed me, I felt a sudden, jarring impact, as if I had been thrown against an invisible wall. Pain shot through my body, and I struggled to regain my senses. Slowly, the darkness receded, replaced by the glare of the sun and the familiar sound of traffic that I had almost forgotten.
I found myself lying on a cold, hard surface, my limbs aching and my head spinning. Before I could process the situation, something struck my side, making me wince. I looked up to see a man in a hard hat slowly getting back to his feet. He glared down at me, his expression a mix of irritation and confusion.
"Hey, you bum! This is no place to sleep," he scolded, his voice gruff and impatient.
I just stared at him, too shocked to reply. My mind was still reeling from the sudden transition, the abrupt return to this harsh reality.
The man clicked his tongue in annoyance. "You've got five minutes to gather yourself and Piss off! If you're not gone by the time I'm back, I'm calling the cops..." he mumbled before turning around and walking away.
Vito appeared beside me, looking down with a satisfied smile. "Well, well, look who's back to the land of the living," he said, raising his head and taking a deep breath. "Can you smell that?"
I didn't answer, still trying to piece together what had just happened.
"It's the sweet scent of pollution and overpopulation," Vito continued, a hint of relish in his voice. "We're back home, back in New York."
I grumbled, "Great. Back to the same city where almost everyone wants me dead." As usual, my words fell on deaf ears with Vito too absorbed into the situation to even register my words.
He glanced around his eyes scanning the familiar surroundings. "Stop complaining and start moving already. This is the same construction site where Manfredi's goons had you cornered, remember?"
With a sigh, I forced myself to stand, my body protesting every movement. The first thing I did was check my wristwatch. Much to my relief, it was still there, its familiar weight a small comfort in the chaos.
I looked around, taking in the half-finished buildings and piles of construction materials. The sounds of the city were all too familiar—the distant honking of horns, the murmur of voices, the occasional shout. It was all a stark contrast to the magical landscapes and the enchanting scenery I was yanked away from.
"So what's the plan, genius?" Vito asked, his tone light but with an underlying seriousness.
I rubbed my temples, trying to think. "First, we need to get out of here before someone recognizes me. Then we need to figure out what the hell just happened."
Vito smirked. "Welcome back to the grind, John. Just remember, in this city, it's either kill or be killed."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, thanks for the pep talk, Vito."
I started moving, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. My mind raced with questions. How did I get back here? Was it some kind of glitch in the statue's magic? And more importantly, could I go back?
As I made my way through the construction site, the memories of my last encounter with Manfredi's goons resurfaced. The narrow escape, the frantic chase—it all seemed so surreal now. But I couldn't afford to dwell on it. I had to stay focused, keep moving, and figure out my next move.
Vito's presence was a constant reminder of the precariousness of my situation. He was right about one thing: in this city, I couldn't afford to let my guard down. Not for a second.
"Where to now?" Vito asked, falling into step beside me.
"First, I need to find a safe place to lay low. Then we'll figure out our next steps," I replied, determination hardening my voice. "And maybe, just maybe, I'll think up a way to take care of the mess you created."
Vito chuckled. "Sounds like a plan. Just try not to get us killed in the process."
...
Sitting on the edge of the bed in a dingy motel room, I stared at the duffle bag filled with cash and the Desert Eagle pistol lying beside it. The harsh light from the single bulb above cast deep shadows, making the scene feel like a bad crime movie. I couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu, a twisted reflection of my first moments in this chaotic world.
Vito appeared, leaning casually against the wall. "What's on your mind, princess?" he asked, his voice dripping with amusement.
I replied sarcastically, "That owning a Desert Eagle is pretty much a cliche? What, do you think you're in some kind of action movie or something?"
Vito chuckled, not taking offense at my words. "It's not about the gun itself, John. It's about the reaction it gets. People see a Desert Eagle, and they think twice about messing with you. It's a psychological advantage."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, because that's not a cliché and stupid at all."
Vito smirked. "For someone who's never held a gun in his life, you sure have some strong opinions about them."
I sighed, shifting my gaze back to the wristwatch. The new task glowed ominously on the screen: Build a new base in this world to travel back and forth between the two worlds.
"So, what's the plan?" Vito asked, his tone shifting to a more serious note.
I sighed again, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "The watch says I need to build a new base here to travel between the worlds...
Vito gave me a strange look. "So what's with the glum look? You've got plenty of cash, so just go out there and buy a warehouse or something..."
I gave Vito a look that suggested he was mentally challenged. "Like that's ever gonna happen. Thanks to you, I'm a wanted criminal. No one in their right mind would sell me a piece of chewd up gum from the underside of some bench, never mind actual property."
Vito waved off my concerns. "There's no need to worry about that. I happen to know a guy who can help..."
I raised an eyebrow at him. "You know a guy? What kind of guy?"
Vito grinned broadly. "A Sicilian old timer, tough as nails and more wiley than a fox. He owns tens of properties all over town-- sells them to criminals, but it's more like renting. He waits until the buyer gets arrested or killed, then takes back the property and sells it again."
I looked at him incredulously. "And you think this guy is just going to hand me the keys to one of his properties?"
Vito shrugged. "He's in it for the money. You've got plenty of that, thanks to me."
I ran a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling up. "Let's say we do buy a property from this guy... what's to stop him from ratting me out to the police or Manfredi?"
Vito shrugged his shoulders. "His reputation for once. If words got out about him double-crossing one of his customers, then chumps like us wouldn't be lining in to buy his properties, and he won't have much of a business, will he?"
I let out a resigned sigh. "Fine. I'll trust you on this one. Where do we find this guy of yours?"
Vito smiled, clearly pleased with himself. "Leave that to me. But first, you need to get out of this dump and in some presentable threads. You look like you just crawled out of a sewer."
I glanced down at my ragged clothes, realizing he had a point. "Alright, but let's make it quick. The longer we stay out in the open, the higher the risk."
Vito nodded. "Agreed. There's a nice shop a few blocks away. We can get you something decent there."
...
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