1 1 The past returns

"But, why--"

"I don't understand you anymore. I've done everything for you to make it into the university. You took the exams--you passed! So, what's stopping you from fulfilling mother's last wish? Tell me!"

- - -

 Sofia just couldn't understand Jackson. They had gone through a lot during their childhood. Their father, Santiago, was a suspect of several criminal cases. And worst of all, the mastermind behind the mafia attacks. No one knew about his true identity and his whereabouts, except his daughter. He was a professional in secrecy.

She remembered his words vividly, when she ran to her father's bedroom to inform him that the cops were looking for him. They were talking to her mom in the living room at the time. His eyes showed no fear, but his voice spoke of it. 

 "Princess," he beckoned. That was his name for her. He grabbed her by both shoulders and pulled her in for a tight hug. She was twelve then. She wondered profusely why father seemed to be in the mood for a hug after hearing such news.

 "Daddy! Daddy!" she called, tapping him on his back. He pulled away and his face showed nothing less than pain, anger, and fear. 

Sofia was born with a gift of reading the mind and emotions. She, herself, became terrified as she read his mind on what bothered him. She saw a woman, grabbing her two children to protect them before she was apprehended and slaughtered. She hadn't yet mastered her gift at that tender age.

 She pulled away, shivering bitterly. 

 "D-daddy! Was that . . . mom?"

 He said nothing. He bowed his head in regret as he turned away from her, biting his lips. Although Sofia was so little, she was too smart for her age. 

 She walked towards him as she watched his tears trying to overflow. She raised his chin until his eyes met hers.

 Again, she saw him murdered by an unknown figure. The figure was to blur to be recognized. 

 "Daddy . . . if you go to prison . . .would they still want to kill us?"

 Santiago didn't know what to say. He loved his wife and his children.

He loved his family.

But how could he live knowing that they were dead and he was the cause? That would be a punishment worse than death. He knew this would happen one day. And he was always careful, never to let this nightmare come true. He was very careful, too careful. The only way for this truth to have come out was if there was a black sheep in his herd. 

 "Dear," His wife called. He knew what she was coming from to say. And Sofia's heart pounded as she thought of what to do.

 "Daddy, you can't go to prison." Sofia whispered in fear, holding his hands tightly.

 "Don't worry. My men will take care of it."

She looked at him again but this time with hopelessness.

 "No daddy. That will never happen."

 "What do you mean?" He asked in confusion.

 "Sir Ed--Sir Edward is the new boss, dad."

He jerked upright to hear that clearly.

 "What?"

- - -

 Santiago always took Sofia to the hid out when he went to 'work'. So, he always dressed her in clothes that she couldn't be recognized. Secretly, he trained her like he trained his men. Her father wanted her to become the mafia boss after him.

Taking a little child to such a place was a risk he never feared. His men suspected she was a boy, or maybe his child, but they could never tell. Every time they drove off to their destination, while on driver's seat, and she on the passenger's, he would instruct her;

 "Never look anyone in the eye. Never say a word. Never go anywhere without my consent. And, never trust anyone." It was like a warning to avoid bumping into death.

- - -

"Why didn't you say anything?" 

He yelled at her in a tone that couldn't really be heard past the room. She stepped away when she saw those eyes of murder that appeared when he became furious.

"I'm sorry dad." She begged.

"He threa--" Before she could say another word, there was a bang, followed by shattering glass.

Mother!

They burst out of the room with the same speed and were welcomed by attacks by the cops. Her father dodged and weaved the blows and flying knives while she danced through the commotion in search for her mother.

 She laid lifeless on the ground when she ran to her. 

 "Mother!" She cried, raising her head to search for life. Lucky, she found it.

 "Sofia," She whispered.

"Go." She managed to say again.

 "No mother. Come let's go together. You can make it. We can get you to a hospital. You can get treated. You can--"

 "Sofia . . ." She cut in, trailing off. Tears filled her eyes as her mother began falling back into unconsciousness.

 "Take care of yourself and brother. Ensure he follows the right path. I . . ."

 "Mother!" She cried, pulling her head closer towards hers. Her mother touched her cheeks, muttering, she made her last words.

 "We've trained you well Sofia. I-I love you both. Wish your father goodbye for me."

 "Mother!" She yelled. 

Santiago quickly finished off the remaining five men when he heard his daughter's scream. 

He ran to his knees, where his dead wife laid. 

 "Sarah." 

Hurriedly, yet desperately in loss, he hugged her lifeless body tightly with tears escaping his eyes. 

 Then, they heard the clapping of hands from behind them.

 "Santiago. Santiago. Santiago. Oh my! Is she dead?" A male voice asked hysterically.

 It was Edward. Her father's most trusted man. 

 Anger and rage filled them but only one turned to face him, and that was Santiago. Sofia maintained her position so as to hide her face. 

 As they spoke, her hearing became blurred. She became light-headed. She couldn't believe she was going to witness her father's death and her brother's as well. 

No.

She has to get out of there.

She scanned for something to cover her face and make an escape when she spotted her mother's orange scarf.

 "Forgive me, mother." She whispered as she unnoticeably took it of her mother's neck and covered her face, leaving nothing but her eyes, exposed.

 She rose to her feet. She felt her heart become as hard as a rock. She felt no pain, no fear, and no sadness.

She felt bad. She felt dangerous.

She walked and stood behind her father. That was when her hearing cleared a little.

"Oh! I see you still have this little minion with you. How are you little--girl? I assume."

She never starred into his eyes before. But today, she did. See pierced into his soul with the spirit of death backing her up. He sensed it. She felt him sense it.

 Suddenly, he became scared. He wasn't that scared of Santiago, although he was a very dangerous man. It was his daughter. There was just something about her.

He stepped away stylishly, trying not to showcase his fear.

"Kill them." He instructed the men that were behind him.

---

They came at them like bees, but one by one. Father didn't hesitate a second to grab the daggers by his hips and stab two men by the neck.

 Neither did I. 

Swiftly, I slid in-between father's wide-open legs, grabbing the two knives by the side of his boots. My short height was a great advantage. As they tried to grab me, I would either bend stabbing or slicing-by their foot or slide between their legs, tearing their thighs. 

"Sofia!"

Father yelled as their number grew.

Instantly, I went into his mind to get what he was trying to say. We did this a lot when we needed to pass across important information. 

 'Get yourself and your brother out of here now. Don't worry about me. Just run. Run and never look back.'

My heart shattered because I knew this would be my last time seeing father. 

With a heavy heart, I wasted no time.

I ran to Jackson's crib and picked him up. There was no other way out but through the window.

 "Get the girl!" Edward yelled when he sighted me escaping from the commotion.

 "Run Sofia." 

Father sounded like he was overpowered when a gun shut filled the air. 

Father!

No! No! No! Father!

'I can't stop now. Dad just sacrificed his life for our escape. I have to keep going.' I tried to encourage myself in teary-brokeness.

I shut my eyes and took a deep breath, standing at the window.

 "There she is. Get her!"

Without looking back, I jumped.