The Red Nights

For a long moment, no one dared to speak a word, the just stayed there staring at Andre with a dumbfounded expression stuck on the faces of Jamal, Lina, and Matteo while the young Andre was looking a little worried believing that he had said something he shouldn't have.

" E-excuse me " he stuttered, " it's just that it seemed you were up to something and after Volga mentioned that there is maybe something threatening the security of the city I... I somehow just wanted to help ", Andre bowed his head and started scratching his c.h.e.s.t " I'm sorry I got carried away, I know you think I'm not cut to be one of you yet ".

" Volga told you that there is a problem? " Jamal asked the young man right after he finished talking.

Andre suddenly raised his head looking a bit excited " so there does... " he coughed after he noticed that he lost his composure, he quickly calmed himself and said " I mean, yes. I was practicing with her yesterday that was when she said that the city was in danger and that you were hiding it while trying to deal with it only by yourselves ".

Lina sighed, she gazed at Jamal and commented: " Jamie, that woman is sharp ".

" Yes," he replied while starting away, " she indeed has a terrifying intuition ".

" So what is it? " Andre asked as somehow he seemed very interested. When they all directed their attention on him again he immediately realized that it was not convenient for him to ask such things since he was not a member of the team but just someone who happened to interrupt their discussion, " S-sorry I know it's not appropriate for me to ask, I'm of nature too curious ".

" Wait. you didn't hear us talking? " Matteo interrogated him.

" I just- "

" What part of our conversation did you manage to grasp? " he asked again but more specifically this time.

Andre looked confused and he articulated " the part you said that... you will fight ".

The three people before suddenly sighed while looking relieved.

Andre would have wanted to ask what was wrong but he knew that it would be too indiscreet so instead, he took a deep breath and decided to go straight to the point.

After he caught the attention of the people there once he said, " I want to help protect the city so what can I do so you can count me in for that upcoming battle? ".

They glanced at each other and Andre understood that they were having a silent discussion to decide what to do about him, he didn't have other choices but to wait. Then, they finally looked at him, and as he expected it was Jamal who had the responsibility of responding to him. But what he said didn't miss to surprise him, " do you remember our battle of two days ago? "

The young man didn't know what was his point but he anyway replied by nodding, there was no way he could forget that battling those monsters who just had the shape of humans but were nothing of humans, whatever how many times they would get shot with bullets they would continue walking as if they were kind of immortals, only people like Natasha or Carla who could manipulate the weapons Jamal had invented could actually kill them definitively.

" Do you think you could handle battles of that scale? " Jamal asked his face as serious as ever.

" I know we can't kill those things by normal means but these days I will train hard so that maybe I would be able to manipulate those weapons you have forged to kill them, just like Carla and Natasha," he said with some difficulties to hide his optimism as well as his excitement.

However, seeing Jamal's disappointed expression after he answered him made him feel worried. " So Volga told you about the combat the threat but didn't tell you about this? " he sighed.

" Huh? " Andre was lost.

" Listen, do you really believe that story of weapons I developed? " Jamal said making him feel like it was an important question.

" Y-yes, we have witnessed it that those undead were impossible to kill except by using the weapons Carla and Natasha were holding moreover you once said that you hate lying so why would I not believe that? " Andre gave him the best answer he could think of, but when he raised his sight Jamal was still wearing the same disappointed expression ".

" In fact, I didn't lie you just have misunderstood me, when I talked about weapons I have forged I wasn't referring to the object but the people holding them ", as Andre seemed to not understand yet he carried on giving him some clues to understand " think about it if I indeed have such weapons why wouldn't I have one for me to defend myself? Where would I have found the knowledge to develop such objects? You have even witnessed Carla in action do you really think that some kind of weapon I or anyone could have invented? "

Andre's were slowly widening as he started to figure out the reality of things, " do you mean... that... those girls have some kind of superpowers allowing them to do what they do? "

" That's right and only they can kill the undead so I repeat my question, do you think you can handle that scale of battle? " Jamal nodded and asked.

Andre didn't speak by just lowered his head as everyone started to think that he gave up they heard him say, " I'm not saying this because I want your pity or anything but I think that when people lose their memories they would struggle the rest of their lives trying to remember or finding a place they belong according to what they once were. This kind of life... waking up the morning to go to work, hanging out with friends discussing this and that, returning to home, eating the dinner and going to sleep while expecting to have another normal and peaceful day the next day... it doesn't look like me, I'm not suited for that kind of life. I think you know what I mean, I don't feel like I belong to that world ".

" So you want to say that between the danger and the risk of losing your life at any time is where you feel you belong to? " Lina reformulated for him.

" I know it may sound weird but I deeply meditated about that and I really feel like my place is more in the battlefield than in that quiet and peaceful life I just described " he replied.

" If you have discussed with Volga she surely has told you that it is not compulsory to be like that " Jamal tried to convince him to think otherwise, " if you seek wisdom and take an example of what you are living now you should see her ".

" That's what I did, and I clearly understood her point... but on contrary to me she is not currently looking for an identity " Andre put his arms on his knees and clenched his fists, " before I start looking for a peaceful place to belong to I have to first find who I am ".

" I understand but that doesn't answer my question, do you think you have the capacity to follow us in that path? " though he was moved by what Andre said he couldn't just say yes to him since he had his responsibilities to fulfill, in his role of leader he could not permit himself to be emotional in a matter of life and death.

Andre immediately wanted to respond yes but he held himself once he crossed Jamal's sight, his face looked more emotionless than serious, the young man understood that he couldn't give a simple yes and act boldly as in Jamal's eyes it would just look stupid. [ Playing the brave and courageous guy won't lead me anywhere ] Andre took his time to think, [ I can't lie to him he surely aware of my capabilities and anyway, I knew from the beginning that it would be pointless to rely on my aptitudes to convince neither can I play the card of the guy who wants to help as if it was for that he would have already asked Volga ].

He had continued to think for a short time before he made up his mind. He decided to simply be honest with Jamal. " No, I clearly don't have the aptitudes and the skills to fight the undead ".

" What can you bring to the team? " Jamal asked Andre.

The latter wandered his sight from Lina to Matteo and then said, " you have already two women with superpowers and the two people besides you seem to be very smart and not forgetting that you pretty strong and smart yourself... so honestly I don't have anything special I could bring to boost the team ".

" So what is the reason would I take you in the team? " Jamal was completely how harsh it sounded but he knew it was necessary.

At that moment Andre didn't flinch he wouldn't go and say that he wasn't intimidated as it would be obvious a lie but he could feel his mind clear and focused when he said: " because I feel like doing it ".

" If it's that so I'm sorry but I have to refuse ".

Andre didn't look so surprised neither was he disappointed like somehow he was expecting that answer. Even before he gave his answer to Jamal, he thought about the latter's position in that story and he came to understand that Jamal was responsible for the lives of all those people included in the team due to he needed a guarantee that no matter how dangerous the situation would be he had the surety that they won't die for example for Natasha and Carla he had the confidence that thanks to their power they would be able to protect themselves and for Lina and Matteo he was confident in his ability to protect them. [ However, in my case, I don't have the necessary strength to protect myself and he surely estimates that he is not capable of protecting his answer is totally legitimate and logical ] Andre admitted but something in his eyes seemed like he didn't give up and Jamal noticed that too.

" What is it? " Jamal asked, curious.

" Are we free in this city? " he asked as if nothing happened.

" Yeah " Jamal responded a bit suspicious of what he had in his mind.

" So let's suppose I decided to go on a journey all by myself would I be stopped? " Andre continued asking.

" No, but what do you- " before Jamal could finish Lina put a hand on his mouth and pulled his head to place it on her b.r.e.a.s.ts. Moreover, she seemed a bit angry when she told Andre " listen, kid, I know what you have in mind and I'm telling you to quickly abandon that idea, didn't you understand why did he decide to put you aside that is because you're too weak and by following us you would die way too soon ".

" I know but I told you it's crucial for me to find my way and I'm convinced that I won't be able to find it by staying here playing to the good civilians " he replied, he was too inspired to notice Lina's irritation.

Jamal patted the back of Lina's hand which was on his mouth and once he caught her attention he asked her with the eyes to explain him, Lina raised her head to glare at the young man while responding him, " that kid is trying to blackmail us by menacing us to go on a solo adventure if we don't take him with ".

Jamal suddenly turned his head and when his eyes landed on Andre the man felt a chill like if the temperature just dropped but he was rational enough to understand that it was just an impression due to the pressure Jamal was putting on him. He took off his mouth his girlfriend's hand and stood up. He started to slowly walk towards Andre and the latter realized that he had never seen him so intimidating before.

He was at few centimeters from the young man when he looked down at him and said " you wanna play like this huh? Alright let's do like this in 2 days I will organize a match where you will be opposing Carla if you win I will let you join us and if you lose you will be free to do whatever you want and go wherever please you but whether you lose your life or not it won't be any more my responsibility. What do you decide? "

Andre's legs were shaking, he felt that he was convenient that he was already sitting otherwise he was afraid that he couldn't have been able to stand in his feet but though he was scared as he had rarely been, he still managed to gather his courage and respond " yes, I accept, I will take you on ".

" Great ", Jamal turned around he looked at Matteo " please help him to leave, it seems like he needs to rest a little more, we will see you later ".

Matteo, who had not found an occasion to say a word since a moment, obeyed and went to help his roommate to stand up by lending him his shoulder, together they walked towards the door and just when they were about to leave Jamal took a loud voice and said to Andre " you better prepare yourself well, you know what this girl is capable of ".

" Yes, don't worry about that I will be ready... thank you " Andre had replied before Matteo closed the door behind them.

A long moment of silence passed before Lina stood up to come touching delicately Jamal's c.h.e.s.t, " what are you trying to do? Firstly you faked that you were angry to intimidate him and now you proposing him a duel ".

" I'm trying to help that kid by giving what he wants. A chance to prove himself " he responded.

" And the intimidation was just to give an unreachable goal to aim during that time he will be training himself, rights ", she stood on her toes to put a kiss on Jamal's lips, she smiled delicately while staring at his eyes, " you are way too nice ".

" Is that a compliment? ", when Lina nodded Jamal smiled, passed one arm below to lift her and carry her on his arm, " then let me show you how naughty I can become when it comes to taking care of your body " and he brought her back to his room.