The Red Nights

Matteo opened the door of his apartment without closing it back and carried Andre to the largest sofa which was in the living room, he helped him to have a seat and the latter soon let his body fall on one side so he could rest on it.

Matteo stood there a moment staring down to him in silence, the latter who had his eyes closed said " are angry at me for having provoked him? You know that I didn't have another choice otherwise, he would have left me behind ".

" I don't care about what you have done, that's between him and you anyway," the boy said after he sighed, " I just wanted to be sure that you realize how small your chances are to win, Jamal really seemed to be serious and you can bet that his student, as well, won't go easy on you ".

Andre remained silent.

" You recognize who is Carla, don't you? I know her for too long ago but I do know that she is physically as strong as Natasha and I also heard that she was the strongest soldier Nelson had in his group so she must have a lot of experience in the field... more than you have " he paused to check on Andre's reaction but the expression of the young man remained calm, " You can't win against her " he ended by saying.

Both stayed quiet for a short time before Andre sighed and said " you know? It's not like I don't realize how strong my opponent is or as if I'm trying to ignore the gap between her and me, it would be stupid of me to think that way " the corner of his lips extended to reveal a smile which disappeared as soon as it appeared, " I... it's just that Jamal finally give me a proper chance to be part of the team after turning me down many times, you see? So I don't care how weak I am compared or how disadvantageous the odds are " he tilted his head and looked straight at the young boy, " I simply don't want to waste this chance ".

Matteo could see how motivated he was, his eyes were overflowing with determination so much that he had the impression that the young man was not anymore looking but rather he was staring at a goal far away ahead of him.

" Do whatever you want " Matteo said before he turned and walked toward the door.

" Where are you going? " Andre leaned on his elbow and helped himself to lift a little bit the upper of her body to see Matteo leaving.

" I have things to do, also I must go tell Carla about your duel. You better rest well I will return to check on you " he walked out of the apartment and closed the door.

Andre pushed his body to rest on the sofa and began to stare at the roof and he stayed silent for a moment. " To do whatever I want, huh? " he then closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep.

•••

Matteo was waiting in front of Natasha's house's door for more than ten minutes knocking on it without any response, he was about while supposing they were just out when he heard a scream coming from inside. Without thinking too much he took a paper clip straightened it and forced the entrance, he rushed inside and as he was hearing noises coming from the kitchen he walked in that direction as careful as he could.

He was getting near he suddenly saw Dana rushing out of the kitchen in pajamas with a sort of paint on her face, she screamed and unconsciously went to hide behind Matteo's back. He turned her head to check on her but she had her eyes closed, " why are you- ".

Before he could finish Natasha and Carla appeared in front of him in pajamas as well with makeup tools in each of their hands, " what the hell is going on here?! " he cracked and shouted.

" It's none of your business, boy. Don't resist, give us the girl and we promise that we won't harm you " Natasha replied while slowly walking ahead still with her makeup tools in hand as if they were weapons.

" What did you do for them to be so angry? " he asked Dana without turning his head.

" It's not what she did but what she said, " Carla said as she arched her back and pulled her hands back like a wild animal ready to jump on its prey.

" And what did she said? " he asked again.

" You ask too many questions, give us the girl and you will be fine " Natasha interrupted him, she was then at only a few steps from the two youngsters.

Matteo realized only too late that she had shortened the distance too much. He tried to step back to escape but he got grabbed the hand by Natasha who pulled and threw him away, as Carla was catching him in mid-air Natasha pushed Dana down and sat on her as she was trying vainly to move.

" Now, will you apologize or do you want me to resume your punishment? " Natasha said while holding the paintbrushes just above her face to threaten her.

" I won't apologize for having said the truth, how you both can eat all day long and still be fit and fine that should be criminal," Dana said while still agitating to get Natasha off her, " and how the hell can you be fit and yet so heavy... you are crushing me with your fat a.s.s ".

Matteo couldn't see Natasha's face but it was not difficult to guess her expression, she was really upset.

" That's why all this scene? " Matteo said to Carla, " because you don't people to say that you are two blessed gluttons who can't gain weight? How ridiculous ".

" Listen here you little gremlin " Carla started while tightening her hold on Matteo and the latter understood that she was upset too, " if you want to grow up in life without getting in trouble one of the rules you have to memorize is that never arguing about a woman's weight and on how much she eats. And just for you to know when you're like us working hard every day believe you would want to eat a little more than you would normally do ".

" If only it was just a little... " Dana didn't miss to comment even though it started to be a little difficult for her to breathe.

" Carla... forget about the painting give me a needle and a thread, I will shut her bad mouth once and for all " Natasha said with a voice far to be calm.

" No need, with the weight you are putting on me I will surely die in no time " Dana replied ignoring the fact that she was not in the situation to give such replies.

" Everyone stop! " Matteo shouted before Natasha decided to kill her definitely, " please listen to me, I have something important to tell you ".

Carla, who was still holding him, shook him a little, " speak " she ordered him.

" I can't... you are compressing me... " he managed to articulate though he was out of breath.

" Oh, sorry ", Carla released him and he immediately stepped forward to inhale some air, he then turned his head and stared down at Natasha and tilted a little the head on Dana's direction and the woman understood what he was asking her even though he didn't pronounce a word.

" No " she instantly turned him down, " I agree to free you since you just got caught in this storm unconsciously but concerning her I refuse, she went too far ".

Matteo started to think about which argument should he use to negotiate Dana's liberation when unexpectedly the latter started to cry, tears started to flow while her cheeks were turning red.

" I'm sorry... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you please... " she lamented and as she started to apologize Natasha's anger began to dissipate she could no more feel like punishing a crying little girl.

She slowly got off her and let the space for Matteo to come to stand up. The boy was relieved that her other personality was such a big crybaby otherwise it would have been very hard for him to settle that dispute. He accompanied her upstairs and came back to the living room a moment later, he found the two women sitting on a sofa calm and silent as if they just got scolded.

" She calmed herself after I helped to clean up the makeup on her face she went straight to her bed to have some rest, she must be really tired after fighting both of you ", as Matteo was talking none of them showed any reaction making him feel like he was talking in the air. He sighed and decided to give another shot, " why are you looking so disappointed, weren't you the ones asking her to apologize ", he pointed to upstairs with his thumb " that was a real apology, wasn't it? With tears and cries like we rarely see ".

" Yeah, but that wasn't the apology we wanted, in fact not that way. That's too easy to change personality whenever you have to face your responsibilities and take on the consequences of your actions " Natasha responded to him while still staring away. " That's not the first time that happens in similar cases instead of facing the problem and taking on her responsibilities she would always lock and herself behind her mask of a fragile and innocent little girl and I'm sick of it ".

The boy couldn't imagine that the problem had such dimensions, in fact, by humiliating her a little and blocking her in a corner the two women were somehow trying to help Dana to get on maturity and evolve in a personal way. Even though, their methods were quite brutal.

" Well, we don't have to mind about it anymore " Carla proposed to close the discussion on the young girl, she reported her sight on Matteo and said " let's focus on something more important like what you wanted to reveal to us, I imagine that was not only a strategy to stop us, am I wrong? "

" No, you're right and by the way, it's especially concerning you " Matteo replied honestly without missing to surprise them.

Carla pointed herself with her finger hesitatingly as to be sure he really referring to her.

The boy nodded and started to tell them what happened earlier in the morning in Jamal's house and once he finished all eyes were on Carla.

" What do you decide? " Matteo interrogated her giving her a moment to think.

" Well, if Jamal asked me to do it I don't see any reason to turn him down " she shrugged, however, her face was stiff as there was still something bothering her, " but I quite don't understand what is the point of doing that he would clearly be at a disadvantage since I'm way too fast for him, too strong with better reflexes and even if the I don't use my power my experience in the battlefield would still allow me to say that he has no chance against me ".

" You may not see him as an opponent but he definitely does, for him, you are the first wall he has to overcome in order to go to the quest to find his own way " Natasha started warning her, her sight still sick in the decor before her, " it would be very naive of you to underestimate him because of the gap of strength and skills separating from one another. Never underestimate a man who loses everything and is desperate to find who is or can he become ".

" Are you saying that I would lose against him? " Carla asked her a bit vexed about her remark.

" No, don't get me wrong, I'm not putting in doubt your strength and ability but I'm just warning you to not get so sure about your win, one of the things Jamal taught me is to not get sure of your capacities enough to look down on your opponent ".

Carla took her time to meditate about those words before she raised her head and nodded at Natasha.

The latter reported her attention to Matteo and asked him " is that all that you wanted to share with us? Didn't you discuss something else with Jamal and Lina, like before Andre interrupted you? "

Matteo wanted to tell them about his meeting with the enemy and what they discovered about them and also Jamal and Lina's plan to counter-attack but as he was about to open his mouth and speak he suddenly remembered about Jamal's warning that the enemy may be there at any time trying to spy their conversations so they have to be more careful then than usual.

" No " he shook his head, " we were just talking about some small matters, nothing important ".

He stood up and prepared to leave, " well, guys, I have something to do I just came to ask about Carla's response and now I know she accepted no need for me to hang out here any longer ".

[ I can't reveal anything to them yet before I make sure that no one will be overhearing our discussions ], he started to justify to himself his reasons to remain quiet. [ Even though we are not absolutely that they didn't already spy on one of our conversations and already discovered our plans we can't take any risk ].

[ I have to train myself hard and so I could once be the one to protect them ] he thought and finally made up his mind. " I have to go see later you girls " and walked out of the house.

When he left the two women glanced at each other and Carla told Natasha " he's literally hiding something very important from us ".

" Indeed " Natasha replied, she smiled " but no need to worry about it, if he refused to share it with us he must have his reasons, some real good reasons because more than being a good and nice boy he is also pretty smart ".

•••

After arriving in his apartment Matteo was so in a rush that he didn't even notice the absence of Andre. The boy rushed in his room, closed it, and went straight to sit on his bed in a position of meditation and he started to focus.

In his mind, he tried to remember that black matter he had once used to get information about the plans of the enemy. He kept on focusing and though he had his eyes closed and so his sight was covered by darkness but at a moment he felt like something changed his surrounding was no more what it was, his surrounding was even darker than when he had closed his eyes, he couldn't explain how could he tell the difference, that was like he got transported in another dimension.

He was thinking about what to do next when he felt a presence beside him. He turned his head slowly as he was a bit scared about what he would find there. And when he completely turned his head as expected, he found the hooded woman. " Well... here we meet again ".