02: Pleading With The Devil.

"I'll talk to him okay," Elpidio spoke in agony, knowing too well that was a death statement.

"Have you gone nuts, Elpidio?" Leonor was startled with widened eyes.

"I can't keep running for my entire life," Elpidio frustrated, brushed his hair to the back. He could see the worried look his sister had on her face for him.

"We all know that the man you're dealing with is a dangerous man," Leonor reasoned. She was scared something bad might happen to her brother if he didn't go into hiding again.

"I know okay! I have a quarter of the money already, I would beg him to allow me some more time to get the rest," Elpidio said, perturbed.

"This is all my fucking fault!" He cried, banging his fist on the wall. Leonor's eyes softened, moving close to her brother and held his hands in hers.

"It's okay." She calmed him, by stroking his back.

"I should have listened to you, I was such a fool to have invested in that spurious business," He bawled, blaming himself.

"Shhh! It's okay, everything will be okay." Leonor assured.

Elpidio turned to look into her face, he could see fear lacing those golden eyes of hers, but Leonor smiled lightly, trying to hide them.

Leonor was his younger sister, he loved her more than anything else. She has been the only family he had ever since their parents died in a devastating plane crash, and the only reason why he had to push on.

Their dad's relatives came immediately and took all his properties except their family house. Elpidio was so angry with himself that he couldn't do anything to stop them.

He was helpless.

Elpidio and his younger sister, Leonor, were left alone to fend for themselves, their relatives having to say they were mature enough to live on their own.

Elpidio was going out on a particular day when he came across the devil, fear gripped him and he dared not say his name.

Armando was kind enough and promised to help him when he explained himself to him, but he knows nothing about his younger sister.

"Elpidio! " He felt a tap on his shoulder, coming back to reality, and stared at Leonor.

"Leonor, you have to run away from here, Armando will be coming here anytime soon," He warned, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.

"I'm not going anywhere, Elpidio!" She pronounced, and he sighed, sitting on the edge of her bed.

"You have to, I don't want you to get hurt, I have to face this on my own," He pleaded, staring at her face.

"I'm not going anywhere without you, Elpidio!!" Leonor shouted, glaring at him. She couldn't leave her brother in this state and run away. That would be so selfish of her, and she won't forgive herself if calamities befall her brother.

"Leonor, this is not the time for you to start behaving stubbornly, I'm concerned about your life, and your safety, I need to protect you." Elpidio remonstrated.

"I don't care, Elpidio, I'm staying here with you whether you like it or not," She fired back.

"Are you crazy? This man we're talking about here doesn't give a fuck, he shows no mercy, and I won't let you get involved in this." He stated standing up.

"I don't want anything bad to happen to you, what if he kills you?" Leonor sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks, and the realization hit Elpidio.

He would be more than glad to die as long as his sister is safe.

Elpidio sighed and moved closer to her, cupping her cheeks, He stared at her unique eyes which were golden.

Leonor was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, and he was lucky to have her as his sister.

She was special.

Her long wavy brown hair fitted her eyes so much.

"Leonor, I want you to listen to me, if at all something bad happens to me, I want you to stay strong," Elpidio said in a shaky voice, aware of what was about to befall him.

"No..." She cried.

"Shhh!!!" He pulled her into a tight hug and dropped a kiss on her forehead. A tear dropped from his face, and he used the back of his hand to wipe it away immediately.

This was his fate, he had to embrace it.

They stood for some minutes, still hugging each other, before pulling away. Leonor's eyes were teary and Elpidio smiled sadly, wiping her tears with his thumb.

"I want to use the bathroom," Leonor said in a choked voice. Her throat getting dry.

Elpidio nodded and watched her go into her bathroom, then he heard a loud crash outside, which made his heart skip a beat.

They're here...

"Fuck." He muttered and ran to Leonor's bathroom and knocked lightly on it.

"A minute." She said.

"Leonor, don't come out until I ask you to." He

whispered.

"Why?" She questioned.

"I think they are here already," He

said, and Leonor gasped inside the bathroom, clamping her hands over her mouth.

Elpidio heard another crash again and his feet went cold.

No... He has to be bold and face him. He thought, and for the sake of Leonor.

"Don't come out until I ask you to, okay?" Elpidio warned lowly.

"Ok-okay." Leonor replied in a shaky voice, her hands trembling.

Elpidio walked out of the room quickly, locking it from the outside. He swallowed his fears and walked down the stairs while hearing voices communicating in Italian languages.

Elpidio could hear the sounds of his heartbeat when his eyes landed on the person he was terrified of the most.

There he was sitting on the couch full of rage and hatred.

"Sir, that's him over there," One of his built soldiers huffed, pointing at him.

Armando turned his face, and all Elpidio could wish for was the ground to open up and swallow him as he stood rooted to his spot.

He was expecting them already, anyway.

Armando's eyes screamed fiery, his lips curving into a twisted and sick smirk.

"Long time no see, "He said in a deep voice that shook the large sitting room they were all in.

His voice alone holds so much power and authority in them.

Elpidio couldn't say anything... What could he even say to the devil known as Lucifer-incarnated himself?

"Cat got your tongue?" Armando asked, staring at him. He was boiling with rage and seeing his prey right in front of him, he wanted to pull out his gun and finish him off, but another part of him wanted to torture him until he delved into the hands of death slowly.

Armando nodded to his made men, and three hefty men started walking over to Elpidio. It was useless for him to run because he knew that would only make the situation worse.

Elpidio felt a stinging pain in his stomach and he groaned. Another blow came straight to his jaw which made him stumble and fall on the floor before he started getting kicked by Armando's men.

He groaned loudly. His visions started to get blurred, and he spat blood out.

"Stop!" Armando ordered his men and the three men came to a halt, leaving Elpidio alone immediately.

Elpidio thought of standing up, but it was better if he was on his knees instead. He felt so dizzy, and he couldn't let himself give up so easily.

He has to do this for the sake of Leonor.

"Elpidio you of all people should have known me better all these years," Armando chuckled deeply, taking frightening steps towards Elpidio who was shaking violently where he knelt.

"You know I don't fucking play with stuff...with my money, especially!" He growled. His face getting darker with rage and his sharp jaw clenching ferociously.

Armando stood right in front of Elpidio, who looked up at him with pleading eyes.

Elpidio felt another stinging punch on his nose and he was pretty sure it cracked because it was so painful and tears stung his eyes. Blood oozed out from his nose and he coughed.

"Please hear me out," He groaned.

"What the fuck do you want to say?" Armando gritted, murdering him with his eyes already.

Another punch landed on Elpidio's face, and he lay flat on the floor. His eyes were swollen, and he couldn't see well.

He heard the clocking of a gun...

"Do you have my money?" Armando roared, squatting to Elpidio's level, and pressed the gun against his head.

"Speak or I blow this head of yours off," Armando said furiously, and he meant every word he said, even Elpidio knew that.

"I-I ha-have a quarter of the money already, please spare my life, I will get the rest soon," Elpidio begged.

Suddenly, Laughter erupted in the room, and Elpidio looked up to see Armando's men laughing at his plight.

Was what he said funny to them?

Armando was taken surprised before he chuckled devilishly.

"Such a fool. " One of Armando's made men said, and the rest laughed.

"When I gave you the money, was it a quarter?" The devil himself asked.

"No sir, please spare my life, I promise to get the rest of your money soon," Elpidio begged.

"Shut up!" Armando hissed. "Do you think I'm a fool?" He asked.

"No, you are not sir," Elpidio apologized and Armando kicked the side of his stomach.

Elpidio groaned in pain, it looked like he got one of his ribs broken from Armando's kicks and Armando spared him no breaths as he continuously kicked him.

All Elpidio wished was for God to save him and end this moment for him.

Armando never listens to pleads, and he won't. That was how he was created, known for... he was merciless, ruthless, the devil. He pointed his gun at Elpidio and stared at him with hate.

He hated those who defied him and did not keep with their promise.

Elpidio looked at him helplessly, awaiting his fate. "Go to hell!" Armando spat, his finger on the trigger, about to shoot poor Elpidio.

"Don’t kill him!" They heard someone scream and Elpidio's heart shattered, blood draining off his face.