Lucas – The Rich

This is the follow-up of  my previous post “Introduction”.  God, I didn’t expect it to be this LONG. It ended up taking me more time to write it then I thought. Oh well, here it is. Hope you enjoy it!

The cloud darkened the skies and the street where Marlene and Lucas walked. Marlene changed into a bright yellow cotton summer dress which suited her and her polite speech much more than those ragged clothes that was  supposedly her disguise. On the other hand, Lucas stood out in the black and white tux he was forced to wear, grumbling now and then. Their scenery had changed too. From graffiti-ed and run-downed apartments to gated mansions, they made their way past the many eloquent gardens attached to each house. Composed of  one or two  rose bushes and many colorful summer flowers, it was more than anyone from Lucas’ neighborhood can afford. The complete opposite, thought Lucas as he constantly tugged his bow tie. And it certainly was. There was no sign of graffiti-ed names and obscene phallic symbols, of posters from three decades past and the posters of the newest strip club, of blood and vomit. None of it.

“Lucas, we’re here,” she spoke breaking his touristic reverie. They stood in front of a several meters high house surrounded by an enormous a colorful garden just like the rest of them.

“…the walls are so white…”

“Hmm, did you say something?” she asked as she tinkered with the lock of the large iron gate in front of them.

“Nothing. Let’s go.” Gates open, Lucas grabbed her arm and dragged her in.

“Marlene!” shrieked a wrinkled lady covered in gaudy jewels.

“Miss Marlene!” yelled another, a man in a black coattail rushed to greet her. “Where have you been! It’s already evening!”

“Yes, yes. I’m sorry Pierre. I was just caught up in a bit of trouble and this young man just happen to save me.”

Pierre’s and the old aunty’s turned to Lucas with a smile but as soon as they saw him, the color drained from their faces. Even wearing a suit, his disheveled white hair and the crazy look in his eye still remained. Though momentarily taken aback, the butler composed himself and tried, once again, to greet his lady’s savior.

“P-pleasure to meet you sir…?” asked the butler, still feeling uncomfortable with this man’s presence.

“Lucas.” Marlene immediately replied for she panicked that he’s show his scar like before. The others, slightly startled by the intensity of her reply but did not mind it much.

“Sir Lucas then, thank you for saving the young miss.”

“But my!” the auntie spoke in her shrilly voice “What a shady character you brought over! I DO hope you’re not planning anything.” She eyed her niece suspiciously.

“Of course not, auntie!” Marlene smiled a sweet smile.

“Miss, you should get cleaned up. Your parents are coming home tonight.”

“Yes, I’ll go get myself ready.” she ran up the stairs as she said that.

“I’ll go call a hairdresser for the young si-”

“No need” Lucas interrupt as he followed the young mistress of the house up the stairs.

The door rand and guests came rushing in one after the other. The women, wearing fancy dresses and gaudy jewelry, and the men, standing tall and proud, gathered beneath the large chandelier hanging from the middle of the large room as they waited for their hosts’ arrival. Lucas, still wearing that unfitting outfit and Marlene, changed into a sky blue party gown, stood in the corner, looking at the ongoing party. The guests that passed them stared at the odd couple only to turn away from Lucas’ annoyed glare for he was not enjoying himself. In fact, he kept on tugging on his uncomfortable wear and the presence of all these stuck-up “aristocrats” were getting on his nerves. Then again, he just hates crowds, period. On the other hand, Marlene looked at her guest with a worried look. Was he really okay for the job? And he stands out more than necessary too? That can’t be good, right?

A wave of shrieks and welcomes suddenly too over the crowd as three people moved towards the center of the party.

“Oh, they’re here!” Marlene spouted  as she watched the older couple and their young son move through the crowd pleasantly greeting each and every one they see. “Wait here, I’ll be back.” she said as she dived into the crowd toward her family. A glint caught his eye. He pushed himself away from the wall and grabbed  Marlene’s arm, pulling her back. At that moment, a small explosion was heard at a distance followed by a woman falling to the floor.  Marlene gasped as the blood flowed from underneath from underneath the woman’s body. After that, the hall filled with panicked guests, screaming as they pushed each other through the door. Bodyguards rushed to Marlene’s parents’ side while she stood frozen stiff, looking down on her aunt’s body.

“It’s not safe here, we have to leave.” said Lucas but nothing went through her ears. “Fuck!” He forcefully dragged her out, following the flow of the rushing crowd as tears filled her eyes.

Someone is after my life and I’m sure they’re going to strike today, the day my parents and my brother come back. Just in case, I booked a hotel room to be used in case of emergency. She had said back then.

“Nice abode” spoke Lucas as he looked around the maroon carpeted room. The bed lay near the only window in the room, covered in soft, clean sheets and inches away from the wall. Wardrobes and drawers with designers labels stood in every corner of the room while the door to the bathroom was next to the small hallway near the door. As expected from a three star hotel suite.

Marlene, she was standing in the middle of the room, her tears still flowing out. Her eyes still widened from the shock. “…he” a low murmur was heard from her direction “…she always took care of me. E-even when she has such an awful taste in clothing, she still spent time with me e-even though I’m not related to her…” she spoke between sniffs and hiccups “…even after grandpa made me the inheritor of his fortune in his will because I often took care of him, she still treated me the same…unlike my parents…my adoptive parents…” she bit her tear-stained lips. Lucas didn’t say anything. He approached her, put his arm around her thin pale shoulders and lifted her chin up. She stared blankly through her tear-filled eyes at the smirk appearing on his lips. His face moved towards hers. The salty taste filled his mouth as her tears kept falling. She closed her eyes and, turning her body, wrapped her arms around the vile man before him, letting herself drown in pleasure rather than tears.

Gasps and moans filled the room. Their uneven breathing. The sweat trickling down their naked bodies. Her hands gripped onto the bed sheets, she stared blankly at the man before her. Her eyes wavered over his scar and, in between her moans, she went up and kissed it amorously. A wide smirk crossed Lucas’ face mixed with lust in his eyes. He pushed her shoulder into the bed and nibbled at her breasts, caressing them gently from time while his hand-held onto her hips and thigh.

“A-aaah!”

Her conscious fell into a deep slumber. Lucas got out from the bed and nonchalantly threw the cover on top of Marlene’s naked body. He grabbed his pants and strapped them on, checking for his knife along the way. He went up to the small silver fridge tucked beside the television and chugged down the cooled water. At that time, he felt someone watching him, shooting daggers at his back. Sighing, he picked up another bottle and threw it onto the bed.

“So, what do you want?” He said, glancing back at Marlene whose eyes were searching him for answers.

She gave a small nod as a sign of ‘thank you’ and only after a long silence did she speak. “Where did you get that scar?”

“Some crazy woman who was obsessed with me did it.” He replied immediately and nonchalantly.

And what about your hair…or that eye? She wanted to ask but decided against it.

“Hey, get up. Put on your clothes.”

“W-what!” She asked, startled by the sudden demand and angry with the lack of etiquette.

“They’re here”, he said glancing at the only doorway to the hallway. She stared at him, looking at his half-naked profile before getting off the bed and quickly slipping into her clothes. He threw the bottle in his hand into the nearby trash can and he as well slipped into his top, only the shirt though. ” Hide in the bathroom for now.” He strode to the door and muttered under his breath, “God, I wish I had a gun now.”

Marlene ran to the unlit bathroom and closed the door. Lucas walked up to the door and abruptly opened it. The two men in black, startled, quickly fired their guns as rapidly as they could. The bullet barely grazed Lucas’ blind eye, rupturing the already worn bandage even more. He punched one of the men, the one nearest to the door, before he fired for a second time. The man gripped his gun tighter in his hand and tried to aim at the white-haired man who was on top of him. Lucas forcefully pushed his hand aside, breaking the only window in the suite. At that instant, Lucas slammed his head into his, knocking him unconscious. The other man in black, perplexed about hitting his comrade during his struggle with Lucas, started freely shooting at him. Using the man’s unconscious body as a shield, he blocked the bullets and fired back with the, now, dead’s gun.

“Marlene! Come here!”

“Y-yes!”  She carefully opened the door, only leaving the bathroom after making sure the cost was clear. On the other hand, Lucas was undressing the dead man in front of him as he searched his body for bullets. Shoving them in his pants, he got up and looked around the doorway.

“L-Lucas!

“What is it!?” He asked angrily, annoyed by the loud yelling near his ears.

“You’re hurt! There’s a cut on your cheek and a bruise on your forehead.”

He stared at her. A teasing grin appeared on his lips and, with his left hand pulled her body close to his. “Then how ’bout you kiss it better?” Her face flushed and she pushed him away, infuriated by his teasing. Looking out the hallway, he spoke, “Stay here until I call you.” He then moved into the hallway and started firing his gun at the men at the end of it.  He didn’t count how many he had shot. He didn’t even count how many there were. He just kept moving forward, staggering at the contact of some more serious wounds but still moved forward, with a gleeful grin on his face and insanity in his eyes.

“Marlene!” Lucas called out, shooting the last one of them dead. She came out of the room, gasped at the sight of so many corpses before running to Lucas’ side.

“We should probably take the stairs” she said while staring at the blood under her feet for she was unable to look at the blood splattered Lucas who was enjoying himself.

“Why?”

“Because they could ambush us if we took the elevator.”

With the grin still plastered on his face, he pushed the button to the elevator. “So what!” The machine purred softly as it climbed its way to the top of the floor. As it clattered open, Lucas aimed both of the pick pocketed guns at the doorway. As soon as there was in inch of opening, he opened fire. The men in black didn’t react fast enough to the surprise attack and, by the time the elevator door was fully opened, only corpses remained. Throwing the empty guns away, he stepped into the elevator stomping on the corpses along the way. Once again, he searched their remains and took what he needed, slipped in some bills along with the guns and bullets. He teared off the sleeve to his shirt and somehow or another wrapped it around some of his most serious wound. Finished with the minor preparations, he kicked the corpses out of the elevator. His gaze then fell upon Marlene who was still standing a distance away. “Oy! What are you standing around for? Get in!”‘

“…” She didn’t even try hiding the look of disgust as she made her way through the trail of corpses. The door to the elevator closed and the button to the reception floor was pushed. Marlene stood in a corner, avoiding the gazes of the dead and the smell of their blood. On the other hand, Lucas used one of the dead corpses as a stool as he tinkered with the guns. Suddenly, the lights to the elevator went out and elevator music started playing, and the descent sped up.

“Looks like they got into the security room already.” Lucas answered Marlene’s unasked question. “Oy, get over here and help me up.” He pointed at the top of the elevator. Not understanding what he meant by that, she approached him, avoiding stepping on the dead along the way. “Crouch down” and she did.

And she finally understood. “W-wait! Wait! You’re going to step on me!?”

“Hmm? Yeah?”

“Why!”

“Argh! Just shut up and do it,” he glared silencing the woman. He stepped onto her back and, pulling out his knife, tried to break open the hatch on the roof.

“Umm, Lucas?”

“Shut up!”

“Umm, the door’s open.” Lucas froze, stared down and, after blinking a few times, got down from Marlene and rushed out the door with Marlene, passed the shocked and horrified bystander. The elevator door closed and speed up downwards once again.

“Good thing they don’t know how to work the thing.” He said as he watched the elevator drop.

“Uh, is that so…”

“Yeah, but still, we need to go down.” Lucas said as he stared out the window in the hallway, completely ignoring the panicked screams of the bystander. He leaned against the window sill, still looking outside as he spoke, “So, what do we do now? Do we go and kill your parents?”

“NO!” Marlene stared at Lucas as if the mere thought horrified her. Even though they were after her life, they still did raise her. She tried to think. What do they do now? “Pierre!”

“Who?” Lucas stared at her with a confused look.

“The butler!”

“What are you gonna do with a butler?…” Lucas grinned. “I didn’t know you had THOSE kind of kinks.”

“Eww, no! Pierre! He was grandpa’s butler before he died and he was also there when the will was read, so he might know what to do!”

“So either ways, we have to go down.” Another grin flashed his face, “And our ride’s just here.”

“By the way, shouldn’t we do something about that person screaming over th-” Before she could finish, Lucas opened the window letting large gusts of wind enter the fourth floor. He climbs onto the window sill and steadies himself, awaiting their ride. When it was close enough, he pulled Marlene outside and jumped onto the moving platform of the window cleaners. At the moment, the other elevator opened and a rush of men came running out, aiming blindly at the window cleaners. The bullets rained in their direction and severed the ropes, sending the platform falling.

“AAAAAAHHHHHH!!” screamed Marlene while Lucas just sighed.

“Why do we keep falling today.”

The platform reached the ground with a loud bang. Passersby crowded around the debris wondering what happened but keeping their distance at the sight of blood. Marlene got out of the debris piled on top of her and stared at Lucas who was standing tall in the, now dirtied, shirt that she bought for him before the party. The coat that was supposed to come with it was left behind in their room. At the thought, her face flushed. How could she, a member of the upper class, do that with this, this mongrel.

“Guess we’ll have to borrow a ride.” said Lucas snapping Marlene back to reality.

“I don’t think that this hotel offers that kind of service” she said in a meek voice as she dusted herself off.

“That’s fine.” He said before he pushed his way through the crowd. The sound of a car screeching to a stop followed by the sound of gun fire and that of a fleeing crowd got Marlene up on her feet and moving to where Lucas went. The white-haired man stood in front of a black Sedan, windows cracked with bullets, and him standing in front of the driver. Guns pointed straight at him. “Oy, Marlene! I got our ride. Get in.” Marlene stared with shocked eyes but didn’t have the courage to retort. She opened the back door of the car to find the dead bodies of more men in black. Their guns laid out in front of them. The sound of a closing door resounded in her ears and brought her out of her disgust. Lucas had entered the car and was sitting next to the driver, gun still pointed at him.

Where am I supposed to sit? She wanted to scream but instead, kept quiet and, with effort and disgust, dragged a corpse out of its seat. She uncomfortably sat down on the blood and fastened her seat belt. Lucas asked the address and the kidnapped driver as well as his hijacked car drove them back to Marlene’s mansion.

The car stopped in front of the mansion, more tattered and filled with bullets than Lucas initially left it. Even under a rain of fire from several surrounding car, Lucas never removed the gun pointing to the driver’s head. Rather, he nonchalantly shot out with the other hand while Marlene crouched into a ball at the first graze of a bullet.

Marlene got out of the car in a hurry, not being able to stand the dead men staring at her. Lucas also got out of the car but not before blowing the driver’s head off. Marlene quickly turned her head at the sound the small explosion, thinking that it was another attack only to meet Lucas’ eyes.

“Let’s go.”

Once again, they made their way passed the large gates and wondrous garden. When they entered the house, Marlene was greeted by a very surprised Pierre.

“Young miss! What are you doing here? It is not safe for you to be here right now!”

“Thank you for your concern Pierre but I came here to talk about some matters. Are my parents here?”

“N-no. After the incident, they were safely escorted to a safer area.”

“You don’t need to hide it from me anymore Pierre. I am not a child anymore. I know. I know it was my parents doing.”

With a gasp, Pierre pleaded, “Young miss, even if that is the case, you must bury yourself in hate fo-”

“Don’t worry, I don’t resent them. And that’s exactly why I need your advice Pierre.” Marlene looked at her butler with determined eyes. With a reluctant sigh, Pierre led them to the living room and brought them tea and snacks before standing by.

“So, how may I be of assistance?”

“I want to stop my parents…without resorting to eliminate them.” She said the last bit while glancing at Lucas who gulped down the tea and snacks.

“Well, we can always ask the assistance of the police.” the butler answered his mistress’ question.

“But aren’t they on my parents’ side?”

“Only because they bribed them. But seeing how you ARE the true heir, you have more than enough to surpass there bribe.”

She gasped at the thought. “True! Why haven’t I thought of that!”

“Yes, that would have been a wiser decision than hiring that filthy mongrel.” The butler said, his voice unchanging even when insulting another.

“Pierre, you know?” She replied, ignoring, or silently accepting, that insult for she herself acknowledged it.

“Young miss, how long do you think I have been in your service? I know when you pull the simplest of lies.”

“Oh, P-” The sound of fine china slamming against the tray resounded. Lucas stood up and headed for the door but not before speaking a final time.

“I’m leaving. Gimme my pay.”

“How rude, to talk to y-” Marlene interrupted Pierre he could finish.

“What do you mean ‘you’re leaving’, as far as I’m concerned, your job is not done yet.”

“Aaaannnddd, as far as I’M  concerned, I believe it is.”

“I don’t understand what you mean?”

He sighed. “You know, I’ve been thinking, for a noble, you sure are stupid.”

“Wha-”

“If you are going to call the police then you don’t need my services anymore, now do you?”

“…That’s true!” she exclaimed. “Pierre, could you-”

“Right on it young mistress!”

The butler left the room and Lucas followed muttering under his breath “And I don’t the like the police anyway.”