Down to the Depths

Down to the Depths

The police just left the innocent-looking Whisker Licken' Good Pet Groomers. Their investigation of mafia ties has so far turned up nothing, but not everyone is satisfied.

A knock sounds at the door when the three owners finish cleaning up their store. And the bitter tang of tragedy poisons the air.

There is a creak as the door slowly swings open with caution. The woman opening it looks shaken but she manages a smile at the visitors. They walk in, almost as if they happen to own the place.

One is a woman named Maria with a thick binder in her arms, and the other is a rugged man named Enzo with a slumped posture. Enzo looks livid, as though he's about lunge and throttle everyone in the room.

"Mind explaining what just fucking happened?"

Maria puts a hand on his shoulder. "Easy. Don't lose control here."

The woman who opened the door, Sylviana shrinks back as she takes a few involuntary steps backward from the shout. She seems like she's trying to form a reply but words aren't quite coming out at the moment.

Onni, a short enby leaning against the counter, glared at Enzo with the fury of a thousand suns. Ey doesn't speak, but contempt oozes off them like smoke from a fire.

A new woman, a tall, beautiful girl named Mia, storms in from the next room. "What the fuck happened? Your people put my people in danger. It was business as usual until the cops showed up."

Enzo lets out what can only be described as a growl. "Our people. You dare blame them for your mistakes. For your sloppiness that almost cost us this place. If I know those cops, this won't be the last time they come by here either. You've ruined this entire fucking opera..."

Just as he was taking a step forward. Maria tightened her grip on his shoulder. "I think maybe we start with an explanation."

"Get off of me, Maria!" Enzo shoves her away, turning back to Mia. "Who did this? Who squealed to the police?"

He marches up to Onni. "Was it you?"

Onni only glares at him still, eir gaze unwavering. Enzo laughs. "No, you keep your mouth shut, like a good little bitch." He pats Onni's head like ey's a dog and turns to Sylvie. "I bet it was you."

Sylvie's face is a jumble of emotions. The most prominent one happens to be fear as she takes a few more steps back shaking her head rapidly. She manages to find her voice.

"Never." Its shaky but determined.

Enzo laughs mockingly. The sound of it scrapes against the eardrums so violently it is almost beautiful in the way that tornados and blizzards are. "Never." He seethes, his hands falling to his waist. "It's always never!"

He pulls out a gun before anyone can blink. "Well, it's never again for you."

Mia runs in front of Sylvie. "Wait, Dad!"

It is too late.

A harsh sound shatters the momentary silence of the neighbourhood. Its followed by a thud as Mia collapses right into Sylvie's arms and the woman, already shaking in fear collapses on the floor holding onto Mia.

At first there's confusion.

Then a stain starts to spread. Sylvie doesn't even realize the tortured scream she hears is her own.

Onni's glare evaporates as ey rush to Mia's side. "Mia!" Ey holds her head up, sobbing freely as the blood seeps through Mia's dress, staining the light blue a nauseating red. "No, no, no, no."

Maria's entire face turns red. "What have you done, Enzo?" She groans like she is facing a minor frustration rather than the death of her child. "You just love to ruin all of my plans."

Onni looks up. "That's what you're worried about right now? We need to call an ambulance!"

Enzo rolls his eyes. "The bitch speaks."

Sylvie wraps her arms around Mia tighter, like she could physically restrain her from leaving this realm. Her cries have turned into quiet sobs that barely make a sound but have her whole body shaking. As she nods towards Onni at the word ambulance she turns to the other two. She only gathers the strength for one word.

"Leave."

Maria sighs. “An ambulance isn’t going to help, she’s already too far gone, and I’ll be damned if the law finds out about this.”

Onni shakes eir head. “No! You’re lying. You’re lying!”

Mia groans softly, clutching on to Sylvie like a lifeline. “She’s not.” Her voice is small, too small, tainted with the heavy burden of pain.

"She has to be," says Sylvie, her voice almost inaudible.

"Oh please. I know a fatal wound when I see one. I won't risk the law getting their hands all over this place for such a futile cause," said Maria, like she was explaining something to a child throwing a tantrum.

Onni shakes eir head again as if saying no will give the universe a gentle touch. "Mia!"

Mia smiles one last time, her breath coming in short, sharp wheezes. "I love you two."

A guttural roar tears through Onni's throat as ey pulls Mia closer still, trying to pass on the life in eir veins.