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In English class, we wrote short stories to fit with the narrative unit. These stories (called "flash fictions") engaged our story telling skills by seeing how concise and complete of a story we could produce in only a few hundred words. I was inspired to write the story from various shows and stories about mobsters, gangsters, and bounty hunters. The chaos, loss, and consequences seen in this story are also present in my other narrative works, such as in my illustration and in my animation.

It Reeks

Cesar rifled through the Sunday papers for the fifth time. He scratched his eyebrow with his lightly stained finger while scanning the paper. "Nonsense," he muttered, "there's always something in the newspaper!" His search for a new fugitive was to no avail.

Leo then spoke up."Hey dummy! I already took the local pages. We ain't hunting for any criminals this week." Leo spit out his tobacco and leaned his head back into his chair. He turned down the volume of the news on the radio before facing towards Cesar. "You're so fond of all this action, huh? Like when you were little with your cowboy movies. Right, Chase-ar?" He slapped his knee and laughed heartily. Cesar was not impressed by his older brother's lame puns.

Cesar knew in his heart that his brother wasn't lying. He's always ecstatic when it comes to doing justice. The way his late father's pistol felt in his hand was special to him, and nothing else in the world could compare to exposing the criminal scum of society. Cesar would tackle someone to the ground and prod a muzzle against their temples, while Leo would simultaneously wrestle a pair of handcuffs onto the victim's wrists. But this job put their lives at stake. Cesar can't twist his arm around all the way since the day his tendon was ripped by a stray throwing knife. The Organization would definitely seek vengeance for snitching out their associates, but none of that mattered. All that matters was that he did what he loved, with his favorite brother.

Leo reached into his pocket and tossed Cesar a half-empty pack of cigars. "It already reeks in here. Help yourself, but go outside and do your business." Cesar thanked him and excused himself outside. "Glad that bastard has something to do now," Leo muttered.

Cesar couldn't help but to feel uncertain. The other day, he heard from the radio about the town sheriff's brutal murder. The forensics team found his body hanging upside down from the clock tower, with his face covered with a white Guy Fawkes mask. The thought was enough to make Cesar shiver. Cesar pushed all of the disturbing images aside, and enjoyed the warmth of a fresh cigar. He was glad that he was a bounty hunter, not a professional.

Leo just wanted him out for a minute or two, but not having Cesar in the room was a luxury. Most of the time he stuck to Leo like a lost puppy, like any obsessive younger brother would do. Leo secured the latch on the door, making sure that Cesar won't be returning for a little while. He'll be alone until Cesar begs the landlord to let him back in. Right before Leo was able to fall asleep, he perked up after hearing the sound of wood cracking. A crow bar ripped open the door, and two men kicked down the excess wood. Upon seeing the two men wearing Guy Fawkes masks, Leo put his hands up. "The Organization doesn't like what you've done," one of the men pronounced. "You are no longer needed here."

Cesar ran downstairs after hearing the doors breaking. He hid behind the corner near the stairs he just ran down from, but he couldn't get a good view into their room. All he heard was a single gunshot which echoed throughout the building. Cesar's heart froze. His arms started to wobble and he felt tears sliding down his cheeks. Cesar overheard one of the men saying, "We'll find the other one later," as they ran down the stairs. Cesar ran back into his room.

Leo faintly saw the outline of Cesar running towards him. He smelled of blood and tobacco, and his neck was as messy as old papa's carbonara. Yet, he managed to utter his last words. "Hey, Cesar. Wanna give me a cigar?" Leo rasped. Cesar cried, "I thought you said the room reeked!" He searched his pockets for a lighter until he saw Leo's head resting limp on the ground. Cesar never found out what his brother did or why he was the victim. But Cesar knew that it'll be hard finding a partner as fine as Leo.

© 2012 Stephen Song. All Rights Reserved.