“Donatella!”
“Lo.” A voice barely said, causing me to turn around to find the source.
“Nico? Eduardo? Where are you?” I asked into the unknown, as I moved beams, sheetrock and other materials out of my way. “Where are you?”
“Lo.” The voice said again.
I turned, making my way back from where I came, desperate to find them, to find anyone. I don’t know how long I dug. My hands were bleeding, cut to pieces from the rubble when I found Eduardo. Stopping where I stood, I stared into his vacant eyes as memories of our life together filled my head. The laughter, the pain, the joy, every memory I had of him slowly faded into the smoke surrounding me and when I blinked, I only saw blood spilling from his mouth as a large piece of rebar sticking out of his chest.
He was dead.
My cousin was dead.
“Lo.”
Turning to the left, I hurriedly lifted sections of walls and ceilings and flooring out of my way. Nico was alive.
I needed to get to him.
He needed me.
He was hurt.
I had to find him.
“Nico! I’m coming man. I’m coming!” I shouted into the devastation, trying hard to find him.
I never stopped, even when his cries did.
He was here somewhere under all of this destruction.
Desperation consumed me. I needed to find him.
He was my family. I had to find him.
I was a Valentinetti.
Valentinetti’s didn’t leave family behind.
Water started falling obstructing my view. Using the back of my hand, I wiped my face, so I could see. It did nothing to stop the water from hindering me. My vision blurred but I didn’t care. “Nico!” I shouted, letting him know that I hadn’t left him.
That I was still here, looking for him.
I don’t know how long I looked but I never gave up.
I couldn’t. He was my family. One of my best friends. He had been there his whole life for me. I would not abandon him. I couldn’t.
“Lorenzo!” someone shouted, shifting rubble out of the way.
Turning, I spotted beams of light, all moving in different directions, getting brighter and brighter.
“Over here!” I yelled back. “I need help! I can’t find Nico!”
And like the archangel Gabriel had come down from the heavens himself, the dark shadow appeared, bringing with him the angels of death seeking retribution.
“Lorenzo?” Bullseye said, rushing towards me. “Where are the others?”
“Eduardo is dead. I can’t find Nico.”