La Famiglia Malvasi

[Malvasi]

Prologue, Part 1

Calyppo City, Pluto

It was strange how Lorenzo heard the church bells. The bombardment caused a cacophony of sound that would distract most anybody, but he still heard them crisply through the noise. The clanging reminded him of home, their town in the distant hills, so far away from here. However, in this city they only served to remind him of the urgency of the situation.

“Hurry, Alessandra! We must go now!” he yelled, as another explosion rocked the small room. They were in a sparsely furnished apartment, one of the few that remained intact in Calyppo, the largest city on Pluto. The Coalition had been pushing hard, and this was expected to be the final stand by the Alliance in their last stronghold. In mere hours, the sleeper ships were to be launched as a last-ditch effort to preserve the remnants of the Alliance.

“But I can’t find Fluffy!” cried his little sister, her eyes already tearing.

Lorenzo cursed silently, wishing that his father had not gone with the rest of his squadron to stand as the city’s last defense. His father knew how to pacify Alessandra, holding her while whispering sweet nothings into her ears until she was calm. Still, he had to make do with his own efforts. He tried again: “I promise I’ll buy you a new one once we reach Sirius.”

“I don’t want a new one. I want Fluffy!” she cried, her melodious voice rising to another octave. Her arms waved wildly, one of them knocking their bag onto the wooden floor. He sighed, and as he bent to pick it up he spotted the offending toy. “Yes!” he crowed. “I found it! Here you go, Alessandra. If we don’t leave now, we’re going to miss the launch!”

“Father will be there, right Lorenzo?” she asked, her tear-stained face still looking like an angel.

“Yes. He will be there, sister” he lied.

“Good. I miss him.”

“I miss him too” he replied, as he took her hand in his, reached for their belongings and with one final look at the apartment, shut the door for the last time.

---

There has to be darkness, before dawn can arrive..

La Famiglia Malvasi:
Fiorentino - Lothario - Santino - Silvana - Luciana - Raffaele

The tale: Prologue, Part 1 | Prologue, Part 2 |Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 |

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