Boyd hops up from his bike and walks all the way up to the front gate that is already closed. His one tall lengthy right arm rests on top of the gate and crosses his left leg over the right and places the tip of his shoe to the ground. Now Boyd in a slouched position smiling with his crooked teeth smugly at the nervous Marco Oweli waiting in suspense for his next words.
"Now I'm not just some ape looking to Rob you, you know". He lets out a slight chuckle.
"Then what are you doing here"? says Marco with a clear disdain in his voice.
"I'm so glad you asked". He gets up from his slouched position and claps his hands together in excitement. He begins to speak with loud and expressive gestures with his hands, which gets distracting once you notice his long sharp claws dancing around like knives.
"Well…. Since when I was a little boy I've been hearing about you, creating machines, making the most greatest delights, making a lot~ of money. Well ... I've always wanted to do what you do. So I have a proposition for you Mr Oweli. The winner takes all, man against man well... Inhuman VS man". He lets out another slight chuckle.
"And when I mean winner takes all I mean the fame of defeating the other. Which is better, the Oweli's or the Ventura's? I challenge you to a race Mr. Oweli, we make a race here in your hometown whoever wins gets the prize money, my customized Hog vs whatever you got stored in that big garage of yours".
" I don't want your filthy money monkey"
"Whoa whoa, I'm not offering you money, besides I couldn't pay you anything. Now I'll tell you what…If you win I'll offer to disband my gang here. Now disbanding my gang would mean you would stop the big and scary band of monsters from roaming the streets for good, everyone will love you and I know how much you love your image".
"That's not true about me."
"Don't lie to me now Mr Marco sir….I've been straight to the point and honest since I stepped foot at your doorstep, the least you can do is share the same common decency. Besides…. I KNOW you…. So, I say why not settle it right here. What do you say, Mr. Oweli ?
I challenge you, but just know I don't plan to lose, I got a whole lot riding on this. Right boys ?!"
The entire gang shouts and all begin to rev their bikes in excitement for Marco's answer.
Before Marco got out his answer.
He looks behind Boyd and finds a large crowd of people who live here in the city just spectating what's happening, scared of the monsters dressed in leather vests.
This sight made him change his answer.
"I'll decide later".
Boyd grimaces at his answer with a more deep deranged chuckle only escaping through his teeth.
Alright mister Oweli, yeah… sleep on it. Me and my boys will be right here right in front of your gate waiting for your answer. I know you won't disappoint me mister Oweli, I know you'll need time to talk it all over with your wife, eer.. what's her name, Giulia, was it? Yeah Giulia.. And your kids, Matteo, Samantha, Roberto, and Angelo.
As he says Angelo he turns his whole head towards him in a slow motion. Don't forget your Butler there, Franklin was it ?
Yep….don't disappoint them now Mr. Oweli, depending on what you say, can affect their entire lives.
Marco can no longer say anything except visibly sweat in complete hopelessness.
Aaaah, there's nothing to be nervous about Mr Oweli, I'm just acknowledging them. Just like how you should acknowledge them. Sleep on it mister Oweli, I know you won't disappoint me".
Marco gives him a slight nod as he quickly grabs Angelo by the shoulder and hurries him into the house and Franklin follows right behind him without turning his back and then eventually closing the door.
Boyd's eyes follow them as they go all the way up until they close the door. Then he turns back and gives the civilians behind him a big smile. The people are now terrified that the leader is staring at them with his ugly face. They quickly scurried on into their homes, fearing what the Ventura gang might do if they stayed a minute longer.
In no time the streets were empty leaving nothing but the large group of twenty strong monsters and their bike parked just outside of the Oweli residence.
" Welp boys… looks like camping here tonight. We'll give it time to sleep on it".
*****
Franklin, Angelo and Marco all hurry into the house and slam the door behind them. They turned around and saw everyone in the house propped up ready and waiting for the reason for all the commotion outside.
Matteo whines "what the heck was that dad"?
Marco answers breathlessly- " An inhuman… a monster on my doorstep…. Proposition, that's insanity, that's absurd".
Giulia walks up to Marco and grabs him gently by the shoulder. "Are we gonna be okay"?
Angelo speaks with a voice of determination-
" We gotta race him dad, we got to build the greatest machine ever and beat that thing in a race.
Samantha hops up in excitement. "Yeah you've got to beat him dead, we've got to make the greatest machine this world's ever seen and then beat him faster than no one's ever gone."
Marco's eyes drift off the distance
"No".
"What"? Matteo says this with eyes full of confusion.
"I said no, I'm not challenging those animals to their own game. God, that'd be foolish, all of that is beneath me.
But darn, they did it in front of everyone, the entire town knows of this. They've planned it so I can't decline… but no, that would be foolish".
Marco places both hands on his hair in frustration of the situation he's in.
Roberto walks up to him in confusion- "But why dad?"
"You're too young to understand, think of the headlines. Marco Oweli Patriarch of the Oweli family challenges a band of dangerous outlaw monsters in a race. The media would eat it up, then there would be rumors that the oweli's are coinciding with the monster's side. What's worse is that I know these heathens, they call themselves the Ventura gang. I've read about them but I didn't think I'd actually see them. They gamble on racing in the underground part of cities. Just think of the headlines….they'll think I'm gambling, then I'll be finished. No I say, I'll just ignore him until he goes away and they forget everything. I can't risk the wealthy name being driven into the dirt that involves itself with politics between humankind and the monsters. I can't be a part of it…. We can't be a part of it, it's done!"
This moment isn't the first time Marco has placed his family name first in worry it could jeopardize the great name, It's served the people for over a hundred years. Especially after the events that took place 50 years ago with the Oweli name, only a project like the Everglider could change.
Samantha then lashes out "but they'll think we're cowards"
"No I made my decision now I'll look we'll wait it out then the headline will come now tell him I declined because there beneath me and everything there are about I do not stand"
Marco pushes Giulia's hand off of his shoulder.
" I've made my decision, Franklin, stay indoors. I don't want them seeing you".
" Yes sir"
Angelo almost couldn't believe it. His father, given a chance of another glory full praise just declined it I've nowhere, if it were him he would have accepted it.
If it were him he would have been praised and won the race and built the ultimate machine. His father declined for he has nothing to prove, he has nothing he has to prove.
Marco makes his way up the stairs and Samantha is in complete distraught.
Matteo tries to comfort Samantha and holds on to her shoulder but she immediately pushes him off her.
"Why didn't you say anything? He won't listen to me…. He never does. I guess you can always count on the golden boy to back up anyone but his sister".
She rushes off to another room and Matteo is visibly hurt from her remark. He tries to hold in the tears in his eyes and looks off somewhere else.
Soon everyone goes about the rest of their day going into separate rooms.
They can try but they can't fully forget what has happened here today.