Written By: Armina Qi Saxton

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Chapter 2: Unfolding

It was done finally, only after a few days of unstop work day and night, much to the relief of those that had to listen to the constant banging and sawing of the building crew. It hadn't taken the builders long to complete the overdone tower, not with the one who was paying them at the foot of the monstrous thing watching them. In fact, he hardly even noticed them building it during the entire time, but rather focusing most of his attention on getting more donations and keeping an eye on his son. The builders didn't seem to care, so long as they got short breaks in-between and were able to finish it before they left the island, after what seemed like an eternity and possibly even longer. As the tower rose, so did his bank account.

Johnny stood at the entrance to the tower, smiling up at it with both of hands on Gino's shoulders and just basking in the glory that would be later dubbed The Gambino Tower. The boy hardly looked interested in the process of the last few days, from the donations to the last piece of the tower coming together. He only stayed around because he knew that there would be a roof over his head tonight and a bed to sleep in finally. That was more then enough for him at the moment, although being left alone for the most part in the last forty-eight hours had been a simple pleasure.

His father didn't seem to notice that Gino was looking less then thrilled to be just standing in the glow of the tower, doing nothing. Johnny beamed up at it, proud of what his money had brought him and what it would represent. It gave him a sense of pride to know that this was the first step in a long process that didn't seem to have an end to it. That didn't matter now, to him at least, since three of his goals had already been meet with astounding speed. Perhaps the others would follow suit just as quickly as the rest had.

He also didn't seem to notice that the builders had long since left, without a thank you for a job well done or a pat on the back that they had done something so wonderful for him. They had stood there for at least ten minutes, waiting for anything that would come out of his mouth, anything at all. Eventually, they left, muttering about things that Johnny didn't seem to hear or, rather, had ignored. He was oblivious to the world around him at the moment, content on staring up at the metal giant that was looking down at him from above, glowing in the sunset.

"It's completed," Johnny breathed, looking as though Christmas had come early that year. Gino hardly looked happy about it, as his father took his hands off of his shoulders and started for the entrance to the tower. The boy stayed where he was, his eyes transfixed on the very top of the tower that was so high up that he could barely see it. How they were going to reach that very same top was something he didn't want to think about; just how many stairs could a creation like this hold boggled his already tainted mind.

He had questioned the man's sanity silently to himself over the last few days, too terrified to ask anyone else about it. He didn’t understand what the man was doing or why he was doing it, just that he seemed to have lost a good portion of his sanity in the last couple of days. Why would a man need a tower this big, when something so much smaller would do? Gino couldn't peer into his father's mind and see what he was thinking, but he had an idea as to why it had been built. He would leave it at that for now, until he could sort out other memories that he so desperately wanted to know. If only the man would answer so many other questions, then perhaps his memories would return.

"Gino," Johnny said sternly from the tower's entrance. Gino slowly moved his head down, seeing the man's slightly crazed eyes watching him, but still concerned and unaware there were doubts lingering on his young mind about more then just the things that he should be worried about. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," Gino lied, tugging on his sleeve before walking to his father. Johnny looked down at him unblinkingly, noticing the change in his son that had not been there before. He also knew the sign that something was wrong, just by the way that the boy had tugged at his sleeve. That was what he did when there was something bothering him and so it most likely was the same way with his son.

"Are you sure?" He asked, kneeling down in front of him as Gino stopped just before the entrance. He placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, the near-insane look leaving his face completely. Gino didn't say anything right away, instead looking at the ground for a moment before looking him straight in the eyes.

"I know I'm missing something again, but I don't know what it is," Gino said softly. Johnny knew that expression all too well; he had seen it, long ago, before the memories had been erased. He wasn't about to go into anything that he, himself, wasn't that willing to explain. As long as there was something else that was keeping him happy for the time being, then that would have to do. There was no reason to go into something that the child wouldn’t remember the next day.

"Whatever it is that you are missing, I am sure that you will get it back eventually," Johnny said, smiling as best as he could before standing up and taking Gino by the hand. And I hope it is sooner then eventually, He thought to himself, looking down at his son for a moment longer before staring at the doors in front of him. The two stood in front of the doorway for a few seconds, taking in the glow of the neon G-Corp sign, which the light shone from where it was placed at the top of the tower, before Johnny placed a hand upon the doorway and pushed it opened. It would be a long walk up to the top of the tower, but it had been worth the effort.

****

They were there before Johnny and Gino had even gotten half-way up the tower, ready to get at least a shot or two of them before they entered the mansion on top of the looming form. Maybe an interview if possible, if the helicopter could land on the rooftop without hitting any of the mansion or falling off the edge. The pilot wasn't going to attempt it, not when he was scared of what the owner would do if he landed the helicopter on the newly made tower. What a wuss, she though bitterly as she straighten her hair one last time before the camera would start rolling

Cindy Donovinh casually looked down at the top of the tower, as the news helicopter whirled above it. It hadn't been there long, perhaps a half hour at the least, waiting for the infamous Johnny Gambino to come to the to with his son in tow so they could get a quick shot of it. It didn't matter how long she had to wait for the duo to come to the top; as long as the helicopter had enough fuel in it to last several days, she could wait for them to appear. It was something she had been forced to do plenty of times, waiting for something to happen, or she would lose her job. It wouldn't be so bad, getting out of it, She thought to herself again, frowning at the height in which the helicopter was at.

It was rather boring to wait for the two to emerge, half because Cindy didn’t know how long it would take them to ascend the entire monstrous thing and half because she was tired of having to cover everything Gambino. She didn't mind waiting that much, really, as she had grown accustomed to waiting for stories to finish in their entirety before leaving and going onto the next one. But having to report on the father and son had reached it's fizzling point with her, to say the least. She wouldn't be surprised on what he did next, no matter what he did or why he was doing it, as it has lost it's appeal to her so long ago. It was only for the hell of it that she covered all things Gambino, to keep the public notified without them jumping to more theories then she could image. Besides, this job paid her well enough that she could spend the next five years without having to lift a finger.

The helicopter jerked suddenly, causing Cindy to come out of her daydream. She glared at the pilot, who had his head turned over his shoulder and was nodding down towards the tower before turning his head back around. She turned her gaze to the top, only to discover that there were two figures walking on the rooftop towards the mansion. One was glaring up at the helicopter, knowing who it was and why it was there, the other slinking towards the doorway of the mansion. She sighed, grabbed her microphone, and motioned to the cameraman to start filming.

"This is Cindy Donovinh, reporting for Gaia 9 Action News," She said calmly to the camera once she had been given the signal to start speaking. She plastered a smile on her lips, making it not too fake that viewers would notice but not too happy that it wouldn't reflect her mood. "Seemingly overnight, a skyscraper has popped up on Gambino Island."

The cameraman took a few seconds to pan down to the mansion and tower, where both Johnny and Gino had stopped for a moment before heading inside. Cindy lost her simple smile in that short time frame, glad that she wouldn't have the chance to interview him so long as she stayed where she was. It was enough to have to cover the story from above, but an interview would be just pushing it for her at the moment.

"In a daring move, Johnny K. Gambino, formally Gaia's Most Powerful Man, has rebuilt his mansion with the help his rabid supporters," Cindy went on as soon as the cameraman returned the focus back on her. "This is quite shocking news, considering this same Johnny K. Gambino was recently banished from Durem where the Von Helson Sisters had monopolized Gaia's annual festivities. What will be the Von Helson's reaction to the blatant show of superiority? And what of Gambino?"

The past event wasn’t something that everyone in Gaia had missed it seemed, but it was part of her job to summarize anything that had been done in the past even if she didn‘t like it. The entire population of Gaia knew what had happened during the last Ball even if they hadn’t been there, from the tall tales of those that had been there to the posts on the message board inside of Barton. Accounts had been changed as to what exactly had transpired, but it was all the same no matter who told what version of them.

She glanced briefly down towards the top of the tower, frowning slightly at the fact that there was no one there. She already knew that both had gone into the mansion, but she couldn't let her viewers know this. Cindy looked back into the camera, a plain, slightly peeved look on her face. That look was there because she was ready for the camera to turn off so that she could return back upon the ground, but the viewers would make the assumption that she hadn't been able to get a interview from either Gambino.

"Apparently, Gambino has disappeared into his new mansion and locked the doors. We tried to get an interview but there is no way to get inside the mansion. Would could he possibly be doing inside?" She asked the camera, telling a small lie as she tilted her head to the side. The viewers didn't have to know she hadn't tried at all and most likely was not going to. "Stay turned to Gaia 9 Action News for the last developments!"

She threw the microphone into the seat next to her as soon as the cameraman lowered the camera, indicating that everything that needed to be recorded had been so. Cindy frowned at the tower in all of it's forms, crossing her arms over her chest as she stared undeterred by it. What exactly does he want with a tower this large? Is he compensating for something? She wondered to herself. At the last thought, her frown turned into a smile and a giggle escaped her lips. The cameraman gave her a weird look as he took the film out of the camera, eyeing her as though he had never heard her laugh before.

It didn't matter, really. The story had been covered so far and, if she assumed right, Cindy figured she would be there for a long time coming.

****

It was a beautiful March day in Gaia, despite the looming clouds above. The inhabitants seemed to go about their daily business as though nothing was wrong, but they could not help but look up in the direction of Isle de Gambino and be able to see the tower that stood just as tall as the heavens themselves. Some still wondered why the creation had been built, but they long since stopped caring as to what was going on inside. They had an idea as to what was going on inside and hopefully it did not include any part of the population that had often gathered at the bottom of the tower.

There were those that flipped off the tower as though it was nothing, shaking their heads and shouting things to it that they never would speak to anyone else before. Some were pelted with rocks by those that were standing there, dubbing themselves the guards of the tower. That got those that glared at the tower to leave with mutterings, often threats of doing other then just bodily harm. The rest fought back and those fights were soon broke up by the real guard, who hauled both sides back to Barton where they would be placed to cool their tempers down.

Others chose not to get into the fights, just idly watching it unfold, but there were two that would put fuel on the already burning fire. On the other side of this same land, in the city of Durem, on the middle of the stairs that lead up to the Von Helson mansion, two women sat watching people go by. Some looked in their direction, wondering why they were sitting there with their eyes looking strangely back at them. Others chose to ignore them, going about their business as though nothing was out of place. They didn't know what they were going to be doing in a few moments time, nor did they care. It was something they had no time for at the moment to wonder upon, but would hear about it eventually or even be a witness to.

"A great way to start getting back at Gambino," Anna whispered, smiling as she reached behind her and slowly placed a hand on a thin piece of wood. On top of the wooden stick, a white sign with a fancy letter 'G' and a circle with a slash around it sat tightly glued to it. They were simple sings that hadn't taken much to put together, nor buy the few materials to put it together, but they would do. These same signs would show who was on which side and what beat they would march to.

Marie didn't respond to those words like she normally would have, instead watching her sister stand up and start to move into the street that was in front of their home. She sighed, rolling her eyes and doing the same as her sister, with her own sign in her hands. The rest would be given out as more people came; they didn't want to burn themselves with these items at the beginning. She hardly thought that this was a way to gain support for their side, by making cheaply bought signs and selling them more expensively to any Gaians that were willing. Not everyone would be buying these same signs for their cause, perhaps just something to put away as a random item in their homes. Or they were Gambino supporters in disguise, watching the sisters make a fool out of themselves as they laugh in their faces and went about their business as usual.

Still, it was better then sitting in their mansion, waiting for Easter to come so they would get a late response to their favor. If Johnny Gambino could do it, why couldn't they? After all, he had defied them by trying to get support for his own cause by way of donations, so what was a little opposition? It was good for the public to view and gave them something to talk about. That brought a smile to her lips, as Anna waved her sign above her head to get some of the 'sheep herds' attention and hopefully they would buy a sign or two.

"The nerve of that Gambino," Spat Anna at the few people who had started to gather around the two sisters, to see what they were doing with these picket signs and why they were waving them around.

"Can you believe that audacity that he built on Gambino Island?" Marie asked but with less energy, glancing over those that were around them. Some were glancing at each other, wondering what possible these two could be doing. A couple already left before either sister could speak again, not rally interested in what they had to say as they went on with their lives. It was no matter, as they could get someone else to replace those that had left with ease, no matter which side they supported or why they were there.

Some Gaians would only buy the signs to shut the sisters up from their repetitive speech, just like they had donated to Gambino to keep him quiet from his own ramblings. Others wanted nothing to do with either side as they both had the same ideal behind their speeches, refusing to get into the details of the already long, drawn-out feud. The rest chose their side, knowing an all-out-war would soon erupt in their faces. How right they were, they didn't know or care so long as they were a part of it and could tell their story to their future children one day that they were a part of one of the greatest feuds in Gaian history.

And perhaps even more then that.

***

The mansion was dimly lit compared to the outside of it, yet it still held something of the past that couldn't be shaken away. It was a reminder of what had been lost, an ideal for the future, and something to explore in the present if it ever came. Everything was new, not yet tainted by the riches that had bought it into existence. Maybe soon it would change into something different, something that wasn't what it was supposed to be, but for now, it was just innocent. Innocent but easily corruptible.

Gino had found something to do while in his new home since he had been brought into it: explore. He had been given strict orders not to leave the mansion, but that was easy to do since he had spend the last few months outside in the cold. Now he was in the warmth of a home that was foreign to him and didn't want to leave, no matter what. Perhaps that was why he hadn't even started to explore the home that had been built for him, to take in each room slowly and to bask in what had been created.

Where to start was a different matter then waiting to explore it, yet soon found himself looking around the second largest bedroom, which was clear across the mansion from his father's. It had a large, four poster bed sitting in the middle of it, a worn, newly fixed-up teddy bear laying against a cream-color pillow. It was strange to see the tattered toy against everything that was new, clashing with all the expensive items that sat around it. He had wanted to ask his father about it, but the man had already departed before he could ask any questions.

It was strange that the man was leaving him alone so suddenly, as though he had grown tired o his son. Gino sat down on the edge of the bed, picking up the teddy bear and holding it against his chest. There had been a few times in the past that he had been left alone, but he had not very far from the stranger. He was now on the other side of the mansion, locking in his own bedroom, doing something Gino didn't even know he was doing. His behavior certainly had changed since the ball and that scared him. Scared him more then he'd ever understand.

He then swung his legs onto the bed itself and moved into the center, where he laid his head upon the pillow and curled up where he was. This was a moment that he wished he had someone to hold him at the moment, to tell him everything was alright, that nothing would go wrong again. But there was no one there, no one to comfort him, no one to wipe away the tears that were beginning to fall. He felt alone, like he had before Christmas, even though there was someone inside the mansion with him. That person, however, was on the other side of it, oblivious to what his son was feeling and thinking. That struck the boy hard, perhaps giving him something to cling to old, unremembered memories that were beginning to become clearer.

Perhaps that was what started his ascent back into remembrance. Or perhaps it was something else entirely. Whatever it was, it scared him so, as he closed his eyes and started to descend into a troubled sleep. Tomorrow was always another day.