Santino came in to open up shop that morning at 10, coffee in hand and jingling his keys as he walked down the block. As he turned the corner, he first saw the figure standing in the middle of the street staring up at the Umbrella Academy across the street from the bodega. He then saw the curl of the smoke; the shine of her hair….he knew it was Lucky. It had been a minute since he’d seen her, or any of the other Hargreeves. Every now and again he’d catch a glimpse of Grace or Pogo in the window, but he hadn’t even seen The Monocle around the house since before Luther died. None of the siblings had been around since then either.
“Ayooo,” Santino called from down the block, giving a wave when Lucky looked over. He could tell from this distance that she wasn’t her usual self, shoulders slumped as she gave a weak wave back. The last time he saw her was just a few months back, she’d seemed glad to be out doing her thing instead of trapped in that house. He stuffed his keys into his pocket, idling over and giving Lucky a once over. It was obvious she had been partying for a while, he could see a hint of shadows under her eyes.
“Hey, girl. How you’ve been?” He asked, pulling her into a one armed hug. She looked over, face fraught with worry. “Oh shit, it’s that bad huh?”
Santino didn’t hesitate another second, pulling her into both his arms and squeezing tight. He could feel her shoulders shake from under him, a couple sniffles confirming his suspicion. His fists tightened, wanting to knock the motherfucker who did this. If he was a few years younger he definitely would have, but new Santino thought before he reacted. He had people depending on him now. He held Lucky until she had stilled for some time, doing his best to push his anger aside to cheer her up.
“Hey, come on, I’m about to open up. I got your favorites – cherry cigarettes, on the house!” He shook her shoulders as he led her out of the middle of the street over to the bodega, first pulling up the metal paneling that surrounded the storefront before unlocking the door and beckoning Lucky inside. She seemed reluctant but baited by the promise of sweet smelling cigarettes. She took a seat behind the register, watching him as he went through his morning routine to get the store going. He had to turn on lights, start the coffee machine, feed the cat that lingered around the bodega and chased off rats – a wild thing that roamed the park down the way must days.
When he came back to Lucky she had started to entertain herself with one of the pens he sold up front, the type that had a maze within for you to maneuver a little silver ball through. He laughed to himself, his daughter often sat in that same seat playing with that same pen – although usually he tried not to let her play with pens, at least not alone. She’d end up drawing tattoos all over herself “like daddy’s”, which like is exactly what you want you mom to find out and use as another way to criticize your tattoos. He pushed her legs aside to slide in front of the register, counting out the drawer for the day.
She seemed comfortable with the silence, just sitting there as he carried on his morning duties. She even cashed someone out while Santino had to run into the back for something. To be honest it felt nice not to have to think of anything. Around lunch time she started to feel more like herself, cracking jokes and stepping outside to bust open a fresh pack of her cherry cigarettes. Around one she ran out to get them Thai food for lunch, her treat this time. She almost felt normal – just a girl hanging out with her friend in his bodega.
“So, how’s little miss sunshine?” Lucky asked as she inspected a piece of broccoli she’d speared with her fork.
“oh man, I thought you’d never ask.” Santino smiled, setting down his fried rice and rubbing his hands together in anticipation before reaching in his pocket to pull out his phone. The background was the angel herself, three feet tall with big brown eyes and a smile that rivaled Santi’s. He opened up his photo album on the device and started showing pictures of the precious little girl. “She’s with her ma’s right now, but she usually stay with us. She’s abuela’s baby girl, my ma spoils her way too much….she gettin a lil big headed too. Don’t try saying no to her if you don’t got the time to back that shit up, you gotta pull all the stops so she knows you’re serious.”
Lucky couldn’t help but to admire the love in Santino’s eyes as he talked about the light in his life. It’s funny to think to think about the wild shit they’d get into when they were younger, he was like a new person compared to that guy. She liked the look on him, it suited him. “She is cute as hell…get ready if she’s even a fraction of the little hell raiser you were you’ve got a hell of a lot more coming your way.”
“Ain’t it though, you don’t need to remind me – my ma does that enough already.” Santino laughed, stepping behind the register as a group of kids began to filter in signifying the end of the school day. “Aye, why don’t you come out with me tonight? My buddy invited me out for his birthday, it’s at some club in Midtown. I wasn’t going to go cause they get a lil too wild for me nowadays – but if you come with I can use you as an excuse to duck out before they start trying to hit the red light district.”
“Oh, well when you put it like that – I definitely want to come along.” Lucky’s voice heavy with sarcasm.
Santino laughed, “Nah they cool, come on it’ll be fun.”
Lucky didn’t need more convincing. She gave a half shrug, smiling like he had delivered a winning argument that swayed her. A night out to take her mind off things was exactly what she needed, one where she didn’t have to think about the mess that was her family. “Alright, let me go over to the house and get a change of clothes then I’ll be right back.”
She decided to check out if the old man was in the house, when she didn’t sense his shadow inside, she teleported right inside the foyer. It looked exactly the same as she remembered yet somehow emptier. Her mother’s shadow was just at the top of the stairs, sitting among her paintings. Lucky considered just grabbing an outfit and teleporting out of there…but she felt a pang of guilt that made her stop herself. Lucky could hear the whir of Mom’s charging port detaching as she approached.
“Hey, mom.” Lucky’s voice cracked, trying to keep herself from spilling out then and there.
“Camila, if I had known you were coming I would have made your favorite – lasagna!” Lucky didn’t even challenge her mom calling her Camila, a name that had never rubbed her the right way. Lucky just wanted a hug. She let her mother wrap her arms around her lovingly, dulling the ache in Lucky’s chest. After a bit, her mom pulled away to get a look at Lucky, reading her face like a book. A flash of maternal concern crossed her face, tucking back a strand of hair behind her ear. “Is everything alright?”
Ugh, what a question. First of all, no. Second of all….I can’t tell you why. “Yeah.” Lucky said, biting her bottom lip.
Mom seemed unconvinced but she let it go. “Dinner is at seven, your father should be home by then. I’ll set a place for you.”
“No – mom it’s okay. I actually came by to grab some things from my room and…maybe take a shower?”
“Of course, I’ll bring you a fresh towel and wash rag. Are you sure you won’t be staying? I’m sure your father would love to see you.”
Lucky almost laughed, “Yeah, mom….I’m sure. Thanks.”
Her room was mostly as she had left it except for the white sheets pulled over her bed and desk to keep dust from collecting. Her closet still only had training clothes, but the floorboard she had managed to figure out how to open from pushing the shadows up from underneath still had her treasure duffel. When they were teenagers and they ran away, it had been her go-bag. Later when they would sneak out for parties with Santino, it evolved into more of her party bag. Not just favorite clothes but make up, cash and whatever left over drugs they had to stash away. She rifled through the bag, pulling out a strappy black dress and stuffing her cherry cigarettes into a Ziploc bag that had a couple pills of Grim’s that she didn’t recognize, zipping it away in the front pocket for the next time she came back.
Her mom had set out a fresh towel in the bathroom as promised. Lucky showered quickly, keeping an eye on the time to make sure she left before dinner. The Monocle was never late for dinner. She didn’t have time to do her hair or make up so she picked out a pair of white trainers and a white cap from her training gear in her closet to dress herself down. With the way the dress was hugging her hips no one was going to be paying attention to her shoes anyways. She put the heels she wore over in her bag before stashing it back under the floorboard, leaving her dress out for mom to wash. Lucky thought about saying good bye on the way out but couldn’t risk running into dear old dad by staying any longer.
Santino had to wait for Andre to come in for his night shift. Most of the time he worked it himself, but he had planned this night out in advance. Lucky and him played gin while she drank a 40 until Andre came. He offered for Lucky to come upstairs while he got ready but she challenged Andre to a game of gin instead. When he came back she had tricked Andre into shooting dice, already on a roll. Santino shook his head. “Aye, she cheats – only card games with this one.”
“Man, you can’t cheat at dice. It’s like the one thing that’s all about chance.” Andre said, scratching the back of his neck.
“Trust me, she cheats.” Santino repeated, Lucky giving a mischievous smile as she unwrapped a lollipop, shrugging when they both looked over at her. He gave Andre the keys, grabbing a pack of cigarettes and a couple of waters on his way out.
“Have a good night!” Andre called out after them.
They took the subway to midtown, shooting shit and drinking from a flask Santino had brought along. They walked with their arms linked, haphazardly navigating the streets trying to find the spot. The streets were lined with neon lights, giving off a multicolored glow along the way. Lucky half wished she had taken those pills she had found in her bag, but she didn’t want Santino to feel like he’d have to babysit her all night.
“Aye I think this is it!” Santi cried, pointing out a black metal door along a brick wall – there was no sign or number, just the door. Lucky went along, giving Santino a look as he pulled them over. He knocked three times before he spoke through the door, “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”
He looked back at Lucky, giving her a smug expression of self-satisfaction when he heard the click of the door open. "Sun Tzu, The Art of War." She seemed impressed – curious but still tentative. They stepped into the dark entry way to have the door slam shut behind them. The door had led into a hall lined with doors that had been boarded up, all but one at the end of the hall. It was a strange contrast to the rather drab whitewashed walls and Berber carpet that lined the floors. The shape looked like it was made for a castle, like the curved point of a turret. It was painted a rich earthy green with gold leaf embellishments and a large lion shaped knocker smack dab in the middle. Lucky looked over at Santi with wide eyes, wondering what sort of rabbit hole he was pulling her down.
“After you.” Santi said, gesturing her down the hall. She could hear the faint whisper of music, feel the hum of its vibrations swell with every step she took towards the door. The broken fluorescents overhead made her shadow stand alone, unable to sense anyone beside Santino beside her and the man that let them in. It was exhilarating and terrifying, she wondered if this was how most people lived their life – overwhelmed with the unknown. Santi grabbed her hand like when they were kids sneaking into parties they were to young to be getting into, making her feel grounded and safe. “You ready?” He asked, hand poised over the golden knocker. She giggled with excitement, nodding so fast she felt dizzy.
He only knocked once, the sound echoing down the long hall.
There was no response for a moment, but Santino didn’t seem bothered. He looked at Lucky, bemused by her impatience. She wasn’t used to such uncertainty. Just as she opened her mouth to ask if he’d knocked wrong – the door cracked open with music, heat and prismatic lights trickling out. Lucky was gobsmacked, Santino never failed to exceed expectations. He pulled open the door, gesturing for Lucky to go ahead.
The door opened to a flight of stairs leading down. Lucky kept looking back at Santino, he had obviously been here before but continued to pretend he was just as clueless as she – shrugging with a knowing smile when she looked back. She could feel their shadows now, hundreds of them. The beat was hypnotic, the kind that made you hold your breath while you waited for the bass to drop. Lucky could feel a tightness in her chest from the anticipation. She reached back for Santino’s hand, squeezing it with excitement as they reached the bottom of the stairs. It turned out onto another set of stairs, except these ones were looking out. Below was what could only be described as some sort of underground opera house. Along the back wall was a stage where dancers surrounded the DJ booth, framed by ornate stone pillars. The sides had stairs leading to the balcony’s above, each guarded by a set of bouncers. In the center of the dance floor was a large circular bar, surrounded by thrashing bodies.
“Not too bad, huh?” Santi leaned in to whisper in Lucky’s ear. She looked back and mouthed the words ‘what the fuck’, stunned by the epic reveal. He always had an in to some crazy party – but this was some next level shit. He led them to one of the staircases, the bouncer waving them through with a sense of familiarity. Lucky wondered how they managed to get all these people out of here at the end of the night – so many flights of stairs with so many bodies and so much booze seemed like a recipe for disaster. The balcony he led them to was already filled, lined with luxurious couches and table covered with bottles and drinks. Someone came over when they saw Santino, giving him a hug and offering a drink.
“Ay, you remember Lucky – right?” Lucky made out over the noise, Santino gesturing to her for his friend to greet.
“Oh yeah! You were part of the Umbrella Academy thing, right?”
Santino gave a sheepish expression as he clapped his friend on the back, “Sorry – he doesn’t know how to act once he gets a drink in him.”
Lucky laughed, unconsciously covering the tattoo their father had used to brand them when they were kids – the Umbrella Academy logo just below the inside of her wrist. “You’re cool…yeah – I was. Fuck that noise, though.”
Santino poured them both a drink from the bottles on the table, shaking up and giving a few hugs to the others along the way. Lucky even knew some of them from way back. Being around them took her back, when her biggest issue was her father. She shook her head, trying to shake thoughts of her family from her head. It was around the third drink she started pulling Santino out, begging him to come with to the dance floor. He had always been a great dancer, although sometimes it took a little bit of convincing.
His arms felt nice around her, their bodies rocking back and forth as they sang along throwing their hands up. The DJ was spittin’ fire. Best part is he kept playing those jams from the oughts, all the duets with one guy and girl going back and forth – and of course they knew all of the words. When they spilled out the club hours later, Lucky was still singing at the top of her lungs as Santino carried her piggyback to the subway. He took her back to his place to crash for the night, setting up his bed for her with fresh sheets. He’d take the couch for the night.
“Nooo, I don’t want to go to sleep – I want to daaance.” Lucky said from her living room, jumping on the couch with a whiskey glass in hand as she blasted Queen from the radio.
“Come on, wild thing. I got the bed all set up for you, time for night night.” Santino said as he turned down the music.
“Oh, okay daddy – you tryna get me to bed?”
He laughed, helping her down from the couch and taking her whiskey glass. “Come on, I got shit to do tomorrow and you’re jumping on my bed for the night.”
Lucky gave a pout, “What? I’ll sleep on the couch, forget about it!”
“Nah – you get the bed.”
“But I’m not sleepy yet.”
“….alright.” Santino handed her back her drink, “You get one more drink, then it’s off to bed missy.”
Lucky nodded, “Okay, but this is only like – half a drink so I’m just gonna….” She let her sentence trail off as she inched towards his bar to pour herself another. Santino put on something funny and poured a night cap for himself, sitting next to Lucky on the couch. By the time the episode finished he had polished off the last of his drink Lucky had been quiet for a while, he thought maybe she’d fallen asleep. One look proved otherwise, she was staring down into her drink from which she hadn’t taken a sip. Tears streaked across her face, as if she had been trying to catch them as they fell to hide them from Santino.
Santino’s paternal instincts kicked in, setting down his drink to scoot closer and wrap his arms around her. “Oh, baby girl no – no, don’t cry…” His embrace only seemed to break her further, now sobbing in his arms much like his own daughter when she was overwhelmed with emotion. “Shhhhh…shhhhh”
His hold was comforting, it was rare such a familiar set of arms was free of unspoken secrets or resentment. She couldn’t stop herself, the liquor had taken a dark turn, encasing Lucky in her emotions. The guilt was crushing her. The guilt of leaving on such bad terms with Grim and Remedy, the guilt of not being able to tell anyone about Luther and worst of all the guilt of the look of hurt on Luther’s face when she first saw him after a year and her reaction was one of horror.
“Hey, you wanna tell me what’s going on?” Santino finally asked, still holding her in his arms. When she shook her head he pressed, “Come on, Lucky you can’t let it eat at you like this.”
“I can’t,” She said through tearful eyes, rubbing at her eyes.
“Fuck…come on, man – give me something. Are you safe? Do you need to crash here a few days? You’re scaring me, I’m worried...”
Lucky could sense the frustration in his voice, hell she felt it herself. It killed her not being able to tell him. She tried to wipe away evidence of her sudden emotional outburst, taking a large gulp from her glass. “It’s fine…..it’s just…” She struggled not to finish that sentence with I’ve just found out Luther is alive and Grim and Remedy kept it from me all this time.
“I got into a pretty big fight with Grim and Remedy…” She settled for a half truth, looking back into her drink swirling the amber liquid around. “it’s just – I found out they…were lying to me and…it turned into this whole thing. They said they were trying to protect…me – I don’t know…I don’t know.” Santino listened, compassion in his eyes. When he didn’t speak Lucky continued, “It’s like our whole life I’ve always thought that it was the three of us against the world, and now I’ve finally realized that it’s really Split against the world.”
“Hey, hey,” Santino finally spoke up, not used to hearing Lucky refer to brothers by their joint name. “Come on now, you know that’s not true. Remedy and Grim would do anything for you, you know that.”
Lucky rolled her eyes, throwing back her drink.
“Don’t roll your eyes at me, they would – are you kidding me? Those two love you to death.”
“Yeah…I guess.”
There was a long pause between them, Santino searching for words and Lucky trying to keep them from spilling out. He couldn’t think of a time he’d ever seen Lucky at odds with either Grim or Remedy. Growing up they had always been connected at the hip, where you’d see one you’d see the other – or the other other. Santino finally spoke up, “Listen, I don’t know the specifics – and I don’t need to know. What I do know is that Grim and Remedy would never do anything to hurt you…I bet it’d kill them to see you all torn up like this because of something they did.” He rested a hand on her knee, “All I’m saying is…try not to be mad at them for too long. I’m sure they feel bad about lying, and probably pretty stupid for thinking they could sneak something past you.”
Lucky laughed under her breath, looking over at Santino. The worst of his concern seemed to have past, relieved it was family drama instead of something much more serious. It felt like she was seeing him for the first time all over again. She always saw him as the kid who lived above the bodega across the street, the kid they snuck out in high school, the friend they turned to when family was too fucking much – but he was a man now. And he was put together – like a real fucking adult. Something about the way he was looking at her made her scoot closer, closing the distance between him. Lucky needed to feel loved, to feel wanted. She leaned in, lips reaching for his and –
“Woah! Lucky!” His voice brought her back down to earth, hands holding either shoulder and holding her out at arm’s length. They both froze for a moment, like they were trying to register what just happened.
“Fuck, I’m so sorry.” Lucky said, setting her drink down and standing up.
“No – Luck, it’s okay….” He started, but she was already gone.