The Broken Hearts Club

Chapter 3: Morals Aside

 I woke up and began to get dressed, determined to get out of the hotel at an early time. I drew back the ugly curtains, trying to let the natural light into my poorly lit hotel room. The sky was a dark gray, and fog surrounded the buildings. Not letting the depressing weather get to me I set off into the city with an optimistic attitude.

The day went by in a blur. I scoured throughout the city, going in and out of businesses looking for a place to work. I wouldn't give up, nor could I take no for an answer. I begged and pleaded to people to give me a job. It seemed like no one would give in. I knew what I was asking them to do though. I knew they really couldn't take any more risks. Many businesses couldn't take the chance of hiring new employees, because of the increasing gang activity. Somewhat often stores all around New York would get broken into, and the owners weren't able to make up for what had been stolen.

I looked for jobs all day until it began to get dark, and most establishments had begun closing up shop. I couldn't believe that I had wound up unsuccessful in finding a job. I just had to keep trying. I really should've tried harder in high school, I thought as I walked to the subway station. I really should've tried harder at life in general. I don't know why I had relied on Kane, or thought that our relationship would last forever, considering that most relationships don't.

I finally reached the subway station, wanting to get back to my hotel room, and out of the gloomy weather. I was looking at the ground until a loud, rough voice made me snap my head up. " Hey miss!" he yelled. " I'm terribly sorry but you'd better be finding another station because this one here's closed." Closed?! There wasn't another subway station for four miles, and this one was my only way directly back to the area where my hotel was. Deeply annoyed I spoke to him, " Why is this station closed? And who are you? You definitely aren't a police officer or someone in charge of this station." Although, I noticed he was in a uniform. It looked like something a construction worker would wear, or a plumber. And it was covered in dark stains. "Yeah, I'm just working on the subway. My crew and I are trying to fix the brake system. It stopped working today and almost caused a huge fiasco," he said apologetically. " Okay, thanks for letting me know. I guess." I said, heading back to the street.

Annoyed and cold, I decided to take the long way back to my hotel room by walking. Thirty minutes passed by and I was still 5 miles away from my hotel room. And then the worst occurred... It began to rain. At first a light drizzle, and then it turned into a raging storm. Why does the worst possible outcome always have to happen to me? I was fed up with the crappy state of my life. I managed to find an awning to stand under. It didn't change the fact that I was soaked to the bone and in 60 degree weather. Even during spring it's still relatively cold in New York. How am I supposed to get back to my hotel?

The only source of light came from nearby buildings illuminating the streets. Not only was I stuck in the rain, I was on one of the sketchiest streets in the city, a street visited by the gangs often. Nearby, I noticed there was a tunnel, one that cars would go through. I'll go over there, at least I can wait out the rain under something with more coverage. I walked quickly over to the tunnel and sat down, grateful to be out of the rain. Although, further down the tunnel I noticed something that did not make me feel relieved to be there.

It was a huge, 18-wheeler with the back open and a crowd of people around it. And the people... did not look friendly. Several of them had big guns strapped onto their backs, all of them were dressed in dark clothing as if attempting to blend into the darkness of the night. There were big crates all stacked around the truck, being loaded into the back. The words on the box weren't visible enough for me to see. I could only assume that it was something dangerous or something stolen, maybe even both. Not wanting to be seen, I stooped down and sat behind a big column. I have to get out of here. I kept glancing from behind the column to see if they would look away for a moment so I could take a chance to run away. While glancing, I saw something that left me speechless. A tattoo of a broken heart on one of the people's wrists. 

A mark only given to a member of one of the most infamous gangs of New York, The Broken Hearts Club. That name was one I had heard often on the local news. I have managed to steer clear of any dangerous activity or gangs for my entire life so far, why did my life have to be in peril now? The best option in the moment was to run away and forget this had ever happened.

I knew I only had minutes before someone spotted me or checked the area. I got up from my hiding spot and began to run, trying to be as silent as possible. Luckily, no one had heard me... Well, until I tripped. A section under the tunnel where I was hiding, was still wet from the rain blowing in. As soon as I attempted to run on it, my foot slipped on the slick pavement followed by the rest of my body falling onto the ground. Suddenly, I heard a voice from the group of gang members call out "Hey!" then I was blinded by a flashlight being pointed at me. " Damn it." I cursed under my breath. I'm dead. They're gonna kill me. I thought, fighting back the urge to cry.

I picked myself up and attempted another escape, running as fast as I could. It wasn't enough. I felt a pair of two big arms wrap around my waist, lifting me off the ground. I began to kick and scream, trying to hurt my attacker and alert anyone in the area who wasn't a gang member. In the end it wasn't enough. The next thing I knew, I was being carried over to their little base near the truck. There weren't as many of them as I thought, only about six or seven. Still that was too many people for me to fight off on my own. My attacker threw me onto the ground, the other people closing in a circle around me like a pack of animals. I noticed all of them were men, except for one. The others waited for her to speak, as if she was in charge. She must be the leader. I decided. She too wore all black clothing like the rest of them. She had pale skin, brown eyes, and all black hair, with a huge scar across her cheek. In short ... She looked tough.

 " Who are you?" She spoke with a cold tone. I was too scared to speak, but I thought my best choice was to answer her. " I'm Aurora Phillips. Please don't kill me, I'm just a nobody. I got under this tunnel to get out of the rain." She looked at me, as if trying to figure out whether I was telling the truth or not. After what seemed like minutes she finally said, " I believe you." A sigh of relief escaped my lips. " Oh my gosh. Does this mean you'll let me go?" I made an innocent expression with my face, trying to plead with my eyes. " We never let anyone go," said another voice belonging to a scrawny man. " Shut it Zero!" The lady yelled. " I'm afraid one of our rules is to never let anyone go. Our secrets get out that way, we can't afford for any of those to be revealed. We really don't have any other option than to kill you, I wish there was another way, well actually I really don't care. " She said all of this without any emotion in her voice, like killing people was something she did often.

She pulled a pistol from her pocket, and faced it at my head. At this point, I was shaking. I really didn't want to die. I only had one other option, and it was a crazy one. " Then I'll join your gang." I blurted out, earning some looks of shock from the men and their mysterious leader.

" Yeah, you heard me. I want to join the Broken Hearts Club." She pulled her gun away from my head. " And why would you want to do that? If you've ever heard of our little gang, you'd know what we do. We kill and we raid. Why would you want to live your life like that?"

I thought about her question. Uh, because you were going to kill me, and this is my only option. Was my initial thought to respond with, but then I thought harder. " You know why," voicing my thoughts out loud. " Because screw my morals, screw everything that I've been taught." At this point, I was getting angry. " All my life, I've been a good person and followed the rules, and you know where that got me? Nowhere! I've had a pretty shitty life, and now I don't even have a job or any friends. So honestly, why shouldn't I join?" I finished my personal monologue, the group remained silent.

The leader stretched a hand out to me. I took it and she pulled me up. Well, that was unexpected. She gave the men a look, motioning them to get into the truck. Some got into the front, and others hopped into the back along with the crates. Then, she began to walk toward the back of the truck. "What's going on?" I questioned, unsure of what was occurring. She looked at me with what looked like her attempt at a smile. " Get in the truck, we're leaving. Welcome to the Broken Hearts Club."