The Law

Eight.

-Julian Williams-

I walk down the roads of East Chicago, trying not to stick my nose in where it's not supposed to be stuck. I was more of a shy kid with no friends except the gang that I usually hung out with. Which consisted of Joshua, (my brother) Lucas, and Erik. No one else really liked or even talked to me. 

I stuffed my hands in my pocket as I kept walking along the road. A black 1975 Camaro SS was rolling down the street, very slowly, passing me as I continue walking. I tilt my head to the side to look at the Camaro. I notice a man sitting down inside the car, eyeballing over at me. I cut a corner and hall a full sprint down the sidewalk. I knew that man inside the car. 

I bump into a few people, too shy and too scared to say sorry, the man inside of the car was very dangerous and could potentially kill me, and was I going to take that kind of consideration? No I wasn't.  It was 2 miles until my house, and a few blocks until one of the old gang member's houses. It was going to take me around fifteen minutes to run to my house.

Which would probably give the man inside of the car, distance so he could get me. It takes around 3 minutes just for me to get to one of the old gang member's house, the old gang member's name was Aaron. We got along pretty well. But, he was the former leader of the gang until he went off to do his own stuff. I say fuck it and just hall ass down the street. 

A few minutes later I arrive at Aaron's house, the car was gone, it sped off a few streets back, but I didn't even stop running. I kept running my short small lungs out. I run up to the porch and slam on the door. Aaron's teenage kid opens it and I run in. 

"Where's Aaron?" I ask, as he points upstairs, I run upstairs and check rooms until finding Aaron. His hair slicked back, he always wore a leather jacket and he was pretty muscular with a short scraggly beard. 

"Shit, Aaron. I think we're in trouble, Colt Miller's back, you took him down last time, you and Erik? Fuck, Erik's dead man." Aaron grabs my shoulder forcefully. 

"Calm the hell down, all I got was Colt Miller and Erik's dead. You'll be fine. Where's JJ at?" 

"I don't know, he went to go talk to Colt. He hasn't came back and he hasn't been seen for a couple days." 

"Alright. JJ can take care of himself. Just like everyone in our gang, well except obviously, you."

Aaron lit a cigarette as he walked down the stairs and outside. Aaron drove a 1966 Mustang GT. The baddest ride of Eastern Chicago, and maybe Chicago as a whole. People have learned not to talk over Aaron or even mess with Aaron. Even Joshua, well after Aaron beat him senseless. Although Aaron wasn't in the gang, he was still in the criminal business.

Aaron got into the Mustang and waited for me to get in, which I did, and we drove off. 

"Julian. I haven't seen you in a while, you been keeping yourself healthy?" Aaron said as he hit the back of my head. I do have to say, Aaron was probably more of a dad or better brother then even Joshua was to me. 

"Yeah. Sometimes I wish I wasn't apart of this Criminal business." 

"Julian, I got into the crime business almost as young as you, and look at me now. I'm the most respected person in Chicago. The most warranted criminal in America. I do wish I could take you out of it, but when you're in, you're in. There's no coming out, especially when you work with me, kiddo."

I sigh and lean my head back, wondering where we were going. We were starting to head out of Chicago and Joliet borders. We got onto a dirt road, which there was no dirt roads even around Chicago.

"Where we headed?" I ask as I lean my head up.

"Canton. Middle West of Illinois. I have a shelter, mostly a cabin there. It's around a 3 hour drive."

I lean my head back, wondering where Joshua is, I open my phone, and it's dead. Just great. I close my eyes and I'm ready for whatever Aaron has in store for this "shelter"