Unraveled

Trapped

Two months later

"That was a fucking bust," I said as I slapped the bags down on the table. I sat down on the worn couch, picking up the needle and half-used bag that was already there.

"What the fuck?" Malaki asked as he picked up the bags I'd put in front of him.

I dumped some of the powder into the spoon with some water. "Bunch of fucking kids who didn't want to pay for what they were buying," I told him as I put the lighter under the spoon. I stared at the mixture, willing it to bubble. "Wasn't worth it."

"What the fuck?" Maison asked as he walked out of the bathroom. He pointed at the spoon. "That's my fucking dope."

"You got any dynamite?" I asked Malaki as he carefully put the bags away. I took the spoon off the flame, switching the lighter off and on.

"Not for an ass wipe who can't make a sale," Malaki snapped. "You pay for it, you can have it."

I made a face and flicked the lighter back on, putting the spoon back over the flame. Maison flopped onto the couch next to me, his head resting against the back near my shoulder, his feet dangling off the edge. He was only a couple of years older than me and my initial dealer. After I'd left Keys, I hadn't had enough money to score again. Maison had let me pay him by other means and took me back to Malaki with him.

Malaki had given Maison a black eye when he'd heard the story, but that was the end of it. I was in and all debts were paid off if I helped him deliver his product. That was okay with me. It kept me off the streets and in constant supply of dope.

"You want part of this?" I asked Maison as the mixture began to boil. I flipped the lighter shut and drew the liquid into a needle.

Maison turned his head to look at it, his head resting on my shoulder now. When I looked at him properly, I saw that he was already high and definitely didn't need another round.

"Nah," he, thankfully, said. "I'm good for now."

I nodded and put the needle against a vein in my hand. I winced as I slid it under the skin. The veins in my arms weren't viable anymore. Maison had tried to find one the week before with no luck. With the weather getting colder, my hands were drying out. I'd have to find a different place to shoot up then.

I let my head fall back, resting against Maison's. His breathing was slowing as he drifted off to sleep. I vaguely heard Malaki mumble something about not understanding why he decided to keep us around.

"Because you love us," I told him as I stared up at the ceiling. There was insulation coming out of it, hanging down like silly string.

Malaki snorted. "Fuck you."

I laughed, lacing my hands behind my head. "Maybe some other day."

He didn't respond. I heard the stool scrape as he stood up and went across the room. A file cabinet door screeched as he jerked it open.

I closed my eyes. Maison's head slid down on my lap. I let my arms drop and shifted until I was comfortable enough to fall asleep.

x.x.x

Even high, I could appreciate the beauty of God's creation. I leaned against the wall on the roof of the parking garage I'd met Jacob. It'd been a little over a year since he'd died. In my pocket was a bag with LSD and heroin and cocaine. Malaki had warned me to just take the dynamite or the neon nod. Not both if I didn't want to die.