How Things Are

fourteen

The border is getting close to Cript City. The moment we enter someone from their gang is going to approach. I dig out the booze as a gift. Win has the fur coat hanging over her shoulder. We look like an odd pair to hang out together. Everything she's wearing is sagging properly. I just noticed her belt buckle. She looks like a gangster from the '80s. She put her hair in braids. This chick is overdoing it. While I'm looking like she hired help. Just a charity case she found on the side of the road. Well, I let her pick the clothes so whatever. I roll my eyes as I watch her examine her new buckle. "You ready Samari man?"
"Waiting on you big daddy." She smirked and we walked into the city.

It was a few blocks until we were followed. No one approached us so we kept walking further. Then came more. Same gang just more. My hand was on my blade as we both strolled casually. I decided to find a motel for the night. If they know where we are then they'll just come get it right?
Win catches on and she already notices the who's following us. Cripts are pretty forward when they want something. I have no idea how to approach this. We don't know their leader's name. Winwrey keeps looking at me for instructions but this is my first time too. After a while, she just stopped walking and turned toward them. What the frick Win. My mind is screaming at her but my face is flat.
Everyone stops. They see Win reach into my bag. I see some knives slide out of a few sleeves after that. When she pulls the booze out the knives recede. She holds it up without saying a word. Fifteen seconds past then one of the guys in the back came and took it from her. I didn't realize I was holding my breath until then. He smirks then walks away and the others follow. We watch. When everyone is gone we find the motel and settle in.
"That was a ballsy thing you did." I finally say as I'm looking up at the ceiling. I hear her splash in the bath.
"Well, you weren't gonna do anything."
I don't have the energy to fight. I change into some sleeping booty shorts and my tank top. "Night Win."

I wake up to the sound of a window breaking. No. Not a window, a vase. Jumping out of bed I get my katana but then I see smoke. My eyes. They won't stop watering. Don't breathe it in. I see Winwrey knocked out cold. I can't keep holding my breath. The windows! I go to the windows but they won't open. What the fu- The door. The door won't either. Don't breathe it in! I chant in my mind. It's not working. I can't find a way out. My lungs hurt. I tug Winrey in the closet. This time, you stay safe. I tuck my katana with her. My lungs. I give into the gas. Everything goes black.

I wake up in another room. My lungs still hurt. Booty shorts and a tank top. The last thing I wanted to be seen in. Where the heck am I? At least Winwreys is safe. She knows where to go. She's not the brightest but she can figure things out. What she did earlier was pretty clever. She'll be fine.
My feet are chained in the center of the floor. This is new. There's some length to move. I smell blood, but it's not mine. I'm not gonna be the idiot who yelled 'hello' and alert all the bad guys. So what's next.
I listen. Nobody breathing in here except for me. It's so dark. This place is either sound proof or no one is home. I'm just gonna go back to sleep.
Noise wakes me up however I keep my eyes closed. Steps. Someones walking slowly down. Trying to intimidate my guess. I hear a click to my right. There's light shining over my eyelids. Now what? He's so quiet. I can't barely hear him breathing. Where is he-
"I know you're awake. Get up."
Well time to stop pretending.
"Where is she?" That was specific.
"Who are you talking about?"
"Where's Winwrey? I have no patience for games."
That face is similar too- he can't be.
"I asked you a question, I expect an answer slave."
Slave? "I'm no ones slave."
"You haven't been for a while have you?" My nose flairs. "You're wanted by many. I didn't think it was possible for a woman to kill as much as you have."
"Who are you?" He's pushing buttons to get me to talk. Winwrey got away and that's what matters.
He pulls out a black folder. That crest. He's Dragon Mafia. "Would you like to see?" He waves the folder back and forth. "It's a good read. When my brother gave it to me I had to see for myself."
So this is Carmen. "I have an idea of what it says."
He seems to be getting frustrated. "Winwrey has been looking for me. You're not going to tell me where? You're friends." He tosses the file to my feet. "You've become drinking buddies! She even steals you nice things from various important people."
I guess he only shows his sweet side to her. "Would you believe me if I told you those where all her ideas?" It's true. I'm not going down for this.
Bad choice of words. Next thing I knew I couldn't breathe again. "You are a bad example for her! Where is she?"
"Brother. You're handling this wrong." That voice.
Carmen dropped me on my butt. I slowly stood as I watched who walked down the stairs.
"I'll handle it from here." His cold eyes looked at me. I stepped back as far as the chains would let me.
"I can get her to talk." But one look from Lucas and he walked upstairs and slammed the door.
Lucas walked closer then circled me. "Where is Winwrey?"
I had no sword, no proper clothes to hide under. He could read me. He knew I knew as soon as he asked. But it was Winwrey. I couldn't. No matter what would happen.
"By the report you were on your way to my brother. So why not tell me?"
"She's safe." It's all I could get out.
"Hmm. Where's your sword? A katana correct." He was emotionless. I couldn't read him.
"I never heard of someone leaving a weapon with the prisoner"
He smirked "This is nothing compared to how we treat our prisoners." He grabs the file. "You went on quite a journey." Is he talking to himself now? "It's rare anyone survives Death roads lake." He keeps flipping. "You killed the person I sent Carmen after?" One page after another, pointing out the obvious. However the last bit was hard to ignore. "So this is why Derek wants you."
He had me. He had everything.
The words came out so quiet. "What do you want?"
He looks me up and down. Pulling my hair until I'm looking him in the eyes "I already told you what I want."
"I can't-"
"Shall I call Derek to come play his games?" His eyes were dark.
This isn't how things were supposed to go. I would drop her off then be free. Why am I chained to the floor? She wantsher happilyeverafterwith Carmen, fine but I'm getting way too. "Let's make a deal."
"I don't make deals with slaves. They do as they're told." He sat down and waited for my answer.
"I'm not a slave."
For a second, his eyes sparkled like Winwrey did whenever she finds something she want to steal or when she sees someone fell in her trap. "Is that right."
"It's true. No one has ever owned me."
"I'm losing my patience. Where is my brothers woman?"
"Let me go and I'll show you." This should work. I'll take them to her then take off.
His smirks was so scary. "Fine."
"