All For You

Four

Isla

"Do we have to do this every time?" I ask, my arms in the air in a T shape, my legs shoulder width apart.

My voice is still a bit crackly, but it's better now then it was. At least it doesn't hurt to talk anymore, but the bruise is still on my neck, and it's still too tender to touch.

But I'll live, and I can move around, and that's all that matters.

"You're not allowed to carry your weapons outside for personal errands," the lady says, rubbing her metal detector stick all over my body. When she finds nothing on me, she puts her stick down and nods at me.

"Yeah, yeah," I mumble, gathering my things.

I stuff my phone into the pocket of my hoodie and put my cap back on, adjusting it until it's comfortable. I put my mask over one ear and put my watch and rings back on, too, before quickly making way for the next person to be metal detected.

Today I only have one goal, and thankfully, I don't think the higher ups have any clue what it is.

If they still haven't figured out that I know my brother's back in town, then they'll just think I'm taking a day to reset after being down in punishment for so long.

Which means I won't have to worry about having any eyes on me.

Another good thing: today's a busy day. Everyone's preparing for an upcoming gang war, so I doubt the higher ups are gonna waste any manpower on me.

But, just in case I am being tailed, I'm gonna take a taxi instead of driving myself. And every car they own has a tracker, which gives me even more reason to not take one. I'd rather they don't find out where I'm going.

Since schools almost finished, I plan on following Hayden back to wherever he's staying again. It's too risky waiting for him at the spot we met last time, just because I might miss him or he might not come the same way, so following him in car is the only thing I can do for now. Just until I actually figure out where he's staying.

I tell the taxi to wait when we get to the school, and I manage to spot Hayden much quicker today.

He gets into a different car this time-a black one with tinted windows-and disappears inside before I can get a glance at the person driving him.

"Follow that car," I tell the taxi driver, pointing out the window. He looks at me like I'm a freak, so I roll my eyes and flash my credit card at him. "Just do it. I'll pay you extra."

He shrugs it off and listens to me, slowly following a few cars behind the one Hayden is in. Thankfully we blend in well, and it doesn't seem suspicious when we turn onto the same road as they do.

The same neighbourhood I met Hayden in last time.

We drive right past the alley-way and go further and further up the street until, finally, they park in front of one of the houses.

I tell the taxi driver to keep going until we're far enough away to park unsuspiciously before paying him and hopping out of the car.

I rush back up the street, just in time to spot Hayden slipping into the house they parked in front of, and practically jump in joy.

Yes! Finally! Now I know where he's staying. Or, at the very least, I now have a place to start looking. To scope out and, hopefully, a place that'll answer some of my questions.

I take my time getting to the house, glancing at it as subtly as I can. I don't want them to suspect anything and confront me. That's the one thing that absolutely cannot happen today. Getting caught isn't an option, or I'll have fucked things up permanently.