Through the depths

Chapter 5

Khalil

Khalil slammed the front door of his house. He reached for Candace's car keys in his pocket and head for the beat-up old Toyota that he parked behind the new Lexus. He shook his head, he should've stayed away. He knew it was her who was inside his house, but he couldn't help wanting to see her. He wanted to pretend it was because she looked just like the sister he just loss but in reality he'd miss her. He wanted to hug her and make sure she was ok because he knew she was taking this loss harder than anyone. From what he could remember as a child, Yaz and Jaz have always been inseparable. They did everything together, and even though they were his half-blood, they try to raise him as if he was their own. He still envied having a person to forever have a connection with. Someone who felt everything he felt, someone who was his other half.

Losing Yasmine welcomed a pain he could not cope with. It was always her and him against the world, now it would only be him. It was naïve to say but he wanted badly for Jasmine to fill that void he had in his chest since he found out Yasmine was dead. He rushed into the house with the attention of hugging her like the small boy he was when she left for college. But walking in to find Candace on the floor with Jasmine looking down at her as if she was a vile creature raised that familiar betrayal he always felt in regards to Jasmine. That scene just cemented what everyone has been saying to be true. Jasmine thought she was better than everyone in CrowBury.

He felt something when she began to cry, he truly did. But he made sure she understood that he hadn't cared. He made sure she knew she wasn't welcome or wanted. His heart will always remember his sisters, but as far as he knew, he was now the only child. He didn't doubt she would be running out of the city as soon as she could.

Khalil cruised down the streets of CrowBury skillfully. He would be sixteen soon, he still didn't have a permit. But who cared. It's not like the police ever really patrolled in the city; they were mainly after drug dealers. He pulled up into an old rundown home just a few blocks from his home. This was always the spot where he could release his anger when things were getting out of control. And lately he found himself outside of the house more than he knew Yasmine would've liked. He exited the car and made his way into the home.

Khalil ignored the questionable look of a few guys as he entered. He knew what they were thinking. He didn't belong there, he had not joined yet. Honestly, he didn't plan on joining. His best friend's older brother was the leader, no one would dare question his invitation to walk into the house. He made his way to the kitchen, where he knew he would find everyone. Plastic cups cover the tables, half naked women occupy the kitchen. Some packaging and others mixing while the guys stood back sipping poison in their cup. He spotted Tate in the corner, an arm around a girl that looked like she was almost out of it, his held a cup.

"Hey Khalil, get my brother a drink, girl," he urged the girl , smacking her rear as she walked off. Khalil sighed, Tate was his best friend; they were like brothers. But Khalil had to admit his new persona seemed to take life out of him, and it brought Khalil slight discomfort. It started at the beginning of summer after Tate's sixteenth birthday. He initiated into the gang. Tate brother had been pressuring him since he turned thirteen to join, but he accorded him a few years since Tate hadn't started growing until the summer of their freshman year of high school. As soon as the change happened, Tate became more involved. He stood in corners to sell and handle small drop off. That was until he was officially jumped two weeks prior. Now he carried a weapon and wasn't just another seller in the corner.

Khalil understood fully that this was all that was offered to Tate, he didn't judge him on that he just wished things were different. Because everyone knew Trevor was a savage, he was not the only seller in the city but his goal was to become it. They lead the biggest gang in the state. He was willing to do anything and everything to get there, whether blood spilled or not. Khalil got out of his trance when the unknown girl returned with a red cup. She handed him the cup shyly, her eyes remaining on the ground. She couldn't be much older than him, she wore a small white pair of shorts that left her rear cheeks hanging out. She wore a tight red shirt that stopped just at her ribcage. She shouldn't be there, Khalil thought, but then again, neither should he or Tate.