𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐈𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞|| 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐱𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝

22.

*1 month later*

Reese had applied for the job and, surprisingly, she got it. Her interview was today. Standing in front of the mirror, she stared at her reflection. Her taper fade was sharp, and for the first time in a long while, she felt like she had put herself together. She looked decent, maybe even good, she thought. The weight of her recent struggles showed, though—bags under her eyes and a few spots of acne dotted her face.

Reese's case had been dropped, and she had walked away scot-free, but the emotional toll remained. She slipped into a black turtleneck and plain black jeans, keeping it simple. As she stood in front of the mirror, she couldn't help but stare at herself for a full five minutes, feeling the tension of everything weighing down on her. Her amber eyes, once bright, now looked dull and lifeless.

Without saying a word to her uncle or his wife, who were sitting on the couch, Reese walked out the door. She knew they had been arguing about her, and she didn't have the energy to deal with their judgment. She had to focus.

Arriving at the warehouse for her interview, Reese immediately felt something strange. The place looked oddly familiar. People were moving in and out of the building, but something felt off. Nervousness crept up her spine. She glanced in the car mirror one last time her amber eyes, once so vibrant, looked even more dead now. Letting out a deep sigh, she gathered her nerves and entered the warehouse.

Inside, Reese's heart dropped as she noticed a familiar mark on the wall—a mark only the Cartel used. Her anxiety skyrocketed as she stepped into the elevator. She pinched her arms, trying to steady herself as the elevator ascended. Each second felt like an eternity, her thoughts racing. The elevator chimed softly as it reached the top, and when the doors opened, there was a deafening silence.

The room was almost empty, cold and eerie, with just one long chair turned away from her. As she stepped inside, the chair slowly rotated. The sound echoed in the emptiness, and Reese felt her stomach churn. The man sitting in the chair the man she dreaded was Cartel. He looked exactly the same, dressed in a sharp black tuxedo, his expression cold yet amused.

"Oh, Reese," he said, smiling as he let out a small chuckle.

Panic surged through her body as she turned to press the elevator button, desperate to escape, but it was useless. His voice grew louder, echoing through the room, reverberating off the walls.

"Why are you running, Reese?" he asked, his grin widening. "If you slip, you slide."

Reese's heart pounded in her chest. "I told you, I'm out, nigga," she snapped, her voice cracking.

Cartel's laughter filled the room, his gold tooth gleaming in the dim light. "Oh, so now you're crying?" he mocked.

Reese clenched her fists, her eyes watering, but she wouldn't let herself break. She glared at him. "Does it look like I'm fucking crying?" she said, her voice low.

The man raised his hands in mock surrender, his grin still plastered across his face. "I could give you one more chance, Reese," he offered, but there was an edge to his tone, a threat hidden beneath the surface.

"No," Reese said firmly, her voice filled with defiance.

Cartel's face darkened, his amusement slipping away, replaced by something far more sinister. "I could kill you right now," he said coldly, his eyes narrowing.

"Do it then!" Reese screamed, stepping closer to him. "Do it right now nigga! I learned that we're already in hell. When we die, we're just gonna burn more!" Her voice grew louder, fueled by all the anger, fear, and pain she had bottled up for so long. "Do it, huh?! Do it right now, nigga! My life is already shit!"

Before Cartel could react, Reese swung a punch, connecting hard with his face. The impact knocked him back slightly, but he quickly retaliated, landing a brutal punch that sent Reese flying into a bookshelf.

The two of them clashed, fighting with everything they had. Reese unleashed all of her rage, lashing out, her fists flying, but Cartel was strong, too. The fight was vicious, filled with raw emotion. As they grappled, Cartel pulled out a gun, aiming it straight at Reese, his smirk returning.

"I'm gonna miss you, Reese," he said, his voice dripping with malice.

In that moment, everything slowed down. Reese saw the gun, felt the weight of her life flashing before her eyes. But she wasn't done fighting. With one last surge of adrenaline, she tackled him, and they struggled for the gun. The room spun, her body ached, but she held on, her arms wrapped around the weapon. As they fought, Reese looked into Cartel's eyes—those same dull, empty eyes she had seen before.

In a heartbeat, the gun went off. The shots echoed through the room, each bullet hitting directly in his head. Cartel's body slumped, the life drained from his eyes as blood pooled beneath him. Reese stood there, panting, a single tear slipping down her cheek.

She didn't wait to process what she had done. She couldn't. Reese ran out of the building, her clothes stained with blood, people staring at her as if she were a mad woman. Maybe she was. Maybe this was what her life had come to.

Without looking back, she ran as fast as she could, her mind racing. She arrived at her old house, slipping inside to grab the money Tray had stashed away. She changed into fresh clothes and headed for the door. Before she left, she glanced at Willow's house. It was empty now, the place that once felt like a safe haven was nothing but a shell.

Reese hopped on a train to California, her heart heavy with everything that had happened. As the train rumbled down the tracks, she heard a radio announcement.

"A man known as Clyde Hart was found dead in his warehouse today. Workers claim they have no idea who did it. Police say he was a wanted man with ties to gang-related activities, but there are no records to prove it."

Reese closed her eyes, leaning her head against the window, the weight of it all pressing down on her. Maybe she'd escaped this part of her life, but the scars—both physical and emotional—would stay with her forever.

_____________________

Reese arrives at a cheap motel. A neon sign flickered slightly outside the window as she walked into the small room. with dim light It's not much, but it's enough for now. She was sitting on the edge of the bed screaming with all her heart. The silence of the room made everything harder.She pulled out her phone and searched for something to occupy her mind. Something that could pull her out of the chaos that had become her life.

After scrolling through the options She eventually decided to study engineering. Maybe it was a new beginning . But she needed something to focus on the road ahead. She registered in the class with trembling fingers. small moments of progress feels like a lifeline in the middle of it all. which is collapsing...Reese put her phone aside and let out an annoyed expression with shaky hands. She took a long drag, smoke filling her lungs as she inhaled slowly. Her eyes shone faintly.

Flashes in her head. The room was silent except for the hum of the motel air conditioner. The walls are thin enough to hear muffled conversations. From the next room...Reese's body felt heavy. Fatigue pulled her down. She stretched out on the bed. Slow down under the weight of the mattress. Staring up at the ceiling Her thoughts still burned softly between her fingers—memories of Mr. Cartel, her father, Tray, Willow, everything all mixed with faint regrets,anger, and sadness. Her body began calm down, Reese's body gradually Abandon this enormous effort. Her eyelids became heavier with each passing moment.

A/N: Thoughts on this chapter?