Chapter 10: The Final Stand
Di tension in di air is thick as we hold our breath, waiting for di intruders to reveal themselves. Di door swings open, an mi can see shadows moving in di doorway. “Check everywhere!” one voice growls, an mi feel di blood drain from my face.
“Bullet, we can’t stay here,” Jahmiel says, his voice low but urgent. “We need to find a way out.”
“Just wait,” Bullet replies, eyes focused on di shadows. “We can’t afford to be reckless.”
---
As di men search di store, mi grip Jahmiel’s hand tightly. I can feel di heat of his body next to mine, an it gives mi strength. “Whatever happens, stick to me,” he whispers, his voice steady.
“Always,” mi reply, feeling a surge of determination.
Di men move deeper into di store, an I can hear dem rummaging through di debris. “Dey’re getting closer,” I murmur, fear creeping back into my heart.
“Yuh need to calm down,” Jahmiel whispers. “We’ll get through dis.”
---
Just then, one of di men stops, shining his flashlight directly into di corner where we’re hiding. “Over here!” he yells, an panic surges through me.
“Run!” Jahmiel shouts, pulling me up as we sprint towards di back exit. Di adrenaline fuels mi movements, an I push myself harder than I ever thought possible.
We burst through di back door into di alley, an di cool air hits us like a wave. “This way!” Bullet urges, leading us toward a narrow street.
---
As we run, I can hear di sound of footsteps behind us, an di fear wells up inside mi. “What if dey catch us?” mi gasp, struggling to keep up.
“Yuh gotta keep going!” Jahmiel calls back, his voice filled with urgency. “Don’t look back!”
We race through di streets, an I can feel mi legs burning, but I refuse to give up. Di city is alive around us, but right now, it feels like we’re in our own world, fighting against di odds.
---
“Where to now?” Bullet asks, glancing back at di pursuing figures.
“Dat way!” Jahmiel shouts, pointing to a side street. “We’ll lose dem in di alleyways.”
We turn quickly, and I can hear di men shouting behind us. Di adrenaline keeps mi going, an I can feel Jahmiel’s determination pushing me forward.
---
As we reach an alley, I can see an old gate at di end. “Over there!” I shout, pointing. “Let’s go!”
We sprint towards it, an mi can feel mi heart racing in my chest. Just as we reach di gate, I hear di footsteps behind us growing closer.
“Come on!” Jahmiel urges, pulling at di gate, but it’s rusty an won’t budge.
“Push!” Bullet yells, shoving against it.
With a final effort, di gate creaks open, an we tumble through, landing in a small courtyard. Di night air is thick with tension, an I can feel di weight of our situation crashing down on us.
---
“Where to now?” I ask, breathless as we look for an escape route.
“Through here,” Jahmiel says, motioning to a narrow path leading away from di courtyard. “We can’t stop now.”
We make our way through di darkness, an di sounds of di city fade behind us. Di adrenaline is pumping through my veins, an I can feel di fear start to ease, replaced by a fierce determination to survive.
---
As we round a corner, di sound of voices grows fainter, an I can finally catch my breath. “Are we safe?” I ask, looking at Jahmiel.
“For now,” he replies, his expression softening. “But we need to keep moving. Dis isn’t over yet.”
“Mi’m with yuh, Jahmiel,” I say fiercely. “No matter what.”
He looks at me, a mix of gratitude an determination in his eyes. “Yuh don’t know how much dat means to me.”
---
As we continue through di dark streets, I can feel a sense of hope building inside me. We’ve faced di storm together, an though we’re not out of danger yet, I know we can survive anything as long as we’re together.
“Let’s keep going,” Bullet says, glancing over his shoulder. “We’ll figure out di next steps when we get to a safe place.”
---
With Jahmiel by my side, I feel a surge of strength. I’m ready to face whatever comes next, an I know that together
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Title: Beneath Di Don's Shadow
Short StoryTitle: Beneath Di Don's Shadow Description: Seventeen-year-old Kimi knows the risks of getting involved with Jahmiel, the 21-year-old Jamaican don who rules the streets of Kingston with power and respect. Drawn to his dangerous allure, Kimi finds he...
