Chapter 9: Heart of the Storm
Di night is thick with tension as Jahmiel, Kimi, and Bullet hide behind di oak tree, our breath mingling in di cool air. I can feel Jahmiel’s heart racing next to mine, an it mirrors di storm brewing inside me. We’re on di run, but I won’t let fear dictate my actions.
“Yuh think dey’ll find us?” mi whisper, glancing around for any signs of movement.
“Not if we stay quiet,” Jahmiel says, his voice steady despite di chaos surrounding us. “But we can’t stay here long. We need to keep moving.”
Bullet peeks around di tree, his expression tense. “Yuh hear dat? Dey’re searching di park.”
“Mi can’t believe dis is happening,” mi murmur, feeling a wave of disbelief wash over me. “One minute, mi’m in school, an di next, mi’m hiding from gangsters.”
“Dis life is unpredictable,” Jahmiel says, his eyes scanning di shadows. “Yuh gotta be ready for anything. An yuh can’t forget what’s at stake.”
Mi nod, feeling di weight of his words. Dis isn’t just about us; it’s about survival, loyalty, an everything dat comes with being part of his world.
---
“Let’s move,” Bullet urges, breaking mi from my thoughts. “If dey find us here, we won’t have a chance.”
We slip out from behind di tree, an I feel Jahmiel’s hand tighten around mine as we make our way through di park. Di path is littered with fallen leaves, an each crunch underfoot feels like a warning.
“Stick close to me,” Jahmiel whispers, pulling me closer as we navigate through di darkness. “We’ll head towards di back exit of di park. It’ll take us to a quieter street.”
“Got it,” mi reply, determination fueling mi steps.
---
As we reach di edge of di park, di distant sound of voices grows louder. “Dey’re getting closer,” Bullet says, urgency lacing his tone. “We have to hurry!”
“Follow my lead,” Jahmiel instructs, his grip steadying me. We cross di street, an I can feel di adrenaline pumping through my veins.
We reach an old building, a storefront that’s been abandoned for years. “In here!” Bullet urges, pushing di door open. It creaks ominously as we step inside, darkness swallowing us whole.
“Where are we?” mi ask, trying to adjust mi eyes to di dim light.
“Just a temporary hideout,” Bullet replies, scanning di interior. “It’s not perfect, but it’ll give us a chance to regroup.”
---
As we settle into di shadows of di abandoned store, di reality of our situation sinks in. I can feel di weight of di world pressing down on me, an I can’t help but wonder how we ended up here.
“Yuh think dey’ll follow us?” mi ask, trying to shake off di fear that creeps into my mind.
“Most likely,” Bullet says, pacing. “But we’ll be ready. We just need to stay calm.”
Jahmiel sits beside me, his presence grounding me. “Kimi, listen,” he says softly. “No matter what happens next, mi need yuh to trust me. Dis is di life we chose, an we can’t let it break us.”
“Mi trust yuh, Jahmiel,” mi reply, feeling a surge of determination. “We’ll get through dis together.”
---
As we sit in di darkness, di sounds of di city outside seem distant, an I realize how much I’ve changed since mi met Jahmiel. Dis life, with all its danger and uncertainty, has become part of me. I can’t imagine being anywhere else but by his side.
“Yuh know,” Bullet says, breaking di silence, “if we make it through dis, we’ll need a plan. We can’t keep running forever.”
“Agreed,” Jahmiel replies, his voice steady. “We’ll figure it out, but first, we need to survive tonight.”
---
Di night stretches on, an as di hours pass, mi can’t shake di feeling of dread. I can hear di distant sounds of sirens, an it reminds me how quickly things can change. “What if dey don’t stop?” mi whisper, glancing at Jahmiel.
“Den we fight,” he says fiercely, determination shining in his eyes. “We fight for our lives, an for each other.”
---
Just as mi start to feel some semblance of hope, di sound of footsteps echoes outside di storefront. My heart drops as I exchange a panicked glance with Jahmiel. “Bullet, what do we do?” mi ask, feeling trapped.
“Stay quiet,” he whispers, motioning for us to hide. “If dey come in, we’ll wait for our chance.”
As we huddle together, di door creaks open, an mi can feel my heart pounding in mi chest.
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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...
