VALERIE

Nine

"Just jump!" Nick yelled in frustration.

"I can't, I'm scared."

"Valerie I swear to fuck, if you don't jump down in less than 10 seconds I'm going to shake this fence so you could fall."

"You wouldn't dare." She screeched gripping onto the metal fence tighter.

Sighing Nick walked back to the 10 foot tall fence, slowly he placed one hand on it, biting her lip Valerie groaned.

"Fine, I'll jump."

Nick let go off the fence, "Finally."

"But you have to catch me."

"Fine whatever just jump already."

Shutting her eyes she slowly let go of her grip on the top of the fence, allowing herself to fall backwards.

Feeling her light body fall into his arms Nick felt a strange feeling. Her body emanated warmth throughout him momentarily, he didn't want to let go but the coldness within him fought against the warmth Valerie projected and eventually stopped it. Nick set Valerie down who was relieved she made it down without hurting herself.

The alley they entered was dark, musty, and terrifying.

"Where are we going?" Valerie asked trudging behind Nick who was far ahead of her.

Shaking his mind from his thoughts he opened his mouth to reply but then shut it again.

"Nick, I'm talking to you."

"I just need to get something." He replied forcefully.

"I thought we were going to have fun." She whined catching up to Nick who stuffed his hands into his front pants pockets.

"We are I just need to pick up my paycheck." He said stopping dead in his tracks, climbing up 2 steps he knocked on a large red door that was obviously a back door to a building.

"This is so seedy." She complained looking around the alley as she went up the concrete steps.

"Just wait here."

"I'm not waiting alone." She said gripping onto his arm tightly.

"Just wait here." He violently pulled his arm back causing her to tumble back a bit, almost falling off the steps they were on.

"You're such a fucking jerk." She screamed loudly, tears forming in her eyes.

Nick sighed thinking about how she was such a handful.

About to say something the red door opened and a tall, fat, scary looking man stood there with a wide toothless grin, and if the little teeth he did have gold and crooked.

"Nick, nice to see you." The man's gruff voice quieted down as he landed his eyes on Valerie, he gave her a smirk before turning his attention back to Nick, "What can I do you for?"

"I came to see Tommy." Nick said indifferently, nodding his head the tall man held the door open.

"Come on." Nick mouthed grabbing Valerie's forearm.

The two walked down a long corridor, the smell of bleach and fire penetrating there clothes as Nick opened another door.

Inside was an office where a short fat man sat at his desk counting money, he had a pistol right in front of the stacks and when they went in he didn't look at the teenagers, he just kept counting.

Terrified of the surroundings Valerie stood close to Nick, silently watching the man count his money.

Clearing his throat the man that was Tommy put down a stack of money he had finished counting.