Doing It Right

Chapter 3

I force myself to laugh as once again Johnson gets knocked on his ass by our top fighter, Javier.

Truth is I wanna run over and make sure he's alright, but I need to stick to my mission. Johnson's gonna get my ass killed if he stays in this gang.

I sigh as he gets up wiping the blood off his lip and bouncing back into a ready position. I shake my head and check my phone. Its been a good hour and a half since they started.

"Alright that's enough for now. Good job Javier." I give the guy a pat on the back. He nods and walks out of the room.

"Really?" Johnson asks panting putting his hands on his hips.

"What? You need to be able to fight if youre gonna survive." I cross my arms.

"I know how to fight Jack you know this better than anyone." He says crossing his arms.

Its true. Once a kid was bullying me in 6th grade and Johnson knocked the kid on his ass.

"Whatever..." I shake my head as Javier comes back in the room.

"Boss wants Johnson." He says. Johnson nods to me and turns to leave.

"Some new recruit." Javier says to me crossing his arms.

"Yeah...he's something else." I mutter before smacking his shoulder. "Come on I wanna get some sparing in."

He nods and we get down to work. In the back of my mind I wonder what the boss wanted Johnson for.

About an hour later, I was laying on the mats panting.

"Good workout Jack." Javier says as I sit up.

"Thanks." I say catching the water bottle he throws at me. I quickly unscrew the cap and gulp down half the bottle as my mind drifts back to Johnson. He hasn't come to find me in an hour. I should probably go find him.

I get up off the mat, tell Javier I'll see him later and wander off through the hideout looking for Johnson.

"Where'd he go?" I mutter to myself looking in the bunkers where everyone sleeps. I see some members but no blonde haired perky kid.

"Guys suite up! Boss needs us to go check something out." Javier says coming in the bunks behind me.

Everyone around me scrambles up and into mission gear. I head to my bunk and grab my gun and favorite black jacket making sure to hide my purple bandana. I pull my hood up and follow everyone else down the halls and outside where we pile into two separate black vans.

I glance at everyone and sigh in relief as Johnson climbs in my van last. Well at least he's not dead. My happiness is short lived as he sits down next to me.

"Isn't this exciting?" He asks grinning.

"No." I look at him. How can going on a mission where we could possibly get shot and killed be exciting. I guess if youre an adrenaline junkie its alright.

"Well I'm excited." He says crossing his arms. Good for him. The ride is silent as it always is. With the occasional person checking their watch or guns.

Finally the van stops after a good 3 hour drive and the doors open to reveal darkness. We must have traveled into the night. We all climb out and await further instruction.

"Alright listen up. Your target is a kid named JC He's supposed to be in this town. Dont make a move just survey him, take notes and report back. I'll split you into teams. And be careful he's putting together his own gang."

We all nod and await our partners.

"Johnson and Gilinsky." I groan as Johnson fist pumps the air.

"Come on Jack I have an idea where he might be." Johnson grabs my arm and drags me away. I follow him till we separate from everyone else and then yank my arm away.

"Why are you really here Jack?" I ask.

"To make sure you dont get killed." His innocent act drops quick.

"I've been doing this for a year. I think I'm alright." I cross my arms.

"Your moms been asking my mom questions. She thinks youre doing a lot of extra curricular activities." Johnson crosses his arms.

Its true after school I come home and shower then head straight to the gang hideout. On weekends I spend the night there and tell my mom I'm staying at a friends house. I dont want her to know the truth or shed kill me faster than Donté would.

"My mom doesn't need to know the truth. Does your mom know youre here?" I ask raising my eyebrow.

"No." Johnsons arms dropped. "Youre my best friend Jack." He sighs.

"Yeah I know. Let's just focus on this mission." I say walking past him.

"I just wanted to make sure you were alright." He says following me.

"How'd you even find me?" I ask as we walk down an alley.

"Wasn't hard. You were pretty mad when you found out who killed your dad. I figured you joined." Johnson catches up and walks beside me.

"What if you had been wrong and you joined this gang for no reason?" I ask.

"I just got lucky cause I didn't think that far." He laughs. I shake my head. That's Johnson for you. Do first ask later.

"Dumbass." I say. I then stop as I hear voices. I put my finger to my lips and Johnson nods. We quietly head towards the voices on the other side of the fence.

"We're gonna have to move. The North gang is gonna run us out." We hear.

"Let them try." Another voice says.

"They can't take on all of us." Another voice says.

"Look let's go further south." The first voice says.

"No, there's the East Side Riot." The second says.

"There's two sides of town and the stay on the East Side." The third says.

"Alright to Emmetsville we go." The first voice says.

I look at Johnson who shrugs and then winces as something crunches under his feet. The voices stop talking.

"What was that?" The second voice asks.

"Nature." The third voice says.

"No...someone's here I can sense it." The first voice says. Im starting to think he's in charge since he's so smart. I slowly reach for my gun as Johnson does the same. Who gave this kid a gun?!

We wait in silence as the first guy moves towards the fence. I slowly crouch down pick up a rock and throw it as far down the alley as I can grinning as it hits a trashcan in the other end.

"See boss its just a cat or something." The second voice says.

"Better have been. Alright gather that Nash kid and convince his family to make the move." The first voice says walking away from the fence. Who is Nash?

"But JC, what if his mom refuses?" My eyes widen and I look at Johnson at the mention of JCs name.

"We will make her move." JC says. They walk away and when I cant hear their footsteps anymore Johnson and I fully stand up.

"What was that about?" He asks. I dont answer instead I grab the top of the fence.

"Jack what are you doing?" Johnson asks.

"Getting answers."