King || Harry Styles

I

It was the best of times
It was the worst of times.- Charles Dickens

My ears are exposed to the sound of water being splashed on my worn out leather boots. its the only sound noticeable other than the street traffic.

As ridiculous as it might sound, the city is relaxing.

The way the city changes with the sun simply setting and the moon rising.

It's so interesting to the city during the night. The non appealing smog in the typical tourist eyes. The clouded atmosphere that us filled with cigarette and car smoke.

Anyone born and raised here in Las Angeles would have adapted or been used to the smoke and air but there's moments where i cant even stand it.

The sirens that are always blaring in our ears is another adaptation that any normal Californian has and knows to well. We practically seen all there is to see in the lovely city of Las Angeles.

My eyes fall upon a graffiti filled brick wall, i can't help but to frown almost instantly...

"Mommy! Daddy!" I look around frantically but i don't see Mommy or daddy. I keep running as fast as i can. Well as fast as my short stubby legs can take me."ouch!" I see a prickly stick scrap my ivory skin. More of the sharp sticks keep hurting me and getting caught in my favorite bubblegum pink dress."mommy! Daddy! Plwese!!" I continue to call for mommy and daddy but i cant see them. Did they disappear? I look around me and all i see are brick walls they have funny looking words on them... i try my best to sound them out "f...u..k?" They are really pretty colours like red and orwange i feel my tiny arm suddenly being pulled it hurts....

I shake my head to make the memory fade away. Like i do with all of the memories i have but these are the only memories i seem to have.

Bad ones. They started off simple such as my family pet dying due to heartworms. Only for them to escalate to the imprisonment of both of my parents...

"As a representative of the judicial system of the state of California. I hear by sentence you Mister Daniel Johnson and Miss Lane Johnson a life sentence in federal prison without any possibility of parole. The child Stephanie  4 of age will go into the custody of Miss Dolores Lyde."

The sound of the gavel beat against the rosewood desk breaks me from my sudden flashback.

I slowly realise that I've been standing here like an idiot just reviewing bad memories... I need to get over this. I cant continue to remember in the past.

'Sweetie you must learn how to forget. Trust me i know your mama and papa would have wanted you live a happy and peaceful life. They do not want you to live life with a chip on your shoulder.'

Her words send a for filling warmth to my heart that is pleasant. My Nana is such a wise woman. A philosopher basically. Always giving advice to the ones who need it the most. She was right before the Great Depression. She's truly the only thing I have left. I'm not sure if my parents are still alive.

I mean they where condemned to a life sentence without parole or any possibility of bail.

'Its best not to think of such things Stephanie.. '

The tiny voice in the back of my head advises.

As i continue to walk the empty streets i have a ping of realisation that i have no idea where i am actually one minute i was on Maple street now I'm on Mulbary drive?

I look around me to see if there's anyone that might help me. I see a figure of a person. My gut tells me to ask for directions but my brain tells me just to retract my steps. I'm not an idiot this is all too sketchy.

I turn around to go the other way but i see the same bodily figure with the light overcasting it making it almost impossible to see the face of this 'person'

I retreat to an alleyway with filthy garbage cans and trash bags reclining upon the buildings brick walls. With a small sense of security I bury my hands in my pockets to search for my phone.

Damn it

i know Nana will scold me for leaving without her knowing where or when i was coming back home. Suddenly i feel a large unsettling feeling fall upon my body. I look up from my phone.

My breathing stops almost automatically. The same silhouette is almost near me. I quickly decide to turn the opposite direction when... oh god I'm trapped! Both shadows blocking me from leaving.

Calm Stephanie. Calm..

I pull out my when and almost dropping my cellphone trying to dial the police.

I turn around to see the first silhouette..

I feel my body being pinned against a hard wall. Right when I'm about to scream a pure white cloth is put in front of my mouth and nostrils. The silhouette pins both of my small arms above my head preventing me form moving at all. I try to push this hard object of me with all of my force and might but to no avail. I feel the tears begin to fall down within seconds. I open my eyes to see a man from what believe in all black with a face painting of a skull.

The white and black almost making a darker shade of gray because of the sweat. His hair is hidden behind a black beanie "Just breathe and everything will be alright." The demonic voice booms in my ears like a tunnel. No i can't give in. I hold my breath as much as i can. I whimper against the cloth.

I can't stand it any more. I take one large breath of the pungent sweet scent of the cloth and almost in a instant, I find my eyelids slowly begin to droop down. I try to open my eyes but its useless i cant hold up the weights of my eyelids. I feel the tears still falling from my eyes... is this it?

My cloudy mind is barely able to fabricate the thought. "No..." my voice is muffled against the rag on my mouth... my mind and world slowly fade in a wretched abyss that i can almost accept as hell...