Chasing the Streets

Chapter 8

It was hot outside. My gang made me grab the food today, even though I am the leader, I took the job. It's stupid, I know, but someone's gotta do it, and all of them are lazy. I had no choice. I walked down the alleyway, holding the bags full of food. I tried to stay in the shadows. Not much trouble happened lately, but it was hot and protocol. Stay in the shadows, it's where we belong.

I turned to make sure I wasn't being followed and saw a familiar face. I smiled and turned to face the three guys walking towards me.

"Kenai, Darek! It's been awhile! How's the baby? You been feeding him milk, Mama-boy?" I said, grinning widely. Kenai went red and began to run towards me. I laughed and ran down into the street, making sure to turn before I ran onto the road and got creamed by a car. "Yo, Knifes! We've got company!" I yelled, howling and laughing as I ran around another corner and into another alley. This was the highlight of any day; ticking off Rebels.

I could hear Kenai and Darek getting picked on by my men. They might be strong, but they have no way to defend against dirty tricks. When they finally rounded the corner, the both of them were covered in flour and water. They were both red in the face and they came at me. I sprinted down the alley, calling out to any Knifes that were nearby. They came from the roof and the windows in the buildings. They jumped down on top of the Rebels and pummeled them.

"Rebels! Rebels, over here!" Darek yelled. I turned and saw the whole gang running around the other end of the alley. I grinned.

"Gonna make this an all on all war? I didn't know you had that in you, Gare-Bear." I smiled wide, pulling out my pocket knife. It had the symbol of my gang on it, a snake wrapped around a dagger with the tip stuck through its head and coming out its mouth. The fangs barely grazed the blade. This was my special knife, the one that would be passed down from leader to leader whenever I died, which I hoped wouldn't be till I was retired.

"I'd fight you face to face any day, Zach." Garrett said, pulling out his own pocket knife. I grinned and walked toward him. making sure that I listened for the rest of my gang to fall in behind me. Garrett and his gang began walking foward too. By the time Garrett and I were close enough to fight, a voice came from inside his little crowd.

"You gonna make a move, Zach?" Someone yelled. I smiled and swiped the edge of the knife across Garrett's face.

"You're move, Gare-Bear." I said. Garrett yelled and swiped at me. I jumped back and lunged forward, aiming for his side. He dodged and then all hell broke loose. My gang collided with his. Blood was spilling everywhere and people were screaming. I knew it wasn't long until the fed's got here, but I wanted the fun to last as long as possible. I cut Garrett's face under my other cut and he paused.

"Oh no..." he muttered. He dropped his knife and pushed back through the crowd. I picked up his knife, puzzled. I didn't hear any sirens, what was up?

"Yo, Garrett! I'm not done with-" That's when I saw it. There was a girl. She was tan and had dark brown hair, not black, but a deep brown. Her eyes were the same color. What was weird about her was that she was clean. I'm not gonna say that no one else here was, 'cause we were, but she looked like she had taken a really good shower not too long ago. Her face was small and her entire stature mad her look delicate. But the way she took out anyone in her way made her seem like a wild animal. She was literally ripping apart one of my men, scratching his arm until he bled. She grabbed her knife and raised it in the air, but Garrett grabbed her wrist.

"GARRETT LET GO!" she yelled. Garrett took the knife and pinned the girl to the ground.

"Calm down-"

"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN! GIVE ME THE KNIFE!" She had gone crazy. She had a wild look in her eyes like she was going to kill everyone.Garrett stared at her, cutting into her with his pale blue eyes. He was good at that.

By the time she calmed down, the gangs were all sitting around little campfires, treating their wounds. Daniel was dealing with the Rebels, don't know why he couldn't just leave and come to us, but he had his loyalties. I wouldn't force him, I might kidnap him though. We needed him.

I looked over at the girl and Garrett. Garrett had put a blanket overher shoulders and Kenai had lit a fire, just for her. Do I see a love triangle going on? I walked over to them.

"Hey guys, mind if we have a little leader to leader talk?" I asked. Garrett looked at the girl and she sighed.

"I'm good now, Garret, I can take care of myself." She looked up at me with an annoyed look in her eyes. "What do you want?"

"I'm here to talk to the leader, not a crazy girl." I said. Garrett stood, but the girl stood and pushed him back down. She stared at me with an ice cold stare.

"You're looking the both. Now tell me who you are before I tell my people to move back." she said. I didn't know what to do, so I stood there with my mouth opening and closing. I finally laughed and ran my hand through my hair.

"You've gotta be kidding me..." I muttered. I looked at Garrett and pointed at him. "You let this happen?" I raised my fist, but the girl gently laid her hand on it. I stared at her wide-eyed.

"No more fights, we've had enough of that today." she said. Her eyes looked deep into mine and I took my hand back.

"Well, whatever. What you wanna do to your group, you can do. As long as she doesn't try to be her, I'm fine." I said. I started back to my group.

"Wait! What are you talking about? Who are you?" the girl asked. I turned around.

"Emily Warren is who I'm talking about and I'm Zach. Don't get any ideas about nicknames, I give them out." I said. The girl's eyes widened.

"Zach!  I remember now...you're the leader of the Knifes; the whole reason I made a gang!" she said. I looked at her funny.

"Who are you?" I asked. She pointed to herself.

"I'm Emily Warren."