Chasing the Streets

Chapter 14

"Yep, he's defintiely dead." Daniel said, slowly standing and staring at Ape's corpse like everyone else was. It was a horrific sight. Garrett looked like he was trying hard not to hurl and Kenai couldn't even look at the body. I stood staring at him. He was only a little boy, why did this happen? How could they do this? How could... You too?

Dark streets

No, no, no

Fighting, screaming, blood

I stumbled towards Ape's body.

One scream. One bloodcurdling scream.

I started going faster, tripping over the cracks in the cement. I could hear Garrett slowly following me.

Tim...That was Tim...where is he...Tim...

I fell, hitting the street hard. I heard my nose crack and could see the blood, but I didn't care.

I don't care if he knicked my face, I have to get to Tim...Tim...there...

I struggled to get up.

There he is. He's...dying...

I fell again, but I crawled next to Ape.

Tim...he's...dead...no...Tim...

I could feel tears streaming down my face. I put my fore head on Ape's forehead and sobbed. I could feel my gang's eyes on me. I didn't care, this was awful. Garrett put his arm around me. Kenai stood over me, making sure that I was ok from a distance. Everyone was silent.

"...so young..." I stuttered through my sobs. This is why I didn't let him join. Why didn't you tell me before?! This wouldn't have happened! It would have, you remember, don't you? What? Tim was Ape's age. That's why you-I wouldn't let young kids join, because of Tim. Is that what I saw? Are they the same people that did this? Why would they, who could...

I stood and continued to look at Ape. I slowly looked up at the handprint on the wall. Medusa was making a horrible face, like a monster.

"Who did this..." I whispered menacingly. I watched as the boys exchanged glances at each other. I walked over to Darek and put my face close to his, glaring at him. I could see the sweat forming.

"Who was on guard duty." I said. Darek gulped and hesitantly pointed at a boy with long brown hair that was kept up in a ponytail. I stared at him and he stared back with that 'deer-in-headlights' look. I slowly walked up to him as he cowered down.

"Why didn't you see this." I asked. He gulped and started shaking. Insubordinate little-

"WHY DIDN'T YOU SEE THIS?!" I screamed. The boy began crying as I raised my fist to sock him.

"Stop, Emily!" I looked back to see Kenai grab my fist.

"Wha-" Kenai pulled me close to him and sat me down, rubbing my head. He began to softly sing a lullaby.

"Hush now, my baby. Be still now, don't cry. Sleep as you're rocked by the bed. Dream and remember my last lullaby. Sleep and remember me." He sang. I felt my fist unfurl as I calmed down. He held me for awhile before standing me back up and letting me go. I looked around at everyone and they all looked back. I wiped tears from my face.

"Who would do this? The Knifes?" I asked. My voice sounded like a small mouses; I could barely hear myself.

"The Knifes might be our rivals, but they would never do something like this." Garrett said. I turned to look at him.

"Then who..." My voice trailed off. Come on, pull yourself together, you can do this, just stay calm.

"There is one gang. They aren't rivals, they're actual enemies. We've been fighting ever since they came onto our territory. They haven't shown up for awhile, but I think they showed up now because you're here, Emily." Kenai said. Everyone looked at me. I looked down at the ground and then at Kenai.

"Why would they kill someone? Whats' the...why...?" I said. I could feel tears running down my face agian. Kenai reached out, but Garrett ran up to me and hugged me. I wrapped my arms around him, crying into his chest.

"Toxics are rough, they don't care about anyones feelings. They hate you because their leader sees you as weak. He doesn't think you should have a gang, so he's been out to get you since you started this." Kenai continued. I pushed Garrett away and wiped my face. I stared at everyone with a stone hard look.

"Let's give them a visit." I could see the shivers as my words ran through my gangs ears like poison.