Against All Odds

9.

Things are about to start getting even crazier.

-Niyah

***
1 month later...

Briana Harris

"Briana Nicole, you need to eat something. It's been almost 4 days since you've eaten."

Chaylin has been missing for almost 2 months and nothing has been the same. My mom even had to stop working for a couple of weeks because I had gotten so depressed that I even tried to commit suicide. That picture really had me shaken up.  To make matters worse, last week I found out that I was pregnant. I'm only 20, I'm too young.

"Mom I'm not hungry."

"Hungry or not,you're going to eat." She then picks up the soup holding the spoon to my mouth I eat a little bit. As soon as she's about to feed me some more, the phone rings.

"That soup better be gone when I get back."

She leaves out of the room and I go in the bathroom and flush it down the toilet. I quickly sit down once I hear her coming.

"Girl you not slick. I heard that toilet flush."

Of course she did.

"That was the funeral home, I have to go make some last arrangements for the funeral. I should be back in a couple of hours."

The police found my dad's body in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. Chaylin was nowhere to be found so I assume she's still alive. I can't believe my dad is dead. My best friend, my Ride or Die. To make matters worse, Jacob has gone on a rampage looking for Alexia and Jayceon has been hanging with Rodney again, so I don't see much of him anymore.

Once my mom is gone and I'm all alone, I begin thinking. Why am I still living in North Carolina? There's nothing else here for me. My only sources of happiness have been taken from me.

I pack my bags and take the little bit of cash my mom has stored in her safe. I look down and rub my belly.

"We'll get through this my child. Mommy won't let anything happen to you. From now on it's me and you against the world."

I go out the front door and lock it behind me. I call a cab. "Where are you going, Miss? "

"Wherever $5,000 will get me." He drives off and I wave goodbye to the place that I've called home all my life. I rub my belly and fall into a deep sleep.

Welcome to my new life...

***

Jayceon Payne

"Thanks man. Drop me off right hea'. " I get out the car walking up the driveway to Bri's house with the flowers I bought her in my hand.

I've been so busy with Rodney and trying to find Chaylin that I haven't made much time for my girl. I knock on the door and get no response and there's not car in the driveway. I call her phone and get no answer. I look in the flowerpot for the spare key and go inside the house.

I go in her room and all her clothes are gone. I look on her desk and see a note.

Whoever reads this,

I ran away and I'm not coming back. All of my sources of happiness are gone so there's nothing else left for me here in Chapel Hill. Don't come looking for me, I'm fine.

I found out I was pregnant last week and no, the baby isn't Jayceon's. Please don't hate me for this. Maybe I'll have a change of heart and come back but I doubt that'll happen.

Just know that I love you all and I hope you find Chaylin and get her back safe and sound. Let her know I love her too.

Sincerely,
Bri

***

Jacob Payne

"Alexia, why are you doing this?"

"I'm not a good person and since she came from me neither is she."

I tracked down Alexia and Chaylin. They were living in a hotel in Mississippi.

"Don't take my child away from me because you too stupid to realize that you're life is worth living."

I'm trying to talk Alexia out of jumping off the bridge and killing her and Chaylin.

"She's not your child Jacob. Her father is Robert Harris, Briana's dad. I only said you were her father so I could use it as a decoy until he got out of prison."

It's like my whole world stops once those words come out of her mouth. I've grown to love Chaylin like she's my own and father or not, I'd hate to see her get killed because her mom is mentally unstable.

"Still Alexia don't do this. She doesn't deserve this and neither do you. We can work this out." Maybe if I play nice, I can talk her out of it.

She sits still for a minute before looking at me and standing up. She takes a step forward as if she's about to step off the bridge and onto the road. I take a step back but before I can stop her she turns around and jumps off with Chaylin in her arms.

"NOOO!!" I run to the edge and look over to see nothing but water and Chaylin's blanket floating on the surface...

***

R.I.P Chaylin Marie Payne 7/29/15- 8/16/16 😇🙏❤

-Niyah