Once Upon A Time in 2016

Into the Hood: Chapter 4

  It was a warm Wednesday afternoon when he saw her again. The girl, no woman from the rave. She was leaning against a wall, looking at the ground as if to say 'I'm minding my own business, but if you mess with me, I will gut you like a pig.' Well, at least that's how Sam felt. He was just coming out of the gates after school with Eric and he felt her presence almost immediately.

"And so Sleepy said, "If you want to take me down, you can try, but boy am I gonna have a laugh watching you!" Can you believe it! To the police captain's FACE! Hey, you listening?" Eric asked annoyed, turning around to see what exactly it was that was so intriguing that Sam could not focus on the conversation. Of course, somehow, in that second, Cowboy Hat Woman had disappeared again. Sam sighed. He knew he wasn't crazy. She was there.

"Yes, yes I am. Sleepy, telling the police captain that he'd have fun watching him try to bring him down. Man, that Sleepy, a right cracker," Sam said weakly to his friend.

In truth Sam was not too impressed with Sleepy and his gang, and really didn't want to hang around them after the party. Unfortunately for him, Sleepy had taken a liking to Eric, and had asked him to hang around the gang more. And Eric, not wanting to be the only high schooler around repeatedly begged Sam to accompany him.

"I know right! It's classic Sleepy though," Eric said laughing, "You know, the other day, he took me up to the balcony and gave me some advice, like real brotherly advice. He said that I reminded him of when he was a high schooler, dreaming big, and knowing what's what. He said that I could make it big, and that he'll be like a mentor for me. He's asked that we go round to the Shack after school, you'll come right?"

Sam highly doubted that Sleepy ever stepped foot into High School, but decided to keep that comment to himself. Instead, he tried to wheedle himself out of going to the Shack.

"Oh today? No, man, I.....I have... I have homework to do? Yeah, I have homework to do," Sam said with more conviction.

Eric stopped and turned on him. "Dude,
you're not bailing, right? Come on, this is huge for me, I thought you'd be there to support me, if not as a brother, than at least as a friend. But I guess, I'm the only one who feels that way."

Eric sighed as he walked off down the street, his head down and his backpack slightly falling off his back. Jheez, Sam thought, even Satan would feel sorry for him.

"Hey Eric, wait up! I'll come!"

Instantly Eric perked up, and fell into his excited chatter.

"Thanks man! You won't regret it! I promise! Sleepy said that his Head, Dopey is gonna be there, and he's so cool! Everyone wants to be him!"

"Dopey?"

"Yeah, Dopey. Like that's so dope. What's wrong with that?"

"Hey I never said there was anything wrong with it."

"Yeah, but why you gotta say it like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like 'Dopey.'"

"I don't sound like that."

"You did when you said his name."

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did."

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did."

"No I- you know what? Dopey. There I said it normal now, happy?"

"Yeah, but why you gotta be like that about saying his name normal?"

"You're kidding, right?"

The Shack was dingy. Sam crinkled his nose when he entered, the stench was almost too much to bare.

There were quite a few people crammed into the small bar. Sam wasn't sure what he was expecting, he'd only seen the Shack from the outside before, but he knew he was expecting to feel some sort of excitement. After all, this was a huge step, right?

"Eric! My boy! Come on in!"

The boys turned to see Sleepy beckoning them over.

"And Little Sammy too! How wonderful!"

Sam didn't like being called "Little", but when you're in a small bar filled with members of the most notorious drug peddling gang in the neighbourhood, you soon realise what you like and don't like no longer matter.

"Dopey, these are the boys I was telling you about."

Dopey was huge. Over 6ft tall, his physique was ripped, Dopey's very presence warned others not to mess with him. He grinned down at the 2 boys, revealing several gold teeth.

"Well, well, well. The 2 new wannabes. Well you don't look like much, that's for sure."

"Oh, but we'll prove to be a real irreplaceable asset to the team sir, Mr Dopey sir," Eric said, putting on his best professional voice.

Dopey smirked at him before turning his attention towards Sam. Sam stared back.

"So? What about you? What makes you think you'll be an asset to the company?"

Sam resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "I'm not afraid. Of anything." Sleepy gasped, affronted, and Eric elbowed him.

He wasn't sure why, but Sam wanted Dopey to understand that he wasn't like Eric. He wanted him to know that he was not about to suck up to him.

Dopey burst out laughing. "Hahahahahaha!"

The others looked towards their leader. "I like this one," Dopey grinned, wiping his eyes, "He's got spunk! We need more boys like you! Come, come, sit! Have a drink."

Sam was pushed up to the podium by a few of the guys who were standing round.

"Now tell me, what's your name again? Sam? Right, you know, Sammy boy, you really remind me of a younger me, back in the old days..."

And that was how Sam was lured into Dopey's lucrative 'package' delivery business. It was good money, so long as you didn't ask what was inside. The chances of getting caught were very slim, as the packages were And all the time, She watched.

Annnnnnnddddd I'm back!! Hey everyone, I'm sorry I sort of fell off the face of the earth, I was away on holiday! I have a ton of reading, commenting and voting to catch up on, as well as announcing the winner of the giveaway, all of which I pledge to do within the week :) In the meantime I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome my new followers to Bookworld:MeshuForever , @IryshLily , @CharityChedzo , @Bre622 , @koramofield , @TaleiSalusalu , @akuzandy , @AnastaciaAnnie , @ONEMES , @Notwanting15 , @official_Nia13 , @apathetic_princess , @juietteuriarte , @mackiiwerdna , @LivingCliche , @HanaisPaterbet , @loessa , @ahleighTheSavage , @amanster101 and @JhenAcibar , guys thank you soooo much for following me, it means so much, this chapter is for you. I would also like to thank honestcritiques for reviewing my book, thank you soooo much, it means a lot to me, and hopefully I'll get around to the corrections soon :) Don't forget to follow me on instagram, kittyinbookworld, I'm trying to promote my book, make new friends, find new wattpad books and let you guys see what I get up to all at the same time! As always guys, if you liked the chapter please vote and comment, any constructive criticism is very much welcome. See you soon!

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