Raised in a Gang

Chapter 1

Tyra POV

It's nothing new for me to go to sleep with the soothing sound of gunshots and profanity being yelled from across the street. Or the sound of pit bulls barking and car alarms ringing in the distance. I'm used to the sirens echoing from across town. That's just normal things to hear in Compton.

I was born and raised in this town, and although the crime rate has been at an all time high this past year, I'll always love it here. Most of the kids beg to leave this place and go onto further limits and aspirations, but when you grow up in the ghetto, you can see the beauty of it.

I know what you're thinking. What beauty is there to see in the ghetto? Well, my friend, you see how black families come together. Hear the wonderful music of the ghetto. To me, there's beauty in everything, whether or not everyone thinks it's ugly or useless.

Maybe its the craziness that's speaking for me, but Compton is probably the prettiest place you'll ever visit.

Located nearby South Los Angeles, my town isn't small, but isn't big either. It's a wonderful place to live once you get past the gangs, dogs, police, poverty, and weave strips lying on sidewalks from recent fights.

Where are my manners? My name is Tyra James and well, my story isn't the best there's to hear about, but if you ask me, it's one of the most inspirational there is to come by.

"Ty," my older brother called from his room next door in our small home.

My older brother was the man of the house and head in charge behind my mother. My dad wasn't around because he fights in the war, which is definitely something I'm proud of because he's teaching us an unintentional lesson.

"Yeah?" I yelled back in response.

He was sometimes too lazy to get up and come to me himself, so I'd go to his room.

"What?" I asked, leaning on the door frame with my arms crossed.

"Pass the remote," he pleaded pointing to the remote on the old pizza box near the mountain of musty clothes.

"Your room is a mess. You gotta do something about it." I insisted in a serious voice.

He groaned and sighed before rolling over on his queen sized bed.

"If you're so worried, why don't you clean it?" he said in an annoyed tone of voice.

I scowled at him and huffed. "Fine, I will. You won't even recognize this room when I'm done with it. You'll see the floor for once."

I looked around the room and examined the surroundings. While I clean, I thought, I might as well redecorate this dull room.

"What?" he asked.

"Your room will be way much better than this by Wednesday night." I said.

He looked around and took in the environment before looking at me and shrugging. "So... that remote ain't gonna move itself, is it?"

I scowled and threw it at him before leaving his room. Even though I love my brother, Tyler gets on my nerves. But I guess that's what he's supposed to do.

I went to my bedroom where everything made sense. You could see the wooden floors, even though they were still an ugly sight. The walls were dull and baby pink and lavender. The closet was directly across from the exit door and my bed was on the far end. It was a small room for a teenager, but it's better than the basement where it smells like mold and piss.

I heard multiple gunshots, as always, and a guy who's voice was young shouting profanity followed by "Chres, don't let him get away..."

Ray POV

"Chres, don't let him get away!" I yelled as we ran after Jaden.

Jaden was a guy who did business with our "boss", Walter. Jaden didn't necessarily do business with Walter, but his father did before running off to the Poconos and leaving Jaden behind to deal with consequences. Typical black man move. Jaden didn't deserve this, but money is money and the number one rule of surviving the streets is to never feel bad for the guilty, and in this case, Jaden is guilty...guilty of having a deadbeat dad that is.

"Man, I got em," Chres said before lining up his gun and pulling the trigger.

Jaden's screams of pain echoed through the night air. I could hear the police sirens wailing,meaning we had two choices.

•Leave Jaden to die and get away without the money Walter desperately wanted

or

•Risk getting caught and drag Jaden away with us and away from the cops.

Any wise guy would go with choice one and handle consequences later rather than go to jail where the chances of being butt-fucked by five guys in a jail shower were high. But unfortunately, I wasn't a wise guy.. I was pretty stupid.

I took my white t-shirt off and wrapped it tightly around Jaden's shoulder before lifting him up and carrying him in the back yard of the closest house small there was. I ducked down so the girl in the pink and purple bedroom couldn't see me and dropped Jaden in the grass. He hissed in pain and held his arm.

"Dang, Ray! Calm down before we get caught," Myles said, looking around for any witnesses. "I don't want to kill that fine piece of--"

"Myles, shut up!" Jacob hissed before crouching in front of Jaden and searching his pockets for money.

I ignored Myles's constant chatter and took my phone out to text Walter that we had Jaden. He'd be so much more proud if it was Will who we had rather than Jaden, but who gives a crap?

"Hey, Jaden," Myles smirked, "Where's your fine ass sister?"

Jaden scowled at him and said "If I wasn't in so much pain, I'd kick your ass."

"You wouldn't dare," Chres spoke up, "I'd shoot you before you could even get up from that spot." He still had his gun pointed to Jaden in case he tried leaving or trying any slick shit.

We all knew Jaden wouldn't try anything because the odds were against him, but it was good to know we each had installed fear in his mind of the horrible things we each planned to do to him when we got the chance. Lets just say, I was pretty explicit with my description of torturing him.

I checked the response Walter replied as the quietest one of us, Craig, kept look out for the girl in the window and the police cars.

11:54 P.M.

From Walter: Good Job boys! Bring him in, I would like a word with him involving his good for nothing father!

Yikes.. When Walter is angry, he talks all proper and whatnot. Its pretty weird but creepy as well. Its like he has secret messages in his texts that the gang can decode. He basically said to bring Jaden to him alive so he can torture him into finding out about the money and his father. This has happened before and I'd hate to be on Walter's bad side...

"Let's bring Marlon Wayans in to Walter." I said, referring to Jaden and his weird hairstyle that somewhat resembled Marlon Wayans in Don't Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood.

They nodded in agreement and lifted him up while dragging him through the yard.

~~

Author's Note: Some first chapter, eh ? Just wanted to introduce the lives of Tyra and Ray before officially starting everything. Well, shower time !! Bye slores ! ♡ Hope you enjoyed first chapter !

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