Trap Queen.

6♛

                                           C H A P T E R - 6

       Gun shots were spraying everywhere.

       I ducked down under a table, pulling Serena with me. I heard gunshots before, but it felt like someone was trying to shoot directly in our house. The whole house suddenly got quiet, and Serena was breathing hard. “I’m scared, Egypt,” Serena whispered, like a little kid. I didn’t say anything, but I was kinda shaken too.

       “What the hell. . .” I was glad to hear my mom’s voice to know that she was safe. Me and her already knew what to do during drive-by’s and shootouts, but I could tell Serena was sheltered most of her life, just by the way she was acting. After about 30 seconds, the gunshots started again. One of our windows busted, and holes were in the wall. At this point, I didn’t know when we were safe and when we was not.

       Five minutes past and there were no more shots. “Are you alright?” I asked Serena. Her face was a bright red, and she was sniffling. I could tell she was scared; anyone would be. But she acts like she’s never been in a shootout before. It was too common in Compton for her to not to experience that at least once.

       “I’m fine, really. . .” Serena’s hands began to shake. I almost felt bad for her.

       “C’mon, Serena. Let’s go to my room.” I took her hand and leaded her into my room. I sat her down on my bed and I sat right next to her. “Why are were you scared? Are you from here?” I questioned. Serena just looked at me, not saying anything.

       “I’m talking to you, Serena,” I demanded.

       “I just don’t like the sound of gunshots, okay? They bring up bad memories. I lost all my friends, boyfriends, and even my family to guns. I hate them,” Serena explained looking down at the floor. I can tell she was embarrassed, but I don’t blame her.

       “That’s understandable. You ain’t gotta be embarrassed to tell me.”

      “I’m glad I can trust you, Egypt. You’re like the only person I can trust that’s still alive. You a real nigga,” Serena laughed. She made me smile slightly also.

        “Thanks. You still workin’ on that job?” I teased, giggling.

        “I start today. I just didn’t tell you yet. I start at twelve.” Serena took a glance at the clock. “In about an hour, actually. Can I take a shower?” Serena inquired.

        “Bruh, you ain’t gotta ask to do everything. Gon’ head.” I shooed Serena away, laughing my way into the kitchen. When I got there, Momma had her face in her palms. What happened now? I questioned in my head. “What’s wrong, Momma?” I interrogated. Momma shook her head.

        “Don’t worry about it baby, I’ll be fine,” Momma coughed in between her words. I looked at her in a puzzled look. Momma never was the one to really complain, so I think something was really up with her. “It’s just these bills, it’s becoming too much.”

       “You don’t have to worry, I got it.” I poured some Pops and soy milk into a bowl. I ate very small spoonfuls. I sat by Momma, and I saw a tear roll down her cheek. I know that the were poor or money was tight, but we weren’t hurting that bad. I never seen my mom cry, and that wasn’t a sight I wanted to see.

       “Momma?!” I screeched, wiping the tears from each side of her face. I felt like I was going to get choked up too, just by watching her cry.

       “Gon’ somewhere, Egypt! I told you to go somewhere, ya hear?” Momma exclaimed, pushing me out of her sight. I never seen mom in this state, so I had to admit, it worried me a little. I backed away from my momma slowly, putting my bowl in the sink, not finishing the rest. I wasn’t even hungry at this point.

 

S E R E N A - P O V

       It was the first day of my new job.

       I felt so accomplished because this was the first job I felt proud of myself for doing. Prostituting was degrading for any woman or any person in general. This job made me feel like more of a woman; I could get money without selling myself - which to me was amazing. I went up to a lady in a green sweater - the one that I could start working whenever.

       “Aye, I’m Serena,” I greeted, holding out my hand. “It’s my first day of working here.” The lady stared at me a few seconds, then she gave me a warm smile.

       “I remember you. I got a job just for ya,” the lady pointed to a few boxes. “I need you to open all those boxes and start stacking the cans on each empty shelf. Would that be too hard?” I nodded my head no. Even though the job wasn’t really what I wanted to do, I was going to do it anyways. I needed the money, and it wasn’t like it was an easy task to get a job.

       “Oh, and call me Sister Abigail,” she clarified.

       I started to unpack the boxes, when I heard a familiar voice. I knew from a mile away it was Dante. I panicked, so I just hid behind the boxes.

       “Aye, yo’ lady! Don’t a girl name Serena Broadnax work here? I’m lookin’ for her and I’m tryna find her for some business we need to take care of.” I prayed to God in that thirty seconds that Sister Abigail wouldn’t tell Dante I was here.

       “Oh yes, of course! Serena, c’mon out of there baby,” Sister Abigail called. I tried to pretend not to hear her, until she came by to fetch me. “Girl, what you hiding for? Stop acting so silly and get over here.” I walked beside Sister Abigail, my heart racing. There was nobody that could save me now. Egypt wasn’t here and I couldn’t hide nowhere.

       “Hey NaNa,” Dante greeted. “I sho’ did miss you.” Dante’s breath smelled like he drank 20 bottles of liquor and smoked afterwards. He grabbed me tight around the wrist, and walked me out to his car. I was begging for him not to hurt me.

        Out of nowhere, Dante began to laugh uncontrollably. “You actually thought you could get away.” Dante shook his head and I looked out of the window, desperate for help.

        “Please, Dante. I don’t want to this anymore,” I begged. “I’m tryna get away from this shit and you keep pullin’ me back in it!” I screamed.

        “Shut the hell up! After all the damn complaining you’ve been doing about me selling drugs-”

        “I’d rather you be a drug kingpin then make me do this shit! As far as I’m concerned, we’re not longer to together, so you can’t tell me what to do anymore. Can’t you see I’m tryna go to work to better myself? I dropped out of tenth grade for this shit?” I interrupted.

       “You better calm the fuck down,” Dante commanded.

       I remained silent. I thought about running, but that wouldn’t work. Dante could have a gun, knife, or all the above. “I hate you.” I mumbled under my breath. Dante acted like he didn’t hear me, but I know he did. In the cupholder of the car, there was a large McDonalds’ cup that it seems like it had water in it.

       “Drink this,” Dante commanded pushing the cup up to my lips.

       “Fuck no.”

       “Drink the damn water or I’ll choke yo’ ass out.” I took a slurp of the drink. It was just plain water, so I didn’t understand why Dante wanted me to drink it so bad. After a while, my vision started to get blurry and I had got really dizzy. Soon, I couldn’t see anything and I realized I had blacked out.

      There was no telling where I’d wake up.