HUMBLE.

XVIII. Flashbacks of Him

Vance in the MM. 👀

How in the entire fuck did this man find me? I repeatedly asked myself. I can't win for shit, can I? Vance was an ... issue I had when I was homeless. It was all about survival for me and we both knew it in the beginning. It turned into something dark with him though. He believed after the first fuck that I belonged to him. He was no a pimp or a drug dealer, he was worse. He had power over the streets of Houston. He had no need to sell. He was the one people came to when they needed help. He was mainly a hitman. For the right price bodies dropped all over the place leaving cold cases for Harris county to attempt to solve.

Jade - Flashback

I met Vance when he and one of his associates were "scouting" at a shelter I was trying to go into after Stacey kicked me out. They had no more room, so once again I would be sleeping behind the dumpster at Jack in the Box so I could at least catch the bus to get to school. As I trekked through the nearly flooded streets, the nicest car I could possibly imagine followed alongside me. Me being me, I assumed it was just another pimp in a exaggerated slab trying to put me on.

The car finally honked once the people in the car realized I wasn't going to stop for them. The driver, decked out in a camouflage BAPE hoodie, ran up to me grabbing my arm. "Whea' you call yaself goin' since it wasn't no room at the shelter?" his deep voice boomed through the sound of the rain.

I snatched my arm from him, "I don't need your help. Thank you though." I kept walking getting even more drenched in the freezing rain. I was shaking my head at myself when I did that. Once again, I let my pride push away someone that may have had good intentions of actually helping me in my situation.

I got to the end of the block and the car rounded the corner preventing me from crossing the street. Without warning, the guy in the BAPE hoodie grabbed me by the hand and ushered me to the back seat. "I wasn't really askin', ma. Get in the car and I can take you somewhea' for the night so you can at least have sumn to eat and dry clothes. Obviously you need somebody help."

I shook my head crying uncontrollably, "No, I don't. I'll be ok."

He blew a heavy breath, "Please get in the car. I promise ain't nothin' strange gon' happen and I don't just go around killin' folks for no reason." The frustration in his voice from me being difficult was evident. I couldn't see the man's face very well and we didn't know one another from any of the others that got rejected from the shelter; so why me?

Reluctantly, I climbed into the back of the car where a woman and two little boys were sleeping. They were standing in line at the shelter a little further behind than I was. I believe now what he was saying was true. He was trying to help out. The door slamming shut awoke the mother of the boys and she smiled sweetly in my direction. "It's nice to be chosen every once in a while," she spoke in a hoarse tone.

"Chosen?" I asked quietly to myself mainly as the hooded driver got back in his seat. I was still trying to get a good look at him, but it was nearly impossible. I hadn't even realized we were leaving out of the area. The short ride caught my attention once I saw we were in Sugar Land. I had never been out of Mo City if you don't include church mission trips.

The lady grabbed onto my tensed up shoulder, "He's a good guy. Whatever situation you may be in; he is the one you want helping you."

I peered at her finally noticing the black, purple and blue coming from her battered face, "Who is he?"

"Call me by my name," the driver cleared his throat as he eavesdropped on me and the lady's conversation. "My name Vance Norris."

"And I'm Nikoilia Green," the lady smiled again. To be as abused as she looked, she really had a sense of ease and serenity being in this car. She has to know something I don't. "The little ones are Garrett and Fabian."