DIRTY BULLETS

chapter one

ALL SHE WANTED was a drink; maybe a sprite, perhaps a coke. She had done it before, worked late at the diner, and then nipped into the little corner shop a few blocks away from her small apartment complex while she walked home. Nothing out of the ordinary typically happened, not really. It was a routine somewhat.

But perhaps that was why she was the one to fall victim to the situation. Though, never did she expect this.

NEW MESSAGE

From: Hailey

Hurry back tonight.

Layla gazed down at the text message on her phone that her sister had just sent. Reading and rereading the three words, she gulped. She couldn't bring herself to respond out of nerves, especially if that phone call earlier at work was anything to go off of.

Normally a text like that would result in a follow up of a number of other texts.

Someone needs to take mum to her appointment this weekend and someone needs to get the groceries. Someone needs to cook dinner and someone needs to do Emma's washing.

There was a reason Layla had moved out of home a few months ago, but that didn't mean her responsibilities changed. 

Glancing at the time, it was 11.30 pm. She didn't reply, instead, shoving the phone back into her pocket, making a mental reminder to call Hailey when she was on the bus back home.

Looking back to the various drinks sat in front of her, Layla hummed softly to herself a song that had been stuck in her head for half the day. The distant sound of cars driving down the concrete roads and the closer noise of a cluster of voices as though they were outside the store, Layla took no notice of. 

No one else was in the store except for her and Barney, the shop owner, though it was late at night so that wasn't strange.

Loose change balanced in the palm of the girl's hand as she compared the prices of the beverages to the amount she had. Tonight hadn't been the best night, tips-wise. Just a few silvers and a couple golds. Water would have to do, so she grabbed one from the shelf.

Closing the door back over, she couldn't help but let her gaze flicker to the stacks of sweets, chocolates, and crisps all sitting temptingly for her on rows of shelves.

God, she hadn't had a Kitkat in probably years. Would it go unnoticed if she were to slip one into her coat pocket?

The girl hadn't eaten since breakfast before heading out to her long-houred shift, and she doubted she'd have the energy to make anything once she got home tonight. 

Standing on her tiptoes, Layla took a look over the couple of aisles to where the old man stood at the cashier. He had a mug of tea resting on the counter beside the till as he read one of tomorrow's newspapers that had probably just been delivered to be set out in store for tomorrow. Barney's attention was anywhere but on Layla.

She could do it right now, nick the chocolate bar, and he would never know.

But she didn't. She couldn't.

Barney had always been so kind to her. He was the type of person who would slip her a free pack of gum simply because she visited the store so often; he would tell her of how his granddaughter had drawn him a picture at school one day, or of how his son – who was a well-paid doctor – had decided to pay him a rare visit to catch up, something that Barney treasured each time it happened. He was a lovely, kind-hearted old man that still kissed the photo of his passed wife goodnight before he went to bed, and every time Layla spoke to him, her heart swelled in warmth, and she could see the way his eyes always sparkled with pride and happiness when he spoke of his family. Barney never ceased to make Layla smile, so sweet and caring, and she saw him as a dear friend, really.