Violence [Jack Barakat]

6

"Damn it!" Alex yelled out in pain. "Fuck! Ow!" Profanities started spilling out of his mouth while Zayn removed the bullet from Alex's arm.

"Could you stop moving? It's not really that far down." Zayn chewed on his lip in concentration.

"Sure, man." Alex scrunched his eyes closed and held his breath, resembling a child, which made me double over in laughter.

When the bullet was removed, the blood cleaned, and bandage renewed, Tom had called the members to a meeting, except me.

"Sorry, I'll tell you about it when it's over." Jack whispered, patting my shoulder.

"Why aren't you in this?" Alex asked me after everyone left while we sat alone in the kitchen.

"I guess they needed someone to keep you company," I lied. I wasn't about to tell him about the problem with the New York treasury, and even if I didn't know for sure, I was positive that they were discussing that issue in the meeting hall.

"Oh, well, I need to tell you something kind of important. It involves that house place I was held in yesterday." Alex started to pick on his fingers.

"What happened there? I was so stressed I forgot to ask." I say, immediately concerned.

"They asked me about your parents and backgrounds. Yours and Jack's and I only told them what I knew, which wasn't much. Just your moms job, deceased father, and Jack's immigration at the age of 1. God, I hope saying that stuff didn't get me in to trouble."

"Okay good, it wasn't much. Just avoid them, please. I don't wanna drag you and Lisa into this drama." I say to my best friend, and I meant it, I was already under enough stress.

"Of course, Charlotte." Alex fist bumped me, leaving me confused.

"This gang shit has really matured you hasn't it?" He laughed.

What he said caused me to think. What if I wasn't in this gang? I would probably be in college with a job at a coffee shop, but nothing exciting. I also wouldn't have stab scars or bruises. Most importantly, I wouldn't have met Jack, who had taught me to live and grow out of my shell. The thoughts started to mess with my head, so I tried to ignore them.

"I guess it has," I laugh nervously.

*****

"They said it was okay to discuss this with you so um," Jack played with his thumbs.

"What did they say?" I asked impatiently.

"David is your biological dad, I don't know why someone would tell you he's dead. And he wants to see you. So, Rian got us hooked up with some fake traveling documents, and we're going to New York in 2 days." Jack held up two I.Ds', one reading "Matthew Harbison" and the other one said "Camila Lexus".

"Can this be considered a vacation?" I looked up at him from the cards in excitement.

Jack raised his thick eyebrows at me, giving approval to my question.

I hugged him tightly, which caught him off guard, since I wasn't one for hugs and became awkward when it came to them.

*****

(2 days later)

"It says we have to take this train to Rikers Island in Elmhurst. The place is dangerous from what I know," Jack points his finger to the stop on the map.

"Dangerous," I scoff, I've been told this about many things for projects, but there hasn't been anything I couldn't handle.

"Don't try to be brave, Char. This place is horrible, Danny's been here once, you know about his nightmares right? He used to be the strongest man I knew." Jack smiled, looking pleased with himself for attempting to scare me, but I just glared at him.