A Serpent Can't Shed Its Skin

Ch.8

''How did they even find me? What do they even want??'' I whisper so low to Sweet Pea, and subconsciously put a shaky hand on his very firm and thick thigh.

''I don't know, but you need to get out of here, now '' Sweet Pea says equally as low, and very commanding. He then looks down at where my hand is.

I make a quick move remove my hand, but he puts a strong hand over my hand to keep me there, and calm me down.

''I'm not leaving you here to fight them off by yourself, if you're staying, so am I'' I say so serious, and looking him straight in his limitless dark brown eyes.

''Fine'' Sweet Pea says as we both get up, and he hides me behind him protectively as our intruders get very close to invading our sanctuary.

The bulletproof glass door to the principal's office then burst open, and there standing in the doorway completely shirtless is Malachai with a very weird, and unsettling expression on his face.

''I found you Runt, and look what I found here! You are getting very cozy with this Southside Serpent!! Your dear old daddy won't like this one little bit!!'' Malachai said laughing that weird and unsettling laugh again.

I walk out from behind Sweet Pea ''How do you know my father??''

Malachai laughs again and says almost bitterly ''Oh my father and him go way back, remember what I told you little Runt? Your father was the leader of the Ghoulies, and was a legend, and then he married your Southside Serpent mommy, and became all soft''

''My mother was a Southside Serpent??'' I ask Sweet Pea turning around, and trying to look him straight in the eyes, but he won't look at me, coward!!

''Ohh yeahh your mommy was the leader's lover and a legend back in the day too, and then your daddy stole her, and the rest is history. Now enough chatter, let's go!'' Malachai says stalking towards me, but when I try to hide behind Sweet Pea again, Sweet Pea physically pushes me away, and won't come anywhere near me. We are further away than ever now. That thought alone makes me want to break down and cry.

''You should go with him'' Sweet Pea says so cold and distant.

I turn to Sweet Pea so fast I almost get whiplash. ''Why??'' I ask wounded.

''Because he can be your makeshift family'' Sweet Pea says still refusing to look at me.

''Did my father send you to retrieve me??'' I ask Malachai looking him straight in his corpse painted covered eyes.

''Yes, yes he did, now come on little Runt, Casper is worried, and you probably won't like him when he is worried'' Malachai says still using my dad's stupid nickname from his rebellious youth.

''Okay'' I say so glumly, and quickly but very half-heartedly. Maybe I can ask questions about my parent's past on the ride back to prison, I mean home.

Malachai, me, and two random Ghoulies walk very quickly, and almost aggressively out of the school, and to a waiting vintage cherry red 1940's Ford Coupe ( yeah I know my cars very well).

''Nice 1940's Ford Coupe'' I say with actual appreciation in my voice.

Malachai actually turns, and stares at me ''you know your cars??''

''Of course, living with Casper Corpse all these years, I kind of have to'' I say actually laughing a genuine laugh.

''That's right, I forgot how amazing Casper's car collection was, has it grown?'' Malachai asks almost desperately and very fondly.

I nod, and laugh again, and I call and climb into shotgun (with an actual shotgun on the floor), and Malachai gets in the driver's seat, and off we go!

Once we were on the road (this car still drives really smoothly) , I immediately pry him for answers.

''This car still drives like a dream, so tell me all about my parent's, I don't even know their real names.''

Malachai doesn't say anything for such a long time that we had already made it across the train tracks to the Northside.

''Rey Ramirez and Isabella Indigo'' Malachai says with his eyes overly focused on the road.

''Wow I didn't even know that, please tell me about them, and why are you even being so nice to me right now??'' I say so quietly I think he can't hear me.

''He was wild, ruthless, and tough, like I said he was a legend, and your mother I'm sorry I don't know much about her, but I do know she stole him from us, and made him go all soft, and I'm so nice to you because you are blood, even if you do want so badly to join the stupid Southside Serpents'' Malachai says as we pull up at my massive stark white house.

''Is it that obvious??'' I ask looking down at the floor.

''Not if you know the signs, and wow, nice digs'' Malachai says with jealously laced in his voice.

''Don't worry, it's a cold prison inside'' I say with not a hint of humor in my voice.

''You should tell me how to join the Ghoulies sometime, I really do need a makeshift family'' I  say giving him a very weird handshake that he somehow converts into a very awkward hug, and I exit the car.

I very reluctantly unlock the front door to my doom as he drives off into the pitch black night.

Every single light was off in the house but I knew it was just my parent's way of making me feel at ease before they struck, and now that I knew my mother was Serpent, she will probably strike just like a cobra.

 ''Dearest Rey and Isabella I'm home!!'' I shout into the too quiet living room just to mess with them.

My very frazzled looking mother hops out from behind the couch, and my very furious looking father stomps out from behind his special recliner chair.

My mother's usually pristine and perfect housewife dress was soiled and ripped up, and my father's usually oil stained mechanic's uniform was pitch black and disgusting.

''Who told you our real names??'' My father asks me with deadly calm.

''Your old blood gang member/ drug mule, Malachai did dad!!'' I scream so loud and angry that they have lied to me, and kept their true selves from me my entire life.

''I don't know Malachai, I only knew his father when he was in the Ghoulies with me, but yes I was the leader of the Ghoulies, and your mother was the Serpent queen. We ruled over the Southside, but since we were in different gangs, our love was forbidden, especially after your mother got pregnant with you, so we fled the Southside to raise you over here. We are so sorry we lied to you for this long, what would you like to know?? '' My father says in a rush as both my parent's sit on the couch, clearly defeated.

''I want to know how to join the Ghoulies and Southside Serpents'' I say with my arms crossed defensively over my chest, defeated too.