Elle Jones

Chapter 20: Bonding With Erykah

New York isn't usually this quiet at the time of day.

Whenever I walk home from school, I could hear people screaming, car honking, loud music, or pigeons sitting on the concrete.

But now that I am riding with Austin, I felt as though I am wearing headphones.

No toxic sound can penetrate through my eardrums—just sweet bliss and serenity. However, as minutes fly by, the gentle silence suddenly became a poison cloud, suffocating me with guilt and unconsciousness.

My nervous feet continued dancing on the floor as droplets of sweat became embedded on my cinnamon brown skin.

I didn't know if the sweat was caused by the shitty air conditioning or my guilt, but ever since I had listened to that damn announcement, I still couldn't believe Warren Cole is actually looking for me.  

Jesus Christ!  I cursed.

If Joseph finds out that I have stolen Elle Jones' ashes, then he will throw me behind bars without a trial or bail.

And as for Austin, Joseph might indict him as my accomplice, destroying his dreams of becoming an artist. 

Looking at the side view mirror, I kept imagining him chasing after us with his fearless police car.

Its bright red and blue lights danced behind us, the smell of burning gasoline mixing in with the gloomy skies. Black marks streaked across the road, as Joseph's malicious eyes hunted me like a defenseless animal.

Sensing my fear, Austin had advised me to stay under the radar and be calm.

"Everything is going to be fine, " he insisted. "As soon as we get to the airport, we can finally be free of him."

I glanced in Austin's direction, shaking my head in doubt.

"Don't underestimate him, Austin," I said quietly, aware of Erykah sitting in the back. "Joseph is a lot smarter than you think."

Austin bobbed his head, tightening his hand against the steering wheel. Despite Joseph's large ego, he is good at closing cases.

New York Times has been calling Joseph one of the 'greatest policemen Brooklyn has ever known'. On the outside, he was popular with his colleagues, the mayor, and the judge.

But on the inside, he became the monster that haunted my existence.

Giving me concerned eyes, Austin said to me: "I know your dad is a cop and all, but he scares the living hell out of me. Even you."

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. Because of my fear towards Joseph, I had already forgotten what I was going to say. Reproachful, but gentle, Austin promptly removes his right hand from the steering wheel then squeezed my left-hand tight.

"We'll get through this, " he vowed. "I promise."

Even though I didn't have the courage to smile, I squeezed his hand back then watch as the road unfolds before us. Like the ridges of a snail's shell, oil black wheels traced around the sturdy surface of the ribbon-like concrete. Above us, dark clouds pulled away from their long embrace, allowing the sun to eventually appear.

And although the air conditioning suddenly came back on, warm hamburger meat smells continued to skulk underneath our nose.

Before we continued our journey, Austin drove to a nearby gas station to replenish the dying fuel, while Erykah manages to toss away her garbage and ripped blanket into a nearby trash bin.

Gathering Austin's blue quilt, I tried giving it to him, but Austin politely shakes his head.

"Give it to Erykah," he insisted. "she needs it more than me."