Miss Sacrifice

Malik

"Yo, Malik open the door man!" Tony said. He was at my front door late at night that day. 

I ran to get the door and when I opened I saw Tony holding a backpack and Marcus was with him. "What's up man?" I asked. 

"We need you tonight nigga." Marcus said. 

I rubbed my hands across my forehead and didn't say anything. 

"See I told you he was gonna back out again!" Tony said. "Man, look all you gotta do is a couple of runs for me to one person that's all and then you give me the money." 

"Why can't you do it?" I asked. I wasn't a fan of solving other people's drug problems, especially Tony's. He had a way of mixing other people into things in order to get more money and that's exactly what I feared. 

"Because I need you to do it. What are you scared of the dark now?" Tony said and walked past me and into the house. Tony opened the bag and exposed a towering amount of white powder in tiny baggies to me. 

"Tony you know I don't work with that shit man!" I said and pushed the bag away from me. "I don't know nothing about this stuff nigga!" 

"That's not what I want to sell, I'm talkin' bout' this." Tony moved the white powers around and showed me that he meant marijuana. 

"Malik, just take the bag and do the job." Marcus shot at me with a raging look. 

 "I gotta pick up my sister, I can't." I lied. Tay was sound asleep in bed, but to save myself the trouble I had to lie to Tony.  Tony was a money man and I did my work on my own, selling drugs for Tony never ends on a good note. 

"Malik, nigga c'mon. Just one night man. I cant do this alone." Tony begged. 

"You got Marcus, I can't. I'm sorry man. Next time." I said and shook my head at him. 

It was not fear that was holding me back, but it was just me not wanting to work with Tony and Marcus, working with someone like Tony was always dangerous. 

Tony snarled at me and turned away with Marcus, "Man, you ain't shit. And next time when I need you, you better be there." 

"On God." Marcus said and left. Tony slammed the door behind him. 

I thought of a way to get out of this the next time Tony came around but I thought of nothing. I knew if I backed out again I would be at conflict with Tony and Marcus. I turned Tony away one too many times and I know the last time will lead to violence. I didn't want to be spotted by Tony when I went out with Jaaliyah, not of embarrassment but only because I didn't want Tony thinking I blew him off for a girl. Tony had a bad history with one girl once and ever since then, he's hated women with a twisted gut. I didn't mind being seen with Jaaliyah, she was a girl that I'd show off to the whole world but Tony would never understand. 

I spent the rest of my night thinking about Jaaliyah and what could possibly be happening to her at this very moment. I thought the other things she didn't show me and tell me, I thought of how it made me feel. I couldn't wrap my fingers around everything but one thing was for sure, I knew that I didnt want that life style for her or anyone for that matter and I had to find a way to get her out.