Lock & Key

26

Rahlyn Brewster

To say I was shocked is an understatement. I was covered in blood that was not mine. Every time I closed my eyes I would find myself back at the house with bullets flying.

I couldn't defend myself so someone else had to and that cost him his life.
Manuel was alive now he dead. That all happened in a blink of an eye. It's funny how life works. I never wanted to see him get killed - anybody for that matter. That minute that it happens can change your whole life, it changed mine.

Right now I'm missing that comfort, I don't know who's but it's missing. I want..I want Latrell. I wanted him to hold me and tell me that everything's going to okay, even though we both knew it wasn't.

" Rahlyn...im scared...." Kylie's whisper pulled mine from my trance. It was so soft I could barely make out the words.

"Huh?"

"I'm scared Rahlyn." I wanted to comfort her but I can't do it for her if I can't do it for myself.

"Me too." I proped my head on the door since we were laying down.

The car soon stopped. "I'll be right back. Don't open the door for anybody. I'm going to lock the door, stay down and quite" he got out of the car and locked the doors.

"Where do you think he is going? Where are we?" Kylie asked.

"I don't know but we did get on the highway" I felt like I was in a horror movie hiding from the killer under the bed. Helpless.

Kylie groaned, "what's wrong?" I sat up but laid back down.

"Nothing, the baby just kicked. That's all."

"Khy you can't be scaring me like that." I laughed " So what now? Where do we go from this?" I felt her shrug.

"That's something that we have to ask Travis and Latrell." It was indeed.

The driver's door opened and Travis got in. "Y'all good?"

"..."

He started the car and started to drive. We were driving for about five minutes before we stopped.
"Come on, get out" He turned off the car and got out. Kylie and I got out next.

He started walking to another truck, we followed keeping close. We were at the airport.

When we were close to the truck someone stepped out. I couldn't tell cause it was dark in the garage.

"Rahlyn." I knew that voice. "Latrell." I ran up to him. He hugged me as I cried into his shirt. Who knew I could go from being a happy college student with my bestfriend to being mixed up in gang-related activities and traumatized.

He began to rub my back" I gotchu baby"

"What's going to happen? I'm scared Latrell. I don't want to be next" I shook my head.

"Rahlyn you're not going to be next Trust me. I gotchu." He was looking into my eyes as he spoke. I didn't know if I could trust him or not.

"What are we going to do?" I asked. It was now or never.

"We gotta go back. You and Kylie are going to finish school. Travis and I will handle the rest, but we gotta play this shit cool. Ate?"  We nodded.

"Aye, sis!" I turned around and saw  Raymond running up. "I'm glad you're okay. Kylie, you good?" Raymond asked. She nodded.

"Where's Miyraah?"

"She in the hospital. She went into labor when we got the call. Jahkeem wants to see you. Yall straight?" He asked Latrell and Travis who were engaged in a deep conversation.