The Company We Keep

Chapter One

Why the fuck do I place myself in situations that endanger my life?

It's because I depend on others to save me and I'm a selfish bitch. I never take responsibility of my own actions or learn from mistakes I have made in the past. Who would blame me for being a bitch because I constantly surround myself with people that would swindle their own mother to get what they want, or someone that would double-cross you just to save their own skin. I always say that consequences don't faze me in the slightest, but in reality they do. Usually I end up running when things get complicated (see the selfishness.) Yet, what amazes me is the person who I rely on is the one I let down the most. Jasmine, my rescuer, the only person that puts up with the likes of me. She also goes along with my stupid decisions any sane person wouldn't make. Then again I know she'll always be there, but I wonder how long it will last.

I stopped ranting in my head at the sound of someone calling my damn name. I glanced at Brook with an annoyed expression. "Madison can you please sit? Russell is on his way," Brook uttered, while lying across on the old puke orange sofa on its last legs. She yelled at me then placed her earplugs back in her ear. "Are you kidding me it's been over hour he should be here already," I replied pulling my hair in frustration. Brook rolled her eyes and lowered the volume down on her I-phone. "Look, things like this take time alright, so chill he'll be here," Brook insisted and placed a pillow on top of her face to yell her frustrations away. I sighed at her lack of worrying while I was pacing around the filthy floor of this nasty ass apartment.

How can someone live like this? Hanging around Brook and Russell was fun mostly, but the way they kept this place is unacceptable. Scrunching up my noise I kicked a two week old half full McDonald's bag out of the way. I reach into my pants pocket to retrieve for my phone. Sliding a finger across the screen to view the time, I sighed and thought to myself shit where the hell is he? Something is not right about this. I marched toward Brook and snatched the pillow off her face, "Brook, when was the last time you talked to him," I asked, tossing pillow aside. She turned her head to respond, but the door burst open interrupting her. We both were shocked by what we saw; Russell stumbling through the door bruised and bloody.

Alarmed by the way he looked, Brook leaped off the sofa and ran towards him, "Oh my God Russell what happened?"

Russell struggling to breathe while holding his side, "Brook..... we... we need to get the hell out here RIGHT NOW." he yelled.

"What...I don't understand, Russell what the fuck is going on, shit you are bleeding." Moving his hand from side to show an injury that look like a gunshot wound. Brook gasped at the hole in his side and ran franticly into the kitchen. I was so devastated at Russell's state that, I didn't notice the blood rushing down his pants. I followed the red liquid dribble down his leg to a puddle on the floor. Blood. So much blood, I have never seen such a large amount of blood. The pungent odor of blood made my stomach turn. "Russell, you said this would be an easy transfer." I stated focusing on his blood stained shirt.

"We owe Vincent more money Madison," he painfully cried out. His face showed extreme discomfort while limping towards the batter sofa. "And he's not pleased, as you can see," he said with a groan. Brook return with a dish cloth to apply pressure to the wound area.

Did I heard him right, we owe 'that man' more money for what? Why?

"Madison, we need to leave the city, he knows where I live," he groaned after putting more pressure on wound.

Brook's eyes widened from what she heard Russell say. Her face changed from worried to being scared before running up the stairs. I stared at him in disbelief at the alertness of his voice. What does he mean 'we' this was his doing. He must of have done something for this to happen. "Hold on what do you mean we..... what the fuck did you do," I demanded, walking towards him to try and make sense of the situation. Russell lifted his head off the back of the sofa frowning, because of my accusations. His cold stare made me stop in my tracks. Russell always reminded me of Michael Cera in 'Juno' with the brown curls and baby face, but right now he looks murderous. "What did you say me?" Oh yeah, he's pissed. "I ain't do shit, I know not to piss off the wrong person Madison, do you think I like getting shot," He returned, voice hot with anger.

At that moment, Brook arrived from upstairs with an army backpack and a small black duffle bag like she was prepared for this shit. Russell grunted as he stood up. On his way to the door Russell was leaving g a trail of bloody foot prints. Brook threw his arm around her shoulder and reached behind her to open the door. I picked up the duffle bag Brook dropped by the door and followed close behind them. Russell moaned in pain all the way to the fire escape door. We would've use the elevator but it's broken at the moment due to the lack of up keep of the building. I walked around them to open the door, pushing it made a squeaky noise that echoed around the stairway. I glanced at Russell's face; his hair clung to his forehead as sweat rolled down his chin. You can see the distress he was experiencing. Under his eyes are getting darker and his skin is turning palely white.

I gazed at Brook with concern and she mimic my worries with her own. By the way he was looking, I knew we needed to get him to the emergency room. We both were startled by Russell hoarse voice, "Keep going I'll be fine." I shook my head at his stubbornness making my way through stairway. Looking down at four flights of stairs, shit this will be interesting, 'Ahhhh' I wish the elevator wasn't broken.

"Come on I got the door," we made it all the way through stairway without a problem. Russell pushed past me on shaky legs barely holding onto Brook. I whispered telling them to wait by the door while I checked to see if the lobby was clear considering Russell's condition. We didn't need any eye witness of us leaving the building. No one is in the lobby so I nodded to them to inform the coast is clear. Brook appeared to be scared out of her mind and hesitated for a minute at the lobby entrance. I gestured her to hurry up. She readjusted her grip around Russell's waist and started walking toward me.

Bad lighting flickered frequently within the lobby revealing the mole and graffiti of the outdated interior. Nudging Russell to gain his attention to inquire were the van is, he pointed down the hall to the back exit. We moved swiftly toward metal door, stepping over empty bottles and something that looked like vomit. In the corner you can see used needles and condoms. As we got closer to the door, I kept peeping over my shoulder to make sure no one was there. I cracked the door revealing the alley where the van should be. The odor from the alley smelled so awful from garbage, booze, and human waste. Brook pointed to the van by the dumpster. She searched through Russell's pocket searching for the keys. "Madison here take Russell," said Brooke. I grabbed hold of him. Brook sprinted towards the van, to back it up. Russell started mumbling under his breath going in and out of conscious. "Come on Russell stay with me," I smacked him on his cheek, tilted his head to force him to look at me. He blinked a few times struggling to focus from the light outside.

"Madison..."

"Yeah Russell I'm here just hold on okay."

His eyes filled with tears while scanning my face. " I shouldn't got you involve...what-what ever happens I'm sorry," he said with regret.

My heart dropped when he said that, some serious shit must have went down for him to apologize. Was it that bad? I shook my head for even thinking that, of course it was bad he was shot for heaven's sake. I tightened my arm around him when the van pulled up next to us. Brook stretched across opened the door and grabbed Russell under his arm to help him inside the van. He cried out from the pain while getting him into vehicle. Once he was settled in I glanced at Brook's face, blood was smeared across her porcelain skin just above cheek and her dark hair once in a bun was all over the place. Her eyes was red and puffy from crying, she would grimace every time Russell mellowed in pain. Brook shifted her eyes to me, I told her to get Russell to the hospital and don't stop for anything. She nodded her head and drove out of the alley.