SAL

2 Face

With the weight of the world on his shoulders Sal struggled to sit up in the old battered bed. His mind was one hazy blur and the only thing he wanted to focus on was how many bags of Doritos he could eat in an hour. Scratching his head he got up stumbled, knocked into the nearby dresser and slouched his way out the bedroom to the living room. He reached the kitchen and grabbed the Doritos in the cabinet. He didn't make even make it to the couch before he slumped down and attacked the bag. In the far distance he could hear his phone ring. The little Galaxy was going off crazily but that wasn't his problem. He didn't want any sound except the chew of Doritos in his mouth. Nothing mattered to him anymore.

By the umpteenth ring he groaned as he got up tired of the dammed phone. He sloshed his way over not paying attention to the caller ID.

"Hello?"

" Hey nigga? You wanna fuckin burn niggas with blunts and shit I got yo punk ass" Sal held the phone away from his ear. The person was screaming way to loud for him.

"Sorry sir, I think you have the wrong number." Sal smiled at himself sarcastically.

"Nigga yo punk-high-yella-mental-retardated-ass"

"hmmmhmm"

"Just know this nigga I got yo fuckin number."

"Okay I'll tell Billy you called by hunn." Sal hung up the phone pissed off that Chuck would even call him. He smirked at his fake impression of his mother but that one thought of her had him frowning again. His mom kicked him out on his ass he should move on but even he knows that if he did Carmen would go insane and neglected.

Sal trudged back to the room and went to the shower. He stood there letting the hit water run down his body. He felt his muscles clench at first only to unclench. He watched the water travel all down him washing away all the dirt and excessive soap. No matter how hard he scrubbed the water couldn't wash away his problems and his worries. After thirty minutes in the shower thinking about life he got out and got dressed. He slid his sweat jacket over his head and walked out the door. He wasn't going to leave his baby sister for dead in his mother's arms.

"Sal I told you I don't want you hear." His mom tried to close the door on him again but this time he pushed back.

"I'm not here for you I'm here for Carmen." With a final push he was in the house.

"Where is she?"

"That's none of your business." Sal shook his head tired of all the bullshit he just wanted someone to be real with him. Pushing past his mom, He yelled out, "Carmen!" as he made his way up the stairs. He first checked her room seeing nothing but scattered teddy bears he left and knew he would find her underneath his bed. As he crept into his room he could hear the soft weep of his little sister. He checked underneath the bed and she wasn't there but he knew she was in the room.

"Carmen please come out, please." He heard another whimper this time coming from the closet.

Slowly the closet door creaked open.

"Sal...."

"Mija I'm here." He opened his arms wide and the little girl ran into them.

"Don't ever leave again okay?" He nodded his head and shushed the little girls cry's/

"It's me and you do or die. Together forever." The little girl sniffled.

"You promise?" He held out his pinky and she took it with hers.

"Promise." Carmen smiled all three dimples showing. Sal stood up And looked down at her trying to look mean.

"Don't tell anyone about this, I have a rep to protect." Mid sentence he popped his collar. Carmen ignored him and tugged his arm as she ran out the room screaming "Ice Cream!"

Sal chuckled and noticed his mom by the door. No words were needed as he slid by her, both not touching each other. He ran out the door catching up to Carmen. When they reached the ice cream truck Carmen was debating on what she wanted. Out the corner of his eyes Sal saw an all black Rover slowly cruising down the block. The hairs on his neck stood straight up.

"Carmen hurry up."

"Shhhh... I'm thinking." Sal watched the Rover come to an almost stop. As soon as the ice cream man handed Carmen the ice cream time stopped. The passenger of the rover slowly pulled out a gun aiming for Sal but shot at his sister. The ice cream that looked so comfortable in her hand fell on the hot pavement. Carmen's small miniature body fell back into Sal's and he couldn't hold back the tears that streaked his face. He watched his sisters black curly hair fall across her glistening cheek. Her face carved perfectly as if it were made of marble. Sal saw nothing but red and that wasn't because he had his little sister's blood on his hands.

Sal could feel his mother shaking him crying on his shoulder and for her lost child. He paid no intention as he made his mind analyze every part of the black Rover. He was going to kill and Chuck was going to be the first one.He quickly stepped away from his mother as she tprayed and cried in Spanish. He was tired of running away like a little bitch. Chuck wanted to play a grown man's game and Sal was going to play along with him. Sal raced into the house knocking glasses down. Tearing apart drawers until he felt the smooth cold metal in his hands. He ran outside again passing his mom as he made his way to Chuck's house. I took Sal a long thirty minutes but the run was worth it. When he made It to Chuck's house he held nothing back. Sal looked around the yard and saw an idle brick laying alone. He took the brick and smashed it against the window of Chuck's Escalade. He did it repeatedly to the side windows and the car door. When He was done with the car he waited for Chuck.

Chuck was on a natural high. He got his revenge. Although he had nothing against Carmen it felt good to know that he had hurt Sal. The nigga thought he was just going to get away with what he did. He was beyond stupid. As Chuck rounded the corner he almost choked on his own spit. His all black Escalade demolished. Before he could even scream out he was rushed by Sal. He fell back onto the ground. Punches thrown words screamed. The fight was brutal. It didn't end until a busted lipped and black eye Sal heard the police sirens in the background and got up. He towered over the half dead Chuck and held the gun right between his eyes. Sal took a deep breath and put the gun back in his waist band. With a final kick to the side Sal took off. He wanted to kill he wanted death on his hands but, Mr. Hyde wanted to come out killing any malicious thoughts he was having. Dr. Jekyll was hiding but was still lurking around. He could feel his own heart ache from the pain and betrayal. This wasn't life it couldn't be but it was and Sal was living in the harsh reality of it all.