The wind blew against her cinnamon-colored skin. Bumps raising along her arm. She tucked her cell phone in her black bag just before it started to vibrate. Wyleisha sighed and rolled her eyes as she retrieved and eyed the caller ID. 'Calling DAT BIICH' the phone flashed the call print across the screen. She hated to do it, it was either that or get an ear full when she got home.
"Hello?" she answered, hoping the person calling would immediately hang up. "Text me," her evil stepmother replied. That was the best name to call her, also DAT BIICH, as stated in the contacts. Maybe she should change it to 'TEXTABIICH' since... this is the seventeenth time she had done it.
BIICH: Where are you?
Wayside: You called me to tell me to text you then you text me to ask me where I am?
BIICH: Don't be smart.
Wyleisha pinched the bridge of her nose. The ridiculousness of it all, she thought. Her 'mother' who she frequently questioned being her mother was without a goddamn doubt a pain in the fucking ass. How can you call a nigga to tell them to text you; when in the first place, you could have simply texted? It was life's greatest mystery.
BIICH: I asked where you were, I expect an answer from you solving it.
Was this how women in their 40s spoke?
Wayside: I told you before I left home, I was going to the library
Since she added an emoji to emphasize her emotions. Wyleisha decided to mock. She tapped her foot as cool winds brushed her skin. She stood in front of Kingston Public Library, thinking, she lived three miles from the damn house.
She knew the streets well enough she wouldn't get lost.
BIICH: You are going to get it when you get home. I'm sick of your smart ass attitude.
In that moment she thought about being a real pain in the ass. But decided against it.
Wayside: I'm surprised you typed all that in one breath
BIICH: And what does that mean?
BIICH: Is that what you do?
BIICH: You hold your breath when you talk to people?
Wyleisha squeezed her lips together. The messages were at least 3 seconds apart. All she wanted to know was why. WHY?
BIICH: I called you to let you know it's time to come home!
Oh no, an exclamation point.
BIICH: You are ungrateful. I have raised your disrespectful behind and this is what you do? You need to change how you treat me. There are kids that grow up amongst vampires in the hood. They don't have clean water--
Pause. The entire town didn't have clean water.
BIICH:--they don't have parents that love them. Did you know Vamp kids are disowned by families because they commit cannibalism when the child reaches adulthood? It's called CULLING, Wyleisha. Culling is the act of killing. The two words are spelled different but mean the very same thing. We live in the Ghytto, do you have any idea what that means? We could die tomorrow morning but you wanna get an attitude and--
Oh my God.
Wayside: DAMN BIICH CAN YOU BREATHE
BIICH: Wayleisha I am your mother!
Wayside: Pls say sike
Wayside: I don't give a rat's ass if you my mama, my daddy, the fucking insurance company, or the goddamn God above
Wayside: Why the fuck did you call me to argue about bullshit
BIICH: BEcause I just saw on the news that a little girl just got kidnapped on Chestpik road!
BIICH: I don't know how you use those pictures you're using but you need to talk like you got some sense.
She just used one of them?
Wyleisha P. Gaines dropped her phone in irritation. Her hands flew to the sides of her head. She contemplated devious crimes that would without a doubt throw her in jail. However, the lifesaving answer was: RUNAWAY.
Most people didn't understand that Chalise K. Gaines was the most bothersome thing since Early Seams. According to all her research for school (WHICH SHE MENTIONED SEVERAL DAMN TIMES). Wyleisha clearly recalled letting Chalise know that she was going to the library to do a school project. Yes, she was told someone was killed. It wasn't a shock.
She lived in the Trahp. In the town, it was divided into three parts. The west housed the slum area and next door to the slums, The Belly.
Wyleisha lived in the rich part of the Trahp. If you could even call it that.
She dug through her bag and grabbed her music player. Plugging her earbuds into her ears, she picked up her phone which now had a huge crack across it. "God... damn it," her thumb rubbed the crack thinking about her job.
She worked at the Royal Grill which paid 8$ an hour. Her position? Cashier, because who would pay a button pusher any more than eight leaves? The new phone on BRAIN SOCIETY cost 750, the first bill was 53 leaves a month.
Wyleisha work from eight o'clock on the weekends to seven. On the weekdays, because she went to school, she worked from 2 pm to 5pm. Clock out of the evening shift and hope to God the extra money her boss gave her would come through. Orlena allowed her to come in at night and do a little part time for five extra leaves.
She did the math. She was forever broke.
Night shift didn't pay shit, given her clock out time on the weekend was 7 pm and she worked the extra 5 hours for five fucking leaves. The position above her was Burger Flipper. But Josep Newman worked that shift. But the catch was he burned the food. Always. Burger flipper was 14 leaves an hour. Next position, Orlena paid cleaners 18 leaves.
Unfair, the last time she went to Orlena Brooks to talk about her bounced check. Orlena said, the Grill was hemorrhaging money. "I can't pay the workers so you're just working for nothing at this point." Her eye twitched at the time, Orlena didn't care and gave Wyleisha a few Irons.
The Brawn despite being better than the Slum area didn't offer shit. In the Slums people worked the Blood Market or Teeth Alleys. While she was doing research for her Civil Right Leaders, she dived into her Vamp lexicons and Occult Who Manuals.
Early Seams was a Slayer and known for the assassination of more than four hundred Vamps in the Ghytto. His biggest assassination was the assassination of Ganil Khmer Ti, a Vamp Civil Rights Leader.
As research, Ganil was a 390-day old Vamp making him at least twelve months old. She found that interesting on top of the whole founding of blood vials in his house. That could have been staged.
Vampires in the Trahp were discriminated against. They needed a voice, had voice, and lost that voice. At least one thing was set up by the DOHRCC(DORK). Them. At first vamps didn't have any laws so the DOHRCC was put in place for what Ganil tried to do before his death.
Her poster board for school was going to look like a well-done shit take. After hours in the library, she didn't find anything useful.
"I should find me some Vampire friends." And her only friend was Alexis and Evita. As Wyleisha stood in front of the library a strong opinion was given. Her foot turned to the left. She lived on Newbond Lane; her job was on Justitsu Road.
Wyleisha focused on the sound in her ears. She pushed down the sidewalk. The Brawn was pretty at night, shop signs lit up and the blue streetlamps paving a way in the darkness. The Brawn didn't install white lights, blue light damaged Vamp eyes. Just as you made roaches scatter with the kitchen light. A Vamp in blue, won't be seeing you.
There was that chance a few Vamps would raid during the night. It was Howl Hour after all. It wasn't like she had never seen a Vamp or been kidnapped by one. Getting out of the situation was the question.
She didn't have a knife on her. Unlike the slums, the brawn's crime came from raids Vamps performed. More importantly if she was planning to do what she wanted. She needed a place to stay. Raids were the main thought now.
Now if a Vamp wanted to kidnap you. What do you do?
A) Run and hide
B) stake him in the heart
C) Give him your blood
D) Nothing
If a vampire came and grabbed her, in her honest opinion, she would give him a taste. Not because she liked Vampires and she wanted to turn into one. Vamps in the Ghytto were unfortunate, they needed blood which was the point of the raids. Even though it costed them their lives 89% of the time.
She passed a liquor store, a grocery store, and the hair salon with a help wanted sign. She thought to think about her job options. Wyleisha received eight dollars an hour flipping hotdogs and burgers. She could do hair. She knew how to curl, weave, braid and straighten. And then another thought came, she could do all that at home. However, Chalise was making her pay a 10-leaf rent.
'Give me ten,' she always said as soon as she got her paycheck. Now, she didn't receive checks just wishes and good luck. She put her hand on the glass, "Tomorrow." If she was alive in the morning without no trouble.
Paying attention to the street signs, she was almost there. Next to the Royal Grill was Peppi's Pizza Bizarre. Once she saw that terrifying statue of a man with a plate of pizza and wide mouth with a hole in the tooth. She was near her job, which had Batista the Grill Dog.
Why did she work there again? Oh, right she needed money.
Finally crossing De La Vu street, Wyleisha huffed at the soreness in her legs. "Next time I won't jog in heels. What is wrong with me?" Lifting her head, she saw what seemed to be three black figures in black and white camouflage. "Is that the military?"
The Shate was miles away but close by to the point tanks lined the curbs and a few soldiers were in view. At this hour the grill was close and only workers knew the code. It could be Toby and his crack fiends. That was her second guess since her coworker hated Orlena and swore on his great grandmother's grave he would kill her.
That was two years ago.
Wyleisha dashed to the nearest building and viewed from the corner. She could walk around and go down the path between, cross the street, and eavesdrop. She could also die. And another option was using her weird ass magic.
Peering from the safety of the corner, she lent her hand out. "Focus..." the energy flowed from her hand. A set of rings floating towards the figures.
"Nigga, what is the truth!" shouted the thief. "Do you know the code or not?"
"Dawg, I swear I see her put the code in every day."
Wyleisha didn't know what this magic she could do was. But it was helpful and that's what mattered. From having visions to being to hear from long distances. Her ears ringed each time she did it. "Say something important. What y'all bitches doing?" She flexed her fingers, "Come on..."
"Who else works with you?" said the man with a shrill tone. An image in front of her eyes, this individual had green eyes and round nose, his face dark and covered in pimples. "Wonder what his name is..." she thought.
"Uzzia, I told you this nigga was a fraud. Every day, he conspires and conjugate all types of shit. You still trust him to find that--"
"Enough," Wyleisha shuddered at the masculine deep dead tone. "Glean, you've been punching in numbers this whole time."
Glean, a rather short stunt man with deep brown eyes and a set of fangs biting into his bottom lip. "I hate y'all..."
"That's feelings nigga..."
Wyleisha knew two workers, Toby and Josep. Toby always spoke of murder, but his bitch ass never did a damn thing. Josep looked like a murderer, standing six feet five with dark circles over his eyes and a bald head with a cultist symbol. She focused on the conversation more, "I know the code is tied to DOHRCC IDs," said Glean. "The last four digits of your CC."
"Repeat that," said the Vamp with greens.
"It's the last four digits of your CC."
"Glean!" Uzzia punched him in the back of the head. "You were supposed to steal a human's ID to get in not use your CC ID. You stupid motherfucker!"
Glean hissed at the pain and grabbed the back of his head. "Damn! I'm sorry!"
"I swear to God, you make me wanna eat you!"
"Please don't do that..." Though the effect was worse for Uzzia not Glean. Uzzia clutched Glean by his collar. "You don't think I will, do you? I don't care about being Drunk!" he shook him, pulling the collar tight around his neck.
"It's a girl at work that gets in every day no problem!" Glean struggled to loosen the grip. "What girl?"
"She real tall!" Uzzia let go and stood with his arms folded. "Pretty young thing but tall as fuck for a Vamp."
"All Vamp females tall as fuck..." Uzzia sneered.
"Fine... the boss lady calls her Wallie."
Oh—fuck. She closed her hands, gritting her teeth. Hold on, she didn't have fangs. Maybe it was a coworker she didn't know. Wyleisha stuck her thumb near her missing teeth. The canines were lost, as well as her back teeth. Chalise told her she had Ectodermal Dysplasia. Her teeth pointed and nubby.
She put her back to the wall and stuck her hand out to listen.
"Are you sure this lady has vials?" asked Uzzia.
"Positive. She must be a dealer or something. That's what Aleigha wants."
"Question. Who is she? Like a name?"
"Orlena Tiriti."
Uzzia's eyes expanded, "No clan?"
"Not that I know of. Glean, you know a Tiriti Clan?"
"Nope. Could be another part of the Ghytto. It is a big land in Africa."
Africa? Wyleisha's lips twisted in thought. The Ghytto was in Africa?
She discovered something new. As for the vials, she ironically knew where those were. She took them to the storage room yesterday. The plan in her head was better than hiding from a couple of Vampires.
Wyleisha parted from the wall and paced towards the vamps. How do you introduce yourself to a vampire? Usually, you don't. The hood was made for people down on their luck, revenge, murder, and money; legal or not. If the vamps were looking for vials, they were looking for life.
Walking towards the vamps, her heart raced. She thought to herself, 'Can vampires hear a heartbeat? Is it like... when people say stand still around wild animals and don't fear because they can smell it? Can Vampires smell blood and fear? I should do a paper on that. If I ever make it back to school...
"Hey!" Wyleisha shouted. Their eyes flipped in her direction. 'What have I done...?' she mused. "W-what y'all doing?"
Uzzia licked his lips, "Nothing."
"Boss!" Glean tugged at Uzzia's sleeves. "She--" Uzzia rose his hand, signaling Glean to hush. "What's a human doing out during Howl Hour?"
What the fuck was she doing? Home was three miles in the opposite direction and here she was in face of glistening fangs. Last week, some vamps raided the brawn and stole tv sets, ransacked the pharmacy, and held an employee working on BlockScreens hostage. Too bad that man died from lack of blood. Again, she was face to face with Vamps from the slums. No weapons, no onion spray, she had to play her cards right.
"Y'all need help?"
"Nah..." Uzzia paced to her. "Nice eyes."
Wyleisha swallowed, "Thanks?"
Vampires in the hood 101: Vampires make up a big precent in the Ghytto. Though the population has tanked in the coming years. Out of 1758.9 thousand vampires, about 65% are males. During her research at the library, she contemplated if that was useful information. Given the circumstances it was. Out of 65%, around 35% were neutered. Maybe she was lucky and one of them didn't have a dick.
"Can you shut the fuck up." Uzzia snarled. "I can hear you! Sorry to ruin ya night but I'm stretching nine."
Well-fuck. "Good news... I ain't a rapist." Thank the black nigga above. "What you doing out at night?"
"Uh..." She didn't even know herself. Chalise always gave those incentives that she should move away from home. She was trying to run away. Yes, the bitch at home was bothersome. She didn't have anywhere to go. "I work here... I was checking for... uh" what was a good lie?
"Checking for what?" Uzzia closed the gap between them, brushing his sharp fingernails along her skin. "You a pretty color too. What's ya blood type?"
He said he wouldn't rape her. He didn't mention biting. "I don't have blood?"
"I ain't never heard of a human with no blood unless you a mummy." he chuckled. Wyleisha grinned, portraying an act of calmness. "Y'all need something out of here?" She could grab the vials and leave... with all her damn blood. Uzzia's eyes expanded, pupils dilated. "You got the code? You the girl that works here, right? Wallie-something." gestured the underdog. "Wy--" don't use your real name stupid. "Wyneisha"
"So anyway... you lying." Damn. Uzzia narrowed his eyes, he grabbed her face, squeezing her cheeks. "You look delicious. Stop lying."
"mmk," Wyleisha mumbled. "What's in the store?"
"Burgers?" her brow raised. Uzzia flexed his left hand and brought it across her face. "You were thinking about vials. They in here?"
Ow. "Yeah... big boxes of blood." She wanted to rub her cheek so bad. Contrary to popular belief, vampires were weak. It wasn't about strength but the speed of the hit. They were technically dead people with sharp ass teeth and a blood deficiency. "You finna show me. What's the code?"
She averted her eyes from Uzzia, his eyes were large blood red beams. It sent chills down her arms; any amount of hair extensions would fall out from fear. "It isn't anything like Creature Comforts. Orlena changed it to match the last four digits of your phone number."
"I've been pressing in my ID this entire time." Glean fumbled with the lock once more. "Glean, Goddamn it!"
"It's alright bruh... I got this--"
"Nigga, you a vampire!"
"If you put yo phone number then--"
Wyleisha desperately tried to yank the lock away from Glean. "Girl move!" he elbowed her in the stomach making her hutch over. "My phone number is xxx-567-1107"
"You stupid mother--"
Alarmed sounded, flashing red lights casting over the crew. Glean released the lock and backed away. "The blood's in the basement!" Wyleisha picked up the lock pad and input her phone number. "xxxx-660-4545!"
There. The alarm faded out to three audible beeps. "I got the lock!"
Uzzia breathed an air of relief. Smacking Glean behind his head, he turned to Wyleisha, "Thanks fleshy. With yo thicc ass."
"Welcome..." she pretended not to see the bump in his pants. I am so dying later... he about to suck me dry. Wyleisha pushed open the door and went right in. "Don't turn on the lights--"
"I found the light switch!"
"Goddamn it! Glean!" Uzzia back handed Glean in the nose and shut off the lights. "Stop touching shit!"
"We can't see in here!" he argued.
"We have cameras..." Wyleisha sighed. "Stay close to the walls."
"What about voice detectors? Asked Uzzia. "Just the standard DOHRCC security."
"How you know so much about cameras?"
"I work the cash register. Camera watcher is just Orlena but she falls asleep behind the cameras so one night I went back there. I know how that shit work."
"Ooo wee," Uzzia eyes fluttered. "you keep being smart you finna be mine."
She was a good caramel color while he was a deep night shade. Piercing red eyes, fangs, and pointed ears. Strong jaw with a few cuts. Hair slicked back and a ring in his nose.
He ugly.
"I'm ugly?"
Fucking mind reading skills. "You ain't my type anyway. I take back what I said."
She wasn't trying to get pregnant anyway. How much did vampire breeding give on the streets? "Around 50, why is a human fucking with us?" asked the underdog. Uzzia eyed Wyleisha, "You got some kind of fetish?"
"Nah. I got pity." That was a word used to summarize her feelings. Vampires didn't have a whole lot. The slums, Black and Black, and The Belly. "Y'all out here tryin' to live and shit and the DOHRCC ain't doing a lot."
"Wow... thanks... I guess."
"I'm waiting for her ass to turn against us. You work for the DORK?"
"DORK?"
"The DOHRCC. That's slang in the slums. You ain't never heard it?" Uzzia leaned against the wall in the darkness. "We say REKT in the middle." said Wyleisha. "Anyway, the basement door is right behind you."
"Can we turn on the lights in the basement?"
"No."
"Damn, why she get so many cameras?" hissed Glean.
"People don't like Orlena. I heard, way back she used to fuck with a vamp from BnB."
"Orlena?" Uzzia rose a brow. Nobody fucked with Vamps in the slums willy-nilly, unless… "Oh...Breanna?"
"Breanna?"
Uzzia smirked. "Help us with this theft... Don't get us caught and I'll split some leaves with you."
Wait money? "I'm in."
BIICH: Wyleisha P Gaines text me this instant!
BIICH: I just saw on the news vampires are in the Brawn! Where are you??
BIICH: I CALLED SEVENTEEN TIMES
BIICH: WYLEISHA
BIICH: I HOPE YOU GET ARRESTED!!!
//
So, this is another draft and I kept this idea of making Wyleisha a werewolf princess that had got kidnapped and drugged making her forget where she came from.
And she had a vampire boyfriend.