"Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live.–Dorothy Thompson.
Tata, you're scared, you're confused. But you have to be strong for us,ok?
You have to find us!
We can't come to you because of your safety.
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'Herbert.C.Mark.'Phd PhD, Msd,Snd,Abd, etc.
I have no idea what these mean but this dude had it all.
Just like all those stuck up scientist who seemed to wear lab coats every time.
Who stared down at everyone beneath the rims of their large smart lab glasses, as though all other humans on Earth were jokes and waste of God's precious time.
They spoke through their noses with stupidly formed accents, solved physics and maths like it were A B C, grew mad from over smartness, and practically lived their lives running around some lab,trying to manufacture a machine that could probably be able to see God or know how Mr Crabs has a whale daughter, this man was well learned and well known.
Three years ago, during the annual Indiana science fair which attracted thousands of scientists across the globe,he single handedly created some stuff, which I was too bored and busy watching rerun episodes of Glee to care about.
But according to the popular vote,he had won, against an entire group of scientists from China,by a milestone.
He lived in West Haven,a thirty minute bus ride away from Sunount where I stayed.
Herbert was a boring asexual bald headed Irish-American in his late 40's who lived with his aged mother,her helper and his cat.
According to the report files Bleed had shown me that day at his 'office', he was an undercover agent for a special F.B.I agency,who used some of his scientific concoctions to torture detained mafian members,to get information about the Infierno and Abismo Mafia here in Indianapolis.
He secretly divulged these info to the feds. According to Bleed,there was a special machine the F.B.I were building which would be able to monitor the affairs of the Mafia, closely.
It was called the S.T.M 675.
Bleed had revealed that they knew the whereabouts of this machine,which he would not tell me,but a code was needed to access it.
Apparently, some Infierno hackers Bleed had metioned about, called the 'Taboos', had tried hacking into the machine,but it was designed to self destruct after any wrong trial,and there had to be wrong trials.
A conclusion was reached that the safest way to go about the unlocking of S.T.M 675, was to get the pin and unlock it,manually.
I had asked why they did not just destroy the machine, but expectedly,he did not tell me.
Someone needed to do the job of getting the pin out.
That someone was one Zibah Nava AnderFaith.
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Big D's Junk 'n' Stuff
White Mountain Valley
Sunount.
I fiddled nervously with the hem of my black hoodies which I had worn and tightened firmly around my body, barely leaving enough space for my eyes.
This was a disastrous bad idea.
It seemed so ok in movies.
The main character always seemed to possess completely unimaginable skills to fight off the bad guys except in this case,I was the 'bad guy'.
I stood in front of the junk shop in front of me, contemplating if I should go in and purchase,or just call Annoying Red head and bail.
I definitely wanted to choose the latter.
I wondered what the shop owners would think if they saw a teenage looking hooded person walk into their shop in the middle of the day to purchased a knife.
"Can't make up your mind?"
I flinched and screeched loudly before a hand clasped my mouth,and I was dragged to the corner.
That's it! I'm sick of being helpless around these people, anymore!
I quickly spun around and made a motion to punch whoever that person was,to Lucifer's favorite chamber in hell but my fist was caught just in time.
The perpetrator looked calmly surprised at my act.
"Oh goodness! Lass! It's you!"
She rolled her eyes and smiled a bit.
"I have not seen you ever since school resumption last week Monday. I hope you're doing ok?"
"Yes Nava. I'm doing well."
One funny thing about life was the ability and tendency to make good friends even in the strangest of places and with the weirdest of people.
Lass,was my friend.
The tall thin bald headed black American lady, with beautiful high cheek bones,was my friend.
She was in her mid thirties,stood about 5' 11 with her body adorned with a lot of tattoos and piercings.
She had a reserved aura around her,and spoke very little.
I knew very few things about her. I didn't even know her real name, but I liked to keep it that way.
She was almost like a big sister to me and I loved talking to her.
I didn't know where she lived or what she did because she always seemed to appear and disappear whenever.
I can still remember the first time I met her,two years ago when I was a freshman.
I was seated by one of those huge trees that were magically in front of everyone's school, crying as I remembered Flourish,and thought about my parents,who at that time,I thought hated me,and had spent every spare time I had,hating them back.
She was seated at the other side of the tree, smoking.
Her first words to me were.
"Tears aren't gonna bring any shit back. So suck it up!"
It was a really harsh advice which was also filled with it's fair share of cuss words which also at that time,I had considered really offensive, but after thinking it through,I realized that there may be a little bit of sense in it.
"Lass where have you been? You haven't been coming around all these while."
She shrugged and sat down at a pavement.
"Less talk about me bitch. What's up with you? You ready for your first ever smelly ass job?"
I cringed at her choice of words,but she was Lass,the one and only.
I actually didn't expect anything less.
I was already used to her.
I took a deep breath and sat next to her while dipping my two hands into the pockets of my hoodies.
"How...how did you know bout that?"
She rolled her eyes playfully.
"C'mon m.effer, why the hell else would you be out during the hell school time and standing in the front of a fucking junk stuff shop where they sold knives?"
I chuckled.
"Seriously Lass,I'm really nervous. Like...this is it!Honestly,I kinda regret it. I find myself asking why I didn't just go to the police. I mean they're there for justice and all."
She fake spat and shook her head at me.
"You're too naive Nava. Do you think the police give an ant's ass where the hell your darn parents are?"
She smirked and continued.
"I know those people,bitch and I know one thing for sure,and that's the fact that they don't give shit. If you wanna make some real ass change,take the bull crap by the bull horn and go the fuck for it!"
That was Alot of swear words.But she's right. She's always right.
"I know what you mean Lass. It's just that,I feel scared. You get?"
She scoffed.
"I don't get shit,bitch. If you really want to accomplish anything real,you gotta fight for it. There's no way it gonna be easy!"
Before I could come back with another remark,she pulled out a gun from her pocket.
My eyes widened in fear.
"Jesus! What are you doing with th..."
"Shhh...girl,you are gonna get the both of us in trouble."
"What do you want to do?"
"Look at this."
She dismantled the gun,and mantled it back.
"Now listen good, there are three bullets in this gun right now. I don't know what you were told to do,but believe me bitch, you not gonna be doing shit with some miserable horse ass kitchen knife."
I turned around to check if anyone was looking,but luckily,we were at the corner of the shop, which was dark and oblivious to passers-by and hopefully, surveillance cameras.
What in the name of the saints have I gotten myself into.
Oh God, please forgive me,I'm so sorry for making stupid decisions.
I'm just too desperate.
"The gun's on safety right now, the only thing you gotta do,is to put the safety off..."
She pushed a small latch.
"And...the baby is ready to kill."
My pupils dilated at that remark.
"K...k...kill?"
She gave me a carefree look.
"Only if it comes to that."
Shakily,I took the weapon and put it into the inner pocket of my hoods.
She got up slowly.
"I guess I'd see you around?"
"You're...you're leaving?"
She smirked.
"I know I appear jobless to you,but bitch,I've actually got real places to be."
She stopped and brought out a pair of shades from her pocket.
A really big pair.
"You also gonna need this."
I nodded slowly,and collected the glasses, still shaking from the fact that I not only had a gun in my clothes,there was a possibility that I'd be killing someone before the need of today.
How did my life take such an amazing twist?
"By the way bro...I've got one more advice for you.
You're already deep in this shit. I'm sure the big boy Bleed,gave you some time to think about this. But now, you're in. If you think of backing out..."
She shook her head.
"Don't just think of backing out."
I could not feel my heart beat.
I was sure I had died.
What?
"Break a leg Nava."
She left, walking through the alley beside us,until she disappeared into the darkness.
I nodded mechanically.
Thanks for the help Lass.
It was almost halfway into seventh period which was recess.
I had to get over with this fast.
Zibah... you're gonna find your parents. Even if you die trying!
Let's just hope it doesn't get to that.
Dusting myself up and straightening the wrinkles off my clothes,I walked as calmly as I could towards the bus stop which was just nearby.
As I saw the bus draw closer,I felt sick to my stomach.
There was currently a gun in my jacket.
If I got caught,I may end up in jail. The whole family may end up getting hurt because of me.
"Miss...are you getting in?"
I snapped my head up at stout casually dressed man next to me.
"Su...sure...thanks."
"Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live." Dorothy Thompson.
I got into the bus,and took a seat at the extreme left window seat.
I was in already.
I could not back out now.
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As the bus sped up,and the buildings turned into trees,I imagined how life would be with my real family.
Of course I was grateful for my current home.
I could not have asked for anything more but there was this feeling of longing I had.
During the P.T.A meetings in school,I always saw students hanging around with their parents, talking, arguing, laughing and doing stuff,I envied that.
Although our family was close,I knew that deep inside,they all missed their real parents.
I mean,who would not want to have a normal family?
I knew this was stupid.
But honestly,it was the best choice.
I had gone to the police some time ago to make enquires but at that time, I did not even know their name.
Although the names I knew now, 'Death and Ice', didn't sound like normal citizens. They sounded like hardened criminals.
I didn't even know what they looked like.
Mike said he did not have any idea who they were.
All he knew was that one Sunday evening, they visited the church with me and left me with him, promising to come back and get me soon.
He said that they had refused to tell him their names because 'they feared for my safety.'
Mike said that he immediately knew that something was up.
It was either they were escaping from the authorities,or they were involved in a deal gone wrong.
Either way,he said he didn't want me to he involved in what he had assumed to be their 'seemingly messed up life.'
After I met Lass, everything changed.
She assured me that there were three set of people in the world that could have any information about who my parents may be,the police,God and the mafia.
According to her, the mafia knew more than the police could ever know,and though she pretended not to know 'Death and Ice', I noticed the mixed expressions on her face when I mentioned them to her recently.
Also,the fact that she was adamant in visiting the mafia,meant that she knew...more than she was letting on.
The bus slowed down and halted.
Getting off,I walked swiftly, trying to avoid being suspicious, which was kind of difficult with the black hoodies I had tightly on.
But seriously,I wonder why people in movies wore black hoods, black pants, black face caps and dark shades to 'blend in.'
I mean,for anything,it just makes you look more suspicious.
I was told that he should be home in about thirty minutes.
I knew that I had to be quick.
Bleed and Red head could handle the job,but as a newbie,I had to do it to prove my readiness.
I followed the directions Red head had sent me,and in about 15 minutes,I had arrived at the gate of the estate my man lived.
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Ricky and Kay Estate
Ring Road
West Haven,Indiana
"Hey...wha're you doin'ere?"
The guard asked.
Shoot! There had to be gaurds
I said nothing at first,just keeping my head down to avoid making eye contact.
If stuff went south,the last thing I needed was someone identifying me just one day after my 'debut'.
"Ans me girl. Wha're you doin just standin'ere?"
Ok... think Zibah. Think!
I bit my lip hard, before noticing him coming closer.
"Uh... don't come close to me!"
He furrowed his brows and frowned,but stopped either ways.
"Well...well...uh...I'm Rick's daughter...you know,the owner's kid?"
If there's something deeper than confusion,that guy was it right now. But on the bright side,he wasn't the only confused one here.
The middle aged white man opened his mouth to speak before I beat him to it.
"You do not want me telling my daddy that you didn't let me into his estate!"
I formed a posh accent,still not looking up.
"I...I'm sorry miss. Are you a child of the Barry's?"
I reached inside my pocket,my heart beat accelerating when my fingers grazed the gun.
I grabbed the pair of shades and put them on, before facing the man squarely.
"Listen to me old man."
I began unleashing my 'sassyness.'
"You don't wanna mess with me if you wanna keep that miserable job of yours."
"I'm...I'm... sorry miss. I just thought that...you know...si...since the Barry's were white,I..."
"How'd you know if I'm white, black or pink?"
"Huh...I..."
"See the problem with people. They are quick to judge. You haven't seen an inch of my skin,and you already came to a conclusion!"
What am I even saying?
And how in God's name is this man buying it?
"Uh...but...I can...I can see part of your face."
Oh no!
"Uh...well... that's really unfortunate for you. I guess now,I'll have to tell my daddy,and you'll have to die."
I made my tone sound really threatening.
"Wha... what?"
"My daddy is in the mafia."
I said softly.
"I knew it! Politician my ass!"
He muttered.
I was taken aback.
This man was actually believing me?
Maybe God was really on my side.
"What did you say!?"
His eyes widened.
"I'm sorry...I'm so... sorry miss...I...I..."
"Sh.. don't worry. In as much as I love watching daddy punish people,I'll forgive you.
Now,open the gate for me."
"What...what about... about your convoy?"
"Well...uh...I'm a teenager, and uh... sometimes,the last thing teens need, is someone following them all over like they were criminals! You get?"
"Uh...no."
I sighed dramatically.
"It's means I ran off! Now open the DARN GATE!!"
Oh my God! No swearing! I can't believe I swore!
But on the lighter note,I could not believe that I was doing any of these either.
The man scurried away and opened the gate for me.
I was in.
Ok... that was surprisingly smooth but weird.
I hurried away, leaving the surprisingly stupid old man in confusion as I searched for Herbert's house number.
Not long after,I found it.
My whole body shook as I put my hand into my pocket and gripped the gun.
At this point,I was working with two things... adrenaline,and stupidity.
I heard a tire screech as a car stopped in front of the house.
Immediately,I hid behind some bushes as the driver hurried pass,and went to the door.
I crawled closer as quietly as I could,and peeped.
It was my man.
As he fumbled with his bag, probably looking for his key card or keys or whatever,I took out the gun, turned the safety off,and cocked it.
While he slotted in the card,
Oh ..it was a key card.
I moved swiftly behind him,and placed the gun to his head.
I felt him stiffen,while his heart beat increased.
Ok Zib...now's the time to use those cliche bad ass lines that were used in action movies.
"Hello Herbert."
I said in a British accent I just discovered I had.
"Just be quiet,and walk in.
I just want to talk.
Let me tell you how this works,you make a move,I shoot you,you die,I leave. Understood?"
He nodded fiercely and walked inside with me following him closely,not taking the gun off his head.
That was kind of hard because at my 5'4 height,I was really shorter than he was.
As I shut the door close with my foot,I knew I had stepped in completely.
There was no backing out now.
Guilty or not.
***Author's Note***
Hey yo Everyone!
How's it going?
I hope you're enjoying it.
Please guys,vote, comment and share.
It's really really encouraging.
Also,you can follow me too.
The story is getting tougher and as I said,I promise you a great story.
So...seat back and enjoy!
Yay.
By the way, what's the most confusing part of SpongeBob to you?
Mine...how the hell does SpongeBob light fires under water?!!