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CHAPTER ONE- REALITY
ONCE A BLACKSHEEP, ALWAYS A BLACKSHEEP.
As the day succumbs to the whispers of the twilight, the sky turns dark-blue, with stars shinning like diamonds in the sky. People walking around the subway from work to their loving homes, lights shining across the streets and some kids on a corner with a tin where people are putting in some change. The two kids, a girl who looks like she's ten or eleven and a seven- to eight-year-old boy with arms around each other's shoulder, and then there's me, alone with no one to lean on. I walk closer to them, looking back in curiosity to see if Trig and Sneak are still following me, all I can see is more and more people across the street, but non look like Sneak or Trig. I open my backpack half way and reach out for my purse, I take out a $10 bank note.
"Here." I say putting in the little rusty tin.
"Let's split half." I add. The kids look at me, joy written all over their faces as the older one folds her hands and put them together to her chest as a way of saying thank you, the younger one follows suit.
"Thank you so much." The older one says, I just smile at her and put my palm on her face and to her chick.
"Go home, it could be dangerous at this time."
"Yes." The older one says, bending down to help her younger sister get up and picking up the tin.
"God bless you." The older one says right before they turn to leave, their faces filled with Joy; at least they'll have something to eat tonight. I know what it's like to be in these streets and I know the small changes people be offering in these streets, it's much better when you playing something as you attract a huge crowd.
"Hey!" A nearby sharp voice which seems to be addressed to me is heard from a distance. I quickly turn only to see Trig and Sneak running towards me. I try to close the zip of my bag, but I'm torn between time and can't afford to run and close my bag at the same time. I turn to running and head for the mall as there's always a lot of people there. It'll be hard to see or catch me, I think to myself. I find myself on a swan fortress, with water flowing through its mouth and an entrance with shops all around it. I look back to see Trig and Sneak right behind me. I take a deep breath and get in one of the retail shops, I see the two perpetrators getting in through the security tv of the shop security cameras, Sneak, all tired and worn out like a dog, Trig, energetic as always. As I'm walking round the shop on clothes section, I discover a secret door. I slowly walk to the door, look around to see if anybody is watching and as soon as I spot Sneak on my direction, with all my energy, I twist the door hand and without looking I get in and quickly close the door.
Looking at my new location, I am welcomed by a dark room with peach dim lights which are not even enough to light up the whole room. I take a few steps forward, looking around and every step making a loud sound and I look around to see if nobody following me, it's more like I'm part of some horror movie. This room is creepy I swear. I spot a dark shadow in front of me, smoke winding out of the dimly lit room, curling and uncurling across the room like ghosts. The smoke itself seems heavy, casting a grey shadow across the room like the belly of a stormy sea. The smoke goes straight to my mouth and off to my lungs, arresting the air I'm breathing in with nicotine. I let out a cough to try and let out the smoke, but the scene is disturbed by a male voice across the room.
"You okay?" A male, not so deep, but charming voice says.
I look up to the figure of a Hispanic boy with dark brown eyes with a hazel line around them like the eyes of an angel, pink lips and a long but perfect nose, making a beautiful but cool appearance like the guys in magazines, tall masculine body like a Roman god. A lit cigarette in between his fingers and two black bangles made out of black precious stones dangling with every move of his arm. And he has the kind of braids A$AP rocky and Travis Scott braids half way and a shade. He's wearing a black hoodie and black skinny jeans ripped at the knee calf and black air Jordan. His appearance screams money, how can one be so perfect? I think to myself. He looks like a movie star and I'm nothing, maybe in a certain life we would be together, definitely not this. I mean, look at me.
"Ummā¦ I was just on my way out." I say scanning the room and heading toward the left side like I know this room like the back of my palm, which I don't, I can feel him staring at me. Could he be interested in me? I think to myself, then for him I would have to change my entire persona and we'd have a fairytale wedding, I smile to myself, but I'm brought back to reality when he says something.
"The exit's that way." He says pointing at a the right side and I quickly spot a wooden door. I feel stupid for not asking earlier, I mean, what will he think of me. I look at him only to notice that his focus is on the cigarette in his hand and not me. Embarrassed, I walk to the door, twisting the door handle, I gently open it and I'm welcomed by fresh air, hugging my face. I gently close my eyes to enjoy nature's embrace, right before I hear heavy footsteps and quickly recognize Sneak and Trig, without looking back, I start running. Could this be the end of my freedom? We all know I can't run forever, without thinking twice, I come to a stop, my heart beating so much that a person next to me can hear it and legs shaking.
"Come on Real, you can do this." I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I stand firm and steady to my ground. I close my eyes as the two approach me. For goodness' sake, I just lost my job today, could this get any worse. Here's the story, these two have been sent by Ryan, my ex-boyfriend. He had given me money earlier at the diner I used to work, and one of the jealousy employees reported to the manager, and he thought I was stealing, took the money from me and fired me.
"Where is the money?" Sneak asks.
I let out a soft sigh; whatever happens should happen.
"I don't have it." I tell them. The shoot me glances, not believing a word I say. Trig snatches my already open bag holding it upside down and shaking it in the air, making my stuff fall to the ground. My heart breaks at the sight of my belongings on the floor. Sneak picks up my small pink purse, dusting it, he opens it and gets the few dollars in it.
"Real, don't play with us, where's the money." Sneak says, grabbing my arm tightly, almost pinching me. I close my eyes thinking it would minimize the pain.
"I don't have it. I swear on my mother." I tell
Them both. The two tough-looking boys look at each other then at me. Sneak holds out his phone.
"She'd never lie when it comes to her mother." Trig says in between a sigh. Their attention shifts to my hand, my gold sparkly bracelet. I take my hand to try and hide it.
"The bracelet." Sneak says.
"What, no!" I tell them, almost crying.
"Give us the bracelet." Trig says.
"But this is one of my mother's last memories." I tell them, holding my hand with the bracelet close to my heart, like a mother does to her child.
"Give us the bracelet or else I'm calling Ryan right now." Sneak says swiping on his phone. I instantly give in, with my heart on fire, I gently take off the bracelet and they leave. If this helps to keep Ryan away from me.
Ryan is my ex-boyfriend which I met the day I ran away from Louisiana, he was my first ever boyfriend and I loved him. But he had a lot going on, like this one time he was involved in a robbery, was involved in some illegal but I still loved him regardless, only that he was too manipulative. He would mess around with some other girls and would tell me it's for my protection, like who does that. When I finally left him for somebody else, he mysteriously broke up with me and I later found out that he was behind it. Same with the second and third, I had no choice but to go back to him. Everything was okay and I thought we were meant to be, until one of his sidekicks showed up with a pregnancy test, I knew I wouldn't rob a child's right to a father, so I left him, along with him, I left the city. Los Angeles is everything, for others; New York is the city of dreams, but for me, LA is. Even though I stay in a rusty old trailer and have just lost my job.
Just like that the two leave and I am left heartbroken. Disappointed, I kneel to the ground to pick my other stuff. The air around me is overcome by a strong cologne nursed with a bit of weed. I feel footsteps near me, but I'm kind of too depressed to look up.
"Need any help?" I look up to see the same guy from the room, the pretty one. I look away to try and avoid him so he does not see that I'm about to cry.
"No, I'm fine." I say almost whispering. I quickly carry my bag and leave. I can't believe all this has just happened to me in one day. All I need to do is get home and read my mother's warm words in her diary.
Ā "Strong girls don't cry."
I think to myself. I take out the lock of my trailer, open it, get in and lock myself inside and putting
my hand in the bag to look for the small diary, but I can't feel it. My fear comes to Reality as I throw the bag's contents onto my single-sized bed, but alas, the diary is not there. I have a vivid remembrance of the time I was picking up my stuff. I remember the diary falling down, but i unfortunately don't recall picking it up. My heart sinks and a river of tears falls from my eyes. I can't believe I've lost everything that belonged to my mother. Now how will I find Erica.
Erica is my half sister, the reason I chose California. My mother had her when she was just young and sent her away for adoption. Even though I've only met her once when I was a kid, she's the only one who can help me fight for our mom.
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