--ADRIAN
I woke up again to the same dream. The alley way. The two creatures. The darkness surrounding me. I feel the cold sweat run down my face and my tank top was completely soiled. I take the covers off and get up from the stained, rough, carpet. I stretch my arms, back, and legs.
I do my usual routine. I get in the shower to wash up, brush my teeth, do my hair(but I usually skip it since it's naturally curly), put on my hoodie, sweats, and earrings, and wait for Zeke, my older brother, to pick me up for school.
I grabbed my stuff I needed for Mr. Griffith's class and headed out the door. I go down the stairs of the motel. This would be my last night staying here. I was hoping to negotiate with my brother about letting me stay here another week. It was hard enough trying to figure out lies to tell my friends into letting me stay the night--or--just find a playground at a close park and sleep in a tube slide.
I locked the door behind me and my brother was in his nice, expensive, newly rimmed, shiny, black car. I threw my stuff in the back and sat up front with him. The car smelled of cigarettes and Zeke’s cologne. I’m not sure if I hated the smell or liked the smell. It was interesting. I turn my eye towards Zeke. He had his hair slicked back in a man bun, and he wore a black suit and tie.
“Tony..?”
“Yes.”
“But, I can’t go to him looking like this. He hates it.”
“I know. That’s why I’m taking you to a shop and getting you a good suit.”
“OK.” I sighed in relief. “Wait, I still need to be in school there’s a test in fourth period.”
“I’m sorry to tell you but you are gonna have to miss it.”
“I can’t miss this test! If I do I’ll have ta’ repeat the eleventh grade. I barely made it last year because of all my absences.”
“OK, if the job goes by quickly then I can drop you off at school late.”
“Right before fourth?”
“Can’t make any promises.”
“OK, thanks.”
We got an expensive suit, tie, and shoes for me. It all came up to...maybe...five hundred bucks. After leaving the shop we went straight to Tony´s. Wait, I thought to myself. I need to ask about the hotel.
I look over to Zeke and ask, “I need to ask a favor.”
“No,” Zeke said, stopping what I was about to say. “No, I can’t give you another week at the motel. Tony is on my ass right now about money.”
“Wait, are ya’ tellin’ me that wasn’t your money?” I said, eyes getting bigger each second. “So he was loaning you the money for me to stay at the motel?”
“Yes.”
“Have you paid him back?” I asked, heart pumping fast, dreading Zeke’s answer.
“No. That’s why we are going to his place so we can figure something out and I might have a solution though.”
“What is it?” I said eyes literally popping out of my sockets.
“You are going to live with him.”
I felt my heart drop and chills crawling up my spine.
THREE MINUTES LATER....
“So ya’ tellin me I have to stay with the Boss!?”
“Yes, I’ve told you over ten times.”
“But, I don’t want to. Why can’t I stay with you?”
“You just can’t, my place isn’t big enough right now and it’s not safe for you either.”
“OK.” I mumbled. “But I still need to get my stuff from the motel though.”
“It’s fine. Tony already sent someone to get it.”
“OK.”
TEN MINUTES LATER….
We stop at the gate of Tony’s mansion. Zeke rolls down the window so he can talk through the speaker.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
“Who is it?” The person said through the speaker.
“Ezekiel Garcia and Adrian Garcia.”
“OK.”
The gate opens very slowly making an eerie creaking sound.
“Thanks Rodney.”
“My pleasure.”
We park Zeke’s car in the front. The mansion had more than twenty rooms and sixteen, full sized, bathrooms. We always meet in the basement though(which is basically a meth lab.)
Before walking in his doors we made sure we didn’t have any mud on our shoes. We then opened the door and walked in on the shiny, mirror-like, marbled floor. The smell of cinnamon and a hint of tobacco filled my nostrils as we did. We are greeted by Tony’s butler, Frank. He offers us a horchata. Zeke kindly denies the drink, I didn’t. I haven’t eaten much the past couple days since Zeke only gave me twenty bucks, and plus, Frank makes the best horchatas. We go down stairs to the basement.
The cinnamon aroma faded each step we took going down, and I am greeted with the smell of chemicals. The air down in the basement was so stuffy it was almost suffocating. I began coughing back up my horchata.
Finally, down the stairs I was basically choking on the air. At last, I’m able to fix my composure and decided to wait on my horchata. Tony doesn’t like when we are doing other things while he’s talking. The boss sat at his desk about to light a cigarette but then, we came through the doorway.
“Hey boys,” He said gleefully. “How you doing?”
“Good Tony.” We both said simultaneously.
“That’s good to hear. Adrian, I’m sure your brother had told you our arrangement for you?”
“Yes sir.”
“OK, that’s good. Frank and Ed had already got your stuff from the motel.
“Great thank you. Is there a reason you're letting me stay here though?” I asked.
“Yeah cause’ right now you're basically living on the streets.”
“Wait, how did ya’ know?”
“I know all the people here in this city, Adrian. It’s not hard for a story to get around. I know what your father does to you. That’s why you’ve been on the road for two months.”
My mouth almost dropped but I stopped it before it did. I guess stories do fly fast, I thought to myself.
“I’m happy to have you stay here as long as you follow two rules and you to do me a favor.”
I felt myself gulp, “What?” I said, my voice a bit shaky.
“You're gonna sell this,” he points to the active lab. “You’ll sell at night on Yelm street to Oaks.”
“Yes sir. What’s the two rules?” I asked a little worried.
“I don’t really care what the hell you do here but, don’t be fooling around with my baby, Marina. If you do, I’ll personally have you cut up into pieces and put into a plastic bag and have you go into the river after we are done with you. I can make sure you never existed, and also no slip ups on the job 'cause that will cost you big time. Am I clear.”
“Crystal.” I said a bit shaken.
“OK.”
“I have to get to school Tony. I can’t miss this test. Can I be dropped off?”
“Yes, I’ll have Frank drive you.”
“OK, cool”
“Frank will also pick you up after school and take you shopping for your new room.
“It’s fine sir I’ll be alright.”
“Nonsense. I don’t mind.”
“OK.”
It’s been only an hour. I should be fine. I'll make it there before lunch, I thought to myself.
FIVE MINUTES LATER….
I’m back in my street clothes. Frank drove us in an black limousine. I was already trying to keep a low profile at school. This wouldn’t make things better. I watch as we pass the cars and the shops. It all looked like a blur. The smell of food filled my nostrils. I didn’t drink the rest of my horchata.
“Adrian, help yourself to the food back there if you are hungry, OK?”
Awesome, I thought to myself.
“Cool, thanks frank.”
I slid over to the mini fridge and browsed through it. There was water, milk, sodas, candy bars, fruits, and some celery and carrots. I took some milk.
“Hey frank is there any cereal back here?”
“Yes, check the compartment next to your seat.”
“OK”
I slid back to where I sat and opened the compartment. There were Fruity Pebbles, chips, granola bars, etc. I grabbed the Fruity Pebbles and crushed them up until there basically like crumbs and then I poured the milk. I looked this place up and down but I couldn’t find a spoon. It was fine though. As a little kid, when my mom used to make me this I’d just gulp it as if it were a smoothie. So that's what I did and, for the first time in a while, I’m actually full.
TEN MINUTES LATER….
Frank drops me off with a note and a number to excuse me for being late. I give it to the front office and continue for second period--which I was actually looking forward to since, I have the same class with Kate.
I’ve known Kate since fifth grade. Kate is creative, smart, kind(not to mess with when she’s angry), adventurous, and very, very supportive. She has to be the only one I’ve came out too after the ‘incident’.
I walk through the halls and to room 136. I walk into the brown carpeted classroom and to the teacher, Mrs. Scott. I gave her my note and went to sit in my spot, right next to Kate and her boyfriend, Nathan. I put my phone to silent.
I made that a habit for now because of what happened last year. Levi changed my ringtone to the ‘fuck me~ daddy wanna make me choke’ song and he purposley called it during class. I don’t know what the hell he did to my phone but I can’t reset the ringtone no matter what I do.
“Why are you late?” Kate asked.
“Doctor Appointment.” I lied.
“OK.”
“What did I miss?”
“I already got your homework from Mr. Liebricht’s and I Mrs. Scott wanted us to write a story.”
“OK, thanks Kate” I smiled.
“No prob, bob.” She smirked.
“Did you hear about Elijah yet?” Nathan interrupted.
I turn towards, eyebrows raised, “No, why?”
“He got into a fight.”
“With who?” I asked.
“Logan Evans.”
I feel myself choke on the saliva in my mouth, “No he didn’t. You gotta be telling me this is a joke.”
“No, ligit.”
“Shit.” I said sitting back in my chair.
“Why?”
“‘I don’t know. All I can say it was something serious because when Elijah was done with him Logan looked like a trainwreck.”
“Jeez. Are they in the office still?”
“I don’t think so. I think their parents picked them up.”
RING!!!