​Chapter 18: The Choice That was Chosen For Me

The street was quiet, too quiet.

Me and Kirk rolled up slow, sittin’ in the Chevelle, both of us peepin’ the area before I hopped out.

I adjusted my shirt, exhaled deep, and knocked on the door.

Lia opened up quick.

She was wearin’ just a T-shirt and panties, like she’d been waitin’ on me.

Hair done. Makeup fresh.

If I ain’t know better, I’d think she was just tryna look good.

But I did know better.

Her eye makeup was caked on thick.

Too thick, Like she ain’t want me to see whatever was underneath.

I stepped inside, the air already thick with the smell of weed and perfume.

She pulled me to the couch, sittin’ close, lettin’ me rub on her thighs while we smoked and talked.

I slid my hand higher.

"Damn, you soft as hell." I smirked. "You tryna smoke another weed-rock blunt and have some wild sex? Im trying see you ride it all wild and shit like last time."

She giggled, tappin’ my chest. "Hell yeah, and thanks for askin’ this time, asshole."

She got up, swayin’ her hips, headin’ toward the speaker to put some music on.

I leaned back.

Exhaled slow.

Glanced around the living room.

Then the hallway.

Somethin’ ain’t feel right.

My gut was talkin’ to me but them thighs was calling my name, like “ Joe, Joe, come get this!”

I took another hit, tryna shake it off.

"How you get rid of Dante so easy?" I asked, voice casual but my eyes still movin’.

She flicked on the music, kept her back to me.

Then she shrugged.

"That nigga dumb," she said, laughin’ lightly. "I told him I was sick tonight, so he went to hang with his boys."

I raised a brow.

"Oh yeah?" I muttered, sittin’ up. "Where they be at?"

She paused...Too long.

Then, finally, she shrugged. "I don’t know. That boy be all over town."

My stomach tightened.

"Did you call me earlier and not say anything?"

She froze again.

Then—too quick, too forced.

She turned around, giggling, eyes a little too wide.

"Ohh, that?" she waved it off. "I air-dialed you by accident."

She strutted back over, sittin’ in my lap, arms around my neck, pressin’ close.

"Just relax, baby, lemme make you feel good," she murmured, lips brushing against my ear.

I lit up the rock blunt, takin’ a slow pull, feelin’ the burn crawl down my throat, settle deep in my chest. The room felt like it was pulsin’ with the bass, thick with smoke and heat.

She kissed my neck, hands slidin’ down my chest, fingers leavin’ trails of warmth against my skin. My head tilted back, eyes half-lidded, lost somewhere between the high and the way she moved against me.

But my eyes was locked on the hallway.

On that closet door.

Slightly cracked.

Like somebody was in there... watchin’.

Nah. Fuck this.

I sat up fast, tryna move her.

"You know what, baby? I just remembered, I gotta do somethin’ for my moms." I smiled, tryna play it cool. "Maybe we can reschedule."

I went to get up.

And that’s when the closet flew open.

​

"Sit yo clown-ass down, nigga."

Dante.

Gun in hand.

Face twisted in a grin.

Then—

CRACK!

Pistol-whipped me across the jaw.

My whole face went numb.

I stumbled back, Lia screamed and jumped out the way.

Shit. It was a setup.

Outside, Kirk heard the scream.

Then—the door flew open.

Dante turned, gun raised—

But Kirk was already comin’ in guns blazin’.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Bullets ripped through the air.

I dropped to the floor, diving for cover, heart poundin’.

Dante fired back—

BOOM! BOOM!

A bullet caught Lia in the side.

She let out a sharp scream, stumbled, and dropped, eyes wide open starring at me as she bled out on the floor.

Dante took one to the chest.

His eyes widened in shock, hands graspin’ at the wound like he could stop it.

Then he dropped cold.

Gun hittin’ the floor.

But before I could even breathe—

"Fuck!"

I turned just in time to see Kirk stumble back, his hands clutchin’ his stomach, blood spillin’ through his fingers.

"Kirk!" I rushed over, grabbing him, lowering him to the ground.

His breathing was shallow, his body tremblin’.

Blood everywhere.

​

I snapped open my phone, hands shaking, dialing 911.

"I need an ambulance—now! My friend’s been shot!"

I hung up, eyes wild, tryna press down on Kirk’s wound, tryna keep him here.

He coughed, blood tricklin’ from his lips.

He looked at me, eyes clear, serious.

"Get the fuck outta here, nigga."

I shook my head. "Nah—I’m not leavin’ you, bro!"

He grabbed my shirt collar, yankin’ me close, voice weak but firm.

"Joe... they find you here... wit’ dead bodies... drugs everywhere... nigga, you goin’ to jail for life."

I clenched my jaw, tears burnin’ my eyes.

"Fuck that!"

He shoved me off.

"Go!"

I swallowed hard, lookin’ at Lia’s slumped body.

At Dante, dead on the floor.

At Kirk, barely holdin’ on.

Then, in the distance—

Sirens.

Red and blue lights flickered in the night.

Kirk looked up, a small smirk on his blood-stained lips.

"I’ma soldier, bruh." His voice faded.

"Go! Go Nigga!”

Tears in my eyes, I kissed his forehead.

Then I ran.

I tore through the streets, duckin’ behind buildings, breath heavy, mind racin’.

I yanked out my phone, hands shakin’, dialing.

Kiesha.

No answer.

I called again.

Straight to voicemail.

"Fuck!" I hissed, chest tight.

I ran.

Ran till my legs burned.

I ducked into a broke-down alley, heart hammerin’.

My mind swirlin’ with the bodies I left behind.

With the blood.

With Kirk tellin’ me to go.

I sat against a graffiti-covered wall, legs stretched out, starin’ at the ground.

Lost.

Everything was fallin’ apart........

And I know I said I would tell y’all how I ended up with a gun to my head—but we ain’t even close to there yet.

This just the beginning of my nightmare.

I done left my boy slumped, bleeding out.

Kiesha MIA.

And I got bodies on my hands.

On top of that... I think I dropped my rock while I was running.

...Fuck.

To be continued.........

“Above The Clouds” song by Gangstarr plays as the story ends