"Hey! HEY!" I yelled, waving my arms and running towards him. "I got you! Follow me!"
His eyes flashed quickly from hope, desperation, and then caution.
"I won't hurt you!" I tried again. You kind of have no choice.
He nodded slightly and sped up. (It was funny to me how easily he trusted me. I could've been an undercover cop ready to take his black behind in, but luckily I had other things on my agenda.)The sides of his shirt flapped, revealing cuts and bruises. I noticed he wore no shoes and left a track of red behind him.
"Come one!" I said when he was closer. He passed me and ran in front of me into an alley. "Go!" I encouraged him. The alley was a dead end and he started to slow down. "Climb the wall," I ordered. He did without hesitation. He climbed a nearby fire escape. I stayed at the bottom until I saw the police. I swung myself up right behind him as he broke through a window.
Crack! "AAAAHHH!"
It was the sewing room connected to the boutique. Women in matching pink dresses all slammed themselves against walls out of our way. The fugitive looked back and me, confused.
"Keep going!"
He ran in front of me and through the closest door. Stairwells. We slid down the railing to the next floor.
"Where are they, ma'am?"
"Down the stairs." A shaky, feminine voice ratted us out.
I closed the door.
We were back on the main street by the park.
"Wheredoyoulive?" I slurred.
"That way." He pointed across my face. I nodded at him to follow me as I bolted.
"I have a shortcut!" He heaved.
"Then why am I in front?" I slowed just a tiny bit so we were side by side. Renee-Leah was on the opposite side of the street, still crying. When she saw us together she perked up. "Bev!" She clumsily twisted to face us. "Jordan? Honey what in God's name is going on here?"
Bev gave her a small smile and wave before we disappeared into the woods.
"You think we lost them?"
"Thinking won't do us any good around here." We slowed to a brisk walk. was his name and he suggested we switched clothes. "They won't find us out here, but we should split up just in case and confuse them." We turned.
"Who are you?"
"Do you not remember me?" I chuckled.
"No." He didn't laugh.
"Katrina...I think I'm her boyfriend, And I know you know where she is."
He looked up, his eyes squinted. "You're that white boy Louis knocked on his as."
"It doesn't happen often, I swear."
"I'll take your word for it." He paused. "Why do you need her?"
"I think we'll need each other to get home."
"California ain't that far when you think about it. It's the journey that makes it long."
"Experience?"
"Stories."
"Ah. You and Renee-Leah, eh?"
"Dat's why I'm running." He smiled the widest smile I'd ever seen. "She's a trip."
"I bet she is."
"She could have any man and she chooses me. You know how good dat feels?"
"If I could remember I'd be the happiest man alive."
We cleared the woods into a neighborhood. The sun was completely gone now but it was still light. Bricks were molded and windows were boarded up. The signs were half lit but the air smelled glorious. Sweet potato pies and salty chicken drifted in the air. There weren't many people out, not like in Johnny's neighborhood, and the people who were there spoke in hushed tones and stifled laughs. Beverly hid me well in the shadows of the buildings. I have to admit, it was an uncomfortable experience.
I felt like I had been sneaking around places before, but I was still in a gray area of my own mind.
We got to one of the tiniest buildings. It was one of the few things I remembered. The windows weren't boarded up and the door was falling off the hinges now. A small spot of red stained the grass in front.
"Home sweet home. Those cops won't be snooping around here. They never come over here." Beverly barged through the door.
Katrina and her little friend were talking on the floor. Louis was off in the kitchen by the stove. A mixture of spices and sweetness greeted me the way I wished Katrina did. She glared, almost incredulously but mostly angrily. It was as if I ruined her life before even taking a breath.
"Delivery for you, McGorgeous," Beverly smirked and went straight for the phone.
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About to spam y'all! Sorry for the delay in updating my chapters, finals and everything.
Kal xoxo
YOU ARE READING
Broken
General Fiction"What year is it?" "1955." "Thank you." I turned around, my fears confirmed. I understood why the world seemed so different now. So hostile towards me for no reason. I was black. I was a girl. I was in rags. And it was 1955. ...
