Women were either giggling, groaning, or moaning in the dank house. It seemed like no matter which way I turned someone was either shooting up or having sex, the impressive ones did it at the same time. My blood was boiling under my skin, waiting for a fight. But I had to keep my cool as I stumbled around the disgusting place. Someone pulled at one of my buns causing it to come undone. A girl ripped my dress so a tattered seam ran up my right leg. I almost kicked her in the face.
I have been jumping from crack house to crack house buying up drugs and pretending to use them in the bathrooms. I've interviewed several druggies about the kingpin, but no one seemed to know Solomon Davis. I was starting to become annoyed when I ran into a rather tall, skinny man.
"Hey beautiful," he slurred at me. I smiled vapidly at him before gently caressing his arm.
"You got any smack for-for me," I look up at him under my eyelashes. "Big daddy?" I could have gagged. The man grabbed my ass and hauled me closer to him, my blood screamed for a fight. 'Keep it cool keep it cool…' my mind gritted out.
"I might have a lil somethin' somethin'," he grinned down at me. "Come on." He leads me up the stairs and into an office. Several people were milling about in there and I was instantly on high alert. A woman, who was probably once beautiful, sat lounging on a couch with a pipe hanging from her lips. In the corner were two people making out with a lot of disturbing sound effects. Then there was the man behind the large desk.
He had to be at least seven feet tall, stocky build with dull grey eyes set deeply in his face. It seemed his mouth was permanently turned upwards without a hint of humor or laughter. His long nose reminded me of a beak—overall not an attractive man. 'Are you Solomon Davis?' I wonder as I stumble closer.
"Phillip," the man intones. "Who do you have here?" he gives me a pointed look. I start laughing and cling to this Phillip character.
"Phillip," I giggle. "I thought you were takin' me to a fu-fun place."
"I am baby don't you worry," he smiles wickedly at me. "Hey Davis you got any good grade smack fo' my new girl?"
'Davis!' my mind screams as I watch him move from behind the desk. He moves to the lady on the couch and steals her pipe. He watches me like a predator watches prey, little did he know it was the other way around. I drop my pretense of being drugged beyond reason as I move away from Phillip and circle Davis.
"What have we here?" he purrs lightly. "You don't seem to be here for a good time after all."
"Davis what are you—" Phillip was cut off when Solomon threw the pipes ash in his face. Finally I roared as my blood reached its hottest and leapt for Solomon.
When she trudged through the front door covered head to toe in blood and grinning like a madman I actually felt fear. "Ramie?" I question using a nickname long forgotten and much hated. She didn't even react to the name she simply walked past me, trailing blood and not looking at me. I turned back around to face my computer to finish typing my essay. Unease filtering through my blood and soul.
She limped back in half an hour later clean of blood and smelling faintly of lilac. She grabs a test tube and beaker before turning on one of my burners. She poured water into the beaker and placed it above the flame. From her pocket she took out a small bag with a strange green powder in it. Ramla then dumped the powder into a petri dish. I watched in fascination as she worked her way around the substance. Her style was meticulous as she took notes over everything she did. Finally when the water was boiling she added the powder into the test tube and poured water over it.
She set it down in the rack and we both watched closely as the powder went from green to purple to black until it started foaming and sizzling. Ramla made no indication that she was surprised at the results. She merely wrote down everything on the piece of paper she found before shoving the rest of the powder back into the bag. She cleaned up after herself without comment and I think I managed to turn my screw as far as it could go waiting on her.
"What was that?" I finally ask slowly.
"Drugs."
"Drugs?"
"Drugs," she confirms with a stiff nod. She shoved the bag back into her pocket before turning to head into the kitchen. "Hungry?" she calls out.
"If you are," I respond.
"Can I have a smoke?" she asks. I sigh before standing up and stretching.
"I wish you wouldn't," I intone stoically.
"Mhm," came her agreement before I heard the click of a lighter and her exhale. I walk into the kitchen behind her and lean against the door frame. Ramla kept her back to me as she shuffled about the kitchen. It seemed she was making grilled cheese sandwiches while munching on an apple.
"Ram?"
"Yeah?" she says around a mouthful of apple. She turns to look at me while the sandwiches cook, her dark purple eyes bore into mine. "What's up?"
I was so overcome with memories that it actually stole my breath. "Nothing," I say before moving closer to her. I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her closer, even after all these years she still smelled like lilacs.
"Here's the report and here are my findings," I state as I throw the stack of papers onto the table. Spirit-san picks them up and hands them to Shinigami-sama.
"Are they all gone?" Shinigami-sama asks.
"All the top brass are dead and their souls devoured, I blew up two warehouses full of drugs, and I tested out that green powder," I point to the bag. "I've never seen anything like it before."
"What is it?" Spirit-san asks curiously. He picks up the bag and shakes it.
"A mix of things really," I say. "Mostly it is the essence of a very toxic African plant called Cestrum laevigatum and usually it only causes a problem in cows…"
"Cows?" Spirit says confused.
"Yeah because no one in Africa is dumb enough to eat this shit. Cows eat it during droughts because they don't know any better."
"So do you think this is going to be a continued problem in Death City, Ramla?" Shinigami-sama inquires. I sigh and rub at my face, I did not get enough sleep last night at all.
"I mean I don't know where it came from or who is supplying this shit. I might have taken out most of the top brass, but someone is going to pick up where Solomon left off. It is only a matter of time," I say.
"What else can you tell me about this drug?" he asks.
"I saw a lot of people drinking and assumed it was alcohol. I don't remember being able to see through any of the cups so I can't say for sure how many people were using this drug."
"What does drinking have to do with this drug Ramla?" Spirit-san asks this time. At least he wasn't sneering at me or being rude, he was serious.
"While snorting or just eating this powder will kill you if you add it to a liquid the effects are faster. I once overheard a guy telling a girl to drink it when it's purple, but of course out of context that made zero fucking sense. When I finally found this drug I understood. There was this cup in the office where I found Solomon that had turned black and bubbling.
"When I got back to Stein's place I put the green powder into pure water and it turned purple, then black, and then it started to bubble. I think people were told to 'drink it when it's purple' so they don't see what it really becomes."
"That is disheartening news," Shinigami-sama sighs. "Well for now the drug problem is curbed and the addicts have been sent to rehab. You can go back to class as usual now Ramla," recognizing a dismissal when I hear one I wave before turning to leave the Death Room.
Hello, hello! I seriously have like at least two more chapters already written...I just need to do some cleaning up and editing. If you have thoughts on my story please do not hesitate to review or contact me! :)
Keep it sparkly
xoxo
Sparkles
