'Riley and I grew up in a place called Blaine Street in South Chicago. Riley insisted on calling it the hood, but now that I think about it, it actually like Woodcrest with more black people than white.
I was planning on living in Chicago up until freshmen year of college then I'd leave to join the Black Panthers and live up to my revolutionary goals and continue my mother and father 's legacy.
But because of some stupid dogs and waterhose incident, Grandad moved me and Riley to Maryland, spent our inheritance on the house and blah blah you know the rest.
Moving away had hurt Cairo more than it hurt me. We were partners in crime and I just up and left.
No explanation.
No goodbye.
He's changed now. He hates me. He's got a new best friend.
"You think too much."
Huey took his head off the window to look at Ming. "Huh?"
"You think too much." She repeated.
Huey frowned. "Okay."
"What do you even think about?" She tilted her head to the side.
Huey shrugged. "Stuff you wouldn't understand."
Ming gave him an incredulous look. "Oh why Huey because I'm girl?"
"No. I didn't even say that."
"Then why don't you think I'd understand?"
Huey shrugged. "I dunno. It's just they're really deep thoughts that no-one would give a damn about or thinks is stupid. Oh how the life of revolutionary left-wing radical is humorous to our generation nowadays.
"I'd give a damn."
This time Huey gave her the incredulous look. "Really?"
"Yeah. Hit me with one of your thoughts."
"Jesus was black, Ronald Reagan was the Devil and the government lied about 9/11."
Ming's eyes widened.
Huey raised a brow then glared at her. "Go ahead."
Ming's face turned a little red before she started laughing, waking Riley up in the process. Huey rolled his eyes and leaned his head back on the window. "I rest my case."
"Haha sorry Freeman, it's just...wow! Where'd you come up with that?" Ming grinned.
"Like I said, you wouldn't understand."
"Ohh did he tell you dat ol' Jesus black, Reagan Devil bullshit? Ha, I remember Grandad shit his'self when you tol' him dat." Riley smirked.
Huey glared at his reflection on the window.
"Uh-oh somebody's mad. Hey, I'm sorry for laughin-"
"Nah iss cool. Huey always mad." Riley cut in.
Ming looked Riley then back to his brother. She couldn't help but feel sorry for the Revolutionist even though they were almost mortal enemies years ago.
A man had stepped up next to them. He had a large round stomach and his aging bits of hair was tied to a pony tail. He had one large eye and the other was smaller due to a disease called Revitiligo. "May I offer you some snacks-"
"Aw hell naw! Ruckus?"
The man looked up. "Freemans?"
"Nigga why is you workin' everywhere? You old. Ever hear of retirement or sumthin'?" said Riley.
"Well nigga why you are you boys everywhere? And where's Robert? He better not be taking a dump in our fine white industrial toilets." The old man stalked off. Ming looked at the boys with an amused face. "Friend of yours?"
"Naw he just a hater." Riley shrugged.
They had finally arrived.
When the doors slid open, Ming stepped out with her gun. She looked around the empty station, almost daring fate to throw something at her..anything. "This is ridiculous." said Huey as he walked up to a vending machine and got himself a bottle of water.
"Oh its gud to be home. Dats right niggas. Young Reezy back once again bitch." Riley said to himself smiling. "Sure wish C-Merph could be here. Stupid Huey."
"Okay now be alert. Don't talk much, avoid eye contact. Anyone is suspicious."
"Riley and I know Chicago inside out whereas you know nothing. So let us lead you." said Huey, smirking at Ming's handgun.
Ming raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me? Agent White showed me every shortcut in South Chicago to help us get around faster. "
"And you memorized it all? " asked Huey.
Ming nodded. "Indeed. "
"Asians. " Riley muttered.
The trio got out of the station and found a taxi waiting at a corner. The driver nodded once he saw Ming and unlocked the doors. Ming sat in front with the driver while the Freeman brothers sat in the back. Riley nudged his older brother. "Yo, ya think we'll see da crew?"
"What crew? "
Riley gasped. "Nigga watchu mean what crew? Da crew niggardly! "
"I have no idea what you're talking about. "
"Oh ma god nigga yo ass forgot abouts da crew. Dats cold nigga. "
Huey gave Riley a blank look.
Riley smacked his forehead. "Da Blaine Street crew Huey! Ya know, awa people? Remember we did 'errythang togetha. "
"You mean your little gang of wannabe gangsters and rappers? I was never in that. And besides, if they're still around, no doubt they blaming you for the attack." Huey replied.
Riley nodded, looking a little crestfallen. After a minute he spoke up. "So what happens afta dis? We goes home and both my ass and Grandad's is tossed to jail?"
"It's not jail Riley." Huey glared at his brother.
Ming looked back at Riley. "You and your grandfather will be safe there. Whoever these guys are will never find you."
"But what about Huey? The hell he can't be wit me and Grandad?"
"Because he'll be working."
Huey raised an eyebrow at Ming. "What do you mean working? White didn't say anything about working."
"Da fuck is White?" Riley asked, but his question went unheard.
"Your gonna be like one of us and do some stuff like recon missions." Ming answered.
"What the hell?" Huey frowned.
"Look, we really need you to do this. It'll help us get closer to whoever these attackers are." Ming looked him in the eye.
After a beat, Huey inwardly groaned."Okay but I'm only doing this for the sake of my family."
Ming nodded. "Fair enough."
The rest of the ride was silent. As they neared South Chicago, there was a big sign reading NO ACCESS. THIS PLACE IS DANGEROUS. PLEASE TURN AROUND
A guard had walked up to the taxi driver's side. The driver rolled down his window and showed the guard his badge. After inspecting it, the guard nodded and raised the barrier.
Huey and Riley 's eyes widened.
It is indescribable what they saw in front of them. It looked like Thugnificent's hometown Terra-Belle. There were people in the streets crying or laying dead on the dusty ground, windows smashed and buildings burned out. Police cars and ambulance's swarmed the entire south side of Chicago. All Riley saw was flashing lights and half dead citizens. His heart skipped beats at looking at his home. Tears welled up in his eyes but he forced none of them to slide down his cheek. Huey couldn't look at this anymore and closed his eyes.
'This is all my fault.'
They had finally arrived at Blaine Street.
"Thanks. We'll walk from here." Ming said to the taxi driver. The first thing that filled their noses was the smell of smoke and death. Huey brought his scarf up to his nose and looked around. Riley had taken a durag out of his bag and put it on his head.
Ming looked at Huey.
"We'll head towards my aunt Cookie's house." he said, walking ahead. 'Hopefully she's alive.'
Riley lagged behind, taking pictures of the wreckage in front of him. He took about a dozen and sent it to Cindy. Yo itz madness here. Wish yo ass waz here CMerph.
The entire street was empty. The only sound being the click-click of Riley's phone. The police and ambulances must have not come by yet. Huey took slow careful steps, as if a single crunch of gravel would awaken a beast hidden within the buildings.
As they went deeper into Blaine Street the trio noticed signs spread all over walls, lampposts, upturned cars, basically every surface. There were mugshots of Huey, Riley and Robert in black and white and on top were the the words: FUCK THE FREEMANS
"Awh shit. " Riley muttered.
"We took those mugshots when we still lived here. It was a Blaine Street party and everyone had a mugshot taken. " Huey explained to Ming.
The Chinese smiled . "It must have been really fun. "
"Shit it was fun! We set off firecrackers an' even Huey was smilin' like a gay ass muthafucka." Riley grinned, nudging his brother .
Memories flooded Huey's mind but he shook his head. He will not lose focus. He must concentrate on the task at hand.
Grace 'Cookie' Freeman collapsed on her half burned couch after a day of walking around nursing the wounded and helping some of the families who lost almost everything because of the attack.
She was exhausted.
She closed her eyes and enjoyed the peace and quiet of her home.
"Hello. "
Grace screamed and grabbed a couch cushion. She looked into the darkness to find a shadow. The shadow revealed itself to be a beautiful Chinese teenage girl dressed in a black jacket, black tights and black boots.
"Do not be alarmed ma'am, " the Chinese girl said, reaching into her breast pocket and taking out a badge. "I am Agent Ming Long Dou and I'm here to ask you a few questions about the attack that happened here two nights ago-"
Riley couldn't take it anymore and pushed Ming out of the way, ran to his aunt Cookie, wrapping his arms around her. "Aw shit you alive! " he kept repeating.
Grace took the boy's face in her hands. "Escobar!? oh Lord Jesus my little gangsta. "
From the shadows, Huey watched as his Aunt and brother cried.
Tears of his own started falling.
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