A/N:

Another exploration of what it would be like for a Potential to be called. Thought of this one while I was at church the other day and after watching the movie 'Freedom Writers.' Please know that all racial slurs are not a reflection on my beliefs (COMPLETELY the opposite, I assure you) but a reflection on gang life in LA.

(Which side note, it is my *personal* belief that the Man long ago created rifts between poor people so they would fight amongst each other because of insignificant differences instead of teaming together to bring *real* change to this country... That is a fact that makes me very sad and I pray for the day that people's eyes open)

Kiri Kim obliged her mother by attending church in their rough and tumble small Cambodian neighborhood of L.A. every Sunday morning, along with her younger sister Tevy. Although it was only May the heat was starting to get unbearable in their air condition-less chapel. Squirming in her seat, Kim allowed herself to people watch. Her mother was staring intently at Pastor Yo like he was freaking Jesus himself. Kiri had to refrain from rolling her eyes. As far as she was concerned, the church was full of bullshit.

After all, if Jesus really did exist he shouldn't have allowed her father to be murdered five years ago- on her eleventh birthday of all things.

Throughout her childhood her mother had raised Kiri to believe that "With God, all things are possible." Foolish child that she was, she had believed it. Quickly she discovered that it was a lie. For if all things were possible, surely she could have her father back? If not even that could be given to her, then at the very least her family's existence could go untouched by their poverty?

Just thinking of the lies she had been taught as a youth, and the lies Pastor Yo was currently spewing, made her bitterness constrict around her heart like an angry jungle snake. In Cambodian his name meant 'honest' and she thought his name was quite ironic.

Not soon enough the service ended and Kiri quickly went to her friend Vanna towards the back of the church. With their backs turned to the other church attendants they performed the handshake of the Jade Tigers.

Vanna's eyes glanced to look for eavesdroppers. "We're getting those spic bitches this afternoon. Meet up is at Channary's house at one."

Kiri's lips pulled back into a satisfactory smile. "Good. They deserve everything they get for putting Veata into the hospital. Bitches didn't even fight fair- seven on one?"

"Don't worry. We'll show them. After today the Latina Queens won't fuck with us again; and I guarantee all the other gangs will think twice." Kiri and Vanna snickered.

"Kiri! We are leaving! Come here right now."

Kiri grimaced at her mother's yell. "Okay, I better get going. See you later."

"See ya."

Kiri walked reluctantly over to her mother, whose was giving her a frustrated glare. The lecture started as soon as they began the walk home.

"What have I told you about hanging out with that Vanna girl? She is bad news!"

Kiri just shrugged and avoided eye contact. "She's been my best friend since I was five, mama."

Mrs. Fukushima clucked her tongue. "I hear the rumors. I know she is a member of that Jade Tigers gang! I don't want you hanging around with those type of girls. That's how you get in trouble. Or worse- dead! Pastor Yo just told me that one of the girls, Veata Im, died early this morning in the hospital."

Kiri gasped. "What? Are you sure?"

"Yes, Pastor Yo was called by the Im family this morning before service. Did you know her?" Mrs. Kim was staring intently at her daughter.

Know her? Of course she did! Veata was the one that brought Kiri into the family a year ago. She had been like her older sister. "Sure, from school. That's horrible," Kiri said sadly. She tried to keep the utter heartbreak out of her voice. No way could her mother know her involvement but it was terribly hard to keep from bursting into tears.

Her mother patted her shoulder and gave her a small smile. "I know it is hard to hear of a young person's death. We will have to pray for the family when we get home."

Kiri stiffened. "Pray? What's that going to do? It won't bring Veata back and it won't make her family feel better. The only thing that will help is if her murderers all die too!"

"Kiri Kim! Don't you *dare* blaspheme in that manner! The Lord is powerful and with him all things are possible."

"Whatever." Kiri rolled her eyes.

Her mother's palm slapped her cheek, leaving a hot sting in its wake. She pulled Kiri's chin so she could stare into her eyes. "When you were young you loved Jesus and you loved the church!" she lamented. "I know how your mind has slipped into darkness since you're father passed but you should not allow your spirit to so eagerly accept the darkness. Being a Christian is not easy and it does not mean that we are impervious to the devil's works. But Jesus brought back the dead, fed the hungry, and died for us. You need to be grateful, young lady." Her voice trembled with anger and emotion and for a moment Kiri felt guilty for her actions. But only a moment.

Jerking out of her mother's hand, Kiri just glared. "Grateful? He has done nothing for me," she spat. "But you know who has? The Jade Tigers. The ones *you* speak so badly of. For the past year they have taken care of me and we've been a family."

Her mother gasped, visibly shocked. Her twelve year old sister Tevy only looked away. It was no surprise to Tevy, although she tried desperately to pretend that her sister was not in a gang.

"No! I do not believe that," shouted Mrs. Kim. Her eyes darted nervously and their depths betrayed her words; on one level her mother had always known.

"Really? How do you think we were able to pay rent a couple months back? And who got the money to repair the broken window at our convenience store? Me, Mama. Me and the Jade Tigers."

"Jesus, Joseph, and Mary." Her mother paled and did the sign of the cross. "Well that ends today."

"No, it doesn't," she declared defiantly.

And with that Kiri Kim turned on her heel and began the walk to Channary's house.

"Can't we open a window or something?" Vanna whined as she leaned against the driver's side door.

"Don't be stupid Vanna! These windows are tinted, if we open them one of the bitches may spot us." Channary scowled at the younger girl and turned to Kiri. "You understand the plan?"

Kiri nodded coldly. "You bet. The Latina Queens are inside their hangout spot and our group goes through the South side windows while Group A and C take the North and West side. Then we kill all those bitches. They would never believe we'd have the nerve to ambush them at their home in the middle of the day. Meanwhile Vanna is our getaway driver and lookout in the van."

Channary gave her a warm smile. "Well done. Veata had been right about you. She saw you becoming a leader one day and I have to agree with her now."

Kiri's stony façade broke at the praise. "Really?" she asked.

"Of course. She thought you would succeed her someday." Channary shrugged and gave a small smile. "With her dead so soon… Well, it's too early for you to take her place- you have a lot more to learn."

"We'll get revenge on her killers." Kiri stated with confidence.

Vanna's cell rang. After a short conversation she turned to her two passengers. "It's go time."

Kiri and Channary made their way silently through the shrubbery until they reached the side of the house. They were in luck- since the weather was so warm the windows were already open. Channary hoisted her up and the Kiri slipped her slender frame into a bedroom window. For all accounts it could have been hers. Various posters were scattered on the wall, clothes were heaped in piles, and in front of a vanity mirror were scattered make-up jars. Kiri reached through the window and helped to pull up Channary.

Channary checked her phone for texts. "Okay. Group A is ready, they're in a empty bedroom too. We go in two minutes."

It was amazing how long two minutes could feel. Kiri's breathing quickened and she could feel the adrenaline start to rush into her system. Her fingers twitched on her two guns. She had a lot of experience fighting but had never actually used a gun in a fight before. Her mind drifted at that realization… Was she ready for this?

But then she thought of Veata who was ambushed so casually as if her life didn't matter. Veata who was only twenty years old, a single mother, a strong woman, and the closest thing she had to an older sister.

No, she was ready for this.

Channary slid the door open and the two girls filtered out towards the kitchen. Two Mexican girls were laughing and lighting candles on a cake when Channary hissed, "Now." Kiri shot one of the girls in quick succession; a bullet went through the girl's knee and another was in her gut. Channary's bullet sailed right through the other girl's head and into the kitchen cabinet.

Soon the house was filled with screams and the sound of gunfire. Kiri and Channary went into the living room which now looked like a war zone. There were more girls in here than they thought, almost twenty Latina Queens compared to twelve Jade Tigers. Kiri threw herself between a couch and a wall as bullets came flying in her direction. She slid her gun out on the other side and carefully peered out. As she was about to fire her trigger two big men walked through the front door screaming, "Stop!" In their arms dangled a helpless and forlorn Vanna who nervously eyed the gun pressed against her temple.

Everyone responded by freezing in place while members of the Latina Queens laughed in their faces. A taller girl with thick black curls that reached her waist walked to the middle of the room.

"Anyone moves and this chink is dead," she called in a superior tone. She blew a kiss to the man holding Vanna. "Way to go baby. I love it when you bring Chinese home for dinner."

Kiri's blood boiled and she had to hold back from screaming out, "We're Cambodian, you stupid bitch!" But she didn't. Vanna's life, and all of theirs, may depend on how civil everyone starts acting.

"My name is Isabella and I am the top Reina of the Latina Queens. Therefore, I get to decide whether you bitches die or live today. Drop your weapons and get up."

Kiri slid back behind the couch. Had they seen her? If they hadn't, maybe she could hide behind here for now. She tried to still her heart, terrified that someone would hear the thundering beat and find her. Her ears strained to hear their movements; it sounded like her girls were getting round up and their weapons were being thrown on top of each other in a pile.

She allowed herself a breath. They must not have noticed her disappearance because no one said anything.

"Who's the leader here," asked Isabella.

"I am," Channary answered in an icy voice.

"Oh yeah, bitch? So you thought you could stomp up here in my mama's house and shoot all of us up?"

"You killed our leader. Seven of your hoes jumped Veata and now she's dead. We're only returning the favor."

Kiri heard a growl and a slap. "Returning the favor? One of my girls is dead and five of them are shot."

"Look around. You've shot some of my people as well," Channary said.

"Yeah, but I didn't kill any of them. Guess that means only one thing." An ominous silence followed and Kiri imagined Isabella surveying her sisters, trying to decide who would be the best person to kill.

Hot tears sprang to Kiri's eyes. The thought of losing one of her sisters, again and so soon, made her terrified. Sure, she knew that this battle might result in a death but like this? With the Jade Tigers at their mercy instead of being the victors? It was almost too much to bear. A heavy feeling of helplessness weighed down on her chest. There didn't seem to be any solutions for this situation.

If she jumped out, they would likely kill her. If she remained here she would have to listen as one of her sisters died, or maybe even all of them.

It reminded her being eleven years old again. It had been her birthday and Father was helping her get ready for bed when he remembered that he had left a present in his car. She had been so excited at the thought of yet another present that she had begged him to go get it. Practically bouncing up and down she had watched him from her bedroom window make his way to the car. The dome light had illuminated his body in the pitch darkness of night and she had to smile at how good her father was to her. Kiri was, after all, his little princess.

Then she saw him, or it, in the shadows behind her father. Its face was more wrinkled than Grandma Kim's and it had the piercing yellow eyes of an animal. She screamed at her father to look behind him but the glass window muffled her words. He had mildly heard her and looked up at her with a big smile; he had thought her screams were excited ones.

Then the creature's arms engulfed her father and she saw it rip into his neck with its teeth. Scream after scream erupted from her mouth but she felt rooted to the floor. Her mind raced and all she could think was 'Save him God! Save him!' Her mother had rushed into her room to ask her what happened but all Kiri could do was point outside as tears cascaded down her cheeks.

Kiri didn't know if she could let another death happen because she was too afraid to do anything. But what could she do?

Her mother's voice rang into her ears- "With God all things are possible."

Fear wrapped around her heart and she wondered, for the first time in a long time, if maybe God was out there. If he was… Would he help her?

Maybe it was crazy, maybe not, but all she could think was a prayer. 'Help me Jesus, help me save my friend.'

These memories and thoughts had happened within the span of a minute. Now Kiri heard Isabella laugh coldly. "We'll kill this one."

"No, please don't kill Vanna. She's so young, only fifteen. Please, we can negotiate."

Fear cooled Kiri's blood at the sentence of murder but she was proud of Channary putting the life of the members ahead of her pride.

"An eye for an eye," Isabella sing-songed.

"No!" Kiri leaped upwards and pointed her two guns at Isabella. "Kill her and you're dead too."

Isabella's eyes widened in shock before she smoothed her face. "Looks like we have a Mexican stand-off, ladies." The Latina Queens laughed, her sisters just stared in shock.

"I'm serious. Listen, we'll go home right now and you will never see us again. I'm tired of death," Kiri said in a voice that sounded so much older than her sixteen years.

"What if I have them shoot your friend Vanna and take a gamble that you'll miss me." Isabella eyed her defiantly and was clearly establishing her authority. "After all, the House always wins. And this is *my* house, bitch."

"Well I'm not a gambler. And I assure you, I will kill you if any one of your people makes a move."

Isabella must have seen the truth in Kiri's eyes for she slowly nodded. "Fine," she said dejectedly. "You may all leave."

Kiri breathed a sigh of relief and lowered her arms to step over the couch. Unfortunately for her, not even one year of gang life was able to kill her trusting tendencies.

There was a flash of movement and Kiri toppled onto the couch after Isabella thrust a knife into her upper chest. Kiri's piercing cry filled the air as her chest erupted in pain. She looked down slowly and saw blood blossoming over the top of her white shirt. Oh God, the pain was unbearable and she writhed on the cushions. Dimly she could hear her sisters screaming in protest and the Latina Queens cackling.

"Now we are even," Isabella said with sharp finality.

The hot pain felt like something was scooping up her insides with a spoon peaked and Kiri screamed again. Her scream was cut short by a racking cough that expelled blood from her mouth. All at once no matter how much air she gasped in it felt like she was breathing through a straw. Black dots spotted her vision and she could hear her sisters sobbing and felt them carrying her. A final wave of blackness fell on her and then she could hear her sisters no more.

It felt like she was floating in a pitch black sea. Her mind was confused and everything felt fuzzy. Was she dead? Was she alive?

Then Kiri saw a bright white light and she began to swim towards it. The heat of the light warmed her body that had turned cold from the icy, frothy water. Tumultuous waters pitched her back and forth but she continued swimming forward. Her body stung with pain, ice water filled her lungs making it harder to breathe, and she felt herself tiring; but still Kiri continued on. Finally she was close enough to the light and in it she saw a beautiful fair-faced woman with hair the color of snow.

An angel! Truly Kiri knew she was dying because she saw an angel. She felt so ashamed of her previous thoughts and behaviors. After all of her sins and blasphemies, would she be forgiven? Would she be chosen to join her father in heaven? Or would she forever be trapped in these ice cold waters?

The angel smiled in Kiri's direction. "Chosen One," she whispered. "Fight and live."

Her fingertips and toes became warm from the heavenly light and soon that warmth coursed through her body. She felt herself floating upwards away from the deadly waters and smiled.

~~~~~~TO BE CONTINUED~~~~~~

A/N:

Kiri: Mountain

Tevy: Angel

Vanna: Golden colored

Channary: Full moon

Veata: Wind

Kalliyan: Best

Nhean: Instinctive

With God, all things are possible: A famous verse from the Bible… But I cannot remember where! Let me know, I'll add the verse!