Home
a) An environment offering security and happiness.
b) A valued place regarded as a refuge or place of origin.
Chapter 8
"I have to go to the bathroom," Abby broke the uneasy silence that had settled over the car. I knew she had a plan and I was grateful. All of a sudden the terrain got rocky and uneven.
"You just passed a gas station," Abby said. I felt my stomach churn. The loud rap music playing over the cars speakers, pounded in my ears. I wasn't sure what Loose was up to but it wasn't making me feel any better. I realized we had gone off the main road. I pulled my knees up to my chest and gently rocked back and forth. I did it often to soothe myself. After a while the SUV came to a stop in a dense, wooded area. Loose got out of the drivers seat and opened the back door. He shined a flashlight at Abby and I, nearly blinding me.
"It's fine. I don't have to go," Abby squeaked.
"Get out," Loose snapped. I grabbed on to Abby's hand.
"I swear to god you little bitch if you touch her one more time I am going to bust a cap in your god damn head!" Loose snapped jabbing his gun at me. I let go.
"You gotta go but you're not going alone," he snarled. Abby got out of the car. I buried by face into my hands. I was left alone with CJ who was barely breathing. I knew Abby was right. He didn't have a lot of life left in him. Each breath he took was shallow and raspy. A short while later the back door swung back open and Abby picked me up. I couldn't believe they were letting her hold me. I sat on the tailgate in Abby's lap. We sat next to Little C. He was reading a comic book. Every so often Abby would take CJ's vitals. I noticed Little C and CJ had the same tattoo on their arm. I wondered what it meant. If it was gang related or not.
"Give me your comic book," Loose held his hand out to Little C. I knew he wanted it to feed the fire he had just created.
"I'm right in the middle of a story!" Little C argued. Loose ripped it from his fingers and tossed it into the fire. He sat down and lit up a cigarette.
"Can I have one of those?" Abby asked. After a while Loose handed her one. She lit it up and took long drags. I buried my head into her scrubs and inhaled her scent. I realized I was shaking. Abby tightened her grip around me slightly.
"I think the fire worked!" Little C exclaimed happily. "CJ stopped shivering." I froze knowing that wasn't necessarily good. Abby set me down and jumped into the back of the SUV to CJ.
"He's not breathing," she said. I watched her start compressions. I climbed off of the tailgate and watched her from the ground.
"We need to get him to a hospital," Abby repeated herself. "I can't do this by myself." I stepped forward.
"I'll help you Abby," I whispered.
"Your too little baby," Abby said, her voice inflicting every time she pressed down on CJ's chest. Loose pushed Little C forward. Abby showed him what to do. He just stood there. But after a while he followed Abby's instructions. They continued their circle of care on CJ I knew was hopeless. He had lost too much blood and there was no way they were going to get him back. I knew Abby knew this too.
"I can't do it anymore," Little C laid back in defeat as he tried to catch his breath. In a surprise to all of us, Loose stepped up and picked up where his brother left off.
"Is he dying?" Little C asked with tears in his voice.
"Yes," I whispered feeling more tears come.
"Shut up! He's not going to die!" Little C yelled at me. "Your mom's going to help him!"
Hearing the words 'your mom' sounded weird to my ears. I hadn't heard those words put together since I was 4 years old. Loose gave up after a final effort. Abby continued even though, I knew, she knew it was pointless.
Abby finally stops. Little C bursts into tears and runs off by the fire. Tears well up in Loose's eyes as well. He gently covers CJ's face with a blanket and kneels down next to his brother.
I scrambled up into the SUV and collapsed into Abby's arms. My eyes were soon again soaked with tears. Abby was stifling sobs. Now I feared what Loose would do to her. I knew that no matter what I wasn't going to let her go.
I chance a glance over at Loose and realize he has his eyes locked on Abby. I tighten my grip on her. I don't break off the gaze I have on Loose. He stands up, still clutching his gun. He begins walking towards us.
"Let go of her," Loose said slowly.
"No," I say firmly. He grabs a fistful of my hair.
"I said let her go!" Loose snapped.
"NO!" I scream. I don't think I had ever talked back to anybody in my life. In a quick motion he smacked me against the head with his gun. I cried out in pain. He was then able to pull me away from Abby and hoist me over his shoulder. I grew limp as unbearable pain rushed to my head.
"Abby!" I screamed.
"You don't have to do this," I heard Abby plead. Loose pulls Abby out of the back and opens the door to the middle seats where Little C had once sat. He forced her in.
"Lie down," he snapped. Abby complied once more. Then he shoved me onto the floor of the back seat.
"Stay low," he growled. I felt a wave of nausea hit me and I squeezed my eyes shut. I wondered what was to come of us as the car began to move again. I didn't care at that point what Loose or his stupid kid brother thought. I began to sob.
"We promise," Abby said once I had ran out of energy to continue my fit. "Not to tell anyone." Nobody answered her. "We just want to go home." After a while the SUV came to a stop. I wondered where we were. Loose opened the door.
"Get out," he snapped. Abby slid out of the vehicle. Loose grabbed me by the neck and shoved me into Abby's arms. I saw County across the street. Loose climbed back into the car. Little C hung his head out the window.
"Thanks anyway," he mumbled. The SUV sped off again. The rap music fading into darkness. My feeling of nausea returned as I felt the pounding of my heart in my ears. We were okay.
"Your bleeding baby," Abby whispered showing me the blood on her hand. I hadn't noticed. Snow began to fall. Abby held me tightly as she headed to the entrance of the hospital. Loose had brought us home.