-I hope I didn't offend anyone by making Tay Hispanic. If I did, I'm sorry.
Chapter 16: They're Here

Danny could barely say anything. He did get something out of his mouth, though.

"Alex! What are you doing!"

"Danny. Don't make this any harder than it is," said Alex. He sounded different. Danny had never heard him sound like that. He sounded like a real life killer. Danny looked at Houston. He was sweating like crazy. He looked like he had a barrel of water dumped on him.

"Alex. This doesn't make any sense at all. Why do you have my cousin hostage!"

"Danny," started Alex. "It was either this or be killed. Tay blames you for him getting arrested. He finds it suspicious that you had skipped town the next day. He says you must have snitched on him. I have no option to do but get you."

"Why are you doing it?"

"Because…I owe Tay."

"For what?"

"My dad left me a week after you moved away. I've been living with Tay for the time being. When he took me I had to work even more for him. It was harder now because the cops were all over him. The only way he can calm down is to get revenge on you."

Danny just stood there. He couldn't believe what was happening. This must be a dream he thought. In a couple of seconds he would wake up in his room, or the building with one of the Brumly Boys, or the abandoned building.

"Don't worry Danny. It'll be quick," said a voice.

Danny looked towards the door and saw a man walking down the stairs. It was Tay.

"Ha. I knew you'd fall for this. Miller is a real gangster now. He'll get rid of you with no stress."

Danny looked at Alex. He had a terrible look in his eyes. He did look like a real gangster. Danny had never been classified as a real gangster. He was more of a hoodlum throughout the gang. A gangster was the second highest rank you could get in the gang. The highest was Tay's spot. The boss. Danny always felt like he was in the Boy Scouts every time someone mentioned it.

"Well, Alex. Go on ahead and finish him," said Tay smiling.

Danny tried to save himself.

"Tay. I didn't snitch on you."

"So what! Even if you didn't. That's no reason for you to skip town. Miller was with me the entire time. Where were you at? Your uncle's house."

"My mom made me go. Plus my dad was coming back over here."

"So you couldn't say your good-byes to me? After all I've done for you?"

"I didn't have ti-"

"Miller. Light up this guy! Now!"

Alex's eyes directed right towards Danny. He pushed Houston back towards Tay and Tay held him. Alex put the gun right on Danny's face. It seemed like the world was put into the matrix, but something happened to Danny's relief.

Alex's facial expression changed as he yelled,

"No!"

He elbowed Tay in the face and he loosened the grip on Houston. Houston ran over to Danny and hugged him. Danny turned around and said,

"Are you alright?"

Houston nodded his head. Danny turned around to see Tay and Alex fighting. They were moving over towards Danny and Houston. Houston ran past them to the other side of the room. But when Tay and Alex in the middle of the room, Tay picked up the gun Alex dropped, pushed him Alex back, and shot at Alex.

Alex caught a bullet in the arm and fell back clutching it. Tay tried to shoot again, but there were no more bullets left in the gun. Tay then made a last minute idea. He ran to the door and grabbed Houston. Houston became a hostage again as Tay dragged him up the stairs.

Danny ran over to his best friend.

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah. I'll live."

"All right. Hang on. I'll be right back."

Danny then ran up the stairs.