ABOVE THE INFLUENCE

11:03 A.M.

"It's going to be ok. It's going to be." I think to myself as I do the combination to my lock, over and over again. Whatever number I'm on, it doesn't matter. I'm stuck sitting on a chair in the Library with a hostage.

"GET OUT!" People scamper out the door as Lester flashes the gun in the air. My eyes catch site of Jackson's face, him wincing in pain, as Lester handcuffs Jackson to a desk.

Glancing down at my pants, a "silver" stain sparkles from the light above me. It's difficult for my brain to decipher that a 200 something pound man leaned on my left side while going up a flight of stairs.

"Yo! Homeys! What I think you're doing is cool." Marquez, being the only one who stayed, steps away from the window. "An' I would stay, but y'know… my ma. She'll have my ass." He swats Lester's back as he tumbles out the door. "Stay safe ya'll."

Moving away from the window, Stephanie sits beside Jackson. "Lester, he needs a doctor." She takes off the scarf she is wearing, and starts wrapping it around his leg.

"You sure know what you're doing." She gives him a feeble smile.

"I volunteer at Jamaica Medical Hospital." With a whimper from Jackson, Stephanie ties the last knot.

"Thank-"

"We gonna do this, or what?" Rodney bangs the door behind him.

"Great. I feel safer already." I laugh at my own thought. Rodney thinks he's tuff, and maybe he is. He and his gangster get up.

"Rodney?" Rivers lifts his head from his hands.

"What" Rivers holds up his hands in whatever, and disappears behind the book shelves. Jackson lets out another moan. "What you making noise about?" Rodney steps in front of him. "The bullet went right through. Didn't hit a vain or nothin'." Jackson looks angrily at him.

"Where did you get your medical degree brother?" Rodney lifts up his shirt, revealing deep scars across his stomach.

"The University of Queens." He spits each word. "Brother."

"You hyperventilate?" Jackson turns his focus to me. I take one glance into his eyes, and then break his gaze.

"No." He imparts a small laugh.

"Just anxious then?" Placing the lock in my pocket, I make my way to the window.

"The police are pretty quick." I stick my fingers between the blinds.

"To quick." Lester slides beside me. "Listen. I don't know why I reacted like that. An' I know a sorry wont make up for it. But you and Stephanie should get out while you still have a chance."

"That's a good idea." Jackson speaks softly as he tugs at the handcuffs.

"No." Stephanie gets up off the floor. "I'm staying. You probably won't let him go Lester, and I'm not leaving without him." She motions toward Jackson.

"I'm probably too involved anyway." I stare at them both. Thoughts of Trevor flood my mind. "An' I won't leave without Step-"

"Look who I found." Rivers steps to the side, revealing Lynn. "Found her back by the fiction section listening to music."

"I heard that ya guys are holding someone hostage, and whatever."

"Lynn you should leave." Stephanie moves toward her.

"Yah, you shouldn't really tell me what to do." She pulls up the blinds. "Wow. The whole Calvary is here." Holding her coat close to her, she sits on the window seat.

"THIS IS THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE." An officer moves into position in the middle of the street, with a megaphone. "YOU HAVE THIRTY SECONDS TO SURRENDER, AND COME OUT. IF YOU RESIST, WE WILL SHOOT!"

"GET DOWN!" Lester grabs Ziggy by the shoulders, and pulls him down. Lynn just sits where she is, Rivers ducks under a broken bookcase, Rodney under the window sill, Stephanie, and I under the desk that Jackson is cuffed to. The seconds go by as if forever. We watch the clock tick 5…4…3…2…1……?