ROYAL WOODS MIDDLE SCHOOL

"Dang It...I'm in so much trouble" Lincoln whispered.

"We have to get to the mall somehow dumbass, You rather get in trouble for skipping school? Or have your whole family be killed? Now shut up before a teacher hears you", Taylor responded, peeking her head from around the corner to check if the coast was clear. It was 8:45 am, and first period was happening. Right now Lincoln should've been in his History class, and Taylor should have been in her Algebra class. But instead, both of them were attempting to sneak out of the school and head towards the Royal Woods mall. Earlier on the Bus, both had received a message on their burner phones to be at the Royal Woods food court by 10:45 am. This would be their first job for the 54th mafia, and neither of the kids intended on being late or missing it. Lincoln wasn't too thrilled about skipping school since they would notify his parents and not only would he receive a suspension, but he was definitely going to be grounded. Still, it was nothing compared to the punishment he would receive if he didn't do what this criminal organization had ordered him to do. Taylor on the other hand couldn't have cared less about getting in trouble for skipping school, seeing as she use to ditch all the time, so this was relatively normal for her. Knowing this, Lincoln just kept his mouth shut and let her lead them out.

"Alright, the coast is clear, let's go dude", Taylor said, nudging Lincoln to follow her. Lincoln stuck close behind her, watching their back to make sure no one was behind them until they eventfully exited the back doors of the school. Once the two were out, they snuck to the front entrance of the school, before walking down the sidewalk away from the building. Lincoln had to admit, ditching school was kind of fun. Especially since he didn't have to go to Mr. Bolhofners class and deal with Chandler.

"So what do you think they're going to have us do"? Lincoln asked, trying to start a conversation to quell his nerves as they walked down the sidewalk towards the mall.

"I don't know to be honest...but I know it's not going to be good. That guy back in the basement said that we were most likely going to end up dead or in jail anyway...so if I'm being honest, I'm a little scared", Taylor admitted, a look of concern plastered on her face. Lincoln just started at the floor as he walked, his mind was starting to race. He snapped out of it when Taylor stopped walking and grabbed his shoulder, looking at him with a weak smile. "Look Lincoln, you and I both have to realize something. Whatever it is they're going to make us do, and if we survive, then by the end of the day you and I are going to officially be criminals", she explained. Lincoln just sighed, nodding his head slowly in agreement.

"Heh, yea...I'm scared. But wait, don't you have a criminal record"? Lincoln asked, a bit confused. Taylor just laughed a little before she started to walk again. Lincoln just stared at her in confusion for a second before running after her.

"Oh Lincoln, the stuff I do is just ditching school, school fights, and the occasional vandalism. I'm a delinquent, you dork. What we're going to do, whatever it is, is mafia related. This is way past spray painting on a wall or starting a fight in the cafeteria, Taylor said.

"Ohhh, yeah I guess you're right", Lincoln said sheepishly. Taylor just looked down at the boy and smiled. It was hard to believe that only yesterday was she trying to beat him to a pulp. She was starting to ask herself how she could have ever hated this kid.

"Regardless of what we're doing, we're getting this shit done together, right"? Taylor asked, raising her fist in front of Lincoln for a fist bump. Lincoln looked at her and smiled, bumping her fist with his.

"Yea, let's get this shit done", he responded, cussing for the first time in his life. How furious his friends and family would be if they heard him say that.

ROYAL WOODS MALL

By the time the two kids arrived at the mall, it was 10:30 am barely opening. This was Lincoln's first time being at the mall around this time, and it was weird for him to see it so empty. Which made sense to him of course, since everyone was at work or school. Still, it was a weird sight. Most of the stores weren't even open yet. There were mainly just old people walking around, which was quite common at malls around this time. Older people took advantage of the emptiness and would just have a quiet walk around the place. But that's not what Lincoln and Taylor were here for.

When they arrived at the food court, it was empty, except for one man sitting at a table on the far right reading a newspaper. He was a short and skinny fella, with a big nose and slicked back thinning hair. He wore a caramel-colored dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a red tie, dark brown pants, and brown business shoes. Lincoln and Taylor slowly walked up to the man, and waited beside him in awkwardness, wondering if this was the guy they were supposed to meet. After a few awkward and silent seconds, the man just turned his gaze towards the two kids in confusion.

"The fuck is wrong with y'all? Y'all antisocial or something? sit your dumbasses down" he rudely ordered, flipping to the next page of his newspaper. Lincoln and Taylor just stared at each other, shrugging their shoulders, and proceeded to sit at the table.

The man sighed, rolling up his newspaper and setting it to the side. He stared at both Taylor and Lincoln, examining them before smiling. "So, ya the dipshit kids that blew the fuck up outta Mickey's drug house", he stated with his thick Boston accent. "It's a shit show you two's got ya selves into. My name is Ronney, an ol' Mickey says you two can help me with something, seeing as ya got a debt to owe him" Ronney said. Lincoln and Taylor noted that Mickey must've been the man that was in the basement with them the other night. "Although", Ronney continued, "You two look pretty young. I mean, I knew Micky was sending kids, the sick bastard, but I sure as fuck didn't think y'all was going to be this young. Ah well, who gives a shit. Y'all got any fighting experience"? Mickey asked. Lincoln shook his head no, knowing that last night's fight with Taylor was the first time he actually got into a real fight. He didn't count the scuffles with his sisters since they weren't comparable. Taylor nodded her head, yes, saying that she fights people her age all the time. "Y'all ever shoot a gun"? Ronney asked. Both Taylor and Lincoln shook their heads no, as neither have ever even held a gun or even seen one outside of police officers. Ronney just stared at the two kids with an uneasy expression. "Christ all mighty Mickey, the hell am I supposed to do with these chumps"? He thought to himself. The man began to reach into his pocket, before pulling out a snub nose .38 revolver. It was a small gun, no bigger than the man's hands. It had a fine wooden handle and a sleek silver body. It was a beautiful little gun and a staple within the mafia. He slid the gun over to Taylor, who just stared at it in confusion. "Since ya the oldest and seem to already be a little troublemaker, I'm giving this to you. It's fully loaded and ready to go. Hopefully, ya don't need to use it, but just in case. All ya gotta do is cock the hammer back, and pull the trigger at whatever ya wanna kill. Ya aims gonna be shit, but as I said, ya shouldn't need it...probably". With that nonreassuring set of instructions, Taylor turned her sights over the Lincoln. She knew that everything Ronney said was right. Out of the two of them, she was not only the oldest but also the roughest. Although she was still a kid who only got into trouble at school and nothing more, Lincoln was still an angel compared to her. If they had to resort to killing, then she wanted her to be the one to do it first. She had no issue destroying her sanity and innocence so that Lincoln could keep his...at least for as long as possible. Though, she wasn't an idiot. Soon Lincoln would have to be dragged down to that level, but for now, she'll take the responsibility. After all, it was her fault they got into this situation.

She sighed, took the gun, and tucked it in the back of her shorts. Lincoln just stared at her with sorrow, before both returned their attention to Ronney. "Okay so, here's what's gonna happen. I own a dealership...sorta. Anyways, we lent a car out to this guy on the other side of town, just a bit east outside of Royal Woods near Sterling Heights. It's a 2006 silver Impala. He was supposed to pay us for renting the car, but he's two weeks late. We tried contacting him, but it seems he's either too busy or too stupid to answer us back. Whatever it is don't fuckin' matter. Y'all gonna get the car back either way. If he doesn't give it up, then kill 'em", he explained. The last sentence sent a chill down both Lincoln's and Taylor's spines. Although they were nervous, they thought the job seemed simple enough. "I got a taxi waiting outside the mall. Go inside of it, tell 'em I sent ya there, and he'll take y'all to sterling heights about 20 minutes from here to the address. Pick up the car, and bring it to the second floor of the garage back here at the mall got it"? He concluded. Taylor nodded her head, memorizing everything. Lincoln understood everything too, though he was trying to process everything that was going on. "Oh yea, one of yall knows how to drive right"? Ronney added. Taylor nodded her head again, to Lincoln's surprise. Ronney just smiled, not caring how the 13-year-old knew. He grabbed his newspaper and opened it back up. "Excellent. Oh and don't worry about school either, we got that covered. Anyways good luck, and try not to get ya selves killed", He gleefully added. Lincoln and Taylor just looked at each other confusingly, before getting up and heading out of the mall. Once they were outside they were greeted by the sight of a taxi waiting in front of the entrance. The two kids nervously entered the back. The taxi reeked of marijuana and cigarettes. The seats were ripped up and covered in stains. Bullet holes were plastered on the glass that separated the back seat from the front. The driver was a fat middle-aged man, wearing a white t-shirt that was covered in sweat and food stains, dirty sweatpants, and sandals. He had a messy beard, thinning hair, and sunglasses. He looked over to the two kids and smiled, revealing his yellowed and rotting teeth. This guy made Mr. Bolhofner look like a model compared to him.

Taylor, resisting the urge to puke, regained her nerves and spoke. "Ronney sent us", she said. The man's smile widened before he turned back around and began to drive off. He didn't say a word the entire ride, and neither did Taylor or Lincoln. They were both lost in their thoughts. As the car kept moving, Lincoln stared out the window, watching Royal woods passing by. They passed by his school, and he wondered how everyone was doing. Pretty soon they passed a huge green sign that read "YOU ARE NOW LEAVING ROYAL WOODS, HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN REAL SOON"!. His heart sank, and the thought of him leaving home made him sad. This was the first time he left home without his family, and it didn't feel right. He thought of his friends and his family. How disappointed would they be? What would happen if he ended up in jail, or worse, dead? The more he thought about it, the more heartbroken he became. Eventually, he close his eyes and fell into a nap.

"Lincoln...Lincoln...come on wake up dude, we're here", Taylor said, nudging Lincoln awake. It had been only 15 minutes, but to Lincoln, it felt like he was asleep for hours. Especially since he didn't get much sleep the previous night. He rose from his slumber and looked outside the car window. It was now 11:30 am, and they were now in the Sterling Heights west side projects. It was a small community of run-down and deteriorating complexes. further down the street, the skyline of Sterling Heights city could be seen towering over the horizon.

Taylor pulled out the snub nose .38 revolver, checking to make sure that it was full. Six bullets were present, filling each of the chambers. She looked over to the taxi driver and nodded. The driver just smiled at her unnervingly. He then pointed to a box that was located under their seats. Lincoln grabbed the box and opened it, revealing two black ski masks, gloves, and black hoodies.

"You want us to put these on"? the boy asked. The man just nodded, still creepily smiling at the two.

"That's actually a good idea. We don't want anyone seeing who we are", Taylor said, grabbing one of the ski masks and hoodies from the box. The hoodies smelled musty and were way too oversized for the two. It was clear that these were for adults. The hoodie almost looked like a dress on Lincoln. The bottom was down to his knees, and the sleeves went way past his hands. Even though Taylor was taller than Lincoln, it still was way too oversize for the girl. The bottom went past her thighs, and the sleeves also went past her hands. She rolled up the sleeves to above her forearms so that she could still drive and use the gun if needed. After a quick moment of hesitation, the two kids put on the ski masks, and gloves and hopped out of the taxi. With that, the man drove off, leaving them standing in front of the deteriorating projects.

"let's just get this shit over with," Taylor said before both she and Lincoln entered the residents. It looked worst from the inside, each tenement was run down, covered in shattered windows and chipped paint. The cars that infested the pothole-covered pavement were also run down, with some missing tires. Loud music and screaming could be heard roaring from one of the many ghetto buildings. It was an environment that was a stark contrast to the peaceful and clean town of Royal Woods, and a sight that Taylor and Lincoln have never seen. Lincoln immediately thought of his sisters, fearing what would happen if they ever found themselves in a place like this.

"There's the car", Taylor quickly exclaimed, noting the silver Impala parked in front of one of the complexes. Thankfully no one was around, seeing as it was still the morning of a Thursday. The two quickly made their way over to the car, still checking their surroundings. Once they were standing beside the vehicle, Taylor dug in the pockets of her hoodie and found a set of keys. It seemed as if Ronney had another pair of keys for the car in case something like this would happen.

"Looks like this is gonna be easier than we thought dude", Taylor stated. Just then, they heard one of the doors from the complex in front of them slam open, and three men stepped out. They were huge, standing well over six feet. The man in the middle was the biggest, his muscular arms looked bigger than Lincoln's whole body. He was wearing a backward Detroit Lions cap, a black tank top, red basketball shorts, and a beat-up pair of Air force ones. He was covered in tattoos from neck to arms, and the gold from his piercings and chains stood out like a sore thumb in contrast to the environment. The two men beside him looked the same, it was clear that they were involved in gang activity.

"Da fuck y'all think y'all doing? I already told Ronney's bitch ass that the motherfucka' can suck my dick, I ain't payin him shit", the man said, before pulling out a silver Baretta from the front of his sagging shorts. The two guys beside him followed, pulling out the same gun from their pants. Without any warning, the three men began to open fire at the two kids. Lincoln and Taylor immediately jumped behind the car for cover, in complete shock at what was happened. Lincoln curled up, covering his face and closing his eyes, completely terrified as glass shattered from the car. The loud pops made the boy more scared than he's ever been in his life. He started to cry, as he just wanted to go home to his family. Taylor was equally as scared, but she managed to pull herself together, pulling out the revolver and cocking the hammer back. She peeked out from behind the car and started to return fire, shooting bullets back at the guys. She ended up hitting one of the guys directly in the throat, as blood and pieces of flesh splattered on the brick wall behind him. The two other guys immediately went back inside the apartment, taking cover from behind the door frame. Taylor just stared at the dead man, her mind racing to many dark thoughts. She had just murdered someone. She looked at the dead man, horrified as she watched a stream of blood ooze from the large hole in his neck. Her hands began to tremble, and she could feel herself on the verge of a panic attack as the world around her seemed to go mute. After a minute, she somewhat regained her composure, turning to Lincoln who was still curled up crying. The sight of the terrified boy was enough to snap the teenage girl out of her thoughts.

"Lincoln...LINCOLN", she shouted, violently shaking the boy so that he could come to his wits. Lincoln stopped his crying and looked up at her, noticing the look of fear on her face. He peeked out from behind the car to see if the guys were still shooting at them, only to be met with the sight of a dead man leaning up against the wall with his throat blown out, the sight started to freak him out again, but Taylor turned him back around and looked at him straight in the eyes.

"LINCOLN GET A FUCKING GRIP", Taylor shouted. The heavy gunfire from the two remaining guys echoed throughout the neighborhood, as people began to open their doors and windows to see what the commotion was about. Police sirens could be heard wailing from the distance. "LOOK LINCOLN, WE NEED TO GET INSIDE THIS CAR AND GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE BEFORE WE END UP DEAD. THE POLICE ARE ON THEIR WAY, SO SNAP THE FUCK OUT OF IT. WE CAN JUMP THROUGH THE NOW-DESTROYED BACK WINDOW, AND CLIMB TO THE FRONT. OKAY, DUDE?" Taylor shouted, trying to speak over the loud thunderous bangs of bullets firing at the car the two were taking cover behind. After processing what Taylor just said, Lincoln nodded his head and wiped his tears, trying to regain his composure.

"Yeah, okay let's go", he responded. Taylor began to open fire back at the door frame the two guys were taking cover behind, giving Lincoln a moment of relief to jump through the destroyed window of the back of the car. The glass cut through his arms and legs as if he was walking through a cheese grater. Taylor quickly followed behind, hopping to the driver seat and starting the car. The two guys resumed firing at the car. Taylor immediately put the car in reverse and floored it out of the parking space. The two guys quickly exited the door, firing relentlessly at the driver's side. Taylor then put the car to drive and floored it out of the projects like a bat out of hell. All the windows were now destroyed, and the car was riddled with bullets. She desperately sped down the road away from Sterling Heights, noticing the police arriving at the projects from the cracked rearview mirror.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck", she repeated, trying to catch her breath and quell her adrenaline. She looked over to Lincoln, who was breathing heavily, in total shock at everything that just transpired. The two looked at each other and nervously began to laugh, in total shock that they managed to escape. Suddenly they were rear-ended by something, causing the car to swirl. Taylor quickly turned the steering wheel, managing to get the car aligned. They were still driving thankfully. Both Taylor and Lincoln turned around to see what had just hit them. It was a black van with tinted windows, tailgating them dangerously close. The passenger side window rolled down, and a man wearing a red flannel, black beanie, and red bandana over his mouth stuck his entire torso out of the vehicle. He pulled out a large Uzi and aimed it at the speeding car in front of them. On the other side of the van, the side door slid open, and a man wearing a white t-shirt, tan pants, a red bandana over his mouth, and a plain black hat also poked his body out. He had one hand grabbing onto the door frame and an AK 47 in his other. Both Lincoln and Taylor looked at them in shock, before Taylor turned her head back around and floored it.

"These assholes don't know when to give up", Taylor muttered. The two men began opening fire, showering the car with a storm of bullets, causing both Lincoln and Taylor to duck their heads in cover. That's when Lincoln noticed something. Under his sit was a sawed-off shotgun, and a tec 9 submachine gun, along with tons of shotgun shells and clips.

"Taylor", the boy said, holding out the Tech. Taylor looked over at him and smiled.

"Well let's fucking go then", Taylor said, grinning as she grabbed the gun. "Take the wheel dude, I'm going to try and get these assholes off our backs", the girl exclaimed. She started to rear her torso out of the window, still pressing her foot on the gas pedal. Lincoln moved over to the driver's side, taking the wheel and keeping his eyes on the road. Although he's never driven a car before, the steering didn't seem that much different to him than the video game he used to help his sister Leni get her driver's license. Once Taylor could get a clear view of the van, she cocked the weapon and steadied her aim, intending to just spray like crazy and hope to God that it does something.

This was turning out to be one helluva day.