Riley had given Huey a haircut. In under 10 minutes, he styled his hair into a messy cornrow.
A few days have passed since then.
"Shit... fuck.. Ow! Ow! Hey! What the fuck!?"
Jazmine drops Riley on the couch. With completely disregard for his broken shoulder. The bullet had missed a major artery by half an inch. If it had pierced a vein then he would've bled out on the spot. Jazmine dropped him out of spite, Riley clearly deserved it, he's lucky to be alive in the first place.
"You're gonna be sleeping on the couch. Also, we only have veggies and tofu in the fridge. Meat is murder." She speaks to an injured Riley. He has a huge cast around his arm.
"Ay... Jazzy... sorry about everyth-
"Sorry ain't gonna cut it Riley. Gah! I'm so sick of you! Huey is gone and I have to babysit this stinky, washed-up hobo! You're messed up Riley! And you think a thousand sorry's is gonna change that?!"
"I told you. McHater had a plan. He gon come back and wreck their shit up. I swear Jaz, he's fine."
"Screw you."
Both of them feel helpless, in their own little way. One is injured physically, and one is injured emotionally. Both of them harbored regrets. If time could've rewined, she wouldn't have been involved and he wouldn't have lived a lie.
Riley lays there on the couch, staring at the ceiling and watching the faint flickering of the light. It's a feeling of hitting rock bottom. Jazmine would've felt pity, she would've felt sad to see someone in such a state. But she just feels an overwhelming anger towards herself and to the person in front of her.
She sighs. And she heats up a pot of tomato soup. She can't be bothered to nurse Riley back to health but at the very least she can't let him starve, while there are many things to worry about, she can't lose herself and drown under a thousand different thoughts. She desperately needs to distract herself from thinking about Huey.
She might have killed Huey. His plan was to turn himself in, if the mob boss wanted Huey Freeman then Huey will show him exactly what he can do. But it was her fault that Riley got shot, her fault for calling the police, and what would've been Huey turning himself in has turned into a complete mess because of her actions.
They wanted Huey alive, but due to her actions, gunshots have been fired. Who knows if they intend follow their orders after that entire mess.
Jazmine thought that Huey's plan was stupid. He promised to be careful. He promised not to make her worry. Now he's risking his life for his brother. Jazmine wants to be proud for being so selfless, yet it only makes her eyes water.
She hands Riley a bowl of soup.
"Thanks... Mariah."
"My name is Jazmine. Not Mariah! And don't you dare call me Jaz, or Jazzy, or Jazzy-Fresh. We're not friends."
"Aight... fine. I deserve that."
It took 3 days for Riley to be discharged from the hospital. There were no visitors, no family, no friends. Jazmine made brief visits everyday for Huey's sake but to some extent, Riley simply watched the ticking of the clock. Alone and broken, distraught and in pain.
Jazmine and Huey's life is perfect—their futures already planned, already set. No money problems, unbreakable relationship, and a life full of reachable dreams. To Riley it became intimidating, he knows what he wants in life but he's completely unsure how to achieve it. All his life he has struggled to find meaning with himself, between Escobar, Yung Reezy, and now his impersonation of Huey Freeman.
He wants to be in a mansion, with cars, and a supermodel wife. He wants his name to command respect and his infamy known throughout the city. But he's simply a flawed wannabe gangster, he's not a man who's willing to settle down and work a 9-5 job, he's not a man who can excel inside a classroom and achieve a perfect exam. He's Riley Freeman, all his life he has been an outcast, the black gangster without a gang, born and raised within an all-white neighborhood.
"Can you stand up?" Jazmine asks.
"Yeah. Why?"
"Then help me find Huey."
"I don fucking know where he is."
"You're useless! I hate you!" Jazmine shouts.
"Shut the fuck up! I know okay?! I'm a stupid dumb nigga! Damn Jazmine, you ain't gotta beat a dead horse!"
"Why Riley? Why the heck did you do it? Why did you have to barge into our lives and make a mess out of everything! We wanted you to succeed! We were rooting for you! Even if you didn't call, Huey and I were proud of you! We thought you were starting a new life in France and the military! We thought you were turning away from all the gangster phase but instead you were out working for a crime ring?! Seriously Riley?!"
"I don't fucking know okay?! It wuz a job! All I've ever known waz to beat niggas and take shit! You think I would've lasted a single day in the military and not get kicked out?!"
She knew his family was messed up from the beginning. Unlike her mom and dad, with all her cousins, and her grandparents, the Freemans were alone. They didn't had the luxury of a normal childhood, they didn't have comraderie among cousins or felt the undying cherishment of grandparents. Huey and Riley's family is full of bitter people, messed up, and broken apart.
Their mom and dad died, their Aunt Cookie passed away. Granddad... gave up and found peace. What kind of person could handle such an overwhelming amount of loss? Huey crawled out of that pit of despair like the dead who rose from the grave. Clawing away at the walls of depravity until there was nothing left but a broken husk of a man. It took Jazmine years for him to open up to her and took even longer to make him smile. But Riley didn't share the same outcome.
No father to tell him how to act like a man. No mother to teach him how to smile.
Jazmine sighs as Riley eats his soup in silence. The flickering of the apartment lights grow ever more present as the status quo makes itself known in her living room. She has to find Huey, she wants to yell the crap out of Riley, and she has to tend to the busy schedule of her young adult life.
"I need to change clothes... Yo Jazmine, can I borrow some of McHater's clothes?"
"His name is Huey. And no. You can't."
"Aight. Fine... Damn. Guess I'll just keep smelling shit."
"Don't worry. Someone will take care of it." She assures him.
"The fuck you mean?"
*Knock* Jazmine lets out another sigh of relief. She opens the door to reveal Cindy McPherson, holding a baseball bat.
Jazmine walks to the side, for a brief moment she has a sadistic smile on her face.
Cindy shouts a hundred profanities to Riley. "You bitch ass cunt whore goofy ass hoe! You sad pathetic nigga bitch bimbo limp-dicked shit stain fuckface gay fagg-
Hit after hit, Cindy beats him up with a baseball bat. Riley can do nothing but scream in pain and shield his injured shoulder from Cindy's onslaught. It's simply therapeutic for the girls.
"Fuck! What the hell?! Holy fucking shit C-Murph! Stop! Fucking stop! STOP!"
After a few more hits, Cindy spits on him. But not before landing a kick to his leg. "There. I'm done... bitch."
Riley wipes away the spit, his ears still ringing and his bones protesting in pain. "Yeah. Nice to see you too..."
Cindy drops her baseball bat, now with obvious signs of wear and tear. "Stand up. Boo and I here to pick you up from daycare. You seriously hit lowest of the low if you stayin at McHater's crib—no offense Jaz."
"None taken." Jazmine says.
"Boo? Who the fuck is boo?!"
"He's Micheal fucking Caesar. A real nigga who dont just ditch his girl for a stupid ass gang. We doing Jaz here a favor and I'm this fucking close to ditching your sorry ass. Stand up nigga. We getting you outta here. You look like fucking shit."
Riley swallows his pride, he never depended on anyone, he never asked for help, or asked anyone for guidance. But something tells him to take the leap of faith. No matter how badly bruised and how stupid he can be, something always pushes him forward. And as he pushes his broken body to stand, he mumbles a few curses under his breath and follows Cindy out of the pit that he dug himself into.
Huey found Jazmine. That's what made him strong. And if Riley ever decides to be smart and survive his inner demons then he has to find someone to turn to. Even if Cindy isn't a comforting beacon of light and more like a rabid berserker, it might the perfect way to beat some sense into Riley.
"You know what? No." Riley says and halts in his path.
"Nigga what?!" Cindy shouts.
"I'm staying... I gotta find Huey. I can't run like a little bitch and get taken out for ice cream like a damn child. I'm staying with Jazmine and we gonna look for my brother."
"Jazmine?" Cindy turns to her, Jazmine looks geniunely surprised but she isn't against his decision.
She wants to get rid of Riley, that's why she called a favor from Cindy to begin with. She wants to cry herself to sleep again. To be alone in her apartment and not be bothered with someone as infuriating as Riley.
Jazmine yells. "Do you know where he is?!"
"I don't fucking know! But I gotta try. WE gotta fucking try! I know you and Huey are fucking each other but he's my damn brother! I gotta fucking man up and look for him.!"
"Shut your rude pervert ass!" Cindy punches his abdomen, making him wince in pain. Cindy is not pulling any of her punches.
Jazmine scowls. "Oh? So now you're deciding to help? After 3 days in the hospital, now you're finally stepping up?"
The two women stare at him like hawks, Judging him full of contempt and anger. Riley doesn't break his gaze but no matter how badly broken he gets, he's going to stand and get back up.
Cindy ignores the pathetic sight of Riley and turns to an angry Jazmine, she almost looked like Huey, with a deathly scowl. "Jaz. Caez and I are gonna help too..."
She sighs. "Thanks Cin... Look Riley, you got shot, I understand. If you wanna help then help."
Riley speaks, still recoiling from pain. "Aight then. We'll go to that train station or some shit... find out where they took ma brother."
Riley walks to Cindy, apologizing for the many months of absence and their sudden breakup. His long overdue apology flowing out like a river. Jazmine tunes the conversation out, her head fixates to the ground as she gets lost in thought.
Jazmine speaks up. "Riley... maybe you can wait in Cin and Caesar's car? I gotta do something first..."
"Yeah. Let's go nigga. Caez is gonna love meeting your sorry ass again."
Jazmine cries. She sits down and buries her face on her knees. She's hopeless. She's strong but she's not powerful. She's steadfast but she's not brave. Every single night, the same vivid nightmare materialize in her sleep. Clear visions of her elderly self, a widow, and a catlady. She has nightmares of herself at age 70—never married due to the loss of her true love.
She thought that all hell would've broke loose if she had lost Huey. And now she truly lost him and only her heart broke loose. She'll find him of course. She's surrounded by friends, surrounded by people who's willing to help. But she'll cry and she'll cry alone, she'll have a moment by herself and grief the grievous sitaution.
Maybe Riley didn't get beat up enough. Maybe she should've joined in and landed a kick or two. He's very well responsible for this. And he doesn't truly understand that he could be responsible for his brother's death. If Huey had died, then the blame lands on his shoulders. She should've hit him with the baseball bat when she had the chance.
Knock Knock Someone is at the door. Jazmine wipes her tears, wanting to look strong in front of her friends. Jazmine already notified the police, they filed a hundered missing persons report. If they are gonna drive around the city and call for his name so be it. If they're gonna go to the train station and investigate the crime scene then so be it. They have to do what they can, whatever it takes.
Jazmine opens the door. "Sorry! I'm comi-
A foreign face interrupts her. "Good afternoon."
She was expecting Riley, or Cindy, or Caesar. She was expecting her friends to check up on her. "Who... are you?"
"I'm a friend of Huey—I believe he called me the White Shadow."
"White Shadow?" The name rings a bell. "You're real?"
"Guess so. May I come in?"
"Umm.. yes sure... come in."
White Shadow steps into the apartment, glancing at the various decor of the home. A blend of both of their personalities, for every Huey-like decor there's a Jazmine-like decor. It's the first time he's seen his new home, appreciating the progress of Huey's growth. White Shadow makes a slight smile.
"Huh. I'm retiring you know." He points out.
"Who are you...? Huey told me stories about you... he said you were like a guardian angel..."
White Shadow bellows out a laugh. "The kid said that?"
"But also like a ghost. You haunted him. Every single day of his life."
"I'm good at my job Jazmine."
"How do you know my name?"
He argues back. "Why wouldn't I know your name?" He wouldn't be a good agent if he didn't know Huey's associates.
There's a pause in their conversation, White Shadow takes the chance to get a couple more glances at Huey's home. There's a hint of pride on his face. Although masked by the stuffy-looking suit and those ink-black shades, Jazmine can tell that the old man is reminiscing good memories.
"I got reassigned a year ago. I had orders to stop observing Huey Freeman. The higher-ups didn't deem him a threat to society anymore."
Jazmine responds. "I- I don't understand..."
White Shadow ignores her. "I didn't had to watch him anymore. But I still get curious every now and then. You gotta admit, that boy is somethin else huh."
"He is..."
"I saw him at the train station. The sheer look of determination on that kid. Dedication and sheer will. It was commendable. Even in the face of so much danger, that boy never once flinched."
"Please... help us find him."
White Shadow gives her a blank stare. "I'm retiring."
"Help us."
He hands out a small folder. All this time, Jazmine didn't notice the bright yellow folder in his hands. Without thinking, Jazmine takes it, desperately hoping for answers.
White Shadow replies. "It's a gift from Uncle Sam. You could say its thanks for his good behavior. Inside is classified information and the key to finding him."
Jazmine opens the folder. It is brimming with documents and photos, full of information about various locations and suspects regarding Huey's abduction.
She looks up. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." White Shadow responds. "Say my farewells to that bastard for me. Because there won't be a next time, this old pile of bones only got a few good years left."
Jazmine's eyes fixate towards the folder but when she tries to take another glance at White Shadow, she finds that he disappeared. Gone like the wind, he mysteriously disappears, in the same way he had showed up. There was no sound of footsteps, no sound of the door closing behind him. Jazmine is left in an empty apartment and their front door wide open and in her hands is the pile of papers that's going to save Huey.
The sins of a father should not be paid by the son. The actions of the few do not define the many. Huey cannot feel his legs. His arm has bent to unconventional places. A question still rings within his mind; should he pay for the sins of brother?
A mask covers his face, his body bound in ropes and almost beaten to a pulp. He can't say he's impressed but as far as abductions go, his abductors are playing perfectly by the book.
There's nothing else to do but stare at the black void of his mask and ponder within his thoughts. He keeps track of time by the amount of breaths he has taken. The average man makes 12 to 16 breaths per minute and he had lost count at 14000 breaths. As far as he can estimate, 2 and a half days have passed.
Counting and pondering helps him keep sane. Unlike Jazmine, he knows better not to start panicking. He'll never make it out alive if he lets fear overwhelm him or if his calm conduct shatters before him. It also keeps the hunger pains at bay.
To a weaker mind, it would start obsessing over freedom. But to Huey, he has a job to do. If he's going to pay for the sins of his brother, he may as well kill the demons that have haunted him. The mob boss, mafia leader, or whoever he is will get taken care of. And by the end of this whole ordeal, he can finally reunite with that sobbing crybaby and hug her for an entire day.
He's shoved to a chair and more restraints are tied to hold him in place. Huey is at an abandoned warehouse, all he can hear is the shuffling feet of hostile men and the soft creaking of long neglected machinery.
The mask is thrown away, a dozen lights shine on him which momentarily blinds his eyes. He's starving, tired, and beaten.
The men shouted in English but before then they held conversations in Italian with one another. Gossiping and rumors. Huey's Italian can tell they were discussing about their leaders. His supposed rivals and the group of people Riley shouldn't have messed with.
They shout in English to look up. They knock him in the head while his eyes readjust to the light. Huey glares angrily but nonetheless forces himself to look up.
A dozen different leaders stands imposingly in front of him.
"It was a pain to take a plane to America. Sorry for the wait Mr. Freeman." A male voice says.
Huey still has short hair, his once-braided hair in a complete mess. As far as he knows, Huey has his disguise, they still believe he is Riley Freeman.
It doesn't take much imagination to picture what Riley could've done. His loud-mouth and rude attitude is bound to piss off anyone. His greed and ambition for street fame makes him fated to butt heads with powerful men. In a way, Huey may be similar to his brother, always looking to fight to find his place in the world—but for Riley he is oh so misguided.
"We are not amused." A female voice says.
It reminds Huey when he was 10. The bulletproof vest and Riley's stupid fundraiser. He told him how his idea was gonna end because it's going to end badly for him. He knew he was gonna get in deep shit so Huey gave him a vest.
To Huey it's becoming exhausting. The fundraiser wasn't the only time, over the years he's been in similar situations.
The mafia leaders stare menacingly at the cornrow-haired man. A single light above him illuminated his broken features. This pain is only mild to Huey, he's starved himself in hunger strikes before, he's had broken bones and bruised up before, and it's not his first time being tied up with a gun pointed to his head.
Riley is no longer that idiotic 8 year old with a fundraiser anymore, over the years he has angered bigger and bigger fish. Luckily Huey has been able to keep up. He's always grown in strength, as he never knows when his brother is gonna bite more than he can chew and Huey would be forced to bail him out.
And sitting there in the chair, bound around a dozen ropes and what could very well look like his execution, Huey loosens his ropes. Without anyone noticing, a hands gets free from its restraints.
In a hidden pocket he takes out a tiny container of hair cream. He had made it with an old formula for a bomb. Jazmine had used it a long time ago to grow her hair that stretched all the way to her feet. Perhaps he could tweak the formula to regrow his afro but it does have the side effects of being a powerful explosive.
His hair cream and a single spark. To think that he was going to use the bomb to murder Ed Wuncler II. To erase Granddad's debt and get rid the world of another corrupt man. That notion was foolish. He shouldn't have made that plan out of spite and karma rewarded him with endangering his family and the people around him.
It's no wonder he had tucked that formula away. It had only brought back bad memories. But considering he brought it back and made a small batch, it might just be what he needs to get out to save himself.
Jazmine wanted to ask for more help. She wanted to call Ming. Huey had told her that Ming's family had connections with the criminal underworld. Jazmine wanted to call her parents for help. Tom and Sarah could pull herself together because Jazmine is quickly falling apart. She wanted to call Wuncler Industries. Ed and Rummy would've gladly help out in Huey's rescue.
But she's alone. Inside Caesar's car, beside an injured Riley. With Cindy dumbfounded as she tries to navigate the map inside White Shadow's folder. A young woman like her can't understand a paper map, she can barely get directions from her phone's GPS.
Nonetheless, Jazmins is alone because he isn't by her side. She misses him. But more urgently, she's scared for him. God knows what could be happening to him right now—she knows Huey would be outsmarting them and he's not gonna go down without a fight. But the fears of him dying grow ever more present.
"We'll find him Jaz." Riley assures her.
"Don't call me that. You still aren't off the hook."
"Gimme a fucking break... I took a bullet for him."
She glares angrily. So what if Riley got shot? It doesn't make a difference to her. It surprises her that she can be so heartless but she still feels an immense bitterness towards him.
Riley continues. "And I'll take another bullet for him if I have to. But don't fucking tell him that.
Riley isn't lying. It's only fair if he takes a bullet for him. No matter how hard he denies, he realizes that he owes his brother for all the grief that he caused. He can care less about Jazmine, she's merely the hoe and Riley Freeman ain't interested in hoes. But if it's his fault that Huey is out there dealing with Riley's demons then he better man up and stop acting like a bitch.
He fully knows what Huey is going through. His criminal life is wraught with honor and obsess the repayment of sins. The society of professional thieves is ruled by the concept of an eye for an eye. Riley dishonored the unspoken rules of mobsters and with no doubt the punishment is harsh. He knows that he needs to stop acting like a bitch and face his own judgement instead of letting his brother volunteer in his place.
Riley lets the emerald-eyed girl beside him cry herself to hysteria. As he sits in the backseat he looks straight to the road. The two figures in the front mumbling their own tribulations.
Cindy is still gripping at the map. The supposed map that Jazmine provided for them. She insists that they need to follow the map. That the information is correct and that they'll have to fully trust her.
"C-Murph... how u and Caesar been?"
"Nigga fuck you." Cindy stares daggers at him.
Caesar interjects. "Yeah... we alright Riley."
"You uh... you two together?" Riley asks him.
"Yeah."
Riley broke her heart. He doesn't care about women. He's more caught up in the game and the money. More caught up in fucking bitches and one night stands instead of settling down and commitments.
For a time, he moved to DC and broke it off with his girlfriend of 4 years. He didn't want to be tied down and he was still mourning Granddad's death. He ditched his ride or die to run hookup with casino girls and get dances from strippers. He thought it would ease the pain and it was the better alternative than drugs.
He wanted to ease the loss of Granddad. He couldn't believe his last surviving family member was Huey and he lamented at that fact. If he wanted to cope with hookers and alcohol, then it would've hurt Cindy if they were still in a relationship.
It's just another mistake on top of the increasing pile of his regrets. But no one can say they are surprised at his actions, not even himself.
"How long you two together?" Riley asks.
He replies. "Almost a year now."
"We cool?" Riley can't believe that he became the ex.
"Yeah. We cool." Caesar flashes a polite smile.
Cindy bats an eye at Riley. If it was up to her he'd be beaten to a pulp and be thrown at a pack of wolves. She hates to admit that she still harbors feelings for Riley but that prospect had sailed long ago. She's with Caesar now, a man who taught her how to settle down. Someone who taught her how to make commitments. She didn't care about boys and before he came she only cared for the game. But with Caesar she's learned that there's more to life than street fame.
Riley and Cindy lock eyes and they make an understanding. A silent nod and a wordless exchange with the eyes. It's like their faces communicated their own secret language. And with that Cindy turns away and returns to the map, trying to grasp the information again.
Riley's head hurts. He didn't want to go back to America and cry for help from his brother. But now he's here and he's here to repay for his sins and swallow the embarassment. He notices Jazmine's eyes judge him. He didn't notice when she stopped crying. Her face observes him like an angry angel, judging his soul and the mistakes of his past.
Riley wanted to laugh but all he could do is stare defiantly at those cold eyes.
They drove 6 hours to Boston. Caesar pokes fun at the expensive gas prices.
She feels bad after all, her friends shouldn't be taking the extra mile (literally) to save her boyfriend. But at this point she'll pay whatever the gas bill is and whatever price to get Huey in her arms again.
The map points to an abandoned warehouse, in one of the more ghetto parts of the city. To Riley it looks all to familiar to him. Whether it was a ghetto from Chicago or a ghetto in Sicily, all ghettos look the same to him. The air is filled with the sound of obnoxious niggas and broken dreams.
Caesar finds a spot to park, in the distance is the abandoned warehouse. According to White Shadow, Huey is in that building.
"The fuck do we do now?" Cindy asks.
Caesar says. "I dunno Cin. Maybe call the cops?"
Jazmine and Riley both speak in unison. "No!"
Riley is the first one to get out. At this point he's practically begging for someone to start shooting at him again. He feels like he's gone insane but he wants to even the score with his brother. In Riley's own stupid way, he'd rather get shot and make it fair to his brother rather than just walking up and thanking him.
"The fuck you doin nigga?!" Cindy shouts as Riley walks toward the abandoned warehouse.
For all he knows there could be a bunch of men with guns waiting for them. "If ya'll wanna stay then stay. The bosses only want the real Riley Freeman and I ain't gonna let that gay ass nigga die because of my mistakes!"
An explosion.
An explosion knocks Riley off the ground. His knees hitting the hard rock of pavement.
Huey had his 'Bomb Wave Cream'. Despite his protests, Riley and Granndad sold a truckload of his formula. He even caught Granddad making another batch when he was 15—Granddad was trying desperately to regrow his hair again.
But it was a bomb. Originally he invented that compound to make a sophisticated bomb.
He perfected it. Over the years he perfected the formula. And after years of prep and perfection he made a hair cream with a big enough payload to blow up an entire building.
Jazmine looks from the car window. Her ears are still ringing from the blast. What was once an abandoned warehouse in a quiet little street is now up in flames.
She doesn't know what to think in this situation. Did Huey die? Did Huey win? Why is there an explosion? Her thoughts race around her head around the thought of Huey's action.
"Fuck! What the actual fuck?!" Cindy screams. "Yeah I'm pulling out my glock! Shit is going down!"
Caesar and Cindy jump into action. Like a midnight gangwar they strap themselves a gun and blind determination as they head towards their destination. Riley catches up behind them.
What they see next shocked them. Huey Freeman in front of a burning building. Like a demon from hell he flourishes in the anarchy of flames.
"We here to rescue you!" Caesar shouts without prompt.
Huey felt like a villain. He almost wanted to laugh at the chaos. But he takes no pleasure at violent acts. No joy in armed revolution. He simply sees it as a means to enforce the people's will. If he took the lives of criminals and mob bosses he wouldn't find much pleasure in taking lives.
He ignores the three standing infront of him. A friend, an acquaintance, and a brother all glance at him with surprised eyes. He's completely done with everyone's bullshit and he simply wants to go home.
"Did you kill them?" Riley asks with anticipation.
"No." Huey responds. "Dragged everyone out before they got trapped... didn't realize how strong I made my bomb."
He gestures to the line of bodies off to the side. Defeated, beaten, and unconscious people in black pitch dark suits. They were arranged like black carpets on the concrete pavement of the warehouse.
Suddenly more men exit the burning warehouse. Survivors and stragglers. All bodyguards of the unconscious leaders.
"Huey... HUEY!" A female voice calls to him.
Huey wants to move, he only needs to beat a few more armed men then he can run towards that girl. But he's merely a man. He's ran out of whatever reserves his body once had. He is starved and exhausted. His body no longer yields to command.
Out of six men, two of them pull out guns. Aimed squarely at Huey. Is this the moment that Riley is hoping for? His chance for an eye for an eye? His chance to make up for his sins? One bullet was repaid for his gambit. And now he might pay another one for his lies. But this time he could very well die.
Jazmine aims. Her finger on the trigger. She thanks God for Huey's self defense lessons. She breaths calmly and with intent, just like how he told her.
She takes the shot and it hits the man's leg. He falls to the ground.
Cindy and Caesar shoots at the other and they take care of the rest.
The scene turns into a blur as Huey falls to the ground. He's starting to pass out from exhaustion. No amount of training or technique can summon energy out of nothing, there are only means to preserve it.
Now Huey lays on the ground. His brother Riley is yelling curses and punching one of the bodyguards. Cindy and Caesar are threatning the others at gunpoint.
Before his vision can turn to black. He sees a pair of beautiful emerald eyes. One with a look of despair and relief. One that showed such unrestrained emotion.
She was going to shoot Riley on the leg if she had found Huey dead. She was going to make his life hell if he ruined her life. But at this point she gave him another chance. She wasn't going to let him sacrifice himself for his brother. No matter how much it would be right, she wasn't going to let him take another bullet for Huey.
"Huey! I'm here! I'm here! PLEASE! STAY WITH ME!"
Huey whispers weakly. "I'm not dying... just tired..."
"I MISS YOU!"
"Jazmine... don't cry..."
"I'M NOT!" Jazmine cries.
He traded his revolution for this girl. If he wasn't so bogged down with emotion and love, he probably would've changed the world by now.
But nonetheless Huey smirks. "Just... get me out of here... Nice shot by the... way..."
End of Act 2!
Thank you all for the support and the reads. This marks the 2nd act of Our Future Revolution. The story will continue and with Act 3 I'll be sure to include more romantic drama now that I'm pretty much satisfied with developing each one of their characters.
All throughout the Act 2 chapters I have been experimenting with different writing styles and really picking apart their psyches. It may come as a surprise but I am not actually an English student and just do this as a hobby but I'd like to have some feedback about any complaints or errors on my creative writing.
Anything you hate tbh. And if ya'll dont have anything to say then I guess I'll take that as a compliment lol.
I already had my Christmas hiatus so I'll post the start of Act 3 relatively soon. But I'll leave a little post tidbit here:
Timeskip
Two years have passed.
Jazmine sits on the couch. At an empty apartment. She's expecting her second daily call from Huey.
After he got kidnapped she didn't let go of him for a month. She nursed him back to health and with his hair gel, he regrew his afro in a matter of days.
She loved him and she continues to love him every single day but just recently it had been different. She changed her business degree and now she's studying to be a veterinarian. Huey finished law school and now he's travelling all throughout the country making speeches and forming movements.
Sometimes she gets scared for him. She's pretty sure Huey lost his capacity to fear so she gets scared for the both of them. He's alone in a big city, expected to speak to a thousand people, and without her by his side.
He insisted that she studied in vet school. He wants to her to be happy and to work at a job she's passionate about. But the pain of each other's separation is like a cold dagger sticking out of both of ther backs.
It's not easy maintaining a long distance relationship. Alone in an apartment. Their words limited by text and call. Everytime she calls him is like a rush of adrenaline to her. She rattles off her day like a bumbling idiot, listing every insignificant thing to him with a goofy smile on her face. And he just sits there with a blank scowl on his face, tentatively listening to her every word.
"I miss you!" She shouts through the call.
"You don't have to mention it every single time."
"But I really do!"
He responds with a sigh.
Jazmine giggles. "Anyways... I know you're busy so maybe I'll end the call... Video chat again at night?"
"Of course."
"Okay! Bye Huey! I love love love you!"
"Love you too Jazmine. Bye."