Gutter

by K'wan

  “I told you that ass was done!” Hollywood snarled, slamming the cast into the side of Eddie’s head. He struck him again and again until Eddie lay motionless, with blood pooling beneath his head.

  “Y’all all right?” Hollywood attended the ladies, who Eddie hadn’t bothered to tie up.

  “I’m good,” Satin told him. “Sharell?” She turned to her friend, who wore a strange expression on her face.

  “Something is wrong!” she gasped. There was a gush of fluid and blood spilling from between Sharell’s legs.

  “She’s in labor,” Satin said, trying not to panic. “Shit, shit, shit! We gotta get her to a hospital, but how with those guys in the house?”

  “No.” Sharell grabbed Satin by the shirt. “Take the Camry and go for help. Hollywood”-she turned to him-“warn Gutter. Don’t let them kill my baby!” she pleaded.

  “I got you, Sharell. Just stay here. I won’t let them kill him,” Hollywood vowed, snatching up Eddie’s gun and heading for the stairs.

  GUTTER BURST into the house with his gun drawn, expecting the worst, but it was surprisingly quiet. He made his way from the foyer to the living room, eyes scanning for enemies, but instead he found Pop Top, lounging on the sofa watching videos.

  “What it is, homey?” Pop Top asked, not bothering to get up.

  “Top, what the fuck is going on? Where is Sharell and why the hell is the door open?” He relaxed a bit seeing a friendly face, but was still alert.

  “That nigga Hollywood probably forgot to lock it when he left. Why the fuck you acting so paranoid?” Pop Top asked casually. From the angle Pop Top was sitting at, Gutter couldn’t see the gun in his lap.

  “Sharell didn’t sound good when she called me, so I thought something had popped off.”

  “Man, you know broads be extra when they’re pregnant and missing their man. Put that damn gun away before you shoot a nigga by accident.”

  Gutter still felt like something was wrong, but his friend managed to put his mind at ease enough to tuck the gun into his waistband. He was making his way to the living room when the basement door flew open and Hollywood came spilling out, with Satin on his heels.

  “Gutter, it’s a setup!” Hollywood screamed, but Pop Top was already spinning on them with his gun drawn.

  POP TOP opened fire with the.45, trying to lay everything in his path. He tried to murder Gutter, but Hollywood ended up taking the initial bullet, giving Gutter a fraction of a second to react. Without even thinking he clapped back with his.40, splitting Pop Top’s wig. With the traitor dead, Gutter turned his attention to Hollywood.

  “Wood, talk to me?” Gutter cradled his head in his hands.

  “I promised her I wouldn’t let them get you,” he coughed, dribbling blood down his chin. “I promised” were Hollywood’s last words before death claimed him.

  “Wood?” Gutter shook him. “Hollywood!” he shouted his comrade’s name over and over, but he was gone. “Not another one,” Gutter whispered.

  “Oh, God no,” Satin sobbed, startling Gutter.

  “Where’s Sharell?” Gutter snapped.

  “She’s in the basement… her water broke.”

  “I gotta get to her.” Gutter stood.

  “No, there’s more of them in the house!”

  No sooner than the words were out of her mouth the window behind Gutter shattered. He looked up and saw three men he didn’t recognize barreling down the stairs. Rolling across the living room, Gutter blasted the first invader, sending him spilling down the stairs. Another man pushed open the kitchen door, and was rewarded with a bullet to the chest, sending him flying back the way he came.

  “Get out of here!” he barked at Satin, as he laid another man down. The war was on and he had no intentions on taking prisoners.

  GUTTER BACKED up, still firing the automatic pistol. It seemed like for every man he dropped three more took his place. The door suddenly imploded as the enemies, who were now surrounding the house, sprayed it. Among them he could see Major Blood, smiling triumphantly. It was a smile Gutter fully intended to wipe off his face.

  Hollywood lay on his back staring vacantly at the ceiling. If it weren’t for the quarter-sized hole in his chest, he could’ve passed for someone who was just thinking. The whole time he had been down with Harlem he had pledged his life to the set and his reward was to die young, leaving a beautiful corpse. The house seemed to be swarming with enemies and he would be overrun unless reinforcements arrived soon.

  “Just a few more minutes,” he whispered, tearing into his enemies.

  chapter 45

  SATIN MADE a mad dash through the kitchen, almost slipping in a puddle of blood left by the man Gutter had killed. The house was covered in it. Some were from the enemy, but most of it was from Hollywood, who had died trying to protect them. The dead man, still clutching his gun, stared at her through vacant eyes, while she fumbled through the kitchen drawer for the car keys.

  The air was filled with the sounds of gunfire and screams of the dead, but she tried not to focus on it. She felt bad abandoning Sharell, but there wasn’t much she could do for her considering all that was going on. Her best was to go for help and hope that Gutter could hold out until she got back. Even though he was waging a losing war, Gutter refused to give up.

  After finding the keys, she broke for the garage door. The entire garage was a hot mess. Faint rays of sunshine dotted the automatic gate from the bullet holes that had almost completely shredded it. Paint and other chemicals were leaking all over the place making it almost impossible to breathe. Clasping her hand over her mouth and nose, she made her way over to Gutter’s Camry, which had also been hit up, and prayed it was still operable. God had been good to her that day because it turned over with no problem.

  Outside it sounded like the additional guns had joined the fray. Whether they were friend or foe, she had no way to tell. How many more would have to die? she thought. Not being able to hold it back anymore, Satin finally broke down into tears. She had lost everything, her brother, her sanity, and the love of her life. She was tired of being the victim. It would end once and for all she vowed as she threw the car in reverse.

  “COME ON, muthafuckas!” Gutter snarled. He fired two more shots at the advancing soldiers and made a dive for the couch. No sooner than he was airborne, a hail of bullets whistled through the house. He had managed to avoid most of them, but a stray caught him in the leg. Gutter crashed awkwardly to the ground, but still managed to clear the couch. Taking a minute to examine his leg he noted that the bullet seemed to have passed through it cleanly. The bum leg would tip the scales against him, as if the battle wasn’t already lopsided, but it didn’t really matter. Kenyatta Soladine was a man who was used to beating the odds.

  Gutter refreshed his clip, but that was the last of his ammo. As he crawled to get a better angle on his attacker, he came across the body of Pop Top, the betrayer. He had trusted him with the life of his family and obviously Pop Top’s greed overrode his morality. Not only had he endangered the life of Gutter’s wife and unborn child, but he’d cost Hollywood his own life. Gutter vowed that Hollywood’s death would not be in vain. Summoning every ounce of strength in his body, he grabbed the bottom of the couch and lifted.

  TITO CROUCHED behind a recliner, while motioning for the soldiers to keep at it. Bullets tagged the couch where Gutter was hiding, sending cotton and fabric flying all through the air. He knew if he didn’t get Gutter this time, he was a dead man. Major Blood had been clear on that.

  “Fuck this,” Tito said, standing with his shotgun raised. The sound in closed quarters was almost deafening, as he let it go over and over, tearing the living room up. When it finally clicked empty, he motioned for his men to hold their fire.

  When the smoke cleared, the room looked like a war zone. Everything that could be destroyed was. The walls, the entertainment system, it was all ruined. The couch was coming apart at the seams. Springs and padding jutted out at every angle. Tito knew there was no way
Gutter could’ve survived. Suddenly, the couch Gutter had been using for cover flew in their direction. Tito was so busy trying to avoid the flying furniture that he never even saw the bullet coming.

  THE CAMRY sent the garage door flying outward drawing the attention of everyone on the lawn. Bullets immediately rained on the Camry, causing Satin to swerve and hit a fire hydrant when she tried to jump the curb. She tried to gun the car forward, but it was caught on the hydrant. Through horrified eyes she watched several of the gunmen take aim and thought of how she had failed her baby.

  “HARLEM!” GUTTER shouted, blazing at his enemies. He spotted Tito trying to get out of the way and paid special attention to him. With a jerk of the trigger, he hit Tito twice in the chest, then burst his head like a rotten tomato. The soldiers were so shocked by seeing their general murdered that they paused, giving Gutter enough time to hurl himself through the window.

  The picture windows in the front of the house all exploded in a spray of glass and wood. Gutter hit the ground rolling. His ears were ringing and he was dizzy as hell, but his battle instincts took over. He staggered back, firing at any and everyone that he didn’t recognize. The soldiers returned fire, hitting Gutter once in the gut. He fell back, but managed to roll behind the X5 for cover.

  He leaned against the SUV, gasping, and trying to plan his next move. Gutter took a moment to assess how badly hurt he really was. His lungs were on fire and his leg had gone totally numb. Surrounded by enemies and on his own he was surely on his way to sit with Allah. He wasn’t afraid to die, but he was afraid to leave his wife and unborn child to fend for themselves. Knowing the curtain call when he heard it, Gutter made to take his last stand.

  Just as he was about to roll from his hiding place he heard a car speeding in his direction. He peered from behind the tire and saw his truck come jumping the curb. Two more cars followed it, packed with armed and angry homeys. With Danny-Boy leading the charge the tide was suddenly shifted.

  Major’s men tried to stand against them, but the Harlem riders had come for blood and wouldn’t be denied. With automatic weapons of all shapes and sizes, they blasted away at the Bloods. Even Gutter managed to muster up the strength to rejoin the firefight. He and his crew cut down anything moving.

  Gutter’s attention was drawn by the sound of screeching tires. He looked over and saw his Camry come flying out of the garage. Satin plowed into a cluster of men while they hit the car up from all angles. She had almost cleared the curb when the car smacked into a fire hydrant. Major Blood abandoned the assault on the Crips and turned his attention to Satin.

  Gutter screamed and emptied his clip. Most of the shots went wild, but his last one struck Major Blood in his chest, dropping the would-be killer. Ignoring the pain in his leg, Gutter limped across the street, silently praying that Satin was okay. Thankfully she was badly bruised but alive.

  “Baby girl, you hurt?” he asked, examining her.

  “I think I’m okay,” she said, rubbing her stomach. “You look like hell though.”

  “Shit, I’ve been worse. I was in a coma a few months ago, remember?” he joked. “Stay put, ma, we’re gonna get you and Sharell out of here.”

  Gutter looked around and surveyed the carnage. The streets were littered with bodies and damaged property. The police were gonna have a shit fit, but he’d cross that bridge when he came to it. Satin was safe and so was her child. That was the important thing at the moment. Gutter was so weary he wanted to collapse. His body ached almost as bad as when he had come out of the coma. Though he was hurt physically, his fatigue came from inside. He had seen enough death over the past few weeks than any ten men would see in a lifetime. Reflecting on all that had transpired he finally understood why Lou-Loc wanted to get out.

  The game they had played since children yielded more losses than gains. From New York to California there would be mothers buying suits to bury their children in. He had played the roles of god and devil, destroying the same world his child would have to live in. Death was not a legacy he wanted to leave behind. Now that all scores were settled he was going to hang the game up like Sharell had always urged him to. Until the day he left the world he would be a Crip, but now he would be a father and husband first.

  Gutter’s moment of reflection was broken up when he heard someone shout a warning. He looked over and saw a bloodied Major Blood weakly aiming his pistol. He started to dive for cover, but Major wasn’t aiming at him. He was aiming past him, at Satin.

  The whole world moved in slow motion. Satin stared vacantly at Major Blood as he applied pressure to the trigger. The muzzle flashed and the bullets seemed to trickle from it. Without even thinking, Gutter made his move. The first bullet hit him in the arm, tearing through the muscles and snapping the bone. He was falling, but the bullet that entered just above his heart kept him standing. Gutter slid down the side of the Camry, leaving a bloody smear across the window.

  “No!” Satin screamed as she watched the bullets tear into Gutter. Forcing her door open Satin crawled from the car to where Gutter was laying. She called his name over and over again, but he just stared at her. Blood oozed from Gutter’s nose and mouth, coating Satin’s hands and the front of her blouse. “Not again,” she whispered.

  Gunn looked from his cousin to Major, who was smiling through bloodied teeth. Snatching a piece of broken wood from the wreckage of someone’s fence, Gunn marched over to where Major Blood was laid out. He looked down at the man, expecting him to bitch up, but Major Blood laughed.

  “I always fill my contracts,” Major Blood croaked.

  “And the Soladines never leave debts unsettled. This is for my daddy, bitch!” Using all his might, Gunn plunged the wood into Major’s chest. Using his foot, he pushed the wood deeper into the murderer of his father, squirting blood on his sneaker. Major twitched and died, still wearing that smug-ass grin.

  WITH THE help of one of the homeys, Sharell came staggering from the house. She was bloodied and the contractions were kicking her ass, but she needed to get to her man. The sight before her almost made her break down. Gutter was laying on the ground with blood pouring from several holes in his body.

  “No!” Sharell shrieked and made her way over to where Gutter was stretched out, surrounded by homeys. They moved aside and allowed Sharell into the circle.

  Satin was kneeling over Gutter, crying uncontrollably. When she noticed Sharell she took her hand and they cried together. Even on the brink of death, Gutter tried to soothe her. He touched Sharell’s face, leaving a bloody print on her cheek. He opened his mouth as if he was going to speak, but all that came out was more blood. Gunn barked for one of the men to get an ambulance, while he knelt beside the ladies and Gutter.

  “You gonna be all right, cuz,” Gunn sobbed.

  Gutter looked at his cousin and shook his head. He wanted to believe him, but he knew his time was at an end. Gutter had always heard stories about what death was like, but nothing could’ve prepared him for what would happen next.

  He could feel the numbness starting in his toes and working its way up through his body. He held on to Sharell’s and Satin’s hands, but he could feel his strength fading. Danny-Boy stood over them with tear-filled eyes, while Gunn was rocking back and forth praying.

  “Kenyatta Soladine, you better not die and leave me an unwed mother.” Sharell tried to get him to focus, but his eyes were already starting to glaze over. “Kenyatta? Gutter, stay with me!”

  Gutter could hear her speaking, but couldn’t make out the words over the roar of the car’s engine. For a minute he thought it might be an ambulance, but he had never seen an ambulance sitting on twenty-inch rims. Gutter turned his head to see who else had come to say their goodbyes, but found that he couldn’t see through the bright light. When his eyes managed to focus, he found himself staring at the most beautiful electric-blue Cadillac, sitting on gold wires.

  “Sup, cuz?” he whispered.

  Sharell looked over her shoulder to see who he was talking to, but s
aw nothing. Satin, on the other hand, had an idea when she smelled the tilled earth.

  “Give him my love.” Satin kissed Gutter’s hand, which was getting cold.

  Lou-Loc was slumped low in the driver’s seat, wearing a white Los Angeles Dodgers cap. He peered out from behind his sunglasses and smiled at Gutter. No words were needed to convey the message. The madness had finally ended and no one else could hurt him. He was free.

  epilogue.When It’s All Said and Done

  I had broken down several times in the telling of my story, but I was surprised when I looked up and saw that Baby had tears in his eyes too. Cats like Baby didn’t cry easy, but I didn’t knock him for it. I knew what he felt in his chest, because I had felt the very same thing when I’d first heard the story. I hadn’t meant to upset him, but in a way I was glad I had told him the story; the burden didn’t feel so heavy anymore.

  “You okay?” I touched his shoulder.

  “Yeah, I’m cool,” he lied. “It’s just that, I had no idea how wild them niggaz was. Ya pops dropped mad muthafuckas for his man.” He wasn’t boasting, just stating a fact. My father had killed many men, and ordered the deaths of even more over the blood debt.

  After recalling the story I wasn’t sure if I hated my father for being a murderer, or pitied him for being a product of his environment. What I was sure of was that I knew both my parents better after what I’d learned, and had a newfound respect for my mother for what she’d lived through.

  “Aren’t you going to finish the story?”

  I turned around and saw my mother standing in the doorway. I’m not sure how long she had been standing there, but her face was streaked with tears.

  “Mom, I-” She placed her finger over my lips.

  “No, Kenyatta. It’s my story, so please let me tell it.” She sat on the edge of my bed between me and Baby. “Later that night, after the shooting, I went into labor. At five forty-nine the next morning I gave birth to my pride and joy.” She cupped my cheek gently. “A few months later, Satin pushed your little troublesome self out.” She smiled at Baby Loc. “Snake Eyes moved us down here and we tried to bury our pasts and focus on making sure you guys didn’t get lost in the shuffle.