“Kylie go get Kebo, NOW!!” Briuna yelled as she picked up a pipe and hit the advancing man over the head with it.
The man quickly shook off Briuna’s blow and grabbed her by the neck, choking her as he cursed.
“Lil bitch, who the fuck are you, running up on me to take up for a crackhead? This bitch been owing me $300 for two weeks and she ain’t trying to pay me. You got my money lil’ bitch? Hell naw you don’t so Ima have to kill both of you bitches!” the man yelled, throwing Briuna to the ground.
Kylie was in total shock. Her mind told her to run, but her feet wouldn’t let her move until she noticed the man running towards her cursing. He grabbed the back of Kylie’s shirt, ripping it just as her shock wore off and she bolted down the street. Kylie ran fast and hard as her tears blew back in the wind. She was hysterical by the time she got into Kevin’s apartments and saw Kevin and his brother sitting on the green box smoking a blunt. Kylie was out of breath as she ran to Kevin and tried to explain what had happened.
Kevin was able to understand enough of what Kylie was saying to know that something had happened to his mama so he snapped into gangsta mode, ordering his brother to follow him. Kylie jumped in the car with Kevin as tears streamed down her face and she calmly told him what happened. Kevin whipped into the alley at the same time as his brother, and what they saw made Kylie cry out in horror. On the ground in a puddle of blood was Brenda and Briuna. Kevin jumped out of the car and ran to his mother as his brother checked on Briuna.
Kylie slowly got out of the car and walked closer to the most horrific scene she had ever seen. Her new best friend Briuna lie there on the ground, lifeless with the pocket knife she pulled for protection stuck in her neck. Her eyes were still open and her body was slightly shaking as a gurgling noise filled the air. Kylie couldn’t believe her eyes. She felt panic rush over her as her ears began to ring, drowning out all of the sounds around her. She looked over to Kevin who was kneeling beside his mother with tears falling from his eyes as he tried to wake her up. Brenda’s head was bleeding and her face was swollen to the point it was barely recognizable.
Kylie felt so helpless and lost as she stood there in terror, watching Kevin and his brother try frantically to wake their mother. Suddenly the ringing in Kylie’s ears stopped and she could hear Kevin yell that Briuna was dead, but his mother was still breathing.
“Kylie, call the ambulance on my cell. It’s in the car!” Kevin yelled, startling Kylie back into reality.
Kylie ran to the car and dialed 911 as her hands trembled. She was frantic as she walked back over to Briuna’s body and explained to the operator what she saw. The look of horror in Briuna’s eyes made Kylie’s heart flutter as she thought about the friend she had just gained and lost. Suddenly, the sound of blazing sirens could be heard as the police, fire department, and ambulance arrived on the scene. Kylie stood next to Kevin dazed as the EMT’s loaded Brenda into the ambulance and the coroner prepared to take Briuna away. Kylie felt all of the air leave her body as they covered Briuna’s body with a white sheet. It made everything seem so final, so real. Kylie had never seen death that close before. It was something she would never forget. She shuddered and snuggled closer to Kevin to try to stop the violent shakes from taking over her body again. Kevin looked at Kylie with so much sadness and anger in his eyes that she knew he would never be the same again.
“Look bae. Don’t tell these muthafuckas nothing. Tell them you didn’t see how the nigga looked. Fuck this law shit and sending the nigga to jail so he can be right back out, Ima get his ass. Ima kill that bitch so don’t tell them shit,” Kevin whispered in Kylie’s ear with tears streaming down his face as a tall black detective and a uniformed officer approached them.
Before Kylie knew it, she was being whisked off to 201 Popular, Homicide Division, and placed in an interview room. Detective Oliver, the tall black detective from the scene, asked her the same questions over and over again, trying to get a description of the suspect. The entire time the detective talked Kylie just sat there, lost in memories of the things she saw. Visions of the big, bald man’s face kept flashing before her eyes, but she still told him nothing. Even though Kylie wanted to give the detective the information he needed to put the man away, she knew that Kevin was right. He wouldn’t be caught and if he did he would do no time.
Kylie knew that she had to do what Kevin said because he was all she had. Besides a part of her wanted the man to suffer the same fate her friend had. Jail would be too good for him. Kylie knew that he needed to die.
By the time the interview was over, Detective Oliver was beyond irritated with Kylie for offering no assistance. However, he could not prove that she was withholding information so he had to let her go. Kylie felt relief as she rode the elevator down from the tenth floor with Detective Oliver. However, her relief was quickly replaced with fear when they stepped off of the elevator and he told her that she was being released to her aunt who was in the front lobby, waiting to take her home.
Kylie felt hysteria take over her body as she frantically looked around the hallway, searching for another way out. Kylie knew that she had to get away. She couldn’t go back to aunt Tricey’s or risk being sent to foster care. Kylie knew she had to think fast so she asked the detective could she use the restroom in the visiting area before he took her to her aunt. After a few seconds of looking at Kylie with suspicion, the detective agreed and led Kylie to a bathroom in the visiting area, which was right next to the front lobby. He told Kylie he would be at the front desk and to just go find her aunt when she was done, and then he walked away.
Inside the bathroom Kylie paced back and forth as tears streamed down her face. She looked around for a window, back exit, some way to get out without aunt Tricey seeing her. Suddenly, she saw a way out as a big, 400 pound woman walked out of a stall and washed her hands. Kylie waited patiently by the door as the woman finished freshening up and walked towards the door.
Kylie slipped out of the bathroom behind the woman and positioned herself on the lady’s right side so that she was hidden from aunt Tricey’s view. Kylie’s heart beat a mile a minute as she slowly walked through the visiting area into the lobby, still hidden by the huge lady. As they walked towards the door, Kylie could hear aunt Tricey talking to Alicia as she peeked over the large woman’s shoulder.
“I knew we’d find the lil’ wanch. Got her stupid ass out here involved in a damn murder. Naive lil’ rich bitch know she don’t know shit about these streets. Bitch know the social worker coming next week and I need my fucking check. Ima beat the shit outta her uppity ass as soon as we get home,” Aunt Tricey said to Alicia through clinched teeth as Kylie crept right past them and out of the front door.
Kylie broke into a full sprint as soon as her feet were outside of SCJC doors. She bumped into the big lady, nearly knocking her down as she ran full speed down Popular and turned down Thomas, desperately trying to get away. Kylie made it all the way to Thomas and Chelsea before all of the air in her lungs was gone and she had to stop to gasp for air. She couldn’t breathe and her legs felt as if they were on fire from running so fast, but she knew that she couldn’t stay on that corner. Aunt Tricey would ride home the exact same way and see her if she rested any longer.
Kylie quickly ran into the gas station on the corner and begged the clerk to use the phone to call Kevin. She knew that if he had been released he would come get her. She knew that he would save her once again. He was all she had and she needed him.
Kevin was there to get Kylie in less than four minutes. The white Polo shirt and blue shirts he had on were covered in blood and his eyes were glossy and wild. Kylie stared at Kevin with tears welling up in her eyes as she got into the car. Kevin didn’t move as Kylie got in. He stared straight ahead with a crazed expression on his face as he gripped the steering wheel. Kylie could see that Kevin was not himself anymore, at least he wasn’t the person he usually was with her. She knew he had two sides; the kind, smart, loving boy he was to her and the ruthless,
hardcore, killer nigga he was in the streets. However, she had never actually seen how cruel his bad side could be at its worse. She would soon find out.
“Kevin baby is your mama okay?” Kylie asked as Kevin sped away from the curb.
Kylie’s heart raced as she watched tears fall from Kevin’s eyes and he bit his bottom lip. She wanted so badly to comfort him like he always did her.
“Please talk to me Kevin,” Kylie begged as she reached out and touched his face.
His skin was so cold under Kylie’s trembling fingertips and he had his teeth clinched, revealing every vein in his neck.
“She alive, but she fucked up...and Briuna dead,” Kevin said as tears fell from his eyes and he hit the steering wheel repeatedly with his fist.
Kylie felt the tears burning behind her eyes, fighting to break free as she saw flashes of Briuna’s face. In their short friendship Kylie and Briuna had shared a lot of intimate details about their lives with each other, creating a strong bond. They were sisters and it broke Kylie’s heart to face the fact that she was gone.
Kylie scooted closer to Kevin and put her arm around his waist, laying her head on his chest. She felt Kevin’s body start to soften and his breathing became short and shallow as he cried.
“I’m just so tired of this shit Kylie. I’m tired, but right now I know what has to be done. I know who that muthafucka is and I’m going to get him. Ima kill that bitch nigga, I promise!” Kevin said as he sped toward his apartments while Kylie held him and weeped.
At that moment Kylie didn’t know what to say to comfort him. She felt nothing she could say would take away the pain he felt and she really didn’t know how she felt about the situation. The good side of her wanted to tell Kevin everything would be okay and to let the police handle it and bring the man to justice. Yet the other side of her was saying something else. The other side of her with her mother’s fight knew that there was no justice for people like them. That side of her wanted Kevin to find the man and to see him die for taking her friend and hurting his mama.
Kylie shuddered at the thoughts running through her head as Kevin pulled into the apartments. Once Kevin parked, he stayed in his seat for a moment as Kylie held on to him. They both sat there quiet, reflecting on all that had happened. Kevin kissed Kylie on the top of her head before they both got out of the car in a daze. As they walked to Kevin’s house, Kylie couldn’t help but wonder what hurt and pain was lurking around the corner. She never imagined the pain that was coming next.
The two days following Briuna’s murder and Brenda’s attack was chaos. Kylie watched Kevin go into complete beast mode because he was mad at the world for all that had happened. He had every Crip in the city looking out for the big, bald man known as Dirty and he walked around each day with three guns fully loaded.
Kylie watched him beat a boy bloody with a dog chain until he lie in a puddle of his own blood after hearing he was spreading rumors about what happened. Kylie felt so helpless because she didn’t know how to help Kevin. He was lost in his anger and pain, lashing out at everyone around him.
Kylie tried to bury her feelings as she always had by writing a song to help release the pain, but it wasn’t working. She was too consumed with worry over what Kevin would do and her aunt Tricey finding her that she lost all inspiration to write. Instead her anger was building up to the point where she was about to burst. Her light was dimming.
That Thursday Kylie’s hurt and anger came to its boiling point as her already shattered world began to crumble down around her. Kylie was just about to leave school before the last bell like she always did when she stepped around the corner and was face-to-face with her cousin Alissa.
Kylie didn’t know it, but Alissa and Brian had been transferred to Northside the day before so that they could help find her. Aunt Tricey knew that she couldn’t call the police or go to the school to report Kylie missing at the risk of being exposed as a negligent and abusive caregiver. If she did that, she might lose her checks and mess up any chance she might have at getting her hands on the fortune Lakea and Daniel left behind. Aunt Tricey was way too conniving and money hungry to do that, so she had to find other ways to flush Kylie out of hiding and get her back to her house. She needed her golden egg back.
Kylie froze for a second at the sight of Alissa who had a huge, sneaky grin spread across her face. There she stood in all her huge, evilness, towering over Kylie like a sumo wrestler. Alissa easily outweighed Kylie by at least 100 pounds; however, that didn’t seem to matter much at that second. At that moment Kylie remembered how much she hated Alissa’s cruel smirks and remarks. She remembered how Alissa had always worked extra hard to make her life hell and Kylie hated her for that.
Kylie felt no fear as she pushed past Alissa and attempted to make it outside to Kevin. However, Alissa quickly grabbed her by the arm, yanking her back down the hall.
“Where the fuck you think you going skank? My grandma been looking for you. I can’t wait until she get yo ugly ass home and beat that ass!” Alissa yelled as she pulled Kylie towards the stairs.
Suddenly, Kylie felt rage she had never felt before. Her whole body trembled and she snatched her arm away from Alissa as she stared her down. Kylie’s mind raced and she was filled with resentment as she pushed Alissa into the stairwell wall and pressed her forearm against her throat. Kylie’s strength and audacity to stand up for herself took Alissa completely by surprise as she stood pinned against the wall with a bewildered look on her face. Kylie smirked to herself seeing the same fear she always felt in Alissa’s eyes. It felt good to be the aggressor for once. Before Kylie knew it, venomous words she never thought she would have the courage to say, but she often thought came pouring out of her mouth like word vomit.
“Bitch, I’m so tired of yo fat ass. I’m tired of all of y’all; you, yo fat ass mammy, and yo big, filthy ass grand mammy. All you miserable hoes are a waste of flesh. All you evil bitches live for is hurting me and trying to break me down, but guess what? It’s not gonna work. I don’t give a fuck what you tell her because I’m still going to leave here the same way I came. However, I will beat yo fat ass before I go!” Kylie yelled into Alissa’s face as she pressed her forearm into her throat harder, choking her.
Alissa tried to pull Kylie’s hair to get her off of her, but Kylie was too fast for her. Kylie delivered punch after punch into Alissa’s face as she flapped her arms around in a weak defense. Kylie grabbed her in her hair and yanked her forward off the wall as Alissa punched wildly in the air, trying to fight back. Kylie pulled Alissa to her knees by her hair and drug her back into the hall just as the last bell rang and kids piled into the halls.
The roars of laughter from kids in the hall filled Kylie’s ears as everyone gathered around to see the fight. Kylie continued to drag and punch Alissa in the face as the boys watching egged her on. Tears of anger and relief fell from Kylie’s eyes as she beat Alissa mercilessly and visions of all she had put her through ran through her mind. Blood squirted out of Alissa’s mouth as Kylie began to unleash kick after kick to her face and head. Kylie was totally hysterical as she yelled curses and beat Alissa with the crowd following her every step.
Suddenly someone picked Kylie up from the back as she continued to punch and kick at the air while yelling like a mad woman. Kylie didn’t know that it was Kevin who grabbed her until he had gotten her out of the door and she was calm enough to recognize his touch. Kevin carried Kylie to the car he was driving for the day and quickly put her into the passenger seat.
Kylie replayed the scene in her mind as Kevin sped off of the parking lot. She was proud that she had finally stood up for herself and gave Alissa a taste of her own horrible medicine. However, in the back of her mind Kylie knew that she would have to pay for it eventually. Kylie somehow knew that her victory would be bittersweet at best and that it would end up causing her far more pain than pleasure. Despite that feeling and the anxiety building inside of her Kylie was happy. She would enjoy her victory while it lasted.
/> Kylie and Kevin joked about how she beat her cousin’s ass until they reached his apartments. Kylie laughed so hard at Kevin imitating Alissa crying that tears rolled down her face. Their laughter ended when they got into the parking lot of Kevin’s apartments and his brother jumped right into the car saying he knew where Dirty was. Kylie couldn’t feel her heartbeat as she watched Kevin turn back into a monster and speed out of the parking lot.
They got from North Memphis to Frayser in five minutes with Kevin raging the whole time as he drove. Kylie could see the malice in Kevin’s eyes. She knew that he would kill Dirty when he found him. That was the only way he knew to ease his pain. He had to get revenge and justice for his mama and Briuna.
As soon as they pulled on Whitney and turned on Steele, Kylie spotted Dirty standing in front of the Overlook Apartments with two older guys. Kevin had barely stopped the car before he and his brother jumped out and began beating Dirty’s ass. At 6’1” and 150 pounds, Kevin was really no match for the huge man; however, with the help of his slightly taller and heavier brother, Kevin was able to deliver the man a good ass whooping. Despite the punches, forearm strikes, uppercuts, and knees and stomach Kevin and his brother put on the huge man, he still kept coming after Kevin.
A Broken Girl's Journey 4: Kylie's Song Page 7