Page 105 of Wings of Ebony
The barrel of the gun digs harder into my head as he pulls me to my feet. “I said, where’re the bracelets?”
If I give the cuffs to them, my blood will still paint this pavement. Cooperating ain’t gon’ make me any more alive at the end of this. The bloody-faced dude with strands of my ripped out hair still around his fingers, scoops up the bat and slams it into my legs. Ms. Leola wails.
“No, Rue, baby. J-just give ’em what they want.”
“Hey, you—old lady—you know where they are?” Gun Holder’s distracted looking her way.
I got one opening.
And I take it.
I slam a fist into his wrist holding the gun. His grip loosens and the metal slips, smacking the ground.
“What the—” he stutters.
Fingers grip my scalp, but I shove an elbow backward and the dude behind me grunts, his hand loosening for a second. I spin around and the heel of my hand slams up into his nose. I’ve squared up enough to know you aim for the tender parts. And he’s got a few.
He barrels over, holding his face, blood trickling between his fingers. Metal glints on my peripheral.The gun!Gun Holder dashes for it, but I’m faster, flinging my body forward. My hands close around the metal as I slam the ground. I point it dead at his face.
I lock my elbows in place, hoping he can’t tell how bad my arms are shaking. It’s so heavy. Heavier than I thought it would be. I keep my eyes fixed ahead.
His hands go up. Coward. For coming for a kid with a gun, beating up on some old lady.
“Drop the bat,” I say.
He does.
“And let her go or your friend dies.” The guy holding Ms. Leola lets her go.
“Get on outta here,” she yells. “Leave us alone.” She knees him in the balls before scooting off inside.
“She’s right. It’s time for you to go. Get out of here.”
The guys look at one another, hands up, but their smirks mock me. One even steps toward me. “She doesn’t have it in her.”
He’s right.
He moves closer and my hands shake. I can’t hold them still.
“You think I won’t shoot?” I shout. He moves closer. “You think I won’t take you out? Isaid,leave East Row.”
Please don’t make me do this.
He takes another step toward me.
I-I gotta show him I-I’m not playing.I aim at the ground and squeeze the trigger.
Crack!
Bat Holder literally jumps and yelps. His hands go up and he leaps back.
My insides scream.I’m not ever doing that again.…
I’d call the police if I thought it’d help.
But they’d probably arrestme.
If I’m lucky.
