Barney turned and took off down the alley.
“Kira, you gotta run.” Vickie grabbed my arm.
“Listen. This has everything. It should be enough to get you to Mexico. Don’t look at me like that. Here, hide in the dumpster.” I linked my hands together to give her a boost.
“No, I’m not leaving you.” Vickie wrapped her arms around me.
“I don’t have time for this. If anything happens to you, then none of this would have been worth it.” I pushed her off of me and grabbed her foot to push her into the dumpster with my bookbag. It had the money in there from Carlos that he had already given me. It would have been easier to get to Mexico with the rest, but now there was no time. “I’ll break free and meet you in Mexico.”
She shook her head as tears streamed down her face.
“Please. I’ll never forgive you if you don’t hide.” A low blow, yes, but I had to make sure she was okay.
Vickie finally listened and climbed into the dumpster. I pushed it back against the wall and shut the lid. Sitting back down on the milk crate I waited. There was a slight chance they would keep walking. Maybe they would think I was just another homeless person. Yes, I could have hid in the dumpster with Vickie, but I didn’t want to risk it.
I didn’t know what was in the bag I stole. It didn’t matter to me. If The Trips were desperate for it, they would start searching dumpsters, and I would give myself up before they found Vickie.
A woman that was new to the alley came sauntering down. Behind her was The Trips. Aiden kept wiping his nose. Ha, I did a number on him. I ducked my head.
That bitch stopped right in front of my milk crate. I saw her feet but I refused to look up. I should have ran. The woman didn’t really know me, maybe she would lead them past me.
“This is her. Can I have my money now?” the woman asked.
Shit. I jumped up and pushed into the woman. She stumbled backward crashing into the men. I took off running, at least they wouldn’t find Vickie.
My hoodie tightened around my neck. I was being dragged backward. I kicked and screamed. An arm wrapped around my throat.
“Help!” I shouted.
The streets are filled with the homeless. No one stepped in. No one tried to stop them.
“Where is it?” one of them growled.
“Where’s what? Who are you people?” I tried to keep my voice low like Vickie.
“Ha, pretending like you didn’t just steal from us. Like I could ever forget your face. It’s seared into my brain,” Aiden growled into my ear.
“Give it back and we will take it easier on you,” another one of The Trips said.
“I...I don’t know what you mean. Please, I’m a nobody.” I tried to cry, but no tears came out. I was a terrible actor.
Aiden turned me toward him. He stared into my eyes. Licking his lips he pulled me closer. My body reacted to him. Shit.Get your shit together, Kira. Now is not the time to get wet.I couldn’t stop thinking about him with that woman.
“You are so much more than a nobody.” He grabbed a fistful of my hair. “Tell us.”
“Fuck you!” I kneed him in the balls.
The other two were on me before I could move my foot. They had me in the air. I tried to kick, but they had my feet. They were strong, shit, they were so strong. I twisted and turned. Nothing.
“Well, she chose the hard way. Now we get to take her home,” one of them laughed.