Forlorn Chapter 2

           Life has been harsh these last seventeen years. My good days were during high school and high school sucked. My friends were somewhat of a bad influence on me. I also was having it out with my foster family. They were alright looking back, but I was young and dumb and didn’t appreciate any kindness. I lifted a car, spent a little time in juvie and since then have been making worse decisions. I can’t seem to say no.

Since my encounter with professor Randal life has been weird, like I am always having Deja vu.

The day I got arrested for stealing the car was a huge Deja vu. The cop, the car, everything about that day was like a dream, a vivid dream. I saw worst moments of my life, in that office with Professor Randal.

I used to wonder if I could change my destiny, so far every wrong choice happened exactly the way I saw them. It would be helpful if I could remember the events before they happened. The day I die I remember just fine, it serves as a harsh memory. I used to push the paranoia off as just a string of weird coincidence, but with all Deja vu I began to believe.

"Masks on boys, we'll be there soon." Johnny said and everyone listen.

Johnny "fast draw", he was kind of a joke. If he wasn't the boss’s nephew he would have been killed a long time ago. Everyone hated him, but we were smart enough to realize we didn't disobey. He ran a good crew even if they did want to kill him. He was sometimes dumb, but always lucky. He is what you can say the bosses right hand man. He handled heists as well as taking out the trash if you know what I mean. 

I was always the brains and subsequently the brawn too. When he ran my plans correctly we never had problems, it was when he made changes that we got into trouble. Eh who really cared? I was smart enough to always keep my nose clean and somehow Johnny was lucky enough to escape. Though we had to operate a couple breakouts for him; bosses orders you know.

I had never actually met the bosses. It wasn't exactly protocol. The Feds were very confused with who they were probably because we were too. We reported to the ‘fake bosses’. Terry and Salvo, two fat lazy pieces of craps in my opinion. They thought they knew everything. They believed themselves to be a higher race than the rest of use, except Johnny of course. Man that kid had it all, a straight ticket to the top. I had to work my way up, show off a little pizazz.

It was Salvo who took to liking me. He was a little better at recognizing talent. He said I reminded him of himself when he was little. I didn't take that as a complement. No one would if they knew Salvo. He was a nice enough guy innless you were his cook. He fired the last couple from what I hear and I don't mean fire as in terminating their employment, I mean fired at them. It was only the cooks, a man who thought only for his stomach. He had a new one and Salvo loves the kid almost like he was his own.

We were sent out to pay our respects to another gang. They ripped Terry off in their last business adventure. So as he said “Larry will pay boys, won’t he?”

            Larry “do-gooder” as we call him on account of him always claiming to help the community. Getting revenge would be a big job and dangerous at that. Do-gooder’s guys were loyal, probably the loyalist out of all the mobs. I wished I would have started over there. They were a little smaller, but I would have made them grow, just like I had with our crews. The only difference was I would have been rewarded better over there. The grass is always greener, though I guess.


            The black van jumped up as we hit a bump. “Falco” we screamed. He was an alright guy, drove the best out of the rest of us. He was a little heavy, which was one reason he was driving. He was also the best driver. The other guys we had driving before had a tendency to floor it, go as fast as they could. Things got sloppy when we rushed things. Falco was smart and he had great eyes. That was how he got his nick name Falco. We didn’t know if it was because of a sixth sense or his eyes, but he always knew the best way to take.

We all had black masks on with eyes cut out. Typical uniforms for this line of work. Although if one of our bodies were left the police would know what gang we were from. We were tatted with the same crest or similar variations. The sign of our heritage, whether we were born in like Falco and Johnny or adopted in, like myself.

I got in because I knew a kid in school. We got tangled up with his older brothers. They brought me in and I have been here ever since. He didn’t make it to long after our first outing with the crew. I watched him die. I stayed around to make sure he was okay. Everyone was furious they told me “you leave them when they aren’t gonna make it”. I guess it’s a rule. They don’t want a live person in the cop’s hands. You get caught and they think you’ll squeal, you better hope those cops never leave your side.

            The seats were tore out in the van and it was an uncomfortable ride. Most of use crouched awkwardly. I looked over at Romo, the new kid, he talked about how he was from Rome, stupid cause no one cared. He was shaking so bad, might have even peed his pants, but I couldn’t tell it was too dark in the van. I wonder if I was like that on my first outing. Maybe, but I can see why he’s scared this was a rough job.

I saw the flower and conjoined jewelry shops. The doors flew open, we were out quick and Falco was down the street, squealing the tires around a corner. He was to circle back when we were done. I heard gunshots, it was quicker than planned. They went straight for the jewelry store.

We were told to take our money back somehow. I stayed out front, not like we planned. There were supposed to be two men out front, but everyone else rushed in. I watched the corners of the street and the flower shop. The flower shop door across the road flew open. I sprayed bullets at the glass windows and doors. The men must have retreated back in. We just had to keep them back a little longer.

I sprayed another set of rounds at the front of the shop, to let them know I was still there. Falco should be back by now, he was just supposed to circle and the guys inside were taking too long. Then I saw the black van speed off, Johnny was in the front seat.

It dawned on me, they left out the back, like they planned. I was the man left to take the fall. I spun back to the flower shop, sprayed once more, turned and ran. I knew that Do-Gooder’s men would coming from every direction. I looked for a sewer drain before they could see me.

Gun fire ripped past my ears. I turned the corner and found a storm drain. I pulled the little crowbar out of my back. I carried it to break the protective glass. I had the drain lid off quick and was in. I dropped to the bottom never using the ladder. I ran through the slop and never looked back. I heard voices yelling and knew I had to get out and change. I would exit around 15^th and Mardi Street it was near the limits of their territory. I just had to find it, which was hard without any signs.

            I turned left and right. I made a mental picture of where I was going. I should be there I thought. I grabbed the ladder nearest to the street and climbed. I pushed the lid off and looked out. I popped up in a back ally. This was the luckiest I had been all day.

I climbed out of the gutter and the ally looked familiar, so familiar. I had been there before I thought, but I knew physically I never had. I saw a red car drive by in my mind, but there was nothing in front of me. I ran behind a trashcan, ducked down and tucked my knees in. A red car sped past, too quickly to notice me contorted behind the trash. I stayed crouched for a couple of minutes, “what happened?” For the first time in my life I had déjà vu before something bad happened.

 I knew there would be a lot more men driving around. I had to move. I climbed the fence behind me avoiding the roads, I was heading for the flea market near the dam. I ditched my mask and my jacket. I had a red shirt on, which was different enough to give me time. I just had to ditch the wet pants and shoes and I would stand a chance.