Reyna Cruz ended her day as she did every day.

A peaceful evening jog around the local park through the woods and out from behind the 7-11. My headphones blasted electronic music, heart pounding to the beat. Sweat beaded my forehead, strands of black hair platted to my sticky skin. Her calves burned from running, the evening sky fading from the soft hues of orange and pink to a darker shade of purple and blue.

She stopped, resting against the back of the 7-11, hands on her knees as she breathed deeply. She pulled out the earbuds from her ears allowing the eerie sounds of the night to play for her instead. She smiled weakly before standing up, stretching her arms a bit before wrapping her earbuds around her phone. It didn't ring or vibrate while in her fanny pack so she assumed her parents knew that she was fine.

She walked out from the side of the 7-11 before walking in, the bell above the door making a soft ring as she entered. Yellow light flickered as it shone down on the aisles of food and drinks throughout the store. She looked over to the cashier where Jacob a former student she remembered was slouching on the counter.

"Oh you're back," He said, not bothering to look up from the phone in his hand. Reyna laughed softly, as this was their usual contrast. Jacob pretending he hated and didn't know Reyna and her shrugging off whatever he said. She walked towards the back of the store, her footsteps echoing in the small store. She hummed along the catchy yet annoying pop song blasting on the intercom and opened one of the fridges in the back grabbing a bottle of water and on the way back a bag of snacks.

She placed the items on the counter, pulling out a ten dollar bill from her fanny pack. She gave Jacob a charming smile, him quickly avoiding her eyes like she was the plague. She leaned on the counter as he counted her change, brown hair curtailing his dark brown iris. She remembered how back in freshman year she was totally smitten, head over heals for him like a lovesick dog. Sometimes it was hard just to look at him, reminded her of freshman years where she was a hopeless teenager trying to fit in and combat puberty.

"Be careful out there," Jacob said passing her the bag. She gave him a strange look, pushing away a strand of black hair from her face.

"Okay?" She laughed before exiting the store, not missing the grim look on his face. Outside it had turned completely to night, the soft light from the street lamps lit the road. As she turned the corner she could hear the distant sound of people arguing. She ignored it and was about to slip in her earbuds when she heard a gunshot. It all happened so fast, her phone dropping out of her hand, the sound of a body hitting the ground, the inaudible scream forcing its way up her throat, and two people walking out from behind the corner.

She was frozen, eyes locked onto the large figures that had stepped out from the alleyway. In the dim light of the street lamps, she noticed the shiny silver gun in one of the men's hand. She had seen guns multiple times in action movies she watched with her parents but seeing one in real life only turned her blood cold. She could just barely make out their faces, dark clothes allowing them to blend with the night.

She had dropped the bag in her hand and raised her hands up in a surrender. She had heard and seen a lot about gang members but she never thought she'd be in their presence.

"Why don't you come over here sweetheart," One of them said with a voice so deep and silky, yet laced with something lethal. She was so frozen it took her minutes to fully comprehend what he had said. Her heart pounded faster than it did while running. She prayed that she would make it out alive, that she would be able to see her parents and eat dinner with them. And for once actually hoped to be able to go to school tomorrow the next day. Only the most dire situations would ever make her wish that.

"I swear we won't hurt you as long as you do what I say," The same voice said, a hand beckoning her to come closer out from the shadows. It was like making a deal with the devil, a bit tempting but just as bad. If she tried to run they could still shoot her. She came closer, they could still shoot her. Wait! Jacob was still inside, he probably heard the gunshot. Maybe he was calling the police.

With that thought in mind she picked up her bag and phone, and stepped forward into the dark as they walked further into the alleyway, a body laying on the ground blood pooling under it. Her stomach felt sick looking at it, that could be her. One of the figures placed a hand around her shoulder, sending shivers up her body. She didn't like being touched but by a stranger she felt even more insecure. Warm hands took her's bringing them back to her side as they were still raised up. Her body still trembled fear, as they walked around the body. This can't be happening. This can't be happening.

"Why don't we have a little walk and talk," He said smoothly, his face still a bit unfocused in the dark. He gave her a little freedom to walk but still kept his arm wrapped around her shoulder, the other guy standing behind them his gun pressed to Reyna's back. She swallowed hard, trying so hard not to lose it. Her father always said in dire situations to act calm a collected, especially not to panic or check out the person who kidnapped you. I mean what kind of sensible person would be checking out their kidnapper and be more focused on that then finding a way to get away.

"Listen I have no desire to hurt you and I don't want to but I will do what I must." He said calmly. Not exactly the most comforting thing to hear with a gun pressed to her back. "You were in the wrong place at the wrong time if you understand what I mean chica." She nodded firmly, not turning her head to face him as she feared she wouldn't be able to hold her bravo. Someone help me please.

They walked down the path she had been running earlier, in the back of her mind she hoped they would find people along the way who would hopefully help her but they passed by no one. "So I offer you a deal, tell no one of what you saw and who we are and we'll leave you alone." But I don't know who the hell you are though?

They were so close to her house, in the distance she could see the faded pale blue paint of her medium sized house. Were her parents worried? Did they call?

"And if I don't?" She chose her words carefully, a slight tremble in her voice as she spoke. They stopped walking when they were 2 houses away from hers. He took off his arm from around her shoulder pointing to her house. Her heart dropped in her chest, she never said anything about the house.

"How did-" She was cut off when he pressed a finger to her lips, turning her so she could see him properly in the light of the street lamp. If she was scared before the feeling intensified when she realized who she had stumbled upon. Afro-Latino, Carmelo Rodriguez, known as the gang leader of the local gang Snake Bites. Because of him, almost seven people died in the last three weeks due to the amount of territory issues happening between him and the Black Tigers.

He wasn't much taller than her, dressed in a dark jacket, hazel eyes reflecting light from the street lamp. He had a small mole by his lip with a playful grin. Out of all the worse scenarios she imagined happening to her, this was the worst.

"John Cruz owns that blue house over there, I'm guessing he's your father, no?" She swallowed hard which made him chuckle," He also owns the small computer repair shop downtown too." How?

"How do you know my dad?" She asked quietly.

"Mamacita, I try to know most of the people who live in my territory." She felt a little irritated by how he said 'my territory' as if the lives of the people who lived in that area were his to control. She bit down her anger, clenching her first by her side.

"As I was saying earlier, tell anyone of our encounter and I can't promise you anything terrible happening to your family. They've very nice people, your mother and brothers too." Reyna hated fear, the feeling shaking her to her core, she wanted nothing bad happening to her or her family.

"So what do you say," He said, her eye still avoiding his.

"Fine I promise I won't tell anyone,"

He hummed softly, tapping her chin to look up at him. "I need you to swear to God you won't." She almost choked. She wasn't the most religious person but she still set her boundaries. Summoning courage, she stamped her foot crossing her arms with a determined look.

"Because of religious reasons I'd prefer not too," He sighed turning away in defeat before yanking the gun out of the other person's hand and aimed it at her. His finger hovered over the trigger, eyes glinting dangerously in the dim light of the street lamps. Before he could warn her again she had already sweared.

"I swear to God I won't tell anyone." The grim look instantly faded from his face as if it wasn't there in the first place. He placed it in the other man's hand, puffing his jacket collar. He took a step closer to her, so close she swore she could hear his heart beat. He leaned in so she could feel the warmth of his breath near her ear.

"Good just know I will be watching and if you do tell anyone I won't hesitate to kill you myself." With that grim warning he turned away, snapping for the other guy to follow him as they faded into the night like ghosts. Even though she couldn't see their outline anymore her heart still pounded in her chest, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. What the hell just happened?

Nothing could have prepared her for an encounter with Carmelo Rodriguez and she hoped it was her last.

~~~

The next day went on like any normal day would, she woke up with a groan and rolled off her bed. She laid there for a bit before her twin brother walked in and kicked her numb body.

"Benji, I swear if you kick me one more time." She groaned angrily on the ground, hearing the snickers of her twin above her. A finger forcefully opened her eyes, blurry vision focusing on the acne-filled face of her brother. Reyna luckily (and unluckily) suffered from acne during middle school and the beginning of high school while her brother was forced to take his senior pictures with pimples.

"Come on, you do this every morning." He laughed, kneeling near her head, her arms randomly pulling for her blanket which must have fallen along with her. Just as she grabbed her blanket about to pull it over her cold body her brother snatched it away and grabbed her arm, dragging her body into the hall.

Reyna groaned loudly, "Benji!" He laughed and let go of her hand when he dropped her body in front of the bathroom. She looked up to find him already dressed in their school uniform, a white collared shirt and navy and pants.

"I'll see you downstairs, or at the bus stop." She got up just to see him walking down the stairs.

"What do you mean by that. We have another hour." Benji turned around giving her his golden smirk, his red braces displayed in his smile.

"You woke up 45 minutes late," He raced downstairs just as Reyna screamed, getting off the ground yelling curses in Tagalog to Benji before dashing into the bathroom. Ten minutes later she was out, struggling to do hair, adjusting her pants with her belt halfway in. Her mom called from downstairs warning her that Benji had already left for the bus stop. She cursed under her breath, grabbing her bag from her room before sliding down the stairs, grabbing a baggie her mom was holding with slices of toast in it.

"Thanks mom," She said closing the door behind her as she raced out, her hair in a messy bun and her belt still partly on. She placed the baggie into her mouth, holding it with her teeth, so she could do her belt. While doing that she looked up just to see a yellow bus arriving from the corner. Shit shit shit. She mumbled a curse, the bag still in her mouth as she raced towards her bus stop, trying hard not to glance at the area she was standing when Carmelo threatened her with a gun the other night. Thinking about the night before instilled fear in her, so she tried to avoid thinking about it but it still took hours before she fell asleep which led to her waking up late.

She made it just in a nick of time as the bus doors closed, shutting into her fingers. She bit back a scream tapping the door with her other hand. The bus driver glanced at her with an annoyed expression before opening the door for her. Today is just great, she thought sarcastically walking up the bus steps before taking a seat next to her brother who was a few seats back.

"I hate you," She sneered at Benji who was stifling laughs before taking angry bites out of her toast. She would have blamed her brother more, but if it wasn't for Carmelo she wouldn't have overslept in the first place. Damn him. She spent the rest of the ride eating away her anger, hoping she would never see Carmelo again. If she did she wouldn't know how to react.

She quickly separated from Benji as it was their twin code that they would avoid contact with each other during school unless it was absolutely necessary. It was bad enough they had to interact at home, the last thing they needed were seeing each other at school.

Reyna went to Sinclair Johnson High School a small reserved school, that wasn't exactly the worst high school out there but didn't mean it was the best either. The inside was as any high school was, filled with loud hormonal teenagers crowding the hallway especially the middle even though they could stand at the side of the hallway like a normal person instead of blocking everyone's path. She angrily excepted that people would continue to do that and walked to her locker down the hallway of the first floor.

She put in her code before opening the the locker, grabbing her books out of the clicker before closing it behind her spotting her closet friend and brother of Jacob, Matthew or who most called Matt. He leaned against the locker next to her with his award winning smile, shining a light on her dim day but as soon as he opened his mouth it fell back to crap.

"No offense but you look like sh*t," He laughed, soft dimples dipping into his skin when he smiled. She groaned and played with his brown curls earning another laugh. "I'm kidding but what happened, you look worse than usual."

"Benji happened," Reyna confessed, it wasn't the full truth but majority of it. Matt took the books from her hand, caring them for her. He ranted on how Jacob was being a jerk at home and how much he hated exam time. Reyna groaned for what must have been the tenth time that day, she totally forgot she started mid terms that day. Her luck couldn't be any worse.

"There are my two favorite people," A voice boomed in the hallway, the small figure of Reyna's other friend, Tomi, as she pushed through the crowd in front of them smiling when she saw their faces. Tomi was the shortest of them at the height of 5'3, her curly amber hair bounced around her dark face, light brown eyes bright with joy. She squeezed between Reyna and Matt, wrapping her arms around their waist pulling them closer.

"You don't know how much I've missed you guys."

"You saw us yesterday," Matt said monotony. Reyna couldn't help but laugh, out of three Tomi was the malt energetic. The young Nigerian-American as smart as Einstein himself and as bubbly as a child. She was the glue of the group and kept them from falling apart but there were days they wished she would shut up. That day was one of them.

"And so he called me right and I was helping him study for the test when my mom came into my room yelling at me just because I didn't wash one of the dishes. Like come on it was just one dish and then she asked who I was talking and I said it was a boy I was tutoring and she went on this rant of how teenage girls are always being stupid and sending nudes to boys..." She continued to go on about her home problems and how she didn't even like guys before finally stopping for a breath. Reyna gave Matt a tired expression which he mirrored and in unison they said,

"We really need to get to homeroom, see you at lunch Tomi." With that they both departed together walking away from her.

"Oh yeah. See you later guys," She waved happily behind her before skipping off to her class. Reyna and Matt let out the breath they were holding sharing a laugh, "I love Tomi like a sister but damn that girl can talk." Matt said wiping stray tears from laughing too hard.

"I know and I'm especially tired today," Reyna complained, eyeing her class in the distance. "Well I better get going, I'll see you second period." Matt gave Reyna some finger guns before walking off to his class that wasn't so far.

Homeroom went painfully slowly just as the other periods. She was just so tired and everything she learned went through one ear and out the other not like it wasn't different from any other day. She was so tired and still irritable from what happened, despite Carmelo saying he would leave her alone, she felt as if his presence was still with her.

The fear she would have conquered by now still left her shaking when she thought too much about it. Her mind would replay a scene where she said the wrong words and she was shot. Each time it would be a different area. First time was the shoulder. Then it was the leg. The arm. The stomach. Her boob. Her heart. The more she thought about the mire real the phantom pains she felt hurt more. She hated feeling this weak. She would make sure she let Carmelo know that he wasn't in charge of her or how she felt.

Lunch finally came by and she met up with her friends in the library where they escaped the loudness and drama of the cafeteria. She decided to go to the bathroom nearby the library. People usually didn't go there so it was stocked with supplies and well cleaned. The hallway was empty as people were either in class or at lunch but she couldn't help but feel as if she wasn't alone. She looked out of the side of her eye and spotted no one. It was just paranoia from the night before.

She used the bathroom before heading to the library where her friends were waiting. Matt and Tomi were there along with Micah, a tall junior who was really reserved despite intimidating structure, and Diana, Tomi's girlfriend. They sat at s round table towards the back of the library, Reyna greeting librarian who she's known since freshman year.

"There you are, girl where have you been?" Diana said, sitting next to Tomi who was holding her hand asking Micah something on the other side of her. Reyna dropped her bag on the floor resting her elbows on the table, head in her hands.

"I've been dying, thanks for asking." Reyna replied sarcastically. She reached into her bag for her lunch when she remembered how she never got her lunch because she was in a rush. "Fuck my life."

Her 'so-called' friends laughed at her misfortune, she felt so close to crying and punching a wall at the same time. Matt offered part of his lunch but Reyna denied, knowing she would feel bad first off and forget to repay him.

"Things keep getting worse," Reyna excepted the truth that her day perhaps the whole week would be absolute shit because of Carmelo.

"Hey don't worry it's only Tuesday," Tomi said optimistically, "things can and will get better...I hope." Diana chuckled at the 'I hope', only adding to Reyna's anger. She stood up slamming her hands on the table. Everyone jumped, Matt giving her a wearily look standing up to comfort her.

"Hey Reyna, calm down I understand today's being terrible but calm down getting angry won't solve anyone." Anger bubbled like lava, spreading fire to her bones trying to spew from her lips like lava from a volcano.

"Don't act like you know the hell I've been through," She shoved a finger in his chest, sending him back a bit. "Not like you've been threatened at gun point." The words slipped from her lips before she could stop them, quickly covering her eyes as everyone around her had wide eyes. Oh God, her stomach churned. Matt opened his mouth to say something but Reyna had already dashed out of the library.

The anger she tried so hard to control was always her downfall and this time it might be her death.