Chapter 40: Chapter 40

"Looks like your little boyfriend left you."

My fist clenched at that, i didn't leave her because I wanted to. I would not have left her, but I guess the fear for my mother won. At first I was glad she was holding on to my hand, I could give mom an excuse, tell her she held me so tight I couldn't slip away without her noticing. But she left my hand for a few seconds, and I could hear Mom's voice taunting me,

"It's now or never."

But I know that was not her, that was me being a weakling. That was me being terrible. That was me being.. her puppet.

"JOSEPH!!!" I hadn't gotten far yet, in fact I was a few steps away from them, but my clothes gave me an edge, and I knew how to use the dark as my camouflage.

"JOSEPH!!!"

The second time she called me, something flashed in my mind's eye, her complete and utter innocence. I don't know what charged me into disobedience, but I was charged, charged enough to go there and try to take them seven on one.

I punched the one closest to me, the force of my run, and the anger that swirled inside my veins made the punch much more than I had intended, because I heard his skull crack, and my knuckles felt an impact of it but I wasn't stopping now, or I'll be at a disadvantage.

"Sorry I had to leave for a while Princess, but I'm back now." I tell her sincerely, but my eyes stayed on them. They stood still watching me in shock.

"You... you.. you came back." She stuttered amidst tears. I felt rotten for making her cry.

"Never left..." I tell her before walking to the guy I knocked to the ground, he wasn't moving. Guess I knocked him out hard. Placing a foot on top of his body to seem much more intimidating. I cracked my knuckles. It has been a while since I got into a fight, hopefully I still remember how to.

"So who's coming first? I have a lot more where that came from." I say referring to the guy on the floor.

"Get him." One of them said grating his teeth. They responded by running towards me, I guess he was their leader.

"Run Princess." Was the last thing I said before fists started to fly.

I saw her run to me, but I shock my head. A kick to my stomach was what I received after I got distracted. She got the hint because I couldn't see her again.

I swung my fist, hitting anyone I could, but soon enough, I was over powered, I mean it was a five to one fight, everyone knew it was not going to be in my favor. But I was happy, I saved her.. she was okay. And I wasn't mom's puppet.

"You have the nerve to smirk?" The leader asked me after they forced me to go on my knees, I couldn't even move because every single part of my body hurt.

"Actually this is my permanent face." I say.

A slap right across my cheek was what I got in response. I flexed my jaw, it stung. But I still smirked.

"You do realize you have no hope of getting home ever right? You could just end up in the news as a "missing person." The leader said lighting a cigarette.

I laugh.

"Bold of you to assume I have a home."

They shared a look.

"Where are you from?" He asked squinting to get a good look at me in the dark.

"Who the heck knows? I never actually knew where my dad was from before he left, I don't think he knew where he was from. My mom doesn't say much so I can't even ask where she is from, I doubt she knows." I tell them truthfully.

"You got a lot of shit going on don't you?" The leader said, his tone had taken a sympathetic turn.

I nod. There was more but he could not know that.

"You want some smoke?" He asked.

"Yeah, been a while." Stretching to take a stick.

He lit it up and I took a drag.

"Thanks."

He just nodded.

"You have a lot going on for you but you managed to get a girlfriend?" He asked in amusement.

I got the hint of what he was talking about, it wasn't like that but he didn't need to know that.

"The body wants what the body wants, right?"

He threw his head back and laughed.

"Your buddy, won't you take him to the hospital?" I asked hoping they would leave me alone and I would go and find Carrie, I was worried about her. What if she walked into another gang, I wasn't there. She was on her own. Scared shitless.

"Oops, forgot about him. Hey! Tyga! Take him to the hospital." He said to one of his guys.

"Well shit. I was hoping you'd leave me alone to find my girlfriend, who is going to take care of me now." I asked rhetorically, while taking my last drag.

The leader guffawed loudly.

"I love this kid, at least one of you should have his sense of humor."

He said before standing up straight. He gave me a hand, I took it. It was hard, my sides hurt, I was sure I had a few broken ribs.

"I'm glad it was me and my boys that messed you today, better go find your girlfriend though, she would be scared out of her mind now."

I nod.

"Thanks, is your gang the only one out her tonight?" I ask wincing, my jaw still stung.

"We have our days, today's ours, but a few games been trying my patience, coming out when it's my turn. Fuck them." He cursed.

I understood the "they" he was talking about when we first saw them.

"Better get going then." I tell him before I start to limp away. Heading in the direction we came from.

"Hey! No roots! This is where your girl passed." The leader shouted pointing the opposite direction. He couldn't have said that when I started, I bet he did it on purpose.

And I was right, they chuckled together before walking away. I on the other hand found it really hard to move, I winced with every step, but I prayed Carrie was fine. If she wasn't... I don't know what I'd do to myself.

"Joseph! Joseph!" I heard her cry in relief as she ran towards me.

I wanted to jump in relief but I couldn't even move without crying.

"Are you okay?" I asked her as she came close. I scanned her for any visible injuries. I found none. Just a scratch on her cheek, and the tears on her face.

I almost kissed her.

"You are injured." She cried.

"I'm fine." I managed to chuckle.

"Dad, Dad, I found him, he needs help!" She screamed.

I looked at her in confusion.

"I got signal in this woman's house, and I managed to get dad to come pick us up." She explained while trying to use her body to support me to wherever the car was.

"I'm glad you did." I say following her.

We managed to find her dad, he helped me to the car,

"Thanks Mr Anderson." I murmured in embarrassment.

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about Joseph, we've all done things to impress women." Her dad chuckled. While she blushed.

"I'll be taking you to the hospital. Carolyn explained everything to me. You can rest now, I'll wake you when we get there."

I nodded. I couldn't look at her in the face, it could have been her in this condition... Or worse.

So I closed my eyes. And let the darkness wash over me.