Chapter Text
Dragging a stick in the trash-laden dirt, Amare groaned under the sun’s relentless rays. He could feel his brown skin crackling in the heat. There was nary a tree in sight to protect him. Skipping the stairs two at a time and the stench of putrid garbage overloaded his senses. His damn job wasn’t paying him enough to deal with any of this and it was uncertain how much his psyche could bear.
A sigh of relief escaped his lungs as he entered the complex, the air conditioning was actually working today. The rickety steps groaned as he darted to his front door, nearly breaking it from the weak hinges. The apartment was quiet with only the TV serving as a gentle background noise. Amare tossed his keys into the glass bowl beside the door, kicking off his tattered cheap sneakers. Today was brutal to his shoulders and arms. He couldn’t be bothered to remove his clothes. His mama would skin him alive if she saw him sitting on her couch in his day clothing.
“Raaaawr!” an unfamiliar voice growled from behind the couch. Amare yelped and flew from the couch, scrambling by the wall. Fright flowing into annoyance. He groaned. “Girl, do you know I will kill you?!” Nakya ignored his threats, tears streaming down her face. “Oh god, you should have seen your face!” she teased, wiping her eyes. She could hardly breathe.
Amare rolled his eyes and lifted himself to his tender feet. “Don’t you got some homework or somethin’?” His burly arms were crossed tightly against his chest. Nakya stood on her feet and fixed her worn t-shirt. “If you actually paid attention, I graduated a month ago, I’ll be 18 next month and you and ma’ still don’t let me do shit.” Amare’s eyes narrowed, “Language.” Nakya puffed loudly in protest. “They barely give me any hours at Sloppy Seconds.” she whined, now sprawled on the tattered couch, her curly brunette tresses hanging over the armrest. She could give Rapunzel a run for her money. When did she get so tall?
“I know...I know I’ll talk to Hadiyah. You know she’s got a lil’ thang for me.” he coyly grinned. Nakya huffed, “Ugh you’re so full of yourself, but for once you’re right. She can never ogle at you when you pick me up.” Amare chewed on his bottom lip, he knew that he couldn’t shelter his baby sister forever. She was practically a burgeoning young woman, ready to take on the world; it’s just that he wasn’t ready to let go. He couldn’t let go. She was precious and all that he had left in this shitty world besides his mother.
“I know what you’re thinking, bro.” she sighed. He hadn’t noticed that the room had become eerily calm. “Ain’t nobody gonna snatch me up if that’s what you’re thinkin’. I keep my head low.” Her attempts to assure him were feeble. Nakya was propped against the couch and her eyes boring into his soul. Amare hissed at her, dismissing her words. Except, that is exactly what he was thinking. Nine girls in two weeks. All snatched in broad daylight. All lived within Vice King’s territory, some as young as fifteen. No one with any authority cared enough to do anything. Amare knew that once you were gone, that’s it.
The sharp pangs of hunger interrupted his thoughts. “Yo, you hungry? I got paid today, so I can get us a pizza or somethin’” he said, whipping out his cellphone. His sister crawled from the couch and walked to her bedroom. He noticed how much smaller she was now that free school lunches weren’t on the table. Guilt dropped like an anvil to his feet. “Nah, I’m good. I think I’m gonna head to bed. Hadiyah wants me to open tomorrow.” The bedroom door closed softly behind her. Amare ordered the pizza and wings anyway.
Shuffling to the couch, he plopped down, fatigue creeping into his bones. “Somethings gotta give dammit…” he whispered. The prospects for a high school dropout weren’t particularly excellent. All that he could land were a slew of menial labor and odd jobs. Nakya’s job with Sloppy Seconds was somehow more than what he could muster. He heard his sister’s bedroom door creak open, when he turned his head, she was leaning against the frame. “Amare, where do you think mom is?” He shook his head but had no response. “I haven’t seen her since Tuesday,” she revealed.
Their mom, Amerie Taylor, worked at the ritzy hotel in Nob Hill. They paid her peanuts and she worked absurd hours, but it was a stable job. However, only Nakya noticed that she was gone longer than normal. Realization cracked like a wave against his psyche. Amare leaped from the couch and stood by the window. All that he could see were vagabonds milling on the sidewalk and addicts giving up their rent money for Loa Dust.
The apartment descended into silence again. He rubbed his hands over his face and exhaled. “I don’t know. The last I heard from her was that she’d be home soon. I just figured she was pullin’ another late shift.” An oddly comforting tune sounded in the distance. Police sirens were background noise in these parts and hardly a cause for concern. Nakya shifted and dashed to the front door. Turning his head towards the window, his eyes grew wide. There were at least three Stilwater Police Department squad cars directly parked in front of their building.
His feet felt heavy and his heart cracked. He knew. Nakya sprinted and before he could react, she was already on the dirt patches outside. He chased after his sister, ears ringing. He joined his sister, noticing a stoic officer with a permanent scowl of disdain strolling closer. “Amare Taylor?” he asked, now joined by two other officers. “Yes! It’s him, he’s my brother.” Nakya piped. He nodded in agreement. As usual, a crowd of nosy onlookers grew around the building. Discomfort bubbled in his veins. Did this have to be done in public?
A surprisingly solemn expression flooded one of the officer's faces. It was the most empathy he’d ever seen from them. “I’m sorry to tell you this. We found the body of a woman we believe to be your mother. We need you to come down to the coroner’s office to make a positive ID.” Nakya whimpered, slowly crumpling to the ground. Her breathing was erratic and a panic attack was lurking in the shadows. She was going to lash out furiously if he didn’t move her away.
An unseen force punched Amare in his chest. This was the final blow that cracked his grip on reality.