I sat in the driver seat of my car and cried my eyes out. I was startled when someone knocked on my window. It was the guy who threatened me. I rolled the window down, "Yeah?" I asked. "You ok?" He asked. "A patient who was a close friend passed away." I answered simply. He nodded, "You're needed at this address to be there for a meeting in thirty minutes."
He handed me a white card that had an address on it and I nodded. He walked away and I put the address into my GPS. I made it there ten minutes early. It was a large warehouse that looked abandoned but looks can be deceiving. I looked in the mirror to make sure my puffy eyes and any other evidence of tears were gone.
I got out of the car and went in. To say it was crowded was an understatement. They were wall to wall and I felt cramped. Many didn't glance my way as I decided to just stand against the wall.
When Mr. Ryder and Jason stepped up on to the podium in front of everyone the place grew quiet. "Sorry to gather you all here on such short notice. As many of you know the Brimstone tried to kill Jason the other day and failed. They have now declared war against us." Mr. Ryder announced. Everyone became tense, but no one dared to utter a word.
"We need to get as many guns and bullets as possible, and never leave your houses unarmed." He advised them. He then began assigning people special roles and places they needed to be stationed. He even assigned people to patrol the streets of the Laughing Coffin territory. "I need these people to see me privately Yvonni Sanchez, Daniel Marks, and Nicole Greene. The rest of you may go." He instructed and I could help the shock that shook me to my core.
After almost everyone left me and two others went up to Mr. Ryder. The other two studied me and I realized I knew Yvonni from the gym I took self defense classes at. "What are you doing here Nicole?" He asked. "You two know each other?" Jason asked. "She takes classes at the gym I work at." Yvonni answered.
"Do you know how to use a gun?" Jason asked me and I shook my head no. "I'll have to teach you." He said. I scoffed, "Not with that arm, and it's supposed to be in a sling. If you tear it open I will not patch it up. It's one thing because someone shot you, it's another when it's your own fault."
"Let's get down to business." His father prompted. We grew silent and waited for him to continue. "Yvonni I need you to go down to the docks to wait for a package I'm expecting from Connan." Yvonni nodded, "Yes sir." Mr. Ryder then turned to Daniel, "I need you to go take inventory of all of our ammo." "Will do." Daniel said. "Nicole, I need you to come up with a list of everything you'll need to create a makeshift hospital." Mr. Ryder told me. I nodded, "I'm also going to need information on every member so I know if they have any allergies, blood type, and other stuff." He nodded, "I'll make copies of the files I have. Another thing, you need to start trying to figure out what you want your tattoo to look like." I nodded, "Yes sir." "Dismissed." He told us.
When we got outside Yvonni cornered me at my car. "How did you get mixed up in this?" He asked. I sighed and told him what happened and when I was done he sighed. "I'm going to start training you more now." He said. "I've been training since middle school, I should be able to get by." I told him. "Getting by isn't enough." He told me. I sighed, "Fine." "Same time same day." He called as he left.
I got in my car and began driving home with haunted thoughts. When I got home Mushu was waiting for me by the door. I scooped him up and kissed his head as I walked to the kitchen to get him some food. Why did I have to get mixed in with them shortly before they go into war, I asked myself. I absent mindedly petted Mushu while he ate his food. "What am I going to do?" I asked him, not expecting an answer.
My phone rang and I was relieved when I saw it was Emily. "Hey." I said when I answered. "So you remember those creeps at the club?" She asked me. "Yeah, what about them?" I asked. "I didn't lose them. They've been hanging around my apartment complex." She told me. "Are you ok?" I asked her. "I don't know. They're really starting to scare me. Can I stay at your place for a couple of days?" She asked. I nodded even though she can't see me, "You know you don't need to ask." She gave a relieved sigh, "Ok I'm on my way now."
We hung up and I got off the floor to go get changed out of my scrubs. A cold feeling settled in the pit of my stomach and I knew it meant nothing good. Is this war going to kill me?
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