Tales of the Underground: Blinded - 34. The Tale of Riley Walker

As I stood there at that corner, looking at that kid…I couldn’t help but get flashbacks of a young me. He stood the same height, talked the same talk…if he stays in this game, he’ll die or get arrested before he even reaches my age…and I have a weird feeling all the rich families from the Northside are done adopting hood rats.

I spent the next few days carefully watching him from a distance, seeing what he was like…if he could even survive the next day, let alone the next month. His name was Takbir, but he went by Tak, he claimed to have a home, and a family but from what I could tell he never left the saints’ clubhouse.

As for me…it seemed like every night Ro would beat the shit out of me…taking out the anger he held from me running, from me “betraying” them. Sometimes he would drag me into the room we kept Owen in and beat me in front of him or vice versa. More and more cops seemed to swing by looking for the two of us, but they made sure I “Hadn’t been seen around the Saints”. You would think the cops would be able to search the place…tear the place apart, but they knew better than go into a gang hideout outmanned. Even with the Saints being weak, starting a gang war with them meant starting a war with People Nation…and they couldn’t afford to do that for just 2 kids. I knew my family must be freaking out…I knew Carter must be furious, but by now they have to trust me…they have to know I’ll be back…they have to know that no matter what I always find a way.

Once more I spent another day pushing rocks, I knew Ro didn’t trust me to make a run yet…not while I was still a flight risk, but I knew one was coming. Resources were running low from the ongoing turf war, and Ro was growing reckless, wasting bullets and guns on needless drivebys, but I bit my tongue…every wasted bullet weakens them. On top of it all, we just didn’t seem to pull in the money we did when I was younger…sooner or later he’ll have to send me on a heist for bullets and guns…he’ll have to…and that…that’s when I’ll make my move.

I watched Tak carefully, as he continuously scaled the building, and let himself fall back down, while we worked another day on the corner. “You gonna break your ankles” I remarked, as he ungracefully stumbled back to the ground.

“I’m fine” he dismissed, dreaming of reaching the rooftops just by scaling window sills “Besides no one’s stoppin by, I got enough time.”

“I ain’t tellin you not to.” I shrugged, watching him go up one more time “I’m jus tellin you not to break something.” I watched his landing one more time, and couldn’t help but shake my head “You can’t let yourself fall from that high. If you have to then you better roll into it…and you can’t climb buildings like that…we’re humans…not monkeys.”

“Okay” he lightly smiled, getting real conversation with me for the first time since I came back “Then how did you scale buildings?”

“Usin fire escapes” I shrugged, looking at the one around the corner “Throw rocks or some shit at the lowest ladder until it falls…or you climb a dumpster if there’s one and jump up to it.”

He slowly moved his mouth, shocked at the secret of how I would seamlessly get on rooftops “Can you teach me how to jump roofs one day?”

“Doesn’t matter if I want to or not.” I exhaled, looking back down to the ground “That’s why Ro was so hell bent on bringin me back, and once you get good enough…he’ll put a bullet in my head. Hell, you see this badge?” I let out, showing him the bright police badge Ro was making me carry “He’ll kill me and frame me for Cooper’s murder…end me as a villain so no one feels bad for me.”

“What?” Tak let out, still too innocent for gang life “Why?”

“That’s how things roll out here…once you no longer serve a purpose…well you’re just deadweight.” I explained, still not looking back to him “and you and I…we got a gift no one else has…that makes us too important to just let walk away.” He stopped messing around as my words hit him, and let himself rest against the building…thinking of the weight that had been thrown on him.

Ro only seemed to grow more and more violent as the next few days passed…the saints were getting weak…he was getting weak, and it showed. Pretty soon most of the gang’s guns became props as we ran out of bullets, and well the second we hit our last clips of shotgun shells…I finally got the call.

“Here’s whats goin down” Ro let out as the small gang huddled around “Everyone is hitting Raza with a drive bys in their territories around back of the yards. Only people who are hangin back are Cy, Tak and Raoul. Raoul is going to keep our little friend company.” Ro gestured, pointing towards the back room “While Tak and Cy steal ammo and guns from Raza’s main territory…the drive bys are the distraction…the heist…that’s the main job here…get it done Cy.”

“I never fail a job” I shrugged, looking over at Tak “Don’ slow me down…I think we need to take Raoul for more muscle…the clips and guns are going to weigh Tak…”

“No.” Ro growled, seeing my plan “Raoul would fall like that…” he snapped “You must think I’m some kind of stupid…just get it done.”

“We will” Tak nodded, taking the slack I was dropping. I watched carefully as the hideout emptied, making sure there were no stragglers…making sure my plan could still be done “Should we get going?” Tak eagerly let out, grabbing two duffle bags off the desk.

“Yeah” I nodded, leading him out the door and to the nearby fire escape, as we scaled it I turned back and stared at the young boy behind me “Wait here, I forgot somethin.”

“Is that somethin a person?” Tak nervously let out, looking at me.

I carefully moved my mouth as our eyes locked “If it is, what are you gonna do?” I let out, grabbing onto the small boy.

“I…I don’t know.” He nervously gulped, looking over the edge “I…Ro will kill you after this job won’t he?” I nodded my head, but kept the stern look in my eyes “and after a few years…after the next climber comes, he’ll kill me too?” Once more I nodded my head to the young boy “Can…Do you think…”

“You can come with us.” I finished beginning to climb down the ladder “Well find a way to move your family…”

“About them...” the boy nervously laughed “I might be alone.”

“What?” I let out, looking back up at him.

He shrugged his shoulders as an uncomfortable grin crossed his face “My mom had me when she was a teenager, I mean she tried to raise me…but one day she left and never came back…I didn’t want Ro to know, cause I was worried he’d make me move in, I..”

“I understand” I exhaled, saving him the rest of the story “Just…sit tight.”

“Raouls gun isn’t loaded” he let out “I was up in the air ducts practicing climbing and I saw Ro give him one of the empty guns…he knows you can’t take him physically though…but the two of us…”

“No” I interrupted, letting my feet hit the floor “Too dangerous for you.” He went to argue but I turned the corner and reentered the club before he could. Before Raoul could say anything…before I could say anything, I pulled my gun and pointed it at his head, putting my full confidence in Tak’s words “I know it’s empty, drop it and get to your knees…”

“Or what?” he shrugged “You gonna shoot me, you the one who has softened…”

Before he could finish I pointed the gun down and shot him in the leg…I just didn’t have the time to do it peacefully. “Lay on your stomach or the next one goes in your head.” I demanded, finally showing him how serious I was. As I approached him, I pulled my hand back and pounded the back of his head with the handle of my gun to assure he would sit still for the time being. “You ready?” I nervously let out, forcing open the small door.

“Re-ready for what?” a weak Owen let out, cuts covering his face and arms.

“We’re going.” I instructed, taking a knife from my pocket and cutting him lose

“No” he shook as adrenaline hit him “We’ll die”

“We’ll die if we stay here dumbass.” I insisted pulling him by the arm “You know what, stay if you want, I’m goin.”

The adrenaline seemed to fuel him as he realized he was in a fight for his life “Let’s go” he shook, following me out of the club house and to the fire escape nearby “I…I can’t climb.”

“You’re going to learn to” I exhaled, pulling down the ladder so that even he could reach it. Together Tak and I forced him up the ladder, and to the roof above. “Alright” I let out, heart beating so fast I thought it was going to explode…this is it…this is my moment…this is when I become known for Riley…not for Cy “We gotta make it 10 blocks down this way…Carter’s mom is there…she can get us home.”

“Why don’t we just call the police?” Owen nervously shook, looking over at me.

“Does it look like I got a phone?” I shrugged, waving Tak to make the first jump. “Look the next roof is lower than this one, just jump and you’ll be fine.

“I…I really can’t…what if I…”

“It’s better to die trying to escape then to let them kill you” I exhaled, following after Tak. Fire ignited in my eyes as I felt the weightlessness of my body through the air. “Let’s go!” I yelped up to the outline on the building.

He nervously shook, before taking the jump himself…at first I thought he was going to fall, but he seemed to jumped just enough to land on all fours. “I think I just broke my arm.” He cried out in pain.

“Probably” I shook, feeling phantom pain myself from how he fell “But shit, we can fix that when we get home… keep moving!”

One by one we made the quick run from rooftop to rooftop, for a long stride we got lucky as low city apartments connected at the top. Every now and again I was terrified Owen would fall…but I knew it was better for one of us to die this way, then by Ro’s hands.

“You really got this down” I let out looking at Tak who rolled into his fall “I mean I said that to you what? 5 days ago, and you remembered to do it?”

“Well yeah, I mean you’re the best…”

“Can we please do compliments later” Owen begged, as I saw fatigue and pain begin to overtake the adrenaline that was running through his body.

“Fine” I grumbled, shrugging my shoulders “Not like we savin your life or anythin.” I teased, as I lead the two down a few more blocks until finally we made it to the small broken house Carter’s mom lived in.

“Mrs. Williams lives here?” Owen breathlessly let out, as we scaled down the fire escape.

“Yeah” I let out feeling my feet hit the ground “She just moved here a few months ago too…you should see her old place.”

He shook me off, just grateful to be close to safety. Tak and I supported him as he hit the ground, and propped him up as we crossed the small street and began to frantically pound on the cracked door. I saw nothing but fear in Kathy’s eyes as she pulled open the wooden door “Riley…I-I…” she let out, reaching over and embracing me “Carter said the saints had you.”

“They did” I exhaled, waiving the other 2 inside “but like I’ve told Carter a thousand times...I know what I’m doin.”

As we all got inside she once more gratefully embraced me and got Owen a seat, making sure to grab him an icepack “He needs an ambulance” she nervously instructed, grabbing the phone.

“No!” I quickly uttered “Me and Tak…the cops won’t treat us the way you think…we gotta get to the Northside before we call police.”

“That’s 40 minutes away!” Owen cried out, in pain I could only imagine.

“So” I shrugged “I ain’t riskin anythin…not when we’re this close to home.”

He groaned and complained a little more, but went along with it as the 4 of us quickly piled into the car, and sped off. In the distance we could hear the booms of the drive bys that Ro had just ordered. With every bang that passed Owen and Tak would jump in their seats…both knowing that if we had been in the clubhouse when they got back…well I wouldn’t be left breathing. Finally we made it to the city, and to a nice hospital on the rich side of the city.

Sitting in that waiting room was the most nerve wracking experience of my life…I knew I was safe…I knew everything was okay…but how will my parents take it…will they forgive me…and Carter? How will he look at me?

“RILEY!” I heard a familiar female voice cry out as the elevator dinged open. Before I knew it I was wrapped in the arms of a woman who smelt like home. “I…I…you’re so stupid…” she let out as tears began to flow from her “Why would you leave?”

I shrugged my shoulders, wrapping around her as tears began to fall form my own eyes “I-I did it…we’re safe.” I exhaled, squeezing her tightly “I got em home.”

Before I knew it I felt Aaron join in on the hug, and rip me away from our mom…just like the day I was adopted “You stupid ass!” he whimpered, holding me closely “I’m…I’m so glad you’re back.”

“Me too” I nodded with a growing smile “Where’s Carter?” I exhaled.

Aaron backed up a bit, but kept his hands on me “He hasn’t left his house since you left.”

“I think I owe him a visit.” I exhaled, in a tired smile, but before I could say anything a strong male grip grabbed onto my shoulders.

“So you’re going to military school.” He forced out, pulling me into a hug “You’re so going to military school.” Walter repeated, doing his best to not let his emotions show.

Finally as the hugs wrapped up, and my parents expressed their endless gratefulness to Kathy. I saw Nancy turn to Tak and shoot me a confused look “Who’s this?”

“That’s Tak…” I began, shrugging to him “He was supposed to be my replacement…after I trained him they were…forget it…I just couldn’t leave him in that life.”

A light smile crossed Nancy’s face as she approached the young boy “Where’s home for you Tak?”

He looked to me not knowing how to answer “I don’t really have one.”

“Well now you do” She let out, gently fixing his hair.

I felt Aaron wrap his arm around me as we watched her interact with the young boy “You ready to be an older brother?” Aaron laughed, looking to me.

“You really think they’ll adopt him too?” I poked, still in slight disbelief “Can we afford that.”

“Oh yeah” he nodded, looking at the newest member of our family “We can afford that.”

As the Nurse assured us Owen was in stable condition, Walter ushered everyone out of the hospital, knowing we were better off letting Mr. Avery get the story from Owen than me or Tak. On the way home I nervously asked for Walter to stop at Carter’s…knowing I at least owed him a hello. Walter tried to convince me to wait, just eager to get me home…but he could tell I needed to see him…I needed to say sorry.

As I approached the front door, I couldn’t help but shake…it’s been a week and a half…how’s he going to take it…will he even still love me? I nervously forced my hand into the door bell and waited as the big outline of a man appeared in the doorway.

“Cy.” The man let out, trying to hide his shock “I uhm…I heard you went back to the Southside….to uhm…to help Owen.” He forced out, taking a good look at all the new cuts and bruises that covered me “Maybe...well maybe I was wrong about you”

“Yeah…he’s in the hospital, we made it out.” I nervously forced out, looking around for his son “Is Carter home?”

He slowly nodded and waived me into the large house “Carter!” he shouted, up the stairs “There’s someone here I really think you’ll want to see.”

“What’s the point…” I heard the young voice mumble from the top of the stairs “Who could I possibly want to…” he paused as he saw me in the foyer, still nervously shaking. His hair was a mess from laying in bed all day, as red bags rest under his eyes from crying. “Riley…” he gasped in shock, running down the stairs and nearly tackling me.

“Hi.” Was all I could let our before tears began to flood my eyes “I…I’m so sorry.” I breathed, holding him closer than I ever had before “I just…I had to do…”

“Stop talking” Carter exhaled, grabbing me in a way I thought he would never let go “I just…you made it…how…how?”

“I told you, I never get caught” I smiled, resting my head against his shoulders “They were weak…” I began just enjoying the moment “They took the only loaded guns with them on drive bys, and sent me on a run…my old shot caller thought he was so smart…he thought I was slipping up…thought I was dumb, but I took my moment…and we made it.”

“Boys” Mr. Williams uncomfortably let out “Not to uhm ruin the moment, but Cy…do you think you could give me and a few detectives…”

“Yeah” I sighed, finally letting Carter go “If it means Ro will get locked up…I’ll talk.”

I spent a few more minutes with Carter, before heading back out to the car…remembering everyone I had left waiting. As we pulled up the house I could feel Tak’s eyes light up.

“You guys live here!” he innocently let out “Like in this house.”

“Yup” I nodded, looking back at him “You ready to move in with us?”

He eagerly nodded and eyed up the balcony “Think I could climb that?”

“I’ve done it before…” I quietly let out “It’s not that…”

“YOU’VE DONE WHAT BEFORE?!” Nancy nervously shouted “Are you insane? Why do you have some sort of love towards death?”

“If you thought Ro was bad, just wait until you get Nancy on your…”

“Excuse me?!” she interrupted, as I pushed her buttons a little more “And what does that mean?” she defended, as I began to laugh “Riley David Walker, I swear to god…”

I couldn’t help but smile as her yells became music to my ears. Who would’ve guessed I would even miss the bad side of home! Home…my home…and best of all, the championship game is still on the horizon…me and Carter…me and my baby…we’re going to bring home states…for him…for my family…the story of Cy Walker has ended, and the story of Riley Walker is just getting started.