Chapter 1: Start Of Something
It has been 3 years since you left the life of a career criminal at the tender age of just 15. A exonerated murderer of multiple police officers, and one so dear to you nesrly destroyed your entire life. However, a bullet in which you jumped infront of to save your father changed your life, and led you on a course to redemption, propelling you to sacrificing yourself to save your kidnapped best friend from certain death. However, your intelligence and witt managed to bring down an entire crew of thieves, drug lords and warlords, including its ruthless ‘king’ who is now at the bottom of a pit 6 feet into the ground. You did however, find love in the middle of all the drama, someone who accepted you for who you are, someone who cared about you, someone who made you smile when you were down. Someone who allowed you to be free. He too, was a murderer, a drug abuser, and sold drugs on the block, but you knew he wasnt in it because he liked doing it, he was in it to make money to put food on his table and feed his fsmily, which is what propelled you towards that life. What you didnt understand is, this life turnd you into a monster you couldnt recognise, however. darien ensured you returned to the person you were before. Plaudits from everyone all around, and you made your dad, who you never always saw eye to eye with, proud of you.
3 years on, and you are on the verge of graduation from high school. Your time at Brooklyn Frontiers statted off rough, but you eventuslly made it. The dark, dirty moments of your past are all put behind you..as you enter a new life, and a new you.
8:27 AM...Sunday..
(breep...breep...breeeeeeeep!)
You are woken up by the sound of your alarm blaring on your bedside table. You reach over the bedside table and press the button, and sit yourself up. You rub your eyes and you get up and look yourself in the mirror. Admiring your long, curly hair, you brush your teeth and head downstairs, to greet your dad good morning, whos in the middle of what seems to be a important phone call.
“Morning dad!” You say, as you head into the kitchen to make yourself breakfast.
“Oh--morning sweetheart!” He says turning to you, then turning back to his phone call. He then hangs up and turns his attention towards tou.mYou head to the stove and begin to prepare yourself an omlette. He runs over to you.
“Dont i normally make you the ari special?” He says, as he tries to intervene in you chopping up your herbs and vegetables.
“Dad, im 18 years old, im pretty sure im old enough to make my own special omlette! I dont need you to baby me anymore!” You say, as you playfully nudge him away.”
“Well, you do your thing.” He says, as he turns away and heads out the kitchen way. You look over your shoulder and smile, you look back at your food, but then you look back again to notice your father Looking down at the ground, back turned to you. You burrow your brows and you walk over to your dad with a concerned expression.
“Dad? You know I was joking, right? You can come and make it for me if you want.” You say, but your dad doesn’t move. You walk infront of him to see his face, and you notice tears welling in his eyes.
“Oh my g-- dad I’m sorry I upset you what did I say?” You pull him towards the couch and sit him down.
“No..its nothing..its just.” He sniffs and takes a deep breath. “Its amazing how you have grown up into a amazing, self respecting young woman, and i could have lost you 3 years ago..it just feels like yesterday we were at war in a warehouse.” he looks up and his eyes meet your gaze.
“Dad..let’s not dwell on the past, ok? I’m here now, and I will always be here.” You rub him on his shoulders trying to comfort him.
“I know, but one day you will have a boyfriend who you will marry, and eventually you will have to leave..” as he says that, you look down at your golden heart necklace, which Darien gave to you as a parting gift 3 years ago. You open it up, and tears begin to well in your eyes. The pain of him leaving still hasn’t left your body, as if he had died. In seconds, memories of you and him together play over and over in your mind.
“Dad, my boyfriend left 3 years ago, and hes never coming back, ok?. I dont think I can ever love someone else, or find someone else that I can love like I loved him...” you say as you wipe away a tear from the corner of your eye. You shut the necklace and place it back under your shirt.
“So I’m gonna be here by your side no matter what it takes. You embrace your father tightly, and he embraces you back.
“Ok princess.” He says, forcing a smile. “Let’s not dampen the mood any further shall we?” He gets up and heads to the kitchen, as you allow him to make your breakfast.
Couple hours later...
You are on the computer, browsing the web on your computer, when you receive a text message from your long time best friend, Isabella.
(Isa: Hey..was hoping we could meet at the coffee shop in like an hour...wanna discuss something)
You reply.
(You: sure! But what u wanna discuss?)
(Isa: You will see when we get there!)
You reply with a smiley emoji, and prepare yourself to head to meet Isabella.
45 minutes later...
You grab your keys and are headed towards the front door, when your dad calls you from the kitchen, where he is preparing dinner.
“Yes dad?” You turn around, meeting his gaze.
“Um, where you off to?”
“I’m off to meet Isabella at the coffee shop. Why?” You step closer towards him.
“Oh nothing...” he looks down st the cutting board, continuing to cut herbs.
“Dad, everything ok?” You head to the kitchen and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“You know what...” he turns around and drops the knife. “No, everything is not ok.” He gets flustered as he heads to the fridge and pulls out another beer.
“Dad, what’s up with you?” You walk quickly after your dad, who heads outside.
“I’m worried ari, that’s all. Every time you go outside, or go to a date or go to a meet with your friend, I’m always worried you won’t come back home.” He takes out another swig of his beer.
“Dad, you know that I always--”
“Dont you remember the time you told me you were headed to a function and you then proceeded to kill several of my friends including Etcham??” his hands begin to shake.
“Dad, I told you earlier we cant dwell in the--”
“Ari how can I trust you after that ordeal? You say you going to the coffee shop with Isabella, how am I supposed to know if it’s TRUE?” He drops the now empty bottle.
“Y-you cant trust me? After all this years of bonding and mending what I broke?” You look at him with a questionable expression.
“No, I cant. I cant trust you anymore. I’m done hiding my feelings ari. I’m DONE!” His voice raises.
“Dad please!” You walk over to him and begin to quiet him down. “Let’s go inside--”
“No. I’m done suppressing my feelings, princess. You killed people!”
“Dad 3 years ago you forgave me and convinced me redemption was achieved! Why are we still babbling on about it?!” Your voice begins to raise in anger, as the commotion causes attention from some neighbours.
“Because I cant forget what happened the night you snuck out--”
“Dad, just leave it alone, okay?” You raise your voice even louder. You begin to storm off towards the house, but you feel a large shaky hand grab you on the shoulder.
“No. I’m not gonna live in a house with a murderer”. The words sting your heart, and your blood begins to boil. You turn around slowly.
“W-what did you just say?” You turn around and notice your dad wobbling infront of you
“You heard me, murderer. Liar. You’re not my daughter, you’re just another dirty criminal that needs locking up” He tries to throw a punch at you, but he misses. Tears of anger and hurt, heartache build up behind your eyes as you feel the anger inside of you about to explode. 3 years of peace could all go up in smokes tonight. You clench your fists, as if you’re about to fight. Tears stream down your cheeks.
“If you even utter that word criminal again, ill--ill--” words begin to stick in your throat, as all you can think about is the time you took a bullet for your dad, you saved his life when he got shot, and the time you sacrificed yourself to win the war.
“You’ll what?” He stands their, looking drunk as ever. But you cant take it anymore. You lunge at your dad and tackle him to the ground and begin beating on his face with your fists as hard as possible, letting out every bit of anger inside of you.
"I-TOOK-A-BULLET TO SAVE YOUR LIFE 3 YEARS AGO AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME??” Your dad then turns you over and begins grappling with you. He then lands a punch right on your temple.
“Oof!”
You feel light headed as your head drops to the grass. He hopes on top of you, and all you can do is block and hope for the most. He hits another punch in your face, and you begin to feel weakness. You look up, and you see your dad has a large rock.
“Dad....stop...please..” you utter through all the blurry ness. But its like he doesn’t hear. However before he could do anything, two pairs of arms drag you away as a further other two grab your dad, you barely able to make out their faces, but you breathe a sigh of relief.
Suddenly, your dad breaks free, knocking down the two strangers! He picks up the rock and heads towards you! He pins you down, and you block your face, but it doesn’t stop him from smashing the rock in your face!......all of a sudden, everything goes black right at the moment...and then...
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! you scream as you wake up in bed, soaked in sweat, gripping at your forehead. Its 4am. You sit up and begin to breathe a sigh of relief just as your dad walks in, with a bottle of water in his hand.
“Ari I heard screaming is everything ok?” You look up and hug your dad, who embraces back slowly, your breathing shaky, still cant believe what you just witnessed 5 minutes ago.
“Another nightmare?” He asks. You look up and meet his gaze
“Yes.” You sit down on your bed and he follows. He puts a comforting arm around your shoulder as you take a deep breath.
“Me and you had like a...physical fight. You actually ended up killing me with a rock.
Your dad ends up choking on his water.
“I--did--wait how do you end up with such a messed up nightmare like that?
“I dont know...” you run your hand through your hair as you sit next to dad nervously, both of you waiting for each other to break the silence.
“You know, when you were younger, and you used to have nightmares, you always used to run to mom and tell her all about it, and then, you would reenact it. Do you remember?” You laugh as the memories play back in your head.
“Yes yes I remember!” You say as you cover your mouth laughing.
“I remember one time you were 7 years old and you had a nightmare that you were being eaten by a white eyed monster, and you showed your mom what happened and you made her laugh so much she snorted orange juice out her nose!” You burst out laughing, as you and your dad continue to recite the wonderful memories of your mom that are still left.
After what seems like an eternity, your dad finally gets up from the bed. He looks back st you and rubs your head.
“You should get yourself back to sleep.” He says as he walks to the door.
“Dad.” You call out to him. He turns around and looks at you expectantly.
“Thanks for that conversation about mom, I really needed it.” You say as you wrap up in your blanket.
“Dont mention it” your dad says, as he walks out and closes the door. You soon dose off into a deep sleep...
A couple hours later....
You wake up to the sound of your father calling your name from downstairs. You wearily get up and quickly make your way down stairs, to find your dad frantically trying to out a frying pan set ablaze.
“Dad! What in God’s name were you trying--”
“I was trying to make your breakfast and..well messed it up.” He shoves the pan into the sink and drown it in water, revealing a burning stench. You cover your nose.
“I can see it was a mess alright.” You walk over to the pan, where you see a charcoal coloured omelette stuck to the bottom of the pan. You couldn’t help but giggle.
“What’s so funny?” Your dad says playfully poking you on the shoulder.
“Its nothing dad it’s just the first time I’ve ever seen you mess something up in the kitchen!” You say as you burst out laughing. Your dad laughs too, seeing the light in the midst of it all.
You’re about to wash the pan, when you receive a text from Isabella.
(Isa: meet me at Starbucks ASAP! E-MER-GAN-CY!)
You look at the phone confused, then you grab your car keys and head towards the front door. Your dad looks up
“Where are you going?” He asks.
Memories of your nightmare play over in your head. You shake your head and try to remove any remnants of it, and finally turn to your dad.
“To see Isabella. Some emergancy”. You head out towards your car, and soon enough, you’re headed off into downtown Brooklyn to meet with your best friend.
A few minutes later...
You park up outside starbucks. You rush inside to see Isabella sitting alone at the table. You take in the fresh, sweet scent of hot cocoa and coffee in the air. You sit down opposite to Isabella, who’s looking down at the menu.
“Hey I got here just in time! You said there was an emergency?”
She looks up, and doesn’t say a word. Then points to someone behind you. You look st her confusingly, then turn around, to see a man behind you. He, darkskin, with a suit, and with the most handsome face. You spend a good while looking at him, then turn back to Isabella.
“Is this the emergency you are talking about? A hot guy in Starbucks??” You say as she begins to laugh.
“Well, what can I say, Ari? You haven’t had a good looking boyfriend since Darien left.” Your heart burns, the heartache of his sacrifical departure still hasn’t eased.
“Do you have to bring up Darien every time we talk?” You say, becoming frustrated.
“What? I thought you would love to talk--”
“No Isabella, I dont want to talk about him. Just let him go already.” You say with frustration. You rub your fingers on your temples, trying to let go of the memories.
“Darien left for a reason, and no matter how much it hurts, I have to accept it. Can we move on? It’s been 3 damn years.”
“Ok ari I’m sorry!” Isabella says apologetically. You begin to raise your voice as a waiter comes over to you. You look up.
“Oh sorry! Didn’t even realise you were there!” You say, looking down at the table. You order on cup of hot cocoa, while Isabella orders a frappuccino.
A long silence deafens the table, both you and Isabella lost in your own thoughts. Eventually, isabella breaks the silence.
“Soo are you not gonna approach him?” She nods behind you to the same guy she told you about. You look behind you again, and stare at him. You cant help but take in his features. He looks up and meets your gaze. You quickly look back at Isabella, hoping he didn’t notice.
“What? Why? I dont even know him, and besides, I dont even try to hit on every guy that looks--”
Suddenly, you feel a warm, comfortable hand on your shoulder. You look up and notice it’s the guy, his face beaming with a beautiful smile.
“Uh..hi” you look into his eyes, a dark, brown colour.
“Hi there” he says. He smiles, showing almost perfect teeth.
“You must be the girl that took down the Monarchy crew?” He asks.
“Uhhh, yes I am!” You say, not taking your eyes off him as he moves to sit opposite of you next to Isabella.
“Good to meet you, I’m Lorenzo.” He extends his hand for a handshake. You reach out and shake it, gripping it for a while, refusing to let go of his soft hands. You finally snap back into reality and let go.
“You must be the type for long handshakes!” he says as he calls over a waiter. He looks back into your eyes, almost intimidating you.
“Well I must apologise for that” you say, drinking your cocoa trying to hide your blushing.
“Its fine. So then, ari, what do you do for a living?”
You nearly spit out your tea.
“You know my name too?” You ask, as you finally allow yourself to smile.
“You’re quite famous around here, you helped make Brooklyn safe, if it wasn’t for you gunshots would still be ringing outside.” He says as he receives his coffee from a waiter.
“Cmon it wasn’t all me!” You say, downplaying the magnitude of your contribution. “My friends, family, my bad boy boyfriend all played a part.”
He nearly chokes on his coffee.
"Bad boy boyfriend?” He looks at you with a puzzled expression.
“Uhhh” you struggle to find words to say, trying not to friend zone him. Yet.
“Well, ex boyfriend. He was part of the gang too before he too turned in them. He had to leave so he couldnt put me in danger anymore.” You look down at the menu infront of you. “It hurt alot that he had to leave...but I fully understand why.” You shake your head trying to remove the memory of your final night with Darien. You look down on your neck at the golden necklace he gave you with the heart, where inside it is a selfie of you and Darien together. You open the heart and show lorenzo.
“This was us a few years ago. I was 15 at the time”. Lorenzo, lost for words, looks at the picture, then sits back in his chair.
“Well I must say I’m stunned. What got you into the gang life anyway? What did you do?”
You are startled at the question. You begin to think of answers which doesn’t remotely evolve around the murder of any police officers.
“Well uhh, you know, some people are so poor and have nothing, that they have no choice but to sell drugs and kill people to make money to put food on the table, for themself for their family, but the worst side effect is that it turns you into a monster. And that’s what happened to me, which is why I ran away from it as fast as I could.” You gaze outside the window.
“Well, you are the furthest thing from a monster I’ve seen in this city. He smiles as you look back at his face.
“Thank you” you say as you close the necklace heart.
“I did...alot of horrible things that I cant take back, but God gave me a second chance for redemption for a reason, so I took it without any doubt, and now in a weeks time I’ll be graduating from high school and not 6 ft underground.” You forge a smile at the corner of your lips.
“Well, the fact that you made it this far after getting yourself involved at that age shows how wonderful you really are. Not every person that grows up in the hood turns out as a monster.” He reaches out and touches your hand. Startled, you take short, deep breaths, as you take in his soft, warm touch.
For a second, you feel your heart racing, unable to contain the feeling inside of you. Lorenzo looks you in the eyes.
“They also turn out to be rather beautiful too.” He says, as you uncontrollably get your face closer to his. You can feel his breath, and eventually, your lips are within touching distance.
“Didnt think I’d find someone like you after all that I’ve done. You close your eyes, and your lips touch with his. You take in every taste, touch and feel, before eventually pulling away, very slowly.
“Take my number.” He says, as he smiles. You jot down his number on your phone. He looks at his watch.
“Well, I must get going.” He says, as he gets up from his chair. “I live in a high rise apartment building in manhattan so if you ever need some company or someone to talk to, I’m available.” You reaches out and touches your shoulder.
“See you around!” He says, as he walks off. “I’ll see you” you say, turning around. He turns around and gives you a wink, before heading out the door. You turn back to Isabella, and unable to hold in your emotions, you both simultaneously let out a squeal of happiness. You spend the rest of the morning chatting and gossiping with her, before heading back home for lunch.
You pull up outside your house. You hope out and walk with a spring in your step to your front door. But when you reach, you notice the door is ajar.
(What the hell? I didnt leave the door open when I left this morning?!)
You open slowly, and you notice the living room empty. You check outside the window, and your dad’s car is still there.
(This is so weird! Normally dad is fiddling around with his documents inside the living room!) You call out his name.
"DAD?!” But you dont hear a response. you walk briskly upstairs and stop when you hear faint voices coming from your bedroom. You get close enough just to hear snippets.
"My daughter is fine. She has done nothing wrong, I’m the chief of the NYPD for God’s sake! You are some stranger that happens to be in my house, part of some data collecting scheme, harassing me for information I dont know about. I’ll give you 5 seconds before I arrest you right this minute!”
“Sir there is no need. I’m just here on behalf of the government--”
“And I’m gonna unload alot of these bullets between your forehead if you dont leave my premises right now!” You hear the clicking of a gun, and your heart begins to hammer in your chest.
(Government? Data collection? What the fuck are they talking about?)
“Sir, we have collected information which might suggest your--”
“Sir get down on the ground now put your hands in the air! You are under arrest for illegally trespassing on private property!” You hear the pleas of the unknown man inside your bedroom. You decided you had enough, and walk in on them.
“What in gods name is going on here?!” You walk in and startel both of them.
“Ari! Get out! This could get nasty!” Your dad tells.
“Who’s this guy?!” You ask, pointing at him
“And why the fuck is he in my room?!” You step up to the guy, who happens to be 3 inches shorter than you.
“Ari! Just in time. My name is--”
“How the hell do you know my name?!” You raise your voice as you grab him by the throat and slam him against the window sill.
“I..I...” the guy struggles for air as your dad tries to encourage you to let go.
“Ari I know you are pissed aswell but let him go!”
“Why the hell did you allow him in here?!” You turn to your dad, refusing to let go of the guy.
“I dont know! He said he works for some office company run by a man named lorenzo! Apparently he was sent here to get more info on you, but it seems like some criminal stooge working for the government” The name lorenzo pings in your head, and you immediately remember the guy you kissed at Starbucks. You let the man go, and he clutches at his throat, heaving.
“You know who lorenzo is?” You ask the man.
“Yes, I do. He met you this morning and it seems as though you had a great time with him but he said he didnt know you well. So he sent me here--”
“How the hell did he know where I live??” You ask.
“You’re famous out here, aria. Crown heights is a small neighbourhood. Everyone knows where you live.”
Your dad lowers his gun, and his expression changes from an angry one to a rather cheerful one.
“Well, I be damned.” He says. “Who is this lorenzo guy ari?” He asks, turning to you with a smile on his face.
"Shhh! None of your business!” You say, forming a smile at the corner of your lips. You turn back to the man.
“So lorenzo sent you here to know more about me? Why didnt he just ask me to meet him?”
“Well, uh that’s what I was about to tell you. He wants you to meet at his place tonight. He has a very big surprise for you. Here, I got you the address.” He hands you a short piece of paper.
“Tonight?” You ask, as you snatch the paper out his hand.
“Well, what better time than--”
“Ok little man, thanks for everything, you did a good job. now can you please get out of my room?” You ask excitedly. He nods and makes his way out the room, trying to avoid your father entirely. You turn around to.meet your father’s gaze, and he winks at you as he too makes his way out. You head in the closet to look for the best outfit to wear as you prepare for the night of your dreams.
