Not So Free - KamixSulfurlix

[Sulfurlix]

The city was bustling with life as five o'clock started to come upon them. Families rushed to go out to dinner or get home to their families. Work shifts were ending, night shifts were starting. At least, for the 'normal' citizens. In the rougher parts of the city, people still milled about to and from work, but usually that work consisted of some form of gang related activity unless someone was just too poor to afford to live elsewhere.


Suk and his father, Hyun, were both within the Mixed Blood Dragons together. The gang was for anyone, but predominantly Asian-Americans. Outsiders weren't taken nicely to, and rival gang members were typically shot on sight or beaten up. It was a dog-eat-dog world out here. There were rarely cops coming out here (as a lot of people in this part of the city had something to prove, and weren't scared to shoot a cop) to patrol the area or stop gang activity. The city tried at one point, but failed miserably.


Guns, drugs, violence, and various other gang orientated activities happened on this side. The rich avoided it, the poor were stuck in it, and the common wealth worried the gangs would start treading on their part of the city.


Currently, Suk was in the old, rundown apartment he called home. He lived here with his father. The whole building was decades old. It had worn out carpet, rusty hinges, stained couches and walls, and creaky old windows. But it was home. They didn't have much. Suk's father had grown up in this life style, and now Suk was raised in it to. As his father before him, he fully expected to be in this life forever. There was no ifs or buts. Gang life was his life.


"Dad?" Suk mused, walking from his small, hardly furnished room, and into the living room.


"Huh?" Hyun grunted from the old, stained couch. The man was stretched across it with a beer in one hand, and his glock resting on his stomach.


"I'll be back later." Suk informed as he went to the door, strapping his leather, finger-less gloves on.


"Have fun." Hyun muttered as he fell back asleep on the couch.


Pushing the old door open, Suk left the apartment and headed down the old, dark hallway. He could hear voices from the other apartments, the sounds of old TVs playing, and the sound of dogs barking.


Upon leaving the building, he turned left and headed into the old city block the poor lived on. He wore old jean pants that had tears in them and an old, plain white tee shirt that was dirty and had a few holes on it. He had a leather vest on over that. The vest had a white and black dragon on the back, the MBD gang's symbol.


He met his friends down by an old building, where they had cans of spray paint out. A rival gang came onto their turf and sprayed over their logo with their own lion head. They were spraying back over it to insure everyone knew this was still their turf, and no one else's.

 

[Talitha]

Andrea sat at a coffee-stained table, stirring her lukewarm tea with a small plastic spoon. Her eyes flickered from person to person, as she played a game that she often used to entertain herself in her boredom. She would observe a nearby stranger, watch their behaviour, analyse their clothes, and guess their current situation in life. Her assumptions, though based on a considerable amount of evidence, was probably never greatly accurate. Yet, she enjoyed the game all the same.


In doing so, the spoon she had previously been using snapped in half and soon enough her tea spilled everywhere. Her pristine white shirt was ruined. Exhaling a large sigh, she bit her lip anxiously. That stain was definitely not going to come out and, if she was ever to return home again, her mother was going to kill her. Immediately, she arose and, as she began her walk back to the hostel, she dabbed at her shirt repeatedly. She did not plan on returning home, but she figured it was only a matter of time before she did.


She was surprised that her parents had not sent out anything in search of her. There had been no articles published in her fathers paper, nor has there been any police snooping around. Paying for her stay was easy enough, her monthly allowance could have brought her a house if she had wanted. Yet, this would have led to her being easily found and she did not at all wish for that to happen.


Pulling her hood up, despite the arid conditions, the young girl crossed the isolated road. As she did so she played with her necklace anxiously, of which held the key to her safe. If she ever wished to skip town forever, all she had to do was go an take her savings. Yet, she couldn't. She just wasn't ready yet. Moving, it just all seemed so permenant. She was still only a child.


Taking the final turn, she recognised the upcoming street now by heart. Her hostel was just at the end of the road, and she had little to go. Not that she was in a rush; she wasn't. As she reached the midpoint mark way, something in a nearby ally caught her eye. A group of boys, near her age or older, spray painting over a wall. They seemed to be trying to cover some sort of symbol, though their efforts were to no avail. Though she knew it was probably dangerous, she couldn't help scoffing.


"Oh yeah, that orange is definitely covering up that red," the sarcasm escaped her lips fluently, her accent rich and voice husky, "have you not got much else better? I'm sure my 5 year old cousin could not do much worse"


She leaned against the wall on one shoulder, and rested her head upon the bare cold stone. Her hair was unkempt, and she was very much aware of her scraggy appearance. Yet, she supposed it would only make her seem more natural to the area.

 

[Sulfurlix]

The first layer over something was always tricky. All five knew this fact, and all five were working on putting the layer on. The sound of spraying and them talking filled the alley way, along with the sound of cans being shaken.


All five had the intertwined black and white dragon somewhere on their clothing or skin. Three of the boys were Korean, including Suk. The other boy was Mexican, and the other black. The majority of this area was asian, with black, Mexican, and a few white people living here too. The way of survival out here was what gang you belonged to, and MBD was one of the top dogs, and had drugs running throughout the city.


They never bothered pausing until a foreign voice mixed with theirs, and they looked over to see the foreign girl. None of them had seen her around these parts. Suk eyed her scuffy appeance, but despite such, she didn't look like she belonged out here. One, she was white and alone, and two, was she really being sarcastic to a ground of five guys who all wore the MBD logo proudly? He frowned. She had to be new to these parts. She'd probably end up getting herself killed.


"Ay, don't you know nothin' about spray painting? It happens in layers, chicky dee." The Mexican boy, Anthony, spoke up. "It ain't just popping up on the wall pretty."


A laugh came from Joonsuh, a Korean boy. He shook his can of spray paint. "What are you doing about here anyways?" He called to her, raising a brow. "Can't even drink tea properly? My 4 year old sister knows how to drink tea." He shot right back in a mocking tone.


"You should get before you get into trouble." Suk warned her. Their rival gang was around these parts some times. This girl would be targeted in a few minutes of being out and alone. Suk looked back up to her, giving her another once over. She didn't seem to have a weapon. All five of them were packing, and he knew they all had a knife of some sort too.

 

[Talitha]

"Oh, you're so original love," she retorted, refraining from laughing, "an insult to a British person involving tea, who would of thought of that one?"


Andrea eyed them all warily, these parts of town were dangerous. She knew that, of course. Nevertheless, she couldn't seem to help herself. She enjoyed involvement in new things, even more so when there was a little danger involved. When someone spends their whole life locked away, the freedom of living alone is exhilarating. There was no rules and no boundaries, she didn't have to care for reputation anymore. No one knew who she was, and she would make the most of the circumstance.


"Before I get into trouble?" She laughed slightly, before clearing her throat with a small cough, "because you clearly aren't.. hm okay," rolling her eyes she turned a little but did not turn her back. She wasn't stupid, you did not pose yourself in such a vulnerable way around here.


Still half watching them, she allowed her eyes to glimpse the boy who had spoken to her once over. His shirt was white, or perhaps it had once been, with many holes upon it. His jeans seemed a little baggy, and the demin was a little worn. She could only assume he had grown up around here. For a moment, she allowed her eyes to gaze into his soft brown ones. He held a solemn posture, and composed himself like a threat to others. Yet, in his eyes there was a gentle spark- or at least there was in her opinion.


It didn't matter anyway. Why was she analysing him? Had she played her game so frequently that it was now a natural instinct? Was she really such a nerd? Exhaling a small sigh, she quickly looked away. She didn't want to stare, it was rude. Plus, the last thing she wanted to do was give the wrong impression around here.


"Don't worry anyway," she added, taking a few steps back, "I was planning on doing so. You can't blame a girl for trying to help"

 

[Sulfurlix]

"Or perhaps it's because of the tea over your shirt." Joonsuh laughed.


Suk frowned slightly. This girl would get shot if she stuck her nose where it didn't belong. Of course they wouldn't get into trouble. They knew how to ditch the cops, and their gang boss would either bail them out or bend the arm of the district attorney. This city was under the iron fist of MBD, and it didn't even know it. This part of town knew it.


He kept his eyes locked on hers, pondering where she had come from. Her clothes looked cleaner than others around here, and made from much nicer cloth. That made him question where she came from, and why she was here. She would have a target on her back simply for her clothes, and her skin color, especially since she wasn't part of a gang to his knowledge. She had no marks on her, and her clothes had no signs like theirs did.


He nodded when she said she was planning on leaving. Good. She didn't belong here.


Anthony snorted. "Help? From you? We don't need it." Joonsuh and the other two boys laughed. Suk merely snorted in amusement.


Their humor quickly faded upon seeing a few larger guys coming from across the street. Oh, that wasn't good. They were packing, and they were part of their rival gang. They wouldn't flinch to putting a cap in all six of their heads.


"Run!" Joonsuh hissed. The five snagged their bags.


"Come on, unless you wish to be shot," Suk warned the girl before taking off after the other four.


"Hey! Suk, Anthony! Don't you wish to play?!" One of the taller, blonde haired men yelled as he started to chase after the small group. "Get back here, you rats!" He yelled, pulling his gun from his pocket. Three other men were right behind him, cackling. They wore hoodies and baggy pants. They had rougher features. Two were white, and the other two Asian.


Joonsuh led them all to a fence, hopping onto a trashcan and vaulting over the top of the fence. He rolled when he hit the ground, and then took off. Anthony and Darien followed. Suk and Otto scaled the fence and dropped to the other side (if the girl decided to follow them, Suk would make sure she had been able to climb over, else she'd be shot).

 

[Talitha]

"Help from you? we don't need it" One of them retorted, and there was a wave of laughter among the group. Instinctively, she narrowed her eyes. Of course you wouldn't, she snapped back mentally, you think you're perfect. Nevertheless, not a word left her lips and she turned away at last to leave.


It seemed that fate was against her for, as she turned, she soon came eye to eye with a group of 4 other men. Their gaze was held in a harsh cold glare. The laughter of the boys immediately died out, a sign even she knew meant danger was approaching. And, before the men could even speak a full sentence, one of the boys behind her muttered to run. A moment of confusion flooded Andrea at the worst time before she finally realised what was going on. She had been caught right in the middle of a gang war; as far as the other men were concerned, she was the enemy.


She didn't even think about it. Naturally, she ran & she did it as quick as she possibly could. She watched one of the boys ahead of her use the trash can to toss himself across the fence and land with a duck and roll. Her heart skipped a beat, never in her life could she have imagined herself able to do that. She paused to a moment as the others did the same, and watched with awe. She was going to be left behind, and she knew it.


One single gun shot was heard, and it echoed throughout the ally by hitting the bin. It was all she could do to refrain from releasing a loud scream of fear. Instead, she bit her lip so hard that she felt the warm red liquid begin to pour across her face. She didn't have time to think and, once the last boy had crossed the fence, she copied them as best as she could. She landed on the hard ground on her back, and the ache shot up her spine. She most certainly had not looked as graceful as the first boy, but she had done a considerable good job.


The cursing of the men came closer, and she attempted to sit up quickly. Yet, it was to no avail. The most painful feeling she had ever endured lingered across her chest, and her head fell back to the ground. Her heart beat heavily in her chest, was she seriously going to give up now? She was surprised that she had gotten this far. Giving up was not an option, she was too young to die. Attempting once more to sit up, she noticed that one of the boys still remained even though the rest had run away. She managed to sit herself up witching a second, and leaned her heat on the wall beside her. The footsteps of the men came closer, and her eyebrows furrowed in fustration. Could she really carry on running?

 

[Sulfurlix]

"Hurry!" Suk urged as the girl sloppily scaled the fence. He was surprised she didn't fall back, but she made it over, and fell to the ground on her back. Oh, that was going to hurt. He internally groaned before hearing one of the men hit the fence to start climbing up it. He looked back down to where the girl was leaning against the wall.


"You are going to get us both killed." He hissed, going and grabbing her arm just above the elbow. He didn't care if she was hurting right now. They needed to run. Suk would haul her up, even if she'd protest, and drag the girl after him. He tried to pace himself, but he couldn't do much with the threat of being shot in the back still there. When another gun shot rang out, he hissed under his breath, adrenaline pumping, and pulled her down another dark alley to head towards the abandoned factory that had been closed down for years after the cops busted a drug ring in it. The kids of the MBD now used it as a hide out.


Suk hauled the girl down to the side behind some trash bins when they got out of sight from the four men. He'd clamp a hand over her mouth as they darted by, shouting to split up. And, once the men ran off, he stood up and proceeded to drag her after him and towards the eerie, rundown factory yard. He slipped in through the cracked front doors, and then dropped the girl's arm. He was panting, heart pounding in his chest. Adrenaline was pumping through his veins.


The other four ran over. "Why'd you bring her along? She could have gotten you killed, Suk!" Joonsuh declared, frowning before his eyes widened. "Dude, a bullet skimmed your arm."


Otto ran over to peek out of the doors. "We can't get him to Mrs. Chin-Sun. Those guys are still out there." He shut the door quietly.


Suk looked to his arm, the pain starting to set in now that the adrenaline was wearing off. Red stained the old cloth of his shirt sleeve. The open wound was on his upper left arm, and bleeding. He lifted his hand and grabbed at the wound to put pressure on it. "First-aid kit, go get it, Anthony." He hissed through clenched teeth as he wandered over to one of the weather-worn desks to lean against it. Anthony ran off to get their first-aid kit.


"Should we call your dad? He can get some guys down here to take care of them." Joonsuh sneered. "They'll find out eventually." He went and moved Suk's hand from his bloody arm, replacing his own hands on the wound to put pressure on it. "Might as well send a quick message back. And he can bring Mrs. Chin-Sun."


Suk pulled his phone out and tossed it to Darien. "Go ahead." Was all he muttered, jaw clenched before looking over to the girl he had dragged along. "Is your back OK?" He asked before throwing a small glare to Joonsuh when he put too much pressure down. The guy muttered an apology, but kept a tight grip. He needed to stop the bleeding, after all.

 

[Talitha]

Around Andrea everything seemed to be moving so quickly, and she couldn't seem help prevent anything. It was all so out on control. For once in her life she couldn't control anything that was happening, and the feeling was new and eerie. She watched blankly across the warehouse at the things that were going on, the boys seemed so used to the idea of being chased. Although she was not physically shaking, the event had petrified her to say the least. She held her ground all the same, and for this she was quite proud of herself.


She was busy pulling on her shirt when the boy, who seemed nicest of them all, suddenly directed a question to her. Her shirt was no longer plain white; it was darkened with dirt and had patches of blood red upon it. Since she had no open wounds, she felt a little uncomfortable. Was the boy bleeding so much that his blood had fallen upon her when he had grabbed her?


"Hm?" Her head shot up and her nose scrunched a little with confusion, it took a moment for the dazed look to fade from her eyes, "my back? don't worry about that, I'm fine". It was a lie, and she could see, by the slight raise of her top, that the bruising had spread to her hips. It was dark, and the shade of blue and purple was greatly contrasting to her chalk white complexion. Yet, she pushed the ache away and ignored it; she didn't want to attract too much attention to herself.


"I can't really complain; I'd be dead if you hadn't grabbed me," she acknowledged, her smooth voice filled with gratitude. She watched him carefully for a moment through her thick eyelashes, and observed his behaviour. He winced heavily as his friend squeezed his arm tightly, and she couldn't help but do the same. These boys knew a lot about gang life, but it was prominent that they had never taken a first aid course. They knew nothing about proper medical care.


"Stop it, " she winced suddenly & without a thought, her face scrunching with fustration and distaste, "you're making it worse. Here, let me".


She pulled on his friends shoulder and stepped closer to him. Putting pressure on his arm would minimise the bleeding but wouldn't stop any infections. She didn't have a whole lot of experience treating bullet wounds, but she had worked in medical care during the previous summer on a missionary in Africa. She chewed on her lip softly before flinching in pain. She had forgotten how she had injured herself before, she must look a wreck.


Nevertheless, she continued. She was surprised that his friend had actually moved and allowed her to help. They didn't seem to like her much.. Or even at all. Not that she could blame them, she hadn't really gave them a reason to.


Without a though to herself, she wripped the bottom of her t-shirt and took the hand sanitizer from the first aid kit. Sanitizer wasn't exactly used for this purpose, but it contained alcohol and would cleanse the wound at least. It would also stop some of the bleeding. She quickly squirted it on his arm without a warning; they didn't really have time if they wanted to stop the bleeding. She rubbed it in a little, wiping the blood of at the same time, before ripping a little more of her shirt and wrapping it as tight as she could around his arm. It would cause him a little pain, but would stop the blood from circulating to his arm as quick. At least now he wouldn't lose so much and his arm wouldn't get infected.


Conscious of herself once more, her hands flew to flat stomach in order to cover herself a little. Not much of her stomach (or back) was showing, and her top merely as short as the current fashion, but she was more exposed than she usually was. She also didn't really want anyone to see how black and blue her back truly was; they didn't need any more drama.

 

[Sulfurlix]

Suk looked to his arm as Joonsuh put pressure on it. Damn, it hurt. Though he turned back to the girl when she said she was fine, and not to worry about it. Mrs. Chin-Sun could decide that later when she got here. The woman was a nurse, but left the hospital to come work for the gang boss. He shrugged off what she said about being dead if he hadn't grabbed her. That's why he had grabbed her. The way she hopped that fence was a clear indicator that she didn't belong out here.


Joonsuh gave her a small glare when she told him to move, but backed off anyways as Anthony came back with the first aid kit and dropped it onto the desk near Suk and the girl. Suk watched what she was doing, eyebrows drawing together when she picked up the hand sanitizer before hissing in pain when she squirted it into the open wound with no warning. "Ouch," he muttered, jaw locking in pain now that the adrenaline was completely gone.


"Hyun us coming with some gun power." Darien informed quietly when he heard the men who chased them shouting for them outside. "I hope quick." He stated, pulling his gun out from his waistband and cocking it.


"We should hide." Suk informed blandly, letting out a small breath of pain when she tied a piece of her shirt around his arm. That was going to leave a scar. He looked to her and noted her covering her bruising stomach. Frowning, Suk shrugged off his vest (it avoided being soaked with blood thanks to the lack of sleeves) and handed it to her. "Our people will be here soon." He informed.


"Come on. There's that office room hidden behind the broken machine. They won't be able to get to us there." Otto informed, motioning for them to follow.


Suk shifted from the desk, wiped his blood onto the front of his shirt, and then headed after the guys. He gave a small glance over his shoulder to insure the girl was following. He didn't know her name, but now wasn't really the time for introductions. So he ignored that for now, and slipped past the broken machine with the others, and then into the office. Anthony had to shove the door open with his shoulder, and a hole in the wall gave them enough light.


The were only there fore a few minutes before the boys quickly dropped down when gun shots started outside. And soon after, they heard the factory open. "Suk!" Hyun yelled, a few other asian men following him into the building, along with an Asian woman. "Boys, come out!" He shouted as they got up and headed to the door. Suk once again motioned for the girl to follow.


"Suk, Mrs. Chin-Sun will fix your arm." He said, accent thick. He met his son halfway, looking at his arm for a moment before giving him a gentle nudge to the woman who had a wooden box ready.


"Come, Suk, we will go to my shop." She informed, motioning for him to follow. He stalled and looked over to the girl.


"She's hurt too." He informed.


"Then come along, girl. My shop is not far from here." The older woman informed as she looked over Suk's bullet grazing.

 

[Talitha]

Andrea watched it all catiously, quietly, and analytically. Her piercing blue eyes flickered from boy to boy, observing their actions and their consequences. None of them, it seemed, were predictable. She could not exactly expect to know their upcoming decisions; she had never been in their positions before, and she did not understand their circumstances. She supposed that had always been her strength with people: knowing everything about them from one look. She would know their plans, their future actions, their past, and their present. It was easy to know what kind of person they were from their body language and sometimes even their appearance.


These people were different, complicated people. Although she would not admit it, she purposely stuck closest to the boy whom had obtained an injury. She wasn't sure if it was because of the fact she felt protected near him, or if she was anxious for his well being. Either way, the instinct was natural and she did not stray from it once- insuring that she knew where he was at all times.


Attentively noticing her anxiety, he had thrown her his vest without a though to himself. She didn't dare to deny it, for the gesture was so kind and considerate, and clutched the vest after catching it with both hands. When she was sure everyone had been busy, she had quickly thrown it on and refrained from laughing at how it covered her petite body. It was rather large and fell all the way down to her mid thigh. She could only hope that they did not need to do much physical movement for, being the clutz that she was, she would most definitely trip over herself.


After a few minutes of hiding, and consistent paranoia of dropping to the floor, a group of men arrived alongside an older woman. The men were armed, but for some reason this didn't seem to have a significant effect upon the young girl. She supposed that she had seen enough to understand where she was and who she was with. Of course, she did not know the name of the gang she was with. Yet she knew she had landed in the midst of a city war, and with this nervous though she ran a hand through her unkempt, untidy hair. She played with the long, blond strands for a moment whilst the boys muttered among themselves, before deciding it would be best to tie it up into a ponytail. Scraping it away from her face, rather messily, she chewed on the inside of her cheeks to ignore the pain from her back as she raised her arms.


Almost like a mind reader, the injured boy spoke up, his dark eyes flickering to her own. "She's hurt too," he informed the new group, his expression new and incomprehensible. The elder woman acknowledged him immediately, but did not raise her eyes from the boys wound.


"I shouldn't. I can't. I shouldn't burden anyone anymore than I already have," she spoke, before guiltily eying his arm and glancing at the floor, "I'm not even hurt that bad. It'll only be a bruise, nothing more. No ones ever died from that".

 

[Sulfurlix]

Mrs. Chin-Sun frowned at the girl's answer. "No, you will come with us. I can give you some ice, and maybe some warm herbal tea." She stated, motioning for the girl to follow.


"It's not safe out here." Suk stated, rolling his shoulder in discomfort. Anthony, Darien, Otto, and Joonsuh were already heading to leave to go finish their business of graffiti, this time with a few older gang members to accompany them.


Hyun walked over to where Suk was, rubbing his eyes for a moment. "I will be home late. I must go speak to the dragon." He stated, nodding to Mrs. Chin-Sun before sending a small glare to the new child. Without questioning it, he turned and left.


There were two armed Asian men left. "Come, let us go now." The elderly woman stated, motioning for the girl to follow before turning and leaving. Suk followed, and the two armed men hid their guns in their waist bands before also following after. They were there to insure they made it back to the store safely. Being in a gang meant having protection. They looked after one another no matter what.


It wasn't too long of a walk back into the rough part of the city. Mrs. Chin-Sun led them to the "shopping district" of the poor area, and went into her store. There were oriental knickknacks and herbals remedies all over, along with actual medical supplies in the back. That's where she'd lead Suk and the girl.


Suk went and sat down on the metal table that was set up after Mrs. Chin-Sun informed him to do so. "You can sit." Suk spoke to the girl, motioning to the old chairs in the room. Mrs. Chin-Sun came back after a few minutes to begin working on Suk's arm.


The armed men had remained in the front of the store with one of Mrs. Chin-Sun's sons.