"Ty."
I heard a muffled voice echo from a distance. It came again, this time louder, clearer, and more familiar.
The second it reached me, I woke up.
At first it was all a blur, but I still took the time to take everything in.
The first thing I could see was my sister's leather jacket in the driver's seat, she was the source of the voice. Josh (My little brother) rode up front with her.
I heard the car engine of her new Camaro roar past the quiet streets of Hyde Park.
It was dark out.
Street lights flickered here and there, but most of the buildings sat dark.
Very few cars zoomed past us.
Every sane person was locked up at home.
I blinked a few times, clearing my head.
Then it all came back; where we were... Where we were headed.
"Finally," she said. "Thought you were dead. Been calling you."
"If you used my real name, I would have responded sooner."
"Your name is Tyler, remember that."
I sighed, already tired of this conversation.
"Anyways, you good?" she asked, after a moment.
"Shouldn't we head back home?" I said. "We're going to catch hell if we don't."
Before she could answer, Josh cut in. "Relax Ty. We'll be home before they even notice we're gone."
"That's not my biggest concern right now."
"Then what?"
I looked out the window at the empty streets.
"We're out here, in the middle of the night."
She laughed.
She actually laughed.
"Don't worry. I'm here."
What...
That didn't mean anything to me out here.
Every South Sider knew these streets had bad history.
Being casual about it won't end well.
"We should head back now." I insisted. "We can deal with this tomorrow morning."
"We're not going home until I find Leroy."
Josh shifted in his seat. I shot him a look. He turned away.
Of course. He told her.
Great.
"We don't even know where he is."
I thought that would convince her.
"Trust me. We're close."
That shut me up.
This was pointless.
If she had made her mind, then we were already too far gone.
"Just hang in there." she said.
I didn't respond.
Her voice was the last thing I wanted to hear right now.
I leaned my head against the window, watching the empty streets slide past.
Whatever happens, happens.
The rest of the ride fell into an awkward silence until the car slowed down, then rolling to stop along the curb.
We stepped out.
I would have preferred to stay inside, if I could, but following her was the safest bet right now, even though she was a problem.
Around us, were cars parked all along the street.
Too many for a quiet night.
In front of us stood a three story Greystone. The only house on the block that illuminated light. It could have been where all these people went.
We walked through the open gate and up the stairs. My sister moved ahead of us like a storm ready to break.
As we approached the door, I could hear music thumping from the inside: loud, rhythmic, alive.
She knocked on the door.
Once.
Twice.
Each hit louder than the last.
Then it cracked open, stopped by a chain.
A guy about her age peeked through the gap.
"Who's th..."
He froze.
His face drained the moment he recognized her.
"Shit." he said "I wish it was the cops."
"Where's Leroy?" she asked.
He blinked.
"Who? Oh Leroy, he's not here."
He forced a grin, opening the door wide. "But, since you're here... why don't you come in, beautiful."
She tilted her head for a moment.
"Yes," she said. "I accept your invitation."
Relief hit me. She handled it peacefully.
"Come on in, mama."
Then his eyes landed on me and Josh.
"Nah, the lil dudes got to..."
A punch landed before he could finish. Clean and sharp.
A tooth fell out as he stumbled back, clutching his mouth.
"Kiwa... whhh... ai?" His words were garbled with pain. He couldn't even pronounce Kyra properly.
"You playing." she said. "Now move."
She stepped in walking past him, us trailing behind like her disciples.
The hallway reeked of smoke and sweat.
The music got louder with each step, James Brown blasting through the worn out speakers.
By the time we arrived in the living room, we saw seventeen-year-olds dancing, laughing, and packed together. Nobody cared about anything but the moment.
We ignored them, and walked past.
Making our way through the crowd, I hoped that Leroy wasn't here, so that we all go back peacefully.
In my disappointment, Kyra's eyes were locked straight ahead.
I followed her gaze.
Leroy.
Sitting comfortably on the couch like he owned the place. There were several girls by his side, laughing, chatting and having a good time.
I glanced at Josh. Clearly, he couldn't hide the grin on his face. In his head he must be thinking, Leroy is about to receive another pretty girl in his party, but this one's crazy.
That's what he would say, anyways.
Kyra approached him slowly, moving almost casually now. Even dancing a little, acting like she was in the zone.
Then she slipped in close.
"Leroy, baby." she said. "Mind if I join you?"
He stiffened instantly. "Damn, I told Lojay not to let people like you in."
She smiled.
Then smacked him on the back of the head.
Hard.
"Ladies, please excuse us." He said hesitantly.
They didn't argue. They moved, looking for another guy with a full wallet.
She took a seat next to him, forcing him to shift.
"What do you want?" he said, without making eye contact.
She laughed. "You know you're funny."
"Them lil rats snitched didn't they."
I hate that he called me a rat.
If anyone was a rat, it was Josh.
She moved her fingers playfully on his face, before giving him another tight slap.
He endured the pain.
"I wanna know why you're touching them in the first place?"
"I'm not obligated to answer that."
"Fine, have it your way." she pulled him closer. "I'm only going to say this once. Touch them again and it's going to be the last thing you do. Understood."
"I'm not going to do shit." He stayed firm. "... because I ain't scared of you,"
Without hesitation, she grabbed his shoulder.
Hard.
"I don't think you understand." she said quietly. "So... let me help you."
His body tensed instantly.
The sounds that came out of him tore through the whole room.
Music stopped, and everyone turned.
All eyes were now on us, one thing I would have liked to avoid.
But it couldn't be helped, Kyra captivates everyone she meets.
"Are you going to leave them alone?" she spoke slowly, him nodding along, face twisted in agony.
"Yeah... yeah... I got it..."
I nearly smiled knowing that it was all over, with minor casualties.
But I spoke too soon.
That's when everything went wrong.
"Let him go."
I turned.
One of Leroy's boys stood there holding a gun, pointed at Kyra.
The crowd backed away quickly, keeping at a safe distance.
Things would have gone well, if he didn't show up.
Damn!
She released Leroy slowly, and stood up to the face the gun.
"Leave. You're disturbing the peace." he spoke again.
She smiled, looking him in the eyes.
"Go on." she said. "Shoot."
He hesitated.
Kyra stepped in closer.
Then she held his wrist, bringing the gun closer.
"If you're not going to shoot, I guess I'll take action."
She was provoking him, and it worked, because the moment she decided to move, the guy freaked out.
Then,
The gun went off.
The shot cracked through the house.
Glass shattering behind Kyra.
She was still standing.
The audience screamed, bolting for the exit. Momentarily, we heard dozens of car tires screeching through the streets.
I didn't even see her move, but the gun wasn't aimed at her anymore.
It took us all a while to wake up to the realization that whatever she did wasn't normal.
She redirected the gun, but how?
"Shit my parents are going to kill me." Leroy cried. "What's wrong with you man? Why did you shoot?"
The guy shook where he stood; his hands trembling as he dropped the gun.
"I... I..."
Before he could finish, my behemoth of a sister spun around and kicked him hard in the chest.
He flew back at the coffee table behind him, smashing it apart.
Wood splintered across the floor.
Silence followed.
Leroy scrambled to his friend's side.
"Look what you did!" he shouted. "You couldn't just leave us alone?"
Kyra didn't answer.
Instead she stared at him, coldly.
Then, she turned to walk out, leaving behind no remorse, and we followed.
When we arrived outside, it felt different.
No cars, no music.
Nothing but dead silence.
I glanced back at the house, knowing full well that the consequences were coming.