The Effacing (Book 1.5): Valley's End Read Free Page B

his buddies decided to break into Pops Gun and Tackle. They used Baker as the burglar while they played lookout. Their plan backfired, and that’s how he fell into Ann and Maria, Mike, Dale and Pops; he was caught in the act. The same night his accomplices were handcuffed and thrown into separate paddy wagons for curfew violations by the forces who circumference the city. And the next day, Baker discovered his mother, maliciously attacked – and sadly – brutally executed by a bilious neighbor.
      Without Baker knowing his father or having any other blood kinsfolks, he hopelessly turned to the street hoods as his innovative transitional family. He was aggressively pressured entirely by his own pure-intended, extremely violent thoughts to avenge his dearly nurturing mother’s death, by surviving in battle, and – without question – confronting the person responsible for her effacing… if he ever had even the slimmest opportunity.
      “It’s too dangerous. It’s safer with the group.” Rebekah added.
      “ I’m responsible for him.” Trivo announced. “That’s my lil soldier right there.”
      “I’m responsible for me. And I’m going.” Baker fussed.
      “You can do more for us here.” Rebekah said.
      Ann continued to hold the rifle’s nose.
      Baker pushed the rifle into Trivo, shifted his sight on Maria. “Why I gotta stay here and she don’t even like me?” he pleaded.
      “What? Me?” Maria asked, pointing to herself. “You were just in the truck with us. What are you talking about?”   
       Baker stormed off, back to the 4x4.  
       They watched as Baker jumped in the truck. They watched the door as it lightly creaked shut.
       Maria knew what Baker was speaking of. Her parent’s Hummer had been stolen a day prior and she caught Baker behind the wheel. She was about to get in his young ass before Mike Ashe stepped in between them. Her anger subsided, but she never forgave him or apologized for the way she reacted, even after he explained the situation. She’d been a stuck up, nose-dried bitch to him ever since.
      “Well, I guess that’ll do it. I’m ready whenever you ladies are.” Trivo cracked.
      “Sure…” Rebekah said, with her eyes fixed on Neshia. “I need to grab a few things first.”

CHAPTER 4
     
     
      The motorcade’s engines idled in the distance.
      Surrounded by fences, dying trees and backyards, lower income level family homes and fading daylight, Jim and Girder made their way through the alley desperately searching for an opening, fleeing from their pursuers through puddles of disease-tainted water.
       “We’re almost there, homeboy.” Jim huffed.
      Girder continued to stumble along, still nursing his wound. “Shit burns, main.” he rustled.
      “Make a left here.” Jim shifted his weight toward the fenceless opening, looked back through the alley.
      A shadow appeared, coming around the corner, into the alley from which they came.
      Girder stopped.
    Jim spun his head back around to see a soaking wet, red-coated, white chest, full grown Akita. It stood in their path, sniffing at the air. His dried eyes were centered by a strange, azure-greyish color. The dog didn’t bark, nor did it growl or show signs of aggression. It was just there, sniffling, nose up. And twitching as if bewitched and trying to morph back into his human form.
       Giving a first look, neither Jim nor Girder found anything out of place. The dog, clean and muscular, seemed extremely healthy. But after a couple steps forward, a further examination revealed its hairy, blood-dried paws.
      Jim extended his TP9 at the dog, nudged at Girder’s ribs and softly chanted, “We got to keep moving.”
      They moved closer, hoping not to startle man’s best friend. One disquieting maneuver could spark the animal’s kill or be killed instinct, which would for sure result in its extermination before obtaining the opportunity to sink its teeth in either of