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“And your father just went along with this plan of yours?” Onyx has never taken that tone with me, and I know where it’s coming from. My father is a motherfucker, and we are only five teenage boys, trying to kick it with the big dogs. What they don’t know is, we plan on forming our own chapter and ruling first this town, and then expanding. My father has run The Devils’ name into the ground; we are here to bring it back to where it once was.
“What does a Devil want?” I ask.
“Everything.” They say in unison.
“What does a Devil get?” I ask.
“Whatever he wants.” They answer.
“That is our motto that every chapter of The Devils of Cliffside will be chanting. We are going to change the game, fellas… Starting with my old man.” I promise.
The years to come, we made a name for ourselves. Anyone who defied us learned how ruthless we could be.
We are The Devils of Cliffside, and we get what we want. No matter who we have to take down to get it.
Chapter Two
Athens
Past
“Excuse me, Mrs. Williams, but we need Athens Walker to the office, please.”
‘Ohs’ and ‘ahs’ bounce off the walls and surround me as I think what could I have possibly done now. I’m not a bad student, I just have a hard time obeying orders.
My momma always said that would get me into trouble, and I guess it finally caught up with me.
“She’s on her way.” She answers, right before she turns to me, and says, “Athens, honey, you may be excused.” Her voice is gentle as she gives me a somber look. I give her a small smile in return, gather my things, get up from my desk, and leave the classroom.
Walking down the musty hallway of Cliffside High, I pass my hands along the walls and feel the ridges of the bricks, the paint, and built-up grime that stains the walls. It’s an old habit of mine, and one I find hard to break, but I love to feel the different textures that make up walls and things.
“Somebody’s in trouble.” My best friend Gaia’s voice fills my ears as a sly smile starts to appear on my face when she floats up to me and links our arms together. “Whaddya do?”
“Nothing. I really didn’t do anything… This time.” I giggle.
“Somehow, I don’t believe that one bit.”
“Oh well, your loss.” I sigh, reaching my destination.
“Want me to come in with you?”
“Only if you wanna be in trouble, too.”
“Nah, I’ll sit this one out.” She punches me on my arm. “See you later?”
“Even death couldn’t keep me away.”
It wasn’t my death that would keep me away, but the death of my parents. Stepping into that office was the worse day of my life as I was told my parents were dead. A drunk driver ran a red light. Killed them instantly, I should be thankful they didn’t suffer. However, I’m pissed, mad, sad, scared, and angry. My world came crumbling down in a matter of minutes. I didn’t think anything else could possibly go wrong.
The doorbell rings as I’m sitting in the living room of my parents home.Cruel Intentionsis on cable, but I’m not paying attention. It’s cold and dark outside, just like my heart, but I don’t feel it. I don’t feel much of anything these days.
“Coming.” I call out, not making an effort to move any faster than my feet can actually take me. I mean, what’s the point? Life has really got me down, and I don’t know how to pick myself back up again.
I reach for the doorknob, it’s cold to the touch, and open the door. “Aunt Josie? What are you doing here?”
I open the door a little wider and notice she isn’t alone. There’s a man in a stiff suit and two cops standing at the bottom of the stairs.
“Hello, baby, may we come in?”