Streets of Fear

The streets of New Brinden were crowded, dirty, and littered with all sorts of trash; trash that blew from the garbage cans, and trash that roamed the alleys in search of its next meal. But when night fell, the gangs dominated the stone-and-steel landscape. People lived in fear of the numerous groups that took control of the city and held the citizens in a constant state of paranoia. It had been that way for as long as most people could remember. Soon after the market crash of ‘14, many of the middle-class had panicked, anticipating riots to follow and wars to break out. They had retreated to the sewers along with the street people, leaving only the more elite classes, politicians, and armed forces to deal with any impending disaster. It had only taken two decades or so to restore order and market structure, and then people began emerging from beneath the cities to resume their lives. But the classes had become even more divided than before, and the rich lorded their wealth over any and all that were less fortunate. Gangs soon began developing all over the city, but there were four primary groups that controlled New Brinden: 

On the North Side were the rich kids who had nothing better to do than waste their parents’ money on guns, drugs, and fast cars. Their colors were white and blue, and the eagle served as their mascot: A symbol of their upbringing and supposed superiority to everyone else. They called themselves the High Flyers, and their main rivals lived on the South Side. Sporting colors of red, white, and black, the Aces were urban teens who had grown sick and tired of being kicked around by the High Flyers. Their symbol was the ace of spades, and their specialty was winning at all kinds of gambling games.

The East and West Sides were a little more hostile towards each other, and you either died early or learned fast down there. The East Side was held by the Sewer Rats, a gang that lived underneath the city. It was said they had a whole information network set up beneath the streets, and weren’t above trading favors or drugs for info. Their symbol was of course, the rat, and their colors were brown and green. That made it easier for them to camouflage themselves when fighting their rivals. The Alley Cats roamed above ground on the West Side, and knew every inch of the streets and back alleys. They were the ones who struck quickly and retreated just as fast back into the shadows. Black and gold were their colors, and a cat’s claw was their symbol. These gangs usually kept to their own, but now a rash of strikes by the High Flyers and Sewer Rats has forced the Aces and Alley Cats to make an alliance to rid the city of the threat. The streets that once were their home have to turned to streets of fear…

                                                Chapter 1

The brick warehouse stood sandwiched between two rotting apartment buildings deep in the West Side. High windows peered out onto the desolate street, most of them taped up to block out drafts. The front door was of steel, with a small window cut high into the metal. Inside the warehouse it looked as if it hadn’t been used for its real purpose in years. Cardboard boxes were stacked against all four walls, and were piled high beneath the windows to provide the lookout a place to sit and survey the street. Beams ran across the length of the interior, supporting various articles of clothing that looked like they were drying or being stored for later use. Chains hung from the ceiling, and some were close enough to the beams that someone could shimmy up the chain to retrieve the clothes. Sitting at a beat-up office desk, Amber looked up from her book as Peter and Maya walked in the door of the run-down warehouse that served as the Alleys Cats’ home. “Do you have a report?” she asked.

            “Not much to report. Looks like the Flyers hired some muscle to do their dirty work,” Peter informed her.

            “Everyone knows the yuppies can’t fight for themselves,” Maya added as they all laughed.

            “Sit down and make yourselves comfortable. The Aces will be here soon,” Amber told them.

            “I still can’t believe we’re making a deal with them,” a deep voice said from the back of the room.

            “I know Jason, but what choice do I have? With the Rats being backed up by the Flyers, it’s gotten worse out there. We can’t win this war alone, and the Aces are in the same bind.”

            “We’ll follow you, Amber. Don’t worry about that,” Maya stated.

            “Thanks babe.” While Maya and Peter went to tell the others what was happening on the streets, Amber found herself lost in thought. Her main focus was on her gang, and how different they all were. Even though the Alley Cats weren’t as big as the other gangs, they made up for it in diversity. Peter was her loudmouth second-in-command, always ready to race into a fight and kick butt. His orange-red hair matched his easily excitable temper, and his hazel-green eyes were always flickering with some new plan of attack or trickery. Blue jean shorts were ripped from years of wear and tear, and white-and-gray sneakers that at one point had been expensive clung to his feet. A simple dark-yellow T-shirt covered his muscular frame, stained with dirt and grime form the streets. Peter had run away from his home in nearby Patterson City when he was fifteen, and had thought he knew everything about surviving on the streets. But even with a black belt in tae kwon do, Peter quickly discovered that loners often met fast endings. He’d joined the Alley Cats at the request of their old leader, Angel, who’d wanted him to train her gang in martial arts. Amber quickly shook her head to clear a tear from her eye. She’d been close to Angel, and her death still bothered Amber at times.

            “Amber, you okay?” a tenor voice asked from behind her. Swinging around in the chair, Amber came face to face with storm-gray eyes that looked as if they’d seen the creation of life itself. Marik had a small grin on his face, and his mouth quirked at the corners as his grin broadened. He brushed his light-brown hair back in a casual gesture, but a few stubborn strands settled over his eyes again. Amber reached up and combed them back for him. She loved running her fingers through the neck-length strands anyway, and physical contact always calmed her down.

            “I’m okay, Marik. Thanks.” Shrugging, the older boy flipped onto a couch and put his filthy-white baseball cap over his eyes to take a nap. The team logo that had decorated the hat had long since been ripped off, but Marik never seemed to mind. Dark-blue jeans with ripped knees stuck to his thin frame like a tight-fitting glove, and his white T-shirt had seen better days. It was almost as dirty as the hat, but had actually been washed a few times. Gray sneakers that were falling apart still provided some protection from the streets, but he’d need to steal a new pair soon. Giggling, Amber focused on Marik and his younger brother Austin, who was only a year younger than her. Where Marik was calm logic, Austin was hyper emotion. His neck-length, dirty-blonde hair looked like it was actually combed daily, and his light-brown eyes were always full of concern, compassion, and jokes to be shared with the gang. Though at least a foot shorter than the other boys, Austin’s speed was unmatched by anyone in the city so far. The brothers had lost their parents in a gang war between two of the lesser-known gangs, and had joined the Alley Cats to take revenge on those that had taken their parents. Afterwards, they had stayed and offered their computer skills to the gang, which sometimes came in handy for tracking the movements of the Rats and the police. A computer had been taken from the Rats, and Marik had managed to connect it to the Internet via the still-active wires in the warehouse. He was the technician, and Austin was the hacker.

            “Lazy,” Austin teased his brother, tapping him with the toe of a fairly-new blue sneaker. Austin and a few of the others had recently gone “shopping”, picking up a few articles of clothing for themselves. He wore a pair of jeans similar to his brother’s, but this pair was frayed at the legs so much that they no longer covered his ankles. A stained, red sweatshirt hung on his wiry frame, and the sleeves were rolled up past his elbows. In the winter Austin usually rolled down the sleeves, saving himself from needing more shirts. Standing at Austin’s side was a small blonde girl who looked as if she’d wandered into the wrong part of town. But Amy was as much a part of the gang as anyone. She kept her sunshine-blonde hair short, and the golden strands were like fine silk. Her baby-blue eyes held a sparkle of innocence, but beneath that was the look of someone who had grown up knowing a tough life. Amy had been an orphan from the age of five, and had been shipped from foster home to foster home. Finally the spunky sixteen year-old had grown tired of it, and had simply run away to be a street kid. Taking money, some clothes, and her stepfather’s gun, she’d lived in the back alleys for a month before finally asking the Alley Cats if they wanted her. When Angel had seen the way she could get food and money for them, Amy had been adopted immediately.

            “Austin, be nice,” Amy chided her boyfriend. The two had taken an instant liking to each other when Amy had joined, and had begun dating almost immediately. Though teased that there would soon be little mouths to feed, they simply laughed off the jokes and spent as much time as possible together. A chuckle from the back came from Maya, who was playing cards with another girl. With dark-brown hair in a mass of tight curls down her back and serious dark-brown eyes, Maya was a woman who meant business. She’d grown up as a street urchin, and had learned to steal as soon as she could walk. Because she had soon learned that thieves needed to be strong and fast, Maya spent most of her spare time training her body to go beyond its limits. As a result, she could push herself harder and longer than even some of the guys. She was also constantly on the lookout for cops, other gangs, and people who posed a threat to her. When she’d been asked to join the Alley Cats, at first Maya had said no. But after getting into a scrape with the Sewer Rats, and being saved by the Cats, she had pledged her loyalty to her new gang. With her cunning, thief skills, and alertness to danger, she made a valuable asset and a worthwhile second in command. Both Maya and Peter took their jobs as seconds seriously, though Maya often dreaded the day she might actually have to lead the Cats.

            “What’s so funny?” Maya’s card-partner wondered.

            “Nothing Ruby.” Shaking out her fire-red hair, Ruby allowed the loose curls to fall to her shoulders. Her leaf-green eyes always held concern in them for everyone in the gang. She was a quiet girl who never said much unless someone was hurt. Not that she needed to say much, as most of her talking usually consisted of questions, berates for getting hurt, and her usually biting rejections of a certain blonde womanizer named Alex. Ruby sometimes had to convince herself that the reason Alex teased her so much was because he was just cocky, and that he didn’t like her any more than the other girls. However, ever since the supple redhead had been inducted into the Cats, Alex had seemed to make it his mission in life to piss her off. The daughter of a doctor, Ruby had offered her services as gang medic, and had been accepted with much enthusiasm. As much as they would all like to think they were invincible, everyone at one time or another had been lying on one of the three cots that served as sick beds. Everyone else slept on the many couches, recliners, loveseats, and futons they’d pulled from the curb. They also had a few coffee tables and giant spools to use, and a refrigerator and microwave were connected to a small generator beneath the warehouse. There was heat in the winter, and a few fans provided air in the summer. A small television and VCR, saved from a local dump, stood over in a corner. Among everyday items, they also had a small arsenal of weapons they used in gang wars. Each member had a gun and a switchblade, and Maya kept them supplied with bullets she stole from a local store. Motorcycles were lined up by the large door to the outside, and they had been a gift from a rich alumnus of the gang. Though he couldn’t give his old family freedom from the streets, he had been able to give them rides and jackets to display gang pride. Black-leather jackets hung over the motorcycles, and each had a gold cat’s paw on the back. Angel’s jacket hung above the door, as a reminder to all of them that death was always near.

            “Amber, the Aces are here,” a guy called down from the high windows. Sliding down a chain, Alex quickly took his position in the back. He flipped his dirty-blonde hair out of his eyes and smiled at Maya using both his mouth and his sky-blue eyes. He’d been a street kid like her, but Alex had joined another gang when he was living on the streets. But the High Flyers had taken care of the Diablos, and the Alley Cats had offered to take in any survivors. Alex had been the only one that had completely escaped the wrath of the rich kids, and he still swore revenge on them. His jacket bore the cat claw and a rose wrapped around a cross, the symbol of the Diablos. A quick glance behind him showed Ruby glaring at him, especially when he smiled at her. While Alex would never admit it, he had a sort of crush on the medic, but had decided that teasing from a distance would be all he’d do. He’d had a rather nasty experience with Angel when he’d first joined, and his new rule was that gang mates were better off off-limits, though still fun to piss off.

“Everyone up,” Amber ordered. Jason stood up and tapped Marik on the shoulder. His strong build and short stature made him appear like some college football player, but Jason was as smart as he was strong. Raised on tough love and hard work, he mostly stayed quiet except when there was a fight to be won. At that point, he was usually right behind Peter in the line-up. His dark-brown hair was cut so short that Amber always teased him that he was going bald. Blue-green eyes stared at the world and did their best to comprehend its cruelty. His partner in crime was Sage, a kid who either lived up to his name, or did his best to live it down. Sage was either calm and logical or ready to pick a fight at a moment’s notice. His hair was the same dark color as Jason’s, though he grew his to the top of his ears. Eyes of dark-brown looked out a world that seemed too awful to be reality, and yet Sage sometimes seemed to understand the workings of the world better than anyone else. While he seemed rather slow because of his large build, Sage had often used that to his advantage when he’d been younger. Being the largest kid on the block worked when you needed food on the streets, and Sage had made sure he had intimidated everyone around him. But whenever a larger kid had crossed his path, the quiet kid with wise eyes had laid them flat with a nicely-timed blow to the jaw. Only Peter and Nick were faster than Sage among the fighting boys, and he was proud of his ability to hold his own in a fistfight.

“Rise and shine sleeping beauty,” Sage crooned as Marik took off his hat and hit both him and Jason with it. In response, the two boys picked up their sleepy friend and dumped him on the floor.

“Beating an unarmed man? For shame,” teased the last member of the gang, Nick, as he stood up from the back and took his place beside Marik, pulling him to his feet as well. Nick’s jet-black hair grew to the base of his neck, and he rubbed his hand across his neck in a sort of nervous gesture. He had eyes that were a soft violet color, and sometimes the other boys teased him that he was a “purple pansy”. However, Nick knew enough street-fighting techniques to hold most of them at bay. Sage and Jason simply had a size factor over him, and he and Peter were almost evenly matched in skill. Though born and raised a street kid, Nick’s parents had somehow been able to instill in him a sense of chivalry and honor that few possessed nowadays. Polite to most everyone, helpful always, and soft-spoken, Nick was seen as the perfect gentleman by all who knew him. Only one Cat didn’t see eye to eye with the raven-haired young man, and that was Alex, his polar opposite. While Nick fought with no weapons in a fair fight, Alex relied solely on his. Once before they’d gotten into a challenge match, but Nick had disarmed Alex and ended the fight quickly. Amber was afraid that one day Alex would reissue the challenge and severely injure the chivalric Nick.

‘But then again, I suppose Ruby would be able to patch him up. And both of them know I don’t tolerate quarrels like that,’ she thought to herself. Now that her gang was ready and waiting, Amber nodded her head at Maya and Peter, who walked over to the main door and unbolted it. Then they stepped back as the Aces filed into the large room in the main part of the warehouse.

            “You the leader?” the apparent leader of the Aces asked Peter.

            “She is,” he replied, pointing to Amber. Then he and Maya walked back and stood flanking Amber as the Aces gathered around their leader.

            “We’re here to make an alliance,” the leader said.

            “Then let’s get down to business. Please, make yourselves at home,” she told them. Both gangs relaxed a little, and sat down to talk business.    

Chapter 2

Amber and the leader of the Aces sat facing each other, their respective seconds flanking them. “They call me Spade King,” the leader said, running a hand absent-mindedly through his sandy-brown hair, brushing the shiny locks to one side until they fells a bit past his ears. He looked every bit the confident leader as he sat like a king on the beat-up couch. Slightly-tan skin showed that he actually did spend time outside, and the muscles of his chest could clearly be seen beneath the tight white shirt he wore.

            “I'm Joker,” the boy to his right introduced himself, hazel-green eyes darting back and forth between the Cats. He was a bit nervous around them, but his posture was as cool and calm as Spade King’s. Amber grinned inwardly as she took stock of them, noting that they would never be able to convince her gang that they weren’t scared.

            “And I'm Heart Queen,” said the girl to Spade King’s left, fluffing out her sun-kissed brown hair until it fell in a single sheet to her shoulder blades. She knew she was queen, and every guy in the gang just added to her ego. They were all staring at her, waiting for her to make a move it seemed. Even the other girls were looking to her, as if they expected to be sent on a mission for this young queen.

            “Nice to meet you. My name is Amber.”

            “I'm Peter.”

            “And I'm Maya.”

            “Don’t you have nicknames?” Spade King wondered, light-blue eyes holding what seemed to be a teasing glance. Amber followed his glance to find it had settled on Maya. Or more appropriately, Maya’s rather ample chest. Amber had to stifle a giggle, then her normal reaction, which would’ve been to flatten the guy. But, she reminded herself, he probably hadn’t come expecting street girls to be so well stacked.

            “Why do we need them?” she asked in reply. “None of us lead double lives, and there’s no need to learn new names for everyone. Your gang has reasons not to have their real names mentioned.”

            “Well then, it’s nice to meet you, Amber,” Spade King said as all six of them shook hands.

“Likewise.” One by one the other gang members stepped forward and introduced themselves.

            “Quite a little group you’ve got,” Joker complimented, shaking his head of blonde hair, which was styled into a spiky crewcut. If the move was supposed to impress the any of the Cat girls, he was wasting his time. All of them had seen far better specimens of men, young and old, including his leader that sat at his side. 

            “That was due in part to Angel, our former leader,” Amber explained.

            “Former?” Heart Queen asked, leaf-green eyes full of a sort of innocence. While she didn’t look to be naïve in the ways of a woman, she did seem to be rather sheltered.

            ‘Give her a few days on the streets and that look will disappear mighty quick,’ Amber thought to herself.

            “Angel died last year. Amber took over for her,” Maya told Heart Queen as all the Aces appeared shocked.

            “Wait, you mean you’ve had members killed?” a guy by the name of Diamond Jack spoke up. He was dressed the way most of the Ace boys were: Black pants, a white T-shirt, and red windbreaker. With those outfits on, they really did resemble a deck of playing cards. Stupid cards at that.

            “Haven’t you?” Sage wondered. By the looks of shock and horror on their faces, it was clear to the Alley Cats that the Aces hadn’t lost anyone.

            “Amber, this is bull!” Jason exclaimed. “They don’t know the first thing about being a gang. I'll bet they’ve never even fired a gun.”

            “Why does that matter? We don’t usually fight with weapons,” Spade King replied as a few Alley Cats laughed derisively.

            “You brawl?” Peter asked.

            “We fight with fists,” Joker replied.

            “You brawl,” Alex corrected him. “Amber, I'm with Jason. These guys ain’t no gang. They’re a bunch of well-fed kids who think they’re big and bad. We’ll get killed going into a war with them.”

“Hey, at least we’ve got the money to help you street kids out,” Diamond Jack shot back.

“We don’t need yer money. It’s not worth more than our lives,” Sage shouted angrily, fists at his side.

“What a bunch of wussies,” another guy jeered.

“What’d you call us, rich-boy?” Alex demanded. Shouts and threats

started springing up all over the room now, and Amber raised her hands for silence. When the Aces didn’t shut-up, she shouted:

            “ENOUGH!” When not a sound could be heard, she continued. “That’s better. Now let’s get one thing straight. We will be working with the Aces, because they know the High Flyers better than we do. They have the information and the money that we need, and we have the training that they need. So we’re going to trade with each other. They tell us everything that happens with the High Flyers and Sewer Rats, and we teach them how to kick butt and take names. Is that clear?” Everyone nodded, afraid to say anything against her. “Good. Aces, go home and get some sleep. Go to school tomorrow, lead your double lives, and come back Saturday. That’s when we start your basic training.”

            “Right,” Spade King said as he took his gang outside, where they hopped into their cars and drove off.

            “This is going to be fun,” Ruby said sarcastically.

            “By the time we finish with the Aces, we’ll be ready to take out the Sewer Rats and High Flyers once and for all. Now come on, let’s get a few pizzas and celebrate,” Amber told them.

            “On our way, boss,” Maya, Sage, and Jason said as they left to go snag some food and drinks for the party.

            *                                                          *                                                          *

The others were eating when Amber decided to get a breath of fresh air. She saw Jason and Alex smoking and sat with them on the top of a closed garbage bin. The metal structure was so old and rusted that the city had just left it there to rot. “Hey Amber,” Alex greeted, taking a drag on his cigarette. Jason blew a smoke ring, a trick he was quite proud of. Alex gave him the one-fingered salute, and the two boys dissolved into laughter.

            “ ‘Sup?” Jason wondered, poking their leader lightly. She stuck her tongue out at him and poked back.

            “Nothing. Just thinking.”

            “ ‘Bout the Aces?”

            “Yeah, and about Angel.” Both boys were silent for a moment. Angel and Amber had been extremely close, living together since they were kids.

            “We’ll get the Rats, don’t worry,” Alex promised her.

            “I know we will. But once they’re gone, what’s gonna happen to us?” she wondered as the two smokers stopped in mid-puff.

            “What d’ya mean, what’ll happen to us? We’ll go on like we always have. We’re survivors, Amber,” Jason replied.

            “You really wanna live your whole life on the street?” she asked.

            “Why not? Been doing it for this long,” Alex pointed out. He tugged lightly on Amber’s blonde hair, which was a color some people described as ice-blonde, being that it was so pale. The silky strands hung down to the middle of her back, and she brushed her feathery bangs out of her face to expose her eyes. Nick had weird enough eyes because they were purple, but Amber’s eyes tended to freak people out. They were a blue so pale they seemed to be made of pure ice, and she had a skill for turning a cold stare on people. Even men twice her age stopped and backed up when Amber fixed her death stare on them. Word got around that whoever became the object of her icy stare soon died a long and painful death. With Amber as her second-in-command, it was no wonder Angel had ruled the West Side with an iron fist. Not only had she been deadly, she’d made sure her gang was too.

            “ ‘Sides, where we gonna go? Ain’t got no family,” Jason reminded them. He himself was a runaway, having lived on the streets since he was fifteen. He’d taken whatever morals and convictions he could before skipping town on his parents.

            “Good point. Sorry, I'm just being stupid,” Amber apologized.

            “S’ok. Just makes me feel smarter,” Alex teased. Maya came outside as well, but her face held a serious look.

            “Amber, we got movement down at the old school. Police are heading there to break up a gang fight,” she said.

            “Minors?” Amber wanted to know. Minors were their term for lower gangs. She hoped that was all that was fighting.

            “Rats and a minor. Some hot-shot group called the Rebel Alliance.”

            “This ain’t no Star Wars,” Alex exclaimed.

            “We going to help?” Jason wondered.

            “Yeah, get the others,” Amber told Maya. Five minutes later they were all suited up and roaring down the streets towards the old high school that everyone knew was controlled by the gangs. They heard the gunfire long before they saw the chaos that was spilling out through the broken chain-link fence. Cop cars were stationed on the corner of the street, the officers training their guns on the wild scene in front of them. The Rats had pulled out automatic weapons, and the rapid fire of bullets never seemed to end. The noise was deafening, but the screams of the wounded were worse.

            “Where the hell did they find autos?” Marik demanded.

            “Their new friends, I bet,” Peter answered. The Rebels were trying to hold their own, but their switchblades and small guns didn’t do a thing against the heavily armed Rats.

            “Pop the clips and move in!” Amber shouted as they hopped off their bikes and left Ruby to attend them. Even Amy joined in the fight. Alex, Jason, and Sage took the lead with guns blazing. Marik and Nick dropped to the ground and set up their rifles to take out people. Amber and Maya rolled to the ground and fired on their knees, taking out a few of the Rats.

            “Amy, tell those boys in blue to call ambulances!” Peter told her. She raced off while Austin covered her back. The police lowered their guns when they saw the innocent-looking blonde approach them.

            “Call the paramedics,” she said to them, trying to sound polite.

            “This is no place for you, little girl. Get out of here before you get hurt,” one of the older men said. She rolled her eyes and turned back towards her gang. If the police weren’t going to help, she certainly would.

            “Call the paramedics or call the morgue. Either way, someone’s going to have to clean up this mess.” As they stared dumbfounded at her, she ran back and fired her .22 at a Rat, who dropped to the pavement with a bullet in his side. She smiled devilishly and fired again, hitting another rival.

            “It’s the Cats, scram!” an older boy yelled to his minions. The Rats grabbed their fallen friends and jumped through an open manhole cover. Sirens started blaring, and the police began moving in.

            “Everyone out!” Amber ordered, jumping onto her bike. The Rebels stared at the Alley Cats, almost as if they were frozen.

            “Run or face the police,” Peter told them. A few of them disappeared into the school, and a few more took off into the woods. But one guy stayed where he was. Covered in blood, and holding his bleeding right arm, he still managed to carry himself like he was God’s avenging angel.

            “I'm coming with you,” he stated.

            “Like hell you are,” Maya shot back.

            “That wasn’t a request.”

            “Run home, little boy. This is no place for you,” Peter told him.

            “I'm coming with you. How I do it is up to you,” he replied.

            “He can ride with me,” Ruby said.

            “He’s not coming,” Amber warned her.

            “He’s hurt. I can fix him up.” Amber caught Peter and Maya’s looks, and they all nodded.

            “Fine. But afterwards we dump him back on the street.”

            “You’re the boss, Amber. Come on, kid,” Ruby said as the stranger hopped onto the back of her bike. They rode off towards the warehouse, and Amber silently hoped they hadn’t gotten themselves into trouble by taking in a loud-mouthed stray.

Chapter 3

Ruby worked on the kid for a few hours and then left him to sleep while Amber held a small meeting. “I don’t like him being here,” their leader said bluntly.

            “And I don’t like his attitude,” Jason added.

            “Yeah. That kid was trying to order us around. What the hell was that all about?” Alex demanded.

            “I think he was just scared and traumatized, so he tried to save face by acting like a big-shot,” Ruby countered.

            “Acting like a big-shot can get you killed real easily down here,” Nick pointed out.

            “So what, we’re gonna kill him?”

            “No Ruby. We’re just gonna leave him someplace and see if he finds his way back home,” Maya told her.

            “After we teach him a lesson, right?” Peter asked hopefully, socking his fist into his palm.

            “Kid needs a good beat-down,” Sage agreed.

            “We’ll see what happens when he wakes up. For now, I want someone watching him at all times. If he does anything, I want to know about it,” Amber told them. “Ruby, you can take first watch.”

            “Right-o.” As she sat on a chair to watch the sleeping kid, the others bedded down for the night.

            *                                                          *                                                          *

It was Amy’s turn to watch their “guest” when he decided to wake up. He looked around at the warehouse, disgust clearly written on his face. “What a dump,” he whispered, not realizing Amy was sitting two feet away.

            “Why, what mansion did you fall out of?” she shot back. Startled, he slowly turned to face her, running a hand through his shaggy, dark-brown hair. It grew like a thick mop on top of his head, and some of it fell into his eyes. Amy couldn’t make out the color in the dim light, but she knew from seeing them earlier that they were hazel-green.

            “What, you think I'm rich? I'm a gang-banger, through and through,” he told her proudly.

            “Really, a gang-banger? So, how many girls have you done?” Amy wondered as she giggled. The kid started blushing immediately.

            “I haven’t “done” any. I meant that I've always been part of a gang.”

            “Who’s gun were you using?”

            “My fa- I mean, my own, of course.”

            “Oh, so you’re one of the types that steal daddy’s gun so that they can play “Cowboys and Indians”?”

            “No, I… Okay, fine. I live in the upper South Side. The Aces didn’t take me, so a bunch of us formed the Rebel Alliance.”

            “And then proceeded to get your butts handed to you,” Amber said as she came up behind Amy. Around them, the other Cats were awake as well.

            “How were we supposed to know that the Sewer Rats had automatic weapons? We could’ve taken them if it hadn’t been for that.”

            “You would’ve wound up in the morgue if we hadn’t saved you,” Jason pointed out as Sage and Alex nodded.

            “What’s your name, kid?” Maya asked.

            “Don’t call me kid.”

            “I'll call you “Martha Stewart” if I feel like it. Now answer the question.” She took a threatening step towards him, and the boy backed up.

            “Sheesh, okay already! My name is Angel.”

            “You’ve got to be kidding,” Austin retorted.

            “I'm Angel, God’s defender of New Brinden.”

            “Kid, the Almighty doesn’t care about New Brinden. Too many gangs to deal with,” Marik told him.

            “What’s your real name?” Peter demanded. Seeing that they didn’t believe him, “Angel” sighed deeply.

            “Michael. But you can call me Mike.”

            “Doesn’t Michael mean “Who is like God”?” Sage thought out loud.

            “I think so,” Ruby agreed.

            “Really? Cool!” Mike shouted.

            “Great, chalk up his ego another notch,” Nick whispered to Amber. She winked at him, then turned to face Mike once more.

            “Listen kid, I don’t care if you happen to be the Pope’s son. You’re not staying with us, got it?”

            “But you need me.”

            “Like hell we do,” Alex jumped in.

            “You can’t just waltz in here and join the Alley Cats. You gotta prove yourself. And that takes time,” Marik explained.

            “Well, I've got all the time in the world,” Mike retorted.

            “We don’t. Unless you haven’t noticed, there’s a war going on out there. So unless you feel like being another dead body, I suggest you run home to your mommy and hide under your blanket,” Peter advised.

            “I'm not going anywhere.”

            “Yes, you are,” Jason told him, picking Mike up by the back of his shirt with one hand. He lifted him a foot off the floor, as Mike feebly tried to kick the older teen. “Maybe we should keep you around. For comic relief.”

            “Put me down!”

            “Certainly.” With a thud! Jason dropped Mike unceremoniously to the floor, where the young man picked himself up and brushed off the dirt on his jeans while the Cats laughed.

            “It’s not funny! You wouldn’t think it was so funny if he was doing it to you!” Amber snapped her fingers, and dead silence enveloped the room. When she spoke next, her voice was a mere whisper.

            “Run home to your precious family, Michael. Hug your father, kiss your mother, and wave to any siblings you might have. You have it better than any one of us here. We no longer have homes to go to, or parents to care about us. We’ve lived and fought on the streets for years. Friends and family of ours have died on these streets, and we intend to exact revenge for them, if we haven’t already. And no one cares about the gang wars going on down here. The police are too afraid, the politicians are afraid, and even the citizens are terrified of us. No one cares whether we live or die except our enemies and us. So go back to your life on the other side of the tracks. Go back and thank whoever you want that you don’t have to deal with death every single day of your life. Thank your lucky stars that you won’t ever have to see a friend or family member die right in front of you. Now go, before your precious family starts to worry.” Mike paused for a moment, not quite sure how to react to Amber’s speech. He could see tears beginning to well up in her eyes, so he thought it best to leave.

            “I'll be back,” he vowed, slipping out the front door and into the cool night air. He hailed a taxi to his house, told his parents he’d been at the park and hadn’t realized the time, and went into his room. Amber’s words came back to him, haunting him throughout the night. The Alley Cats had been through some rough times, but it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle, right?..

            *                                              *                                                          *

While the rest of the Cats had gone back to sleep, Amber decided to stay up. She walked outside and lit a cigarette, something she did when her nerves were shot. Taking a long drag on it, she breathed in the acrid smoke and began to calm her jittery body. “This is stupid. I shouldn’t feel like this. Why did I let that kid bother me so much?”

            “Maybe because he reminds you of a few of us,” Peter said, stepping outside and closing the steel door behind him. “Penny for your thoughts?”

            “You can have ‘em for free if you want.”

            “Okay. Penny for a drag?” Amber smiled and held out the glowing butt to her friend, who inhaled deeply and then handed it back to her along with a penny. Peter also smoked only when his nerves were running high.

            “Mike doesn’t belong on the streets. A few of the Cats don’t belong here, for that matter. Austin, Marik, Amy, Jason, Ruby, and you shouldn’t be here. It doesn’t seem right.”

            “Me? What d’ya mean? I earned the right to be a member of this gang.” Amber saw the angry light in his eyes, and she faced him dead-on.

            “But you weren’t brought up on the streets. Your family owns a house in a nice town somewhere. This might be the life you chose, but it’s not the one you were meant to have.”

            “Amber, do you believe in Fate?” She looked up in disgust as she put the cigarette to her lips once more.

            “Hell no. I could never stand the fact that everything I do has been chosen for me since the beginning of time. I like being free to make my own decisions about my life.”

            “And I chose to be a street kid. Fate might’ve had other plans for me, but this is the path I chose. And like everyone in this gang, I have to live with my decision, or die by it. Everyone who becomes an Alley Cat knows what a tough life it is. Marik and Austin knew about the life and death struggle before joining up. They watched their parents being gunned down, and they killed the people who took their lives. Amy couldn’t stand being shipped from house to house, and she finally has a family to call her own. Jason’s like me. He knew the risks of living on the street, but he chose to walk that path anyway.”

            “What about Ruby? Her parents left for Africa to help out with the hospitals there. She could’ve gone with them. Instead, she stayed here.”

            “You complaining?”

            “No, of course not. She’s a great medic. Sometimes I just wonder why she stayed behind. And no one’s heard from her parents in over a year. What if they’re not coming back?”

            “Then that’s something she’ll have to live with. Every one of us took a chance living in the street. But now we’re a family, one that can stand together and fights for each other. If you look at it from that viewpoint, we’re pretty lucky to be Alley Cats.” Peter smiled brightly at Amber, who nodded and smiled back. Grinding out the remains of her cigarette, the two of them walked back into the warehouse to get some much-needed sleep.

            *                                              *                                                          *

Mike woke up the next morning and went to school like he did every day. His older brother, not pleased with the laissez-faire attitude he had, always tried to impress upon Mike a sense of responsibility. “You can’t just go gallivanting off whenever you feel like it. Mom and Dad were ready to call the police on you,” John told him as they drove to school in his Camero, the breeze from his open window ruffling his ear-length light-brown hair.

            “I was just hanging out with Phil and Tim at the park.”

            “That’s another thing, Mike. I don’t trust those two. They’re always talking about the gangs whenever I see them. I don’t want you mixed up in any of that sort of stuff.”

            “Thanks “mom”, but I can take care of myself.”

            “You’re only sixteen. Don’t get on your high horse yet.” Mike stared hard at John, meeting his brother’s dark-green gaze with his own.

            “And you’re the guy bound for Duke, so what are you worried about? Besides, nothing the gangs do affect us. Never has and never will.” They arrived at Brinkley High School, and the two brothers parted ways. Mike headed to his locker, where one of his best friends, Phil Parker, was waiting. Phil’s coffee complexion stood out in startling contrast to the beige walls and yellow lockers. His head was shaved for the basketball season, and his dark-brown eyes lit up when he saw his friend.

            “Hey Mike,” he greeted.

            “Hey yourself. ‘Sup?”

            “Not much. You seen Tim anywhere? I looked for him after we hightailed it from the police yesterday, but no luck.”

            “Call his house?”

            “No answer, and the machine wasn’t on.”

            “Eh, he probably found a good party and forgot to mention his parents were outta town. We’ll probably see him later at the meeting.” Phil gave a half-smile, and the two punched each other’s knuckles lightly.

            “You’re right. Catch ya later, my man,” Phil said as they both headed for first period. English usually interested Mike, but today his usually peppy teacher seemed a bit deflated. Miss Grio always had a smile for everyone in the class, especially Tim Hutchinson, her favorite student. Tim was a great poet, and had even composed a few songs that he played on his guitar. Mike and Phil always mused that he would go far once he got out of New Brinden.

            “Hey Mike, did you hear what happened yesterday?” a kid behind him asked. Some of the other guys were whispering and pointing at Mike.

            “No, what happened?”

            “Some new gang tried to take on the Sewer Rats, and they lost big time. I even heard that a few people died.”

            “Died? Like who?”

            “Don’t know, man. I just heard it a few minutes ago.” Mike turned back as the first bell rang and the day started. Looking over at the desk to his left, Mike expected to see the smiling face of Tim Hutchinson, but today his desk was strangely empty. Suddenly the deep voice of Principal Guyer came over the loudspeaker, but it sounded very hollow and melancholy.

            “Attention students of Brinkley High. It is with deep sorrow that I come to you this morning. As some of you have no doubt heard, a gang war broke out yesterday near old Brinden West. A number of people were hurt, and a few were regrettably killed during the gunfight. Among those that died were two students of Brinkley High: James Adonis, a senior, and Tim Hutchinson, a sophomore. Because of this unfortunate occurrence, school is canceled for today, and grief counselors will be available to any student who needs them. The parents will arrange funerals, and we will keep everyone posted on dates. As for those who were wounded…” the detached voice on the loudspeaker droned on, but Mike stopped listening. A loud roar filled his ears, as if the entire world were crashing down around him. Miss Grio put her head down on the desk and started sobbing, and one of the girls handed her a tissue. The bell rang, and students left the building somberly. All around Mike saw crying girls, groups of guys hugging each other, and teachers talking about the awful tragedy.

            “How could this happen?” he asked himself. Phil met him outside the front door, and the two boys simply looked at each other.

            “I can’t believe he’s gone,” Phil whispered, tears beginning to well up in his eyes. All three boys had known each other since they were toddlers, and it just didn’t seem fair that Tim was now dead and they were still alive.

            “Those Rats are gonna pay for this,” Mike vowed.

            “Dude, give it up. We’re not street kids. We never stood a chance against the Rats. We would’ve died if the Alley Cats hadn’t shown up.”

            “I won’t let them get away with murder!”

            “Mike, we thought we were invincible. But this isn’t some video game where the heroes have unlimited life. I'm an only child, and I owe it to my parents to stay alive. We never should’ve started the Rebel Alliance.”

            “Phil, they killed our friend!” The dark-skinned boy grabbed Mike by his collar and brought him an inch away from his face.

            “And they’ll kill us if we go back out there. Face it Mike, we’re South Siders who don’t belong down there. Let the Alley Cats deal with the Sewer Rats. They know how to fight. All I want to do now is go home.” John came up to them, and the friends put their argument on hold. When Mike got home, he called up the Hutchinsons and got Tim’s younger sister on the phone. But she was crying so hard that all Mike managed to do was say he was sorry that Tim had died, and was there anything he could do to help?

            “Find his killers!” Maggie managed to say before going into hysterics again. Setting the phone down, Mike looked at a picture of him, Phil, and Tim that had been taken last summer when they went fishing. They were all smiling, and Tim’s bright-blue eyes held a look of joy as he held up a salmon to the camera. His blonde hair was being ruffled by an apparent breeze that had chosen to blow at that moment. Mike clenched his fists at his side and grabbed his jacket from his closet. It still held the gun he’d carried yesterday. He knew who had killed Tim, and he’d either take down the Rats by himself, or he’d convince the Alley Cats to help him. After all, now he was dealing with death, just the same way they did. He just hoped he was strong enough to go through with his choice.

Chapter 4

            “Ah, cold pizza. Breakfast of champions,” Austin mused as he bit into a slice of pepperoni. A few of the others were munching on leftovers as well. Alex and Sage turned on the TV and were watching their favorite gameshow when a newscaster suddenly interrupted it for a “special announcement”. While the boy protested loudly, Maya turned up the volume so that everyone could listen. Special announcements usually meant something to do with the gangs, so they all paid attention.

            “We interrupt your regularly scheduled program to bring you this special announcement. Late yesterday afternoon police responded to a call regarding gunfire near old Brinden West High School. A new gang, calling themselves the Rebel Alliance, opened fire on the Sewer Rats, who responded with automatic weapons. A few of the Rebels were injured, and two of them were unfortunately killed. Both young men were students at Brinkley High School, and the entire school is in morning for them. The Sewer Rats escaped police custody, as they were driven off once again by the Alley Cats. Police also failed to capture any members of the Alley Cats. We now take you live to our field reporter Marissa Stanton, who is at the home of one of the friends of Tim Hutchinson, one of the murdered boys. Marissa?” The scene switched to a well-furnished home on the South Side of New Brinden. The reporter, a young woman in her early twenties, smiled at the camera and began speaking.

            “Thank you, Greg. As you know, when a gang war breaks out, it affects more than just the gangs. I'm here with young Michael Grallam, a friend of Tim Hutchinson, who was killed in yesterday’s firefight.” The camera turned towards the young teenager, and everyone gasped when they saw that it was Mike from last night.

            “That’s awful that he lost his friend,” Ruby said.

            “Hey, that’s what happens on the streets. Survival of the fittest,” Alex shot back, puffing out his chest.

            “So why are you still here?” Sage joked, carefully cleaning his gun.

            “Everyone shut-up. I wanna hear this,” Amber told them. Marissa was now interviewing Mike, who seemed very agitated.

            “…And it’s just not fair that Tim is dead and I'm still here. We grew up together, ya know?” he was telling her

            “Were you also involved in the shooting?” the reporter bluntly asked.

            “What an awful question!” an older woman, probably Mike’s mother, interjected. “It’s bad enough his best friend is dead, but now you accuse him of being involved with those awful thugs!”                         

            “And there you have it, folks. We’ve been reduced to nothing more than common street jocks,” Jason snickered.

            “It’s all right, mom,” Mike said from the TV, turning to face the camera once more. “Tim and I both agreed that the gang on the North Side has too much power and control of this city. A bunch of us decided to start a small gang of our own, to show the High Flyers that we weren’t scared of them. We were just hanging out when the Sewer Rats attacked us. A few of the other boys had guns, but most of us didn’t. And when the Sewer Rats pulled out the automatic weapons, everyone ran.”

            “What about the Alley Cats?” Marissa wondered. Mike took a deep breath, and the Cats realized he had tears sliding down his cheeks.

            “They saved us before the Sewer Rats could hurt anyone else. If it hadn’t been for them, I might’ve died yesterday along with Tim.”

            “Thank you, Michael. And this brings up another point in the ever-growing gang debate: Are all the gangs of New Brinden out for blood and power, or are some just trying to survive? More news at ten.” Peter switched off the television, and everyone took a seat.

            “So now we’re saviors?” Maya wanted to know, a smirk on her face.

            “Not quite. But maybe this’ll keep the police off our butts for just a little while,” Peter replied.

            “That would be nice. Not having to run from them every time we step outside,” Nick pointed out.

            “And what about this Mike kid? Think he’ll come back here again?” Marik wondered. Amber, Peter, Maya, and Ruby exchanged quick glances.

            “He might. Mike was pretty adamant about wanting to be in a gang. And now he’s lost his friend to the Sewer Rats,” Ruby said

            “So let him join the Aces,” Amy brought up. “He’s a South Sider.”

            “A South Sider who’s getting in way over his head,” Sage added.

            “Look, it’s Friday. We have to train the Aces tomorrow. If the kid shows up, we’ll see what they say about letting him in. But after that, we don’t owe him anything,” Amber made it clear.

            “Amber, he lost his friend-” Ruby started to say.

            “And so have a few of us. Some people have lost family as well. We all chose to be here, and we have to live or die by that choice.” Peter nodded at her and smiled slightly.

            “And what if Mike chooses to walk our path?” Austin questioned.

            “Then may God help him,” Peter whispered as everyone nodded.

            *                                                          *                                                          *

Nick was busy reading a magazine when a furious banging on the front door startled him. Amber looked up from her checker game with Jason. “Anyone expecting company?” she wondered.

            “Nope,” Nick replied, taking his rifle from the seat next to him and standing up. Jason reached for the switchblade he kept in his belt. Everyone else was either out back or downtown doing some “shopping”. Amber reached beneath the couch for a spare .38. Nick silently moved to the door, Jason a few feet behind him. Amber crouched by the couch, making sure she wasn’t in the line of sight from the door. Nick slowly turned the handle and pulled the door open, bringing his gun up at the same time.

            “Don’t shoot!” Mike cried out when he saw the muzzle pointed at his head. Jason rolled his eyes and put his knife away while Amber stood up and walked over. From the icy look in her eyes, they all knew she was mad.

            “What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded.

            “I came to talk to you about yesterday. My friend was killed,” Mike explained as Nick and Jason shut the door, and then flanked their leader.

            “So we saw. But what can we do about it? That’s what happens when you live on the street. People die, and there’s nothing you can do,” Jason said. Mike glared at him furiously, tears threatening to spill from his eyes.

            “You can let me help you take down the Sewer Rats! They killed my best friend, and he didn’t deserve that. Tim was a fun-loving guy who wrote poetry and songs in his spare time. He always had a smile for everyone and a kind word for his friends. Yesterday someone took his life, and I intend to have my revenge on the gang who stole his entire future.”

            “Touching, but the answer is still no,’ Amber replied bluntly.

            “You act like you’ve never lost anyone in your life.”

            “I have. The difference between you and me is that I move on.”

            “I think you’re lying. I don’t think you’ve ever seen anyone die.” Jason and Nick were ready to backhand him, but Amber moved faster. Her fist swung out and connected with his face, and Mike fell backwards into the wall. Amber was suddenly there, holding him against the cold metal, her eyes a pale flicker of hatred and contained fury that was directed at him.

            “If you knew anything about me, you would know just how wrong you are. My best friend was killed in front of my eyes a year ago. We’d known each other forever it seemed, and it tore me apart when she died. Not only did I have to get over her not being there, but I suddenly had the leadership of the Alley Cats thrust into my lap. So don’t you ever tell me that I haven’t seen my fair share of death. Trust me, once is more than enough for one lifetime.” Mike stared back at her, too shocked to move. The pain in his cheek stung, but somehow wasn’t as powerful as her words.

            “I'm… Sorry?” he whispered as she let him go. A single tear fell from her eyes, but she quickly brushed it away.

            “Get out of here,” she told him.

            “No. I'm not leaving until you agree to let me help you. The Sewer Rats are your biggest rivals, and with their alliance to the High Flyers, you guys are gonna need all the help you can get.”

            “We have the Aces helping us,” Nick told him. Mike thought for a moment, then shrugged.

            “Fine, then don’t accept my help. But I'm going after the Sewer Rats with or without your help.”

            “Are you suicidal?” Jason demanded.

            “No, just revenge-minded. And what does it matter if I die? I'll just be another stupid kid who wandered into the wrong part of town.”

            “If that’s supposed to make us feel guilty if you die, think again, hot-shot,” Maya said from the back as she walked in the other door. Peter, Amy, and Austin were right behind her.

            “I never said you were supposed to feel guilty,” Mike shot back.

            “You didn’t have to. Your “pity me” tone says it all,” Peter said.

            “Get yourself shot full of lead. See if we care,” Austin told him. Mike’s hands curled into fists, and anger blazed in his eyes. All the while, he could feel Amber’s eyes on him, like she was evaluating him.

            “Screw this! I don’t need you people anyway. I'll just take on the Sewer Rats myself. See you all in hell.” He started to walk out the door, when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around, he found himself looking into Amber’s blue eyes. At the moment, they seemed to hold a light of understanding, as if she knew what he was thinking and feeling.

            “Wait. Are you really so eager to have their blood on your hands?” she wondered, her voice soft and seemingly filled with amazement.

            “I want to see them dead.” She stepped back and looked him up and down for a moment, then smiled slightly. “What?”

            “Come back here tomorrow at eight a.m. We’ll introduce you to the Aces then. If they’ll take you, you can train with them. If not, we’ll still train you to kill the Rats.” Mike was speechless for a moment as his mind tried to take all of this in at once.

            “Th-thanks,” he finally managed to say. He headed home to get some sleep. Jason turned to Amber and shook his head.

            “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

            “So do I.”