Chapter 1
My name is Amari Williams, son of Amanda and Brandon Williams. I have a little sister by the name of Jamila.She’s 6 years old, and I’m 17 in the eleventh grade. Where I come from, just leaving your house is seen as risking your life, especially if you’re a Williams. Jamila and I are not allowed to play on the street with the other kids. The only time I ever leave the house is when I go to school, and the only time my mother ever leaves the house is when she goes to work. Jamila stays at home with our nanny. Eighteen years ago, my parents got married. I did not exist yet. My mother’s father didn’t want my mother to marry my father, because he came from a poor family, while they were rich and lived in California. Because of this, they had to get married behind his back. My mother moved to Detroit to live with my father. She lied to her father and told him that she was doing community work here. One year into their marriage, they had me. They named me Amari, meaning strength. Eleven years after that, they had Jamila. Her name means beautiful.
That was the last time my parents were happy, because during that same year, my mother’s father found out about their secret marriage. For months, he threatened my mother, telling her to come back home or else he would kill my father and myself. From what my mother tells me, her father never loved me. He never considered me as his grandson. The fact that I was Brandon William’s son, was enough reason for him to hate me. My mother wanted all of us to move to California, so that we’d have better lives compared to the ones we had in Detroit. She wanted us to go to expensive schools, live in an expensive house and she also believed that if we lived in California, her father would accept their marriage. But my father refused to move to California. Detroit was his home. My mother’s father kept his promise. One day, my mother was coming home from dropping me off at day care. Jamila was in her cot, fast asleep. Back then, we were free to leave the house at any time of the day, to go wherever we wanted to. We used to sleep with the gate unlocked, and there was no need to sleep with guns underneath our pillows. Before she opened the door to walk into the house, she peered through the window and saw her father pointing a gun at my father. She barged in and pleaded with her father to put the gun down, but he wasn’t hearing it. The first time he pulled the trigger, he missed because my mother jumped in front of my father and took the hit. The bullet went through her thigh. The second time around, he didn’t miss. He shot my father in the chest twice, until he bled out and died. The neighbours called the police and they arrested him for my father’s murder. My father may have received justice, but his family was not satisfied. My father’s brother, Uncle Jon, dedicated his life to ruining my mother’s family, the same way her family ruined my father’s. He succeeded when he killed my mother’s sister, Aunty Rashawn. She never deserved to die, and neither did my father. I hated my uncle for killing Aunty Rashawn, and I hated my mother’s father for killing my father.
After Aunty Rashawn’s death, our whole lives changed. Jamila and I can’t leave the house anymore, because the Vipers might get us. The Vipers were a dangerous gang sent by my mother’s family, and led by my mother’s brother, Uncle Shaun, to take out my father’s family, and his kids. My mother can’t leave the house anymore because Uncle Jon and his gangster friends might get her. The feud between my mother and father’s family was never going to end, and Jamila and I were caught in between it all.
“Do you have your panic button with you?” my mother asks, fixing the collar of my shirt.
I hate the fact that she treats me like a little kid, but at the same time, I can’t really blame her. I’d be just as scared if I had to leave my child at school, knowing that they might not come back home.
I pulled out the panic button from my pocket and showed it to her. She nodded and smiled faintly.
“Don’t forget to wait inside the school until I pick you up. Do not step a foot outside the school yard.” She tells me this everyday when dropping me off for school.
She walked me into the school, and then went back into her car and drove off. By now, I was used to people staring and laughing at me. I was known as a “mama’s boy” who still needed his mom to help him cross the road and enter the school. I couldn’t complain, after all this was my life, and my mother was only trying to protect me. I walked down the crowded corridors to my locker where I found Jason, my best friend waiting for me. He was wearing the same clothes that he had worn the previous day.
“You can be glad, my mom was generous with the rice this time,” I say handing him the lunchbox.
Everyday, I bring lunch for Jason and his little brother Andrew. As much as people made fun of me at school, I was one of the lucky kids. My mother worked at a store that paid her a good amount of money, and the money from my father’s death was like an extra income. We had enough money to afford a car, have more than enough food every day, live in a fully furnished home and wear new clothes every day.
Jason and Andrew lived with their grandparents, who supported them through their pension money. Jason’s parents were killed by a gang. Almost everyone’s parent’s in Detroit were killed by a gang.
“Did you spot any Vipers on your way here?” I ask him.
“Nah, but if kids our age were allowed to join gangs, I’d say the red sneaker fool behind you is definitely a Viper. He’s been looking our way for way too long,” Jason says suspiciously.
I turn around and catch a glimpse of the kid before Jason tells me to turn back around.
“Don’t look now! Now you made it obvious that we’re talking about him.”
“Well, he should know that we’re talking about him. If he can stare at us for so long, I don’t see why we can’t talk about him,” I say closing my locker door.
Jason and I walk back down the corridor. The weird kid who was staring at us gets up and walks in our direction. Instead of just passing next to us, he deliberately bumps into my shoulder, and then gives me a nasty look.
“Hey! Watch where you’re going!” I yell at him.
“And you should watch your back fool,” he chuckles.
Jason immediately pulls his arm and twists it behind his back. The boy retaliates by punching Jason in the stomach using his elbow. Jason lets him go and they start pushing one another until the boy falls to the ground. He gets up quickly in attempts of punching Jason, but a teacher quickly intervenes and pulls the boy away from Jason. I don’t know why teachers in D-Field High constantly try to stop fights between learners. By doing that, they’re basicallyrisking getting beat up too. One time, Mr Hill tried to stop a matric boy from hitting another matriculant with a brick. At the end, the brick ended up hitting his leg, and now he walks with crutches.
“Mr Scott! Are you causing trouble again this week?” the teacher asks Jason.
“What? He clearly tried to hit me!” Jason yells back.
“Both of you, to the office, right now!” the teacher commands.
She points in the direction of the office and the both of them walk down the corridor. As the boy walked past me, he dropped one of his schoolbooks. I read the information that was on the cover page, and learnt that his name was Daniel James, and he was in the eleventh grade as well. I went to all my classes alone, and only met up with Jason after school. He told me that he had been given detention on Friday, because the principal believed Daniel over him.
“I swear man, it was as if our principal was under a spell. Daniel’s story made no sense. No normal person would have believed his story over mine,” Jason says.
“Maybe he’s a teacher’s pet, hence he believed him over you,” I say.
Jason and I stayed in the school talking about a bunch of things. There was this one girl named Jasmine who he had been trying to ask out since eighth grade. Finally, Jason had gained the guts to talk to her. When she passed by us with her friends, he rushed to her and was able to speak to her. I don’t know what he said, but Jasmine slapped him and walked away. After three years of practicing how to speak to a girl, Jason still failed drastically. Jason went home after my mother arrived to pick me up. He always waited with me, even if it meant leaving the school at 6pm. My mother drove us home as quickly as possible. She had to drive fast, to avoid us getting killed. As soon as we arrived home, my mother prepared dinner while I did my schoolwork. After that, we all went to bed. This was how each and every single day of my life went. All I ever did was go to school and study at home.
The next day, I woke up earlier than usual, because I heard a man and woman shouting at one another outside. I got up and looked out of my window. It was our neighbours, Summer and her father, Mr Johnson. I knew Summer from school. She was one of the most beautiful girls I had ever seen, in fact, she was the only beautiful girl in our school. Her mom got shot while trying to protect Summer’s father from a gang. I tried to make out what they were saying to one another, but I was pulled away from the window before I could even hear a word.
“What are you doing?” my mother asks pulling the curtains closed.“Eavesdropping like that could get you killed! What if you hear something that you’re not supposed to hear?”
“Like what? We don’t have any business with them,”I say.
“Exactly why you shouldn’t be eavesdropping on their conversations, Amari! Now go take a shower before you’re late for school.”
I stormed out of my room and got ready for the day. While having breakfast, I saw Summer slam the door to her house and walk down the road in her uniform. Guys like Jason and I don’t go for girls like Summer. We’re way out of her league. Her skin is practically perfect, and her hair is always on point. She’s smart, she’s kind, and she’s humble. I didn’t realise I was staring at her until my mother banged her empty bowl on the table and told me to get into the car.
“You know what, I’m gonna try again,” Jason says getting up. It was lunch time and we were seated at the back of the school, away from everyone else. Jason had regained faith after his major failure the previous day, and he was going to ask Jasmine out yet again.
“Good luck! You’ll need it!” I yell as he walks away.
“Well, at least he has the guts to actually ask a girl out,” a voice says behind me. I turn around only to find Summer walking towards me. She sits next to me and sips on her juice box, while I try to figure out why she’s even talking to me.
“I caught you staring earlier this morning, don’t do it again,” she says while laughing.
Oh, that’s why.
“I wasn’t staring,” I defend myself. “I was looking at the road when you just so happened to walk in that same place.”
“Oh? Is that what happened when you were staring at me and my dad too?” she asks.
I tried thinking of a lie, but I wasn’t quick enough, so she started laughing.
“Look, I just wanted to apologise if we disturbed your sleep with all that noise, that’s all. It won’t happen again.”
She stands up and attempts to walk away.
“Mind telling me what all that noise was about?” I ask her. I couldn’t help it, I really needed to know why she’d get into such a heated argument with her dad.
“Now, that’s too much information to give to a stranger, isn’t it?” she says turning around.
“Well, I wouldn’t consider us as strangers. We’ve been going to the same school and living on the same road for a good 10 years.”
“Then if we’re not strangers, let’s start with you telling me why you never leave your house,” she says crouching beside me. I was surprised that she actually noticed that. I wanted to tell her about the Vipers, but I decided against it, for my own safety.
“Yep, that’s what I thought,” she says, getting up and walking away.
I sat there trying to figure out what happened between Summer and her father, and also why Summer had paid so much attention to me, that she noticed I never leave the house. At some point, I thought she was into me. I mean what other reason is there for someone noticing something so specific, right. That thought didn’t last long, because I remembered that I wasn’t in Summer’s league. She wasn’t into dating, and even if she was, she wouldn’t date guys like me.
When I saw Jason walking back to me, I knew that once again he had failed. This time, he didn’t get slapped. If he did, he’d be holding onto his cheek like the last time.
“It’s no biggie, I’ll try again tomorrow,” he says sitting next to me again.
“Jasmine will kill you if you carry on annoying her like this,” I say to him.
He chuckles and shakes his head. I didn’t tell Jason about Summer. He’d never believe that she actually spoke to me anyway. Afterschool, my mother picked me up early, dropped me off at home, and went back to work.
In the past, on days like this when my mother wasn’t home, I’d sneak out of the house and meet up with Jason. That was before I knew about the Vipers. I was only 12, and I didn’t know that I was risking my life. Jason and I were playing at a nearby park when a car with tinted windows and no number plate drove by. The driver shot at us five times, unaware that the police weren’t far. The shooter was able to get away before the police could catch up to him. My mother was called, and she gave me the beating of my life. Ever since then, I don’t take any risks anymore.
I was lying on my bed going through my phone when I heard Summer calling my name from outside. I got up and opened my window. She was sitting on the wall that separated her house from mine.
“Come outside,” she says.
“I can’t,” I reply.
“Why? Is it because you don’t have any friends? Come on, I’ll be your friend,” she says smiling.
Never had I been so tempted to leave the house.
“That’s not the reason, Summer.”
“Then what is it, Amari? Are you on house arrest?” she asks.
“Of course, not,” I chuckle. “I have a valid reason for not going out.”
“What’s that?” she asks.
Before I can reply, the nanny walks in and tells me to close my window, because the Vipers might shoot through the window. Furthermore, the nanny tells me to look after Jamila because she’d be leaving. She leaves every Friday and comes back on Sunday evening. I close my window and let Jamila in my room with her millions of toys. Babysitting her was easy. All you had to do was give her toys and snacks, and she wouldn’t bother you again. Once the nanny leaves, Summer starts throwing stones at my window.
“I can’t open! I’m sorry!” I yell through the closed window.
That didn’t discourage her. She continued to throw stones at my window, even after I put headsets on and ignored her. Later, Summer gave up and went back into her house. My mother came home and came straight into my room.
“Amari, there’s a bunch of stones outside your window, it’s a mess! Did you go outside while I was away?” she asks, looking for mud tracks underneath my sneakers.
“No, I’d never do that,” I say, pulling my feet away.
“Then explain why there is a pile of stones outside your window.”
“I came home with them from school. They were inside my school shoes, so I emptied them out through the window,” I lie.
“But that’s never happened before,” she says suspiciously.
“Yeah, uh, that’s because my shoes have gotten a bit big, leaving space for stones to enter into it,” I lie again. My mother folds her arms.
“Amari, how on earth do shoes get bigger? Your foot grows, not the shoe!”
“Mom, don’t you know that rubber stretches in the sun,” I say holding up my school shoes.
“These are made of rubber, and it’s been terribly hot lately.” She grabs the shoes and throws them to the ground aggressively.
Well, I can’t blame myself for trying. I’ve always been bad at lying anyway.
“Amari you know better than to go outside. You will not step a foot out of this house without me, not even to go to the backyard, is that clear?” she asks. I nod my head quickly.
“Come on Jamila.” Jamila gets up and takes my mother’s hand as they walk out of my room, leaving a pile of toys on my floor. I look out of the window only to see Summer laughing at me. I close my curtains and head to the kitchen to help my mother with supper. The weekend went by like nothing. While other kids went out with their friends and others went shopping, I stayed at home studying and listening to music. Summer had stopped bothering me, but I kind of wished she’d come out and sit on the wall, so that I’d at least have someone to talk to.
“Hey, bring that back!” I yell while trying to snatch my phone out of Summer’s hand.
“Relax, I just need one thing,” she says tapping away.
“What could you possibly need from my phone?”
“Your number,” she says showing me the numbers on her screen that she copied down.
She hands me back my phone while saving my number on hers.
“Now tell me, who are the Vipers?” she asks.
“Shh!” I say pulling her to a more isolated part of the school.
“You can’t say that name out loud. In fact, you shouldn’t say it at all.”
I arrived earlier than usual at school. My mother always changes the times that she drops me off at school, so that the Vipers wouldn’t find me easily.
“I’ll say it even louder if you don’t tell me what’s going on with you,” she threatens.
“Why do you care? It’s none of your business anyway.”
“I care because your nanny looked pretty scared when she mentioned the Vipers the other day. I don’t know who they are, but I know they are the reason you live so miserably,” she says.
She’s almost figured it all out.
“Summer stop saying that name, okay! I am not living miserably, and I refuse to share my personal information with you!”
“Oh, so that’s how it is, huh? I’ll just ask someone else then,” she says turning around and walking away.
I follow after her calling her name. I don’t understand why she’s being so nosy. We only met a few days ago, and she already wants to know every single thing about me. We’re not even dating!
“Summer! Summer do not say that name to anyone!” I yell behind her.
She turns into the corridor and bumps into someone, causing her to fall and hit her head. I didn’t believe in Karma until that very moment.
“Damn, are you okay?” I ask helping her up.
Of course not, she just hit her head on the ground. Instead of answering my question, or worrying about how dirty she is now, she looks at the person she bumped into with fear. I turn to look at him as well, only to be met by a familiar face. Daniel.
“So, these are the type of people you chill with now? This is what you left me for?” he asks looking at Summer.
“I thought I told you to watch your back, fool,” Daniel says to me.
“Leave Amari alone, Daniel. He’s a good guy and we’re not even dating,” Summer says.
Well, I wish we were.
“That’s right you ain’t, not while I’m around,” Daniel says slipping his hands around Sumer’s waist.
I finally put everything together and realise that Summer is Daniel’s ex. Out of all the idiots she could’ve dated in this school, she chose this one. Summer pushes Daniel away from her and slaps him. I make a mental note to never upset her. That slap looked painful by just looking at it, I don’t wanna know how it actually feels.
“So, that’s how it is Summer?” Daniel asks her.
“Just leave, Daniel,” Summer says firmly.
He chuckles and walks past us. Something about Daniel just doesn’t add up. I decided to follow him to see what his next move would be. He walked up the stairs until he was on the top floor. He went into one of the toilets that people barely used and closed the door behind him. I peeped through the keyhole and saw him take his jacket off, revealing a huge tattoo that covered his whole arm. My eyes widened in amazement…and fear. No wonder he always wore a jacket, that was no normal tattoo. It was a black and red snake that went from his shoulder all the way to his wrist. I had seen the tattoo before, 5 years ago at the park with Jason. That tattoo represented the Vipers.
Daniel, was a Viper...