<3--Who Knew It Would Be Like This--<3--HSM--

“Mom have you seen Precious.” He asked his mom as he walked in the kitchen. “I thought she was with you.” Dorthea said stunned. “Uh oh.” Chad said. He raced passed Troy who had just come downstairs and outside. “Whats wrong dude where’s the fire.” Troy asked confused. “Precious is gone.”

“What do you mean she’s gone?” Markita said into the phone. Dorthea had called and explained that Precious had run away. “She doesn’t know her way back. She could be anywhere.” Panic was evident in Markitas voice. Julio grabbed his keys and ran out the door to the car. “We’re going out to look for her too.” Markita told Dorthea after she was informed that Chad had already started looking. Markita hung up quickly and hurried to go find her daughter.

“This sucks, this sucks, this sucks.” Precious said to herself. She had no idea where she was and it was dark out. “Where the hell am i?” she asked herself. She spotted a bus stop up a head. There was no one there. There was no one anywhere on this street. It was just a bunch of buildings, empty ware houses maybe. She walked to the bus stop and decided to wait for the bus to come and get some info from the driver. She sat down and sighed. Her phone rang again and she saw it was Chad…again. She contemplated answering. She was about to when someone called out to her.

“Hey!” she looked up and saw a group of boys stumbling towards her. They looked about her age. And drunk too. she got up and began walking the opposite way. “Hey!” they called again. She kept walking. She turned a corner and leaned against a brick building. She pulled out her phone and dialed Chads’ number. He picked up before the first ring was done.

“Precious!” his voice was frantic.

“Chad.” She said relieved.

“Where are you?”

“um…I don’t know. Help me. I think some guys are following me.” She explained scared.

“okay. calm down. Um…do you see any street signs, landmarks anything?” she started walking looking frantically.

“Uh…no just a bunch of buildings. I think old warehouses maybe.” She turned a corner and bumped into one of the drunken boys. She gasped and stepped back.

“Hey there sweetness.” He said. The smell of alcohol covered his breath. She turned and ran the opposite way she’d come.

“Precious? what’s going on?” Chad asked.

“Chad! Help me.” She gasped out as tears streamed down her cheeks.

“I will. I promise nothing will happen to you .” he said panicking. Precious skidded to a stop as two more boys came around the corner in front of her.

“oh Sh.it” she breathed. She looked behind her. They were closing in. “Chad!” she whispered.

“Precious. Calm down. We’re coming.just calm down” Chad told her. She let out a scream as someone grabbed her from behind. The phone was snatched from her hand. She screamed and fought to get away but the boy had a firm grip on her. She felt a cold object at her throat.

“shut up or I’ll kill you.” A voice whispered in her ear. She immediately stopped moving and screaming. There were 4 boys. One holding her and two hanging back while the other one smoked a cigarette in front of her. He had her phone.

“I’m sorry. She’s unavailable right now. Can I take a message.” He asked into the phone. Precious heard Chad yell something unadible back. The boy laighed and threw the phone to one of the boys that were hanging back. “get rid of it.” he ordered. The boy took of down the street while the others dragged Precious into an alley. The leader threw off his cigarette and stepped towards Precious.

“My my my, you are a pretty one.” He said grabbing her chin. She yanked her face out of his hands. He laughed again. “I like em feisty.” He grabbed Precious’ arm and bragged her deeper into the alley. “Watch.” He ordered the other two. They obediently turned to face the street.

The leader shoved Precious against the brick wall. She stood facing him determined. He surveyed her.