Free Initiation: A Novella (Initiation Trilogy Book 1) by Franny Marie

me up and down.
                  “And who told you that?” I roll my eyes.
                  “Just... Around the streets, I guess.”
                  “That's not telling me anything... But everyone thinks I'm dead?”
                  “Mmmhmm,” he nods. “Pretty much, at least some people do.” While he’s avoiding my eyes, he reaches up and scratches the back of his neck. I find that suspicious but ignore it.
                  “Hmmm. Well, they're fucking wrong. Yes, I was shot... But, look I'm in a bind, can you help me?”
                  “Yeah, what is it?”
                  “My sister,” I start, but he asks about her before I can continue.
                  “What happened to her?”
                  I sigh. “She was taken by my old gang,” I say softly.
                  “How do you know?” He’s skeptical and I don’t blame him.
                  “Long story short, she was kidnapped, they fucked up my car and house, shot at me once, and now I'm here.” I rush my words, but I know that he catches them, understanding every last word.
                  “Damn... Well, let's go find her. I saw them the other day, maybe they're still there.”
                  “Thank God,” I sigh as I unlock the car door and hop in.
                  I can't even remember the last time I saw Ryan. I know it was way before my mom was diagnosed with Cancer. We always use to hang out and for some reason I blame myself for not keeping touch with him. Although, I was in that gang and I guess in some sort of way, I didn't want him to know. Just like Leanne, he was one of the few people I could call family. It's nice to see him again, especially now.
    *****
                  About an hour goes by and Ryan and I are still cruising around looking for the I-Ten gang.
                  “How long has she been gone?” Ryan looks out the window as he inquires.
                  “Leanne?”
                  “Yes.” He turns to face me and I know that I have to answer him or he could very well stop helping me.
                  “Just a few days,” I confirm as I keep my eyes on the road, turning a sharp corner of the dark street.
                  “Oh dang... How's your mom doing?”
              “Dead.”
                  “What? Oh my god, I'm so sorry. How long and what of?”
                  “Five years now and brain cancer,” I all but whisper, trying not to allow the emotions to rise in me again.
                  “Oh shit, that’s too bad.” He tilts his head down and fiddles with his fingers, the car growing quiet for a moment before I break it.
                  “So what have you been up to?” I say quickly, wanting to change the subject.
                  “Just... around,” he shrugs, making me slightly confused.
                  “That's it?”
                  “Pretty much.” He shrugs, speaking softly.
                  I’m uncertain of the truth of that, realizing that there’s something he’s keeping from me, but keep my eyes on the road ahead of me.
                  “Make a right here and then a few more miles up ahead and that's where I think they might be at,” he demands, talking to me sternly. I do as I'm told, but wonder what the hell his problem is talking to me in that tone.
    “You alright?”
                  “Yeah, I'm good, why?”
              “Just asking,” I glance at him in the corner of my eye.
                  We head up a few more feet on the street and hit a stop light. As I'm sitting there, I begin to overcome a strange feeling. I rub the back of my neck as I anxiously wait for the