THE DEVIL MAFIA

My name is Akira Houston, I am eighteen years old and also the eldest child and daughter of the family of five, My Dad, Mom Grandma and my Younger brother Drew who is two years younger than me.

We are average or rather less than average black citizens of the United States. We were residing at the darkest parts of New York City.

We moved to New York City when I was nine and my brother was seven, Then things had been going pretty well for us back at New Orleans where my dad worked at an office and earned good salary.

We were doing pretty well until my dad got involved in a gamble and got into a huge debt with one dangerous mafia Lord which left him broke he was unable to complete the debt that's why we had to move.

One of my dad's old friend squatted us for a year before we got a small apartment at East Harlem, One of the most dangerous and unsafe part of NYC of crime rate over Eighty percent East Harlem has violent crimes Two hundred and sixty four percent greater than the National average.

Even the subway station around Twenty fifth St could make you feel unsafe over Harlem ghetto, so one has to be street-wise to be able to survive living here. The only advantage we got here was cheaper housing prices but then the houses are no good either with almost all facility destroyed due to non-stop throwing of stones and bottles by kids with no future roaming about.

But then we got used to it and let me tell y'all living here ain't a piece of cake because we had to struggle as things got pretty bad for us, there was no money, no food, not even side jobs we could work on to at least manage. But my Dad never gave up, sometimes he'd go on for days to look for jobs but always came back empty.

My mom too would go to meet all those rich new york ladies to request for a job as a maid in their house atleast she got lucky she was accepted and the token she earned was what we manage.

Everything kept on getting tougher and tougher and unbearable that I had to go out to the street to go search for food or anything edible for me and my brother to eat because I couldn't stand seeing my family suffer anymore.

I was fourteen when it all started on one raining Monday morning we had to starve as usual my dad was out for the same cause he's usually out for, it was my mom's day off or rather she was told not to come.

Drew kept on crying saying he wants to go to school although how annoying he could be with the tears, my mom wouldn't stop petting him not to cry an that really made me sad. Grandma wasn't feeling very well either even though she kept on saying she was okay I knew she was not.

I just felt the need to do something, I was thinking what I could do to provide even though it could be fruitless to think like that, Considering my age what sort of job would I possibly want to do and who would hire a frail and thin girl like me.

When thinking became unbearable for me I decided to sneak out of the house to go see if I could find some good and edible food in some trash cans across the street, that's where people dump their expired Foodstuffs even though to me it sometimes doesn't seem expired at all, Well I've tried it out sometimes on days like this when I usually sneak out to get some for me and my brother.

It was raining lightly and our neighbour's dog won't stop barking. I wore the raincoat my Dad brought for me when I was in grade three before he was in debt and I cherish it alot.

The rain had made everywhere really mushy and when I got there I was really hopeless because the stench of rotten Food coming outta the cans could make you sick in an instant, and the rain wasn't helping either but I had no choice than to grab whatever I could find because I was getting soaked all over.

when I opened the cans all I could see was rotten veggies and burgers "this'll will do no good." I said to myself, Then I began digging with my hand to see what I could find, luckily I found a bottled milk that I hoped hasn't expired yet and a bread which hasn't started to rot yet "yasss!!" I exclaimed happily.

I started packing them into a bag I brought along with me, and was about to leave when I felt something hit my back, my heart nearly froze as I thought it was an environmental health officer or a Cop who's just on duty.

But I was relieved when I saw two kids around the age of Fifteen in front of me, But that doesn't make the situation any better because the last thing I want is getting into trouble with kids older than me for taking food in the trashcan. "What are you doing there?" said one with a slight Brit accent, blonde hair and freckles.

"What does it seems like am doing?" I answered back with a question, already getting annoyed and impatient already, I really didn't want to get caught here "hahahaha" the other kid laughed as if I'd said something funny.

"you're real funny." he said laughing and I felt like punching him in his face, "you want me to answer your question? well here's your answer, I think you are stealing food from the trashcan" he said grinning stupidly, they both bursted out laughing, and it's taking every thing I've got not to pounce on them here and now.

"If you know what am doing here then why bother with stupid questions, why not go ahead and tell me what you want or leave me alone you stupid brainless poops!!" I retorted.

"Hey watch your mouth darkie" he screamed and I can see he was starting to get angry now, I was happy and scared at the same time, I really didn't want to get into any kind of trouble whatsoever.

"Why don't you you watch yours first Fatboy!" I replied ready for anything, "what'd ya say" he said approaching me at a violent pace, I had to step back because he was preparing to swing a punch at me.

If it weren't for his friend that held him back I'd be in a jaw breaking pain, My head has been calculating on how am gonna escape from this situation, Am pretty quick witted so I was searching for an opening to escape from as I couldn't possibly handle the both of them Even with the little judoka skills I've got, Well I took judo classes in grade three right before we left New Orleans.

So I had to save myself because I knew if I was going to fight back I'd get beaten up for sure and it'll be more trouble if an officer finds us here like this, they were pretty much around here because of the never ending crimes around these corners of New York.

As the other kid held his friend, I saw that as an opportunity to escape but he was faster as he grabbed the hood of my raincoat harshly and pulled me back, The force of the pull made me fall to the ground and the bag I was carrying got seperated from my hand.

I was about to take it back when he quickly grabbed it away from the wet floor, he checked inside and immediately he did so he burst into a fit of laughter, the other did too.

I was getting infuriated as I wanted to get out of here as soon as possible, I got back on my feet and when I did, I launched at the boy with the bag to collect it from him, "Give me my bag!" I screamed at him, the other one pushed me away and I fell back to the floor again.

This time I was determined to get out of here as soon as possible I didn't need the Food again I just wanted to go home, I was getting scared but I didn't want to show it, I decided to steel my nerve.

"Let me see what you got here darkie", he said "oh" he exclaimed, "She took milk and bread from the trashcan." He in between laughter.

"She seems pretty hungry Max." The one who wanted to attack me before said smiling.

"Awwn poor little thing" he said mocking me, "Why don't you go ahead and eat this right now" he said looking at the other boy's face while referring to me as if giving him idea what he was about to do "I'll feed her" Said the latter grinning from ear to ear.

I knew what they were about to do, so I tried getting up to escape again but I was smacked down by the blonde hair boy.

"Why are you in a hurry" the one called max said, "We are trying to feed you so you should be appreciative at least." He said and that irritated the hell out of me.

"Fuck off!!" i yelled at him "I am going to report you guys to the police" I continued. And As if I'd said something funny they both burst into a fit of laughter. "hahahahaha" why don't you go ahead and report and see who's gonna get in trouble hahahaha" said max.

"Yeah we'll let you go as soon as we feed you, give me the spoilt milk max!" the blonde one said clearly he can't wait to see me humiliated. "Chill Blake we've got time." Max laughed hysterically.

"You are hungry right??" Now feed on this this!! Blake said spilling the milk all-over my head. Both of them were laughing as Blake was still spilling the milk all-over me.

I got so angry I couldn't take it anymore I'll have to fight back, I don't care if I get beaten up in the end, I swunged my fist up at Max hitting his jaw, I then kicked Blake at the knee they both screamed in pain but that wasn't enough to put them away, they were big kids after all.

Blake was tall and bulky while max was not too tall but chubbier, my attack only got them angrier as they started pouncing on me kicking me all-over but I wasn't going to allow them win because I was pretty stubborn myself.

I grab Max's leg which was coming at me for another, I used they kick which made him slip onto the floor, I used that as an opportunity to get up and attack Blake also but he grab my hair harshly that he hurt so bad.

After struggling in vain for my hair to be released from his grip, I successfully sent a kick to his stomach and that made him groaned in pain which made him leave my hair.

I thought I was free until max hitted me with a plank and that sent me sprawling across the floor, I didn't know he had gotten up.

I was starting to get up but he didn't give me the chance as he started kicking me from behind, I was getting weak but I didn't want to give up.

I got up forcefully and sent a punch across his face again, Blake was starting to get up so I increase the number of punch I threw at him, I didn't know where I got the strength maybe it because I wanted to get out of here as soon as possible.

Blake had recovered and both of them started attacking me again, I was getting weaker and couldn't defend myself anymore my vision was starting to get blurry so I just succumbed even if I didn't want to.

"LET THE GIRL GO!!", I heard a Masculine voice right before the kickings stopped, "Why you hitting the poor girl?" the man asked again.

I couldn't see his face because I was lying face down and was weak to get up, "she offended us" said the one called Blake, "No she didn't, you offended her." the Man retorted back.

"How did you-" Max tried to say, "I saw everything." The man said. "LIARR!!" Max screamed "you're lying, you didn't see anything, she attacked us first!" He said.

"Hmm is that true?" the man hummed, "That means all what I saw from above there.", he said pointing at the 3-storey building opposite us, "Was just an illusion right?" He asked them.

I wanted to get up and see who just saved me but my body won't let me as I was very weak, so I just stayed still. "So what if you saw us, what are you going to do uhh?" said Max, I couldn't see the Expression on his face but I could tell from his voice that he was starting to get scared and I was greatful for that.

"shut the fuck up you spoilt brat" he said and I wondered what his age was. "And what if we don't!" Blake said trying to show he's not scared of the person in front of them.

"Well I must say you guys ve got the guts hehehehe, why don't you both just scurry on outta here while am still being nice", "we won't!! and who are you to tell us what to do ehh?" Blake continued arrogantly and kicked me again, "Oh wow, hold up a minute I've got a call, he took his phone out to answer the call.

"heyy bro WASSUP!! hahaha" He laughed ridiculously on the phone, "What a joke" I heard Blake hissed mockingly, his leg still on my back, "Blake we've gotta leave" said Max clearly scared, "pfftt" he scoffed, "he won't do anything to us" he continued confidently.

"Bro you not on duty?" the man on the phone continued, "Wow you are coming over?, right timing!, "I was about to call the cops to come arrest some bullying kids that were disturbing my territory, seems I could use your help, yep they're right in front of me, oh yeah they won't escape, they don't even feel like it hahahaha." He continued laughing and making jest if the boys.

"Some brave kids they are hmm, Ok bro I'll be waiting." He said and ended the call.

"We know You are lying! there ain't no cops coming" Blake said ignorantly, "Really?" the Guy asked as he stared into their eyes intimidating them.

"As I have calculated he should be here in about two minu-", He was saying when we heard the familiar ee-oo-ee-oo sound from a distance.

"Oh that was fast" he feigned surprise, Immediately they heard the sound both of them fled away.

"WAITT!!, I THOUGHT YOU GUYS SAID YOU WEREN'T GOING TO LEAVE! HAHAHAHA!" he screamed after them, "Fools" he said to himself.

He picked up his ringing phone again.

"Hey man, you can stop now they're gone, yep thanks buddy, I owe you one, Thanks" He concluded.

I was starting to get up as I noticed him approach me, "Hey there, Are you okay?" he asked, "yes I am" I replied.

"That's good to know, but what are you doing here anyway, This place is no good place to be" he asked, "Nothing." I replied.

"That's not true" he said "you look a mess, you look hungry even?" he said staring all over at me.

"No I am not hungry, And I have to get home, Thank you sir." I said in a hurry to leave because Mom would have been looking for me by now.

I was about to leave when he stopped me, "Hold up, why are you in such a hurry?" he asked.

"My mom and grandma are probably looking for me right now" I replied, "Oh really!" he exclaimed.

"So you've got a home, then why are you roaming around these streets then?" he asked again.

"Nothing" I replied, he then stared long and hard at me (which made me uncomfortable) before finally asking me to come with him.

"I don't follow strangers." I told him, "but you sneaked out of your home not caring what was gonna happen to you?" he asked in a reprimanding way.

I couldn't say anything because I knew he was right, Anything could have happened, Anything worse than what I just experienced.

"And am sorry to say this but you know that was the least of all the things that could have happened" he continued.

"I just wanted some food for us at home, We haven't eaten anything all morning." I said with my head down.

it had stopped raining but I was shivering like hell, He didn't say anything but instead dragged me along to follow him.

"I really don't want to follow you, I want to go home!" I said after him trying to release my hand from his grip.

"And would you like to show up at home looking like trash?" he said while looking at me, and when I didn't speak he answered for me "No you don't." and winked.

"Don't worry am not gonna hurt you, if I wanted to I wouldn't have saved you Ok, C'mon now." He told me before dragging me along and my instinct told me he was a good Man and reliable too but I wasn't going to let my guard down again. He seemed like a nice person.

"Where do you stay?" he asked me while we walked away. "Two streets away from here" I replied.

"And you, where do you stay?" I asked him too. "Right over there" he says pointing at an old Three-storey building we were about to approach.

It is a big building but the structure is in a really bad shape, like it has been abandoned for a long Time before someone else took over it.

"I know, I know it's pretty messed up." He said laughing when he noticed me staring up at it in a strange way.

"No it's not, it's pretty cool" I said smiling.

"Really?" he asked with a doubting tone "yes I mean It." I replied back.

"You live alone?" I asked as we took the stairs, "Ummm sort of." he replied.

"Sort of?" I asked questioningly, "Yeah you can say that, actually my workshop is here too soo..." He trailed off.

"You have a workshop?" I asked, "Yes I do" he replied, "What do you do"? I asked him, "You are pretty inquisitive aren't ya?" he said laughing.

"You'll see when we get inside" he said, "Why don't you tell me now." I persisted.

"Or are you ashamed of your work?" I asked. "Hahahaha." he bursted out laughing "I couldn't be more proud of my work as I am now." He said boastfully.

"And why do you wanna know so badly." He asked when we finally got to the first floor. "Because I think I might be of help." I said which made him burst into laughter.

"Why are you laughing? Don't you think I can help you?" I asked getting annoyed.

"No I don't think so, I just think you are been funny right now" He said and cleared his throat.

I was still wondering what was so funny about what I said when he announced our arrival.

"Here we are!" He exclaimed and was about to open the door when I stopped him.

STOP!.