Perfect Mercy

Chapter 1: Carefree

I woke up to the sounds of small whines across my room coming from a lump covered by a blanket and walk over, lifting the blanket, laying it on my bed to reveal white bars of a cage. I look inside smiling seeing a tiny ball in a corner which is making the whining sounds. After opening the cage door and lifting the ball up I start speaking to it softly. "good morning peanut. Why are you crying? I'm here, don't cry. I'm right here." The ball unravels to reveal itself as a small hedgehog. I place peanut on my bed and surround him with blankets so he can't fall off and still walk around.

After getting ready for the day I put peanut back in his cage with fresh water, food, and turning on his small heat lamp and keeping a shirt with my scent on it so he doesn't panic seeing that I'm gone. I get in my car, turning the keys to switch on the engine, heading downtown to meet up with a friend. I park a few blocks away to get some exercise and walk to the mall to find her while putting my airpods in my ears, pulling up spotify selecting a playlist to make my journey to the mall. I pass an alley between two buildings, the sides decorated by graffiti in red and black spray paint. I notice familiar gang signs of the feared mob gang in our city and increase my pace when gunshots and a man's scream rings out. I stand there frozen in my spot despite every inch of my body screaming at me to run something in me refuses to move until a group of tall men in all black come out of one of the buildings. I advert my gaze until when I believe it's clear I look back up to be met with a pair of brown eyes looking into mine from a distance. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be here I was just meeting a friend at the mall. I won't say anything, I'm sorry." Before anyone can respond I quickly make my way out from that spot. Little did I know that someone was still watching me after I leave. 

After shaking off the events that just happen I reach the mall and greet my friend with a hug before quietly telling her my encounter with the black diamond mob in the alley. I could see the look in her eyes telling the story as she quietly elbows me whispering "how were you not killed? I've heard that any time someone happens to witness something they aren't supposed to, the leader will not hesitate and kill you." Hearing this makes my eyes widen before asking "then why wasn't I killed?" "I'm not sure Maria but honestly be careful next time and don't park near that alley again. That's where the gang does most of their business." I nod in understanding before we continue our holiday shopping, picking up gifts for our families and friends. After spending a good few productive hours in the mall and grabbing lunch, we bid our goodbye's and head our separate ways. Learning from my encounter earlier, I take a slightly longer route to my car to avoid another incident like that from occurring. Just steps away from the stairwell to enter the parking garage I hear the sounds of tyres screeching and a loud bang only to watch a black sedan flip over as it's upside down with gunshots ringing out. Instinctively I crouch to the floor covering my head with my hands until the the sound of gunshots seize before standing up and sprinting to the flipped over vehicle shouting for people to come help yet no one comes, but rather flees instead. I work my way over and pry the back car door open to see two men in the front seats bleeding out and lifeless, one man with bright blonde hair in the back seat groaning. A few gashes on his body but otherwise looks alright. With all my strength I manage to pull him out of the vehicle as questions keep spilling out of my mouth, "are you ok sir? What happened? Do you want me to call an ambulance? Is there anything you need? Are you hurt anywhere else?." The silence following my stream of questions shuts me up as I help the man stand up when another vehicle comes screeching towards us from around the corner. Before I could react, I'm pushed to the floor by the mysterious man just as a passenger in the charging vehicle shoots at us. The mystery man pulls out a gun of his own, shooting at the people in the vehicle as it passes. I hear three shots coming from the vehicle passenger and grunts from the mystery man who just saved my life, realizing he's been shot. Once the vehicle disappears behind the next corner, the mystery man turns to look at me and my blood freezes. It's the same soft hazelnut brown eyes I saw back in the alley.