His cheek hurts from scraping against the damn bricks. Charlie really nailed his ass to the wall, so-to-speak. Good thing it didn't take long for Charlie to get off.
Crip sulks, just sitting on the ground, exactly where he'd just been fucked. He doesn't really have time to rest anymore, since he's supposed to chat with Switch...but man does his backside hurt.
Ugh whatever! He forces himself to get up, trying his best to ignore the aching pain and burning sensation from down below. He feels...gross.
Switch is exactly where he was expected to be, with Bear. They look like they're talking, right out front, but as Crip limps closer, Bear walks off. Switch smiles politely, turning to face Crip.
Switch: "Aye, there you are." His voice was so raspy and slow, that Spanish accent thick, even though he speaks perfect English as if he was born and raised here. Black hair, brown eyes, stubble on his jaw, and most importantly, that tattoo on his neck. It's just a tattoo of the neck bones under his skin, but Crip always thought it was really cool.
Crip: "Sorry...I uh..got caught up in something."
Switch smirks a bit, and that lets Crip know that he can take a guess where he was.
Switch: "Right. Listen pequeño, we have a job to do. Even someone with your..problems.." he takes a moment to glance down at Crips ankle, "-should be able to keep up."
Crip: "But what are you planning on doing?"
Switch: "Simple. There's a nice, brand new, shiny billboard on the other side of town. You and me, we are going to set it on fire~"
Crips eyes widen a bit. A billboard? As in...he'll have to climb?
Crip: "H-how high is it? I'm not very fast you know.."
Switch shrugs a bit, "Eh, it's not that high. You'll have time to get down."
His voice is so calm, and he's so sure of himself but...Crip can't help but worry. He's never been good with heights. He has vertigo, meaning when he is up high, he feels dizzy and sick.
However, O'Riley assigned him this job. He can't back out, no matter what. He needs to do this!
Crip: "Alright..I can do that."
Switch: "Great. I'll bring the car around front."
Time passes and everyone's in position. Crip leaves his beloved hoodie in the car when they arrive, so it doesn't get messed up, and as Crip looks up at the billboard he can only think of one thing.
Switch lied.
Crip: "Are you sure I'll have enough time to get down?"
Switch: "This again? Listen pequeño, you will get down in time if you just move your feet. Now, stop complaining and get climbing."
Crip sulks and starts climbing up the rusted ladder. The higher he gets, the more he starts to feel nauseous. This uneasy feeling wasn't going away at all.
They reach the top, and Switch starts trickling a little gasoline out of a jug onto the billboard.
Switch: "Theres gas on the flammable part now. I'm gonna climb down first. You take this, light her up, and then get down the ladder."
Switch slips his arm through the jugs handle and hands Crip a single match.
He can feel himself internally freaking out. He'll need to strike the match, throw it on the gas and then haul ass down that ladder. Switch already starts to climb down, and Crip makes the mistake of looking down at him. The sudden realization of how high up he is, and what he has to do next, makes his head spin.
He is snapped back to reality once Switch actually gets to the ground. It's now or never. He has to do this...
The match strikes against the rusty metal, and it ignites the flame. Quickly, he throws the match to the gas and it lights on fire instantly. He starts to climb down, and that's when the flames really start to spread and smoke puffs into the air.
Focus! Watch where the feet are going! He thinks to himself, making the same mistake of looking down again. He tries to worry about his feet and hands, but his head takes a dangerous spin. Everything down below, even Switch, starts to look blurry. Everything's moving...and he feels sick.
Suddenly, his foot misses the step, and his entire leg flies through the opening, making him let go of the ladder. A loud CLUNK is what he hears before everything goes black.
When he comes back to reality, he can't see at first, but he can hear Switch yelling at him. It sounds echoed.
Switch: "C'mon man! Get your ass in gear!"
What's that other sound? Is that...sirens?
His hearing and eyesight quickly return to him, and he can see Switch looking in the distance with a shocked look. Oh no. They're coming, fast, and here's Crip, upside down with his legs somehow hanging onto the ladder so he doesn't fall and die!
Switch returns his eyes to Crip, speaking very quickly. It is very obvious that he's worried too.
Switch: "I have to go, but look, get down here and run into the woods! Hurry Crip!"
Crip starts frantically getting back to climbing down, and Switch runs to the car and speeds off.
It feels like it's been several minutes after Switch leaves before he gets to the ground, and the sirens are almost over the hill.
He runs for it, limping his way into the woods as fast as he can. His heart is racing, so stopping isn't an option. He'll just have to run all the way to the hideout. He comes out on the other side of the woods, and it's a park. People are talking about the sirens but have no idea what's going on. That's good at least.
"Freeze!"
A voice shouts in the distance. Crips dull eyes scan the park, and land on an absolute behemoth.
A k9.
The dog is running full speed at him, and his legs suddenly won't work. He can't run. He can't think. He can't even brace himself for what happens next.
The dog lunges, and the painful sting of his skin being torn into makes him scream out. Everyone is watching, horrified, and then some people start to run.
The dog is jerking his arm around, even though he's already on the ground. Finally an officer appears, yelling at the dog.
"Duke, heel!"
The dog releases him, and brown eyes meet his as the officer towers over him.
"You're under arrest."
Crip is shaking. It's so cold, but he can feel the warm liquid running down his arm. The officer says something about an ambulance, but after that, Crip blacks out.
Maybe he'll go to prison. It would be a fitting sentence for him after all.
YOU ARE READING
A Dark World
Random"It's a dark world." That's what grandma said, but back then it didn't make much sense. It was probably some way for her to bring him comfort. Something said to let him know that this world is evil, and it wasn't his fault. It was his fault though...
