The First 50 Days

Prologue

I decided to take a walk to the corner store. Left on Mercury, Right on Grunden, Right on Wallace. Just like normal, except it wasn't normal. It was anything but normal. I had just finished getting my snickers and iced tea, it was my normal. I walked out the store into the cool September air. Florida is usually warm but today it was perfect. Not too hot, not too cold but perfect.

The neighborhood I live in is friendly. Everyone knows everyone. The neighborhood on Wallace isn't so friendly. It was old and run down. It often had robberies or break ins. I knew a short cut through that neighborhood but I didn't take it often. I was skeptical about the neighborhood but the few times I took it I was fine. I decided to finally take it again. Through the broken fence and down the alleyway. As I walked down the alley, I heard a crash. I stopped in my tracks.

"Where is it!"

I peeked around the corner. I know, I know, it was stupid.

"Does it look like I have it?  I'm not the one sneak off all the time like any of those other guys!"

There was a group of Spanish men. They were big and buff. I should've turned around and gone home. One of them guys was beat up. He was all bloody and bruised up. He was lying on the ground coughing blood.

"I know you're the one with the wire. You sold us out to the feds!"

"I didn't snitch on nobody. This is mi familia!"

"You know what, I'm tired of hearing this bs from you."

He pulled out a gun. One shot, then another, and another. I covered my mouth to keep from screaming. I tried to back up slowly. I bumped into one of the metal trash cans next to me. One of the men turned around. I got up and ran as fast as i could and didn't stop until I got home.

-

Everything happened so fast after that. My mother rushed me to the police station. The police started harassing me with me with questions.

"What happened when you walked down the alley?" the police officer said.

"I-I don't know." I scampered nervously

"Ma'am it's crucial that you tell me everything."

"I don't know, I was just walking home and I cut through the alley. There were these men. T-they were Spanish. They were beating up  this guy, yelling about some wire the police had put on him. Next thing I know..." The words got caught in my throat. I started tearing up. "They... they shot him. I tried to leave quietly b-but I bumped into the trash can and one of the guys turned around. I think he might've seen me."

They took me into another room. I sat there for a while as they talked to my mother. I was scared out of my mind. What happens now? If that guy saw me... would I be next on their hit list? My mom shook her head as they handed her some papers. She slowly made her way over to me.

"Kayla there's something I need to tell you. We're being placed under witness protection." she said softly.

"Witness protection? What does that mean?"

"Well sweetheart, it means we're getting new identities and it means we have to move."

"What? No! I'm not going!" I yelled standing up. I refused to leave my home and all my friends behind.

"Kayla we have to. In order to keep you and me safe we have to go. We can't stay here anymore. We have to basically fall off the face of the earth." she argued.

"Wait so you mean I can't talk to my friends either? I can't tell them I'm leaving? I yelled.

"No you can't. Kayla you can't tell anyone anything unless you want to die! Those people you saw, they're in a really dangerous game. So if you want to live, you'll keep your mouth shut and go with it!" she spat.

"Okay, where's the papers?"

And just like that I had my new identity, my new address, my new life.

Taylor Pratt

Age 16       Height 5"4    

Attends Northwood High School

461 Woodland Drive,  Los Angeles, California