Page 40 of Mr. Calloway

“What is this place?” she asked.

“A place I’m about to fuck up,” I muttered.

Once all the guys came through the trees, they couldn’t even say anything, as they too were taken aback by the commune before us. Without warning, I cocked my gun back and moved through the open field.

“Chevy!” I heard one of the guys call out.

I moved closer to the people in sheets and shit, and that was when I spotted Dio coming from the other side of the trees.

“Zeus, there he is.” I pointed as my finger followed him. “Nobody leaves this muhfucka. Women, kid, old head. I don’t give a fuck!” I told them.

They all surrounded the perimeter while Zaria, Zeus, and I moved in to catch up with Dio. The further we got, people began to stare, but something was off. Something wasn’t right. That was when I noticed a gun was pointed at Dio’s back.

“Oh, these muhfucka’s strapped,” I gritted, and at that moment, I let my shit ride.

Rat-a-tat-tat! Rat-a-tat-tat-tat!

Dio started running in zigzags as he tried to move out of the way. More of the cult members came out of the woodwork, causing an all-out shoot-out. Dio shot, and so did I. Zeus and I stood in front of Z as we moved through the gunfire to reach Dio. Gunshots rang from every direction.

“Z, baby, you okay?” I tried shouting over the war-like sound.

“Yes!”

When we reached Dio, I could tell the nigga was fired up. “Man, what the fuck! Even the little boys got guns. Type shit is this?”

“The type of shit you can’t do alone. What were you thinking?” Zeus asked him.

“Man, fuck all that. We need to find Mars.”

“Dio, now isn’t the?—”

“Chev, just stop! I’m really trying to be easy, but I don’t have time for it. Move first, ask questions never, and if you can’t respect it, then oh well. Oh shit! To your right!” he shouted.

I turned quickly and shot. That was when I saw Z running off. My heart jumped out of my chest as I went to haul ass behind her, and Dio was behind me.

“Yeah! Now what, nigga?” Dio went on. “See how you’re chasing Z? I’m doing the same shit for Mars!”

I knew he was right, and the more Dio talked and moved, the more I knew he wasn’t just the Prince of the Zoo, but the next King.

Zaria

While June and Dio were going back and forth, I spotted Samara’s mother rushing across the open field. Without hesitation or warning, I ran after her. I didn’t have time for the arguing. I wanted to do what we had come to do and leave. I had a baby in the hospital and one who was in a shootout. I was simply ready to end all of this shit.

Our life had been like a movie since day one, and instead of people watching our story unfold, I wanted to be the one who watched. I was ready for rainy days on my deck while June and I sipped tea. For Samara to come home from college for the holidays and crawl on the couch to snuggle beside me. For Peace and Savior to tussle over toys while June sat back and watched. For us to grow old together without the shootouts, without a family trying to destroy us, without someone needing to be saved. I was simply a mother who wanted to see her family grow without all the extras.

Before she could enter her cabin, I slowly came up behind her, sticking the nose of my choppa into her back. “Bitch, I warned you. Now, where is she?” I gritted.

Her body stilled. Then she slowly turned around. The innocence she held slowly disappeared as she began to removethe cloth from her head. “The name is Shantel. Use it!” she snapped.

“Oh, so we do have a little hood under there,” I said, pointing my gun from side to side.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Fear is not of Babylon but of the Mighty One.”

The sound of June approaching took my eyes off her for a second. “Goddamn, Z! I didn’t know you could run that fast.”

Eyes on her.

The sounds of faint screams echoed from afar.