Beneath The Bad.

Chapter 4. Embracing The Darkness.

Alex felt a thrill of excitement as he immeresed himself in the gangs' world. Reed and kia took him under their wing, teaching him the way of the streets.

“Today you'll learn how to shoot”. Reed announce, leading him to an open field in the outskirts of town. Alex heart raced as He handed him a sleek black pistol. “This is a Glock 19 kid, the same one you found in that bagpack weeks ago, looking all dirty and pitiful” laughing mockingly, Reed patted Alex on his shoulder. “You'll be using it to protect yourself from now on and also to protect that of your brothers, we look out for ourselves, understand that”.

Bringing out his own gun, Reed smiled weirdly and kissed his gun then fired it at some bottles a mile away placed there by one of his gang members an hour earlier. The loud sound frightened alex as he bent down shaking. Reed looking at him shaking like a little girl got pissed and he gave him an intense blow to the side of his face. “Get up boy!!!, in this gang, we create real men, strong men who aren't afraid of anything, and you'll be that man, am I understood!!?”

“yes sir”

“I can't here you!!, I said am I understood!!!”

“Yes sirrr!!!”

“That's more like it, now shall we try this again”.

With Reed's guidance, Alex learned how to hold, aim and fire the gun. The rush of adrenaline was intoxicating as he hit his targets with ease. “Good job kid”, Reed exclaimed. “You're a natural!!”.

As the days passed by Alex found himself enjoying the camaraderie and scene of belonging within the gang. They thought him how to fight, how to pick locks, and how to hotwire cars.

But with each new skill came a nagging scene of unease. He knew he was crossing a line, leaving his old life behind. Yet, the thrill of his new existence kept him coming back for more.

One night as they all sat around a roaring bonfire, Reed turned to Alex with a serious gaze. “You're one of us now kid, you've earned our trust. But remember, loyalty is everything. Betray us, and you'll suffer so deeply that you'll wish you were dead”. Alex nodded. The flames dancing in his eyes as he embarrassed his new identity. He knew he'll never go back to his old life, not now that he'd taste the rush of the unknown.