The Kingpin's Addiction

Chapter One: "I Ain't About No STD's." It's cold. Like really cold. Where's my blanket? My only blanket? Never mind, August has it. Saint sat up and looked around the dark room then down at her baby brother. He lied underneath three blankets, still shivering as though his bare skin were pressed against cold concrete flooring. She sighed and tucked him in tighter and shoving her pillow towards him for extra heat. Quietly, she stood and walked out of the room and through the house, without making a single sound. She learned stealth mode at an early age when her mom heard her creeping from her room to check for food. No food after nine. Not that there was really ever any food. Just the mere thought of something being in there was what comforted her. Lately, she hadn't had to worry about being so quiet because her mother was never home. She had just grown accustomed to the silent padding of her feet. She walked past Reese, her older brother, passed out on the couch. That was his bed. Opening the fridge, there was a jar of jelly, a carton of eggs, half a gallon of milk, and bologna that might have been freezer burnt. It would have to do. Checking the cabinets for bread, she found less than half a loaf and when she checked inside, a raw smell filled her nose as mold clouded her sight inside the bag. "We definitely need bread if not anything else," she mumbled to herself. Tossing the bag into the trash, Saint made her way over to Reese's pants on the floor and pulled out his wallet. $35 was all he had to his name. She hated even touching his money without permission, but she knew he would understand. She took the only five inside and grabbed her jacket and the house keys before walking out and locking the door behind her. Wrapping herself into her jacket and hugging it close to her, she walked through the empty streets of Trenton, staring at the dead neighborhood she called home. Lynnderson City definitely held it's beauty. Until you made it to Trenton. The one neighborhood Saint had grown up in all her life. It was garbage, but it was her garbage. Everywhere she turned, all that could be seen were huge apartment buildings, seeming ready to crumble at any moment's notice. Bullet holes littered most of them. Gun violence was so common there, police never really bothered to answer the calls unless more than three people died. If they made any effort, it would be mere luck if they arrived within the next two hours. The moon and stars were still clearly visible, even at four in the morning. Luckily, a gas station half a mile away would be open twenty-four hours. Passing by the city's crack house, she closed her eyes, breathing in heavily. It was just her luck that she had to pick her mother up from there every morning. She shook her head, walking across the street, and through the short, broken-up fence. She passed many people standing around, completely high out of their minds, probably seeing unicorns at the moment. Walking around the building, she found her mother in the back, standing around a bunch of men, swaying back and forth. They watched her in amusement. Even as a crackhead, her mother was still very beautiful. It's where Saint got most of her looks. The rest came from her father. Like his thick lips and wide nose, bushy eyebrows and prominent cheekbones. She was beautiful. Just like her mother. "Mom," Saint sighed, walking up to her and grabbing her wrist. Shannon spun around and beamed brightly upon finding her middle child in front of her. "Junie," she drawled out, looking at her lazily. Of course. "Mom, come on, we have to go," she instructed, pulling her away from the crowd. The men booed her as she brought her mom out into the empty streets. Despite trying with all her strength, she wasn't able to pull from her daughter's firm grasp and Saint was pretty adamant about not letting her go. "June, let me go," she grumbled. Saint June rolled her eyes and continued to pull her along. "Where we going anyway?" "To the store. I have to feed your son," she grumbled, finally letting her go once they were a good distance from the house. "Mom, you seriously have to-" Her head quickly whipped in Saint's direction. "Don't," she said quickly, shaking her head. "The last thing I need is to be ridiculed by my own daughter." Suddenly, she seemed sober. Saint sighed, stopping and looking at her mom. Although her mom was a constant screw-up, she meant the world to her. The last thing she ever wanted was to lose her and she's tried many times to help her. "Mom, I would never ridicule you," she spoke softly. Shannon looked at her, shrugging. "You think I don't know I'm a terrible mom?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "You think I wanted to get addicted to all of this?" she asked, pointing to her arms. They were covered in bruises from the needles. Her preference. . . heroin. The middle of the street at four in the morning was the last place and timing Saint wanted to have this conversation. "Look, we can talk about this later. Or preferably when you're sober," she said before walking down the street. Shannon walked quietly behind her, not daring another word. She remembered once upon a time when she used to beat Saint for even looking at her funny and judging her through just stares. Now, she was of the age to say what she felt and how she felt and there wasn't much Shannon could do about it because she knew she was right. She knew she was right at the age of eight. Saint was always too smart and that was one thing she couldn't deny. Her babies were absolutely brilliant. When they arrived at the store, she turned and looked at her mother. "I'm going inside for two seconds. Don't go anywhere," she instructed, staring at her mom. "Nowhere. I'm serious." "Alright," her mother nodded feverishly. Saint stared at her once more before turning and walking into the small gas station. Hurriedly, she went inside and bought the bread and rushed back out to her mother. Of course, there was no surprise when she found her mother wasn't there. Sighing, it was nothing new. Her mother's slurred voice could be heard a few feet away. Walking around the building, she saw her standing near a car with four men standing around, watching her hungrily. The sight was something common. She always had to rescue her mom from strange men. Not that Shannon wanted to be rescued. "Mom, come on," she grumbled, yanking on her mom's arm. "Ay, the lady wants to stay," one of the men spoke up, staring down at the young girl before them. "Honestly, you can stay, too, if you want," he suggested, looking Saint up and down. Saint looked up at him, glaring angrily. She's had quite a few encounters with older men throughout her life when it came to her mom. His approaching her did very little to unnerve her. "This is my mother and we have to get back to my brothers, thank you," she spat sourly, before pulling her away from them. "If she don't wanna go-" "You being a grown man, I would assume you would have something better to do than stand around an abandoned gas station at five in the morning and prey on drug-addicted women," Saint dared, looking at him. "But what do I know? Now, if you don't mind, we're going to be on our way." Before they could even think of what to say, she had walked away with Shannon in tow. She was barely even aware of what was happening. Her only concern was how she was going to cop her next high and when. The drugs were slowly starting to wear off. They called out a few indistinct names in their direction, but it was nothing Saint couldn't handle. Her skin was a lot thicker than it looked. Once they arrived home, August was already getting dressed for school as Reese helped him with his clothes. "Hey June," he spoke happily. "Hey, mommy." Shannon looked at him through squinted eyes, trying to figure out who the little boy was. She hardly remembered anything about August up until his birth and was mostly absent through that. August was a stranger to his own mother. "Hey, there, little Reese's Cup." "Wrong child," Reese grumbled, pulling his little brother's nappy hair into a giant puff that sat on the top of his head. "August," Saint informed, before preparing his breakfast. Shannon shrugged it off and walked over to the dusty couch and plopped down, taking in the view. It wasn't much, but it was home. "You kids ever consider cleaning?" she asked, looking across the room into the kitchen at Saint and Reese. "Or at least try to teach the little one to clean?" Reese's head snapped in her direction as he stared at her angrily. "Are you f*****g serious right now?" he demanded. "This piece of s**t couldn't be cleaned if we paid professionals! It's a f*****g dump." "Then why you staying here?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. She knew just how to get under his skin and whenever the opportunity came she dove for it. "Under my roof." "Your ro-" Saint quickly interrupted, touching his arm gently. "Don't. It's exactly what she wants you to do." He took a few moments to himself before nodding. He knew his sister was right. Shannon never really liked him. He never knew why either, but he knew he would show her the same love she showed him while growing up. None. After finishing making August's breakfast, Saint walked down the hall and quickly washed up before preparing for school. They rarely had enough water or money for a decent shower. So she made them quick and simple. Once she had finished, it was nearly six and she had to get August to school before getting there herself. Saint grabbed his hand and walked to the door before turning to her mom who was half asleep on the couch. She really is a mess. "Mom." She waited a few seconds and when she received no answer she repeated herself, only louder the next time. Shannon jerked awake and looked up at her. Saint shook her head before opening the door. "Don't go anywhere. Stay here today." Reese walked through the house to the door with them. "Yeah right. The second we leave, her mouth will be wrapped around the first d**k she can find for some crack," he grumbled, walking out. Saint locked the door from the inside and left with her brothers. "I'll see you guys after school," Reese said as he split from the two, on his way to work. "Come on," Saint said to August as she held his backpack for her. "So, what are we going to learn today?" she asked as they walked along the sidewalk. "I learn my ABCs and 123's!" he cheered excitedly. "And, we spelled apple today." Saint looked down at the little boy, falling in love with him as though he was hers. He might as well have been. She had been taking care of him since he was born. He was hers. "That's great!" she smiled. "Are we making any friends?" She asked. August frowned and looked ahead as he walked, kicking at little rocks with his tiny feet. "No," he mumbled. "Kids don't really like me." She frowned, looking ahead as well. Being as though their mother was on hard drugs, making friends wasn't entirely easy. She knew better than anyone. Her misfortune was passed on to her little brother. Even at four and five kids were just mean. After leaving August at school, she made it to hers with 15 minutes to spare. Paying for college wasn't easy, but with the help of her father, it was manageable. Walking around the building, she froze in her steps upon witnessing an illegal transaction occurring before her. The two noticed her and she quickly walked around them, her eyes lowered. She learned that when her mom brought business home. Once making it to the door, her name was being called from behind and one of the boys were after her. She closed her eyes before keeping on, wanting no troubles. "Saint June!" he called once more, finally catching up to her. "Look, back there-." "I didn't see anything," she mumbled. He grabbed her shoulder and spun her around to face him. "Adik?" she asked confused. "That was you?" He smirked, looking her up and down. "I thought you saw nothing?" He raised an eyebrow at her expectantly and she blushed once realizing she has snitched on herself. "Look, no worries. Just wanted to make sure we were on the same page." "Which is?" "You saw nothing," he explained, shrugging. "Right," she nodded, looking around the mostly empty hall. Only a few had arrived already. She never took Adik as one to be selling drugs. Especially on school grounds as it was very well known that a zero-tolerance for drugs policy took ranking at number two in the school's rule book. Being caught would result in expulsion with no guarantee of your money back. And charges would be filed. He was risking it all. "Don't worry, I don't normally sell around here, but someone needed help with their studies," he said, reading her face and body language. Saint immediately shook her head in understanding. "You don't have to explain anything to me. None of my business." He nodded, watching her quietly. He didn't know much about the girl other than her mom was a world-renowned crackhead. He knew from personal experience. "How much you working with?" he asked, looking at Shannon with a look of disgust. "I ain't got no money but whatever else you need, I might have it," she offered, trying her best to pull down her shirt to show her round, plump chest without it seeming so obvious. Everyone in town had already run through her and he didn't exactly want to risk any health hazards with her. She was one of the nastiest in the city, but she deserved credit where credit was due. She was one of the best. "Nah, I ain't about no STD's," he shook his head in distaste. Shannon looked around hurriedly, desperate for any kind of high. She needed it and fast. "It don't even have to be H," she offered, hoping he would at least hook her up with something. He looked at her, taking in her pathetic state, and shook his head, clearly disgusted with the woman in front of him. "Ight," he nodded, unbuckling his pants. "Get on your knees. You not getting this s**t for free," he stated firmly, pushing her head down to his hips. "And don't f*****g bite me, bitch."