Split Lives

Chapter 1

~Francis~

I'll be honest....I am NOT the main person in this story, oh no, that titles my friends belong to our gang leader Azura Jenson, more commonly known as AJ, she is the youngest out of us all but by far the best suited to lead us. Not all the gang members agree with her leading us but since we've had her as a leader we've gained more territory and more respect, plus she's secretly mafia so can be THE worst to piss off.

Azura is....well....different, to say the least, she's tough as nails, slick as can be and downright dangerous. Truth is, I never use to know her all that well until about 5 years ago, she was 14 and I was 16. I found her sleeping in a box, she's very quick and smart, also really good in combat. I use to know OF Azura in school when we were kids but I never knew her personally. I remember her being off a lot, or skipping classes, but she only ever hung around 2 other people, her identical twin sister Talia, who weirdly disappeared when they were very young, round the age of 9 maybe 10, and very rarely gets talked about but you don't push any topic that Azura doesn't want to talk about, last person that done that literally got thrown and snapped their neck, we've not seen them since. The other being Marcus who we would often see everyday in school, he was strong and clever, he was also very defensive and protective of Azura and Talia. He DID finish school with us and went and done whatever it was he wanted to do, Talia just stopped coming to schools all together like Azura but no one knows or have heard why. So like I said, I knew of her but not personally up until about 5 years ago, since then we've not looked back but that doesn't mean I'll try my luck, it just means were friends and I know the limits and boundaries of what to say.

There's quite a few of us but the main ones of this gang is Azura, myself, Rick and Tyler. Azura is the leader, I'm her 2nd in command. We're just at the park, Azura of course is in a tree....hanging upside down......you know, as you do, we just talk, Tyler doesn't exactly help himself when he pisses Azura off, he in fact has a cast on his arm, about 3 weeks ago he pissed her off, he's just...he really hasn't learned when to shut up "why do you always hang in trees?" Tyler asks, Azura of course is also a smart mouth "why don't you? I get to do sit ups or chill" I forgot to mention that Azura is as strong as a bull, she's the strongest out of all of us she works out a lot, I don't know how she runs so much on so little. She's homeless so survives purely on whatever she can get, if she can get it so she's very slim "but a tree?" Tyler asks "yep. I get a good view of anything or anyone comin" "but...." I gotta shut him up before he gets another broken arm "Ty, dude, you know it's useless. Just don't go there, you know you've no chance of having last say" then Ricky agrees "he's right dude, we've known her for years, and none of us have" Tyler then admits defeat "you guys are right" Azura has a triumphant smirk on her face, the thing is Azura always has to have the last say, she will last longer than you so we just quit whilst we're ahead.

Azura then looks around and sit up on the branch "hey, where's tweedled dee and tweedled dum?" I then answer "some family thing, they did text, but my phone died" I know you're probably wondering why AJ is homeless and got no money when she's mafia right? Well that's easy, when she joined they gave her a choice, either she can get paid big bucks and live in the mansion, or protection for the gang. As you can tell from her current living conditions, she chose for us to have protection rather than money and a place to live, that in it's self says that she's leader worthy, she is a true leader. The others don't know she had that choice and that she chose us over herself, she told me not to tell them, they just assume she has money and a place to live when the truth is she doesn't because she chose protection for us "why don't you have a phone AJ?" Ricky asks, Azura just shrugs it off and replies "coz I don't" then Tyler again not knowing the line not to cross and not knowing when to shut up says "just go and buy one then" 'oh no, R.I.P Ty' I think to myself as Azura gets very sarcastic with her reply "oh yeah coz I constantly get in trouble with the law, I'll go get a phone so they can track me, and I'm super loaded so I'll jus walk in and buy a phone when I ain't got a penny to my name" "asked and answered" I say, then Tyler gets awkward realising what just happened "so urm...." then he looks at his watch "oh crap, I'm gunna be late. I've gotta go guys, see yas" and with that Tyler runs off "should you really be in a tree though?" I ask instantly regretting it, Azura glares at me and I surrender "I'm fine right here" she says as if daring me to say more but I drop the topic, I know when to shut up "ok then if you're sure" I say sighing in defeat.

Just then Ricky sees a policeman coming "yo, AJ" he calls "yeah?" Azura asks slightly annoyed that he interrupted our conversation "cop on his way" Ricky says, now it's not my place to say but, Azura has fragile bones so I always stay close by when she's up in trees, although non of the other members know that, only me "thanks Ric" she says then looks at me "Fran?" I knew exactly what to do before she had to ask "on it" I say as I help her get out the tree safely "thanks, see yas later, maybe" Azura says then she runs off, the couple other members that was with us all scatter off, me and Ricky then just act natural as we talk "I wish they'd get off her case, I mean whatever she's done can't be that bad" Ricky says and I agree with him "I totally agree with you dude, she does what she has to for survival" "have you ever noticed how pale and thin she is?" I just shrug "yeah, nothing you can do though" I reply.

An officer then approaches, he's somewhere in his 50's I think by the looks of him, he's got grey hair but he is in amazing shape, but I guess being a police officer does that "good afternoon fellas" the officer says, I read his name tag "afternoon Officer Lambert" I reply, just by the way he talks you know he's not a jobsworth who let the power of a badge and tazergun go to his head, "how may we help you today?" Ricky says sounding very formal which I then mentally facepalm myself 'damn it Ric, we're meant to act naturally, NOT draw attention by sounding like we come from Snobsville' Officer Lambert looks between me and Ricky "ok, I'll get straight to the point. I know you both know Azura Jenson, do you know of her whereabouts?" Officer Lambert asks, before I can say anything Ricky answers....I really wish he never though "no officer, I'm sorry. I don't know what or whom you are talking about" I rolled my eyes, what the hell is wrong with him? the stupid pleb is now sounding suspicious 'urg, f**k Ricky!' I think to myself wondering why this i***t decided to talk instead of letting me do the talking, it's no wonder Azura chose me to be her 2nd in command, Ricky would f**k it all up if he was 2nd in command "don't play this game with me, it's been a very long shift. You both know her, if not friends at least allies, so where is she? I'd rather take her in quietly myself than have other officers be rough in manhandling her, the least resistance, the better" Officer Lambert says, I am the one to answer this time, the best way to lessen suspicion and keep police off your back is the truth "I'm sorry officer" I begin "I've heard of Azura and what the police want her for, but I genially don't know where she is" I mean, it's not a lie, he doesn't need to know I'm her friend, so saying I know of her is telling the truth and I really don't know where she is, she never told us where she was going. The police officer looks at me after my answer then breaks the silence "ok, I can tell you're telling the truth. I'll be on my way. Thankyou young man for being honest with me" and with that he walked off, like I said best way to handle police is the truth.