you son of a bitch
Veronica's apartment.
Time: 1300The sound of Rambo and Layla howling woke Veronica from a deep slumber. She had just been out all night into the early morning. Dealing with a job from Vince that she had no choice but to finish before she could sleep. She was completely worn out and rolled onto her side, groaning, yelling at her dogs. “Hush!” she managed to get out, her lids slowly opening to a blurry white wall. It was light outside now and Veronica had lost track of time. “what the f*** is it?” she asked aloud, rubbing her eyes with her fists as she rolled onto her back once more. Sitting up, she slowly crawled out of bed. Itching her backside as she shuffled out into the living room. The dogs were on something fierce, barking loudly and jumping about. “Calm it down, what is it?” she asked and both of them led her to the front door.
With a furrowed brow Veronica thought this behavior was odd for them so she carefully walked up to the front door to her apartment. Squinting one eye so she could look out of the peephole. She couldn't make out what was in her front yard. Curious as a kitten, she tried to quiet down her loyal companions as she peeked out of the blinds of the window. There, three cars were parked, dark tinted windows – no activity. “what was this all about?” she thought to herself and backed away from the window.
Who knew who that could be. Veronica had a reputation and it could even be the police. She had no idea but whomever it was her dogs did not want them there. She felt the vibe and guided them back to her bedroom where she closed the door and began to hide some open paraphernalia. While getting into her black skinny jeans there was a knock at the door and a holler. “Aye, V.”
Her orbs were huge as she realized who it was. Pookie, and the last time they saw each other Veronica chopped off one of his fingers. But it was only business, nothing personal. He was still her boy, at least she thought. But, he sure didn't sound happy. - “Oh sh*t!” she whispered and hurried up getting dressed in a black hoodie and boots. She grabbed her backpack that sat at the foot of her bed and threw it onto her back. And without even thinking she was gone out of the back door. Hopping a six-foot privacy fence and running off down an alley. Edward would be stupid to enter her place with her dogs there but she couldn't risk it. Veronica didn't need to worry about their safety, they could certainly take care of themselves.
Several blocks away, Veronica started to walk so she could catch her breath. The phone in her pocket began to buzz and ring. She reached for it and it was him, calling her. He knew she was there and was now on foot somewhere. For some reason, she decided to answer. “Yeah?!” she answered with delay. “Ah, V... what's up, it's your boy Pook. I need to see you. No bullsh*t, no hard feelings about before, I promise mane.” he said and Veronica sensed nervousness in his voice. He was lying and she could tell. “What do you need?” she asked as she stood there in the middle of an empty alley. Just then he hung up on her and she heard a noise from behind. Turning around, she was suddenly hit in the face with a pipe and it knocked her to her back instantly. Veronica coughed and turned onto her side, her hands covering her nose as blood began to river from her nostrils. Crimson tongue, she swallowed tasting it, and spit out onto the street in which she laid.
Within a moment's time she was being kicked and punched from all directions, it must have been at least ten of them all knocking the wind from her and beating her in her head. Immediate headache and her vision turned to a blur, she felt nauseous, pain, and ribs were surely broken. Coming close to unconsciousness, Veronica curled up in a fetal position, her own blood pooling and getting into her hair. It seemed like forever but it only lasted a few minutes before they scattered like roaches and were gone. She laid there still and silent, a cough of blood here and there. Her nose was surely broken and most likely a few ribs, a concussion, and some loose teeth. Her phone started to ring once again as it laid upon the gravel next to her face. Her eyes crept open and she reached to tap the answer on the screen. “Now we are even.” said Edward - he was serious. Veronica just smiled with a mouth full of bloody teeth and hung up on him. Already plotting revenge in her head, if he thought it was over he is sadly mistaken.
Simple revenge
Abandoned warehouse
Time: 0300 hrs“Would you guys hurry this up I have people to kill and things to see?!” muttered Veronica as she stood near an exit door of a run-down warehouse. With a clipboard in hand, she was jotting things down with a pen and paper.
Captains Log:Vincent is going bat sh*t waiting for us to finish this cleanup.
Mikey and Frankie are idiots, and Frank brought his girlfriend Mary to the job...again.
A scribble here, a dot dot dot there, and she was finished. Soon looking up from the clipboard and over to the two guys scrubbing up a bloody mess. It wasn't Veronica's job to make sure things were cleaned up, she was only to make sure it got done on time. That meant by any means necessary, and to Veronica that could be a number of things that those two goofs wouldn't be happy with.
Walking over to the scene, Veronica stopped just close enough to be standing over the body of a woman. Beaten to death so badly she was almost unrecognizable. Her face was a mangled puzzle, blood, broken bones, and flesh. Teeth that peeked through and were not in the correct places. Upon a dirty mattress, she laid there in her own feces and filth. The smell was of rotting meat in a refrigerator that was left outside in the sun. Veronica stood over the lady, deep in thought. She wondered what had the woman done to find herself there. She was more than likely a good person for all she knew but got herself in a bit of a hiccup.
The view was boring, Veronica had seen it one too many times already working for Vince. She was constantly being called to babysit the boys, or to carry out some unspeakable act that nobody else would take. These videos, that masked men would make. A kidnapped victim in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Snatched up just to be the star of a sick and twisted broadcast, in front of a camera, the fans are watching... paying good money. The dark web was truly a disgusting place, but if not for situations such as this sh*t show, Veronica wouldn't have the job and wouldn't be getting paid, which is what she cared about. The lady meant nothing to her, they didn't know each other and Veronica had no feelings for her other than a curiousness of how she got there.
Frankie and Mikey finally finished and wrapped the body in black trash bags. Mary stood by watching just as Veronica was but Mary hadn't lifted a finger to help the process. “Did your nails get messed up Mary? Any blood on your dress?” Veronica said with sarcasm. “Um, no... why?” Mary returned and Veronica just shook her head. “Of course not 'cause you did nothing... like every time you come with Frank. You are useless and get in the way” she spoke louder, getting annoyed. “Well, you can take it up with Vince.” she replied and Veronica scrunched her nose at her and rolled her eyes. She really disliked Mary but dealt with her because Frankie was a friend. She gets on her nerves and tests Veronica often, knowing she will behave herself; especially around Vincent.
Later, Veronica arrived home and as soon as she came through the door she was in revenge mode again. Two days passed since Edward had Veronica jumped in an alley and even though he said they were even, she had other plans. It didn't matter anymore that Pookie was her best friend Tyler's cousin. She was not going to let it go. It wasn't her to do so, and he knew that perfectly well. He must be looking over his shoulder and watching his back everywhere that he goes. Veronica was good at being sneaky, she could use her newfound abilities and easily have him crying for his mama. But, she felt that wasn't playing fair, that wasn't the game. Pookie was going to pay for what he had done to her and now that she was healing mostly and had her plan in place, there was no stopping her.
Quickly Veronica showered the stench of the night off of herself. She used a non-fragrance shampoo and soap. This was something she would do so she could not be smelled so easily. A cleansing then dressed in all black from head to toe. Her hair tied up in a tight bun, a mask pulled over her head. She concealed several weapons and then checked the clock. Giving herself only an hour to complete the task she had given herself. Straight out the back, quiet, silent feet as she took off on foot towards Edwards place. At this time she knew he would be there, awake or not he would know she was not done with him.
Arriving sometime later, Veronica tiptoed around the side of his apartment. She could see the light from the television flashing through the living room window. Checking her surroundings, she crouched down with her back against the foundation. Under the window, she carefully moved to the side and slid up the wall until she could see through a space in the blinds. There he was, sitting on the couch, all alone playing a video game. Veronica smiled deviously and got back down, practically crawling to the backyard of his place. She knew the layout of his home pretty well having been there numerous times in fact he is stupid to think she wouldn't be coming for him.
Peeling back the screen from his bedroom window, Veronica pulled out a knife to hack the lock. She was then inside his room without noise. Not even a sound from the blinds she was liquid in her movements. One step in and she looked down to the left, a woman was in his bed asleep. “Sh*t!” she thought to herself, not expecting to see a naked lady laying there. Veronica made sure to be extra quiet now and with one foot after the other, she slowly walked out of the room. Up against the hallway wall, she was patient. Down to all fours, she went rather fast across the carpet to behind the couch in which he sat.
Pulling a gun from her boot, it just as ready to go as she was. Behind him, placed the barrel to his right side temple. “Boo pook!” she whispered into his ear and he froze, dropping the game controller in his lap. “Uh... V. Wha... what are you doing?” he asked with a tremble in his voice, his hands rising in the air with caution. “Oh ya know me... you're my boy and all but hey... can't let what you had done to me go so easily.” she said with a hint of insanity bursting at the seams. “Okay, okay wait? Can we work this out? Come on mane, we grew up together.” he squeaked at the end of his statement. “I don't give a f*** and you already know.” she spits as she spoke, pressing the gun harder against his head. “I'm sorry.” he replied, shaking in fear. She could tell he was actually scared that she would kill him; - he would have deserved it in her book. “You think that I am going to kill you?” she asked, softly running the tip of her tongue up the back of his ear. The hairs upon his arms standing at attention.
“Please, don't kill me.” he said loudly and Veronica stood up and walked around the couch to face him. He looked up at her with furrowed brows and her dark orbs glanced to the hallway that led to the bedroom. “Who's the chic in your bed Pookie?” she questioned with her weapon drawn on him. “Just some random... why?” he asked in return and she shrugged. “I'm nosy.” she joked and pointed the gun down, pulling the trigger and shooting him in the right kneecap. “Ahhhh... f***!” Edward cried out and grabbed above his exploded knee. “Even yet?” she asked, smiling just as the woman from the bedroom came running out in a silk robe. “Oh my god!” the lady yelled and Veronica turned the gun on her and shot. One time, hit her in the upper right chest. The woman fell to the hallway floor and Veronica brought her attention back to Edward that was screaming, crying, and rolling about on his couch. “I hate you V.” he managed and Veronica smiled brightly. “Good.” she replied, put the gun away, and then was back out of the bedroom window, screen put back in place in no time. Cops – Pookie knew better than to call the cops and in his neighborhood, nobody cared enough to call them to the sounds of gunshots in the night. Luckily, he managed to get himself and his girl for the evening some medical attention, again, her name was never mentioned.
Captains Log:There are ten minutes left to the hour I gave myself to complete my goal.
Pookie learned a lesson.
I am hungry and want a burger.
Sleep... oh yeah, sleep.
Loyalty runs thin
Veronica's apartment - Compton
1400 hrsUpon her front porch, Veronica rested in an old blue and white lawn-chair. With her acoustic in her hands, she hummed and strummed with a fag dangling from her chapped lips. It was cold out but it bothered her none, she had drugs in her system and her blood felt as if it were boiling. High as a kite flying wildly on its own. She could barely keep her eyes open, things were happily a blur. With a growing grin the smoke fell from her pout onto the ground and would eventually burn itself out; Veronica hadn't even noticed it was gone.
She felt really good and rather preferred getting high by herself. Sometimes with others around, they can kill the vibe and waste her high. That would aggravate her to no end and only cause problems in her head. Her dogs were singing along as she played a sad little song, her voice barely audible as she made lyrics up as she went along.
Looking down at the ground she noticed two feet step up. It caught her attention and she stopped playing the guitar and looked up to see. “Hey V.” said Pookie, standing there on crutches and a knee immobilizer from when she shot him in the knee. Slurring her speech just a tad she decided she'd speak to him again, it had been some time now. “What you doing here?” she asked, placing her guitar down next to her and lighting up another cigarette. “Got any weed?” he asked in reply and she tilted her head, giving him a look with duck lips and sucked teeth. “How much do you need?” she questioned and he shook his head. “No, I mean to smoke with me.” Edward said, leaning against the foundation of her apartment. “Hell no.” she said with a laugh and a puff from her smoke, then flicking it away.
“I'll sell you some, but we aren't on that level anymore Pook.” she was sobering up already by his presence alone. “Come on, I said I was sorry. Look at my f***ing leg. I never said your name. Thought we were gonna drop this?” he asked a sincerity to his tone. Veronica didn't say anything for a moment and looked him over, thinking about if he deserved another chance. She did know him since they were kids, he was her best friend's cousin. He knows a lot of her secrets and could give her up at any time and he hasn't. Taking a deep breath, she nodded and stood up, stepping inside her front door and inviting him in. “Alright, c'mon.” she said softly and walked into the living room and to the couch to roll them one. “Close the door?” she asked and as he got himself through with his crutches he kicked it closed. Once inside her dogs were all over him. Sniffing and licking and happy to see him, it brought a smile to her buds. She was glad to have him back in her good graces. It's hard to find long-term loyal friends and after all that they have been through, she knows he and her will be friends till the end.
