Page 118 of The Ninth

Kenzie nodded, snatching our clothes out of her purse. Money fell all over the floor as we hurried, sorting out clothes and putting them on. Even though Cassie’s voice was calm and even, worry was still on her face. However, I was still surprised by how she took control of the situation. She had no idea how we were getting out alive and not assaulted, however everyone was visibly more calm. In a matter of a minute, we were dressed. Luckily we all had shoes on.

“Of course my nigga got me blocked when I’m about to get fucking killed! I can’t call Man-Man; my fucking phone died!”

Tati grabbed her arm, “Don’t say that, Cassandra.”

“Who should we call? Maybe Ben is still in town. Liv or Timbo?” Cassie looked at us.

“I can try to call my man but...I honestly don’t know what he would say or do...” I whispered.

Kenzie shook her head, “My YN’s might not risk fucking with a nigga like Kenan.”

“And we for damn sure ain’t calling Poncho,” Tati snorted.

“Hecky naw, Joe!” the four of us said.

“I’m not going to lie. I have a .40 cal....” Kenzie revealed.

“A WHAT?!” the three of us asked.

“Y’all knew I carried! Or at least Cassie and Tati did.”

Cassie breathed out, “Alright. They haven’t come for us so that means they’re waiting up front. I don’t think there’s any way out except going past the living room to the front or back door. Kenzie, you have the gun ready. We’ll walk out there, say we leaving and ain’t on shit. The most we’ll do is dump the bread out the purse. It’s our word against that nigga’s anyways. But we leaving. Period. If they not having it, we’re running out or shooting.”

“I’m scared as fuck!” Tati’s voice shook.

“Don’t be,” Cassie nodded. “They’re not going to kill us over no pussy. We leaving this mothafucka alive, on my dead mama head.”

We all nodded, believing her. She nodded her head in response, slowly making her way to the bathroom door. We all timidly followed her.

I noticed the house was dead silent. No music was playing. Nobody was talking. Our heels softly clicked on the tile as we got closer and closer to the door. Kenzie’s light caused our legs to cast eerily long shadows onto the floor. That is until Kenzie turned the light off, leaving us in the black.

With the help of the little bit of light coming from beneath the door, I watched Cassie’s hand shake as she reached, slowly turning the lock. After a deep breath, she pulled down the handle, pulling it towards her. Me not letting my cousin be the sacrifice, I stepped forward, body against hers.

The crack of the door as we looked through it was black. My heart dropped. They cut all of the lights off.

But then, the blackness moved forward, and the light came back into view. They weren’t off. Someone was creeping past the door in the direction of the living. Once my eyes adjusted, I seen they were carrying a huge rifle and wearing a ski mask.

As Cassie went to shut the door back, someone that hadn’t passed yet tried to stop her. We both pressed it closed, catching their finger. Once they snatched it out, we laid against the door and turned the lock. The four of us stared at each other as the door handle jiggled repeatedly.

“Fuck that shit, come on!” someone whispered. Finally, they walked away.

“Oh my God....” Cassie whispered. “Oh my God...”

“You’re telling me we came to set these niggas up and they were already getting set up?!” Tati asked with wide eyes.

“We have to leave this bathroom,” I didn’t recognize my own voice. “They know we’re in here. They’ll come back!”

Kenzie shook her head, “We’re not making it to the front or back door.”

“We just need to move and hide somewhere else. They’ll be in a rush to leave and think we got out!”

Cassie nodded, “Get re—”

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

POP! POP! POP!

Gunshots started ringing through the house. We dropped to the ground as bullets poked through the walls. Cassie reached up and unlocked the door before pulling it open. The four of us jumped up, running from the bathroom door to the next closest door that was open. Just my luck, we went straight down into the basement.