"Enslavement" Grades 9-10 Enslavement Dylan “You owe me twenty-seven dollars.” “Can't ya cut me a break? I'm a returning customer.” “No. Pay up or nothing. This shit's not cheap.”   The weather was warm for March. I ambled around at the cross of Ainslee Road and Basil Avenue with my newly bought quarter ounce of marijuana. Just the smell of it wafting from the hidden pocket inside my long black coat was intoxicating. It made me fidgety. Walking by friends at school, I breathed in the fumes of weed radiating from their clothes. It calms me. That's when I know I need to get more. Where is that bitch? I told her six.   Sky strolled up the sidewalk of Ainslee Road, avoiding all of the cracks between each block of gray gum-stained cement. Her curly, dark brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail, hidden by the hood of the black sweatshirt that seemed to consume her. Sharpied stars and scribbles stained her tight, ripped jeans. She was listening to her iPod: “Take This To Heart” by Mayday Parade. I had told her to meet me at six o'clock. It was five fifty-three. She was early. I've trained her well.     Skylar He's smart deep down I know it. I know I can change him. He just doesn't have the support he needs He's a good person Deep within himself. We just need to find it.     Dylan “Hey baby doll, walk faster. I'm dying over here!” My hands flung up to my neck in a fake choke. Skylar cracked a smile. I always know how to make her laugh. She walked faster and practically ran into my arms. They surrounded her, made her feel safe and warm. I let my lips caress her hair, then her neck and forehead. She smelled like sweet pea. I grabbed her little hands in my big ones. Her big hazel eyes looked up at me, lovingly. I have her wrapped around my finger...     Skylar I REMEMBER IT WAS MY 16TH BIRTHDAY. YOU CAME OVER IN A DRUNK RAGE. I JUST HAPPENED TO BE “BOTHERING” YOU THAT DAY. I ALWAYS SEEM TO ANNOY YOU. THE COUNTER IS STILL BLOOD STAINED.     Dylan “CAN WE GO BACK TO YOUR HOUSE? I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME RIGHT NOW. MY MOM'S BITCHING AGAIN TELLING ME TO GET A JOB. LAZY BITCH SHOULD GET OFF HER OWN ASS AND GET HER OWN JOB.” I SLUNG MY ARM OVER SKY'S SHOULDER, AND STARTED STROLLING DOWN BASIL AVENUE, NOT PATIENT ENOUGH FOR HER RESPONSE. AFTER ABOUT FIVE MINUTES OF SILENT WALKING, I FINALLY DECIDED TO SAY SOMETHING I DON'T USUALLY. “SO...UMM...HOW WAS YOUR DAY SO FAR?” SKY LOOKED UTTERLY AMAZED THAT I JUST ASKED HER HOW SHE WAS. “OH..UMM...MY DAY'S ACTUALLY BEEN REALLY GREAT. THIS MORNING MY GRANDPARENTS BROUGHT ME TO...” AFTER GRANDPARENTS, I SORTA JUST ZONED OUT. I REALLY DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT HER DAY. NOW I REMEMBER WHY I NEVER DO THIS. 'CAUSE NOW SHE WON'T SHUT UP.     Skylar Our seven month anniversary, You bought me a sterling necklace Shaped like a heart. Said it represented your love for me. I wear it every day.     Dylan We finally got to Sky's little powder-blue ranch. Her parents are that “stick up their ass” kind of people that actually have a garden...with flowers, paint the house when it starts to look crappy, and care about her grades. That's why she's an “A” student. “Did you hear me, Dilly? I said I got accepted into Berkeley!” Her face lit up in the most beautiful way. It almost made me feel bad for how I treat her. Almost. “Yeah that's great, Kitten, but you're not going anywhere I can't follow you.”   Skylar   The letter came in the mail Addressed to “Miss Skylar Caitlyns” “We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Berkeley University.” How am I going to tell Dylan I'm moving to California TO STUDY NEUROBIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY? I MUST BE CRAZY.     Dylan WE FINALLY SETTLED DOWN ON HER CUSHY, LEATHER COUCH. IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR MAKE OUT SESSION THAT I STARTED TO FEEL FIDGETY AGAIN. “ HEY BABE, I NEEDA SMOKE.” QUICKLY, I PULLED OUT MY QUARTER OUNCE, LIGHTER, AND BONG. WE WERE THE ONLY ONES HOME. WHO COULD POSSIBLY CATCH US? AFTER TAKING A FEW HITS, I OFFERED THE BONG TO SKY. “ Umm, no thanks Dill. You know I don't smoke.” She choked on getting the words out as I exhaled in her face. If I didn't know better, I'd say she was afraid to say it. Bitch could be grateful and take a hit. This shit's expensive.     Skylar WE WERE ON A WALK IN MARCH. I GUESS I SAID SOMETHING WRONG. WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS? I TOLD TIANA IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, YOU DIDN'T MEAN TO HURT ME BUT I THINK SHE SUSPECTED SOMETHING.     Dylan “I OFFERED YOU WEED. YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE IT.” SHE WAS TESTING MY PATIENCE. I'LL JUST SHOW HER WHO WEARS THE PANTS IN THIS RELATIONSHIP. SHE LOOKS BETTER WITH THEM OFF ANYWAYS. THAT'S MY NEXT STEP... SKY LOOKED NERVOUS. A STRAND OF CURL FELL IN HER FACE. I BRUSHED IT GENTLY BACK BEHIND HER EAR AND OFFERED HER THE PIPE ONE MORE TIME, A STERN LOOK ACROSS MY FACE. AFTER A SLIGHT HESITATION, SKYLAR REACHED OUT TO TAKE IT FROM ME. SHE HELD IT RELUCTANTLY TO HER LIPS... ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR HITS. THAT A GIRL.     Skylar The next day, You brought me flowers To say you're sorry. They were so beautiful. A dozen pink carnations. Reminds me why I'm still with you.     Dylan I've gotten sick of pot. I'm onto harder stuff. I took the pipe back and put it on the table. Reaching into the same coat pocket as before, I pulled out a packet of cocaine. Staring at her face, a smirk crossed my lips as her beautiful hazel eyes widened. “Dill, I really don't think that's a good idea. I don't mind the smoking too much, but this is just too much for me.” “You're going to do what I tell you to do, and you're not going to complain.”     Skylar June 2, 2011. I still love you, Even though you hurt me Physically and emotionally. I know you're good Somewhere deep inside you. You pulled me aside Why are all of the secrets you tell bad? “I got some pot. Took a few hits off it.” I never told you I WENT HOME AND CRIED YOUR LIFE FLASHED IN FRONT OF ME I TRIED TO GRAB YOUR HAND, BUT IT WAS HOLDING A CIGARETTE INSTEAD.     Dylan “KITTY?” I KICKED AWAY AT AN EMPTY VODKA BOTTLE AND THE EMPTY BAG OF COCAINE. MAYBE I PUSHED HER TOO HARD... SKY WAS ON THE GROUND. SHE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T HANDLE ANYTHING HARDCORE. MENTAL NOTE FOR NEXT TIME. “BABE?” I BENT OVER HER, POKING HER HARD ON THE SHOULDER. MAYBE SHE'LL WAKE UP AND WE CAN SCREW BEFORE HER PARENTS GET HOME. SHE DIDN'T MOVE...AT ALL. HER ARMS WERE COLD. “SKY? SKYLAR? WAKE UP. COME ON. YOU'RE PATHETIC!” BY NOW, I WAS SHAKING HER. SKY WOULDN'T OPEN HER EYES. SHE WOULDN'T LET ME SEE HER HAZEL EYES. DEAR GOD...     Skylar I hate when You tell me these things And I have to act okay. I have to support you and love you, But I die on the inside.     Dylan “Someone! Somebody, Please help me!” I couldn't scream any louder as I ran Sky on my back into the Emergency Room. She was completely limp. I could barely carry her to the car, so I threw her on the back seat. It was a sickening sight. A creature so beautiful, as limp as a boned fish, and as white as a marshmallow. That's what she was. A marshmallow. Flimsy, pale, and soft. There was nothing I could do to help her at this point.       Skylar   Always know The scars you leave on my heart With every blow And each slap Are deeper More painful And more permanent Than the ones that you leave On the shallow layers Of my skin     Dylan “ Hey doc. Is she going to be okay? We were just messing around. Nothing serious.” I swear to God when I see her, the first thing I'm gonna do is cut this whole thing off. How the hell can I have a girlfriend that can't even stand a little coke? The short little woman looked up at me with a blank expression. She had smile wrinkles around her mouth that just seemed to emphasize her anger and contemplation. The lady glanced down at the clipboard in her hands and flipped through the first few pages. “One, I'm a nurse. And Skylar Caitlyns? Is that who you are talking about?” Her facial expression changed slightly with an added hint of sympathy. “Skylar died a few minutes after she arrived. Her parents were contacted. I'm very sorry. And you are going to have to stay here until the police arrive to question you. There are seats back there.” The nurse turned and walked back down the hall she came from, not looking back, avoiding all the cracks in between the white tiles.     Skylar   Don't Linger Too Long YOU CAN LET GO NOW LET ME REST. I WILL NOT COME BACK. I PROMISE. LEAVE MY MEMORY ALONE IT DID NOTHING TO YOU. DON'T MANIPULATE THE TRUTH. I AM NOT YOURS ANYMORE I AM NOT ANYONE'S. I AM GONE IN THE ONE PLACE YOU CAN'T FOLLOW. I AM ONE WITH THE WIND AND THE SKY. YOU CAN LET GO NOW BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING LEFT OF ME TO HOLD ON TO. 1