MEMORIES

I used to think that I'd grow up to be famous. I used to think that the world would love me. I used to think so many things, and then the thought of where I ended up made me laugh. They must've thought I was going mad. A lot of people do end up mad, that's how the gangs started.

Sometimes I miss my old life. Other days I curse it. And most days I act like it never happened. Furnace is my life, and will always be, sadly.

My thought process almost always drift to how I got here.

I was a drug dealer at my school about two years ago at thirteen. I'd acquire marijuana, coke and multiple other things and sell them after keeping my share of the products. The kids were always high at my school, but the teachers never noticed because they hated us with a passion so strong, they wouldn't look at us.

Us. Why do I keep saying that when I, Luke Raulings, am no longer one of them. I'm just a forgotten pile of flesh stuck in Furnace.

Eventually, my deals moved streetside, and since no one else dealt in my town, I was the go to guy when you wanted to get as high as the clouds. Eventually, when a friend was on the job with me, a few certain people approached that would change my life forever.

I stared at the dirty ally that I dealt on. Rainier, my friend, sat next to me on the gravel. For all of you guys that mispronounce names on a regular basis, it's Ray-neer not Ray-nee-ur.

"How do you do this, man?" He kept asking me.

"Easy as cake, they walk up, tell me what they want, I give it to them, they pay me and it's done."

"There has to be a trick to it."

"Okay, no more weed for you today."

Rainier let out a groan.

The tallest men I think I've ever seen in my entire life walked up to us right then, the black suits they wore seemed more pristine than an antique china plate that glows in it's original quality.

"Hello Luke."

"Hey guys, whattaya want for today?"

They pull out a gun, and I couldn't hold back my shock.

"Holy hell, dude, we're all friendly here!"

He forces the gun into my hands.

"Kill your friend, and if you even think about pointing it our way, we'll pump you full of lead."

Rainier's face drains of color as I'm forced to point the gun at his face.

"Do it."

Rainier tries to run, but one of them holds him still as he tries to thrash free of his grip.

"I said do it, before I kill both of you."

I closed my eyes tight as I pull the trigger. I hear his flesh rip as the bullet digs into the bridge of his nose and disappears deep into his head. I open my eyes and his head loll back and the whites of his eyes as he slumps backwards onto the giant holding him.

I choke back a sob as they look at me with smug content.

"Now, would you like to stay here, or run? Either way, you'll get caught."

"No!"

I refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing I was in jail, so I ran for my life.