27

"I see you took me up on my offer." Professor Artemis said, coming out of the shadows.

"Of course. My goal is to become the best archer I can be. It is one of my talents." John replied turning around looking at Artemis.

"Well in that case, I will show no slack. You see that dirt patch over there."

Glancing over at the dirt patch John nodded his head. "Of course, that's where we have target practice."

"Yea I want you to stand right there and observe the arrows as they come towards you."

"Wait you want me to be the target?"

Smiling a gleam appeared in Professor Artemis eyes. "Yep, and you can't use your powers or leave this dirt patch."

"Cool wit' me" John said walking over to the middle of the patch. Taking a deep breath, he thought this can't be any harder than assassins training back in Arcadia. Picturing his training for only a few seconds he opened his eyes. "I'm ready."

"Good!" Professor Artemis responded. Raising up his arms he created a bow using his aura. "for archery is one of my talents also." Releasing his first arrow Artemis followed suit with a second one.

Dodging the first arrow John raised his hand up to catch the second but it split into two. Watching as the two arrows forked a third arrow pierced him in the shoulder.

"Did I tell you to dodge?" Professor Artemis spoke menacingly.

Another day in OverBay

Getting off the school bus Helicopters and police officers with dogs were parading around everywhere. "Damn Mike yo hood on fire" one of the students said.

Getting up out of his seat Michael shook his head. "None, new I wondah what happen."

"Whateva it is. Must be some serious."

"Who knows last time the hood was hot like this my dawg Payne had a shootout wit da laws."

Getting off the bus Mike ran into Jose who stayed across the street from him. "What goooo diine?" Jose said dabbing him up.

"Mayne you tell me." Mike replied.

"None much. Trynna figure out what happened. Bet ya boy CK know."

"Hell yea that nigga always know what's going on."

"Fo' real dough he like the trap news." Jose said.

"Right! If he don' get his. Reporting live in OverBay. One time is running the streets in pursuit ov whoop da whoop looking ass."

Laughing the two boys walked down the street conversing until they reached their block. "Where are ya'll going?" An officer barked walking up to them with an assault rifle in hand.

"We just heading to da hize." Michael said making sure not to move the wrong way.

"What street you stay on?" the officer asked.

"Pealheave." Jose answered.

Glaring at the two boys the officer grabbed his walkie-talkie, "I have two suspects in question. What were the perps wearing?"

"One of them had blue shorts and a black undershirt, the other a white t-shirt along with blue jeans and the last a grey shirt along with plaid shorts."

Sizing up Michael and Jose neither one of them matched the description. "Alright you can go. Hurry up and go in and don't you come back out."

"Yes sir" the two boys replied rushing pass the officer.

Turning on Pealheave Michael pulled out his phone and called CK. "What's popping youngsta"

"Dat five" Mike replied. "What's poppin'"

"That fif' what it is youngsta,"

"Bloody on my end, I was trying to see if you were straight. Da hood on fire." Mike remarked.

"Yea I know I'm sitting here watching the laws pass by now."

"What happened?"

"Yo boys RC, Will and Bull done pulled a cluck move. They hit a lick on somebody hize cross da bridge."

Heading home

Heading home John could hear police sirens flying by. Making it two streets down from his house he could see that the police had blocked off the street. Looking down the street he could see his cousin, Rob, being put in handcuffs. Going down the street J. Mike asked one of the officers if he could speak with him. Nodding his head, the officer allowed him to get only so close. "Wuz cracking cuzzo" said Rob.

"None much, what happen" John asked.

"None cuh its all good just tell my baby momma to put some money on my books."

"Wuz hea' numba"

"7.1.3.5.4.6.7.2.3.8"

"Get in da car" The police officer yelled shoving him in the back.

"Watch how you handle me cuh" Rob yelled as he got in the backseat. "You got it"

"Yea." John replied saving the number in his phone. Watching as the officer slammed the door in Rob face, he called up Jessica his baby momma.

"Hello"

"Jessica"

"Who dis"

"John"

"Nigga didn't I tell you to stop calling me. Don't make me tell Rob and have him shoot yo ass." She yelled through the phone.

"Jessica this his lil' cousin."

"Oh, wassup John what made you call me?" she asked.

"It's bout Rob."

"Let me guess he got caught up again." She said.

"Yea they actually just put him in the police car right now." John replied.

"Aite dats a bet I'll take care of it." said Jessica. "Thank ya."

"No prob" was all John got to say before she hung up the phone. Getting ready to put his phone in his pocket Michael called. "Wassup" John said answering the phone.

"None, much slow boog, you think you can do me a favor?" Michael asked.

"What is it?" John replied.

"None, serious I just need help wit' a lil some some." Mike replied.

"Aite but I aint made it home yet."

"It aint no rush. I'm gonna send you da address, meet me in bout hr or two." Michael said hanging up the phone.

Welcome to the Dog Hotel

Staring at an abandoned building John wondered if Michael sent him the wrong address. Pulling out his cell phone he called him up.

"What go dine you hea'" Michael asked answering the phone.

Looking around John said. "I think you sent me the wrong address."

Staring out the window at John, Mike hung up the phone. Using flash step, he stood on the opposite side of the barbed wire fence. "Naw, you in the right place."

"Oh!" John said snapping his head up from looking at his phone. "You scared me, dawg."

Shaking his head Michael told John to leap over the fence.

"Say bro what are you doing inside this abandoned building?" John asked as they walked towards the entrance. Getting no reply, his question was answered once they walked inside for the sound and smell of dogs hit him before he could see them. "What's wit' all the animals bro."

"What it look like dawg? People can take care themselves and buy what they need but animals can't. So, I fixed this place up. Whenever I run into a stray, I bring them here."

"You gone just keep collecting them what happens when there is no room. And what bout the ones that are sick."

"I sell all those I can, heal those I can and buy medicine for the rest. On the cool I found a live ass veterinarian who don't mind aiding the animals. But she human and asks to many questions."

"Dey don't fight each other or anything."

"Damn dawg now you asking to many questions. I thought you said you were gone do me a favah. Not interview me."

Laughing softly John gazed around the building surprised at how new everything looked. "So, what you want me to do?" he questioned.

"Help me wash these lil bastards. And befo you say anything I'm gone pay you fo' it."

Shrugging his shoulders John said, "Aite, cool. You can let yo boy catch a puppy also."

"I aint know you liked dawgs." Michael said rubbing the pack of puppies that were barking and jumping on him.

Bending over and doing the same John said, "On the cool it's not for me its fo' Crystal."

"I aint tripping but if anything, happen to my dog it's gone be you and me."

Tossing his hand up John said, "Aite cool no worries mayne imma take good care of it."

Lifting his head Michael mugged John, "You bettah." He said standing up. Walking out the building Mike entered the one across from it. Staring at a mini pool along with all kinds of bins J. Mike was amazed by all the work Mike put in for the animals.

Three hours later. "Say mayne, I don't get how you stay faithful to Crystal dawg. Like I have to have a main and a few sides." Michael commented as they washed the dogs.

"Mayne bro bro I aint gone lie I love hea'. And I don't have time fo' the extra. On the cool it's none but drama. And knowing me I been done slipped up anyway called somebody the wrong name." John replied.

Shaking his head Mike laughed. "Say bo, just last week my bro got caught up. We were walking wit' dese hoes in my hood, when another one of his girlfriends showed up."

"See what I mean."

"I aint gonna lie he kept it playa dough. He still talking to both of 'em right now." Michael commented. "On the cool tho, that's his fault. Ion know why he talk to two girls in the same hood."

"That's not smart." John remarked.

"I know. I told him the same thing." Mike said shrugging his shoulders. "Oh well that's on him."

"So, tell me how you keep from calling yo females the wrong name?" John questioned.

"Oh, dats easy. I call all 'em baby. I can't go wrong wit' dat. My main getsah nickname but the rest day just get baby."

"Are you serious" John said shaking his head. "No wonder you don' have no worries."

"Well that and I tell mos' ov dem straight up I can't make no promises. Imma do me." Mike said drying off his dog.

"You smell that?" John asked as he picked up one of the dogs and placed her into his tub.

"What you talm bout?" Michael replied as he chased the next dog. "Don't you know 'bout now you can't get away from me." Mike told the dog catching it. Looking over at John he took a deep breath and exhaled. "Oh, that smell. It's Trixie. She has cancer all I can do is take away the pain. She been having it for a minno."

Unable to place why the scent smelled so familiar John replied, "Awww man that's messed up."

"Yea I know."

"Ey you neva tol' me how you keep all these dogs and cats from fighting each otha." John said curious about his answer.

"I think it's one of my gifts. I can talk to animals and they listen to me. So, I laid down the law. Plus, I also used my, intimidate to establish dominance."