ATM

Arell stepped out of the building, the cool night air refreshing against his skin as he made his way to his Subaru Forester. Unlocking the car, he slid into the driver's seat, started the engine, and pulled out of the parking lot.

A few minutes later, Arell found himself pulling into the parking lot of a nearby ice cream place. Turning off the engine, he stepped out of the car and made his way inside, the scent of freshly made waffle cones wafting through the air.

Approaching the counter, Arell greeted the cashier with a polite smile. "Hey there, can I get a scoop of mint chocolate chip in a waffle cone, please?"

The cashier nodded with a friendly smile. "Sure thing! Coming right up." they replied, scooping out a generous portion of mint chocolate chip ice cream and carefully placing it in a freshly made waffle cone.

With his ice cream in hand, Arell found a vacant seat by the window and settled in, the soft glow of the streetlights casting a warm ambiance throughout the cozy space. Taking a moment to savor the scene, he lifted the cone to his lips and took a bite, the creamy sweetness melting on his tongue.

As he sat by the window, enjoying another lick of his ice cream, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, intending to check Twitter once more. But before he could unlock the screen, he noticed someone approaching him out of the corner of his eye.

Instinctively, Arell's senses heightened, and he tensed slightly, his hand moving down to the gun at his waist. He squinted his eyes, assessing the approaching figure with caution.

The person, a young man with a friendly smile, stopped in front of Arell and spoke up. "Hey, excuse me. Are you Arell Rose?"

Arell's guard softened slightly at the recognition. He nodded slowly, still cautious but intrigued by the encounter.

The young man's smile widened. "Wow, I'm a fan of your music!" he exclaimed. "Mind if I get a quick picture with you?"

Arell's initial tension eased as he realized the person meant no harm. He offered a small smile in return and nodded. "Sure, no problem."

As the young man excitedly took out his phone to snap a photo, Arell relaxed, feeling a sense of validation and appreciation wash over him.

After the quick photo, the young man thanked Arell profusely before heading back to his own table, leaving Arell to enjoy his ice cream once more.

As Arell watched the young man return to his table, a sense of realization washed over him. That brief encounter marked his first direct interaction with a fan, it was a moment he wouldn't soon forget.

Sitting there with his ice cream, Arell couldn't help but reflect on how far he had come. From reading books in a prison cell to having a stranger recognize him in public.

Finishing the last bites of his ice cream, Arell couldn't shake the feeling of excitement that lingered within him. He knew that as he continued to grow in fame, encounters like these would become a regular occurrence.

Arell's smile lingered as he basked in the warmth of the moment, the encounter with his first fan leaving him feeling more at ease than before. With a sense of contentment, he finished his ice cream and stood up from his seat by the window.

Feeling a bit peckish still, Arell decided that some food from a food truck would hit the spot. He reached into his pocket to check his wallet, only to realize that he didn't have much cash on hand. Counting the bills inside, he muttered to himself, "32 dollars."

With a hint of disappointment, he acknowledged that a trip to the ATM was in order.

Exiting the ice cream shop, Arell made his way back to his Subaru Forester. He settled into the driver's seat and pulled up Google Maps on his phone, searching for the nearest ATM.

A nearby location popped up on the map, and Arell set his course, the soft glow of the streetlights guiding his way. As he drove, he couldn't help but notice how dark it had become, the evening sky illuminated by a scattering of stars.

Glancing at the clock on the dashboard, Arell muttered to himself, "8 PM already, time be moving so fast."

Despite the late hour, the city buzzed with activity, with many wandering the streets.

Spotting the ATM nestled against a wall near a convenience store, he glanced around, taking in the scene. A couple emerged from the convenience store, laughing softly as they headed to their car. Across the street, a group of friends strolled by, chatting animatedly. The distant sound of car engines hummed in the background, punctuated by the occasional honk or revving motor.

Navigating the parking lot, Arell scanned for a suitable spot, his eyes flicking from one space to another. Just as he spotted an empty slot near the ATM, a sedan swooped in and claimed it. Arell's brows furrowed in frustration for a moment, but he quickly brushed it off with a resigned sigh.

"Guess I'll have to find another spot." he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible. He continued his search, weaving between cars until he found a vacant space further from the ATM. With a nod of satisfaction, he parked his Subaru and stepped out onto the pavement.

As he walked past the sedan that had taken his spot, he couldn't help but notice the dark tinted windows. It was impossible to see inside, something Arell should do for his own vehicle he thought.

Approaching the convenience store, he noticed someone stepping out and nearly tripping over their own feet. Arell paused for a moment, concern flickering across his face. "You good?" he asked.

The person nodded sheepishly. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just clumsy," they replied with a chuckle.

With a nod, Arell continued towards the ATM, his footsteps echoing softly against the pavement. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, flipping it open to retrieve his card.

As he stood at the ATM, the sound of a car door opening caught his attention, but he paid it little mind, assuming it was just someone else coming or going. Glancing around briefly, he inserted his card and began the process of withdrawing cash.

Arell felt a strange sense of unease wash over him as he navigated the options on the ATM screen. Something didn't quite feel right, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

As he pressed the buttons on the machine, he heard the sound of approaching footsteps from the direction of the convenience store. Arell glanced up, his senses on high alert.

A figure walked towards him, clad in a black hoodie that partially obscured their face. Arell's heart skipped a beat as he locked eyes with the stranger,

Without hesitation, Arell swiftly withdrew his card from the ATM, his other hand instinctively moving towards his gun. "What's up?" he called out.

The stranger's response sent a chill down Arell's spine. "What's up, pussy?" he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. In an instant, he brandished a gun, the glint of metal flashing in the dim light.

Arell's heart pounded in his chest as adrenaline surged through his veins. Without a moment to spare, he instinctively lunged sideways, diving behind the nearest parked car just as the stranger's gun barked.

Glass exploded into shards as bullets tore through the air, Arell's breath came in ragged gasps as he pressed himself against the car, his mind racing with fear and adrenaline.

As the stranger continued to let off shots, Arell swiftly retrieved his gun and dove behind another nearby car. Bullets whizzed past him, sparking against the pavement with sharp cracks. Adrenaline surged through Arell's veins as he moved quickly, seeking cover and a strategic advantage.

Peering up from behind the car, Arell scanned the scene, his heart pounding in his chest. The stranger was closing in, his figure obscured by the dimly lit surroundings.

He dashed from his hiding spot, moving swiftly to another car further down the row. Leaning against the vehicle, he glanced up, trying to gauge the stranger's position from the vantage point of the car window.

Suddenly, he spotted movement. The stranger was coming towards him again, his gun raised. Reacting instinctively, Arell raised his own weapon and fired through the car window.

For a heart-stopping moment, it seemed as though the bullet would miss its mark. But at the last second, it found its target, narrowly grazing the stranger's shoulder.

With a grunt of pain, the stranger ducked down, momentarily stunned by the unexpected attack. Seizing the opportunity, Arell moved quickly, shifting his position to maintain cover as he prepared for the next exchange.

But the stranger was not deterred. He rose to his feet once more, taking aim, he fired again at the car where Arell was hiding, the sound of gunfire echoing in the night.

Panic rippled through the nearby pedestrians. Arell's senses heightened, and he could hear the screams of people running away and the frantic shuffling of those seeking refuge in the convenience store.

With a sense of urgency, Arell knew he needed to get to safety. He glanced up at the shooter, who was advancing toward him once again. Without hesitation, Arell made a split-second decision. He needed to reach his car.

Staying low to the ground, Arell dashed towards the front of the car, his heart pounding with adrenaline. Bullets whizzed past him, shattering the glass of the convenience store behind him, sending terrified screams from inside the convenience store into the night.

Using the car as cover, Arell returned fire, the recoil jolting through his body as he fired with one hand, his focus unwavering despite the chaos around him. The shooter staggered back as one of Arell's shots found its mark, but he continued to advance.

Arell gritted his teeth, his movements fueled by a combination of fear and determination. As he reached his car, he continued to shoot back at the assailant, each shot punctuated by the sound of gunfire and breaking glass.

The shooter, now wounded but still determined, retreated to a sedan, the same one with the tinted windows, and sped off out of the parking lot.

Arell took a deep, ragged breath, attempting to calm the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

With cautious steps, Arell emerged from behind the car, his gun still tightly gripped in his hand.

Moving swiftly, he checked the magazine of his gun, ensuring he still had enough ammunition to defend himself if necessary. Then, he began to walk around the perimeter of the parking lot, his gaze sharp.

As he walked, he noticed the aftermath of the chaos that had unfolded moments before. Shattered glass littered the ground, and the air was thick with the acrid scent of gun smoke. People fled in every direction, their panicked footsteps echoing against the pavement.

Arell's breath came in ragged gasps as he navigated the debris, his senses heightened by the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He stepped over broken glass and discarded items, his movements purposeful as he surveyed the scene.

Arell made his way towards the convenience store. Pushing open the door, he was met with a rush of warm air and the sound of panicked voices within.

Inside, the scene was chaotic. Shaken customers huddled together, their faces pale with fear. Arell's heart clenched at the sight, a wave of empathy washing over him as he took in their terrified expressions.

With slow, deliberate steps, Arell made his way through the store, his gaze sweeping over the frightened faces of the patrons. He offered reassurance where he could, his voice calm and steady as he urged them to stay calm.

Arell's heart sank as he heard the groaning amidst the chaos of the convenience store. Following the sound, he quickly made his way towards it, his senses on high alert. As he approached, he saw a woman kneeling beside a young boy, his arm clutching tightly at his bleeding wound.

"James!" the woman called out, her voice trembling with fear and desperation.

Arell rushed to the boy's side, joining the woman and the others who had gathered around. He knelt down beside the injured boy, his heart aching at the sight of the young child in pain.

"Hey, are you okay?" Arell asked gently, his voice filled with concern.

The boy winced as he looked up, tears streaming down his face. "It hurts," he whimpered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Arell's heart clenched at the sight, his instincts kicking into high gear as he assessed the severity of the boy's injury. Without hesitation, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, his fingers moving swiftly as he dialed emergency services.

"911, what's your emergency?" a voice on the other end answered.

"We need an ambulance," Arell replied urgently. "There's been a shooting at the convenience store on 5th and Main. A young boy has been shot, and he's bleeding badly."

The dispatcher quickly took down the details, assuring Arell that help was on the way. Arell relayed the information to the others in the store, urging them to stay calm and help the boy as best they could until help arrived.

As they waited for the ambulance to arrive, Arell did his best to comfort the boy and others, offering words of encouragement and reassurance.

<> 

The shooter winced in pain as he drove onto the highway, his Glock resting on his lap. With a grimace, he reached for his phone, his fingers trembling slightly as he dialed a number.

The call connected, and a voice on the other end answered with a curt, "Yo, what's good?"

"Yo, it's me," the shooter replied, his voice strained with pain. "I need you to patch me up, man. Shit went down, and I caught a bullet."

There was a pause on the other end before the voice responded, "Damn, bro, you straight? You hit bad?"

"Nah, he ain't get me good," the shooter said, his voice tense. "But it's bleeding like a motherfucker. I need you to meet me at the usual spot and bring a kit."

"Say no more, fam," the voice replied, a sense of urgency in his tone. "I'll be there in ten."

The shooter let out a sigh of relief, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. "Good lookin' out, bro. I owe you one."

"Aight, just stay safe out there." the voice said before hanging up.

The shooter hesitated for a moment before dialing another number, his fingers tapping anxiously on the phone screen. The call went through, and a voice on the other end picked up, sounding impatient.

"What's good?" the voice said curtly.

"It's me," the shooter replied, his tone grim. "I didn't get it done."

There was a pause on the other end, followed by an exasperated sigh. "What do you mean you didn't get it done? I thought you said you had it handled."

The shooter rubbed his temple, frustration evident in his voice. "Look, Tavares, it went sideways, aight? Arell ain't no pushover. He started blasting back, and we had to dip."

A sharp intake of breath could be heard on the other end of the line. "Shit, you know what this means, right? We got heat on us now, you gotta' come back to Chicago."

The shooter clenched his jaw, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. "I know, I know. But listen, bro, Arell ain't got no solid evidence on us. He can't pin shit on you."

The voice on the other end sounded skeptical. "You sure about that? If him and his homies start talking, we could all end up in the pen."

Tavares shook his head, frustration evident in his voice. "Nah, nah, they ain't got nothing solid enough to really put nobody in jail. And besides, I got an idea to shut him up."

The voice on the other end sounded intrigued. "What's the plan, then?"

The shooter leaned back in his seat, a smirk playing at his lips. "We both know Arell's been making music. So, here's what we do, you drop a diss track on him. Call him out, talk some shit about him, Devon and the rest of them. If he actually snitching and police come onto us, people gone find out he's been running his mouth, he's gonna lose all credibility."

The voice on the other end of the line paused, considering the proposal. "A diss track, huh? That could work. You think Sosa would be down for that?"

The shooter chuckled darkly. "Man, Sosa ain't gonna touch that. Him and Arell were cool, remember? But we don't need him anyway."

There was a moment of silence before the voice responded. "Yeah, you right. I'll hit you up soon. Stay safe out there."

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Kendrick Stop That.

OV Hoeee.