Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper Page B

with your friends.” She was watching TV. Jordan was not there.
    Gerald let Angel know he was going. She looked a little worried, but she told him, “Get out of here. You can’t stay here for the rest of your life lookin’ out for me. I can take care of myself. And besides, he
has
been behaving himself.” She sighed. “When I grow up and become a famous dancer, I’m gonna move far, far away from here.”
    Gerald smiled at her and left, dribbling his basketball, wishing he could bounce all of his fears and troubles away. He played for a couple of hours and returned, hot and sweaty, but more relaxed. He decided to take a cool shower and maybe look for a job in the morning.
    When Gerald reached the apartment, the door was open and he could see nothing but dark silence. His heart began to beat faster as he tiptoed into the darkness. No sound, no light, no movement.
    â€œAngel?” he whispered softly. “Monique?” Nothing.
    Gerald was so scared he felt sick.
If something has happened to
Angel, Gerald thought,
I’ll go crazy!
    Why had he left the house? What could have happened? Where was everybody? And where was Jordan Sparks?
    Gerald almost ran to Angel’s bedroom, feeling his way in the darkness. He was so afraid, so very afraid of whathe might find. “Angel!” he screamed in fear. “Angel! Where are you?”
    â€œI’m over here, Gerald,” called Angel’s voice. “I’m okay. The electricity went off and me and Tiger were just sitting here in the dark, trying not to be scared.”
    Relieved, Gerald began to breathe again. “But where’s Monique?”
    â€œOh, she said she had to get some cigarettes for Jordan. She left just before the lights went off. She said she’d be right back, but she’s been gone for over an hour, I think.”
    â€œHas Jordan been here?” asked Gerald, just to make sure.
    â€œNo, he’s been out all evening, thank goodness. Just me and Tiger. I’m glad you’re home. I was scared.”
    â€œMe too. Can you imagine what I thought when I saw the door standing open and the lights off? I wonder why Monique didn’t remember to shut and lock the door.”
    â€œYou know how she is when she’s around Jordan,” Angel replied. “She gets so excited and flustered. He called and said he’d be home by midnight and he wanted her to go get him some cigarettes. Why can’t he go and get his own stupid smokes?”
    As she spoke, the power was restored and the lights came back on. Gerald and Angel grinned at each other, just a little ashamed of their fears of the darkness. It was then that Gerald became aware of the sirens.
    Fire and emergency sirens were commonplace in the neighborhood—the city’s largest hospital was just around the corner. But sirens in the distance and sirens right onthe corner have two different sounds. These sirens were close.
    Gerald looked out of their sixth-floor window. He couldn’t see much. “You and Tiger stay here, Angel. And lock the door when I leave. I’m going downstairs to see what’s going on. Something has happened on the corner. I’ll be right back.”
    Angel nodded. As Gerald ran down the six flights of steps, his fear expanded like a balloon in his chest. A crowd had already gathered by the time he reached the corner. A tall, bearded taxi driver stood weeping in the street. “I didn’t see her. I didn’t see her,” he kept repeating. “She was running—like she was in a hurry! She ran right in front of me! I didn’t see her. I swear I didn’t see her!”
    The paramedics were lifting the victim into the ambulance. She did not seem to be breathing. It was Monique. Clutched in one hand was a pack of cigarettes.
    â€œDoes anybody know this lady?” a policeman asked the crowd.
    Gerald’s voice at first failed him. He finally spoke loud enough to be heard.