This time Logic reached for it and was surprised to see so many text messages and calls. It seemed like everyone who had his number was trying to reach him. Shifting Tyer to the side,Logic sat up and called Spice since the last call came from her. As the phone rung, a wave of uneasiness washed over him.
“Lo.” Her cracked voice sent a chill down his spine.
“What’s wrong?” Logic asked, shifting Tyler from his chest to the floor so he could stand up. The move caused Tyler to open her eyes and roll onto her back. The concerned look on his face had her standing to her feet. She didn’t bother asking him what was going on, Tyler started handing him articles of clothing while collecting her own.
“P-Pepper didn’t come pick up Sage. Sh-she made a mistake and butt dialed him. Her and John were talking stuff about you, saying the only reason they came back was to get money from you a-and they were saying mean things about Sage.”
“Let me talk to him,” Logic sighed, hating that he knew it would come to this. He wasn’t stupid enough to think Pepper came back because she missed them. Her shaky ass needed money, and if she thought Logic was going to give it to her, she was out of her fucking mind.
“Sage got mad,” Spice incoherently explained. “H-he left out the house and got in the car with Joey.”
“Imma fuck him up, put him on the phone,” Logic urged, slipping into his shoes.
“He got into it with some dude at a party about a girl,” she cried, sending Logic’s heart to the bottom of his feet.
“Spice,” he pleaded, stopping in his tracks. “Put Sage on the phone.”
“It was a big fight, Lo. They started shooting and Sage-
“Sage what?” Logic barked as his mouth watered. “Put him on the phone.”
“Sage was shot three times,” she sobbed, knocking the wind out of him.
Like someone hit him in the stomach, Logic stumbled back and fell against the wall. His legs felt like noodles, and he lost the ability to speak. His blood ran cold as he tried to wrap his mind around what he heard. Sage was at home. There was no way he left to go to a party. He didn’t do shit like that. His little brother wouldn’t do some shit like that.
“Oh my god, Lo,” Tyler belted, running to Logic’s side as the phone slipped out of his hands.
“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” Logic’s fist pounded against the bedroom door as tears streamed down his face.
“Hello, hello,” Ms. G spoke into the phone after taking it from Spice, who had completely fallen apart. “Lo,” she pleaded. “Pick up the phone, baby.”
Hearing the voice, Tyler bent down to pick up the phone while Logic assaulted the wall.
“Hey, umm this is Tyler. Can you tell me what hospital yall are at? I’ll bring him.”
“We’re at Detroit Receiving.”
“Ok, we’ll be there in a minute.” Tyler ended the call. “Logic.” She shook him. “Come on, you have to go.”
“I can’t see him like that.” He shook his head. “Fuck,” Logic cried.
“You have to. Lo, they need you. We have to go,” Tyler pleaded, cupping his face. “Come on, let’s go.” She pressed her forehead to his. “They’re yours, right?”
“Aight.” Logic sniffed hard and wiped his face.
“Aight.” He picked himself up from the ground.
Picking up his keys off the floor, Tyler followed Logic out the door, locked his house, and jumped into the driver’s seat.
???
Detroit Receiving Hospital was in shambles. The shooting at the party brought in four shooting victims, several teens who were hit by the reckless driver, and a few more who were trampled in the stampede. The emergency room was packed from wall to wall as concerned parents and guardians bombarded the staff with questions about their loved ones. Doctors in white coats walked around delivering heartbreaking news to families, while others prayed that those same doctors didn’t approach them with the same news. No one was able to tell them how their kid went to a party and ended up in the morgue.
The second Logic and Tyler walked through the emergency doors, a stillness washed over the room. The pounding in his ears blocked out all the low whispers as he dodged sympathetic glances. Logic recognized a few people from around the way, but he didn’t have time to stop and talk. He was sure that their being there meant their kids were at the same party, so he silently prayed that God protected them too. Random bystanders secretly snapped pictures of him while others gave him reassuring smiles.
“Lo,” Al called out, standing near a set of white doors. “We back here.”
“Aht aht, how they get to go back there, and we been standing here waiting to hear something about my lil cousin?” A woman dressed in a long night shirt, slippers, and a robe questioned as Logic and Tyler headed in Al’s direction.
