Shorty Timeline and Summary

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• It's so dark that Shorty can't see anything around him. Perhaps that's because he's trapped under a pile of rubble from the earthquake. As he fades in and out of consciousness, he tells us his story.
• We learn that he was born during a revolution in Haiti. His mom had been told he would be born in blood and darkness, and he was, along with his twin sister. The only problem? He's supposed to die that way, too. Gulp.
• His sister, Marguerite, loves to help people. Even though they live in the slums (a.k.a. the Site), she's bright and happy most of the time.
• Together, Marguerite and Shorty pretend to have magical powers. Since they are twins, many people believe they can see the future and bless or curse people. Shorty doesn't believe it, but he's happy to get the free candy from performing.
• One day, his dad finds out what they are up to and gets mad. He doesn't want his kids working for Dread, the local gang leader, so he takes them home.
• A couple nights later, thugs come into Shorty's house. They kill his dad and kidnap Marguerite. Shorty thinks they are Bostons (a rival gang), and swears to find his sister one day.
• Meanwhile, he joins Route 9, Boston's enemy. Biggie shows him the ropes and teaches him how to sell drugs and kill people.
• Crime is on the rise in the Site, so the U.N. sends some fancy tanks and officers to get things under control. Too bad they don't help much. All they do is shoot down anyone who bugs them. Dread is one of those people. He gets shot, but saves Shorty in the process.
• Everyone thinks Shorty must be special if the gang leader was willing to risk his neck to save the kid. Plus, they know Dread gave Shorty a magical stone called a pwen right before he died.
• Biggie becomes the leader of Route 9, and everything goes along smoothly for Shorty—for a while.
• When Biggie gets sick of Bostons coming on his turf, he proposes an all-out war. He and Shorty head to Boston territory and take some of those gang members down. Shorty thinks he sees Marguerite there, but she doesn't recognize him.
• The U.N. isn't pleased that Biggie's caused more violence, so they hunt him down.
• Shorty gets shot in the crossfire, and learns that Biggie was the one who killed his dad, not Bostons. Those are the guy's final words to Shorty before he dies.
• While he's recovering in the hospital, Shorty gets a visit from his mom, who tells him that his sister is dead, too. She died the same night as his dad, but she didn't know how to tell him. Shorty is devastated.
• Back under the wreckage, Shorty isn't sure how much time is left.
• Suddenly, he sees a light and is pulled out. He's finally in the light and free. He runs toward his mom.