𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 13.

━  𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗴𝗿𝘂𝗯𝗯𝘀.

𝐈'𝐕𝐄 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐀 gunshot once in my life. It happened when I was eight years old, walking in the downtown streets of New York City with my mother's assistant, Anne. We had been on our way to go shopping, for my birthday arriving in a few days, when the piercing sound broke out over the busy traffic, ripping through the air. Only a mere second after, multiple gunshots were fired in a sequence. I remember being pulled into Anne's chest tightly, my mind boggled and unaware of what was going on, while the people around us shouted and yelled. Anne had jumped a cab immediately, and we were driven back home, barely a word spoken.

The dangerous event didn't cause me any difficulties, though. My parents, nor Anne, ever told me exactly what had happened on the streets, so I thought nothing more of it. Until I got older, I realized what it was.

After the fight between John B and Topper, I had run away with the crowd of teenagers. I cold have stayed, made sure he was alright, but it seemed odd of me to care so much and so soon. Besides, I didn't want to die. So, I did what everyone else was doing, and ran. When I heard the gunshot, my first thought was that someone had gotten hit. But as I followed the people in front of me for a good while, until I'd made it off the beach, no one was screaming for pain.

Running off the beach, I had found myself standing on the curb of the road Caroline had dropped me off on. I walked by myself, in the dark, on the side of the road, following the recognizable houses we'd passed on the way to the beach. It was easier to get home than I had though it'd be.

When had I opened the screen door, both of my grandparents were sitting on the futon sofa, Daryl asleep, and Caroline reading. They'd seemed to have been waiting for me, because when I entered the silent house, Caroline had quickly looked up with a sigh of relief. She stood up and walked right over to me, immediately asking about the party and how I had gotten home. I told her everything on the way to my bedroom, her arm interlocked with mine, leaving out the part with the fight and the gunshot.

I also forgot to mention the part where I walked home by myself. I had told her that I'd met Sarah Cameron, who had given me a ride home after the party, which was false. Caroline seemed slightly surprised when I mentioned the name, but nonetheless, still smiled brightly and asked a few more harmless questions about my time spent away. We were sitting on my bed in the dark room, Daryl still asleep on the couch, when we'd finished talking about it.

Now, I sat on my bed in the daylight, staring out the window, trying to wrap my head around what had happened. It was bewildering, that, just after finishing a conversation with John B— getting to know more about him and surprisingly having a good time — moments later, he was being drowned in the water. It was even more baffling that JJ, a boy who I'd hung out with one time, was pulling a gun to someone's head, threatening to shoot.

I didn't want to be around John B or his friend again. Even though John B and I bonded the night before, had a fun talk with one another, I stayed up all night thinking about the incident on the beach and how dangerous it could have been.

"We're leaving, bug!" Caroline shouted from the front of the house, her voice wafting through my open door.

I wiped my hands over my eyes, stressfully, before standing up and leaving the room. Caroline was standing by the screen door, reaching over for her bag placed on the round table while Daryl was walking over to the truck, placing some boxes in the cargo bed in the back. It was about midday, and they were both off to the motel, like they'd be doing for the rest of the week.

"See you later," I casually smiled to her, leaning my arms along the top rim of one of the the dining chairs.

"Do I have my keys," she was talking to herself, while searching through the bag on her shoulder. "Oh my goodness!" her face turned into a shocked expression, while pulling out a small pink box, "I completely forgot!" she exclaimed.

"What is it?" I asked her, my eyebrows softly narrowed.

"I was going to give this to Lana Grubbs— a friend of mine," she told me, while looking down at the box with frantic eyes, "Her husband just passed, that man we heard about on the radio, but I don't have time to drop it off. Bug, could you take the bike down, for me?"

"Yeah, sure," I smiled.

She looked up at me, "It's not far, thank you, hon."

"Yeah, no problem," my lips pulled up into a small grin, "It'll get me out of the house."

"Thank you, dear," Caroline placed the pink gift on the table and engulfed me into a quick hug. "Her house is just off PineCrest road, turn left at the end of this street," she let go of me and pointed her finger down the street. "You'll know it when you see it, it's a pink house." she said.

I nodded firmly, understanding. Caroline then smiled once more at me, before placing the box in my hands and leaving out the door. I watched her hop into the truck beside her husband, and stayed put in the kitchen until they were gone down the road, like I always do.

___

Surprisingly, I had made it to Lana Grubbs' house perfectly fine.

Her house wasn't hard to notice behind the trees, its vibrant pink colour practically standing out and catching my eye immediately. I was wary to get back on the bike, though. Last time I did, I was few seconds close to getting run over by a green Jeep, and ended up falling off my bicycle in front of a dozen rich people, resulting in embarrassment and a large purple bruise on my hip.

I drove my bike onto the back of the lawn, before hopping off and walking it to the side of the house. It leant against the colourful pink wall which had swirls of different designs and colours, some paint chipping and landing on the bike seat. A weird feeling settled in my stomach as I picked the small gift box out of the basket, and held it at my side, swiftly making my way to the front door.

I knocked loudly, and waited.

A few moments passed, before a short woman appeared behind the tattered screen door, her eyebrows narrowed curiously. Her eyes were puffy, like she'd been crying a lot recently, as she stood behind the screen, looking oblivious.

"Hi ma'am, I'm Caroline Collins' granddaughter," I started, feeling awkward. "She sent me to give this to you," I held up the pink gift, my voice staying soft.

"Caroline," She let a refreshed smile rise to her lips, not a big one, as she thought of my grandma. "Yes, come in," she pulled open the screen door and stepped to the side, motioning for me to enter.

I smiled lightly in return, and handed her the box as I passed. I looked around the hippy-styled home.

"I'm sorry, for your loss," I said kindly, remembering how her husband had recently passed away. I felt awkward talking to the woman.

"Thank you," she nodded with a sincere look, while unwrapping the ribbon on the gift.

I stood like an idiot in her entryway, feeling out of place. "Um, may I use your bathroom?" I asked with a sweet tone, figuring it was a good way to get out of the situation.

"Of course, right there around the corner," she nodded again, pointing behind me to an open room.

I gave the woman a tight-lipped smile, before folding my hands together at my stomach and turning away. It was quiet as I made my way to the washroom, entering the very small space. I didn't need to go, it was just a way for me to catch my breath and think of conversation starters for when I'd join back out.

Suddenly, right as I sat down on the closed toilet with my shorts fully on, a very loud, manly voice yelled through the house. Followed by the screen door slamming with a gigantic bang, there were booming footsteps as two mean began to scream at the top of their lungs.

"Where is it Lana!" One of the men shouted, his intimidating voice shaking through the whole house. A strike of fear hit my chest.

"Where's that damn compass!" The other man screamed out.

My heart began to beat at an uncontrollable rate, realizing that the men didn't sound like friendly neighbors. Vile and dangerous.

I stood up from the toilet when the sound of throwing objects beamed off every wall, multiple things crashing into things. I inhaled sharply with a gasp. They shouted and shouted, breaking things repeatedly, as the woman screamed for them to stop, sounding like she was crying hysterically.

"Where's that fucking compass, Lana!" they were shouting repeatedly over and over.

I didn't know what was going on, but the sound of glass breaking and wood cracking told me that it wasn't good. So, eyes frantically looked around the bathroom, directly landing on the window, which was already open a crack. Quicker than ever, I climbed on the small cabinet underneath it, and pushed the window open.

When I swung my leg over the window-sill and jumped out, I had landed on something.

"What the fuck is that—" a familiar voice whisper-shouted from underneath me.

Then, I felt two strong hands grip onto my legs, and two arms fold up underneath my bottom. I looked down, realizing that I had landed on two people sitting against the outside wall.

The arms pushed me forward, sending me towards the ground. My stomach dropped even harder than before, when I turned my head back to see two recognizable people.

John B and Jj were crouching with their backs pinned to the wall, staring at me with wide eyes.

"Jesus Christ, Cherry Cola," John B whispered with an angry tone, "Are you following me?"

"God— not you again," I whisper-shouted at both of them, ignoring what he'd said. They also had the same frantically-confused looks on their faces as I did. "What the fuck are you doing here!"

"What the fuck are you doing here?" John B clapped back with a carefully low volume, his eyebrows sharply furrowed.

I looked at him as I slowly stood up from the ground, notching a dark purple gash around his right eye.

Then, something slammed against the window we were underneath, followed by a high-pitched shriek, immediately causing all of our heads to turn.

Faster than ever, John B reached forward and grabbed my wrist tightly, pulling me into the wall between him and his friend. White specs of something scattered out from the window, landing on top of us.

"No, absolutely not," I said with an angry tone, my head shaking as I tore my arm away from John B, with the intention of going for my bike to leave. "I'm not doing this shit with you guys again." I claimed, sounding sure of myself.

"Where the fuck is it, you bitch!" Another shout, followed by another loud bang.

Now, both of them reached out for both of my arms, stopping me.

"You wanna get us killed?" John B pulled me back into the spot between them, whispering irritated.

"Dude is that paint?" Jj shook his head like a dog, small pieces of chipped paint falling from his hair.

I stood between both boys as the aggression sounds from inside became even louder. My eyes closed shut in a hard blink, as I pressed my back up against the dirty wall.

"The compass wasn't in the boat, Lana!" One of the men shouted angrily, through gritted teeth as he threw an object at the wall.

John B looked past me and over to Jj, a worried look over his face.

I looked at both of them, angry that they were getting the best of me. "What are you guys even doing h—"

John B quickly placed his hand over my mouth. "You're going to get us killed, shut your mouth!" His voice was strong as he whisper-shouted, not wanting the men to hear.

Lana's ear-piercing cries were heard coming from the inside, as the banging noises had suddenly stopped.

"Let's get the hell outta here man," One of the men lowly said, still angry.

The three of us stayed eerily silent as we heard the screen door slam closed. John B removed his hand from over my mouth, and slowly took side-steps towards the end of the wall, me and Jj following him cautiously.

"Dude," Jj looked over both of our shoulders, "those were the guys that shot on us."

I narrowed my eyebrows sharply, as the sound of a motor ruffled through the trees. A white boat then skidded on the water, away from the house, with two men dressed in all-black driving it.

"Shit, go back, go back," John B whispered quickly. Suddenly, as quick as he had started moving, he stopped and extended his arm to the side in a fast motion. His arm shoved both Jj and I back against the wall, while his mouth mumbled cuss words.

"Will you stop shoving me against things?" I whisper-yelled at him angrily, keeping my voice low and laced with annoyance. "Good lord," I placed my hand on his arm in front of me, wanting to push it away, but he wouldn't budge.

The three of us watched the white boat drive away down the water, going out of sight.

"What the fuck was that," Jj whispered, as John B stepped away from the wall.

I didn't want to follow him, but I did anyways. He carefully walked around to the front of the house, keeping an eye on the surroundings. I looked at the back of his head and then down to his body, at the white button-down shirt with orange stripes on it, and black jean shorts. Jj was quickly trailing behind me as the three of us entered the house.

"Ms. Lana?" John B shouted calmly through the silent house.

I looked around with wide eyes, at the house I'd just entered a few minutes before, which was now turned upside-down. Chairs and tables were flipped over and broken apart, along with shards of glass lying everywhere on the floor, paintings ripped, and pieces of wood cracked over the ground. My hand rose to cover my mouth at the damage the two men had suddenly done to the place.

I followed John B around the corner to face the bathroom, the one I had just been in. My heart stopped, when I laid eyes on Lana Grubbs sitting against the doorframe, the door broken off it's hinges, beside the sink which was cracked and falling.

"Ms. Lana!" John B rushed over to her and crouched down. "Hey, hey— are you okay?" He placed his hand on her arm.

She turned her head, startled. She had a few cuts on her cheeks that I hadn't seen before, her face enlightened by a small orange lantern.

"Dude, she's tweaking," Jj whispered from beside me.

"Do you need a doctor?" John B persisted, staying calm. "Let's call the sheriff's department," he looked up to me and Jj.

"No— no, no cops, please," Lana stopped him, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Mm, that's not good." Jj formed his lips in a tight line, grabbing John B's shoulder. "Come on, dude, let's just go."

I stood beside Jj, my arms crossed hard over my chest, and eyebrows narrowed.

"You shouldn't be here," Lana shook her head violently, tears falling from her eyes.

"That's enough for me, come on," Jj nodded and began to turn away.

"Wait— wait," John B grabbed his wrist, stopping him. "What do you knows about these guys?" he continued, looking at Lana.

"John B," I mumbled quietly.

"They were... looking for something," Lana cried.

John B frantically reached into his back pocket, pulling out a brown compass, "Does it have anything to do with this?" He showed her the compass.

She looked down at the old, rusty compass, her crying stopping. I figured that was what the two men were after.

"Do you know anything about this?" John B asked, "It was my father's and Scooter had it. Why?"

"John B," I placed my hand on his shoulder, "Stop," I felt bad for making the lady, who was visibly hurt, go through these questions shortly after being attacked and home-invaded.

"Scooter didn't have it, okay?" She corrected him, sniffing. "You can't tell anyone you have that!"

"Dude, come on!" Jj complained, because he too, found the situation becoming out-of-hand.

"You've gotta get of out here!" She screamed. "They can't know that you have that!" Her voice became even more worrying.

John B tried to ask something more, but Jj had grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet. "We gotta go, let's go," Jj ordered, pulling his friend away.

I placed my hand on John B's back to turn him around, while Jj pushed him. I looked back at Lana Grubbs with a sad expression, who held the pink box I'd given her, in her hand. She was sobbing, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"Okay, so, can someone tell me what the fuck that was about?" I shouted at them when we fully exited the house.

"Get her bike, Jj." John B ignored me and spoke with a demanding tone, marching for his brown van parked on the side of the lawn.

"Excuse me?" I furrowed my eyebrows roughly, looking between both of them.

Jj walked over to my red bike, picked it up, and placed it in the back of the van. I stepped over to them, angry and confused, as John B hopped in the drivers seat and started the engine. Jj didn't say anything as he got in the back of the van along with my bicycle, sliding the door closed without a word.

"Hop in the van," John B looked at me through the front window, "You're coming to the chateau."

༄

𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 !