THIRTY

A loud noise rang in my ears before I realised what was happening. It was like everything was in slow motion once I watched as they began clutching their side. Shaking my head, I felt tears cascade down my face.

"Nooooo!!" I screamed out, sprinting over to the body that slowly dropped to the floor with blood seaping out from their torso. "Don't do this to me. Please!"

*

*

*

*

I blankly stared at Mason as he told everyone his 'brilliant' plan. I would have agreed if it wasn't for me being armed with a gun.

"Mason, I don't want a gun," I stated seriously, sitting on the edge of the kitchen counter.

"You may not want one, Leia," Mason said, grabbing a gun from Ashley and slamming it into my hands. "But you need one."

Narrowing my eyes at him, I pocketed the gun into my belt around my waist. Yep, he even gave each of us a belt to put our dangerous weapon in.

Clutching onto my shoulders, he leaned in and whispered, "It's gonna be alright. No-one's gonna get hurt, ok?"

I nodded, averting my eyes to the floor with a sigh. Jumping off, I glanced around me to see everyone getting ready.

"And anyway, I'm sure you'll look great with a gun," he smirked deviously.

Chuckling at his silly remark, I turned to Ashley as she started rummaging through my fridge.

"Find anything you like?" I smiled at her whilst watching Ashley's face flame up in embarrassment.

"Sorry, I was a bit peckish," she mentioned sheepishly, taking out my Cadbury's Dairy milk chocolate bar from the fridge.

"Really? Chocolate? How is that going to satisfy​ your hunger?" I giggled light-heartedly.

Ashley shrugged before proceeding to unwrap the chocolate bar and take a delicious bite from the creamy goodness.

"Ok...you have fun with that," I drawled out, and strolled swiftly to a hard-working Arthur.

"Now why would they be here of all places? I mean it's creepy yeah but-" Arthur cut his mumbling off once he looked upwards to see an intrigued teenage girl glancing at his work.

"Yes?" He said, tilting his head to the side in curiosity.

"I heard you found w-where my m-mum might be," I stammered awkwardly, feeling incredibly weird.

Nodding his head, he pointed to the screen.

42 Twiddleston rd.

My grandmother's house? What was he doing there?

"It's alright, you know? Thanks for keeping us a secret," he suddenly told me, confusing me a little.

"Keeping what a secret?" I asked, feeling myself flame up.

"I saw you," he informed me. "When Kane and I were together."

"Ohhh, you mean in the hallway?" I cringed, wincing a bit afterwards.

"Yes, I could sense someone's presence and saw a glimpse of you before you took off in the other direction," he explained, nodding along with what he was saying.

"Yeah, sorry about that. Didn't really know if anyone saw me."

"I'm sorry about what Kane did to you. I would have been scared too if Kane ever did something like that to me. I mean he does but in a sort of loving way uhh...you get my gist," he continued on, flinching at his own response.

My eyebrows shot up before I could even blink.

"Sorry. Too many details," he coughed out, scratching the back of his neck as a tinge of pink appeared on the tips of his ears.

"Right."

It was silent then. Until, Kane had to come and kiss him on the cheek. Directly in front of me. I mean it was cute and all but in my line of sight? Like why? And the fact that Arthur was speaking about doing unholy things with him, made it ten times worse.

Side stepping away from the two lovebirds, I ended up at a frantic Abby's side.

"Leia, what if I end up in jail for shooting some creepy dude. I'll never be able to watch Shameless again!" She cried out. "Mickey will probably be old and wrinkly after I'd get out."

"I'm positive that won't happen, Abby," I grinned, trying to hold in a laugh that was threatening to slip from my lips.

"But how do you know that?" She panicked.

"Because I have faith in Mason and maybe his plan," I responded.

"His plan sucks arse," she deadpanned.

"For all you know, it could help save my mum," I replied quickly in a hushed whisper.

"My plan was better," she grumbled.

"Open firing to a bunch of his men. Seriously?" I said, shaking my head in disbelief. "And you say you're worried about going to prison for shooting​ one man?"

"At least it would be worth it though," she propounded.

"Maybe," I said as my smile quirked up.

Reaching to get a balaclava from behind her, I whispered, "Just don't do anything irrational, ok?"

"Like what?" She asked.

"Like shooting some random guy for no reason," I answered, pursing my lips. "One of those men could be like Mason. Not having any choice but to join Mason's Father's group."

"I understand."

"Thank you," I whispered, walking back over to Mason.

"Hey, I was thinking​ about going in five minutes. But first, wanna hear my plan again?" He asked me, standing in a serious stance with his arms crossed.

"Yeah, go ahead."

"So, we get to the house and look around with them in pairs. Arthur will be in a van somewhere fiddling with all types of security. Each pair will be given a walkie talkie to communicate with," he explained.

"Once a pair finds them, we enter in with guns out to the ready. But we don't shoot them. We're only looking to save your mum. Plus, you want my father to suffer, don't you?" He added.

"Of course."

"So, someone can call the police. Do you want to be the one to call them?" He questioned.

"Yes, if you don't mind. This is your father too no matter how horrible he is," I responded, swallowing the bile that was building up in my throat.

"He killed my mum, Leia. And your dad. He deserves whatever is coming for him," he told me honestly.

"Ok. Just making sure," I smiled briefly.

"Let's get going."

Mason started to open the door and stroll over to his car. Mason, Abby and I will be in his car.

Ana brought her own car so Sara and Ashley can go in her car and Kane has one so Arthur and him can ride in his.

Jumping into Mason's car, I rapidly rolled down my window and shouted out, "We're going now guys!"

Instantly everyone flooded out of the house and into their designated cars. To be completely honest, I was absolutely petrified. What if someone really got hurt? Would it be all my fault?

"Off to your deranged Grandma's house we go!" Mason sing-songed as he backed out of the driveway with everyone else following close behind.

*

*

*

*

"Woah, it's just like you described, Mason. Creepy," Ana whispered, quietly whistling afterwards.

Sneaking around the back, all of us slid on our balaclavas to camouflage ourselves into the dark a little bit more. It felt very itchy, but the plan was to keep on our balaclavas the whole time unless it was necessary to take them off.

I was paired with Mason. Kane with Abby. Ana with Sara and Arthur and Ashley were in Kane's car with the laptop. Ashley would text us if anything suspicious happened so we were good.

Apart from my near break-down in the car earlier, I was all good.

"I've never done anything like this before. Have you?" I asked quietly, trying to make conversation​ as we boringly walked round in circles.

"Once. My dad wanted me to burgle a house," he admitted with a pained expression on his face.

"Did you do it?"

After a few seconds of silence, he replied, "Yes."

I watched his face as it turned to hard stone. I studied him as his jaw hardened. His whole face appeared stoic.

"W-What was it for?" I stammered, hoping not to tread on very dangerous territory.

"These people weren't paying up so my father ordered me to steal from them. I got caught but at the time my mum was a lawyer. A very good one at that," he explained, gritting his teeth like he was in pain. "My father killed her when I was twelve."

With that comment, I ended up pulling him into a warm, tight hug. He deserved the world. He really did. Sadly, the moment had to be ruined.

We've found them

Glaring at the walkie talkie, I sighed out before picking it up.

Where is she?

Mason gripped onto my arm anxiously. I would have done the same if it wasn't for the walkie talkie in my hands.

Down in the basement. She isn't looking so good.

Our eyes widened in sync and I immediately set off running. However, before we got there, Mason pulled me back.

"In case one of us don't make it out," he says, pulling me into a desperate but passionate kiss. It was over before it started but I still felt sparks like the last time we did.

Sprinting to the opened hatch, we quickly ran down them in a rush. I couldn't lose her again. Not again.

"Mummy!" I screamed out once I saw her laying unconscious in the corner of the room.

"Leia, the deal!" Mason yelled out me but it was too late.

I felt a massive object hit the back of my head before I fell to the ground too. Darkness overcame me and I oddly welcomed it.

*

*

*

*

Blinking my eyes open, I stared at an angry Mason whilst in a daze. Luckily, my balaclava was off. I was slightly happy that my face got to breathe.

I noticed Mason's beautiful face was on show too. I tried smiling but it immediately formed into a frown. He was practically shouting at his dangerous father. I didn't​ want Mason to get hurt. He was my safety blanket. He was the first to ever take notice of my existence.

"You killed my mum!" Mason yelled at his face. "And now you hurt my potential girlfriend. You're a monster!"

"However, you, my son, have my genes," he chuckled bitterly. "It's in you, Mason!"

"I'm nothing like you, nor will I ever be!" He growled out as his veins began popping out from the side of his head.

Mason's hands were clenched whilst he stood in front of his biological father, confronting him like the courageous guy he was. He was fighting his demons. I couldn't have been prouder.

"M-Mason," I murmured. "Mason."

Hearing my small voice, he quickly walked over to me and tried helping me up.

"Why did they hit me?" I mumbled.

"Because he thought it was me," he replied, licking his chapped lips.

"Where are the ot-"

I began to speak but he cut me off before I got the chance to.

"They don't know about them," he whispered into my ear.

Nodding, I darted my eyes over to where my mum was. She still was laying on the ground unconscious. She still was beautiful though.

"Let my mum go please," I pleaded with my honey eyes. "You killed my father. What more do you want?"

Mason's father narrowed his menacing eyes at me, sending shivers down my spine.

"Your family still owes me money," he shouted. "You owe me money!"

"I don't have enough for you! I'm a flipping seventeen year old girl living on her own," I cried out. "Why do you need money from me anyway? What did my dad do to you?"

Storming over to me, he cupped my jaw tightly and squashed my cheeks under his rough hands, "Your precious daddy stole my family's heirloom! It was worth hundreds of pounds."

"Father, stop! You're hurting her!" He yelled out, trying to pull him off of me.

His father just shoved him away like he was as light as a feather.

"Your dad knew it was worth hundreds as well!" He spat out angrily.

"Henry, Thomas didn't steal it," a quivering voice spoke out. "Your assistant did. I heard him admit it. He stole it and knocked Thomas out. He was just a pawn in his game. He made my husband believe he took it and now he's dead!"

Dropping me, I watched as Mason's Father, Henry, gripped his hair in irritation and anger. He spun towards my mum and stared at her to look for any sign of dishonesty. There was nothing but truth upon her face.

"He lied to me!" Henry yelled out. "That ratty assistant lied to me of all people."

"Aww, Catherine I thought you could keep a secret!" A familiar voice snarled.

Appearing out of the shadows was Mr Meat. I knew he was evil!

"This little argument was fun while it lasted," he giggled histerically with a mad look in his eyes. "But bye bye!"

A loud noise rang in my ears before I realised what was happening. It was like everything was in slow motion once I watched as they began clutching their side. Shaking my head, I felt tears cascade down my face.

"Nooooo!!" I screamed out, sprinting over to the body that slowly dropped to the floor with blood seaping out from their torso. "Don't do this to me. Please!"

Looking up at Mr Meat, I glared at him with as much hate as I could muster.

"What did you do?! Why?!" I sobbed out uncontrollably.

"My son!" Henry called out as his whole body shook.

Turning to Mr Meat, Henry growled, "You're going to pay!"

Henry charged at Mr Meat and they began fighting. I could see the rage and hurt in Henry's eyes as he constantly punched Mr Meat with his fists.

With my blood covered hands, I speedily picked up the walkie talkie and shouted, "Someone call the Ambulance. Please!"

"I need help," I choked out, laying my head onto his chest.

I felt his steady heartbeat and slow, light breathing until the Ambulance arrived to take my love away from me.

____________________________________________________________________________

Wow wasn't that eventful? Was that too fast? I felt like the ending was a bit rushed but oh well. I did the best I could. Please VOTE and don't be afraid to COMMENT.

I will see you soon my lovelies <3

Gem Gems