Missing Comrades

2 Out Of 11 Left: Found Justin...

Lauren's POV

"Where's Camila?" Gerald asks once I sit down.

"She... She's headed to Chicago," I said.

"What, why?" Gerald's eyes widen with panic.

"She's drawing Chris away from us," I explain.

"No. I can't let her do that alone. I'm going after her," Gerald stands up.

"She already left," I said.

"I can catch up," Gerald says.

"Gerald, wait. Keep her safe," I said.

"Always," He nods. The boy looks over at the coffin hoisted up then back at me. "Pay my respects to Justin for me," Gerald says.

"Of course," I nod.

Gerald squeezes my shoulder then takes off running.

"They'll be okay," Ally smiles reassuringly at me.

"I know they will," I nod slowly.

Everybody quiets down as a woman steps up to the podium.

She taps on the mic doing the '1, 2, 3, check' before clearing her throat.

"I would like to thank all of you for coming here to say one final goodbye to my husband. His death was slow and tragic. This coffin may be empty but what matters is that we have him here," She places a hand on her chest where her heart is as she continues to speak, "I would now like to hand over the mic to my beautiful son so he can say a few words about his father."

Justin's mother steps down as Justin himself steps up to the podium.

He clears his throat as I see a tear roll down his cheek when his eyes glance over at the closed coffin.

"My father was always a man who was very dedicated to his work. All he did was work so he can give me and my mother a good life. When I was younger I always stayed up late until he came home so he can tell me all the stories about what happened at work that day. He was the one that inspired me to become a police officer myself. He taught me everything I know. Everything I am today is all thanks to him. With him not alive anymore, there will be a huge gap left in my heart and my mother's but if he was here I know he would have told us that we have each other still and not to cry for his death because he may not be here physically but he will always be in our hearts."

Justin looks at the coffin as tears after tears roll down his cheeks. "Rest in peace father," Justin says. He steps down as he places a white rose above the lid then steps back up to the podium. "You all may come to pay your respects," Justin says.

I stand up as my friends follow me. I feel my chest tighten as I near closer to the coffin. I look down at the white rose in my hand as I place it down.

"Rest in peace," I whisper as a tear rolls down my cheek.

After everybody has set their roses down we walk away from the coffin.

"Did anyone see where Justin went?" I ask.

"No, but maybe you should go find and talk to him on your own," Ally says.

"I will," I nod.

After a minute or two, I finally find Justin not too far away.

"Penny for your thoughts?" I speak softly.

"Lauren," Justin turns around to face me.

"Hello," I walk into his arms as he squeezes me.

"You're okay," He whispers.

"Glad you are too," I rub his back.

"Where's everybody else?" Justin asks once we pulled away.

"They are over at the ceremony. But Andrew is in Detroit and Zayn is in Nashville," I said.

"Camila?" Justin asks.

"She's heading to Chicago with Gerald but they wanted me to pay their respects to you," I said.

"When I see them I will thank them," He nods. "I'm confused. Why is she heading to Chicago?" Justin looks me in the eyes.

"I'll explain everything in a bit. Not right now. But just so you know we have 24 hours until we leave for Detroit," I inform.

"Got it, Lieutenant," Justin nods.

"Let's go," I pat his shoulder.

We walk back over to the ceremony where Justin gets greeted by everybody and where everybody pays their respects to him and his mother when she joins our group.