UNDER EDITING 𝐺𝑅𝐴𝑉𝐸 𝐷𝐴𝑁𝐺𝐸𝑅 | 𝐴𝑃𝑂𝐶𝐴𝐿𝑌𝑃𝑆𝐸 ✔︎

The Cost Of Exposing

(Noah's POV)

I wake up to something shaking my shoulders aggressively. Sitting up fast, I see Jasper hold a finger up to his lips. I can see him clearly now, it must be morning.

He looks pretty exhausted so I'm assuming he didn't sleep. He didn't have to do that...

He nods his head towards the shut closet door, telling me to listen. I move my head more that way and squint my eyes, trying to hear anything weird.

Suddenly, a loud bang appears out of nowhere. I jump a bit, not expecting it. Fear spreads across my face as I look over at Jasper, seeing he is just as terrified as me.

I mouth to him, 'what do we do?' through clenched teeth. He shakes his head and bites the inside of his cheek aggressively. He mouths back, 'keep quiet'. I glance back at the closed door. It has gotten quieter, and noise seems to be moved to another room. I quirk up an eyebrow at the silence.

Jasper shuffles towards the door a bit and reaches for the handle. Oh shit. He looks to me and silently shushes me before slowly opening the door. I hold out a hand to stop him but draw back once I notice he isn't looking at me.

Jasper creeps his head around the door slowly. I close my eyes tightly out of worry. If whatever that is sees him, we're dead. I feel a heavy hand on my shoulder as I hear the door shut again. My eyes shoot open to see Jasper smiling at me in relief.

"It's just a bear. Which isn't much better but it will leave once there's nothing left to eat." I nod and sit on my knees, running a hand through my hair. "We can't leave until it leaves." He finishes.

"I'm starting to get hungry... I haven't eaten since the skunk." I gag a bit at my own words. "How long do you think it will be here?"

Jasper sighs a bit. "Well we were already low on rations when the others left, so it shouldn't be long." That's when it hits me. "Wait... it's morning now. Shouldn't they be back?"

Jasper widens his blue eyes. "I'm sure they're fine, maybe just running behind a bit." I nod at that. "Do you think it will-"

Suddenly, a crash fills the room. My breath hitches and eyes widen. I shakily glance over at Jasper who simply grabs my hand. We both stare at the closet door in fright. Another crash is heard, I'm assuming the bear is knocking over drawers.

Large stomps begin to come closer and closer to us. My heart begins to pound out of my chest. Can it hear my heartbeat? Is that possible?

Sniffing noises are heard from under the door. Jasper's grip on my hand becomes tighter by the second. The sniffing comes to a halt and the bear seems to walk away.

After a few seconds, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in. Jasper's chest rises up and down quickly as he runs a hand through his hair.

"Hopefully, this won't take long." He whispers.

(Cooper's POV)

"I don't like the games you're playing, Carlos." I growl. We had been walking for a good five minutes now. "Where are we anyway? I don't remember a place like this back in your town." Lexi questions.

"Enough questions, Lexi. You'll see your mother shortly." Carlos walks with his hands behind his back. The hallway was a basic white with hard wood floors. It never seemed to end.

Eventually, we stop at a closed metal door. Carlos forces it open and we all enter the cold room. Lexi lets out a sharp gasp as we both land eyes on her mother, who is tied to a chain attached to the wall.

"Oh there you are!" She exclaims. We all walk in and Carlos shuts the door, leaving Jay still behind Lexi and I.

We all stand in silence as Carlos looks back and forth between us. "There's an unanswered question that's been lingering in my head... where are Jasper and Noah?"

I quirk up an eyebrow at Carlos. Why would he bring up the boys? I thought we were trying to get us out of here?

I glance over at Jay and back at Carlos.

Carlos clears his throat awkwardly. "Jay, can you go look after the town with Jeanine? I can deal with these guys."

Jay gives Carlos an unsure look but leaves anyway, closing the door behind himself.

I instantly step towards Carlos frustratingly. "What are you doing?"

Carlos flinches a bit but tries to stay calm. "T-The story will be more believable if I try and involve the kids."

I shake my head. "There was no reason for you to do that. Why-"

"What's going on? Can someone please explain this all to me?" Denise interrupts from the floor.

I groan and punch the bridge of my nose. "Carlos is gonna help us get out. He's taking unnecessary measures though. We don't have time to involve the boys."

"It's too late now. I already said it in front of Jay. He'll know something's up if we don't."

I bite the inside of my mouth hard. "Fine. But they aren't getting hurt. You're gonna guarantee that." I point.

Carlos nods. "Absolutely. They won't get hurt."

I glance over to Denise and Lexi, hoping for their approval as well.

Denise gives a sad look before nodding her head slowly. "Okay.. we'll tell you where they are."

A/N- WOOOO! Lmao wtf I didn't think I would get this serious but I'm lowkey kinda into it🥴