UNDER EDITING 𝐺𝑅𝐴𝑉𝐸 𝐷𝐴𝑁𝐺𝐸𝑅 | 𝐴𝑃𝑂𝐶𝐴𝐿𝑌𝑃𝑆𝐸 ✔︎

A Simple Task

A/N- this part will start a little before Carlos goes to Lexi and Cooper.

(Jasper's POV)

A groan escapes my mouth without realizing it as I roll over, hitting something. My eyes peer open and Noah comes into view. "Holy shit." I say while scanning his face. He has a black eye and his eyebrows start to furrow.

"Nngh.. ow." Noah huffs weakly as he looks at me as well.

His eyes widen a bit. "Your lip is cut open." He states plainly. I attempt to draw a hand to my face but stop when realizing that it is chained to the wall beside us. I take a glance around the room we are in. Cold. Empty. "We're in a fucking jail cell. Only with a door, and no bars."

Noah and I both sit up and lean against the wall we are both chained to. I roughly yank at my chained up hand, attempting to break free. "There is no need for that." A voice echos through the room. I glance back over to the door to see Carlos there. I tug aggressively before yelling, "What the hell are we doing in here!? Let us out! And where are Cooper and Lexi!?"

Carlos holds up his hands defensively. "Let me explain. Cooper and I made a little deal on your behalf, pretty painless actually." That ticks me off. "Are you fucking kidding me!? You literally had Jay punch us in the face! How is that painless!? Why the hell did you do that anyway!?"

Carlos sighs. "Simply because I didn't want you all the know where we were going. Now do you want to hear the deal or not?" I calm myself down a bit, still making exasperated breaths while nodding. "Good. The deal was simply to have you guys work for me because of your exposing. If you little brats hadn't snuck around in my office, then you wouldn't be here. You would still be living a safe lifestyle in our neighborhood."

I scoff a bit while slumping against the wall. "Safe my ass. You gave out rations like candy to children. We would've starved in the next few months if not sooner. I guess I'm just wondering how your 'safe haven' is lasting at all."

He simply shrugs. "Well you don't really need to worry about my 'safe haven' anyway. You see this room?"

Noah and I glance around a bit and nod. "This was used for storage before we emptied it out. Those rations you keep complaining about were stocked in here." He crosses his arms.

"See? So you did use your rations." I say slyly. I fucking knew I was right. Carlos then shakes his head. "No Jasper. You see, this is one of the hundreds of rooms down in this basement. All but two are stocked with food and supplies."

My eyes widen a bit. "Y-You guys have that much food?" I stammer. He nods quickly. "Now, enough questioning. Jay!" Javier soon walks in with a small key in hand. "Go ahead and unlock them."

He then walks over to us as Carlos exits the room and grabs my hand lightly, a sound clicks as the right grip around my wrist is released. I rub my wrist as he does the same to Noah. Carlos then trots back in with two pieces of fabric.

"Noah, c'mere." He orders. Noah does as he says, hesitantly, and stands in front of Carlos as he ties a blindfold over his eyes. He nods his head at me next and I stand directly next to Noah. Carlos then does the same to me. "What's with the blindfolds?" I inquire. Carlos chuckles to himself a bit. "It's better than getting punched in the face, right?" I roll my eyes under the fabric without replying.

"Jay, stand behind them and guide them a bit."

I then hear Carlos sigh. "You boys will understand everything soon."

Short time skip~

(Noah's POV)

I hear a door creak open as Javier shoves us lightly, seemingly guiding us out of the door. A cool breeze fills my arms immediately. We must be outside. We walk a bit farther before stopping.

I feel the fabric get ripped off my face and all I see are woods ahead of me. I glance over to see Jasper staring at the woods as well.

I turn around and see the gate to Carlos' neighborhood behind us. "Why are we outside the gate?" I mumble scarcely. This is way too open of an area. "In simple terms, this is the job you two will be doing for me." Carlos shrugs. I give a confused look while Jasper steps forward a bit. "What is this job exactly?"

"You will guard our front gate. Not too complicated, right?" Shivers are sent through my body at a quick rate. "Alone?! For how long?" I inquire faster than expected. "As long as we tell you." Carlos shrugs.

I glance over to Jasper and see how creased his eyebrows are. "You've got to be shitting me right? You told Lexi and Cooper we would be safe. As far as I'm concerned, this is far from safe."

Carlos shrugs a bit. "It's as safe as you make it." Suddenly, Javier pulls some sharp weapons out of his just now noticeable duffle bag. He then hands them to us. "If you both keep your guard up, you should have no problem staying safe."

Jasper pinches the bridge of his nose tightly and sighs. "And what if we were to... run away? Not much you can do if we're out here alone all the time right?" Jay chuckles a bit and pats Jasper's head. "You won't run away once you learn the cost of it."

Jasper lifts his head intimidatingly. "Try me."

"If you try to run away, hide, get help, or anything of the sort... Denise will be killed. And then Lexi, and Cooper. Besides, two kids couldn't exactly survive all alone without their babysitters." My eyes widen, realizing how we really have no other choice but to obey. Jasper runs a hand through his hair. "You'd be surprised." He mumbles while eyeing me.

Carlos looks dumbfounded at the whole interaction before clearing his throat.

"Okay! We'll leave you ankle biters to your guarding. We'll see you whenever we decide to check on you. Remember your consequences." He smirks while he and Jay make their way back through the gate, and shutting it behind them.

My eyes scan the woods, hoping to not see any movement. I feel a cold hand grab mine. "We'll get out of this, Noah. We always do." Jasper smiles and turns back to face the woods.

I smile back, even though worries are the only thing filling my brain. Lexi and Cooper will find a way to get us out of this. They have to.

A/N- I hope anyone who read this loved it <33 I think I plan on ending the story soon but DONT WORRY there is still a lot I have in mind!!