The Beach

07

Ethan Marlow

"The fuck is wrong with you, bro?"Len asks as soon as we get out, the fresh air hitting us.

I just take my pack of cigarettes out without saying anything, trying to calm down. I take one between my teeth and take Len's lighter that somehow still stays in my pocket. I'm with my back at him, I can't believe he trusts this ugly shit over me.

"Okay, okay, fine. Maybe I wasn't right."I mumble and I don't believe a word I say, but at least it will take away this annoying look on his face.

"That's Jackie! I've been here a thousand times and he's helped me every time."he continues, making me take a sharp drag and clench my jaw again.

Just fucking drop it, god dammit.

"I said I wasn't right. Fucking drop it already." I raise my voice again, finally turning around to face him.

"The fuck is wrong with you today? Why don't ya calm down a little?"he steps closer to me and I roll my eyes, seeing how he's ready to fight.

I'm not fighting him.

"Fine, I'll calm down."I look down, fighting the urge to fight him back. After a bit of silence I look back at him "I actually wanted to tell you something."

"What is it? You want some favor again?"he asks, making me sigh out of annoyance.

I was going to ask him for the weed thing. He's a dealer so maybe he could make me one too. That's how I could make money for me and my sister. But now that he's so rude he's getting on my nerves again.

I was just trying to protect Jade.

"You know what? Forget it. You're acting like a fucking prick."I mutter.

I probably would be angry too on his place, but he's overreacting. He has to put himself in my place too. Everyone would get a little freaked out when they go into some old motel and meet this old man that claims to be a student. And no, I'm not buying his damaged DNA bullshit.

Len was probably high when he met him and now somehow trusts him more than he trusts me.

"Oh happy to be apart of your club, man."he says sarcastically and I roll my eyes, continuing to smoke my cigarette.

I just stay silent.

Until I hear a scream.

My head immediately shoots to the motel where the noise came from. That was a woman scream. Jade's scream.

I glance at Len, but he doesn't look like he heard it, he's just looking around. Without thinking, I start running towards the door, tossing my cigarette away. When I get in, of course, I can't see shit. But I still try walking around, trying to find the door where this maniac took Jade.

He did something to her.

I shouldn't have let them alone together.

I look around every corner of this small room I can, but I don't find anything.

But then, after a couple of minutes searching in pure panic, I hear footsteps.

Her footsteps.

My mind fills up with hope when I feel another body crash in mine, followed by her gasp and heavy breathing. I find her hand in the dark and head to the exit like this place is on fire. When we're finally out, all I see is Len's confused face. But then his eyes widen when he looks at Jade behind me.

Is she hurt?

This thought has me spinning around faster than light. But all these worries crash when I look whose hand I was holding.