ḾṎᕍ⁅ᖇṈ ℄Ṏv⁅ | The Lost Boys

ᏨᏲᾀᑬt⁅ᖇ ṈḭṈ⁅t⁅⁅Ṉ

A/N: this is just a tiny chapter to set up the next chapter

I wake much of the same the next day—exhausted and sore and in the dark. But this time, I'm not alone.

Dwayne lays in bed with me. (Though a more accurate statement would be, Dwayne lays on the bed, and I lay on top of him.) Before I went to sleep, he promised me that us all would have a serious talk about our questionable relationship and what it meant going forward.

I snuggle him for as long as I can stand it before me have to get up—nature calls.

After I've finished, I wander sleepily into the main den. The boys aren't up yet, but Star is. I hadn't seen her at all since that first night, so I was understandably startled seeing her again. Especially when the first thing she did was grab me.

"What the hell—"

"Shhh, keep your voice down. We need to get you out of here."

I tug against her, but her grip is too firm. "Stop it. What are you doing?"

"You've been here too long. Michael will be worried sick."

I pull again, this time managing to free myself. "I'm a big girl. I think I can handle myself."

Bewildered, Star stares at me. She takes a step forward but does not attempt to grab me again and sniffs. The sound might've gone unnoticed if I had been adequately distracted, but I wasn't. She took a step back, hand touching her lips.

"You drank it, didn't you?"

"Drank what?"

Pity contorts her face. Pity and pain. She winces, "I'm so sorry."

"Star."

The two of whirl around to see David leaning against the nearby wall. The other boys—I hadn't heard them come in—are scattered about the room, each wearing a similar look.

Star sets her jaw, "David, what have you done?"

"Star." It's a warning. There's a ferocity in his eyes that frightens me.

I step back, looking between them. "What's she talking about?"

David doesn't look at me. His eyes narrow a fraction, nostrils flaring. Star shrivels under his glare.

"David," I say again, slower this time, "What is she talking about?"

"I think that's enough for one night." David clenches his jaw. "Star, get out of my sight. You know what to do."

She purses her lips and turns to get Laddie. The two of them walk out of the cave slowly, casting a glance back at me every few steps.

None of the boys look at me. All that is heard is the crashing waves outside of the cave and the sound of Marko's birds flying.

I open my mouth to ask again, but David beats me to it.

"We need to talk."