LOVE HEARTS- max mayfield

Chapter 4- The Curse

It was night by the time the group reached Lovers Lake. With 5 people being bundled into a 4 seater car, Ruby had found herself designated the boot and had spent three entire journey being thrown about by Steve's horrendous driving.

She emerged rubbing her head, limbs, and pretty much everywhere that was bruised.

"Nice driving Harrington, a raccoon teach you?" she groaned.

"I taught myself," Steve grinned.

"Oh god," Ruby squeezed her eyes closed in horror as Steve cackled.

Dustin was first to the doorbell, ringing it to receive no sign of life.

"Okay. Well, that's settled. I guess he's not here," Steve shrugged and made to leave.

"Eddie! It's Dustin!" the boy yelled as he slammed his fist on the door. "Look, we just wanna talk, okay? No cops, I swear. We just wanna help."

"Eddie!" he yelled out again.

"Rick! Reefer Rick!" Dustin continued to yell which was met by the horrified faces of Max, Ruby, Steve and Robin,

"Don't scream that oh my god," Steve furrowed his brow.

"Rick!" came the cry again from Dustin.

"He's not there," grumbled Steve angrily as Robin shone her torch through the blinds and Max began to walk around the side of the house.

"Reefer Rick!"

"No drug dealer is going to respond to someone yelling their name at their door in the middle of the night with flashlights ok!" Ruby yelled at the boy. "Not that I know that from experience or anything!" Ruby mumbled as she slowly began to follow Max to avoid the awkward silence that had fallen.

"Max what is it," Ruby asked at the girl who had frozen in place.

"Look at that shithole," she whispered, gesturing towards a run down barn, slathered in rotting metal. The main door was lit by a single hanging light which spread a harsh glow on the doormat. There was no actual windows, just squares that seemed like portals of darkness in the side of the building.

"Seems like the perfect place to hide out," Ruby grinned.

Max nodded in agreement. "Hey, guys?" she gestured to the group who all nodded in a mural understanding.

"Hello? Is anyone home?" Robin called out as they entered.

"What a dump." Steve scoffed. He sidled over to the corner of the shed and grabbed an oar, wielding it like a sword to protect him.

"Harrington what are you doing with that," Ruby raised an eyebrow.

"Protecting us," he spoke as he began to poke at a crumpled up tarp.

"What are you doing?" Dustin grimaced.

"He might be in here," Steve explained.

"So take the tarp off," Ruby scoffed.

"If you're so brave, you take the tarp off," Steve replied and went back to poking the tarp.

"I'm not touching that shit, that's being an idiot, not brave thank you!" Ruby grinned flatly.

"Hey, look over here. Someone was here," Max pointed to the pile of food wrappers.

"Maybe he heard us. Got spooked and ran." Robin replied.

"Don't worry. Steve will get him with his oar," Dustin spoke.

"That was a good one," Ruby laughed, nudging Dustin.