The Cool Kids - JJ Maybank

One of Them

Throwing things is my therapy at the moment; hidden in the secret room. If my parents knew how distraught I am over Ward Cameron getting our gold, they'd hate me more than they do. Especially if they saw how much anger I'm letting out as I throw Jake's pillow against the wall. Years and years of pent up anger but not nearly enough.

And then I see the radio he had hidden. I turn it on, slightly confused as to why he'd hide it in a hidden room, but the confusion quickly turns when I hear, "We have a suspect in our 31. John Routledge." "Copy that." "All units, be on the lookout for John B Routledge. Sixteen-year-old male. Six foot. Last seen wearing board shorts, a Bad Brains T-shirt, and a faded red hoodie." "Copy that."

I grab the radio and run, only quiet when I'm getting out of the sink. But as soon as the doors are closed and I'm in the clear, I'm on the run again, brushing past my mother in a hurry that has her confused. I think I'm almost out of their range until my father grabs me from behind, yanking on my shirt.

"Where the hell have you been?" He demands.

"I'm surprised you noticed," I argue, pulling myself out of his grasp.

The fact that I was even able to maneuver out of his hands pisses him off. "You're still living under my roof-"

"Pretty sure the house is under mom's name," I point out.

He lunges for the scanner the moment it goes off with codes about John B's location. I don't understand anything as the man yells. I brace myself and lift my fist, prepared to fight him, when his expression completely relaxes. He collapses at my feet. I look up in surprise. My mother is holding her cookbook which might have tonight's dinner inside.

She brings her arms down, her chest heaving. "Gwen, go. Go now."

I manage to nod, still shocked as I push the front door open.

. the cool kids .

There's nothing I understand in the codes as I look for the others. John B's place is overrun with the cops. JJ's place has his father - who is making comments I'd rather not repeat. The ferry has none of my friends; unless you count the Wanted Poster that somehow got made quickly hanging up. And to add fuel to the fire of panic I'm suppressing, no one is answering any of my texts or calls.

I'm looking at my phone for a moment too long because suddenly I run into someone. Instantly, my mind thinks it's Rafe just with my luck but instead it's Topper. I can't tell if that's much better as he turns around, his eyes wide at my ready fists that I slowly bring down to my side, looking him over carefully.

"You've really turned into them," Topper says with scoffs.

I frown. "The fuck you talking about?"

"You're ready to beat me up," he answers, gesturing to my hands.

"Then don't look like you hate them," I reply back. His phone dings and when he looks at it, he has a smile on his face. I realize quickly what that probably means. "Where is he?"

Topper pockets his phone and looks at me. "I don't know who you're-"

"Don't play stupid with me." I grab the front of his shirt. His eyes widen again. I'm surprised about my own actions but I keep my expression cool, my eyes narrowing. "Where is John B?" Other people are looking at us now. For some reason, I don't really care. I'm losing my mind. Don't be dramatic. "Where. Is. He." Topper seems self-conscious and afraid, his gaze shifting to the small audience before returning to me. "Sarah's worried about him." Topper's shoulders relax slightly at the mention of her. I realize something and release him. "Ask John B about Sarah." He frowns. "If you care about her, ask John B how he feels about her. You'll see he's worth saving."

"Why should I-"

"Because if you do that, I won't embarrass you in front of everyone here." I raise my eyebrow in challenge. He swallows hard but nods in agreement. "Great. And if I find out you didn't even bother, you're in trouble. Am I clear?"

"Crystal," Topper says, stepping back.

As I'm about to continue my search for the others, Dean finds me. "Gwen!" He hurries over to my side, quickly walking next to me. "You need to go home."

"If my parents sent you-"

He stops me, putting his hands on my shoulders. "I saw your dad..." I look up at him. "Your mom looks... terrible."

. the cool kids .

Anger is all I feel as I open the door to my house. The man looks at me, a wicked expression on his face as he releases my mom. She falls to the floor, her eye swollen and her lip incredibly red. He's lost it. He's never been this bad. My mom tells me to run. My dad comes toward me, his feet stomping over.

I've never been able to fight him. He's bigger and stronger than I am. Jake had failed often. Usually he only won when he was protecting me. But now I'm Jake. And my mother is me. And I've got some added agressession I need to let out; anger he doesn't quite understand is taking over my brain piece by piece.

He swings first. I move, hitting his arm to the side with my palm before I land a punch to his side. He grunts with effort as he swings again, his knuckles burying into my stomach. I want to double over but am able to resist the urge, backing away from the knee he tries to hit me with. My mother is yelling at him, yelling for me to run.

The man grabs my collar, lifting me off my feet. I press my hands against his face, trying to push him away but he uses the momentum to throw me across the counter, back on the ground. I didn't even know that was possible. He's never been so pissed off. I groan, rolling to my back which hurts slightly less despite all the objects that had come down with me. My father stands above me in seconds, grabbing my shirt once more to lift me up. I feel like nothing.

My body comes crashing back down. My mom cries out as my head bounces off the ground. He's telling me something. I can hear the tone but I can't hear the words. I can see him moving but nothing is clear. This is not a man. This is not a father. This... this is a monster. A monster that doesn't see the world that I do. A monster that needs to realize his crazy runs in the family as I fumble for something nearby.

His hands are around my throat, I realize after air doesn't come. My mother is starting to get to her feet but stumbles. She won't make it. My fingers tighten around the object. Part of me doesn't want to - but the part that wants to survive shoves that damn knife into the side of his neck. One part of the body that kills quickly but with plenty suffrage; I learned it while playing doctor for them.

I push him away as he falls. Blood is on my face and my hands and the ground. There's a dead body in our kitchen. My father's body is in the kitchen. I killed the monster but I'm sure I became one in the process as I try to get away without standing because I know that if I stand I'll fall. My mother is still on the ground, looking at me with wide eyes.

My heart is beating out of my chest.

Season 1, Episode 9.