Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

93

"Stop it." He hissed in my ear as I tried to separate from him. His arms flexing as he pulled me tighter to him. My eyes watching helplessly as Shoupe and two officers walked inside.

My heart rate loud in my ears as my hands clamped around the muscle of his forearms. My weight shifting around my feet still not being able to hear anything inside the house. Not being able to see. I could only hope that John B got out.

"He went out the back!" My heart jumped as I straightened in Rafe's hold. A burning blossom growing in my chest as I waited.

"He was just in there! He can't be far." Topper yelled as he followed Shoupe out of the house.

"I want three deputies to hit the backyard now! Come on. Let's go!" Shoupe's voice was loud and clear. Despite my worry I grinned.

The fucker did it.

"We'll get him for you, Sheriff!" My nails dug into Rafe's arm as he shouted over my head.

"The suspect is unarmed, alright? If you ain't sheriff's department, go home!" Shoupe called out.

"You heard him! Everyone get home!" I shouted, shocking Rafe enough for me to brake free from his grasp. "Get home and lock your houses down. Keep the accessible area small!"

"Thank you, Xena." I only nodded at Shoupe as he turned spitting out orders to his officers.

Trust me, Shoupe, I'm not doing it for you.

"The faster you clear out, the faster they can find him." That sent a rocket into the crowd as they finally dispersed.

"Wait, boys, let's find him. Come on," my head turned to Rafe as he rallied young teens to him, "let's go. Don't you worry, alright. We're gonna help." Rafe called out as I watched, venom rising in my throat.

"Let's go, guys. Let's get him!" I wanted to knock Rafe into tomorrow with his antics.

"Locate, but do not engage!" Shoupe yelled out through the megaphone his eyes meeting mine as I gave a soft nod.

"Xena!" I snapped my head towards the call.

"I'm gonna wait in the truck. I just, I can't-" I walked up to him and Kelce, my hands in fists, "I can't watch you fucking hunt my friend down."

"Whatever. You better be in that truck when we come back." I rolled my eyes flipping him the bird as I watched them walk away. Waiting.

As soon as they were out of sight, I took off across the road. My hands furiously yanking my hair into a ponytail as I sprinted in the dark.

I kept my eye on the two as I watched them moving further down using the opposite sidewalk, my focus on blending into the dark.

"Hey! Where you going? This way!" I took the police truck as a distraction to pass them. My eyes trained on the two Kooks only for hands to grab me and pull me forward.

My eyes widened. I jerked my head and got ready to swing. My fist within inches of a familiar face.

"Duck." He whispered, my body reacting as he threw a thing of metal behind me. The two of us sinking backwards into the white truck as we hide. A car alarm sounds as the metal breeched its safety system. This was ridiculous.

"We have to get you out of here." I whispered looking around at the neighborhood. More people flocked to the sound of the alarm. Their attention focusing on that.

"Come on." I grabbed John B's hand and carefully pulled. "I promise I'll get you out of this. But right now you have to hide. It's not safe for you here." I spoke calmly, keeping my gaze forward as people yell behind us. John B and I started running.

"Hey! Do not let him get far, alright?" Rafe roared.

"How are you here?" He asks as we kept running. "And what do you mean?"

"I've got my ways." I reached up to a clothes line grabbing a dark jacket and tossing it to him, "Look, B. Once I have enough evidence I promise you I'll clear your name. I'll get Ward booked for what he did. I can't have any contact except for with Kie. I'm being blackmailed and babysat and after tonight I don't think I'll have as much freedom. Ward doesn't want anything getting out. And knowing that sick bastard he's ready to do whatever it takes."

So is Rafe.

I took John B's jacket and rolled it up keeping it with me just in case we needed it. Our feet slowing down to approach an old faded church building.

"What else?" He asks as we slipped inside. The door softly shutting as he turned and found a ladder to start climbing.

"I have no idea what to do next. And I'm terrified." I whispered, honesty shaking my mask as I followed John B up the ladder. "I'm so sorry, B."

We shut the small hatch door and John B threw me an old wine bottle while he took a candle holder in his hand.

"I'm sorry, too. Not the kind of birthday experience you want for 18." I let out a quiet laugh before noise caught my ear. My hand rising to my lips as the soft creaking continued until the rattling of the trap door opened revealing Sarah Cameron.

John B laugh as he lowered his candle holder. The empty wine bottle at my side as Sarah spoke.

"Hi." She climbed the rest of the way, pushing the trap door free.

"What are yo-"

"Hi." Sarah gasped trying not to cry as they embraced. A soft smile grew on my lips as they held each other.

"I thought I'd never see you again." John B whispered his eyes closing as I turned away. Giving them their privacy.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, are you?" My nose scrunched as I heard them smacking lips.

They whispered quiet enough so I couldn't hear, but every noise stopped at the sound of heavy creaking coming from below.

I turned, watching John B pull Sarah behind him. My eyes going from him to the trapdoor as it slowly opened. Sarah's light pointed, ready to catch whoever it was.

"What are you doing here, Top!"