The Rhodes Method

seventeen

But he never even made it to his twenties
What a waste
Army dreamers
--- Army Dreamers, Kate Bush

OCTAVIA RHODES

If you're reading this, then I'm probably dead...

The letter drops from my hand.

"Damien," I whisper. I clear my throat. "Damien."

It is a surprise to me that Damien finds my side in an instant. He huffs, and his breathing is erratic, but he's here, and he's not fighting with Reid anymore, so I guess that's all that matters. He picks up the dropped letter and whispers the words under his breath. Then he reads it aloud.

When he does, Reid joins us. He is gripping his right shoulder, likely out of pain, but his eyes are trained to the messy words on the thin paper. His breathing is uneven too.

My eyes fall back to the paper.

It's all been a mess man, and I'm sorry I couldn't tell you in person. 

I got caught up in some bad shit, Damien. Worse than what you get yourself into. I would have told you sooner, but I didn't want to get you or Molly messed up in this.

I'm a slow reader, so I have not reached the end part of the page that has gotten Reid taking a sharp inhale and Damien clenching onto the paper tighter, to the point where it might rip.

Nikolas and his buddies were selling, and I owed them a little too much to return. And you know I can't talk to my parents about this shit. Niky said the only way I could pay back my debt was to do a favour for his friend. And fuck, was it one huge ass favour. I couldn't do it. 

I couldn't, and they got to me.

What the fuck. 

I just need you to know that if I am dead, then don't go looking for my body. I don't know what will happen to me or how I'll end up looking, so avoid it.

I won't say it again, Damien. Drop it. 

Don't do anything. 

Later,

Mason.

I think we all hold our breath. A stunned silence echoes through Mason's lonely apartment.

And then Damien blurts out, "What the fuck?"

"He's ominous as fuck," Reid mutters.

"It's Mason," Damien grumbles. "Of course, he won't reveal shit."

"What are we going to do?" I blurt out.

"What can we do?" Damien sighs and then he collapses onto the seat. "Mason owed people money and I face the repercussions. Fuck my life."

"This doesn't make sense," Reid mumbles, crossing his arms. "If this situation is because of Mason, then how come the blackmailer is so persistent on targetting you?"

Damien ignores him, "We're fucked. I'm fucked."

It seems like my brother has skipped the four stages of grief, and has found acceptance. Or maybe he's been in denial this whole time and he's finally understood that there's nothing else he can do.

"No," Reid, the sudden optimist, chimes in. "There is something."

Damien and I glance at him. While I remain hopeful, Damien's eyes are filled with apprehension.