𝑪𝑳𝑶𝑺𝑬 𝑻𝑶 𝒀𝑶𝑼 | 𝑱𝑱 𝑴𝑨𝒀𝑩𝑨𝑵𝑲

Chapter Four - Freak

"I mean it's obvious right? A family heirloom. What better place to hide a message?" John B says, looking at the Pope in the passenger seat. "He had to know it was gonna get back to me, right?"

Devon sat in the back seat next to Kiara, trying to navigate all of the information they just filled her in on. Scooter Grubbs was a tiny piece to a very big puzzle. "Yeah. It's possible." She agrees with John B.

"It could also be possible that you're concocting wild theories to help...you know..." Pope looks up before continuing, "deal with your sad feels."

"Bro, you know how I deal with my sad feels." JJ pipes in, "dank nugs and the stickiest of ickies, that's how I do it." He looks over to Devon, who seems to be the only one listening. She rolls her eyes at him, a smile on her face.

"I'm not concocting, okay?" John B reasons, "My dad is trying to give me a message." He looks back at the rest of the group.

"If it helps you believe, John B." Kiara says delicately.

"Look, I don't need a therapy session, okay? I'm not trippin out."

"It's okay to trip bro, but-" JJ starts.

"Look, my dad is missing, okay?" John B says, looking back at JJ. "You don't know what it's like to have the person closest to you vanish and then have no idea what happened. Just wake up every morning wondering."

"It's been almost a year." Kiara whispers. Devon purses her lips, feeling awkward. She basically just joined this group an hour ago and things have gotten pretty deep.

JJ glances at her and then back at John B. "Hey, he could have been kidnapped. That's definitely a possibility."

"Yeah, could be in a Soviet sub getting interrogated by the KGB somewhere." Pope adds.

"Absolutely. Or Atlantis." JJ continues.

Devon gives JJ a look. "Look, what do you think the message is?" She asks John B.

"Redfield. Redfield Lighthouse, it's my dad's favorite place."

...

The group exits the car, looking up at the lighthouse. John B is the first to take charge. "This is what's gonna happen." He points to JJ, "you're gonna post up and look out for bogeys, okay?"

JJ looks around, "Wait...why me?"

"Because you're not coming." Pope answers.

"Why?!"

"Look, JJ, there are independent and dependent variables. You're an independent variable, we don't know what you'll do." Pope explains.

JJ points his finger at Pope, "Shut up!"

John B gets frustrated. "Just listen to me for a second. Just listen! Pope, you stay and look out with JJ, okay?"

"I'll stay back too." Devon adds and John B nods.

JJ lets a smirk take over his face. "Ah, want to spend more time with me, huh?" He puts his arm around her shoulder.

Devon lets out a laugh as she pushes him back, "Ha Ha. No. It's my first day on the job, I'd like to take it easy, especially since we almost got killed today."

"Mhm, sure." JJ responds, maintaining eye contact with her.

John B smacks JJ to get his attention. "If we get split up, we meet back at JJ's house."

"Great." Kiara agrees.

"I'm going to work on my merit scholarship essay, and I'm trying to keep felonies down to a minimum." Pope says, turning away.

JJ is juggling a ball with his foot, "Alright, will you just shut up already?"