from eden

chapter eleven

"the skies are black with lead-filled rain
a morbid painting on display"
- Partners in Crime by; Set It Off

Ben walked down the stairs and Conie could tell it did not go well.

"So? Where's Mal," Evie asked instantly.

"She's not coming back," Ben replied dejectedly, stepping away from the group for a moment.

"What," She exclaimed. "I'll talk to her."

Evie walked over to a metal speaker, "M? Mal, it's Evie. Let me just talk to you for a second. Mal, come on."

"Go away!" Mal shouted from the other end.

Conie frowned at the response, they couldn't go back without Mal. He didn't want to go back without Mal.

"Let's give her a couple of hours to cool off," Jay suggested, gently touching Evie's arm.

"Guys," Carlos called. "Where's Ben?"

Conie was next to Carlos in an instant, "Ben?"

"Ben," Evie said. "Ben, don't scare us like that."

Conie let out a breath when Ben walked towards them. The last thing they need-

"Don't scare you," A voice spoke that wasn't Ben. "But that's my specialty."

Well shit.

"Harry." Evie hissed.

"What did you do with Ben," Jay demanded.

"Oh, uh, we nicked him," The Harry guy said. "Mm-hmm. Yeah. And if you want to see him again-"

"How about if you want to breathe again, just give him back," Conie snapped, getting in Harry's face.

Jay pulled him back by the belt loops, "Don't start with this guy."

Conie glared as the pirate laughed.

Jay placed a hand on Conie's hip and in any other situation Conie's face would be burning hot.

"As I was saying," Harry continued. "Have Mal come to the Chip Shoppe tonight. Alone. Uma wants a little visit."

The VKs and Conie exchanged glances with each other.

"Aw, Jay. Seems like you've lost your touch," Harry teased.

Jay lurched forward and Conie wrapped an arm around Jay's torso, yanking him back.

"Didn't you tell me not to start with this guy?"

Jay glared at Harry, who laugh again. He laughed a lot it was annoying as fuck.

Harry barked at Carlos before walking off.

Conie sighed in irritation and let go of Jay's torso.

"Cunt." He stated.

"Got that right," Jay said, beginning to climb the side of the building.

--

"If you guys never would have brought him here, this never would have happened," Mal scolded them. "What were you thinking?!"

"He was gonna come with or without us," Evie explained. "We just wanted to protect him."

"Yeah, and we completely blew it, guys," Carlos said, throwing his hands in the air.

"Really? We did," Conie sassed. "I would have never noticed."

"Okay! Okay," Jay interrupted, putting his hand on Conie's shoulder. "So, what are we gonna do?"