𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 - JJ Maybank

Chapter 98: Knotted Stomach

After dropping Tara off, the Pogues headed home. Kie's sadness was replaced with anger once again. She ranted the entire way back to Poguelandia.

"They do this every time. Like, every single time we see them, something goes wrong," complained the curly-haired girl as she climbed out of the Twinkie. "Like, we can't do anything without them getting triggered."

"Kie, they're Kooks. Okay?" said JJ, sympathizing with the girl but honestly, not being very surprised by how the day turned out.

"Yeah, they're assholes; they were always going to pull something," added Grace. She knew it wasn't super helpful to remind Kie, but it was the truth: Kooks would do what they pleased even if it was evil.

The group continued chatting, an atmosphere of solemnness building as they wandered towards the house.

"Hey!" Kie called to Pope, who was coming down the steps, sounding a bit happier.

He didn't respond; he just continued trudging towards them.

Grace's brows furrowed as they got close enough to see his face. It was blank, almost empty-looking if it weren't for the veil of shock.

"Yo!" JJ greeted once more after Kie didn't get an answer. "How'd it go?"

As the five of them came to a stop in front of their friend and he still hadn't said anything, they grew concerned. 

Grace and JJ seemed to notice it at the exact same time, their faces dropping in sync.

His hands were stained a deep shade of crimson, some of the warm blood soaking into the matching friendship bracelet that Kie had made for the entire group.

"Pope," JJ muttered, not knowing what to say.

"What the hell?" gasped Grace, stomach churning uncomfortably.

"What is that? Is that blood?" Kie asked frantically, "Pope, whose blood is that?" 

"It's not yours, is it?" Grace rushed out while hastily scanning him up and down.

JJ hurried forward to cradle both of his hands and examine the red splatter. "Pope, what happened?"

The boy looked absolutely distraught, at a loss for words.

JJ, in desperation to confirm the safety of the people he loved, shook his friend's shoulders roughly while repeating, "Pope, what happened?"

"Where's Cleo?" Sarah asked.

Grace swallowed thickly. She was the one Pogue missing.

Pope, saying his first words since they'd arrived home, finally spoke at a whisper, "She's... she's inside."

Without hesitating, JJ took off for the door, the rest of the group on his heels.

Pope dragged his feet dreadfully, John B slowly walking beside him.

"Cleo!" Sarah shouted as they made it through the rickety door.

"Holy shit! Gracie, don't look down," JJ said the moment they entered the living room, gripping his wife's hand tightly. He knew she could handle it, but he really didn't want to give her more nightmare fuel.

Grace made the mistake of not listening, bile rising in her throat at the gruesome scene. 

Terrance was laid out on the floor, lifeless. His body was rigid as if it had never moved at all. As if it hadn't lived a life of heists and crimes and caring for his crew.

Her eyes darted away as quickly as they'd spotted Terrance. The very next thought that passed through Grace's mind, other than a series of expletives, was Cleo.