Runaway Lover // Andy Leo

Chapter Twelve

"You sure you want to go today?" Andy and I sit side by side on our bed. I nod, knowing that I have to go to Jason's funeral to support everyone else, even if I didn't personally know him. I let out a shaky breath - this will be the first funeral I've ever been to, and I'm going to have to fly it solo. As the leader of the Runaways, Andy has to conduct the funeral, so I'm going to be sat in the back corner.

"I'll be fine." I grab his hand and squeeze, attempting to reassure him. "I'll just sit in the back somewhere and pretend I'm not actually there." He manages a small laugh.

"Y'know I think you and Jason would've been friends. You both hate people." I smile knowing that my sarcasm was actually helping slightly.

"Really? I'll have to say hi to him when I'm gone too."

"Don't say that. You're not going for years yet." He nuzzles his head into my shoulder. "Take this." He reaches and takes off his necklace - the one I asked about when we first met - before placing it over my head. "Now I'll always be with you, okay? Even if I'm somewhere else." I enclose the cog and crown in my hand and give Andy a kiss of appreciation.

I keep the same necklace tight in my hand as Andy, Brandon, Brent, Dave, Hayden, Megan and I gather in a small warehouse a half mile away from the main headquarters. We gather around the open coffin with Jason inside of it - his face a mess of cuts and scars. I stand to the back of the crowd, allowing those who knew him to mourn.

Andy, Dave and Brandon all say some words about him; how they knew him, what a good friend he was. I decide that, because they were the only three that had anything to say, they must have been closer to him than anyone else.

When they have all finished Andy turns toward Hayden, who hands him a small bowl. They give each other nods of respect and friendship before Andy turns back toward Jason and dips his fingers into whatever is in the bowl.

He paints Jasons eyes with the black liquid. I stand and watch the ritual, in awe of the care they take of their dead. This was the first funeral I had ever been to - The Empire didn't believe in honoring the dead.

Megan steps up to the coffin and closes the lid, saying a brief goodbye to him beforehand. She then walks over toward me and pulls be into a kind of side-hug and we both step back. The boys line up with three on either side of the coffin, getting ready to take it outside to the hearse.

I say nothing, too afraid to upset the atmosphere. Nobody else talks either. Megan and I follow the guys and the coffin out of the warehouse into a small alley where the hearse is parked. I smile at the nice weather, taking as a sign that something might actually go well today. Megan and I stand back and let the guys put the coffin into the back of the hearse. When the coffin is in place Megan steps away from me to close the back of the car, and Andy comes over and squeezes my hand. I smile up at him, hoping that I'd never have to be away from him.

Voices echo from the top of the alley, and before any of us can do anything there are around ten scarecrows on top of us. They grab at whoever they can, making sure to keep their guns aimed at their heads. I freeze, unable to do anything but watch the scene unfold. I know I should try to help - I want to help - but my legs aren't moving. I see Megan be dragged off by two of them, kicking and screaming. Brandon attempts to fight them off, calling out her name, but ends up in a similar boat.

"Sam!" I'm brought back to reality by Andy screaming my name. We lock eyes as two scarecrows attempt to drag him away with the others. I stare, my legs still not functioning. "Run!" His words register, and I stumble back a little. "For fuck's sake, run!" He shouts at me, still fighting against the scarecrows. I look around to see everyone else having already been taken, and two scarecrows walking toward me. I take one last look at Andy before I turn and run, having just enough time to see him kick the gun out of the armed one's hand.