CHAPTER EIGHT-XXI

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by kieka11

by kieka11

“I’m going to go talk to him...I want you to stay down here. If I need your help, I’ll get you.” I said to John. “Ok...good luck.” John said. “Thanks, but I don’t think I’ll need it.” I said laughing a little. I walked outside Phil’s Pharmacy and stood next to Brandon. “...Brandon...We’ve been looking for her. And I know this is hard on you. But we’ve been looking longer than we should’ve been looking. Staying in a city like this, it’s not safe. Risers could flood the place any minute.” I said looking down as I tried to explain myself in a way that he could understand. Brandon stood there in silence. “...We have to do what's best for the group.” I said. “I get it Aaron...you don’t have to say anything else...there was a plan...we need to go with the plan.” Brandon said looking down. “...This means a lot to us Brandon..I get what it's like to lose the girl you love…” I said. “Whatever...I don’t wanna talk about her. Let’s just get out of here tomorrow.” Brandon said as he walked inside.

“We have a plan guys…” I said as I paced back and forth looking at the floor. “We put in lots of effort into finding Hailey and Latisha. But...we just ran out of time...we have to move forward. We’ll all miss them very much…. We’re never going to forget them.” I said. I looked up and saw Emma tearing up a little. We’re leaving tomorrow...we’re heading north…” I said. “It’s going to be a long journey...but it's worth it..” I said trying to sound positive. “Think about it...less risers…” I said. “Hell...it’s almost too good to be true.” I said. I looked over at Kaitlynn and saw her falling asleep as she hugged Lauren’s legs. “It’s gonna be safe there. This...is where our journey begins…” I said.

“Luke?” I yelled as I walked upstairs. “Here.” A voice said from the attic. “Why didn’t you come downstairs? We were going over the plan.” I said to him. “I already know the plan.” He said. “Ok, but why are you up there in the first place? There’s nothing to do.” I said. “Are you kidding me? This place is awesome!” Luke said from the attic. “I’m coming up there. I don’t see how sitting in a dark attic is fun.” I said as I stuck my head in the attic to see what he was doing. “Hi.” Luke said laughing with a sharpie in his hands. “Really? Drawing on walls?” I said laughing. “Yeah, it’s better than you think it is!” He said as he moved his flashlight up and down the wall. “Are those stick figures yours?” I asked laughing. “Nope, those are Kaitlynn’s, she can’t draw.” Luke said. “These stick figures are mine.” Luke said laughing as he shined the light on his part of the wall. ‘Conquered.’ Was written in all caps. At first I didn’t get it, but then I did. Conquered was written on Taha’s bus. I started to notice, Luke wasn’t drawing random things, he was drawing his memories. And they weren’t good ones. I looked over at a picture of what was supposed to be Charlotte’s death. I quickly got my head out of there before Luke saw me react. “Why don’t you go pack your stuff now.” I said. “I don’t have very much to pack anymore.” Luke said.

“You ok?” I asked Emma as we stood outside alone. “Yeah...I’m fine…” Emma said sniffling. “...I know this isn’t easy on you...it’s not easy on any of us..” I said. “I’m gonna miss them a lot. They were here since the beginning of this, Aaron...They were one of us.” Emma said looking up at me with tears in her eyes. “I know...which is why we did what we did...we looked for them...and it’s not our fault we couldn’t find them.” I said looking at her. “...Yeah..I know.” Emma said as she looked down. I looked down and saw tears on the ground where she was standing. “...What’s wrong?” I asked her. “...It’s Hailey and Latisha…” Emma said. “...But that’s not all…” Emma said as she closed her eyes tightly and tried to stop crying. “..What is it then?” I asked her. “...It’s pathetic…” Emma said. “No it’s not...nothing about you is pathetic.” I said laughing a little as I looked at her. “...I’m pregnant…” Emma said.