LAST CHANCE → sean macguire ✔

one , six

Raymond West was a wealthy, tired man. His home, nestled at the side of a mountain, didn't reflect the money he truly had. Old floorboards and creaky walls, stained wallpaper and dirty windows.

The truth was that it used to be quite well kept, with hanging pots of flowers and beautiful wallpaper. The floors were well waxed and the windows were clear enough to kill a bird, but that was a long time ago-- when his wife and as still alive. She was a headstrong woman with a bright smile and an impulse to keep things tidy. She gladly kept everything neat as could be.

That's why Raymond loved her, that and her smile that could light up any room. He loved her very much, some would say more than anything, but she got the cough from Raymond's sister's husband, a long story all in its own, and she died a few months later. He let his world fall apart with her. Raymond's sister's husband recovered, though, and the tired old man shot him through the heart.

That's why the house remained untouched, by homeowners and outlaws alike. The West Home Curse. If you even stepped onto the property, you were cursed. That's why the money stayed unfound.

It was all a load of crap, though, just a rumour made up by someone trying to protect the old family home, but everyone believed it. The West Family Home was not cursed.

Willa had known them, actually. Family friends. Old Raymond West had died in the jail, but his house remained untouched. The money hidden within was supposedly lost forever-- it's what the newspapers said, but Willa wasn't stupid. People just didn't want to get cursed.

Mrs. West had told her where the money was when she was young, and to tell no one else. It was their secret. She told Willa that, in her time of need, she should come to the house and collect the money within. Though that was years ago, Willa had every belief that it was still there.

"You t'hink t'his is a good idea?" Sean prodded an old lawn decoration with his boot. Willa shrugged.

"If money is a good idea, then yeah. Now let's get in there before anyone sees us." She started back towards the front door. Sean snickered, trailing behind her.

"We're the only ones crazy enough to come 'ere. Most folks don't even know it exists-- like it's some myth. The other people who do know it exists believe that it's cursed." He looked around for a moment. The yard had become horribly overgrown, with weeds almost as high as the windows, but it wasn't a bad property. A bit of fixing up and it could be a suitable home.

"It's not cursed. Hurry, Sean. Stop sightseeing." Willa grabbed the doorknob and twisted it. The door popped open when she pushed.

Everything was just as she remembered it-- like a shot to the gut. A shaky breath escaped her body and she stepped into the house. She had often visited the West's when she was little and, now, she could almost imagine the smell of Mrs. West's cookies.

"Ye okay?" Sean touched her shoulder. Willa nodded quickly.

"Y-yeah. Um, let's find this money." She thought back to the instructions Mrs. West had given her.

From the door, take three steps forward. So she did.

Turn left and take five steps forward. Alright.

Turn right, take one step forward and move the couch. Willa got Sean to help her push it.

"There will be a floorboard that is raised just a bit over the others. Lift it up." Willa recited from memory, crouching down. Sure enough, one of them was higher. Sean joined her and they used their knives to pry it up. A lockbox was sitting under a cloth, dark from the lack of sunlight. Willa's hands were shaking when she reached down and pulled it out.

"A key. Where's the key?" The lock was huge, heavy duty, too. Panic flashed through Sean, but Willa hadn't reacted yet. She reached into her shirt and pulled out something on a chain. Something gold and irregularly shaped.

A key.

Sean smiled, once again surprised by this girl. She returned his smile weakly, then slipped the key off of her neck and inserted it into the keyhole. They both held their breaths as she turned it.

Click.

"Holy shit, it worked."

"Wait, Willa. How much is supposed to be in there?" Sean put his hand on hers. She shook her head.

"I don't know, a lot? More than a couple thousand." She smiled at the shocked expression on Sean's face. He couldn't speak, so he just nodded to her and pulled his hand away. The pair took a deep breath before she opened the box.

The sight almost made her faint. Gold. Real gold bars, shimmering in the light.

"It's..." Her voice died and she threw herself into Sean's arms. They both laughed gleefully, unable to contain their emotions. That was it, over ten thousand dollars, all left for them.

"What are we going t'a do wit'h all t'his money?" Sean asked into her hair, as they were still in a tight embrace. Willa pulled away and looked at it.

"We... Don't tell the others. It'll be our secret-- for if shit gets bad again. I'll bury it at our-- uh, the rock." They both looked away as their cheeks became red. It was, technically, their rock. No one else had sat there since they had moved to the camp by the lake, except for them.

"And if shit gets bad, we get t'he money 'nd get out. Got it."

Willa smiled and closed the box again, then secured the lock on it, "I'll have the key-- it'll always be on me. So if I..." She trailed off, looking down.

Sean took her hand, "That won't happen. We'll get out together." He promised. Willa liked his enthusiasm, but knew it was too good to be true. Oh, the future they could have. She shook her head.

"If I die, you have to get the key off me. Don't let anyone else know... I don't know who to trust with this-- they might think we're planning on betraying." She squeezed his hand and leaned into him, taking in his scent. Like campfires and whiskey. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and held her close.

"We're going to make it, Willa. I promise."

"Then you had better be right, Sean. Or I'm coming back from the grave and kicking your ass." She laughed, scrunching up her nose as she did so. Sean chuckled with a small snort, making Willa fall in love with him all over again.

"I don't doubt that. Alright, let's get back. They'll be wondering where we got off to." He touched the small of her back and the contact sent chills up and down her spine. She wanted to stay like that forever, but he was right.

They grabbed the box and put the floorboard back down, then moved the couch back and left it like nothing had happened. Willa followed Sean to the door and, when he slipped out, she cast one more somber look around the cozy home. Damn, did she miss them. With a long, slow breath, Willa turned back to the door and pushed outside into the sunny afternoon.