Guns and Roses

Twenty Three ~ Quinn

When I wake up, I'm in Ellie's apartment again. This time is different though as I'm on the couch and it's still dark outside.

I sit up and run my eyes as I get used to my surroundings. It's half past five so I should be able to get back to the shop and change before school.

I write Ellie a quick note so that she doesn't think I've just left her in the middle of the night and then I check for my phone and keys. Both of these things are in my jacket pocket as I shrug it on.

The morning air is cold and I make mental note to pick up a warmer jacket.

The shop is exactly as I left it and I run upstairs to the apartment. I haven't been up here since before the break in and it's strange. For one, it's freezing since no one has been here to turn on the heating.

Nothing appears to be touched up here which is all the more chilling. Why would you rob a place and not check where the owner lives? I mean, my laptop is still out on my bed and Grandpa's gold watch is still on his nightstand.

It's now Wednesday and we're still no closer to finding him. Wherever he is, has alone and he's scared and I can't leave him there.

Rya promised to help me find him but so far she hasn't done anything. I don't know if it's because she can't find anywhere to start or if she has just forgotten.

I go to my room and quickly change. I pack a bag because I can't stay here without Grandpa. It just doesn't feel right to be here on my own and I'm sure Rya will let me stay at hers for a little longer. She's certainly got the space for me.

It's only seven so I open up my laptop and start to search up the area and the crimes that have happened recently. Maybe if there's been other break-ins it will give me a clue as to what happened.

My phone buzzes and I look to see a text from Ellie.

Morning babe. I got ur note. Have fun at school! Xx

I text back a quick 'I'll try' and get back to searching. Crime has shot up in Torstone in the last two decades. About 20 years ago, the town was pretty normal - the occasional break in or drunken brawl but nothing out of the ordinary.

But then, at a high school not far from ours, there was a beheading. A teenage boy was found without a head under the bleachers and then his body went missing a few days later. His name was Ryan Jacobs.

After that there was the ten kidnappings that Bella was involved in. Then a teenage girl called Katie Smirnov (supposed mafia connections) was found shot dead in an alleyway. Then 9 year old Elliott Bennett was found dead. There was the stabbing at Torstone High, then the shooting at Greyside cemetery.

Strange things happen all of the time here. Bodies are found with unknown identities. People are admitted to hospital with horrific injuries that they don't want to explain.

Finding anything similar to my situation is like finding a needle in a haystack. Gangs and dealers seem to gather here and I have no idea how people can live here with no knowledge of it all.

Corrupt police.

It hits me. Viktor got away with what he did for so long without being caught. He must have had help to do that. Rya has also been able to live a normal life while running the mafia so someone must be covering up something.

I pick up my phone and call Rya. She answers on the third ring. "What can you possibly need at this time in the morning?" She growls at me.

I chuckle "I'm curious. Do you have men in the police?"

She goes quiet for a second " What are you doing Quinn?"

I put her on speaker and go back to scrolling. "I'm just wondering. I mean you people get away with all sorts. You were involved in a shoot out and you weren't even worried about being arrested"

She stays quiet a little longer "Stop wondering Quinn. It's dangerous"

She hangs up on me but I'm smiling. I'll take that response as a yes.

There's a summary online of the documentary that was on last night. Ellie and I didn't watch it but it might have a few answers as to why Rya's name was left at the scene.

I read through quickly and learn absolutely nothing that would connect the Guerreiros to my grandfather or his shop.

It doesn't make any sense. What would anyone want with a 70-something florist? And why was Rya's name left if she had no idea about it? Are the police covering this up too?

So many questions make my head start to hurt and I lay back on my bed. The only thing I've managed to do this morning, is make myself worry more about what has happened to Grandpa. Bella, Freddie, Chris and Kat were the exception and not the rule. Most people who got caught up in all of this, don't make it back out in one piece.

What have I got myself into?

My grandfather is gone, and I'm caught up in a mafia family. This is not at all what I expected when I came here.