| VEXED |

chapter | forty four

Alex

it's been about a week since Ryan and Elena left. They called me and let me know that they got where they were going a few days ago, so they must have gone pretty far.   

I zipped my jacket up further as I stood outside. I wrapped the colorful lights around the bushes in front of the mansion. it's now December, so Christmas is right around the corner.

it hasn't snowed yet, but the forecast calls for it later this week. 

"if you stay in this weather too long you're going to get a cold." I heard a deep voice and the sound of the door closing.

"a cold is the least of my problems, thanks though," I responded as I continued wrapping the bush with lights.

"well, are you excited for winter break?" Ethan asked walking over to me. "I don't get a break." I shrugged as I finished the wrapping.

"Alex how long are you going to be a negative Nancy for?" he asked, clearly annoyed with me. "when I stop being a problem in everyone's life, you know for a starter," I responded walking back towards the door.

I walked back into the house and felt the warm air on my skin. "Alex you have to stop blaming yourself," he commanded and I rolled my eyes walking towards the stairs.

-

"This would be so much easier if you would just talk!" I yelled at the guy I had punched too many times to count. he had blood covering his face, and he was barely responsive. 

"I told you already, I don't know anything." he slurred his words and blood dripped from his mouth. 

I drew my arm back to hit him again, but someone caught it. "Alex what is wrong with you!" Theo yelled at me and yanked me away from the man aggressively.

"he was about to say something!" I responded angrily. "how can he speak if he's choking on blood?" he pointed to the guy who was badly injured on the ground. 

"Whatever!" I yelled. I grabbed my bow and arrows and walked out of the abandoned building. we were called for a mission and found quite a few guys who were working for the same rival gang who attacked me. 

larce gave us intel a few days ago about the gang, they were called the lunars. We found a few of their guys and I was trying my absolute best to get answers from them.

-

Theo and I walked back into the house, he gave me a lecture all the way home. "what happened to you?" Ethan asked as he walked in with Grayson and Jordyn. 

"Don't worry about it." I rolled my eyes. I tossed my bow on the couch and headed for the stairs. "Alex!" Theo yelled. "I have shit to do!" I yelled back as I got to the top of the stairs and slammed my room door.

I went to my computer and quickly searched for the guy's name. That's the only thing he managed to tell me while he was still semi-conscious. 

The database popped up and listed information about him. 

James Clark

Hanover County

Released from Hanover County jail on bail.