LOST → GRIZZ VISSER ✓

CHAPTER SEVEN

Edited 2022

𝗔𝗦 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗢𝗡 and Grizz let go of each other, her eyes wandering to a body Luke struggled to hold behind Grizz.

Gasps filled the room as students moved out of the way. Grizz and Mason moved to the front of the church and began to clear off the table, shoving beer cans onto the floor. Luke walked up and gently laid the girl down.

Mason wasn't sure who the girl was, she'd only recognized her briefly from a sophomore class they had together. Science, or something.

"She died from a snake bite," Luke broke the silence, his voice cracking from emotion. "Her whole body just shut down. we did everything we could, but we couldn't save her."

Everyone knew West Ham had no snakes.

"So, we're gonna bury her tomorrow," Grizz spoke up, "Before it starts to smell."

Mason looked up at Grizz, feeling her heart rip in half at the sight of his tear-stained face. His bloodshot eyes feel onto her small figure and he gave her a lopsided smile.

She reached out and held onto his broad bicep, leaning her head onto his arm in comforting manure.

"Uh, I'm gonna need a few guys. Clark?" Grizz asked. Mason could feel his bicep tighten from his attempts to hold in sobs.

"Yeah, no problem." He responded.

Grizz sniffled. His head falling as he looked at the ground to hide his tears from everyone.

"There's nothing out there, guys." Luke said, "Just a whole bunch of woods that go forever."

Mason felt tore her gaze away from Grizz as she looked at the girl's body that laid on the table in front of her. A tear rolled down her cheek and dropped onto the floor beneath her.

She glanced to her side, frowning at the sight of her brother's red eyes. Mason and Harry didn't make it a secret that the two didn't get along, but at the end of the day, they'd never inflict pain on each other on purpose.

Mason watched as Sam Eliot stepped forward and softly clutched the girl's cold and his own. He held it for a few seconds before placing it down and stepping back. Helena stepped forward and began to pray. Mason stepped forward, placing the girl's hands over her body and flattened out her shirt.

She took a step back felling a pair of arms wrap around her waist and pull her into a warm body. Mason turned around in Grizz's arms, reaching up and wiping a tear from his face.

. . .

It had been six days since the girl passed away from the snake bite. Mason had tried going home that night to find Harry had changed all the locks. She considered smashing a window in but decided against it. The house already didn't feel like home.

Grizz had offered his house up to Mason, insuring her she wasn't imposing and it would be like middle school when they had sleepovers. Or, when she'd fall asleep at his place after football games.

On the tenth day, Mason had grown sick of wearing the same pair of leggings and washing her undergarments at night. On top of that, her period was growing close and she knew Grizz wouldn't have anything for that.

Selflessly, Grizz banged on Harry's door. When it swung open, he pushed past Harry and went straight into Mason's room grabbing as many articles of clothes that he could stuff into his empty football bag.

For the past week, kids locked themselves away in fear of the unforeseeable future. Each night, Grizz would wake up to Mason crying. He'd softly on the guest bedroom, her room, and wait for her to look at him with teary eyes. He'd then slide under the covers, pulling her small body into his own.

Grizz was struggling with his own emotions from the death of Emily happening right in front of him. But, for Mason's sake, he put on a brave face. Still, no smile.

Eventually, the two decided it was time to try and find a routine. The two walked down the streets, watching as a few kids started the shout and point up to the sky as it became darker.

"What the hell," Grizz mumbled, squinting at the bright sun.

A few students around the field started the gasp, stating it was a sign.

"It's not a sign." Gordie called out from under the gazebo, "It's a scheduled astronomical event."

The students seemed to calm down. Grizz and Mason glanced at each other. They both knew there shouldn't be an eclipse in the middle of June.

"Let's go get breakfast," Mason suggested.

Grizz nodded. He swallowed a lump in his throat, reminding himself he couldn't let Emily's death get to him. He had to keep it together for the town, for Mason.

As the two walked across the field, Harry approached them.

"Mason, can we talk, please?" Harry mumbled. His eyes looked bloodshot and caved in.

Grizz tensed up, his jaw became more prominent as he clenched his teeth. He placed his hand on Mason's lower back and pushed her to behind him.

"No," Grizz narrowed his eyes at Harry, "We'll pass."

"Mase, please-" Harry begged.

Mason felt a tinge of guilt knowing she had partially left him alone. But then she remembered all the things he had said to her after the incident. Especially the things he had said to Grizz after finding out he knew.

"Hey, I heard there's a game of fugitive tonight," Mason said biting her bottom lip. He was still her brother.

"Yeah, you guys in?" Harry asked, his lips slightly forming a smile.

"We'll think about it," Mason said nudging Grizz has he started to tug her away.

"Okay," Harry nodded.