Runner {Muke}

5 - School's Destruction

Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear. ~George Orwell

Michael's POV (A/N: Oh no I'm breaking the mold of going back and forth! Just ignore me I'm dumb.)

"Michael," Ashton said as he walked in my office at six o'clock in the morning. "Man, you look terrible. Did you even sleep last night?"

"No." I yawned. "I'm trying to put this together."

"Well put it together in the car. I just got a call saying we can go to the school, and check it out. They haven't touched anything in the gym or downstairs besides that remote so we can't use it." Ashton shrugged. "But grab a cup of coffee and let's roll."

"I've already drank like three." I groaned as I stood up and followed Ashton to the car. He, of course, drove us to the school. No more smoke or fire, no one was standing outside besides the group letting us in.

I climbed out of my car and saw a flower on the ground. Picking it up I read the note.

"'Rest In Peace principal, may we find who did this.'" I said and put it in the back of the car.

I walked towards the building, glancing at the people who stood there. Gloves were slipped on my hands and a mask on my face.

"Just in case." The woman shrugged and the door was opened and we walked I side the scalded building. The walls were fine but the paint was pealing. The floor was scorched by fire. The gym floor was missing in the center.

"Can we be taken to the basement?" I asked the man behind us and we were taken downstairs where I saw a skeleton sitting next to a pile of melted and cooked metal, and a busted open boiler.

"So, did this bomb also break this?" I asked.

"Yes sir." He nodded.

"A stink bomb." I shook my head slowly. "No way that they didn't intend for this to happen. Why would they not have? A bomb exploding is not something easily mistaken with one that stinks."

"Stink bombs? You talking about Hemmings and Hood?" The man asked and I nodded. "They make those stink bombs all the time. And I'm telling you, they would not mess one of those up. Luke is a genius, he wouldn't mess up."

"So you think this was intentional?" Ashton asked.

"Hard to say. These boys would never want to physically harm someone, but they also wouldn't mess up a stink bomb." He shrugged.

"I've seen all I want to. Have a team get in and take photographs. Have someone scrape up that metal." I said. "Ash, we're going to Nevada."

"Finally." Ashton sighed. "Let's go."

So we walked back outside and discarded our masks and gloves before walking to the car. Ashton's mood seemed to put in sports of happiness and sadness before remaining somewhere in between. Like he just couldn't decide. Typical for him though.

We went back to the station while Ashton called a few people and made sure a team would be sent to the school while we would head to Nevada.

"Should we..Like where vests?" Ashton asked.

"No, I don't think so." I shook my head slowly.

"Okay well then I'm ready to go." Ashton said while we climbed in the car. I continued going through the file, trying to memorize the faces of these two boys. I wanted to make sure I got it right. It's embarrassing when you bring in the wrong person.

It was a long drive to Nevada, longer to Colorado, but still long. By the time we even came close to reaching anything it was nighttime.

"Michael I'm tired of driving." Ashton whined. "Can't we stop and sleep?"

"Ash, the last time we stopped and slept in the car, you whined about how uncomfortable it was for the next week." I rolled my eyes. "We'll keep going until we, reach a motel or something."

"Fine." Ashton huffed and continued down the road. "Seems like just a lotta desert, if you ask me."

"Well good thing I wasn't asking." I smiled and Ashton gave a playful glare. "Hey what's that up there?"

"Civilization!" Ashton yelled. "Meaning sleep time for Ashy."

"Yeah yeah." I said. "It's just a little store and a motel with a gas station by the looks of it. Nothing to toot your horn about."

"Sleep is sleep Mikey." Ashton shrugged as we pulled into the parking lot and walked into the main building. The woman raised an eyebrow when she saw us.

"You're the second gay couple I've gotten this week." She said.

"Whoa, whoa wait." I laughed. "We're not a couple."

"That's what the other two said." She shrugged. "Would you like a room?"

"Yes." I said and walked over to write mine and Ashton's name in the book when I did indeed see two names above.

'Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood'

Idiots.

"Hey, uh," I looked around. "Ma'am where with the FBI, my name is Detective Michael Clifford." I flashed my badge. "Could you tell us who these two boys are?"

"Cute little duo." She shrugged. "Looked a little young. And that blonde seemed awfully frightened by me. He stood right behind his friend the whole damn time."

"How long have they been here for?"

"A few days." She shrugged. "They come in and out. Usually they'll head to the city about two miles down the road. They always walk too. I don't think they have a car."

"You get a lot of business here?"

"Yeah, quite a bit actually. There's not one hotel in town. People like staying out here instead." She said. "Why some people even live here."

"That's all, thanks for the room." I smiled and walked out of the lobby.

"So," I said as we walked out into the warm arm and gestured to the area around us. "Our culprits are right here."

"Well aren't we going to find their room?" Ashton asked.

"Nah, this is a delicate case Ashton." I said. "Befriend them, if you find them."

Ashton smiled. "Trickery..I like it."

"Just be careful, they may recognize us." I said. "But for tonight, get some rest.

AUTHOR'S NOTIFICATION

Update-city for reals. Lol it's about time they meet although they haven't actually yet. Tbh I would be the worst criminal ever xD

So I'm going to a little kids birthday party later, like no.

Hugs, Kisses, Cuddles and Serenades xX