When Wrong becomes Right

Chapter 9

We walked inside, as the brunette explained. "My dad's office, he always kept it locked because he was worried his competitors would steal his Royal Merchant research, we used to laugh at him about it like he was gonna find it, but now that he's gone, I've kinda kept it as he left it." He said, pulling a set of keys from his pocket, unlocking the door. "Yeah for when he gets back," Kie said, trying to bring light to the boy's situation. "I've slept over here like 600 times, and I've never seen this door opened," Pope said as we all walked in.

I've seen it open once.

We all walked into the room, and JB grabbed aboard. "This is the original owner," he said. "Robert Q. Routledge, 1880 to 1920." Kie readout. "There's the lucky compass right there." She said, pointing to it. "Actually he was shot after he bought it." John B said. "Then the compass was shipped back to Henry. Henry was killed in a crop dusting accident when he had the compass. After he died, the compass was given to Stephen. Stephen had the compass with him when he died in Vietnam." "Let me guess, he died in action right?" JJ asked. "Sort of.. actually he was killed by a banana truck, in-country though. Anyways, after that Stephen passed the compass down to him. My dad." John B said, pointing to a picture of a younger version of himself and his dad. I walked away from the board and looked at the room I haven't been in since I was 7.

Flashback

"See the angel there? That's called a figurehead. It was a very popular thing to put on ships back in the day." Big John said, pointing to the angel on the bow of the Royal Merchant. "Did it mean anything?" the little girl, sitting on his leg asked. "Well, the angel blowing the trumpet symbolizes someone entering Heaven." The man explained. "Is that what Evie saw when she entered heaven?" The girl asked. "Yes of course! She saw the angels greeting her, and lots of fluffy clouds-" 

"Are there candy and puppies for her too?" 

"Lots of candy, and lots of cute puppies for her to play with. Anything she wants, she can have."

"Layne?" I heard JJ say, snapping me out of my trance. "hmm?" I said, turning. "everything okay?" he asked quietly, regarding the fact I had just been completely out of it for a few moments." 

"Yeah, we're good," I replied, trying to get away from the subject, but I could see the worry in his eyes.

"My dad used to talk about this compartment in here, soldiers used to hide secret notes." John B said, unscrewing the back of the compass. He shook it, hoping anything from his father would fall out, when Kie pointed to the cap. "What's that?" She asked. "That wasn't there before." John B said. "This is my dad's handwriting."

"How can you know that?"

"Because he does these weird Rs with the, see it?"

"Plus I think he would know what his dad's handwriting looks like," I said, putting my arm on JJ's shoulder, and leaning on him. "Can I see it?" Blondie asked, and JB handed it to him. "Redl, ruf, no I-" 

"It says, Redfield," I said, cutting him off. "Right." 

"So what's Redfield?" Kie asked. "Besides the most common name in the county?" Pope added.

"Maybe it's a clue? Right, maybe it's a clue to where he's hiding."

"A clue come on-" Kie gave Pope a dirty look. "But if it is a clue, maybe it's an anagram?" He suggested. He started grabbing paper and a pen for Pope. "How can you concentrate with that thing constantly crowing?" He asked. "JJ loves the rooster." 

" I love the rooster!" Me and Kie both said. "Jinx," I said. "Oh, that's what an anagram is," JJ said, as Pope started writing. I hit him lightly in the shoulder. "You pay absolutely no attention in class, ever," I said. "I'm sorry, that there are more important things to think about other than anagrams in class," Blondie said. "Like me?" I said, hitting my hair off my shoulder dramatically. "Exactly!" He said, "Well then it's acceptable." I replied, both of us smiling. We started to try and figure out what the anagram could mean.

"Guys. Guys! Somebody's here!" John B said, all of us looking at the black truck in the driveway.

"Is that them?" I said. "No," JJ said, hoping it wasn't "Is that them?" Kie asked, freaking out. "I told you John B, I told you man it was a bad idea-" JJ said, walking away from me. John B grabbed his shirt, backing him into the wall. "Wheres the gun?" JB asked the boy, trapped between his hands, and the wooden wall. "The gun uhh" 

"Now you don't have the gun?! The one time we need it" Kie said, flipping out. "It's in your backpack." John B said. "On the porch," JJ answered. He ran out of the door, only getting a few feet before one of the men yelled "Routledge! Come on out now!" JJ turned around, closing the door. "They're on the porch." He said. We heard them try to break things, JJ and Pope trying to get the window to open. "what's happening?" Kie asked. "It's painted shut okay?" JJ said, trying to keep it together. 

I turned and grabbed a screwdriver, and handed it to Kie as she started getting the paint off. "Shh" Pope and John B said, standing against the only thing separating us, from the men outside. "you better not be in there!" A guy yelled, kicking the door. John B and Pope ran towards us, as Kie got the last of the paint. JJ pulled open the window, everyone climbing out. I shut it behind me, as I was the last person, and we spirited to the chicken coop. We heard a gunshot before the door slammed open. We all leaned against the walls of the coop, catching our breaths. Kie was crying, and we were all panicking.

I don't cry. I haven't cried since I was 7. I hate it, makes you pity yourself, and others pity you, it makes you feel weak and vulnerable, it's just not my thing.

"Do something, Pope! Shut him up!" JJ said, from his position in the coop, referring to the rooster. 

"What do you want me to do?" Pope asked.

"Pet it, or talk to it, something I don't know!" Kie said in her frantic state.

One of the guys turned and looked towards us, as we all ducked behind a wall. JJ grabbed the rooster, and slammed it against the ground, killing it. I covered my mouth with my hand, as Kie let out a whimper. JJ climbed back next to me and grabbed my hand. I held onto him, all 5 of us scared for our lives.

I at the time didn't have the time to realize that he initiated that, which is actually quite a big thing for him.

"Rader the hell you doing man come on" The second guy yelled. "Rader," I said under my breath, trying to remember where I've heard it.

We all carefully turned and watched as the black truck pulled away.