Outside Le musée de l'Egypte - les Collectionnés, the atmosphere was a combination of grim and tense. The rain was increasing as another bout of the storm was soon to come in, and pools of muddy water was growing on the streets – not exactly helped by the cars splashing them onto the sidewalk and the pedestrians.
The museum was a small property owned by a Frenchman; however it was looking worse for wear. The sign on the front was faded and peeling, and the door handle was rusted almost to the point it was unable to move. Inside, thankfully, had been a collection which was one of the better ones the group of four teens had visited, yet the visit ended just like all the others. No mention of Archer McKinley.
Scott sighed to himself as he sat on the bench, hood over his head casting a shadow over his eyes. Brandon let out an equal sigh as he tapped his fingers on his knees. Following suit, Jovianne sighed as she glanced into her purse and saw nothing but a quarter resting between a lighter and her phone. She wasn't a smoker, but more than often some of her friends asked for a lighter so she had kept one on her at all times. Unfortunately, this led to a rather tense argument with her father when she first discovered she had cancer.
Smiling without humour, Jovianne remembered how he had practically blown a casket seeing the lighter and a pack of cigarettes she was keeping for a friend. She should have guessed the assumptions and understood them, but nevertheless her father had accused her of smoking herself to death. That was one of the only arguments the two had ever had, but it still stung.
"Anything?" Jessie asked, coincidentally thinking of an argument to do with cigarettes, a nasty one with his brother two weeks before he died. Adam had a brief and calm conversation with Jessie about the smoking before leaving for the house. Jessie had been frustrated, and before he knew it he had took out another cigarette. Adam had come back, and was completely shocked that Jessie had the nerve to pull out a cigarette after the conversation. Adam had shouted. Jessie had shouted. It was bad.
"A quarter." Jovianne sighed. "Our money is now spent. We won't be able to get the buses anymore."
Scott closed his eyes and sighed. "It's a pity that all of the history museums are spread about."
"You can't expect them to be bunched together though. That'd be too easy." Brandon let out a small laugh. "These things are never easy, trust me. It wasn't easy for Harry Potter, it's not going to be easy for us."
Scott let out a small cough and turned around to Brandon with wide eyes. "Did you really just reference our situation to Harry Potter of all people? A fictional character?"
"Well, he had to fight to survive. Now we are."
"You actually like Harry Potter?" Scott asked, blinking.
"Of course, and I'm not afraid to admit it." Brandon huffed. "Besides, from Book three it was basically a big horror movie. I mean, black dogs, deaths in the family, and an f'n creepy white baby. It's the works. You have your three innocent little kids caught up in a fight for life. I mean, you'd be Hermione, no doubt Scott. Intelligent and smart."
"I'm not entirely sure I was a girl, last I checked." Scott smirked and peeked under his shirt pointedly. "Nope, no breasts."
"Excuse me?" Jovianne butted in, looking slightly embarrassed. "Girl in the room here, keep the crude conversation about teen wonders to yourself."
"Technically a street." Jessie muttered, getting a friendly slap on the shoulder from Jovianne.
"Girl in the street, whatever." Jovianne sighed. "Besides, I think I'd be Hermione. I survived from near death just like her. I just need to find myself either a ginger or someone with glasses." Jovianne trailed off, obviously thinking to herself now.
"Don't forget the scar." Jessie teased, touching his forehead. "Or the scraggly hair, or the freckles, or the uncontrollable hormo- ow!" Jessie clutched his shoulder where Jovianne had slapped it.
"Oh don't be a big baby." Jovianne laughed.
Jessie looked up, without thinking, and pointedly said. "Boo hoo." His voice was whiny and he rubbed his eyes.
Jovianne smiled, Scott shook his head in mock-embarrassment and Brandon actually laughed, clapping Jessie on the back.
All four continued to chat, turning from Harry Potter to Resident Evil and even a brief conversation about Brandon's cousin's unfortunate obsession with My Little Pony.
If one was to look at this group, they would assume they were a group of friends on a day out despite the weather, joking around and having a good time. Indeed, they were having a good time. For a moment, Scott, Jovianne, Brandon and Jessie could forget about Archer, forget about being hunted and concentrate solely on forging friendships. Four people who wouldn't have given each other the time of day had it not been for the tragic accident.
After a good half an hour of conversation, Scott suddenly spoke up, "Look at us. It's like we aren't hunted by death, or concerned about our own demise. We're just talking."
"There isn't anything wrong with talking." Jovianne said placing a hand on Scott's shoulder. "It helped immensely that I could talk to my family and friends when I had cancer."
"I think it's fair to say, Scott, that you've just made three more friends, eh?" Brandon grinned. "Who would've thought it? An intelligent guy, a horror movie buff, a shy guy, and a short girl."
"Hey!" Jovianne frowned playfully. "I'm not that short!"
Brandon bent down so he was face to face with Jovianne. "How tall are you?"
Jovianne murmured something, looking away as Jessie and Scott tried not to laugh.
"Pardon?" Brandon cupped an ear. "I'm not entirely sure I heard that."
"Four foot Eleven." Jovianne said quickly, her cheeks growing red.
"I'm just teasing, don't get worked up." Brandon smiled again and playfully pushed Jovianne...
...straight into the path of an oncoming jeep. Jovianne let out a brief scream as she saw the vehicle but was silenced by a thud later.
"Jovianne!" Scott exclaimed in panic, running forward. He was the only one. Jessie looked scared, but Brandon looked completely mortified. His mouth hung open slightly, his eyes wide and unblinking. What had he done?
Scott kneeled down at the front of the jeep, where Jovianne lay unmoving. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her chest move, but then caught his breath as he saw blood spread out quickly underneath her head.
"Oh shit, shit, shit." Scott when to touch Jovianne but drew back. The injury could be serious, he didn't want to hurt her anymore. Fumbling in his pocket, Scott quickly drew out his phone and called the ambulance and the police.
When he was done, a voice behind him asked, "Why are you calling the police?"
Scott turned around briefly to the driver of the jeep, a prim, proper blonde woman wearing a black skirt and white shirt. She looked slightly worried.
"Why do you think?" Scott questioned, breathing hard. "How fast did you think you were going? Over the speed limit I'm sure."
"What? How dare you... this was her fault and nothing less." The woman snarled.
Scott opened his mouth to retaliate, but knew it was no good. He turned back to Jovianne, frowning and feeling his eyes grow hot.
It was enough to break a man, let alone a teenager. He had just begun making new friends, and now this? Not to mention next on the list was Jovianne...
"No, no, no, no..." Scott abandoned caution and reached for Jovianne's hand, although he still didn't move her head. "Jovianne, if you can hear me please don't die. Don't, please. We need you, we watched you, you can't die! Please!"
Watching aghast, Brandon felt horrible. There was a lump forming in his throat as he watched Scott's panicking figure and the blood pooled underneath Jovianne's head. He had made a promise that Jovianne would see her sisters and father again. He had promised to keep them all alive. He had said it so confidently... but now it looked like his words were for nothing. Jovianne was going to...
Brandon's fourteen year-old mind couldn't handle it, and he fell back onto the bench, head in his hands, weeping and snivelling. Tears and mucus ran through his fingers and down his chin, but he didn't care. The only thing he cared about was that Jovianne was going to die and it was going to be all his fault.
(as a mention, Harry Potter, My Little Pony, and Resident Evil of course do not belong me, lol. Sorry to leave you on such a cliffhanger, but hey, it's effective.
Till next time.