Hello lovely peepz!
Thank you for being so freaking patient with me! and I hope and wish you all wellness in these trying times.
Enjoy the update!
THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN EDITED!
**mostly from the scene where Nazz is taken to Sam's home and forward*
He had two options: Sam and Jimmy.
Two opportunities to get ahead of the game.
The only crucial part of this whole thing was who was Eddward Vincent going to trust.
Eddward paced around the upstairs study, cigarette in hand. He needed to observe this thoroughly and clearly. He could follow through with Raine and Kevin and trust Sam for now. Or he could let Jimmy drag him into his ridiculously dangerous plan of kidnapping Kevin and Nazz and hence saving them from Sam.
It was insanity that Eddward was even considering Jimmy's plan out of all things. But Jimmy was right. Sam was deceitful and although Sam trusted Eddward, Eddward didn't know if he could trust Sam. He had known that truth from the very beginning.
Jimmy was extreme and secretive.
He was dealing with maniacs. Sam and Jimmy were crazy and everyone surrounding them was just as crazy. Was he just as crazy as they were?
Recently, his sanity was something he questioned repeatedly. Between Sam's influence and this god awful house, the blaring white walls and shadowy echoes were enough to drive anyone in the Vincent residence mad. Eddward knew he had been going mad over the years, it was inevitable.
His own father was mad as well.
The bitterness of the nicotine brought his mind back to his current dilemma. The cool wall of the study pressed against his back sending goosebumps up his spine. Eddward had to choose the right person to trust. He needed to have the upper hand, he needed to get ahead of both Jimmy and Sam. But how?
They were playing with fire now. People will be burned if he chose wrong.
Somewhere there were answers to his stacked questions. The curiosity to search eating at his muscles, and adrenaline that pumped through his veins driving him forward nowadays. Now that he was getting sleep, his mind wasn't as paranoid. No nightmares, no anxiety. He was focused, he knew he was.
The pills were working.
But there was something he was missing, because Jimmy knew that some way or another there were consequences to the pills. The blonde teen had grinned devilishly, but Eddward wasn't going to let the pills mess with his awareness.
He would take them, he would sleep, and he would prove he was functional with them.
Sam and Jimmy were aware of everything that was happening. Was it due to their connections or was it caused by their own puppeteering? Why was Sam letting Jimmy run around freely, knowing well the teen was after Sam's head?
Eddward had a suspicion of Sam when Trevor had gone after Kevin. But then Sam's assistant had turned on Sam at his birthday party. The situation was a maze and it was hard to know who was going after who. What was truth and what was manipulation.
"It's all one big fucking mess," Eddward mumbled out taking a drag. He leaned against the window looking out at his front yard, the neighborhood as silent as ever. It was almost like he lived alone in this entire street.
The thought was lonely yet comforting.
Alone to his thoughts was a dangerous thing. He let out a long exhale of the smoke as his peace disappeared as quickly as it had come.
A black vehicle pulled into his driveway and it took everything in Eddward not to punch a wall or make a run for it. His skin crawled with restlessness. It was disturbing to see a shine to the sleek darkness of the car giving a resemblance to his own vehicle.
Crushing the cigarette with the bottom of his shoe, Eddward opened the window and threw the thing away. He watched a man with a head full of curls step out of the fancy vehicle. Eddward's blue eyes met with dark brown ones. His father was glaring up at him.
Eddward closed the window and stormed out of the study. He had planned on skipping school, but no way in hell was he going to stay in the house with his father present.
He made his way to his room to grab his backpack. He waited a long dreadful moment as he heard the man's heavy footsteps making their way up the staircase. His palms were sweaty with every careful step that hit the wooden stairs. Once the office door had creaked open, Eddward deemed it safe to rush out. He didn't wait for the office door to close, the man never shut it.
"Why are you still here?"
The rough yet careful voice of his father made him stop abruptly. His blood was pumping through his veins. "I'm on my way out,"
Eddward continued down the stairs when his father's voice drove him to a halt again.
"Stop,"
The raven haired teen kept his back to his father, his feet glued to the floor. He didn't want to look at his father's face. The same brooding questions would linger on his tongue and he would ask the man only to be turned down. Disappointment only awaited him at turning to see Victor's face.
With a deep inhale Eddward turned around to face his father glaring down at him by the office door frame. Victor Vincent was still and rigid. The man's beige suit, a contrast to his tan, stony skin. It was then, when Eddward stared at his father, that he saw time take over his father's features. Prominent wrinkles at the corner of his brown eyes and on his forehead reflected exhaustion. His frown was defined by thick lines at the edges of his full lips and his thick curly hair colored by stress and age.
"Step forward," Victor commanded, hands in his suit pockets.
When Eddward stayed glued to his spot the man grimaced even further. With a low growl, Victor walked up to his son. With a hand he reached to grab Eddward's chin making the raven haired boy look straight into those eyes the teen could not dare to look at. "You reek," Victor said slowly. He observed Eddward carefully. "You are a coward Eddwrad."
Eddward pressed his lips together. He already knew this, but he also knew his father meant something else by it. Eddward's scar burned in the memory of the trauma. The sharp wine glass carving into his head. "You plan on taking your life slowly? One cigarette at a time," Victor said "There are much more convenient ways to arrive at the same destination, my boy."
"Must I remind you of your own cowardness, father?" Eddward stated between gritted teeth. "My scar should be enough to jog your memory." Brown eyes turned vicious and before Eddward knew it he had felt a harsh sting on his cheek where his father had just slapped him.
"I showed you mercy boy," Victor spat out.
"It was selfishness, father," Eddward said. He stared at the man's thick neck, unable to look up and meet those vicious brown eyes. "Mercy would have been death."
"...You should have died that night..." Victor said quietly. "It would have made everything so much more easier."
"Then why didn't you let me die?" Eddward yelled out enraged at the man in front of him. One of the many questions that had been engraved in his mind for so long. Why? "I was bleeding out and I would have OD, it would have killed me. So why did you come back? Why did you save me?"
Eddward felt his father's large hands hold onto him in a tight grip that he could only compare to the time the man had given Eddward his scar. Fear encompassed Eddward's veins, his legs ready to make a run for it. Eddward was not helpless this time.
"Because... you are still my fucking flesh and blood!" Victor growled out in a strained voice. As if the words coming out of his mouth were acid on his tongue. "You are your mother's son. I will not have your blood on my hands."
Eddward would have bursted out laughing at the man's statement. His father was as much as a coward as Eddward was. "Then I suggest you sit down, father. Your funeral will come first."
Another harsh slap whirled Eddward to stare down at the floor. The raven haired teen didn't know where he had gotten the burst of resolution in his gut. But the words made him whole, a fire he saw in Kevin. This blazing determination was now his, and he knew now that he wasn't going to die any time soon. Eddward's own long slender hands would not be the hands that ended his life, he would not grant his father that satisfaction.
"You are your mother's son," Victor repeated with the vicious glare once again. He retreated his hands and shoved them into his pocket.
This made Eddward pause. He observed the man's face but the expression his father wore was like a mask, unchanging. "...what does that mean?" Eddward asked, unable to help the curiosity. The words Victor said had been coated with hostility.
"It means you will listen to me," Victor's voice was quiet. "The day you take your final breath, You'll understand everything."
Eddward couldn't help but stare at his father once again. Those disapproving eyes digging into his face as if he was some demon who had come to wreak havoc. Why did his father detest him so? How could someone ever come to hate another so passionately. For all these lonely years and anger built up in Eddward's chest, he could never muster as much hatred as his father did.
Eddward's hatred was consumed with confusion and dejection. It evolved into self loathing and self sabotaging.
"I've spent my whole life listening to you, father,"
Victor's face grimaced. "No...You. Don't. Listen. You continue to be nothing but an insolent child." With that the man turned away not giving his son another glance and headed into his office.
Eddward's hands trembled. He was nauseous. He was angry.
The raven haired teen turned around and left without looking back. He rushed down the stairs, the coldness of the large home suffocating him. He wouldn't ever understand Victor Vincent. The man's words, expressions, and glares, nothing ever made sense to Eddward.
All that he ever understood was that his own father desired him dead.
…
"Sure you don't want to hang out with us tonight?" Kevin said, taking a sip of his coffee cup, "You'll get to meet the great Nathan Goldberg."
"Oh, I would love to trust me," Nazz said with a smile, "I've got a lot of writing I need to catch up on. It's been hard to focus recently, you know?"
"Yeah," agreed Kevin.
"Where's Eddward?" Nazz asked with a pointed look.
Kevin shrugged feeling guilt stir in his stomach. They walked down the hallway full of dull students. The ginger had tried sending Eddward a message early that morning but still hadn't gotten a reply. Everything in his body told him to run over to the Vincent residence but Ed had reassured him-with a call that morning-that Eddward was fine. How the brunette knew that Kevin didn't know. Was Eddwrad mad at him again?
"Eddward mentioned that he might have to skip out on some classes until Sam gets back," Kevin sighed out "He has to deal with things all over neighboring towns."
"That's not good," Nazz frowned. "He shouldn't be skipping out on classes. It's our Junior year and he's taking a lot of Advanced classes."
"I know," Kevin said "But as long as Sam's not around Eddward has to manage."
"What do you think he's doing?" Nazz asked.
"I don't know, finances?" Kevin whispered out. "Eddward told me he used to sell drugs… they have a business."
"That's dangerous," Nazz said, "If Eddward ever gets linked to that, he'll have to serve jail time."
"If they ever actually try to catch them," Kevin said, "Sam says the police turn a blind eye when it comes to the Dubois business."
"Sam really has control over this whole town huh?"
"Seems so…" Kevin reached to take her hand. "It's frustrating how Sam manages to control everything the way he does. Even from a fucking hospital bed."
"Kevin...I've been thinking" her blue eyes looked up at Kevin with concern. "Do you think Eddward will ever manage to dislocate himself from Sam?"
"What makes you say that?"
"Well," Nazz paused giving Kevin's arm a light squeeze. "He hasn't ever really...defied Sam has he? Ever since Sam's been back in town, Eddward keeps promising he will leave but he doesn't and I know they have this whole proposition, but I don't know. Sam had these eyes focused and set on Eddward at the birthday party."
"He will get out," Kevin breathed out. He believed it, because he wasn't about to let Sam bring Eddward further down. Papa Aloe and Raine all believed that Sam had no intention of letting Eddward leave. That Eddward was going to go on trail and follow Sam into the Dubois criminal business. But why were they so sure?
"And then Jimmy comes out and says Sam won't let Eddward go," Nazz mumbled out.
"Papa Aloe also said so," Kevin paused, his hands in fists."I think it's a good idea to think of that as a possibility. "
"What will we do?" Nazz asked, her chest heavy with anxious thoughts. "At the end of the year Sam will be initiated into his family's mafia, and what do we do then? How do we defy the son of a mob boss?"
"We defy him before that happens," Kevin said, determined. "You heard what Ed said, Sam's own dad has it out for him. We can use that to our advantage."
"And what if Eddward doesn't want out?"
"He does," Kevin said "We find out who's leading the masked gang, what they want and then we throw Sam to the wolves. We won't need his protection by then, and he won't have anything to hold over our head. He doesn't have the power he used to have Nazz, this is going to work."
When Kevin and Nazz reached Nazz's locker, Kevin looked among the crowd trying to see the J's in the crowd, or passing by in connecting halls. He spotted neither of the bullies.
Nazz had told Kevin everything that had been discussed between her, Jimmy and Eddward. It was ridiculous. He didn't even know why Eddward hadn't exposed Jimmy after giving his confession. Why was Eddward not pressuring Jimmy to say more, and instead letting him roam freely. The guy was a danger to them all, especially to Nazz.
"Jimmy isn't here," Nazz whispered, noticing Kevin's distress. "If that's what you're worried about."
Kevin looked up. "We can't trust anyone, they are all against one another."
"It's confusing," Nazz shook her head.
"If Jimmy was actually after Sam he wouldn't be keeping secrets. He would have told us long ago what his plan was and he would have been smart about how to take Sam down." Kevin said angrily. "I don't trust him, he's hiding something that is against us. Against Eddward."
"I hope you're wrong…" The blonde girl stood still, lips pressed together. "You think helping Sam take down the Masked gang is the best route to take?"
"For now...yeah," They heard the bell ring and they followed the crowd through the hallways again. "At least we have the Northern Fangs and the Eastern Sharks just in case."
"I still can't believe my Kevin is in a gang," Nazz said proudly. "It's surreal...you've become so brave."
"...we need them," Kevin gripped the strap of his bag tighter. "They're different, you know. Not like the Great White Sharks. The Easterns aren't as wild as the Northern Fangs but they're just as friendly as them. They are a family."
Nazz listening quietly. Her skirt flowed and her soft sweater pressed against Kevin's arm. The question of Isabella's association with the gang hung over Kevin's head. "I didn't want to say anything to Eddward but…" Kevin looked around for anyone listening in on their conversation. He met Nazz's curious stare before continuing "I need to tell someone…"
"What is it?"
With a deep inhale, Kevin whispered "Eddward's mom used to be in the Eastern sharks."
"What," Nazz's eyes widened in surprise. "H-how did you figure that out?"
"I went into a fang bar that used to be owned by the Easterns here in town- with Nathan," Kevin paused, dragging Nazz into a quiet area in the hallway by an empty classroom. "They had old pictures hanging around, and in one of them was his mom. Papa Aloe knew her."
"Oh my god," Nazz was speechless. Her head shook in confusion "Why haven't you told him?"
"I don't think it's a good idea," Kevin frowned. He knew he should tell him but he didn't want Eddward to spiral in his depression all over again. "The woman left her own son. She doesn't deserve to ruin his life again."
"Your mother came back for you," Nazz said sternly.
"It's different," Kevin said frustrated. "My mom came back… but it's not like she never wanted me. She did, she just wasn't ready. Eddward's been living in that house by himself for years," Kevin said, his hand gesturing at nothing. "It's been years, wouldn't you think she'd have come back by now, what parent leaves their child to fend for themselves. I had my dad at least."
Nazz looked at Kevin with a pressed lips. "You have to tell him Kevin. This isn't your secret to keep. This is about his mother."
"Ok, but what if he finds her," Kevin yelped, "What if he finds her and she rejects him again. It'll tear him apart."
"He won't be alone this time," Nazz touched Kevin's elbow. "It might tear him apart but he has us to patch him up. He'll be fine."
"You know… she looked like a different person in the photograph," Kevin grimaced as the second bell ring. They were late to their class but it didn't matter to either of them. The teachers never cared.
"How so?" she asked.
"She was around our age in the picture," Kevin recalled "she looked happy...free"
"Free?" Nazz asked confused.
"Have you ever looked at her portrait in the living room?" Kevin said. There were so many thoughts bouncing in his head.
"I mean yeah," Nazz shrugged, "She looks stiff. Angry maybe."
"Exactly, what kind of bride has an expression like that on their wedding day," Kevin said. "Was she already pregnant? Maybe she didn't want to have Eddward...I don't know."
"The Vincent house is haunted with so many secrets," Nazz said quietly.
"Everyone in this fucking town has so many secrets," Kevin said.
"You'd think we'd uncovered some by now,"
"I have a feeling things are only going to get more troublesome," Kevin sighed out. "The gangs, Sam and Jimmy, Victor and Isabella Vincent..."
"You have to talk with him, tell him about his mother," Nazz said, "He listens to you."
"You're right," Kevin said quietly. He knew she was right, she always was. But something in his gut told him it wasn't a good idea to bring the woman back up again. Kevin knew Eddward missed Isabella more than anything else, and it pained Kevin to know that the woman couldn't be bothered to even just call the Vincent house to hear her son's voice. But Nazz was right, Eddward deserved to know the truth even if pained the teen.
...
His surroundings were cold and the darkness ahead of him empty. He had felt this once before...some years before.
But there was a sense of loss of gravity this time. He was weightless, he was floating.
His eyes scanned everywhere but there was nothing and there was no one.
He couldn't breathe. His nose and mouth closed off any air he could possibly take in. But as he tried to take a breath a liquid clogged his nostrils and he impulsively pushed the liquid out.
He was incapable of breathing.
Because he was underwater… under cold and empty water.
He was drowning.
And all too soon his lungs burned with the desire to be filled with air once again. He tried moving his arms and legs, tried to swim up and break the surface.
But he could not.
There was no end to this darkness, no end to this ocean. He didn't even know if he was swimming up or down, left or right.
He was drowning and there was nothing he could do about it.
He would die alone.
And the pain of loneliness was far greater than the pain of his lungs pleading his body for air.
He would drown.
And no one would know.
With a startled jolt Eddward jumped upright, his hands shaky and legs weak. He took in big gulps of air as he recalled the ache of drowning. His eyes drifted to the steering wheel in front of him.
The raven haired teen's red long sleeved shirt stuck to his sweaty chest uncomfortably. He wondered how long he had slept in his car. With one look at his phone he saw it was well after noon. And a part of him wondered if it was safe to return to the house.
But he wouldn't risk it, not now.
Eddward also saw that there were some missed calls from Kevin and Jimmy. Kevin had sent him a message.
He had half a mind to call back anyone but he opened Kevin's message. It was short and Eddward felt guilty upon reading it. [Are you ok?] it read. His long hands were still weak and Eddward put his phone down for a moment needing to get his composure once more. The sensation of drowning was paralyzing and when added with his encounter with his father, well…
The pill bottle pressed up against Eddward's pocket. He couldn't take one right in the middle of this… but a simple cigarette wasn't going to do the trick, he needed something stronger. Perhaps if he broke the pill in half, maybe it wouldn't be as numbing as taking the thing whole.
He decided to take the pill bottle out and dropped on and stared at it in his hand. It was such a small thing and yet it had finally been his solution to his sleepless nightmare filled nights, and now his own dangerous thoughts. This helped him, he hadn't had the urge to run his blade through his skin. His thoughts didn't wander over the edge.
Taking half was as good as it was going to get for now, maybe later that night he would take the other half. Eddward bit the pill in half and put the rest back inside the bottle.
Eddward swallowed dry, and picked up his phone once more. He was about to reply to the ginger teen when his phone lit up once more displaying Sam's bold name on screen.
"Yes?" Eddward said closing his eyes and pinching the top of his nose.
"How fast can you get over here?" Sam's pained voice spoke out through the phone.
"I'm on my way," Eddward said, turning on the ignition. "Is it urgent?"
"I'll tell you when you get here,"
Sam hung up the phone leaving Eddward in silence once again. Eddward wasn't in the right mindset to reply to anyone so he would get back to Kevin as soon as he was done with Sam.
…
Kevin bit his lip.
His stomach was stirring with his dizzying worries. Eddward had yet to reply to him, although it was seldom that this happened and for this reason Kevin assumed Eddward was just occupied with the gang. Thankful the day was almost over. The conversation with Nazz has stirred Kevin into processing the information he had and an idea came to him in the middle of class.
What if he searched for Eddward's mother instead? What if he found her and when he did he'd confront her?
Maybe he would take Lizzy with him and tell her about her old friend and what a terrible and neglectful mother she had become. Or maybe Lizzy would be able to talk some sense into Isabella.
This new resolution was what drove Kevin to stand in front of Papa Aloe's home once again.
The neighborhood was lively, elementary kids running around the block with a soccer ball between their feet, and parents sitting around their balconies chatting among each other.
He saw a caramel skinned woman leaning against the railin, her red lips indicating she was talking. He did not recall seeing her in the crowd during his initiation.
With a glance she spotted Kevin making his way up to the houses. Her eyebrow raised and lips pressed close. Her brown hair and observant eyes resemble Hunter's and Kevin wondered if this was the boy's mother.
"You're the new boy," she said, no warmth in her voice. "I told him not to take anyone else in but here you are...and a Barr boy at that."
Kevin stared at her, quiet and intimidated. What was he supposed to say to her? Sorry?
At Kevin's silence, the woman shook her head towards the door. "Go on in, He's inside."
"Thank you," Kevin said, with a quiet voice. He would ask her about knowing his family later, there were more pressing matters at the moment.
As he entered the small home, Kevin saw frames in the entryway, old and new. A young Papa Aloe sitting in the backyard with a gang. Kevin read the back of a leather jacket and it had said The Great White Sharks. The design on the jackets were outdated and cliche, but as he looked at the right side there was a light haired white man standing next to Papa Aloe.
Recalling his conversation back at the factory with Sam, he assumed the man had to be Sam's uncle. The rest of the pictures were of the Eastern sharks and one with the Northern Fangs, that one had Hunter front and center next to Raine.
"Who's there?" called Papa Aloe.
"It's Kevin," He said, moving along from the entryway. Papa Aloe was sitting on the couch of the living room, book in hand. "Afternoon, sir. Sorry for interrupting."
"Nonsense," Papa Aloe said contently, setting his book aside and motioned for Kevin to take a seat. "Come on in boy. Sit."
Kevin took a spot on the smaller couch. He took a moment to look around the living room, it resembled his own in size, however there was a traditional tapestry hanging on the wall.
"Hunter tells me plans are being arranged," The older man said quietly watching Kevin glance around.
"Yes, sir," Kevin said, turning back to face Papa Aloe. "You heard about Sam's incident?"
"Of course," Papa Aloe replied. "All the gangs know about the Dubois kid. Seems we all have a big problem if it's his father."
"No, I don't think that man has anything to do about it," Kevin said, cautiously. "It's the masked gang. They've made clear their goal, at least against Sam."
"And what is their goal against your friend?" Papa Aloe asked.
"I don't know," Kevin replied, honestly. "We've all been thinking that they see how infatuated Sam is with Nazz...maybe they plan on hurting him twice by attacking her."
"The Dubois kid is in fact smitten with your friend?" The older man continued to question.
"I believe so," Kevin said, hesitantly. "It seems so."
"And what about you my boy?" Papa Aloe said, looking at Kevin sternly. "What is it about you that makes you a target?"
Kevin pressed his lips. How much had Hunter told his grandad? Kevin wondered. At the sudden silence, the older man chuckled. "Fear not, boy. Whatever happens, it will be kept between us, we are family. But I need to know why. You are aware of the consequences of betrayal."
"I know," Kevin said, thinking everything over a million times in his head. He knew he could trust Papa Aloe, however, he was an adult and the head of a gang-Papa Aloe had full control of taking action "It's not what you think… I'm just trying to end this madness, once and for all."
Papa Aloe stared at him for a very long time as if contemplating Kevin's words. "You have yet to answer my question boy."
"To be frank sir," Kevin said, slowly. "I don't know… All I know is that they want Sam, Nazz and me, for one reason or another. I just want to get my friends out of this situation."
"Brave," Papa Aloe said "Tell me then, what is your plan and how can we help?"
"Well, Raine and I thought it would be a good idea to confront the Serpents," Kevin started, sitting up in his seat. "The Great Whites have someone who is guilty of plotting with one of them."
"You'll immediately incite aggression,"
"Most likely, yeah," Kevin said, with a shrug. "But we have them cornered. We have evidence and witnesses. People saw their members at the party, Sam himself saw them."
"They can't back out. They started this," He continued. "There much little wiggle room when it comes to confronting them."
Papa Aloe sank down on his couch and glared down at Kevin. Musing over what was to happen. "The Serpents have no allies or enemies. If they are after Sam it is because he hurt one of their own. They might just be getting revenge."
Kevin nodded, taking in a deep inhale. "I think Sam knows more than he leads on."
"The Dubois boy is dangerous Kevin," Papa Aloe said. "I advise you to proceed with much is no child's play."
"May I ask what you know about the Dubois family sir?" Kevin asked.
"I'm afraid I may not have any information that is useful," Papa Aloe said with a frown. "I can tell you that The Great White Sharks and The Eastern Sharks used to be one. The Dubois, had two members in the gang. The eldest brother at the time was on his way to becoming an infamous mobster, their family have grown up with the lifestyle since the 40's I believe. I used to be a member of the Great White Sharks, but their ways were getting too barbaric and I wished to change that. So I broke off and made the Eastern sharks."
Papa Aloe paused, his expression reminiscent. "There were many Turf wars over the years, since the entirety of Peach Creek belonged to them. Yet we managed to drive some of them away, we conquered half the town. The East and South side, with the exception of the factory."
"The eldest Dubois, and at the time leader of the Great White Sharks, was killed in one of our turf fights. Then the youngest Dubois took over. He is now known as The King of Beasts, I'm sure you know this much." Kevin nodded in reply. "All I know is that the King of Beasts, managed to maintain an underground drug business for years expanding into neighboring towns, and later went off to rise in the ranks. He's killed many Mob bosses and became the powerful man he is today, a true lion. Why he didn't come after us is a mystery. Perhaps, he wanted the rank all along and was glad we took away an obstacle."
"I've heard Liam Dubois is well on his way in the family mafia," Papa Aloe said. "However, It's come to my understanding that Liam lacks the backbone that his younger brother has. Who knows, history might repeat itself once more. As for Sam Dubois, I know he is associated with many of the neighboring gangs. He keeps his father's business going and makes the majority of his profit from cage fighting. That is how I came to hear about your friend."
Kevin paused a moment mulling over the following questions in his head. "Did you know Eddward was Isabella's son?"
"Not at first," The older man spoke quietly. "Not until one of my members, someone who knew Isabella saw the boy in the house Isabella used to reside. I knew he was her son as soon as I saw his blue eyes."
"You didn't reach out?"
"No, I did not," Papa Aloe said. "The last I saw of the girl was about a year after she moved away to attend university. She came back to hand her jacket to your mother, and begged us to look after her friends. I was never aware that she had moved back, married and with a child. No one ever really saw her in town, almost as if she was caged in the dreaded house."
"I'd like to know more about her," Kevin asked, curiosity eating at his chest, " can you please tell me about her sir?"
"Why not ask your friend?" the man asked with an eyebrow lifted.
"I can't sir," Kevin said, sitting straight. His hand was trembling. "Eddward has not seen his mother in about 7 years. His father has been the only one Eddward has seen from time to time."
"His father is the surgeon, Victor Vincent, correct?"
"Yes sir," Kevin said. "I want to know if there is anything you can tell me about her that will lead us to her, or at the very least, we want to understand why she abandoned her son."
"She never would have," Papa Aloe said, lips pressed and eyes narrowed in anger. "Her father was a strict and abusive man. She wanted nothing more than to have a good family of her own."
"Who was her father?" Kevin asked.
"Kevin, if your friend truly knows nothing," Papa Aloe said, with a careful tone. "This conversation needs to be had between the three of us."
"I'll bring him," Kevin said.
"Come back another day," Papa Aloe said.
"Thank you," Kevin stood, heart pumping wanting nothing more than to rush over to Eddward and drag him back.
"Oh, one more thing," Papa Aloe called out. Kevin turned around waiting patiently. "Your mother stopped by here the other day. I did not tell her of your integration to us. But if I may advise one more thing, it would be wise to tell your parents. Tom Barr will wreak havoc if he finds out by some other means that isn't straight from you."
Kevin nodded carefully, before saying his goodbyes and rushing out of the house. Hunter's mother gave him no mind and continued to stare outside to the kids playing in the streets. However, their earlier interaction made Kevin pause and he turned back to the woman. "You know my dad?" he asked.
The woman did not look at Kevin but let out a little huff of air that sounded like a laugh. "Of course I did, kid. This town was much smaller when I was your age."
"You didn't sound too fond of my dad,"
She gave him a glance once more before turning completely away, "Why should I be? No one is ever fond of their exes."
Kevin stared dumbfounded and lamely let out an "Oh," he stood there a few seconds before muttering a goodbye and running all the way home. As soon as he got home he called Eddward. However the raven haired teen never answered the phone. Assuming he was still busy with business, Kevin sent a text. [We need to talk asap. Call me!]
...
Eddward entered the grim hospital in almost a daze. He was partly wet from the storm that began midway through the drive. The pill was hitting harder than usual- he wondered if it had to do with all his mental exhaustion.
The white hallways made it difficult to focus and maneuver through. Lights almost blinding and a silence that gave him a chill. The only echo throughout the floor was a faint beeping and the splash of the water against windows.
Liam had left long ago having to go back and deal with his father's mafia. However, he had not left Sam entirely alone, there were many more gangsters keeping watch of Sam. They patted Eddward down, checking for weapons and the sort. They were expressionless, some covered in tattoos, and black formal clothing.
One of them opened the door to let him into Sam's room. The curtains were wide open displaying the chaos happening outside. Sam was awake and on a call, so Eddward stood in front of the hospital bed and stared down at the window in a trance.
"I don't want to hear it," Sam said, frustrated. "The fucking cunts are stealing the product. I need to know what they fucking offered them."
"Yeah, yeah I know," the blond stared straight at Eddward. His thin eyebrows set and his dark eyes knowing. "Ok, figure it out and get back to me. I'll be more than fucking fine if you go and do your fucking job." he hung his phone and sighed out.
"Jimmy?" Eddward asked, in a monotone voice. His back felt heavy and his breathing slowed.
"Yes," Sam motioned for Eddward to move to the side of the bed. His pale hand patted the spot beside him demanding the raven haired teen to sit down. "Which brings me to the reason I called you out here."
"What's happened?"
"Eddy," said Sam, "Mind telling me where the hell he is?"
"How the hell would I know," Eddward mumbled, "He's in Lemon Brooke. Jimmy is supposed to keep watch there."
"Well, the short bitch disappeared," Sam said, angrily, "Jimmy is keeping watch but he doesn't know Eddy. Not like you."
"Sam, I don't have a clue where he could be hiding," Eddward replied.
"Yes, you do Vincent," Sam said with a careful, demanding voice.
With an annoyed huff, Eddward looked away. Why did Eddy always annoy him even when the guy wasn't present? His inner voice was a faint echo. His chest steady and his body limp. "I...don't know," he finally said, looking back at Sam's careful eyes, "He's probably just scared of what you'll do to him."
Sam stared in silence for a long pause. "I'll task you with finding him and when you do, bring him to me, I won't do anything to him, you have my word."
"Understood," Eddward turned his attention to the muted rain happening outside. His eyes blurring the drops of water running down the window. Pine trees shaking in the distance and dark clouds.
"Another thing," Sam said, "I implore you to keep a careful eye on your little toy. I don't trust freckles not to ruin things for us."
"He is not a toy," Eddward said, the conversation with Kevin outside Fangs lingering in his mind and an ache in his chest, "And he's certainly not mine."
"Just to clarify," Sam placed a hand on Eddward's jaw and forced him to look straight into Sam's dark eyes. "Don't you ever dare forget who was by your side when you were rock bottom. Who was holding you up when you started ripping open these arms," Sam said, grabbing Eddward's forearm with his free hand, "Don't. You. Dare. Forget."
"I was there before Kevin," Sam said quietly, "I was there to give you purpose and strength. I'm the one and only person you would always rely on. I loved you before he did."
"I'm afraid of you," Eddward said quietly, "I always have been."
"Fear and love come hand in hand," Sam replied with a demonic stretch of his pale lips, "You fear me and I love you. This is how we trust."
Eddward pressed his lips together. A dread stirred in the pit of his stomach, knowing he owed Sam so much. Sam was there when Eddward was mourning the loss of Blaine, the loss of Eddy and Ed and the loss of Marie. Sam was there before Kevin, this was true. However, Kevin held him with warmth and security, Sam's hold was cold and possessive. "Have you been testing me, all this time?"
"I need you at your strongest,"
Eddward wanted so badly to feel angry but his emotions had been stored and locked away by the pill now. He could only feel the remnants of what could be his rage. "I had every intention of taking my life."
"You had every intention, indeed," Sam laughed, "But you have never wanted to die. Don't you understand that I've been keeping you alive. I've been throwing everything at you to prepare you for what will be thrown at us when we join my father's mafia."
"I've told you that I don't want that," Eddward said, letting his eyes close as he felt the pill drown out his mind.
"You do," Sam said quietly, "We're going to end your father and then we go after mine."
Eddward's body was weightless. His cheek was pressed against something chilling and a hand wrapped around his neck. He knew this touch, it was Sam's. His mind was drowning into a pit of nothingness and there was nothing he could do.
"You can trust me, Eddward," Sam said, "So, if your toy misbehaves or gets in the way of our plans, you have to tell me."
"He won't," Eddward's lips were heavy to move.
"Good," Sam gave Eddward a light slap on his cheek. "Why don't you take a little nap before heading back." the blond pulled Eddward down and had him lay by his side.
There was a numbness over Eddward's senses. He couldn't think anymore but his consciousness was still present. He couldn't feel but was aware of Sam sitting beside him, and he couldn't express emotion, but there was an icy emptiness that forged in his chest. Taking half the pill was worse than taking the entire thing.
"Last thing," Sam's quiet voice broke Eddward's drowning. "You are not allowed to lo-"
Eddward gave him a small hum in reply before falling the rest of the way into the ocean that consumed his mental state.
…
"What the hell do you mean Eddward is missing too," Jimmy stormed out of the factory office phone in hand and coming to a sudden stop. "I got an annoying ginger glaring at me. So fucking find us Eddy and Eddward or so help me I will personally fucking come after you, you imbecile."
Jimmy hung up the call and huffed out an irritated breath of air. "He's not fucking here,"
"Obviously," Kevin glared up at Jimmy. "What was all that about?"
"None of your fucking business," Jimmy tried to push past Kevin but the smaller teen stopped him by blocking the others path.
"It is my fucking business," Kevin said "We're going through with our plan and we need Eddy."
"Eddward still hasn't decided," Jimmy said, looking at anywhere that wasn't Kevin. "You better be nicer to me shortie, you might be under my care real soon."
"Like fucking hell I will be," Kevin spat out,"Your insaine to think your plan is any bit logical. No way are we letting you fucking kidnap us. That's going to bring up so many new problems for all of us."
"I'd be keeping you away from Sam," Jimmy said with an eyebrow raised, "You know as well as I, Sam isn't trustworthy right?"
"You haven't earned anyone's trust either," Kevin said. "If you want us to believe your so-called good intentions, then don't be secretive and evil."
"It's more fun watching you and your little gang run around like headless chickens," Jimmy smiled a large grin that unsettled Kevin to his core.
"How is this fun?" Kevin said, "How is someone getting shot fun?"
"It wasn't supposed to be him," Jimmy said, giving the freckled boy a stern glance.
"Nazz being the target doesn't make it any less horrible," Kevin asked "But tell me why her?" There was so much information he could probe out of the blond boy if he was careful with his words. "Sam was already a target that night. Shooting Nazz would have meant nothing to a dead man. Nazz told me you said three targets were there that night, Sam, Nazz and who is the third," Jimmy stared at him with a wicked smile as if seeing the gears turning in Kevins head. "It wasn't Eddward and it wasn't Ed."
"You can't be so stupid, Minnow"
Kevin frowned at the blond and then said "Me, why me? What does your masked leader want with me?"
"Oh I don't know," Jimmy chuckled out. "You might just be collateral damage. You stick your nose where it shouldn't be."
"What does that mean?"
"It means what it means."
Kevin rolled his eyes. "You could not get any more infuriating," he said, gesturing a hand with his middle finger flipping off the teen.
Jimmy laughed at this and started walking ahead. "If you want all of this to end quickly, Minnow. I suggest you just forget about everyone and everything, move away if possible."
"I'm not leaving behind my friends," Kevin said, "Why can't you just be straight with me?"
"Because I want to see what happens," Jimmy replied with a pointed look. "Like I said, it's more fun. Sam's having fun with all this, why can't I?"
"Fuck you," Kevin said pushing past Jimmy and walked into the office. "I'll wait for Eddward."
He hadn't received any response from Eddward yet and his stomach was filled with worries. Yet, he told himself everything was fine and the raven haired teen would eventually contact him. But what if Eddward wasn't ok? What if the boy had broken down or passed out once more? "He's ok…" Kevin whispered out. He locked the office door, and began to look around the office.
He had gone to the factory to find Eddward, but now that he had the opportunity, maybe there was something else he could find one Sam. Something that would help them escape the clutches of the blond teen.
Kevin tried to pull open the cabinets in the desk but found that they were locked. Sam would have a key, he wondered if Eddward did too. With a sigh, Kevin turned to the bookshelf behind the desk. There were many scattered papers and books- he wondered what a criminal would read about.
He pulled a book off a shelf that read The Alchemy of Finance. A quick flip through showed nothing and Kevin shoved it back. He looked around reading off titles under his breath. The majority of the book was to do with wall street and the finance world. A few were psychological and then something that caught the ginger's attention was a small novel placed at the very top of the shelves. The Mysterious Stranger by Mark Twain, it read. Kevin stood on his tiptoes to reach for it, he had read this book once before. About Satan and his visits to earth.
Kevin flipped through it and at the very back was an old picture. A blue eyed child sat on the lap of his dark long haired mother. The child and mother shared many similar features, Kevin picked the old picture up recognizing the people in it immediately. It was Isabella and Eddwrad. "Why would Sam have their picture?" Kevin said out loud.
Flipping the photograph to the back, he saw a handwriting similar to Eddward's but much more rough in nature that scribbled Eddward's full name, age and height.
He placed the book back on the shelf and saved the picture in his pocket. It was then that a vibration came from his other pocket. Kevin scooped the phone and opened the message hoping it was Eddwrad.
[Hey cutie, you still good for tonight?]
It was Nat. Kevin pressed his lips together. He looked at the time in his phone, it was already past five in the afternoon, and no sign from Eddward.
[Yeah, still good.] Kevin replied. He gave the office a once over, quickly scanning the scattered papers and knowing he wouldn't find anything else out in the open he gave up.
A bit of his worries had settled, however his mind was now filled with curious thoughts. Why have a picture of Isabella and Eddward in the office, unless it belonged to Eddward. But Kevin knew Eddward didn't keep any belongings at the factory.
"Leaving already,?" Jimmy's voice came from down stairs.
Kevin gave an annoyed glance down at the blond. "Just let him know I'm looking for him!"
"I won't!"
Fuck you, thought Kevin again as he continued out of the factory.
…
When Eddward woke up. The storm had significantly calmed down. He couldn't hear the pound against the window and only the sound of droplets and Sam's monitor could be heard.
Eddward opened his eyes and sat up.
"Finally awake?"
He realized Sam had a hold of his beanie in hand. His mind was much clearer but he was still so tired. "Shit, what time is it?"
"Night time. It's eight thirty," said Sam.
"Fuck," Eddward rubbed his eyes. He had taken only half, he wondered why it had hit him harder.
"Eddward," Sam said, his eyes glaring down at the beanie and lightly pulling at it. "Did I not warn you to not take pills on the job."
"I wasn't when I did," Eddward sighed out, "You called immediately after."
"Just don't let it happen again," Sam said, giving Eddward his hat back. "I can't have you with half a mind during all of this."
"My father was home,"
"Ah," Sam nodded. "When will the bastard give it up."
"When I'm in my grave," Eddward breathed out, an emptiness lingering in his gut.
"Too bad you'll outlive him," Sam smiled, leaning back on his pillow. "Also, your phone's been ringing. Freckles seems to be going crazy."
Eddward felt for his phone but Sam shoved it into his hand. "I got curious," Sam's lips widened.
With a press of lips in a frown, Eddward opened up his phone and read the messages Kevin had left, he had also called about four times.
Eddward lifted himself off the bed in worry. The texts read.
5:34 [Where are u? we really need to talk. This is important.]
6:47 [Is everything ok? I'm worried]
7:00 [Hey, please answer me, are u ok?]
7:05 [Are u on a job?]
7:44 [I'll be over tomorrow. I hope everything is ok.]
A splurge of guilt washed over Eddward. He turned to Sam, "I need to go."
"Julien awaites, Romeo," Sam laughed. "I should have answered his call. Tell him you were with me, ease his mind."
"It's fine," Eddward said adjusting his hat back on and grabbing his keys.
"Do tell me what's so urgent," Sam said with a wink.
"I'm sure it's nothing," Eddward said, trying to rip Sam's attention away from Kevin.
"I'm not so sure about that," Sam waved goodbye. "Get back to me when you find Eddy."
"Understood,"
Eddward left the room, crossed the many guards and then ran out of the hospital room. He didn't pull out his phone until he was in his car with the engine running.
It was all coming back to him in bursts. Worry, guilt, and regret. With shaky fingers he pressed the call button. It took several long rings that he worried the freckled boy had fallen asleep, but it wasn't all that late. The guilt hurt him, like the cuts on his wrists had. It was overwhelming.
"Heeello," Came a cheerful voice from the other line, it wasn't Kevin.
It caught Eddward off guard that he had to look at his phone to see if he had called the right number.
"Hey, you must be the jackass Kevin's been worrying about. Finally decided to call, huh?"
"Excuse me?" Eddward lowered his eyebrows. Loud music could be heard in the background "Who are you?"
"I'm Nathan mother fucking Goldberg, and let me just tell you Kevin is perfectly fine right now!"
"Where is he?" Eddward hand tightened on the steering wheel. "I need to talk to him."
"Oh NOW you need him," Nat shouted. "Oh, hey hey hey! You've had enough buddy. We don't want you shit faced."
"Is he there?" Eddward put the phone on speaker driving out of the parking lot. "Let me talk to him."
"You can talk to him tomorrow," Nat said, then giggled "It's not him! It's not, I prooomise. Yeah, yeah... Hey you. It's not cool to ghost someone all fucking day!"
"I didn't!" Exclaimed Eddward. He could faintly hear Kevin's voice in the background. "I-I didn't mean to, just give him the fucking phone or tell me where he is."
"Nah, he's mine tonight," Nat said. "And I'm showing him a fucking good time, is where he is."
Nat then hung up the phone.
"Damn it," Eddward said, throwing his phone on the passenger seat. He hoped it wasn't anything too urgent. He hoped he hadn't upset Kevin too much and that the ginger was doing ok...Kevin was in the care of his… Eddward wouldn't say it. The idea of Kevin seeing someone stung.
Defeated, Eddward made his way back home.
…
Kevin had given up.
Eddward hadn't answered him all day and as much as he was worried for the raven haired boy, there was nothing he could do about it. He would hopefully find Eddward home in the morning, or else he would have to confront Sam as his last resort. Because who else would know if the teens were about than the devil himself?
Kevin had given in to Nat's insistence despite not being in the mood. But he quickly learned there was no winning with Nat. He had gone home the remainder of the day, had dinner alone and then changed sending his father a message. Nat had picked him up with Llan who had been the one driving.
They went south out of town for about twenty minutes before stumbling upon an open area full of teens.
He didn't recognize anyone in the crowd. The music was loud but not as much as a night at Fangs. The crowd had room to expand and so did the sound. It echoed through the beach.
There were grey clouds forming as if a storm was coming but that didn't let the party damper. They would be out here enjoying themselves until the rain hit.
"Come on," Nat dragged Kevin out through the crowd. "Llan can get us beer."
"Is it a good idea?" Kevin asked. He had vaguely told Nat about his worries, of course the green haired teen did not know who the person of Kevin's infatuation was.
"It'll help you loosen up," Nat said, hands on Kevin's shoulders giving them a squeeze. "You don't have to of course."
"You know, I think I will," Kevin said, his shoulders relaxing, "...You're right."
"Exactly!" Nat smiled widened as he pushed Kevin further into the crowd.
It took a good hour and a half for Kevin to get into the celebratory mood. His mind kept on crawling back to thoughts on Eddward. He had tried calling once more before heading out of the house but still no response. Eventually, catching Kevin looking at his phone for the millionth time, Nat snatched it from him, "I'll hold onto this for the night, darling. Out of sight, out of mind."
Kevin downing his second beer agreed. Thirty minutes later he made his way down to the beach, picking up another can from Llan. He saw Nat chatting away on a phone a few feet away from him, "Is it him?" Kevin called out, face flushed.
When Nathan made a face of apology saying it wasn't, Kevin opened his third...or maybe his fourth? beer. This seemed to get Nat's attention as the green haired boy shouted something behind him. Kevin made his way to the water kicking off his shoes. He knew he most likely needed to stop at whatever number of cans he had reached. He looked back to see Llan say something to Nat and Nat answering in his overly dramatic tone.
It took a moment to pull his socks off and he was very unbalanced and dizzy with alcohol. Throwing them behind him, Kevin walked a bit into the water and the immediate icy water clashed with his warm body. A chill went up his spine.
He looked at the moon up ahead and it's reflection on the waves. It had been so long since he had seen Eddward just floating in water. He wondered why the raven haired teen had stopped and it only brought his mind to the night he had found Eddward passed out on the stairs. His hands formed fists, as he desperately hoped nothing bad had happened to the other. But the thought of Eddward out somewhere in such a vulnerable state was frightening. What if that was the reason he didn't respond?
Kevin was determined to find out the cause of what had happened that night. It was as if the boy had taken sleeping pills, had Sam given them to Eddward? And if they were just sleeping pills, why the need to hide them?
Kevin was joined by Nat a moment later. The night went slowly, the crowd slowly lessening as it started to get windy. Nat was still running around the dance floor, while Kevin sat with Llan watching the green haired boy. Kevin asked for the time, Llan had told him it was 11 pm.
With that he stood and snatched his phone from Nat's back pocket. "Be right back" he heard himself slur out. He made his way back down to the beach where it was the quietest. Kevin looked down at his call history and noticed he had a call earlier that night. His heart stopped when he saw it had been Eddward, with no hesitation Kevin called back.
His head was dizzy, he had stopped drinking some time ago but the effects were still very present.
"What is it now?" came Eddward's voice, annoyed.
"Ah...sorry did I call at a bad time?" Kevin frowned, his stomach feeling colder by the moment.
"Kevin!" exclaimed Eddward from the other line. "Kevin, sorry, sorry I thought...I thought you were someone else."
"I...I've been trying to get ahold of you all day," he said quietly. His hands closing loosely, his runny nose.
"Sorry, I know, I know," Eddward said, "I was occupied with Sam...I was at the hospital all day. Sorry...I didn't mean to worry you."
"Thank god," Kevin breathed out. His hands were shaking and his voice caught in his throat. He was fine, he thought. "It's ok...I just really needed to talk to you tonight, but we can do it tomorrow. It's important."
"Are you alright?"
Kevin smiled finally, a genuine smile from tonight. "I was scared…"
"Of what?"
Kevin breathed in. the freezing air cooling down his flushed cheeks. "...Of something bad happening to you. I-I was scared of where I'd find you. I don't know…"
"Sorry," Eddward said quietly. Kevin could hear sheet shuffling around, the raven haired boy had been in bed. "Are you still out?"
"Yeah," Kevin said.
"Do you need a ride?" asked Eddward.
"No, it's ok. I'm here with Nat and one of the wolves," Kevin said, closing his eyes, his head was so light. He could fall asleep listening to the other quiet voice.
"I should rephrase," Eddward cleared his throat, his voice shaky, "May I pick you up...right now?"
Kevin opened his eyes, his cheeks flushing though not from the alcohol. "...I'm twenty minutes south outside of town. On a beach you can't miss it."
"I'll be right over." Eddward said. Ruffling of fabric and a jingle of keys sounded. "And Kevin?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry,"
Kevin smiled, his eyes glazed as he stared at the tides underneath him. "It's not your fault," he whispered out, "I'm just relieved you're fine."
With that they hung up and Kevin turned at the sound of footsteps approaching. He gave Nat a glance before shaking his head in disapproval. "Why didn't you tell me he called?"
"You were upset," Nat said, arms crossed. "You were upset and he was just out there somewhere ignoring you. That's not fair."
"He wasn't ignoring me," Kevin replied, annoyed, "He called as soon as he could."
"But it's not ok," Nat said, taking a few steps closer. "It's not ok that he makes you feel that way."
"It's hard not to worry about anyone these days,"
"But he should make you laugh, not cry," Nat stated, a frown in his lips. "He should leave you without worry, not stressed and anxious."
Kevin stared in silence, he knew Nat didn't understand. The teen didn't understand and that was why he was saying all of this, but a part of him wished some of that was true. "It doesn't matter, this was important Nat. You should have told me he called."
"I'm sorry," Nat apologized, "I thought I was doing my friend a favor by keeping him distracted."
"Look, it's not his fault," Kevin said glancing back at the water. "And it wasn't cool that you didn't tell me. But I get it, you were being a good friend. So, I get it. But don't blame him."
"He's lucky," Nat said, his nose red from the cold, "You care for him so much. I hope he knows that."
Kevin stayed silent a moment, he crossed his arms then turning around back to the water. "I'm the lucky one…"
"Hm…" Kevin heard Nat mumble before heading back up.
…
Eddward couldn't sleep that night, not surprisingly, for he had slept the entire day. He had laid in bed with a book in hand...the pirate one Kevin had recommended long ago. Eddward had tried to read through it but his mind kept wandering off to their quiet days in the library. He ached for those moments once more.
When his phone rang hours later, he was annoyed to see the green haired brat had called. Yet, it had been the ginger's quiet voice that had answered. And it was then and there that selfishness had overcome Eddward, he wanted to snatch Kevin away from the green haired wolf. He scooped up his keys and ran out the door in his sweats and his running shoes.
It wasn't a far drive, Kevin had been right. The beach party wasn't hard to miss, there were many cars in the parking lot despite rain starting to sprinkle. The storm had traveled down to the Peach Creek. Eddward hastily parked and jumped out eyes scanning the beach below.
It hadn't been hard to find the ginger boy. Kevin was sitting beside someone he recognized was one of the wolves that often lingered around Raine. Eddward paused a moment, but as soon as he spotted the green haired brat close to the crowd, determination aroused in him again. He made his way down to the beach, and as soon as he was a few feet away he stopped and called out.
Kevin turned around quickly with wide eyes, and the wolf beside him glared with suspicion. Eddward ignored her, and kept his sight locked on the boy in front of him. He saw the reddened cheeks and nose, the lidded eyes and relaxed posture on Kevin. He didn't need to ask to know that the boy had been drinking. He watched Kevin say some sort of goodbye to the wolf when he heard another approaching quickly.
The green haired brat had stopped dead when Eddward turned his eyes on him. He hoped the boy was scared. The brat looked between Kevin and Eddward and when Eddward turned to see Kevin he saw the ginger boy had a look of plea on his face. He wondered what they were hiding, but he didn't mention it. He kept silent watching Kevin give the green haired boy a wave, yet the other walked up to Kevin and held onto Kevin's wrist. He wanted to smack it off.
"You've got to be kidding me," Eddward heard the green haired boy whisper. Kevin just shrugged and gave the teen a sheepish smile.
"It's fine," Kevin reassured.
Kevin then said goodbye once more before walking ahead of Eddward. Eddward gave the other two no mind and turned to follow Kevin in silence. It wasn't until they reached the parking lot that Kevin broke their silence.
"Is everything alright?" Kevin asked.
Eddward let his shoulders relax, satisfied that Kevin was beside him now. "Of course," he replied.
"Then what happened?"
The look on Kevin's pained face stabbed his chest with guilt. "Sorry...the day just passed me by."
"You're lying," Kevin frowned looking up at the sky. The rain was building up, the cold water glistening on the boy's pale skin. "I thought we agreed to not hide stuff from each other."
"You are hiding too," Eddward said, calmly.
Kevin raised a brow at him in question. "What am I hiding?"
"Whatever that was down there," Eddward said. He wasn't angry, nor was he upset because he was just as guilty as Kevin of breaking their promise. It wasn't that he wanted to hide the drugs, but rather that Kevin wouldn't understand that he desperately needed them and that now more than ever he was ok.
"Whatever what was?"
"Between you and that green haired brat," Eddward said, quietly.
This made Kevin's face redden further, his hair starting to flatten under the water. "I...I'll tell you, but not tonight." he choked out looking away.
"Do you trust them more than me?"
Kevin looked back at him then with wide eyes. He shook his head "No, no, it's not that. I-I…" he pressed his lips together in thought. "It's not that."
Eddward reached a hand out cupping the boy's freckled cheeks, a thumb wiping away a raindrop. Kevin's skin was warm, his eyes tired and unfocused. He wished he was brave enough to lean down to steal a kiss right then and there, where he knew the green haired brat could still see them. But Eddward was a coward, and however much selfishness and desire consumed him it did not make him brave enough.
"Then let me keep this secret too," Eddward said staring down at Kevin's lips. There was a sting in his chest. It was unfair, that the world was still so cruel to present him to someone that he was not allowed to hold. "That's all I ask."
Kevin sighed out, letting his eyes fall shut and a small hand reached to hold Eddward's. "I'll tell you...I promise I will, just…promise me we'll be ok?"
Kevin was with someone else. It stung but nothing in the world would take Kevin from him. If it meant he could still hold him at arm's length then that was fine. Maybe this was for the better? For who was he to be selfish and ruin Kevin as he had Marie? A smile broke Eddward's woeful face. "Whatever it is, we'll be just fine, pumpkin."
He hadn't meant to say it, but the nickname slipped out of his lips. He stared down at Kevin who looked up at him with a look of surprise. He was about to apologize when Kevin spoke up first.
"You haven't called me that in a while," Kevin said. Eddward wanted to pull away and hide afraid the boy might be grossed out. But Kevin's hand kept him still. Then Kevin said, "I missed it."
This made Eddward's anxious mind stop, and with a quiet voice he asked, "You don't mind?"
Kevin made a face of confusion. "Of course not...I...liked it,"The boy's ears reddened then, his olive green eyes looking somewhere off.
There was a flutter in Eddward's stomach at this cute reaction. "I thought," A nervous chuckle escaped him. "Nothing," he gave up, embarrassed. He let go of Kevin then.
"Thought what?" asked Kevin.
"Nothing," Eddward laughed out, his sweater starting to get soaked by the rain. "Get in, we will get sick out here." he opened the passenger door for Kevin and then rushed to the drivers side. He started the car and turned up the heat.
"Thought what?" Kevin repeated, getting his attention once more.
Kevin's reddened cheeks seemed to glitter under the car lights, his wet ginger hair framing his face. He had fallen long ago, when he did not know. But he was falling further and further into insanity the more he stared at Kevin. "I...I thought the name put you off."
Kevin smiled and shook his head. "Why would you think that?"
"You...made a face," Eddward confessed, his hand shaky. "When you came back to school after recovering from your accident. You made a face and I assumed I might be…" he closed his mouth, looking away knowing his own face was flushed.
Kevin seemed to understand because he let out an oh! "No, I was never troubled by it...never. Hey," Eddward felt Kevin's hand reach for his arm and gave him a light squeeze. "I like it...I always have."
"Yeah?"
Kevin nodded, his eyes bright and reassuring. "Yeah." he breathed out.
Eddward turned back taking a deep breath in, his stomach light. "...Pumpkin it is," he said, with a hopeful smile.
"I wish I had a nickname for you too, besides Double D I mean," Kevin said sliding back into his seat. "But there's a problem."
"What is it?" he asked, pulling out of the parking lot and making his way back home.
"I like your name too much," Kevin said, staring at him with those precious eyes, Eddward could not stop looking into. "So, it's fine I guess."
Eddward didn't know how to respond to that. He held onto the steering wheel tightly, a smile on his lips. He was glad to have stolen a tipsy Kevin Barr, he was glad to know they were fine. Eddward was glad.
…
That night they had fallen asleep curled up together, the rain had chilled their bodies leaving them with runny noses. Kevin had messaged his dad once more and changed into Eddward's clothes. Kevin's eyes were heavy with sleep, but despite his dizzy mind and limp body he wanted to tell Eddward what he had learned.
"Your mother," he started, his eyes staring at Eddward laying beside him. He waited for the raven haired teen to turn around and face him before continuing. "She was in the Eastern Sharks."
Eddward made no reaction to this and said "I've known."
"You have?" Kevin said curious.
"I have," Eddward nodded. He shuffled around before speaking again, "Your mother stopped by once and she brought along a scrapbook. She had so many pictures of my mother and your parents. Did you know they were all childhood friends?"
"No," Kevin said, sitting up a bit to rest his cheek on his palm, interest peaked.
"They were," Eddward said with a smile. "It's odd seeing them like that. It's odd imagining my mother acting so...normal."
"I wonder why my dad never mentioned your mom before," Kevin questioned. "We might have met much sooner, if they were all still friends."
"This would be a very different story if we had met so soon," The raven haired boy whispered. "There was a picture of my mother in one of the Eastern jackets. It's the same jacket I have in the closet."
Kevin glanced at the closet, "I was wondering why you had a second jacket."
"My mother gave it to your mom," he explained with his ocean eyes focused on the closet as well. "Then she gave it to me."
Kevin stayed silent a moment, he knew the boy was filtering through many mixed emotions. "I was calling you to let you know that Papa Aloe knew her back then. He was the gang leader when she joined them, and he might help you find her."
Eddward's eyes suddenly gave Kevin his full attention but he did not say anything. "He told me he wants to talk with you. Isn't it weird, that everyone who knew her back then thinks so highly of her and well...We know another truth?"
"There's never been another truth," Eddward said. "People change...she changed and then she left. That's all it's ever been, I've just been desperate but so long as father tells me she is well...then that is fine."
"Are you seriously giving up?" Kevin sat up now. He couldn't believe what he was spilling from Eddward's mouth.
"She's never wanted me," Eddward said with a frown. "Didn't you want me to give up?"
"Not now!" Kevin shouted, his hand grabbing onto Eddward's shirt and tugging. "Not after I found a picture of the two of you in Sam's office!"
"What?" Eddwrad said, letting the boy manhandle him. "You went to the factory?"
"Yeah, I was looking for you," Kevin said jumping out of bed and scrambling for his jacket. "Ah! Here it is! Look!" he turned too fast making him horribly dizzy, his legs giving out.
"Woah, careful," Eddward said, catching the freckled boy. They fell to the floor, Kevin's back pressed up to Eddward's chest, and his freckled hand on top of Eddward's slender one as the raven haired boy stared at the picture in their hold.
"D-don't tell me this is yours," Kevin said flushing. He stared down Eddward's other hand that was wrapped around his waist.
"It's not," Eddward said quietly, "I've never seen this photo before."
"Then, Sam left it in there," Kevin said.
"Sam doesn't just leave these kinds of things in the office," Eddward turned the photograph around reading his name written. "I recognize this handwriting."
"Your mother's?"
"No," Eddward held onto Kevin's waist a little bit tighter. "But I've seen it somewhere and it's not my father's handwriting. He never writes this big."
"Do you think Sam stole it?" asked Kevin. The idea of Sam snooping behind Eddward's back unnerved him yet it was not surprising.
"I don't know,"
"What do you want to do?"
Eddward looked back at Kevin with a new kind of expression, Kevin had not seen before. A curious and disturbed kind of look. "Will you help me?" the boy asked with a quiet voice.
"Of course I will," he said immediately. "We go talk to Papa Aloe as soon as we can ok?"
"Ok," Eddward said. He helped Kevin stand up and Kevin watched Eddward look at the photo once more before storing it in his night stand. "Let's figure out the masked men first…"
"Will you say something to Sam?"
"Not yet," Eddward said carefully, "I want to figure out who's handwriting this is first. Then I'll ask him why he has this, it means he left it in the office on purpose."
Kevin raised an eyebrow at the other. "He meant for you to find it?"
"He enjoys testing people," Eddward said, sitting beside Kevin on the bed. "It's all about trust."
"Do you?" He asked with a curious look.
"I never truly have," Eddward spoke in a whisper almost afraid the blonde could hear. "I had more trust in Eddy then Sam."
This caught the gingers interest. He recalled the angered call Jimmy was on about Eddy missing. "If you knew where Eddy was...would you really give him up to Sam?" Kevin knew Eddward surely knew what would happen to the teen if Eddward gave him up.
Eddward started in silence for a stretched moment. Finally, he said "I don't know."
"Do you know where he is?" Kevin said, holding onto Eddward's wrist for reassurance. Something in the boy's tone told him there was another secret to be revealed tonight.
"Yeah," replied Eddward.
…
Another week had passed by them in anxious hours. Ed had returned to school mid week but was forbidden to partake in anything gang related by Eddward's orders. The brunette, though not before putting up a fight, reluctantly agreed. Nazz had taken to walk with Ed around school, feeling guilty of the circumstances of the boy's minor limp.
"So, you're rounding up the serpents tonight?" Ed asked in a whisper. The four of them were sitting in the far corner of the library, hunched over their homework pretending to study.
Ed watched Kevin doodling in his notebook while Nazz, being the only productive one, was multitasking by typing her essay while listening and contributing to the conversation. Eddward, with a fully written note page in front of him and a pen in hand, was staring at the doodles Kevin was scribbling.
"That's the plan," Kevin said, his hand moving in repetition across the page.
"But we still don't have Eddy," Ed said.
"Do we really need him," Nazz chimed in, her eyes glued to the computer screen. "There's going to be conflict either way, if Eddy is missing it's obvious the serpents are hiding him. He's on their side, might as well include him as part of the masked gang."
"Jimmy would have said he is a traitor," Eddwrad said.
"No he wouldn't," Kevin gave Eddward a glance. "Jimmy won't ever tell us anything."
"Trust me," Eddward said, a hand scratching his arm. "If it's about Eddy, Jimmy would spill. He hates Eddy too."
"So, if Jimmy really doesn't know where Eddy is?" Ed asked.
"It means the masked gang is hiding stuff from Jimmy too," Eddward confirmed.
"Do they suspect him of being a double traitor?" Nazz asked.
"Most certainly," Eddward said with a nod, "it would be stupid of them to blindly trust Jimmy."
"Do you think Jimmy knows?" Kevin said, his hand stopping and his eyes looking back up at the raven haired teen.
"I'm not sure," said Eddwrad, "It's possible. It might be the reason he still has one good foot with Sam."
"Just in case Jimmy's plans don't work out." Ed said, "He has a plan B to fall back on."
"But is Sam really going to allow Jimmy to run back?" Kevin asked, Ed noticed the inkling in the ginger boy's eyes.
"No," Eddward said with no hesitance. There was an impatience to his slender hands, in the way Eddward tried to keep them still. Ed could assume his friend was anxious, but Eddward was hardly ever this expressive with body language, especially in public. "That's what I don't understand."
"Jimmy must have something else up his sleeve," Nazz finished typing and closed her laptop. Her eyes firm and knowing. "He's a snake."
"Another plan B?" Kevin said.
"Plan C is Sam," Ed said "Plan B is whatever his magic card is to save himself from Sam."
"I suggest it has something to do with Eddward," Nazz said quietly. She stayed quiet when the boys all looked at her wide eyed. "It has to be right? Sam doesn't find anything else important but you and his brother."
The words, Not even me, being spoken loudly without needing to be said. Ed looked at her with a frown, it was true, they all knew Sam was infatuated with Nazz but the blond had an obsession with Eddward that could not be out matched.
Ed first saw this when he had gone to his first cage fight in the factory. It had been the way Sam had pushed Eddward all night, the way the blonde had stared at him like he had been staring at his knight in shining armor. Eddy had gagged when Sam had hugged a bloodied and exhausted Eddward after winning the last fight of the night.
"What does he have against Eddward," Kevin pipped in, sitting up with a look of concern.
They all looked at Eddward with raised eyebrows, but the raven haired teen just looked back at them with a shake of his head.
"Don't look at me," Eddward said as their lunch period ended.
"Well, you did take his job..." Nazz spoke up, breaking their silence, "...but, we'll get back to this. Right now, Kevin, you and I have a presentation to get to."
"Fuck," Kevin let his head fall on his notebook.
"If I can take a bullet you can take a ten minute presentation," Ed said with a laugh.
Kevin looked up at the brunette with a smirk and a shake of his head. "No one is going to beat your level of awesomeness, Ed."
"What can I say," Ed smiled, fist bumping the ginger boy across from him.
"Alright boys, let's go" Nazz already packed and standing gave Ed a pat on the shoulder and a pointed look at a dreadful Kevin. "Vincent, please take care tonight."
With that, Ed watched Nazz and Kevin leave. He waited for Eddward before walking out of the lonesome library. "Are you going to be alright tonight?"
"Certainly," Eddward's voice quiet yet sure. He pulled the strap of his bag over his shoulder and mentioned for Ed to follow him out of the library and into the quiet hallway.
"And you are set that I can't tag along?" Ed pleaded, keeping up at a slow pace. He couldn't lie and say he was peace of mind in letting two of his friends deal with dangerous gangs but he won't be much use. His leg was still hurting when he put too much weight on it. The wound was healing fine...enough.
Eddward was trying his best to get him all medications needed for his wound to heal. Ed knew this was costing the raven haired boy because no way was Sam Dubois providing for Eddward's injured friend.
"I can't promise you anything," Eddward said with a frown, "but I can't let you tag along either. You are still recovering."
"Yeah, yeah…" Said Ed with a shrug. He knew Eddward and Kevin could and would look out for each other and that thought eased his worry just a bit.
"In other words," The raven haired teen began, his voice going quiet. "Kevin found something of my mother's." Eddward pulled out his phone and showed Ed a picture of the photograph Kevin had found along with the scribble in the back. "That handwriting, I've seen it before."
"Kevin found it?"
"At the factory," Eddward explained, looking over his shoulder down the hallway. "Sam had it there, who knows for how long."
"And the handwriting isn't your mothers?" Asked Ed. He looked up to see Eddward's slight shake of his head. "That's weird, it looks similar." He recalled the notes Eddward had kept in a drawer filled with the woman's handwriting.
"She writes her cursive bubbly," Eddward swiped the screen of his phone onto the next image. It was an excerpt of Isabella's diary. "See."
Ed swiped from one image to another comparing the lettering. The one on the back of the photograph was more rigid and compressed while Isabella's was in fact bubbly and elegant.
"You know, it's awfully similar," Ed said after a long moment of observation, "It may be a relative on your mother's side because who else would have had this picture."
Eddward stopped mid-hallway. Ed watched the raven haired teen stare at him with curious eyes and Ed knew that he had been right. The question now truly was now how Sam had managed to have the picture in his possession.
"Hey, what happens when Sam finds out the picture isn't where it's supposed to be?" asked Ed.
Eddward reached for Ed's arm dragging him forward. "Better not to ask, Ed."
"He had it there on purpose didn't he?"
"Yeah…" Eddward said with a nod. He shoved his phone back into his pocket of his pants and pressed his lips together. "...Yeah he did."
…
Kevin was locked up in his room, he glanced at himself in the mirror. Black jeans, black hoodie under his favorite green flannel. He had rushed in finishing his assignments not caring too much about how well written his essays were, a B grade wouldn't kill him.
Loud laughter could be heard from downstairs, his mother and her fiance had arrived earlier that day and had spent the afternoon with Kevin until his dad arrived in the evening. Now that he was free he would make his way over to Lemon Brooke.
He wanted to hug his family close and hope they'd wish him well and he wanted to corner his parents and dig them with question after question about their relation to The Eastern Sharks and Isabella Garcia. But he could not, else risk his parents getting involved and complicating everything.
Downstairs was messy, with cozy blankets on the floor as Lizzy was sitting by the coffee table flipping through one of her scrapbooks. Her fiance was sitting beside Tom both with glasses of wine in their grasps, laughing along to whatever story Lizzy told.
Kevin crept cose looking at the photographs in the scrapbook, there were pictures of her in college it seemed. Lizzy noticed looking up "Kevin you look so handsome!" she said with a soft smile on her pink glossed lips. Her eyes soft with admiration Kevi recognized too well as contemptment.
"I'm heading out now," he said to the group of adults with a slight flush of his ears.
"Oh, one moment. I was hoping I could talk with you for a quick minute," Lizzy stood up giving Tom a quick look as if to say here we go.
Kevin said nothing and let Lizzy lead him into the kitchen where they'd be out of sight and ear shot. "Something wrong?" he asked curiously.
"No, no, nothing is wrong," Lizzy said with an easy tug of her lips. Her slender hands came up to grip him by the shoulders as she said, "It's just, your father thinks you might be a bit embarrassed to talk to him about something so…"
Kevin smirked, now his curiosity only more intrigued. "About what exactly?"
With a giggle, Lizzy began talking in a quiet voice, "Well, when I was your age I was quite the scandalous one. Promiscuous, I mean."
Immediately Kevin knew where this conversation was going and as he opened his mouth to clarify, Lizzy hushed him with continuing her speech.
"Your father tells me you spend the night at Eddward's place quite often," Lizzy tapped his shoulder, "And well I don't want to assume anything but if you're anything like me, Ah ha" she laughed softly. "Look I know you're at the age of discovery, heaven knows I was hooking up with every cute girl I saw in the hallway. All I'm saying is it's ok, just be safe about it just because your boys doesn't mean there is no-"
"Mom!" Kevin interrupted with a yelp and a hard shake of his head. "I-It's not like that, I prooomise." his cheeks and ear inflamed with the embarrassing assumption.
"Ah," Lizzy looked at her son with wide eyes as if reading his expression. "Well, don't be ashamed to come to me for anything nonetheless."
He really did appreciate the thought and positive support from his parents but it was too embarrassing. There had been something in her statement that had caught Kevins attention. "Girls?" he asked.
Lizzy smiled with a slow nod. "Oh, I haven't mentioned it huh?" she took her son's hand in hers "I've always been into guys and gals, honey. I was secretly with mostly girls when I was younger, and I mean small towns aren't too friendly to what they consider oddities and my parents were so suffocatingly religious."
She took a breather, eyes focused in the ceiling for a moment before continuing, "So, what I'm saying is it's ok...don't be ashamed or scared or embarrassed. It's ok to like boys or girls or both or none. It took me so long to figure that out despite having supportive friends and I don't want you to spend your youth figuring that out." Lizzy wrapped her arms around Kevin tightly and smiled when Kevin did the same. "I love you, your father loves you and you just need to find your happiness that's all we want."
Kevin rested his cheek on his mother's shoulder. He loved her, he really really did and he wished she would be there for Eddward as she was for him. Maybe talking to her would be good for the grumpy shark. "Thanks mom"
"Now enjoy your night," Lizzy patted his arm. "Oh but I'm serious about the STD's"
"Mom!"
…
With Nazz and Ed safely in their respective homes, Eddward knew it was time to start heading over to Lemon Brooke. He had his Great White sharks Leather jacket on and keys in hand, he was sitting on a wooden chair staring at the light snow outside the glass double door.
"I haven't been here since...back then," A low rowdy voice came from behind Eddward breaking his focus on the scenery.
"And you shouldn't have ever been back here," replied Eddward glancing to the short person standing behind him.
"Then why the hell am I here?" Eddy questioned, "You were supposed to hand me over to Sam."
"I should have," Eddwrad said before taking a sip of his tea, "But you show up at my house after the shit you pulled and what was I expected to do?"
"This whole thing would be a lot easier if I had handed you over," He continued, "But here we are. All you have to do is stay here."
"It's been days Double D!" Eddy slammed his hand on the wooden table, "My mom is out there vulnerable to Sam's threats and I'm just locked up in this fucking cabin of yours!"
"Your mother will be safe," Eddward said annoyed, "I hid her in a rehabilitation center further East from Walnut Creek."
"What!" Eddy barked out, "How could you!"
"She's a drunk,"
Eddy stared at Eddward with disbelieving eyes "You can't just take her all willy nilly!"
"I convinced her," Eddward said, standing up and glaring at Eddy.
"How?"
"She's a drunk but she's your mother," Eddwrad said quietly, "She has always meant well."
Eddy stayed silent, his shoulders sunken in. "She always been a shitty mom"
"At least you have a mother," Eddward said, grabbing his keys. "Now stay here and be quiet."
Eddy was silent watching Eddward walk towards the front door. "Double D," The raven haired boy turned around and Eddy continued. "You have every right to tell me to go fuck myself…"
"I do,"
"I...I don't know," Eddy said with a stutter, his eyes staring at the wooden floor, "I...I messed up again and again and again...I told you to go fuck yourself and your hiding me and my mom."
"You don't know Sam the way that I do," Eddward said, "I'm hiding you because I know this life isn't the one you want. You're a bastard Eddy, but you have never been a killer."
Eddy's lips twitched, "I am a bastard, and I lost both of my only friends...and I don't know how to say... it."
"You made things clear the day I told you my truth," Eddward said, his lips firm and eyes unemotional. "I wanted nothing more from you, I just needed a friend."
"We've been told all our lives, it's unnatural…that it's wrong."
"Don't you think I know that?" Eddward said in a dark tone, "I never chose to exist as I do, but you chose to betray my trust in you."
"That's the funny thing isn't it," Said Eddy with hands in fists. "I still trusted you to save me,"
"You are truly a crowdly bastard," The raven haired teen said with a scowl before turning away and opening the door to leave.
Why had Eddward thought it a good idea to hide Eddy in his mother's cabin of all things, he did not know. But he knew what Sam was capable of and Eddy could very easily end up like Trevor. He could have turned Eddy away, no he should have, but he didn't.
Sam's fury was inherited from the boss himself, something Eddward knew based on rumors. The man had not been named the King of Beasts for nothing. The man was ruthless and vicious, and Sam was just the same even if the teen denied it.
Months of bruises and devilish words had told Eddward so. But having Sam's fucked up attention had been better than being ignored by his so-called family. So Eddward didn't intend to leave Sam's side, only death would have ripped him away.
Why Eddy had enough faith in him to come running for help, was beyond him. But the wide, tear filled eyes had yelled at Eddward the night Eddy had shown up at his door. They had yelled for forgiveness, selfish forgiveness but it had been a start. Eddward was willing to give the guy a chance to redeem himself, their past be forgotten. Eddward didn't want an apology, he just wanted to move forward.
…
For better or worse, Jimmy showed up at Nazz's door step. She stood at her porch in a cozy oversized sweater with crossed arms. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in Lemon Brooke?"
"I should," Jimmy said with a nod, "Sam sent me to pick you up."
"That's a lie. He would have let me know first," Nazz argued, doubting every word the blond spoke. "He'd sent Eddward instead of you."
"Well, princess, he didn't," Jimmy shivered as a breeze passed between them. "Eddward is in Lemon Brooke with Kevin, and he sent me to get you." The blond boy reached in his jean's pocket and pulled out a small note shoving it into Nazz's hand.
She opened the note and recognized the note from Sam. It looked the same as the one she had found with her dress. "Why does he want to see me tonight? Can't this wait another day?"
Jimmy laughed out with a roll of his eyes, "Remember when I said you were a hostage? We're in the same fucking boat tonight, he's just making sure me and the Captain don't try to mess anything up."
Nazz breathed out with clenched fists. "What is there to mess up? Eddward won't do anything against Sam."
"Maybe not tonight," Jimmy said with an intense look in his eyes, "This is a threat."
"Sam wouldn't harm me," Nazz said in a hush voice.
A tilt of Jimmy's lip told her otherwise, "You stupid fucking cunt. Don't you remember the beginning of the school year? He released us against you and your prince because you wouldn't cooperate with him."
Nazz looked away with pressed lips, "Are you saying that he's willing to throw me away for his own sake?"
"If it means keeping Eddward at his side and Kevin controlled," Jimmy said with a nod, "Then yes, that is exactly what I'm saying."
Nazz stared down the neighborhood street, past the array of white homes and grey clouds. Her throat was tight and eyes tight, it was a hard pill to swallow, to realize that someone is willing to throw you over a cliff for their own benefit. But was Jimmy telling the truth or was he manipulating her? "Let me get my bag," she said, giving up, she knew she couldn't say no to Sam.
She left the empty house, her mother out with friends and father still at work. Nazz sent the boy's a message in their group chat letting them all know she was being taken to Sam. This had caught them all by surprise and Ed had been the first one to message back telling her he was willing to join her but she stopped him knowing there was no point in letting him become a hostage too. As far as she knew Sam didn't see Ed as a threat at all and she hoped it would stay that way.
Jimmy had driven them into the highway and Nazz sat in the passenger seat uncomfortable and anxious. What a terrible thing it was to be vulnerable and exposed to your attacker sitting an arm length away. Her hands trembled and she took long steady breaths.
It was half an hour drive when she realized they weren't heading to the hospital and she turned to stare at Jimmy in alarm. The boy noticed her change in presence and he rolled his eyes in annoyance. "They moved Sam out of the hospital this morning. We're going to his house."
Still uneasy, Nazz realized this was going to be the first time she would know where Sam lived. Sam had told her the mansion wasn't his type of scene and it was merely a payment to keep Sams's mother quiet.
They took an exit just past Lemon Brooke. As she watched the city lights fade behind them, Nazz closed her eyes and prayed for her boys to be alright. It took them another half hour to reach a secluded road with wide fields and a beach below them.
They pulled up to a large white beach home. It was much less grand than the mansion but it did beat most homes in Peach Creek, if anything it was just about the side of the Vincent residence. The wind was strong and the water loud even if they were high up from the beach.
The house was simple and as Jimmy opened the doors, Nazz realized just how unglamorous the home truly was. It was simple and pretty with light grey walls and wooden furniture. A comfortable living room with a stone fireplace and windows everywhere. There were no butlers or maids and if Nazz didn't know any better she'd think the place was completely empty.
She watched Jimmy walk up stairs looking for Sam and she hugged her coat together around her body, the house was freezing despite the lit fireplace. There had been a book left open in the wooden table of the circular dining room, the door was open.
Reaching through the open door, Nazz had a much clear view of the scenery on the porch outside. She stood breathless taking everything in, the firepit had been recently used, there was a blanket layed over one of the outdoor seats. Her eyes scanned the beach below as she got closer to the edge of the porch and followed the trail of a dock out on the water. At the very end she saw a long slim figure standing there with messy blond hair and attention focused out at the horizon where he watched the sky fading to blue.
Nazz made her way down the long set of steps leading to the beach and the dock, she struggled to walk past the sand in her boots and strong wind. It was a relief to reach the dock and upon hearing her footsteps, Sam turned around.
His dark eyes seemed to soften upon seeing her and that expression seemed to reassure her that Jimmy was lying, at least about harming her. "You wanted to see me?" she said making her way down the dock.
"Evening Love," Sam said in a quiet voice. "I did, and I'm glad you're finally here."
"Your commute to school must be troublesome," she said looking behind them up to the house. "It's over an hour long."
"True, it is," Sam said with a shrug. "I've always been an early bird so it really doesn't bother me."
Nazz starred up Sam's slim pale face, the guy had definitely lost weight from his injury and he still wore dark eye bags. "You gave me a scare," she said, remembering the last time she had seen him in the hospital, still very much in pain and out of it.
"You weren't happy?" Sam said with a cruel smirk. "You and your friends should have been cheering."
"We weren't, and I wasn't happy," Nazz said, a hand reaching for Sam's grey coat. It was soft and thick and his black long sleeved shirt covered his injuries. "You shouldn't be out here."
"I needed some fresh air," Sam said, eyes locked onto Nazz's hand on his coat. "I like the beach, it's liberating."
"Why did you let Jimmy bring me here?" she asked. It was insane to let her attacker be in such close proximity to her, when she was vulnerable.
"Because love, he won't do anything." Sam said, "Not tonight and not ever. His family is my hostage, their heads will roll if he harms you."
Nazz was reminded of the night Sam's vicious fury. It was unsettling and nauseating to stare at the face of an angel and yet have the mind of the devil. For all she knew...Jimmy might not be so wrong after all. "We should get back inside, you might catch a cold."
"It is chilly isn't it?" Sam reached for Nazz's hand and gave it a squeeze before pulling it off and keeping it in his hold. "Like my home?" he asked as he turned her around to start walking back up to the house.
"It's lovely," She said staring up at the house. "But it's very simple… didn't take you for a simple kind of guy."
Sam laughed at this, "Don't be fooled, I do enjoy the grand and rich lifestyle here and then. But this is better for me and for my mother."
"Is your mom home?" Nazz asked, suddenly remembering that they weren't alone.
"Not at the moment," Sam said, eyes glued to the far right window at the top of the house. "She needs special care you see."
"She's ill?" Nazz asked cautiously, remembering the brief mention of the woman on their date.
"She is," Sam said quietly, "She's weak and frail but she somehow manages to keep on pushing through."
"Then she isn't weak and frail," Nazz said, watching her step up the stairs.
"..." Sam let Nazz the way up and Nazz could feel his eyes on her. "I suppose your right."
They walked the rest of the way up in silence and back into the house where she saw Jimmy waiting inside standing by the stairs. "You both done making out?" Jimmy said irritated.
Nazz felt her face flush and she looked up at a tired looking Sam. "Don't be jealous Jimmy." He took Nazz up the stairs and she watched as Jimmy made a disgusted face at them.
The upstairs was long and there were three doors and a circular reading nook in the corner. He opened a door on the left side and stepped aside for Nazz to walk in. Nazz took a long look at the full sized bed in the center and the two bookshelves by a small table with papers scattered all over it.
Nazz walked to one of the long windows and stared out to the front of the driveway. A vast and quiet roadway and dancing fields were the long thing in sight for miles. "It's such a quiet home…" she said quietly.
Sam led her to the small table, pulling out a chair for her. "I'm glad you find it comfortable," he said, sitting across from her and staring out as well.
She turned and stared at him, his eyes tired and his skin pale. It was unimaginable that this person in front of her had managed to survive two gunshots in such close proximity, it almost made her wonder… but she'd keep her emotions to herself.
"Tell me about your mother," Nazz asked, "What made her ill?"
The blond boy raised an eyebrow and glanced at her with sad eyes, "My father happened. My mom started dealing with depression when my father decided to dump her and me in the middle of nowhere where his wife couldn't reach us. My father's wife was furious that his mistress had had a son, it's a threat to Liam's inheritance. My mom quickly realized that she was always just going to be his mistress and nothing more, she wasn't ever going to mean anything to him."
"Let's just say she's never been able to rise above the rejection, guilt and depression." Sam said before.
"And what makes you say your father couldn't have been behind the shooting?"
With a smile, "I've always been his backup plan, in case Liam is killed or something else happens. But he's been suspicious of my intentions for a while now, he knows Liam isn't cut out to inherit all that power our father poses. Liam is not as cold hearted as our father, not as vicious."
Nazz sat up straight, legs and hands crossed, "And you are?" She said.
"I am," Sam grinned, "I will be more than my father ever was."
The blond girl stared at the boy's dark eyes intensely, "you won't be anything by letting yourself be killed so easily."
This brought out a laugh out of Sam, "That you are right," He said, his expression almost contemplative. "...then again, I needn't be so afraid of being killed, if my enemies have such shit precision."
"Don't laugh," She said suddenly, tired of the boy's sarcastic small talk. She observed the teen across from her looking back like he was seeing her putting things together in her mind. She was, and blurted out "You let yourself be shot at, didn't you?"
"Now why would I do that?"
Nazz pressed her lips together, her body tense and guarded. "You had a gun on you that night, yet you did not fire at your potential killers. You let Jimmy, my attacker, bring me and me alone out here?" She passed looking out to the rest of the room. "You are supposedly wounded and alone, and you let Jimmy, one of the masked members, roam freely in your house unsupervised, there has to be some level of trust there."
Sam looked amused at her. His smile was beautiful and eyes enchanting, yet there was no humor in his laugh. Rather, his tone was annoyed. "You still see me as a monster don't you?"
"Your charm can't hide your bloodied hands," Nazz said with a frown. "You're just smearing blood all over yourself."
"So tell me, love, why did I bring you out here?"
"I'm your hostage,"
"Jimmy told you that?" Sam said.
"Yes," Nazz replied.
"And you believe him more than me?"
Nazz paused closing her eyes, finding her words and her composure, "Then tell me, why am I here?"
"Jimmy's is working for me," Sam said, leaning over the table in a serious tone, "You are here because I cannot trust the little members I have left to look after you. I have left Jimmy alone because, yes, I do trust him enough. He can't do anything against me, his family is in the Dubois hands. Anything happens to me, My brother will take action. Jimmy can't do anything against Liam or else face the destructional wrath of my father."
Nazz stared wide eyed and Sam reached for her trembling hand holding it tightly in his grip. "You have to have trust in me, love. I need your loyalty as well."
"Protect Kevin too," she said.
"I don't have the power to control freckles love," Sam said, his eyes looking away. "I try my absolute best but you know as well as I do, Freckles puts himself in danger. I can not promise you anything."
"The great Sam Dubois can't handle some small town kids?" She said unemotionally.
Sam laughed with a shake of his head, "You are rambunctious small town kids, who should have never gotten involved with all of this."
"But we are,"
Sam sat back in his chair letting her hands free, "I can't promise you I'll successfully keep your friend alive and protected, but I will promise you that I will try my absolutely best."
"You will keep him alive and protected," She said, her throat feeling dry and her hands hidden underneath the table now.
…
Kevin arrived at Fangs before Eddward. He had taken his bike and sped away after his conversion with his mom and it had been in this drive that he wondered if Isabella had known of Lizzy's bisexuality, and if she had...why reject her own son?
Nothing made sense and it was eating him alive.
Fangs had been unnaturally calm for a weekend and it unsettled Kevin. It was evening and there were no more than a handful in the entirety of Fangs, the inside was it's natural purple and blue neon lighting but dimmed down, it was rather silent except for voices above. Raine was talking with Llan and two other of the Fangs members by the bar
As Kevin made his way toward Raine, Nat ran down the stairs seeing Kevin arrive. The green haired boy crashed into him with a big hug. "We have to talk about last time, what the hell was that! Really?" Nat quietly exclaimed.
The ginger boy pushed off Nat to arm length and with a low voice answered the teen. "He's really not what everyone makes him out to be."
"He's Sam's most loyal and favorite, to me, that's enough to be scared of."
"When I met him, he wasn't Sam's anything," Kevin said with a frown, "He was a broken kid who needed someone to stick around and help him out. He might have been a bad person then but he's grown up since I really got to know him."
"Then why is he still loyal to Sam?"
"Because he doesn't have a choice," Said Kevin with pressed lips, "He's leaving the gang after Sam graduates this year. No Sam means there isn't anyone to blackmail and control him."
"Damn…" Nat said with a breath, "I don't know how this all happened but...You're completely and totally love struck aren't you?"
"I don't like him for who he used to be…" Kevin said with a blush, remembering the day Eddward had found him in the natatorium and taken him up onto the school roof to watch the sunset. It felt like an eternity since they had just enjoyed each other's company watching the sunset. "...but for who he really was."
"Little Shark!" Raine called out breaking their conversation.
Kevin turned to Nat and whispered, "Trust me, Eddward's on our side." He then left Nat behind and continued to meet Raine and the others at the bar. "What's been going on?"
"A lot," Llan answered.
Raine and everyone seemed tense, their golden eyes staring right at Llan as if they were having a telepathic conversation. "Serpents surprised Hunter's crew last night. Some were hospitalized, Hunter was the only one who made it back
Alarmed Kevin began, "What the hell? Why would they strike first I thought-"
"Someone told them we were onto them," Raine said, interrupting Kevin "Point is, we all need to watch our backs."
"They're doing this on purpose," Kevin said. He knew that the one who had told the Serpent's they were planning on calling them out had to have been Jimmy. Eddy has been in hiding for days now. They needed Eddward to arrive.
"I asked Papa Aloe to send some Eastern members," Raine said, "They're on their way here. When Vincent arrives, we'll discuss what is best moving forward. I can't keep risking my pack in Sam's fight. All we can do is protect our own."
"Where is Hunter," Kevin said, breathing out steadily to calm his nerves.
"Up stairs," Llan answered.
"I'll go check up on him," Kevin announced, "Edward should be here soon."
He made his way upstairs with Nat following right behind. There was a crowd of people trying to fit in a small room down the hall. They took one look at him and greeted him with happy but quiet hello's. They moved to let the boy's through and Kevin stopped to see a badly beaten up Hunter sitting up in bed. He was shirtless and all bandaged up, with a bloodied and black eye, and a swollen lip. "I didn't think there was someone who could mess you up this bad," he mumbled out speechlessly.
"Neither did we," someone in the crowd said.
Kevin now stood beside Hunter without a word and the brown haired boy seemed to understand Kevin's expression because he looked behind the ginger boy and gestured to the crowd. They got the hint and someone started shuffling the Fangs all out of the room. Nat followed the crowd out but before giving Kevin an encouraging pat to his shoulder.
It was moments later after the door to the room closed that Kevin finally spoke up, "What happened?" he asked.
"Got jumped by serpents," Hunter said, staring up at Kevin carefully. "Someone's tattle telling them our every move. A Great White Shark most likely."
It's impossible for a great white to know your every move," Said Kevin.
"Not when there's spies all over," Hunter's rough voice sounded like it hurt to speak. "We've been watching the serpents through the cameras we installed around the city. It's like they know exactly where they are because they mostly avoid those areas. The masked gang too, and they've found some and destroyed them. My pack was sneaking around serpent territory last night, trying to install more but they found us."
"How's your crew?" Kevin asked cautiously.
"They'll all be fine, thankfully," Hunter said in a quiet voice, "They're strong." After a moment of just staring at one another Hunter continued, "They weren't looking to kill us, but to take us hostage."
"Why?"
"Why do you think?" Hunter said looking away tiredly. "The masked gang must have messed with them after their failed attempted murder on Sam."
"They wanted to trade your crew for one or all of their targets," Kevin said slowly.
"They chose the wrong pack to attempt a kidnapping," Hunter smirked.
"Did you hit them back?"
"Of course," Hunter smirk grew wider, "I cut them deeper the harder they hit."
"Good," Said Keivn.
…
Eddward arrived at Fangs at the same time as The Eastern members. The adults looked down at Eddward with a distrusting glare, they had heard all of the rumours about him, Eddward knew. He ignored them and searched Kevin among the crowd in front of Fangs.
It didn't take long to spot him, for Kevin had pushed against the crowd and found him first. Kevin pulled him aside from everyone and began catching him up to date. "Their going to try again." he said
"Yeah," Kevin said, "The question is who?"
"Kidnapping the fangs failed," Eddward argued, "They are going to take their targets by force."
"Let's head inside," Kevin said. "Hunter is waiting for us upstairs."
Raine, and the Easterns were already waiting for them in Hunter's room. Kevin closed the door behind them and gave a discrete touch to Eddward's lower back in encouragement before moving to standing beside Hunter's bed.
"Welcome, Shark," Raine said coldly towards Eddward before turning to the Eastern's and greeting them in a much friendly tone. "My pack was attacked last night and I as the leader can not and will not accept anything but revenge for their justice."
"We can't charge straight at them," Eddward said calmly, "We're looking at a potential blown out war among our gangs."
"You don't think we can all take them on?" Hunter said, "I think so, it's three against two."
"It's one and half against two," Eddward replied, "There aren't enough Easterns and there are even fewer we can rely on in my gang."
"What do you expect me to do?" Raine asked, "They are not looking for negotiating. They are on the offense, we have to strike back until we reach the masked gang. Or else they'll keep on attacking us for people that are not even ours. I am only doing this because one of the targets is an Eastern."
"And we thank you for your protection on Kevin," One of the Easterns said, looking at Kevin with a glance. "But I do believe it is better to take the defense now more than ever,"
"Taking a hostage failed," Eddward spoke up again, "They're more likely to just head straight to kidnapping or killing their targets. We need to focus on protecting Kevin, Nazz and Sam."
"We will focus on protecting Kevin and his friend," Raine said, "You will focus on protecting your leader if that is what you wish, but we will not risk the lives of our own for your psychotic leader."
"But they're after Eddward too," Kevin said again, "He needs someone to look after him too."
Hunter let out a pained laugh, "Sam's pet hardly needs any protection."
"They're not after me," Eddward said in a soft tone, that to Kevin was reassurance but to the rest of the group was uncaring.
"What makes you say that little shark?" Raine asked nonetheless.
Kevin turned to Raine, "They have to be. If they are after Sam, the quickest way would be through Eddward right. It makes sense." Kevin gazed around the room before continuing "Say, the masked gang really is pressuring the Serpents to complete their task with capturing the targets. It means they're desperate, that's why they attacked Hunter and his pack, it was impulsive."
"What does that have to do with the Vincent kid," one of the Easterns said.
"Simple, their next move is to remove Eddward from their true objective which is Sam," Kevin said. "It's obvious they won't be able to get to Sam as long as Eddward is still standing in front of him. The serpents are going to try and get rid of Eddward somehow, that's their next desperate move."
"They got him once," Hunter interjected.
"Because Eddward was out of the way," Kevin said. He needed them to believe him, otherwise, they were truly going to let Eddward be vulnerable to the enemies attacks. He knew Eddward needed protection as much as he and Nazz did, more so he thought.
"We'll keep a watch then," The Eastern woman said.
"I don't need it," Eddward tried but was glared at by Kevin so he irritably looked away with a sigh.
"Then, how the hell are we supposed to catch the masked gang?" Hunter said arms crossed.
"We keep everything underwrap for now, not a word outside these meetings," Said Eddward, "Someone is eavesdropping and figuring things out. We need to lure the masked gang out somehow."
"Once we've managed to drive the serpents away, the masked gang won't be able to hide." Raine said, contemplative. "We do that first."
"Won't they hide behind other gangs then," Kevin said, "Find someone else who can do the job better?"
"There's not a lot of gangs risking to go against a Dubois, kid." the Eastern male said. "I don't think we have to worry about fending off more gangs."
"I will get my revenge on those bitches as soon as I can," Hunter muttered out.
"That you will," Raine said.
They spend some time organizing themselves. Eddward had been insistent on knowing that the Easterns would be responsible for looking after Kevin and Nazz and as soon as Hunter was better he would be the one to help them out, while the Easterns kept watch over Peach Creek in hopes of catching suspicious masked members.
They started to leave the room when Hunter asked Kevin and Eddward to stay behind. Raine had given them a look before allowing it and closing the door behind them. Kevin sat on the corner of Hunter's bed and Eddward stood a few feet away.
"If Kevin's theory is correct, you will be next." Hunter said his eyes were observant.
"There is the possibility," Eddward said.
"The two of you spend too much time together," Hunter looked between them, "It's not wise to stick together, it'll be like hitting two birds with one stone. You need to separate as soon as possible, it'll be harder to get the both of you."
"He's safer with me," Eddward said, taking the defensive. "I can't trust anyone else to protect him."
"You can trust me," Hunter said with a frown.
"You're all beaten up!" yelped Eddward.
"I'm the only one not in a hospital," said Hunter with a gesture. "I can beat you, easily. Meaning it's harder for them to win against me. You can trust me, I've kept his secret from my own leader. Shouldn't that be enough for you?"
Eddward stared at Kevin with hesitation.
"Don't I get a say in this?" Kevin muttered out annoyed, "I'm insistent that I'm not their true intended target."
"No," Both Eddward and Hunter said turning to glare at one another
"We'll talk about this another time," With an annoyed expression Eddward sighed out, grabbing Kevin and pulling him out of the room.
…
Eddward arrived at his house before Kevin. His arms were tingling with an itchy sensation, an after affect of tombstone reminding him it had been a full day since his last dosage. It was getting harder to skip a day, Eddward had become aware and he knew it wasn't a good idea taking one in front of Kevin. But he wouldn't be able to sleep without it...
...Maybe he'd be able to hide it if he took it now, and go to bed early? Kevin won't know. Suddenly feeling an overwhelming exhaustion Eddward quickly made his way upstairs into his bathroom. He pulled out the bottle and quickly took one, swallowing it down with a handful of tap water.
He heard the rumbling of the entrance door opening, and quickly shoved the pills at the very back of one of the drawers. He made his way downstairs to meet the ginger boy. Kevin was shoving off his jack and shoes when Eddward was midway down the stairs. He stopped to stare at the boy's messy hair, hiding his expression.
But then those green eyes found him and stared up in confusion. "Aren't you hungry?"
"No, I'm tired," Eddward said leaning against the railing. "I'll just shower before heading to bed, help yourself pumpkin."
He turned to go back into his bathroom once again. Locking the door he turned on the shower and leaned against the wall waiting for the water to heat up. The itching had gone away, but he was feeling impatient, impatient to feel the nothing. He wasn't going to go to sleep before.
He opened the cabinet where the pills were once more and stared at the bottle. He needed to build a better tolerance to them if he wanted to take more than one a day. Keep his head on straight and focused and calm. It was what would get him through all this chaos, he needed control of his own fucking mind at the very least.
By the time he had stepped out of the shower he was starting to feel unbalanced. He dressed slowly and was hyper aware of every surface he touched. When he opened the door he found Kevin sitting on his bed playing a game on his phone. The ginger looked up at him with careful eyes. "I'm kind of tired too," he said.
"Let's sleep then," Eddward said looking away.
He watched Kevin get off the bed and head into the bathroom while he lied under the covers and closed his eyes. He would just pretend to sleep through the euphoria once it was over it would be so easy to fall unconscious.
Until he heard the familiar rattle of a pill bottle. This made his eyes open instantly and he sat up looking at the bathroom door open and Kevin walked out. Kevin was staring at something in his hand and with a shake of a fist another rattle. "I came up here after you…" Kevin started, "Something seemed weird about you. I knew you were taking something and I knew it wasn't alcohol."
Kevin opened his fist to show the raven haired boy, "Whatever this is, is what's made you become all weird, isn't it?" It was a small bottle with small pills filling only a third of it. "What is this?" Kevin asked.
"Sleeping pills," Eddward said.
"Eddward…" Kevin stared at the pills knowing, "This isn't a good idea."
"Kevin, not now," Eddward groaned out, "It's ok, it's just one pill." Kevin shook his head staring at the pills in his hand, "Don't be scared. I'm in complete control of it." he tried to calm the freckled boy who stared at him with wide eyes.
"Is this what you had the night I found you passed out?" Kevin asked.
"Kevin, it helps me fall asleep," Eddward said, refusing to look at the ginger boy. "I haven't had better sleep in a long ass time. It's helping me."
"We'll talk about this tomorrow...ok," Kevin took the bottle from Eddward's hold and shoved them into his pocket. "I'm disappointed."
Eddward looked away from Kevin with pressed lips, "I knew you'd be."
Kevin shook his head "This isn't ok Eddward. You know it's not."
"Nothing is ever ok with me,"
"You were ok when it was just the two of us up at the cabin," Kevin said with a frown, "You were ok when I watched you swimming laps in the natatorium. You were ok."
"And then I wasn't," he said.
…
Kevin sat at the foot of the bed watching a deeply sleeping Eddward. He pulled out the pills and stared at them again with anger in him, the fucking skull on them was only a fucking cruel joke. Kevin stood and walked over to the bathroom and opened the toilet seat. He dumped the pills into the toilet and flushed them out.
This wasn't ok.
The ginger teen threw the bottle away and walked back to sit next to Eddward. He placed a hand on the boy's chest before lying down. He focused on where his hand laid, on the rising and falling of Eddward's chest. Kevin pressed close to the boy's shoulder and nuzzled in, closing his eyes. It was hard to wrap his mind around Eddward taking those pills, he was turning to drugs to help him out. Kevin didn't know what to do anymore, Eddward needed help and he couldn't provide it anymore.
He fell asleep with his arm around Eddward. But a few hours later Kevin was woken up by sounds coming from downstairs. Kevin slowly sat up and stared out into the darkness, there was a creaking as if a door was being opened then a moment later a click as the door closed. Then a creak again and another click.
Kevin felt his stomach drop, someone was in the house and was looking for them. "Eddward, wake up," Kevin whispered as he shoved the sleeping boy. When he realized the boy wasn't going to be waking up Kevin swallowed thickly looking around the dark room. He was going to have to drive the intruder away by himself.
Slowly, Kevin crawled out of bed, and began looking for anything he could use as a weapon. He found Eddward's knife still shoved into his coat, so he pulled it out and stayed quietly by the door. He heard another faint click of a door closing and Kevin knew the intruder was still down stairs. Kevin waited for them to open a door to mask him, opening the door to Eddward's room.
Quietly in just his socks, Kevin walked out into the hallway. He would have to make sure the intruder was somewhere else if Kevin was going to walk down the stairs. The stairs were moonlit and easier to see anyone going up or down. Kevin edged closer to the railing looking down seeing if he saw the intruder walking around.
Kevin could hear the intruder somewhere right underneath him, and he assumed the person must be in the family room or in the kitchen. He couldn't let this person walk up stairs when Eddward was in his most vulnerable.
Cautiously, he walked down the stairs. His hands shaky and breath held tight in his lungs. It was mid way down that Kevin's heart stopped. The intruder was staring right at him from the arch that led to the family room. They wore a hockey mask and oversized baggy clothes and black gloves. Although Kevin thought this must be Jimmy he quickly realized that this person was more bulkier than Jimmy was.
"Are you looking for me?" Kevin asked with a strained voice.
The masked person shifted their stare upstairs for a moment before looking back to Kevin. "Yes," a dark low voice answered.
"What do you want with me?"
The intruder slowly made his way toward the stairs ignoring Kevin's question.
Kevin warned the intruder by showing the knife in his hand. "I'm not going anywhere, Eddward is upstairs."
"Oh, but I've been told he won't be any use," the intruder said, "he's taken a tombstone, hasn't he? Taking you will be easy."
"Not as easy as you think," Kevin growled out.
"Damn, you are really more fun to play with," They said.
Kevin tilted his head trying to recognize anything on the intruder. "Do I know you?"
"Yeah," they replied.
"Who are you?"
The intruder now on the steps made their way up the steps with bat in hand held tightly. "Why don't you make this easy for all of us and come along already."
"No fucking way," Kevin barked.
"Hard way?" the intruder said then laughed a controlled laugh as if trying to conceal their identity. "It's more fun this way." They took a swing with the bat hitting the railing hard. "It's not like he's gonna wake up."
…
Eddward was roused by sounds, so many sounds. "Kevin," he groaned, turning and reaching a hand for the ginger boy. His eyes were heavy, his body was heavy. He slowly opened his eyes seeing he was alone, he wanted to go back to sleep… a dreamless sleep. His mind was numb, and he just wanted to go back to sleep but there were sounds.
A crash could be heard close by, and it caught enough of his attention that he turned his head to see his bedroom door wide open. Another loud sound and Eddward tried to sit up. His head was so fuzzy and his sight blurred. He rubbed his face with a hand, his eyes closed letting his head fall down. Another loud sound, a shout perhaps, he tried to stand but his body was like a bag filled with rocks, and for all he tried it was impossible to stand.
His knees crashed down to the floor and a strike of something jolted through his body. Eddward held onto the night stand and lifted himself up, another shout. Was Kevin shouting? Why was he being so loud?
He couldn't focus, shadows mixing with his reality. It reminded him of the room with the broken lamp in his nightmares. And he wondered, was he in the nightmare? It couldn't be.
What was all that noise?
Eddward pushed forward, his hands finding anything solid to hold on to. His legs were so wobbly and it was difficult to know how far anything truly was.
He must be in a nightmare. He must, for nothing made sense. He couldn't feel or clearly see anything. The darkness was infinite and the wall appeared so abnormally tall.
He was on the floor again.
Eddward looked out, his head falling to one side as he saw broken wood and glass scattered among the stairs. He was in a nightmare, his half shut eyes moved down the corridors and he saw another open door on the other side where the noise was the strongest.
He crawled, there was nothing to hold on to. Was Kevin here? Eddward reached a table against the wall. Hearing another crash and then a figure ran out of the room.
It was Kevin, he was still here. But something felt off about the boy, it was his expression, a look of pure horror.
The freckled boy ran towards him and lifted him up, his hair was a mess, in fact everything about Kevin was a mess. Kevin was shouting at him but he couldn't fully focus on the words. They were just sounds to him, was Kevin panicked? He was saying things to him but Eddward shook his head not understanding.
His eyes were heavy, his body was heavy and he wanted to just give in now that Kevin had an arm around him. But he felt his body hit the floor and he opened his eyes again, seeing a blurred mess of two figures. Kevin and...someone else.
The other figure was taller than Kevin and dressed in all black. He knew this person...how? Their face was concealed with a hockey mask...a hockey...mask.
Eddward opened his eyes but he could not find any strength to get up or care. He watched the two wrestle and throw each other around. It was when the taller figure had Kevin pressed up against the railing that Eddward knew he needed to stand up.
He tried commanding his body to move, but it would not. He tried to get coherent thoughts to run through his head but they'd fade in the bliss of numbness. "S...stop," he managed to mumble out but was ignored by the figure.
Eddward couldn't feel anything.
And Kevin was about to be thrown over the railing.
This must be a nightmare. A tortuous nightmare that he would wake up from.
Eddward, with a shaky arm reached forward watching Kevin look back at him with wide eyes. He was close, Kevin was so close if he just reached further. Eddward thought he had closed his eyes again because something dark covered his view of Kevin and it was all so dark.
The figures moved again, Kevin running out of the way of the shadowy mess where he had just been. Kevin knelt beside him, lifting Eddward off the floor into his arms again, but Eddward shifted his eyes to the spot again and tried to focus. The one blurred shadow became two, and Eddward realized that one of them was a demon.
Far larger in size and build than Kevin and the masked person. The only thing Eddward could see was the mess of dark curls bouncing as the larger person shoved the masked person harshly onto the ground. The mask sliding off to reveal a familiar bald head. Kevin was holding tightly onto him, the freckles hands were pressing against something on his stomach.
Eddward focused on the brawling figures in front of them. The larger figure flicked his trench coat aside revealing something tucked in his trousers. His large gloved hands, reached for the object and pulled it out holding it at arm's length. Kevin was shouting again and the tall figure turned their head at them.
It was those dark brown eyes that made Eddward finally feel something.
The tall dark figure was his father, Victor Vincent.
The masked person took this opportunity to lunch himself at Victor and with an unbalanced Victor, they ran towards him and Kevin. Eddward tried to hold onto Kevin, but Kevin stood blocking him from the intruder. Before Victor had an opportunity to shoot, the intruder had held tightly onto Kevin and shielded himself with the freckled teen.
Victor was shouting something as he circled Kevin and the intruder. Kevin was staring directly into Victor's face as if reading the man, then the intruder made the mistake of freeing one of his arms and Kevin yanked the intruder and bit hard. But the bald person did not let go of Kevin, in the wrestle the person lost their footing and they grabbed onto Kevin's hoodie shoving him down the stairs. A loud pop could be heard and Eddward realized Victor had shot his gun.
His body was heady, his head was heavy, his eyes were heavy. But amongst it all his eyes watered. His body was falling back into the safety of numbness, and Eddward was sleepy and dizzy and drowning. The last thing he saw before closing his eyes was Victor running down the stairs.
When Eddward opened his eyes again, Kevin was laying beside him. The boy's back was facing him and he could not see Kevin's face… he reached for the boy's jacket. His grip was faint but he would not let go. A rough hand moved his shoulder and Eddward glanced up with watery eyes to meet his father's brown ones.
Eddward closed his eyes again. Sinking, and drowning into the effects of the drug.
Wake Up!, Kevin had been shouting at him.
...
My goal is to have Chapter 59 done and posted by the end of the month, meaning I have less than two weeks to write!
Can I do it or will I leave you all in suspense until next year? who knows but wish me luck!
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I know the chap seems a bit rushed...bc it is but i tried to get everything necessary included. You all might kill me in the next chapter hehe. THINGS. ARE. HAPPENING. Writing the Vincent mystery has been so fun and crazy cause I just wants everything to be out in the open lol.
anyways HAPPY HOLIDAYS LOVES! i know this year is crazy and lonely for everyone, so i hope you find joy in little things. May the new year bring was clarity.
P.S. Human, thank you so so much for your comment on chap. 54! It means the world to me that your willing to reread my fic. I hope you and your lil sis are doing well and I wish you all the best in the world. I do hope I can better this story in the future as a fic itself, but it's hard to find time. In due time, I'm certain my skill might be sufficent enough to actually publish the rewritten version into a novel, this story has develop into a passion. Thank you so so much for reading and again, best wishes 3
