Chapter 12: Help Me Escape
Part I - Phoenix
-One Month Later-
A big thunderstorm hit Maine the night before. The sky was still a dark gray in the morning but the sun's rays shined through the thick clouds. JuJu is shaving for the first time as he looks out of his bathroom window, Thinking about how the past weeks have been to him. The Rogues backed off for a while, making the community of Houlton peaceful for once. He looks at himself in the mirror, the scar on his eye having all of his attention. He puts his fingers over it and traces it.
"I hate this fuckin' thing."
He sees the bags under his eyes due to his lack of sleep these past few weeks. He turns on the sink and lets the cold water flow before splashing it on his face, trying to wake himself up and wash away the extra shaving cream. He shakes his head after like a dog and his black dreadlocks flap side to side before putting a black tank top on. He then dries his face with a towel before going to his bedroom. He goes to his closet and puts on a black compression long-sleeve, followed by a pair of black cargo pants, his white sneakers, a black pullover hoodie, a plaid gray button-up shirt to put over his hoodie, and lastly, the black fingerless gloves Vonda gave him for Christmas.
He exits his room and goes down the stairs toward the front door until Marcus stops him.
"Where you headin'?" He asks.
JuJu turns around and meets his gaze.
"Just gonna take a walk to clear my head. Is that good or do I have to ask for permission now?"
Marcus raises an eyebrow but smirks, understanding JuJu's need for some space.
"Alright, man. Take your time. Just keep an eye out, you never know what's lingering after a storm like that."
JuJu nods in acknowledgment and steps out into the crisp, post-storm air. The town of Houlton looks refreshed, raindrops still clinging to leaves and the streets glistening from the overnight downpour. As he walks down the quiet streets, he can't help but feel a sense of unease. The Rogues might have backed off, but he knows better than to believe they're gone for good.
JuJu walks across the street with his hands in his pockets as he heads toward the infirmary. He enters the building and finds a bottle of anti-depressants that he's been eying for a while now. He puts them in his pocket and hears commotion upstairs. He goes up and notices Leni making and patching up clothes for Luna, Lynn, and Luan.
"Oh, hey guys," JuJu says. "Didn't expect to see y'all here."
Lynn smiles as she sees JuJu walk up the steps.
"Hey Bro."
"Hi JuJu!" Says Leni.
"Sup brah," says Luna
"Hey," says Luan.
He leans against the railing, watching Leni diligently sewing a patch onto some ripped jeans. The atmosphere in the room is a mix of concentration and camaraderie, a stark contrast to the tension that gripped the town in the previous weeks.
Leni looks up from her task, her eyes brightening at the sight of JuJu.
"JuJu, you need anything patched up?" she asks, holding up a needle and thread.
JuJu grins, shaking his head.
"Nah, Leni, I'm good. Just came by to see what's up."
Luna looks up from her seat, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"You sure you don't want a splash of color on that hoodie, JuJu? Leni can do somethin' rad for ya!"
JuJu chuckles, running a hand through his dreadlocks.
"Maybe next time. I like it just the way it is. But I was gonna check up on Von. LJ, you in?"
"Uh, sure," Lynn replies. "I don't see why not."
JuJu nods and waves goodbye at the others as Lynn follows him. When they exit the infirmary, the two walk along the sidewalk as Lynn notices JuJu pull out the bottle of pills he took from the building and swallows two of them.
Lynn raises an eyebrow, concern etching her features.
"You okay, JuJu?"
He exhales deeply, the weight of the past weeks evident in his tired eyes.
"Just trying to keep it together, LJ. I want to try something to make the pain stop."
The two enter a building where the rest of the wounded militia fighters are and the two see Lily handing out candy to the wounded before turning to look at them.
"Lynn! JuJu!" Lily says with a cute smile on her face. "You want candy?"
"Hey, Lily!" Lynn says. "I'd like one. JuJu?"
He smiles tiredly before speaking, trying to hide his pain from the little girl.
"Yeah, I'll have one. Thanks, Lily."
She gives Lynn and JuJu a red and a green lollipop.
Lily giggles, her infectious laughter momentarily lightening the mood in the room. Lynn unwraps her candy and pops it in her mouth as JuJu does the same. They eventually spot Vonda sitting on a bed, talking with George until they approach her.
George lets the three talk as he walks away.
"Hey Von," JuJu says in a softer tone than usual. "Good to see you're doing better."
Vonda smiles, her eyes carrying the weight of recent events.
"Thanks, Ju. I'm feeling better. How about you?"
JuJu shrugs, feeling the weight of the pills having zero effect on him.
"Same old, same old. Just trying to fight myself at this point."
"You okay Ju?" She asks with concern. "Wanna talk?"
"I'm fine…" He replies. "Don't worry about it. Its just… stuff…"
"JuJu, come on. You can't hide things from us. You trust us, don't you?"
JuJu takes a deep breath, glancing at the sincerity in Lynn and Vonda's eyes. He realizes that maybe, just maybe, he doesn't have to carry the weight of his thoughts alone.
"Yeah, I trust you guys," he admits, his guard slowly crumbling. "It's just... everything's been intense lately. The Rogues, Lucky, and all the bullshit that's been happening... it's like I can't escape it."
Lynn places a reassuring hand on JuJu's shoulder.
"You don't have to carry it all on your own. We're here for you, man. Friends stick together, right?"
Vonda nods in agreement.
"And you've been there for us. Let us be there for you now."
"I appreciate you guys," he says, a genuine smile breaking through the weariness on his face. "I've been so caught up in my head that I forgot how important it is to lean on friends. Thanks for reminding me."
Lynn grins.
"You mean something to all of us JuJu. Don't let the darkness consume you..."
As they sit together, JuJu appreciates the support from his friends, finding solace in each other's company. The sun continues to break through the lingering clouds, casting a warm glow on the rejuvenated town of Houlton. The scars of the storm and the recent challenges may still be visible, but the support of true friends proves to be a healing balm for JuJu's wounded soul.
"JuJu, give me the pills." Lynn continues. "You don't need 'em. The last thing I want is for you to grow an addiction to this stuff. This is not you man…"
He stares down at the bottle of anti-depressants in his hand, and he sighs heavily.
"I know LJ. It's just… they help…"
Lynn takes the bottle from JuJu's hand, a determined look on her face.
"They might help for now, but relying on them won't solve the underlying issues. We're here for you, and we'll find a way through this together."
Vonda chimes in, her voice filled with compassion.
"JuJu, facing your demons head-on is the only way to truly conquer them. Let us help you navigate through the storm inside."
Reluctantly, JuJu nods, realizing that he doesn't have to face everything alone. With the support of his friends, he starts to open up about the weight he's been carrying. They listen without judgment, offering understanding, empathy, and sometimes a well-timed joke to lighten the mood.
The next morning, Vonda walks around the community until he gets to JuJu's home. She knocks on the door and Marcus opens it.
"Hey Von," He says. "You need something?"
"Hey," She replies. "Is Ju here?"
"Nah, He's out tagging things with that spray can I gave him'."
"Okay good, because I need to talk to you about him."
"What's wrong? Is he good?"
"I don't know. Me and Lynn saw him taking pills Marcus… pills."
"What? What kinda pills?"
Vonda takes a deep breath before responding.
"Anti-depressants. Lynn took them away from him yesterday. I'm worried, man. He said they help, but relying on them won't solve the real issues. We need to help him face what's going on inside."
Marcus furrows his brow, concern written all over his face.
"I had no idea he was dealing with this. We need to talk to him, make sure he knows we're here for him."
Vonda nods, determination in her eyes.
"Exactly. He can't keep bottling it up. It's eating away at him, and we can't let him fall deeper into this. Let's find him, talk to him, and make sure he knows he doesn't have to carry the burden alone."
The two head out, searching the town for JuJu. They eventually spot him near the outskirts, creating a vibrant mural on a weathered wall. He's lost in his thoughts, the rhythmic sound of the spray can punctuate the silence.
"JuJu!" Marcus calls out, approaching him with purpose.
JuJu turns around, his eyes meeting theirs, the bags under his eyes getting worse. There's a brief moment of hesitation before he puts on a small smile.
"Hey, what's up?"
Vonda steps forward, her expression serious.
"We need to talk, JuJu. About those pills."
He glances down, a flicker of discomfort crossing his face.
"I told you, they help me cope. What's the problem?"
Marcus steps closer, placing a hand on JuJu's shoulder.
"The problem is that you don't have to face everything alone. We're here for you, but relying solely on pills won't solve the root of the problem. We want to help you through this, whatever it is."
JuJu sighs, running a hand through his dreadlocks.
"It's just... everything feels so heavy, you know? It's like I can't catch a break."
Vonda steps closer, her voice gentle.
"We get it, Ju. We all have our battles, but facing them together makes us stronger. Taking pills might numb the pain temporarily, but it won't make it disappear. Let us help you carry the load."
"You've been the rock for all of us," Marcus adds. "Now, let us be yours. You're like my little brother. I don't want to see you like this bro. It hurts me. The last thing I want is a good person like you to start tweakin' over that shit. I've seen too many people lose themselves to drugs. You won't smoke weed, but you poppin' pills? Come on. You know better than that."
JuJu's expression softens and he looks down, angry at himself.
"Ju, look…" Vonda continues. "Imagine how Lynn feels about this. That's why she took them from you. Look at your eyes man, you look like you haven't slept in days.
JuJu sighs before speaking.
"It's just…been hard. I want to keep pushing, but my mind… it's not letting me…"
Marcus squeezes JuJu's shoulder reassuringly.
"We understand, J. But you don't have to push through alone. We're here for you, every step of the way. Let us help carry the weight with you."
JuJu's gaze shifts between Marcus and Vonda, his expression conflicted. He knows they're right, but admitting it feels like conceding defeat.
"I... I don't know if I can do this," he admits, his voice barely above a whisper.
Vonda reaches out, gently taking his hand in hers.
"Don't say that. We know you can. You're Julian Rose, you don't give up. That's the one we know"
Marcus nods, his expression filled with unwavering determination.
"We're not giving up on you either, bro. You're part of this family, and we stick together through thick and thin. Let's work through this together, okay?"
JuJu hesitates for a moment, his mind warring between the comfort of familiarity and the uncertainty of vulnerability. But then, slowly, he nods.
"Okay... I'll try."
A wave of relief washes over Marcus and Vonda as they exchange knowing glances. They know the road ahead won't be easy, but with JuJu's willingness to try and their unwavering support, they believe they can overcome any obstacle together.
"So, what are you tagging here?"
JuJu turns back at the mural and smiles softly.
"It's nothin' really, just… something to clear my mind…"
As JuJu continues to work on his mural, Marcus and Vonda stand beside him, offering silent support. They watch as vibrant colors take shape on the weathered wall, each stroke of the spray can is a reflection of JuJu's inner turmoil and resilience.
As the mural nears completion, JuJu steps back to admire his handiwork. The image depicts a phoenix rising from the ashes, its wings spread wide against a backdrop of swirling flames. It's a symbol of rebirth, overcoming adversity, and emerging stronger.
Marcus claps JuJu on the back, a proud smile on his face.
"Damn, JuJu. That's… wow…"
Vonda nods in agreement, her eyes shining with admiration.
"It's badass, Ju. I didn't know you could do something like this."
JuJu looks at his friends, gratitude swelling in his chest.
"Yeah, I wasn't really into the art stuff, but I did draw from time to time. Also, If it wasn't for Marcus for gifting me that spray can for Christmas, this wouldn't have been possible."
Marcus grins, his pride evident.
"Hey, just giving you the tools, man. You're the one with the talent."
JuJu looks at the mural, a sense of accomplishment washing over him. For a brief moment, the weight on his shoulders feels lighter, the darkness inside him pushed back by the vibrant colors of red, yellow, orange, and black on the wall.
"Thanks, Marcus. And thanks, Vonda. For everything."
Vonda smiles, her gaze softening.
"Anytime, JuJu."
As they stand together, admiring the mural, a sense of unity fills the air. Despite the challenges they face, they know that with each other's support, they can weather any storm.
The sun continues to shine down on the town of Houlton, its rays illuminating the mural like a beacon of hope amidst the darkness. And as JuJu looks at the artwork he created, he feels a glimmer of hope ignited within him.
Maybe, just maybe, he can rise from the ashes too.