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“Wait.” I sit up, examining the TV closer and tilting my head side to side. “What are we watching?”
“It’s calledCabin in the Woods,” Adam answers from his spot on the love seat. “I thought it would be good since we’re in a cabin, somewhat in the woods.”
“Right,” I drag out, sitting back again, leaning against Riggs. “It seems like a very generic horror movie plot. It even has the stereotypical character archetypes.”
“That’s the beauty of it!” Adam gestures excitedly at it, nearly tossing the bag of chips sitting on his stomach onto the floor. “It’s a horror movie that plays off the stereotypes in a fucking brilliant way! Trust me, it’s killer.”
“Bu dum tss,” Riggs mumbles beside me, making us all chuckle. Curling into Riggs, my eyes stray to the hallway Rhys disappeared down a few minutes ago. His phone rang as the movie started, Jarrod James flashing on the screen. He told us to keep going and he’d update us after, but the anxiety of what’s happening with Kevin Jennings has me far too unfocused to catch more than a few details of the movie.
Riggs squeezes my thigh, bringing my attention back to him and the movie date we decided to do tonight. The guys thought it would be a good idea to just hang out watching movies and eating snacks all day. Their taste in movies thankfully isn’t too bad, but their taste in snacks is questionable.
Rhys walks back in, tension radiating off of him in waves. We all look at him, the movie completely forgotten in the background as he throws himself down on the couch on my other side. It feels like forever before he finally starts talking, the seconds ticking by and ramping my weariness up to uncomfortable levels.
“Jarrod says that Kevin Jennings has completely fallen off the face of the earth,” Rhys starts, running his hands through his long, blonde hair. “He has no financial records, no sightings, not even a valid driver’s license anymore. He disappeared about a month before you showed up in town. They do, however, have another body that they believe was his doing.”
“How does he just disappear? I saw him at the funeral home after Dec’s wake! That’s a fucking sighting,” I shout, flying off of the couch to pace my sudden burst of anger out. “He’s fucking killing people! Someone has to know where he is!”
“I agree,” Rhys says, sitting on the edge of the couch and holding up his hands in peace. “He claims they're doing everything they can to find him, but having worked with them, I find that hard to believe.”
“So, what? Am I just supposed to hide forever? He’s already taken so fucking much from me! Where does it end?!” I explode, clenching my fists at my side and breathing through the fury. “I won’t do this. I will not keep living like this. His father took years from me. Even after I was out of that house, I lived in constant fear that he would find me and take me back there. His motherfucking son will not take more from me. I won’t allow it!”
“Then we’ll make sure he doesn’t.” Riggs stares at me, his determined face both hot and a little scary. “What do you want to do, Lay? How do you want to proceed from here?”
Adam cracks his knuckles, looking ready to step into a fight ring. “We’re going to follow your lead, hellcat. Just tell us what you need.”
Rhys nods at me, letting me know he also agrees with the other two. They look ready to go to war for me, their loyalty and support clear as day. No matter what I choose to do, I want it to be what’s best for all of us. However, I meant what I said, I refuse to have anything else stolen from me. From my innocence to my favourite fucking scent, him and his father have already gotten enough. Running isn’t an option anymore, it’s time to reclaim what I can.
“If they’re done with the house, I think we should head back.” My eyes dart between all the guys, gauging their reactions. They all just nod, keeping to their word of supporting me in my decision. “He isn’t pushing us from our home. Declan’s last memories are there, it’s where I fell in love with all of you, and it’s beautiful. Although, a new security system on it may be a good idea.”
“Done,” Rhys agrees, standing and taking out his phone. “I’ll have the new system installed tomorrow morning, and I’ve already had both biohazard cleaners and regular cleaners in the house. We can head back tomorrow afternoon.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that, baby. Whatever you need, we’ll do our best to make it happen,” Adam answers. “We take care of our family.”
“You have to know there isn’t much we wouldn’t do for you.” Riggs opens his arms, beckoning me in. Moving into his arms without hesitation, I push my face into his neck, straddling his lap. Rhys leans over, kissing the top of my head and excusing himself from the room again. The movie still plays in the background, some screaming and chainsaw sounds adding quite the ambiance to the moment.
Riggs moves back to lay on the couch, adjusting me so I’m laying on top of him, my ear sitting over his chest. The sounds become a haze, his heartbeat lulling me into sleep far quicker than I thought possible after that conversation. The stress and ups and downs of the past week are taking quite the toll on my body. A little sleep, that’s all I need to bounce back. At least those are the lies I tell myself.
“If you could change one thing in your life so far, what would it be?” Dec asks, leaning back on his hands and staring out at the rising sun.
“That’s an easy one. I would stop my parents from dying,” I answer, laying my head on his shoulder and sighing wistfully. “If they never died, I would have grown up with them instead of in the system. Changing that one instance would change the course of my entire life.”
“Fair enough.” He laughs, jostling my head a bit and teasingly kicking my foot with his own. “I would choose meeting you.”
“What?” I sit up, looking over at him with a confused expression. This isn’t how this is supposed to happen. We’ve had this conversation before. Dec said he would change being born, then we fought a bit about it. He was constantly making jokes about suicide or never being born, and I was always trying to shut that shit down.
“You heard me.” Dec smiles, blood pouring from his mouth, eyes, and ears. “Better get to the basement, little Layna. You wouldn’t want to miss your meeting with Mr. J.”
A whimper escapes before I can stop it, my arms and legs suddenly tied to a wooden cross in the middle of the Jennings’ basement. The cut of the belt comes seconds later, punishing me for making a sound. He likes silence when he tortures us, the sound of his own voice and pleasure getting him off almost as much as our pain.
“Don’t make a fucking sound, or next time, your little boy toy over there gets it.” Mr. J sneers, turning my face to make me look at Declan. Dec is in a similar position to mine, except he’s tied to a table, his head strapped down to face me. “You wouldn’t want me to hurt him, would you?”
At my silent tears, Mr. J laughs, patting my head like I’m a good little dog obeying his commands. My mind fights against what happens next, blurring the pain with images of happier things to keep me from focusing too much on the stinging cuts or the blood dripping down my body. The psychopath moans, smearing the blood onto his hand and painting himself with it.
The torture goes on and on until I can’t remember what day it is or why I can’t feel my hands anymore. Looking over at Declan bleary-eyed, I let out a silent cry for him as Kevin moves on to do unspeakable things to him. A scream tears from my throat, a burning pain from the sheer force of it. I won’t allow him to do this to Dec anymore.
The scream goes on and on, drawing Mr. J away from Declan and bringing him back over to me. The pain that comes next will be some of the worst of my entire life, but I know it’s worth it. Declan is broken enough, he doesn’t need anymore pain. I can take it, I can fight the pain, the agony, and later on, the memories. I’m strong enough for that much, at least.
