PSYCHO ― John B. Routledge ✓

37. Old Time's Sake

"John B? Rocky?" the boy asked, speaking oddly casually as he stood up from his seat.

"Hey man," John B spoke shakily, holding up his hands. Norman stayed silent behind him, not knowing what to say. "Just listen to me for a second, relax."

"Man, what are you guys doing here?" the dark-skinned boy spoke, his voice suspicious. "Rocky? What are you doing all up in this?"

"Not important," Norman spoke up, "C'mon, Kelce, we've always been cool, right?"

The boy nodded, "Yeah, yeah, but... I-I know what you did, John B. Hell, you still got some blood on your hands."

"Please listen to me," the boy begged, his voice cracking with desperation. "I didn't do it. Just listen."

"Get out of my house!" Kelce exclaimed furiously, shaking his head with a terrified fervor, "Don't talk to me! I know what you did! Rocky, I don't know what he told you, but... but he's a murderer!"

Norman shook his head, "No, trust me! One Kook to another, dude, why would I defend some deadbeat Pogue if I didn't know the truth? C'mon, man! We've known each other since Kindergarten! You won't trust me now?"

"Something about this whole thing is fucked, you shouldn't be messing around with no Pogues, Rocky," the boy continued to argue and Norman prayed he wouldn't reach for the phone and dial 911. That was the last thing they needed right now. "Get outta my house! Both of you?"

"Deadbeat Pogue?" John B muttered.

"Just go with it," Norman whispered before speaking louder so Kelce could hear him, "Why would I lie? What do I gain, Kelce?"

The boy shook his head, reaching into the knife block and pulling one of them out. Immediately, John B stepped back, pulling Norman with him as he exclaimed, "Woah, put the knife down!"

"Nah, you invaded the homeland, bro!" Kelce yelled as he began to step towards them, "I'm warning you! You need to get the hell out of my house right now. Hey!"

The boys took off running, their feet sliding on the hardwood floors, but that didn't slow them down as Kelce chased them. John B turned into the first open door as he slammed the door and locked it, pushing their frames against the door to keep it shut. Kelce rattled the doorknob, but after that, there was silence.

Curiously, John B called out, "Kelce? Hey, man, hey! Shit, I think he closed us in here, even if I unlock the door, the handle won't turn."

"Shit, shit, shit!" Norman exclaimed as he eyed their surroundings. Of course, the room they had to be stuck in was a laundry room with no discernable way out.

Kelce spoke through the door, saying, "You're in the house of pain now, bro. You hear that? Rocky, I didn't take you as the type to turn towards the dark side, but y'all are both in for it now. I got you, man. I got you both."

"Fuck," John B mumbled as the two boys paced around the room. They heard Kelce return so John B went back against the door to say, "Hey! Hey, Kelce, buddy!"

"Come on, Kelce, we can work this out!" Norman exclaimed through the door.

"Please, please, just let us out," the other boy tried, but it was useless.

"I don't think so, bitch," Kelce shouted, "Word on the street is that you've got a bounty on your head, John B. 25K cash money, dead or alive. Isn't that right, John B?"

They heard Kelce discussing something with someone else that was outside and Norman was pretty sure he heard the word 'cops' which meant they were supremely screwed. If the cops got there before they could find a way out of this mess, it was over for them. The two began ransacking the room looking for anything that could get them out, but there was nothing. John B found something to tie around the doorknob, but Norman wasn't sure what that was going to do.