TRIGGER WARNING!
This chapter contains abusive scenes, if you are sensitive to these topics please consider skipping.
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We run up the dock as we see Pope and Kie pull in the next morning.
"Finally, hey! Guys! Don't tie up!" Jj calls out.
"What?" Kie asks.
"We're dipping." Jj holds a bag over his shoulder. I follow beside him.
"Wait, why?" Pope asks.
"What are you talking about?"
"Where'd you guys go, what happened last night?" I ask, smirking a little.
"Slept on the break, why?" Pope asks.
"Slept, right, yeah." Jj pats Pope on the shoulder and gets in the boat.
I jump on. "Rafe knows we're here, we need to leave like.. now."
"Okay." Pope grunts as he puts the rope back into the boat. "Where are we going?"
"Somewhere hidden." I nod.
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We sit behind trees and bushes at an abandoned part of the island.
"We should've just gone south, I knew it, man!" Jj shouts.
"Okay, Jj! I get it! We understand." John b yells.
I ruh my forehead with pure stress.
"I have an idea. With me back, my dads going to have to choose between me and Rafe. He's gonna choose me." Sarah sighs, unsure of whether she really wants to go through with this.
"Listen. Ward keeps lying to you, Sarah." John b says to her.
I look over and see the denial on Sarah's face.
"He won't agree after all that's happened." Kie shakes her head.
"Look, I know it sounds crazy." Sarah looks down.
"Yeah, it does." I shrug.
"I know!" She pauses. "But he's my dad, And I know him, and I know he loves me."
I look up.
"I'm just asking for two hours." She adds.
Jj scoffs.
She walks away, on her way toward the boat.
I look over at Jj, he takes off his hat and sits down on a tree stump, not on board with any of this at all.
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Jj and I walk to collect stick incase we're going to need to stay here overnight.
"You think her dad will say yes?" J asks me.
I look over at him. "No, of course he won't."
He nods. "Yeah, this is gonna throw into a deep rabbit hole."
I tuck my hair behind my ears as we hike up the hill.
We get to the top and keep walking straight.
"Hey, um." Jj starts.
I tilt my head.
"When are you gonna tell your dad that your back?" He asks, a bit of worry in his voice.
I look down, I forgot about that. "I don't know, and honestly.. I kind of- just- wanna let him find out for himself."
He nods, looking at my eyes, then down to my lips.
That made my stomach do a cartwheel OH my.
"Darla, I really fucking missed you. I know I've said it like 10 times already, but like.. staying with two people who seem like they're only figuring out what love is for the first time can be emotionally exhausting." He stops in his tracks, a little in front of me so he can face me.
I laugh. "I'm sure it is, and being with a very horny married couple is also pretty emotionally exhausting, and sickening."
"Darla- do not tell me they..." Jj gulps.
"I don't know, and I don't want to. Half of the time I was sleeping so.." I brush it off.
"Darla eugh! You just put an image I don't want into my head." Jj gags.
I stare at him for a minute, before realising the image myself. "Oh!"
We both start laughing.
"Jj- you and your dirty ass mind." I roll my eyes.
We catch eyes for a minute, and I get that feeling.
The feelings where I feel like I can't breath properly, and that my stomachs in whirls. I remember this feeling very well, and it's kind of comforting to have it back. Knowing I have him back. My Jj.
"But, I missed you too Jj." I say, breaking the eye contact.
We smile at each other in sync before going back to collecting sticks.
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We walk down the hill, before dropping the sticks when we see Sarah pull back up.
"Sarah!" Kie calls out happily.
We run over to the boat that crashes into the shore to help her sticking the hook into the sand.
"You made it!" Pope yells.
We run up to the boat, John b helps her out. I see a disappointed and angry look on her face.
"So, what happened?" John b quietly asks her.
She simply shakes her head. "You guys were right, it didn't work." She sniffles.
"Well, then that settles it, guys." JJ yells.
"Y'all need to load up the penny wagon and get the hell out of here, we will get you your supplies as usual." Pope sighs.
"No, I'm not running again. I'm fucking tired of it." I shake my head.
"Darla, you aren't wanted anymore." Jj says.
"What?" I ask.
"You're not wanted. The posters updated again." Pope adds on.
I raise my eyebrow, why do I keep getting taken on and off of this poster?
"Anyway, guys, I think it's too late." Kiara says, her focus set in the distance.
I swivel around quicker than ever when I hear wailing sirens, that's familiar. Definitely haven't heard those noises for the past month of my life.
"They followed you here?" John b asks.
We all state in shock as the police patrol boats float up to shore.
"Stay on the beach with your hands in the air!" The patrol yells out.
"Guys go, go!" I shout, making a run for the opposite direction.
We sprint through the bushes, I feel someone on us as we do so.
Sarah whimpers as she runs, her wound making it unbearable for her to breath.
We run into a forest with many trees and John b aids Sarah with his support as we all run.
"Go! Go!" John b yells.
We stumble out of the forest into a shallow body of water, and try to plough our way through the tough flow.
I try swimming it, but that doesn't increase my pace.
We finally all struggle out of the water, I hear the SBI officers bustle behind us, I think they are only getting into the water now. That gives us time.
We run behind a big tree that's beside the water. "Go! Get up!"
I hide my body behind a thick branch, breathing heavily.
The others do so too.
I lay my head back against the tree.
I see police cars start to zoom in our direction, and I look behind to see the many officers. They're armed and slowly moving our way.
"We're trapped, they've surrounded us." I say in defeat.
"What the fuck do we do?" Kie cries.
"No getting out of this, we gotta make a stand." Jj nods.
I look quickly in his direction. "What are you taking about?"
He doesn't answer wiping off something with a bandana.
I look down and see the shape of the object, and right away I know it's the gun.
I clench my jaw.
John b looks at me, his eyes teary, and I can tell when he's about to do something I'm
not going to like.
"What- are you doing, John b?" I ask.
He smile over his heartbreak. "We'll get out of this, I promise."
"Out of what- John b!" I yelp as he runs to stop Jj from shooting.
I watch as Jj struggles, by gives in finally, dropping the gun to his feet and kicking dirt over it.
I gasp as John b steps out into the open, Sheriff Shoupe stepping out of his car.
"Hands up! All of you!" He yells.
I raise my hands slowly, pure hatred in my expression.
"Shoupe. I want to testify." John b calls out.
I gasp as those words exit his mouth.
"It's about time." Shoupe shouts out.
Another officer walks up, grabs his neck and aggressively throws him to the ground.
"Hey! NO!" I scream.
"Stop! Let him go!"
"No!"
Jj gets ready to bolt at the officer but I run to hold him back.
The officer kicks John b over and over again.
"Shoupe! You gonna let that happen?" Jj shouts out.
Shoupe walks over and handcuffs him.
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We sit in the courtroom. My heart beats faster as the hearing continues.
Jj is sat in prison, his hand holding his chest as he breathes heavily.
"John Booker Routledge, pursuant to the North Carolina statute section 14, you are charged with murder in the first degree with aggravated circumstances." The judge confirms.
I feel my breath slip away from my throat.
"If convicted, the maximum sentence would be the death penalty."
My eyes widen, knowing now he's locked up for good.
Jj looks over at me as my eyes well up with tears. My best friend of 16 years, gone.
Jj stands up in anger, I look up at him.
"Your Honor, he's seventeen." He angrily shouts.
I stand up after him. "This is fucking ridiculous."
Kie tries to stop Jj.
"Are you kidding? You just threw him away for a murder he didn't fucking commit!" I scream.
"Darla, you're good." Pope grabs my shoulder.
I push him off. "No, I'm not! This is some bullshit!"
"Alright, Out!" An officer yelps.
I pull up my middle finger. "Gladly, Fascist whores!" I bolt out the door.
"Is this a joke? like.. are we in hell, or?" We walk out the door.
I look around at the people smiling, as if they know the truth.
"Y'all don't know shit, stop giggling and smiling like your five years old winning an art contest." I growl.
"Darla, contain your anger, it's not worth these people." Jj rubs my shoulder.
We walk down the steps.
"We should have never come home." Sarah mumbles to me.
"I know." I sigh.
"I'm so sorry for you and your family, thank god the system works." I hear someone saying to Ward Cameron.
I know jj told me to contain it, but nah, fuck that.
"Can you please shut your mouths for me?" I scream, walking up to them.
Everyone stops and looks. "Of course, you think the system works because it's built for you and people like you."
"He'll have his day in court. A jury will decide." Some NPC on the side tells me.
"I'm sorry, I don't remember talking to you. Fucking copy and paste Kook."
"He shouldn't even be in court! You should, 'cause you're a murderer." Kie backs me up, coming up beside me.
"You have a lot of nerve showing up to court." I nod.
"I know, you're upset. I understand you're upset, okay?" Ward nods.
I cant help but laugh at this fuckery. "Upset?"
"I know he's got you fooled, He's got you all fooled.."
"No, I'm not just upset!" I scream at the top of my lungs, charging at this bitch.
The officers grab me and pull me back.
"Get the fuck off of her!" Jj shouts, pulling me away from them.
The crowd gets rowdy as Ward and I shout back and forth at each-other.
"You don't know what it's like to have your best friend taken away from you, because you killed your own!" I spit, referring to Ward killing Big John.
His eyes widen. "The hell you just say?" He steps closer.
I don't even flinch, letting him come close to me so he can realise I ain't scared of shit.
Jj steps in front of me and Ward backs quickly away. "Try it, I dare you."
I death stare Ward, pure hatred and rage in my eyes. I hope he can see that too.
"You wanna get arrested? Get out of here." Shoupe asks us.
"Some fucking bullshit, that's what it is." I nod.
"You need to go."
"It's not a coincidence that your daughter's sitting with us." Kie calls out, referring to Sarah.
I walk into the parking lot with the rest, we all are silent due to complete and utter disregard of what is happening right now.
I look up and see just the person I wanted to see the least right now.
My father.
My heart drops when I see his busted face, his stupid kook ass car and his horribly shaved beard.
"Darl.." Jjs mumbles.
I turn to him. "Look, I'll see you later. If I don't show up, check in."
He shakes his head. "I promised you that if he hurts you one more damn time-"
"Jj, listen. I'll be there. Okay? Promise."
I hold his hand tight, knowing he's more enraged than ever with Ward and my dad.
"Promise me." Jj nods.
"Of course."
I slowly drop his hand, looking back at this evil looking creature that had to be my dad.
I walk up to him, trying to avoid eye contact.
I hold my breath as I pass him, opening the car door.
I slip myself in, he looks around before getting in himself.
There's just utter silence in the car.
"You're a disgrace to this family." He sternly says.
I shakily inhale.
"You have caused stress and pure pain to us."
I look out the foggy window. "If you want me gone, I'll go."
He starts the car. "You have a hard fucking time waiting for you at home, Darla Miracle.."
"You don't scare me." I mutter.
I suddenly freak when I feel immediate pressure knock the side of my head, a fist being the culprit.
I hold the hurting section, the sore causing a quick migraine.
I look up at him, my eyes burning with hot tears.
"You fucked us!" He continues to punch and punch his anger out.
I try to get away, yelling out for him to stop.
The punches hit like bricks, until he's done so many that they start to stop hurting- and that my body has just gone numb.
"Dad! Please!" I sob uncontrollably.
"No, you don't call me that! You don't!"
And in this moment I can only think about the man he used to be, before they both found the intoxicating substances. Before they got addicted to their own shit. Before they divorced.
I feel my head lighten, I feel like a string attached to a balloon.. just dying to get out, and float up somewhere no one goes.
I shakes his bruised fist as if he's going to be the victim in this situation.
I take a glance up at the window, finding the splotch of my own blood dripping down.
The tears are wiping the blood running down my nose and out from my lip.
Home sweet home.
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The car pulls into the driveway, I don't even dare to look at my dads face.
"Out and in." He slams the car door behind him.
I bring myself to the strength to look at the damage he's caused to me by looking in my mirror.
Yep, my face is pretty fucked up.
My lip is busted once again, my nostrils are stained red down to my top lip and I feel my left eye going purple, so a possible black eye. Just what I need right now.
I get out of the car, all I need to do is get past that rat of a wife and then I'll leave again.
I walk in the opened door behind me.
I feel my heart race again as I slowly come up to the living room.
She looks up at me, disgusted.
I smirk. "Remind you of my mom?"
"You're as musty and ugly as she was." She snarks.
I nod slowly. "Good. We're done here."
"No, we're not." The man who I don't even recognise as apart of my bloodline decides to speak.
"I don't listen to you, or take orders from you." I roll my eyes.
"No, you're my daughter! You're my daughter!" He yelps.
I laugh. "You shouldn't of had me if you knew you were just going to fuck me up like this. Is this love? Do you hit Bea like you hit me?"
"Bea is prettier, she's smarter, she's the more successful daughter and we love her unconditionally. You? You're just some thing that your father was forced to take care of." That ratchet bitch butts in.
"Well, the one job you were supposed to do- you failed. Because if this," I point at my face. "If this is being taken care of, then fuck that. Don't bother."
"You're just a little rat who squirms around every once in a while to make a big scene." The man yells.
I look at him, all emotion erased from my face.
"You've rubbed off on Ren, because now she's just as disappointing as you are."
I furrow my eyebrows. "What?"
"Yeah, she's a little cunt. Just like you at that age." He continues.
I clench my jaw, I can handle it when they talk shit about me yo my face, but Ren? No. Not my baby sister.
"You watch your mouth when you talk about her."
"Or what? Ren is my daughter. You aren't." That whore keeps going, as if anyone cares or asked for her wrong opinions.
"Y'all both really are just some rich low-lives."
I chuckle, storming upstairs to go find Ren.
I walk through the halls, trying to remember where Rens room is situated.
I find the familiar door, and twist the knob open.
I gasp to find my baby sister, huddled on the floor, wearing just a pair of shorts and a vest. Her skin pale and her dark hair thin and ratty.
Hee little face looks up, and her cheekbones are visible. She has bags under her eyes at the age of just 9.
I see purple spots all up her arms, they seem to be bruised. I take a gasp in before breaking down into tears, knowing this shit is happening to my baby girl, who I promised I wouldn't let anyone hurt.
She struggles, but pulls herself up. This is the moment I can really see the damage that's been done. It looks like she hasn't eaten in weeks.
I hold out my arms and she rushes into them, wrapping her cold and weak arms around my shivering waist. I feel her pain transfer to my body as she whimpers and cries into my stomach.
I bring her out from the hug, holding her long and black hair. Her furrowing frown stabbing my heart several times.
"You're alive." I forgot that she didn't know this, I can't think about that in a time like this.
I nod, streaming tears down my cheeks.
"He did it to you too?" She sobs.
I wipe my tears. "Not to worry about me, when did he hurt you, Ren."
She looks down. "Two weeks ago."
I shake my head, in denial he would do it to my baby. "He will never again, pack up some bags. I'll take you out of here for a while."
She gulps. "But- he will get mad again."
"I'll deal with him, just go get some pyjamas. Think of it as a mini holiday." I sniffle.
She nods before disappearing into her room.
I turn around, wiping the overwhelming amount of tears drying on my skin.
I open my eyes to come face to face with Bea.
"You're alive?" She seems shocked, but doesn't want to show that.
"Yeah." I nod.
She crosses her arms. "Oh. Are you like.. okay?" She has this smug look on her face.
"I don't need your sympathy, okay? I'm fine." I shake her off.
Ren walks outside, a small little backpack over her shoulder. She has a cute pink jumper thrown over her.
"Schools not in." Bea laughs.
"We're leaving for a while." I explain.
"What? Where are you taking her? You cant take Ren you're not even seventeen yet!" She protests.
"Have you been aware of what that sick man downstairs has been doing to her?" I ask, tilting my head.
She goes silent.
"Right, so even if it's illegal, I have a lot to explain to the cops." I take Rens fragile hand in mine as we walk down the stairs, then bolting toward the door.
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