by Raathi Chota
“Well, everyone’s got a story,” I murmured, and he nodded. I opened the door and walked out into the cold. With one last wave, he shut the door, and I walked downstairs to the car.
***
It was late on Saturday afternoon, and we decided to stay indoors. We sat on the sofa and finished Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which Uncle Griff “downloaded” since he knew that I loved J.K. Rowling’s books. I curled up on the La-Z-Boy and continually sneezed. I noticed she turned to me with a raised brow.
“Are you getting sick?”
“No, Mom, it’s just one sneeze.”
“Mm.” She pursed her lips. “Where were you last night?”
“I was at Liam’s apartment when I got your message, then while driving home I saw Keene and helped him get home,” I explained, then shrugged.
“But Keene lives downtown,” Dad chimed in as he raised a brow at me.
“Yeah…” I trailed off as his jaw tightened.
“I don’t want you going there alone at night. Wait, scratch that, I don’t want you going there at a—” Dad cut off when the doorbell rang. I let out a sigh of relief as Dad got up and walked out of the living room. I turned to Mom, who sent me a suspicious look. “Lana, you have guests,” Dad muttered as he walked into the room. I looked over his shoulder to see Benny, Nick, and Liam come in with a box.
“Thanks, Bobby.” Liam smiled as my dad wrinkled his eyes at him.
“Don’t call me that if you know what’s good for you, Liam,” Dad said.
“Sorry, Sheriff. Can I interest you in some donuts?” Liam pouted as he opened the box.
“Just because I’m a cop doesn’t mean I eat donuts all the time. It’s a stupid stereotype because everyone loves donuts!” Dad huffed, then walked toward Liam. “Now give me one.”
I watched in amusement as Dad and Liam ate the donuts. Benny and Nick greeted my mother, then approached me.
“Hey. What are you guys doing here?” I asked as they sat on the big sofa next to me. Nick raised his brows, then looked over his shoulder at Liam. Mom got up and took a donut. Once they were done, Mom and Dad walked into the kitchen while Liam joined us on the sofa.
“We’re investigators!” Liam cheered with his donut.
“What does he mean?” I asked.
“He wants to investigate. So we’re taking a drive somewhere,” Benny said.
“You’ll see. Now go get ready!” Liam said and gave a dismissive wave of his hand.
“Err…okay,” I mumbled as I pushed myself off the sofa. They followed me upstairs and into my room. Thankfully, I was dressed and just needed to put on my shoes. While they hung out in my room, I took out my contacts and decided to wear my glasses. I put them on in the bathroom, then brushed my hair. When I came out of the bathroom, Liam held up my white Converse, which I picked out.
“You can’t wear these,” he said, then walked to my closet.
“Why? Are we going to the beach?” I sarcastically asked as Liam put them away.
“Nope.” Benny sighed as he laid on my bed.
“Don’t you have other Converse?” Liam asked as he rummaged in my closet.
“I did have black and white high tops, but y’know, they were supposed to be dumped at a junkyard.” I shrugged as I walked to my closet and took out a pair of maroon Doc Martens.
“Let’s just hope that they were. Oh, that reminds me, did you get rid of yours after they made such a dramatic return?” Nick asked as he looked at Liam.
“Yeah, of course,” Liam mumbled as he looked at the ceiling. I quickly put on my shoes, and Benny helped me as he did the laces. When I looked down at Liam’s shoes, I checked if he wore the black high tops. Thankfully, he wasn’t and wore black Vans. I put on a denim jacket, then followed the boys as we walked out of my room. Mom and Dad watched TV as we passed them.
“Put on a jacket. I don’t want you getting the flu!” Mom demanded.
“I’m already wearing one, Mom,” I said.
“Oh well…make sure you’re wearing enough layers!” She pointed to my clothing.
“I am. I have a ve—” I cut off when a car honked outside. Benny tugged on my hand as he looked at my parents.
“I’ll make sure that she’s warm and returned home without the flu,” Benny said, then winked at me.
“What do you mean by warm?” Dad narrowed his eyes at Benny.
“Love you, bye!” I pulled Benny out of the house before he could answer my father. We got into the back, and Nick drove while Liam sat in the passenger seat. Liam belted out the lyrics to a hip-hop song as I turned to Benny with a grin. “How are you going to make sure that I’m warm?”
“Oh, I have my ways,” he replied, then kissed my hand as I bit my lip.
“Do you really have to carry that everywhere? I’m pretty sure our class doesn’t want this in the yearbook,” Nick spoke up as he glanced at Liam. Benny and I watched as Liam took random pictures, then turned to Nick with a grave expression.
“Relax, I have separate memory cards, one for the yearbook and the other for our pictures.”
“What pictures will you be taking?” I asked as Liam raised the camera and took a quick picture of Nick’s stone hard look.
“Anything that gives us a clue about Jack August,” Liam mumbled as he put the camera on his lap.
“What do yo—where are we even going?” I asked as my eyes widened.
“To Ethan’s cottage, because we’re investigators!” Liam cheered as he raised his fist.
“Are you out of your mind? We can’t go there! What if, what if—”
“Relax, Lana, it’s abandoned, which makes it easier because we’re investigators!” Liam assured me as Nick groaned.
“Adding the words ‘we’re investigators’ at the end of every sentence doesn’t make the situation better,” Nick muttered. Liam pouted.
“You’re a big meanie, Nicky,” Liam said as he pressed the button to open his window. Nick let out a sigh as he looked back at the road. I let out another sneeze since Liam’s window was wide open, and his head stuck out like a dog in the wind.
“Dude, close your window! You’re making Lana sick!” Benny scolded Liam.
“I need some air,” he yelled and shook his head.
“There’s air in here, you idiot,” Nick muttered as he pressed the button on his side that closed Liam’s window.
“I don’t want your air!” Liam frowned as he looked at Nick. “It’s thick and tense, like you!”
I threw my head back and closed my eyes as Liam and Nick argued about the air. It went on for five minutes, then the car went silent; even the radio was off. I opened my eyes to see Nick drive while Liam’s arms were folded as he looked out the window. Benny was on his phone, then looked up at me. He rolled his eyes, then looked down at his phone again.
“Just say sorry,” I stated after a while.
“Sorry,” Nick and Liam said in unison.
“I like this air,” Liam stated as he turned to Nick with a smile.
“Okay,” Nick said in an ominous tone as he gave Liam a smile too. Their friendship was weird, but I knew that Nick wouldn’t leave Liam, no matter how annoyed he got.
Chapter Twenty-One
Lana
We arrived, and I forced myself up, then looked around. There was absolutely nothing, just a long road and brown gravel. I slowly got out of the car and stretched. On the left side of the road were a lamp post and a sign that displayed Route 28. On the right aspect of the road, a few feet away, was Ethan’s cottage. While the guys walked to the lamp post, I stared at the cottage. The cottage brought back so many memories. Now to see it deserted and the “For Sale” sign up made my stomach turn. Ethan told me his dad wasn’t impressed, and he got scolded for keeping it from him for two years.
“See, it’s the same!” Liam exclaimed as I turned around. Nick was in the position Jack was when the photograph was taken. Benny held up the photo, and Liam looked down at his camera. I approached them and stood nex
t to Liam as I stared at the screen. Nick held the same expression as Jack with the sign behind him, and it was identical to the original.
“Wow, that’s kinda creepy.” I looked at the photograph of Nick and Jack.
“I wonder who sent the picture in,” Benny said as his forehead creased.
“If it was his family, they chose a shitty place for a picture,” Nick said as he looked up at the sign. I stuffed my hands in my jacket pockets and looked across the street again. It’s funny; I still pictured the day when Blake forced me on his motorcycle and told me to drive. The looks on their faces showed that they were afraid. Even now when we spoke about James, they looked at me.
“Is it for sale?” Liam snapped me out of my thoughts.
“No, that sign is just up there for decoration,” Nick replied sarcastically.
“You know your sarcasm hurts sometimes.” Liam pouted as he placed his hand on his chest. Nick was about to say something as he approached Liam, but Benny held him back, then glared at Liam.
“Can you two just…not annoy Lana and me?” Benny asked as he lifted his hands to separate the two.
“He started it.” Liam huffed as he walked forward. My brows furrowed as I watched the tall brunette walk across the street and toward Ethan’s cottage. I followed him, and Benny and Nick grunted as they trailed behind.
“Liam, what are you doing?” I asked as he studied the cottage. I followed his gaze to see that the doors were surrounded by chains, but it seemed like someone had broken them since pieces laid on the ground. Liam and I looked at each other, then back at the chains.
“We’re investigators,” Liam whispered as he took a picture of the chains, then stepped forward.
“You are dumb to go in there!” Nick scolded as Liam pulled the chains off.
“Why would it be locked if it’s up for sale?” Liam asked, then dropped the chains.
“Maybe someone has their eye on it, so Ethan’s dad is keeping it locked until he can put the ‘sold’ sign up,” I guessed.
“Then who would cut the chains?” Benny asked as he stood next to me.
“I don’t know, but let’s investigate!” Liam cheered as he walked in.
“Liam, get out of there! We could get into trouble!” I exclaimed as I went after him. The place looked empty without the furniture. I noticed the walls needed a paint job because I could see the shadows left behind from the posters that had been on the walls. A few things were scattered around, like a chair, trashcan, and toolbox.
“How do you guys know about Ethan’s cottage?” I asked when Ethan told me that I was the first person other than the four of them to be in here.
“Kelly started a massive rumor about this place back in sophomore year. You should’ve seen the shit she did to try and get in here,” Nick replied, then walked over to Liam, who was in the kitchen. “Dude, don’t eat that! What if it’s expired?” Nick stated as we watched Liam eat a bag of cookies.
“They expire in May,” Liam said with a mouthful of food. Nick stared at him in disbelief as his eyebrows drew together. I laughed as I walked away from the two and further into the cottage. The door a few feet away reminded me of the day when everything went to hell. I slowly entered the room and saw that it was empty.
I stood in the middle of the room and folded my arms. I let out a sigh, still picturing everything, the bed I laid on when they entered the room. Aidan blocked my view of the living room, but it didn’t make a difference since we’re almost the same height, and when Blake kissed me. Then the realization hit me that they dealt with drugs. To be honest, a part of me enjoyed it, but a full part of me realized how much emotional pain he’d put me through. I let out a dry laugh and thought about how he fucked up every time yet moved on as if it were nothing. I was done with Blake, and I noticed he’s over me since he had wild parties, street raced, and slept around for the past week. I shook my head in amusement as I remembered when he told me there was a difference. Even though he’s a combination of both.
“Hey, you okay?” Benny’s voice interrupted my thoughts, and I spun around. I nodded with a smile as he approached me. I put my arms around his torso and pulled him in for a long sweet kiss. He immediately responded as his arms snaked around my waist and brought me closer. “Wh-what was that for?” he breathed out afterward.
“Just…you make me happy, and I haven’t been like that for a while.” I smiled.
“You make me happy too. Your smile is beautiful,” he said as the corner of his mouth raised. My smile grew bigger as he pulled me in for a hug again. I rested my head on his shoulder as he ran his fingers through my hair. It was true he made me happy and carefree; I felt like a whole new person whenever I was around him. I felt better.
“Yo, guys, come check this out!” Liam’s voice echoed throughout the cottage as Benny and I pulled away. We walked out of the room and into the hallway, where we saw Nick in front of the bathroom door.
“Liam, what is it?” Benny asked as we stood in front of the door.
“If you want me to recheck your piss, it’s not happening, bro! Remember, if it’s too yello—” Nick cut off when Liam opened the door and pulled us in.
“What do you want?” I scrunched my nose.
“Guess,” Liam stated with a grin as he leaned against the sink.
“Dude, it smells like shit in here. What the hell?” Benny asked as he waved his hand over his face.
“Exactly!” Liam beamed as he raised his hands.
“What?” Nick asked as he stared at Liam, and I noticed he was annoyed.
“Benny, walk to the bathtub,” Liam ordered as he pointed to the white tub.
“Why?”
“Come on, just do it. We’re investigators!” Liam whined as he raised his camera.
“Okay.” Benny sighed. He did as told and walked across to the bathtub. Nick and I watched as Benny slowly spun around and looked at Liam. “Liam, what did you do?” he asked as he looked at the floor.
“Nothing,” Liam answered as his eyebrows rose.
“What is it, Benny?” I asked as he continued to walk back and forth. He stopped in the middle and swayed as he looked down. We followed his gaze to see the tiles beneath his feet wobble. I stepped forward and moved a tile with my foot. The one that I moved was smaller than the others. We surrounded the odd tile and stared at it.
“Well…” Liam trailed off as he crouched down. My eyes widened as he picked up the tile. It came off quickly, as if it wasn’t supposed to be there in the first place. Then one by one the other tiles came out like a jigsaw puzzle gone wrong. I watched in astonishment as they picked up the tiles and tossed them into the bathtub. Once they were done, they stood up again, and I gaped at the thing below us.
“Holy shit,” Benny mumbled. Below our feet lay a dusty cement floor, but what brought our attention was the utility hole cover where Benny once stood. We gave each other suspicious looks as to why there’s a utility hole cover in an abandoned cottage in the middle of nowhere. Nick crouched down and grazed his fingers over the rusty metal. He tried to lift it up, but it wouldn’t budge, so we crouched down to help.
“Okay. Go!” Nick exclaimed, and we lifted. As we pulled the lid up, an unpleasant smell filled the atmosphere, which was worse than the smell of the bathroom already.
“Oh my God,” I said as we pushed the lid aside.
“What do you think is down there?” Benny asked as we looked down the utility hole that was dark yet a few bars displayed, which I assumed was a ladder.
“Well, only one way to find out!” Liam responded as he swung his legs over and began to climb down.
“Are you crazy? It smells like shit down there!” I pinched the bridge of my nose.
“We’re investigators!” Liam cheered.
“It’s getting pretty old!” Nick sang as he joined Liam with no hesitation. Eventually, Benny and I joined the two because we didn’t want them to go down alone.
The horrible stinky smell filled the air as we walked. I had come t
o the conclusion that we were in the sewers. Liam thought it was tunnels, but as he walked, he almost fell into the gooey liquid, so we were underground by the sewers.
“Sixty-eight bottles of beer on the wall, sixty-eight bottles of beer. Take one down, pa—”
“Would you shut up?” Nick demanded as he cut off Liam.
“I’ve been singing for the past hour, and you only stop me now?” Liam asked as he looked over his shoulder where Nick was.
“I was screaming in my head, hoping that you’d stop. Now I just want you to freaking stop!” Nick groaned. Liam frowned, then dragged his feet as we walked on the side. Benny guided us while I stood next to Liam. Nick trailed behind and took in every aspect of the dimly lit sewer.
“What are you doing?” I asked Liam as he looked at his camera screen.
“Just looking at pictures,” he mumbled as I leaned in to see them, but he backed away.
“Can I see?” I asked, but he shook his head. “Come on, Liam; you take good pictures.” I extended my arm to take the camera. Once I got a hold of it, he pulled on my jacket to get it back. I ran with the camera and laughed.
“Lana, come on!” he whined as he chased after me. I caught up to Benny, then stood in front of him. I scanned through the pictures, and my jaw dropped. Once Liam reached us, I glanced up at him and let out a squeal.
“I knew it!” I cheered as I handed the camera to Benny. “Liam’s got a crush.” I gestured to the many pictures of Miranda whether she posed, smiled, ate, or walked.
“Dude.” Benny grinned as he went through the pictures.
“Please don’t tell her! Besides, it’s just a stupid little crush,” Liam said.
“Aww, why, though?” I asked as Nick caught up with us.
“There are many reasons, Lana!” he stated as his eyes widened. “Number one, she has a boyfriend. Number two, he’s a soccer player, and not just any soccer player, but the captain of the soccer team! Number three, he has nice luscious hair. I mean, did you see those brown curls, bro?” he asked Nick, who stood next to him.
“Luscious?”
