𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐗 . . .
❝second option❞

᪤

𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀
𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 – episode three

𖡡      bell household
4:55 pm

"Phoenix im leaving!" Becca shouted. Phoenix was waiting for a call from Pippa and Ravi but she never got one. Phoenix laid in her bed, her memory still stuck on the events from the previous night. She tried taking off her mind off it, but she had no one to distract her.

Phoenix missed having a best friend right by her side, Ravi to be specific. Phoenix groaned in annoyance and checked her phone one again realizing there was no new message. Phoenix was also home alone which made the loneliness worse.

Her parents were at work, Becca was out to her yoga class, Atticus went with his friends. Even though he insisted on staying home and keeping Phoenix company, but she felt bad and reassured him to go.

Phoenix scrolled on her phone, clearly unaware of what was happening. She heard something downstairs but decided it was nothing and brushed it off. Phoenix heard it again and this time it frightened her. She quietly went across the hall to Atticus's room and got a baseball bat from off his walk.

Phoenix gripped it tightly as she walked down the stairs prepared to swing and whatever or whoever might be there. Phoenix heard footsteps approaching and she peeked the corner and swung. A voice screamed in return, the bat had missed as it hit the wall. "For fuck's sake!" It was Pippa.

"Pip, what are you doing here?" Phoenix retrieved the baseball bat back. Phoenix felt betrayed as she looked at the window and spotted Ravi sitting in the car as he waited for Pippa to come back. "Seriously? What am i? A second option?" Phoenix scoffed as her cold hearted persona took over.

"Phoenix it wasn't like that, i swear i was gonna tell you, it just didn't feel right to tell my friend that i wanted to come over just to look in her dead sisters room!" Pippa explained rapidly clearing still in shock. "And why do you hate a bat?"

"When your sister dies, everyone has some sort of weapon." Phoenix explained putting the bat back in Atticus's room. "So let's get the job started?" Pip asked looking at all the bedroom, who all had a name label. "Guess you already know which is hers" Phoenix pointed to the door.

"If anyone broke into your house, which is technically what im doing but that's besides the point, they would find you so quickly" Pip ranted as she opened the bedroom.

Phoenix hadn't seen or stepped foot in the room in years. She could never bring herself from doing such thing. If she wanted the truth she had to go against her feelings and just do it; so she stepped foot in the room.

It hit her like bricks. Phoenix could still recall the countless times she would be in Andie's room telling her about her boy drama, or when they would have a sibling night and just sit on the floor playing board games. She felt her eyes water and her throat becoming dry - but Phoenix pushed feelings down.

"What are we looking for again?" Phoenix cleared her throat as Pippa took pictures. "The toy bunny, that apparently has drugs stuffed inside." Pippa shrugged reaching for the bunny that sat on the bed. Phoenix was looked at the bunny knowing that there was another somewhere.

"Im afraid were going to have to operate" Pippa stabbed the bunny with scissors and started pulling the stuff out. Phoenix felt her heart ache knowing how much Andie valued her things.

Phoenix looked at the window and spotted Ravi in the car, he looked up and quickly looked away. Phoenix found it odd till her eyes trailed to her neighbor, who was looking straight at her. It would look like a weird sight, since none of the Bell's every opened the room, everything in there was stuck in time.

"Shit" Phoenix mumbled ducking down, as Pippa continued with the bunny. Phoenix turned her head and caught the sight of a box. "Pip maybe in there?" She pointed as she saw the empty bunny clearly with nothing inside. "Smart, help me" Both girls dragged the box put from under.

The bunny came to view in the clear box. "Shall i do the operation this time?" Phoenix didn't wait for a response as she grabbed the scissors about the cut the back open. "Oi" They heard from the hallway. "You didn't tell me Phoenix was here" Ravi closed the door "Maybe because i didn't know either? she's helping me"

"But what are you doing?" Pip asked in confusion. Phoenix checked her phone realizing she had a text from Becca. "Ravi's right she is home"

"Quick! Put everything away!" Phoenix urged them. "Go in the closet i'll distract her." Phoenix had enough time to walk back to her room as she heard Becca's footsteps approach. "Hey Bec" Phoenix opened her bedroom door

"Hey Nix" It seemed like Becca was looking for something "What happened?" Phoenix asked trailing behind her sister. "Looking for Monty." Phoenix breath hitches as Becca opened Andie's door calling out for the dog. "Have you seen him? Why is there fluff on the floor?"

"I haven't seen Monty, ive been in my room, and there probably a logical explanation for the fluff it could've fallen off the fan" Phoenix said as calmly as possible as she starred at the closet her friends hid in.

"I'll go get that" Becca walked away urgently as the doorbell rang. Phoenix made sure the coast was clear before opening the door. "You guys survived somehow, i thought Ravi would give it away." Ravi gave her a glare as Pippa approached the bunny.

Ravi took it from Pip and opened it carefully. "Jackpot" Phoenix reached out to grab the drugs out. Pippa gave her a look. Phoenix smile awkwardly. Ravi looked further into the bunny trying to find a burner phone.

The door slammed. "Who could be at your house? What do we do?" They spoke to Phoenix. She had an idea of who it could he but she said nothing. "I say we make a run for it, and when i saw we, that includes me, i dont like feeling like a second option" Phoenix was honest.

"Were still sorry" Phoenix only nodded. "Phoenix is right we should just listen and make a run for it." Pippa took the bunny and dashed out Andie's door as the two ex-best friends trailed behind.

Once Phoenix was near the stairs she heard a familiar voice. "I'll go down first and ill talk to my sister and whoever is there and you two run out the front door" Phoenix came up with the plan and walked down the stairs. "Oh hey Dan." Phoenix said as she walked out the door.

"Phoenix, nice to see you. Did you notice any weird activity." Dan questioned. "Nope ive been home all day and heard nothing" She shrugged as they walked to kitchen. "Are you sure? The back door seemed opened a bit."

"Keep it down, i was planning on going out tonight with my brother, Atticus to watch a movie" Phoenix lied as Dan only hummed and gave her a thumbs up. "But i must be going." Phoenix looked over her shoulder and saw Pip and Ravi escape. "Im in charge of snacks were sneaking in" Phoenix dashed out the front door and caught up to them.

They all rushed into the car. "Why am i so scared, i just escaped my own house!" Phoenix panted out of breathe - as Pippa started driving somewhere.

vivi - speaks
hiiiii guysssss, sorry for late update! will be getting active again! also this isn't proof read so im so so so sorry if there's mistakes.