SARAH CAMERON sat on her best friends bathroom floor, holding a first aid kid in her lap as she shook her head, "Are you sure you don't wanna go too a hospital? If I do this wrong it could get infected." She informed, "My dad would lose his shit."

"How'd you do this anyway?" Sarah giggled, lightly pressing a warm rag too her arm, "Um, uh— I was playing with my brothers gun that he left." June was of course lying. She chose not too tell her as she knew she would want something too do with it. "Dumbass."

"Wanna know what happened this morning? It was the funniest thing." Sarah smiled, making June's heart warm. "Bitch, of course I wanna know."

"John B was in my boat this morning. With empty tanks. It was so awkward." June raised her eyebrows unsure what too say as she already knew, "What?" Sarah nodded, "it was so weird. He's kinda cute."

Something in June's heart felt hurt at her words, "Really? John B? Little Booker?" She chuckled, "You don't think he's cute?" Sarah stopped cleaning it, pausing too look at her.

"He's not my type," June spoke, staring into the blondes eyes. Because you're my type. Sarah simply smiled, a pink color forming on her cheeks.

The feeling of Sarah's hand on her arm as she rubbed it lightly gave her chills, despite the stinging pain she was in, she couldn't help but stare. Sarah was the same way. Topper was on her mind and she didn't know if she was into him.

Something was just missing with him. And she didn't know what.

"Sarah, get down here!" Rose shouted from downstairs. "Mommy dearest awaits for you, Sar'." She teased, only too get a middle finger.

June grazed her arm, the sound of those gunshots crossing her mind. She didn't know what was going on and she hasn't spoke too the pogues since John B drove her too her house last night. They begged her too go too the hospital but the thought of her dads reaction terrified her.

As she sped walk too Sarah's dresser, she pulled out a lipstick that she knew Sarah hated, drawing a small sign on her mirror, "gotta go see my dad. love you, june." The text wrote.

She quickly slid on her jacket, climbing out the window, and carefully jumping down. Her dad wasn't very fond of June but he knew she wasn't going anywhere so he allowed it. But, she didn't wanna go down there. The awkwardness would be unbearable.

Kiara Carrera sat at the chateau and her mind went too June. Was she okay? Did she get help? Was she in pain? Even after what happened, the care she had for June must've never went away.

"Guys," Her voice was like warm and cold. The feeling when you want too hear her forever, her voice made her feel like the world was stopping. It was only her. On the other side of her, her voice was like a stab in the heart. The feeling of getting shot in the chest by your best friend.

"Shit, June." Pope looked at her arm, "I know. It actually doesn't feel like anything." She shrugged, taking a seat. "You don't feel your arm?" Pope scrunched his eyebrows, "Yeah. Just not that part." John B face palmed himself whilst Kiara and JJ fought laughs at their idiot friend.

"Anyways, what happened?" Kiara turned too JJ, waiting for his exaggerated speech.

"We were right outside like this," JJ began, walking towards the wall as he leaned on it, "And all we hear is just, "Bam! Bam! Bam!" He yelled, June looking at him oddly,

"Knocking paint of the wall— from this inside!" JJ said, "All right. And I'm just looking at him like— wait first off, look at this shit."

"Ew, JJ. If you needed dandruff shampoo, coulda just told me." June teased, making him stare at her in confusion, "It's paint."

"At that point, I was just, like.. waiting for death." JJ breathed heavily, his words shooting out quickly, "Okay, so you saw the guys who shot at us right?"

"Yeah." JJ stuttered, "Did you get a description?" Pope continued as Kiara went along with it, "Anything is helpful." Kiara nodded, "Absolutely anything?" June piggybacked.

"Burly."

"Burly?"

"Yeah, you know like," JJ made a weird gesture, making the two girls shake their heads, "Absolutely not." June sighed, feeling bad for the idiot boy. "That's not very helpful."

"Okay, well, the type of guy at my dads garage. I mean, you guys know he made cargo hides for drug smugglers." JJ explained, making the girl infront of him put her head down when a memory hit her,

JJ being like June's sister, her mother was very fond of him. He would often sleep in the spare bedroom when her dad wasn't home or when her couldn't go too the chateau. He was often safe there.

Even when he and his dad got in bad fights, he was there. June would always let him stay while she cleaned him up and cooked for him while he talked about god knows what. Thats one thing JJ and June had in common,

Their dads were assholes.

"I can tell you with full confidence, these boys, these killers, they're square groupers." JJ took a hit of his vape, June sighing before she stuck her hand out for a hit.

"They're square groupers like narco square grouper? Like Pablo Escobar square grouper?" Pope said, "Can we stay on topic? What does any of this have too do with being shot at?"

"Yeah, man." June rolled her eyes as she was completely being ignored, leaning back as she looked at Kiara who spoke, "You guys, not everything is a kingpin movie." Kiara shrugged, "What does this square grouper look like?"

"You weren't there bro!"

"Apparently, you don't know what too look for!"

"I wasn't taking little mental notes Polaroids in my head the entire time, I was under duress, okay?" JJ breathed heavily, as June fought her laugh.

"But, I can tell you, by the the way Lana was screaming that these guys are serious, serious hombres, man. It's a heavy vibe right now, okay?"

"I'm not liking this very much."

"Why would they want the compass?" Kiara said, "Because it obviously has meaning. I'm not pointing fingers but, if they want something too do with that compass, that John B's dad owned, he had something too do with it." John B looked at her in confusion but it quickly clicked in his head.

"Well don't you know it all?" Kiara mumbled, "Yeah, I do actually." June sarcastically smiled, making her huff in annoyance.

"The office." He blurred out. "What?"

"My dad. My dads office. He always kept the office locked because he was worried about his competitors stealing his Royal Merchant research." The group followed him into the house, Kiara noticing the side glare she got from June as she pushed past her.

"We used too laugh at him all the time about it like he was gonna find it. But, now that he's gone, I've just kind... I left it as he did." June sighed as she put a hand on his back, "Yeah, we get it for when he gets back." She waited for the group too agree with her and when they didn't, June gave them a glare that could kill, "Right."

"I've slept over here like 600 times and I've never seen this door opened." Pope said, "Mhm."

"Here, look. This is the original owner, right here. Okay, Robert Q. Routledge, 1880 to 1920. There's the lucky compass, right there." Kiara pointed, as June looked confused with this whole storyline.

"Actually, um, he was shot after he bought it." John B muffled, "Yeah, remind me too never hold that, thanks." June mumbled too herself.

"Then the compass was shipped back to Henry. He was killed in a crop-dusting accident when he had the compass. After he died, the compass was given to Stephen. Stephen had the compass with him when he died in Vietnam."

"He died in action right? Fighting crimes and bandits." JJ and June smiled, the comedic duo making the situation a tad lighter, "Uh, actually he was killed by a banana truck."

"Wow."

"Anyways, after that, Stephan passes this down too him, my dad." John B pointed at the picture, "Hm. Sounds like theirs a reoccurring theme here." JJ muffled. "Yeah. You have a death compass."

"I do not." He sighed.

"Get rid of it." JJ suggested, more like demanded. "It's cursed and it's made it's way back too you." He continued, "JJ, this isn't hocus pocus." June looked him up and down at his stupidity only for him too roll his eyes.

"Look, my dad used too talk about this compartment in here. Soldiers used to hide secret notes." John B began to take the compass apart as they all watched in curiousity, "What's that?" Kie asked as something feel from it.

"This is my dads handwriting." June out a hand on his shoulder as she leaned down next too him, looking at it closely, "Can I see it? Red-Rout," The blonde looked at it with confusion as he tried too sound it out, "JJ, love, it says Redfield." She laughed.

"Right. I knew that."

"Okay, well what's Redfield?" Kiara questioned the clue, "Besides the most common name in the county." Pope commented, "Maybe its a clue too where he is hiding."

"A clue? Come on that's," Pope could feel the stare on him as he locked eyes with June who was stela leaning next too her brother figure, "If it is a clue maybe it's an anagram." He changed his answer quickly.

"Yes. Perfect. You need paper." John B hurried up. "Here you go."

"How can you concentrate with that thing crowing at you?" Pope groaned, "I love the rooster." JJ whined, "I love the roosters." Kie competed.

June chose too ignore what she heard as she leaned down by the floor, seeing a small box of papers. She made sure they weren't looking as she began too open it.

It was pictures. It was a small canvas of her mother. Escape it had a note on it.

"Dear John,
I know how hard you have tried on this quest but, I can no longer be apart of it. It's brought my family danger and I cannot handle this. My husband almost left me because of it. You and your partner can continue without me. But, as I said, please be safe.
Love, Summer." That was her mothers name. Her heart stopped as she began too black everything out.

Her mother died when she was seven and for some reason she despised June. She would always scream and hit her when she did nothing wrong. So, when she died it was so sudden. Her dad never told her how her mother passed, so she always guessed it was because of her health issues.

As June quickly stuffed the note in her pocket she felt a confusion hit her body. Partner? John was working with people on his quest?"

But, maybe her death wasn't all as sudden as she thought.

"Guys!" June jumped at that, looking up as the group stood outside the window. "Guys, guys. Is that them?"

"Oh my god. Oh my god." June panicked, walking backwards as she accidentally hit the table, "is that them?" Kiara's voice was laced with panic.

"John B, I told you." June jumped at the sight of John B slamming JJ against the wall. June was panicking. Were they gonna die?

"We're gonna die. We're gonna die." June panicked, as her hands began too shake. "Okay, stop just breathe. We're not gonna die." Pope comforted, pulling her head into his arms as he watched the scene in front of them.

"Where's the gun?" June pulled from Pope as she looked at Kiara who was almost in tears. "Now you don't have the gun, the one time we need the gun?"

"It was in my backpack, and then I—" JJ began too walk towards the door, too run out there, "No, JJ," June couldn't bare getting shot again, or getting shot at.

Her heart was racing, her palms were sweaty, and she felt like her breathe was getting pulled away from her. Her mind was like it was collapsing, the dizziness she felt was a pain she never felt before.

A hand slowly grabbed hers as she looked down at her hand, her breathing still heightened. It was Kiara. She gave her a look that screamed comfort.  Even though the girl she despised was holding her hand, it felt safe.

"John Routledge!" That broke the peace as JJ bolted back in the room, "Where's that Compass!"

"Where's the gun?" John B questioned, "John B, he is not going back out there!" June whispered shouted, her voice laced with fear. "They're on the front porch guys."

"Where you at boy!"

"We gotta go!" Kiara panicked. June began shuffle through the drawer before she remembered. She jumped at the sound of a gunshot hitting the door, "You better not be in here!"

June rushed too her purse, before she pulled out her lipstick, "June, this isn't the time for makeup!" Pope panicked. June rolled her eyes as she pressed the button, a blade quickly pushing up.

"Here!" She handed it too John B as she stayed close too Pope, who was standing infront of her consciously. The door began too fall apart as they kicked it in.

"Go! Go! Go!"

The all ran into the chicken coop, despite the loud noises coming from them. June sat in the middle of Kiara and JJ, as she held her ear shut, her mind not being able too bare the sounds of the shouting friends.

"Shut him up!" June scolded, pointing at the chicken. "Pet it or something?"

June looked away quickly with a deep breathe as JJ grabbed it by the neck, twisting it roughly with a crack. It went silent before the heard cars driving.

June let out a cry that she didn't know she was holding in as JJ brought her into his side with his non-messy hand, trying too comfort her whilst he and Pope gave each other scared looks.

They were all scared to they're core as they rushed too the van, June not saying anything as she pulled out weed out of her purse, and grabbing her notepad for paper. She handed it too JJ who was the pro at rolling up.

"I mean, its obvious right?" John B ranted, "A family heirloom. What better place too hide a message. He had too know it was gonna get back too me, right?" Kiara nodded, a slight shrug too a her shoulders, "Yeah. It's possible."

"It could also be possible that you're concocting wild theories to help, you know, deal with your sad feels." Kiara looked back with an angry look, as she stared at him. "Bro, you know how I handle my sadness. Dank mugs and the stickiest of ickies, that's how I do it." He shrugged, making June nod in agreement, "With you there, man."

"I'm not concocting, okay? My dads trying too give me a message." John B denied, "If it helps you believe, John B."

"I don't need a therapy session! Look, I'm not trippin out." John B scoffed. "It's okay I'd you are. We're all here for you." June told him, a sad look in her eyes. "Look, my dad is missing, okay? Missing. You don't know what it's like too have the person closest to you vanish and then have no idea what happened."

June looked at the floor at his last words. She did know what that's like. Maybe her mother didn't vanish, but, she died. She died without reason. An unknown one, atleast.

"Just wake up every morning wondering," They all looked at eachother awkwardly as he spoke, "it's been almost a year." Kie reminded. "Hey, he could have been kidnapped. That's definitely a possibility."

"Yeah, could be in a Soviet sun getting interrogated by the KGB somewhere." Pope shrugged, as June scrunched her face, "Absolutely, uh, or Atlantis."

"Your not helping." June deadpanned, giving them a stare, "What do you think the message is?"

"Redfield. Redfield lighthouse. It was my dads favorite place."

June grunted as she hopped out the car, "Right. Here's what's gonna happen. You and June are gonna post up and look out for bogeys, okay?" John B said.

"What? Why? I don't wanna sit here with this." She pointed at JJ and looked him up and down, as he smacked her hand away. "Don't hit me."

"That's why you guys are not coming. Look, they're are independent and dependent variables. You and June are independent variables. Well, maybe not June," June's jaw dropped, "That's low!"

"Shut up! Just shut up!" JJ yelled as the two went back and fourth, "Okay! Just listen too me for a second. Pope, you stand and look out with them, okay? If we get split up we meet back at JJ's house." John B instructed, "Great."

"Great, my ass." June grunted at the girl, who rolled her eyes.

"I'm working on my merit scholarship essay and I'm trying too keep felonies too a minimum." Pope rambled, "Alright would you just shut up already?" June let out a chuckle as she lit the blunt, leaning back onto the van chair.

Her mind went too the note as she took it back out, sighing in frustration as she couldn't wrap her head around the meaning.

She continued too read it and read it until the sounds of faint sirens were heard. "Oh, shit!"

"Get in the car! Go!" June closed the door with a pull as Pope jumped in. "They'll meet us there just go!"

That was the beginning of the what they had too go through. More was too come of course, but, for now, June just wanted too go home.

As she Tip-toed into her home, she found herself wondering where her dad was. He probably hated her by now because of how hard she's been avoiding him.

"Where have you been?" That faint voice was heard from behind her as the sound of a light clicked on.

"Um, ive been at Sarah's. You know? Chillin." June shrugged, a small smile on her face. Her dad let out a long sigh before putting a hand on his head, "I can't even look at you. Now, your lying? Too me? I've done everything too prevent this from happening too you."

"What do you mean? I'm fine." June got loud back, fully looking at him, "You're turning into her!" He shouted, "Who!"

"Your mother!"

June never thought poorly of her mother, despite the unfair treatment she was given. But, she still didn't want too anything like her. So, the more she was rude and cruel, the more it hurt too be around her.

The constant urge too be loved by other women tore her apart as she couldn't replace the women who gave birth too her.

And those very words brought tears too her eyes as she pushed past him, running out the door, "Get back here! I'm not done!" He screamed, anger laced in his body.

She didn't know how long she was walking until she was at the Cameron household. She carefully knocked on the door, tears streaming down her face.

Sarah Cameron heard a loud knock at the door, as she curled her eyebrows. She ran too her window and looked outside too see a familiar body at her door. A smile small came too her face as she bit her lip in habit.

Her feet waltzed down the stairs as she hurried too the door, not expecting too see her best friend with puffy eyes and red cheeks, "Hey! What's wrong?"

June simply shook her head, beginning too sob and Sarah opened her arms, "C'mere."

"Junie, what happened?" She pulled away, putting two hands on her face as her thumb lightly traced her cheek. "I just really needed too see you after the shit day I've had." Sarah put a soft smile on her face as she shook her head, "Im right here."

June felt a twist in her stomach as her eyes traced her face. Too her lips and eyes, too her long dirty blonde hair. She smiled at her, the sadness slowly drifting at the comfort of her touch.

Even after all the things June has felt, her love for Sarah Cameron remained unexplainable.