GLITCH.
014 | edna

RENEE HAD GLUED HER EYES TO THE BOARD that John B had just presented them with after picking it off of the office wall.

According to the very reliable source of John B Routledge — all the past owners of the now famous compass, were majorly John B's relatives including his own dad — and in some ways even him now.

" hey look, this is the original owner right here." Renee told them, concentrating on where John B had placed his finger.

The rest of the Pogues began to hover around the cork board, JJ's hand resting itself on the girls mid back — almost as a balancing source.

She felt her voice tighten with nerves as she read out the name, " Robert Q Routledge." she crossed her arms so tightly they hugged her chest.

" 1880 to 1920." she looked up to her friends after she continued to read on.

" there's the lucky compass right there." Kiara pointed out, using her index finger to indicate the exact same compass which instead of being pried in JohnB's hands; which it was currently. Instead the accessory  was clipped onto the jacket of their friends ancestor. The bronzed colour faded into a silver from the lacking presence of any other coloured ink than black and white.

John B let out a slight displeased sound, hovering his eyes around the rest of the group. Whom all eventually looked at him impatiently waiting for him to speak what was currently on his mind.

"Actually um...he was shot after he brought it." Both of the girl's smiles appeared to falter, Renee looked towards JJ who had his eyebrows furrowed and now his arms also crossed tightly against the material of his shirt. Almost as if he were mimicking his friend.

Her attention was caught temporarily by the crowing of the rooster, her head turned swiftly. A glimpse of a smile arising on Renee's lips whilst her eyes gazed at the perfect view of the chicken hut she had currently

The same one both her and Kiara had offered millions upon millions of times to paint in resemblance to a rainbow. Obviously both John B and his uncle who at the time was still present both denied and left in the chipping brown coat of paint on the slowly disintegrating wood.

She quickly whipped her head back hearing him begin to speak again, "And then the compass was shipped back to Henry." The brown-haired boy moved his finger to press against the next name and picture that sat below the man they had all just discovered had been killed most likely for owning the item.

"Henry was killed in a crop-dusting accident when he had the compass." Pope and Renee caught the same concerned glances at one another. Both fearing what kind of compass they really had.

" after he died, the compass was given to Steven." Renee nodded her head, silently understanding what kind of pattern was going on.

" Steven had the compass with him when he died in Vietnam." the blonde teenagers looked at eachother, hoping what thought they were both sharing was truthful.

" lemme guess...he died in action right?" JJ spoke up, everyone's eyes intentionally staring down John B. All wanting him to confirm not another person had been killed for owning the piece of rusty brown metal.

Renee felt her blood run cold as John B spoke "uh, sort of..." he spoke muffled under a deep exhale.

" sort of ? what do you mean sort of?" The girl spoke up, impatiently waiting for an answer that wouldn't mean her life was already at risk at the age of sixteen.

" actually, he was killed by a banana truck...I-In country."

" Oh, pour l'amour de Dieu" ("oh for fuck sake.") Renee unfolded her arms and ran the now clammy hands of hers over her face. Shaking her head meanwhile the rest of them shared a alarming look (minus John B who was still convinced everything was fine) .

" anyways..after that, Stephen passed the compass down to him, my dad." Kiara placed her hand on the small of JohnB's back. Hearing the slight break in tone when he spoke about his dad.

" hm...sounds like there's a reoccurring theme here." JJ spoke up, earning a noise of agreement from both Renee and Pope.

" you have a death compass." Pope told him confidently knowing he was right.

" yeah sorry to break it to you jb, you do in fact have a death compass." Renee chimed in also, the brunette looked at her and gave her an irritable look that screamed ' you too?'

" I do not have a death compass." he groaned, edging away from the table they had all hovered around for the past few minutes. Kiara following closely behind.

" seriously dude, you need to get rid of it." Renee seemed to be shocked on how much she currently agreed with JJ as he spoke above Pope who was also trying to get a point out to johnB.

" it's cursed and it's made it's way back to you." John B rolled his eyes as the word cursed was mentioned.

" I agree with JJ-" the blonde girl was cut off sharply by Kiara who scoffed to the pair who were still stood eerily close to eachother.

" since when haven't you agreed with JJ?" JJ smirked to himself, clocking his head to smirk at

Renee who shrugged " surprised me too that he's talking logical stuff for once." Earning a light shove from JJ.

" my dad use to talk about this compartment in here." the attention seemed to diffuse away from a still stunned Renee, all pairs of eyes falling to John B who sat down now showing the compass in his hands.

" soldiers use to hide secret notes."

They watch  in interest as his fingers twist off the cap, after a few shakes of his wrist a piece falls out by Ren's shoes.

" hey, what's that?" Kiara inquired, her head motioning to the engraved name in the part johnb still held.

All five all peered over, trying to catch a glimpse of whatever Kiara was looking at.

" this my dad's handwriting." John B said in confidence to the rest of the group.

" how can you know that?" Pope scrunched up his face in confusion, all three of them standing on that side was sure JohnB was filling himself with false hope.

He lifted the cap to try and prove Pope wrong, "because he does the weird r's with these...see it?" he shot back shortly

it was obvious Pope didn't believe him, it was clear from the way he rolled his eyes back and yet was silent not wanting to pick a fight with JohnB.

JJ snaked his body around his two friends to get closer to JohnB and more specifically the compass.

" can I see it?" he asked, not waiting for an answer before peering over John's shoulder invading any sort of personal space he once had.

" Raddle- Rout." the girl opposite couldn't help but snicker at his attempt to read whatever the 'secret' message was.

she wandered over, pressing her hands into his shoulders and pushing herself up on her tip toes to see over JJ's shoulder.

" No, I think that's an A-" Renee decided herself to stop watching the boy torture himself over trying to read it.

" J, sorry to burst your Sherlock esc bubble but it says Redfield." she softened the blow with a sweet smile of hers, one he enjoyed looking at very much.

He mumbled a embarrassed " right."

" okay, so what's red field?" Kiara questioned, wanting anyone to answer.

" besides the most common name in the county?" Pope snarky comment forced a small heckle of laughter from Renee.

" May-maybe it's a clue?" John B leant back, his eyes looking around for someone other than kiara having faith in what he was saying.

" maybe it's a clue to where he's hiding." Renee's smile dropped, she placed herself back down onto the flats of her feet and let go of JJ.

Her arms crossed against her chest as she shuffled to the small space between Pope and JJ she somehow squeezed into.

" A clue, come on that's-" Pope was cut off by a deathly glare from kiara, shaking her head a silent warning for him not to finish that sentence.

" but if it's a clue, maybe it's an anagram." those last few words seemed to set off a serotonin trigger inside of John B's head.

" yes, perfect. Anagram you need paper!" he swung around, grabbing a plain piece from the desk and passing it to Pope.

everyone except John B seemed to hover around the same makeshift stand that they had been a few minutes ago. Renee standing next to Pope holding the base of the compass.

JJ watched over with his chin rested on top of her head of hair. Whilst Kiara seemed to criticise every single idea the three others came up with.

" how do you concentrate with that thing constantly crowing at you?" Pope complained, earning a small gasp from Renee.

" JJ and Ren love that rooster." John B defended them, whilst Ren seemed annoyed for the way that always referenced the rooster. " it's like their baby or something."

" I love the rooster." Kiara joined in, being cut off by a displeased Renee.

" that rooster has as a name and it's Edna." she corrected them bitterly.

JJ moved his lips to hover over Renee's ear,
" hey pretty girl, you do realise he's a boy right?" he asked in a whisper .

She scoffed and turned to him looking almost appalled at the boy.

" It's twenty-nineteen, a boy can be called Edna if he wants to." He shook his head with a amused grin on his lips as she turned back to the piece of paper.

" what about Ritalin?" JJ inputted, finally concentrated on the task at hand. Renee shook her head silently but still politely dismissing the idea.

" um...what about Driedle?" Renee squinted her eyes at the paper. Her brain hurting from how hard she was using it right now.

"Friddler?" She continued saying aimless words that used the same letters as the so called anagram.

" let's stick to what we're sure with people , defile? Does that mean anything to you guys?" pope ponders the idea. Both Renee and Kiara shake their heads.

" guys?" John B calls out, his eyes landing on the black car which had now been parked in the drive of the Chateau.

" sorry JB, we're busy being all detective and shit." Renee chuckled, not looking up to realise the severity of the situation.

" Pope, you're missing a letter!" Kiara scolded him, only forcing more laughter out of the two blondes.

John B snapped at the group, whipping his head back to face them " guys somebody's here!"

The four of them looked up, wandering over to the window in an eery silence minus the sneaking of floorboards and scuffling of sneakers on those very same floorboards.

They were older than them, way older in some respects old enough to be their parents.

They looked scary, and not in a way that was intimidating but they wouldn't cause you any harm. These two would have no moral guilt to hurt you to get what they wanted. Even kids, especially the five of them who were watching them from the window.

Renee moved her hand to hold JJ's pure fear seeping into her body as she hoped he could reassure her everything was fine and that they were safe.

" JJ, is that them?" she spoke shakily, her eyes looking into his which reflected the same petrifying expression. " the guys who hurt lana?"

"..no." JJ  mumbled to himself, not an answer to
Her question but instead a sound of fear. pulling himself out of Renee's grip as she turned around hoping this was some sick joke.

" guys, is that them?" Kiara spoke up, looking at Renee for guidance.

" this is suboptimal." Pope sighed, rubbing his hands over his face. Whilst Renee still watched JJ with tears slowly brimming in her eyes.

" JohnB, I told you, why does it always-" the girl watched hopelessly whilst John B held JJ up to the office door. Staring him down.

" JJ- hey look at me!" he commanded, his free hand not holding JJ up to the wall pointing his finger in his face.

" where's the gun?" his voice was tough, his words caught onto the group as they look waiting for JJ to answer.

" Gun- I uh- I can't-" he spoke as if was struggling to concentrate on where exactly the gun was.

" you don't have the gun?" Renee began to panic, tasking her fingers in her hair.

" you don't have the gun, the one time we need the gun?" Kiara felt her eyes begin to water, whilst her friend tried to comfort her along with herself.

" It was in my backpack pack and then I-" JJ mumbled to himself, mentally retracing the steps of today. " there on the porch." Renee told him, knowing her bag was next to his on the front porch only a matter of minutes ago.

" the front porch." JJ repeated, snaking under John B's arm, heading towards the door.

Renee let go of Kiara, leaving her to be comforted by Pope. She began to follow JJ's steps to exit the room.

" J, wait up I'm coming." she told him, forcing him to stop and then turn to face her momentarily.

" no you're not, it's too dangerous." his voice was stern, no ounce of jokingly humour . For the first time it what felt like forever, he was being serious.

"Just stay here."

She halted, looking at John B for back up but he had already made up his mind on who's side of the argument he was on. And it wasn't hers.

" John Routledge!" one of the intruders voices called out. JJ almost slipped as he raced back into the room that right now was considered safe.

JJ closed the door shut after entering, flicking the lock, delaying how long it would take for them to get in if they were to find out where they'd been hiding.

" did you get it JJ?" Renee looked at his empty hands noticing his bag wasn't over his shoulder.

" they're on the front porch okay?" he looked to JohnB. Loud thugs and clashes of what she only presumed had to be outside. They continued calling out JohnB's name, leaving them all more confused on how they even knew John's name.

" we just need to focus on getting the fuck out of here okay?" Renee snapped at them, all hope of leaving the house alive wearing to a fine line.

She turned her head, looking at the window not even sparing herself time to think about a plan before blurting out.

" guys- guys- we need to open that window!" she called out to the boys who as much as she hated admitting it, had a better chance of opening it compared to Kie and herself.

She traded places with Pope, pushing her body weight against the door along with JohnB. It wasn't hard for John B to notice the glistening of a few tears left to soak in her skin.

" we're going to be okay." he said lowly, she shook her head " but what if we're not, what happens then?" she asked.

And despite how much as she wanted to ball her eyes out, she bit her tongue and pulled herself together. Placing the metaphorical mask of confidence over her face.

" what's taking so long?" Renee watched the two boys continue to fail at opening the window, wanting to be ready to pounce from door at any moment possible.

The shouting and breaking of John B's valuables got more deafening, it was going to take a lot for Renee to stop herself From choking up.

" it's painted shut okay?" JJ snapped.

Renee left the door, heading towards Pope, tapping him on the shoulder not wanting to make too much noise.

" swap okay?" her voice was as quiet as humanly possible.

Pope nodded and shuffled passed taking her position whilst the two girls trashed the office looking for something to cut the paint of the window.

a portion of hope entered Renee's mind, the sunlight danced on the metal of the knife she knew were for opening letters. Her father used to have to hide his in his study from her due to the hours he would find her glimmering it through the blinds letting the light that reflected off it dance around the room.

Renee picked it up, jogging to JJ who looked up at the blade between her fingers.

" I've got this, just gimme' a minute." yet in such harrowing times she still spared a smile for him. Shuffling to pierce the dried paint that covered their exit route.

It was infuriating how stubborn a bit of paint could be and how upset it was making Renee. She aimlessly stabbed the blade as the tears clouded up making her vision blurry.

" Ren..what's taking so long!" Kiara paced up and down the small length of room she had free to pace in.

" Kie just give me a fucking minute okay!" once again a harsh undertone took over her words.

" ssshhh." Pope and JohnB shooshed the two bickering girls, meaning the two men where closer than they thought.

Renee blinked. Letting the fresh tears splash on the paint work she was still desperately trying to break — growing more ferocious with trying to open with the desperation to get out of her alive.

The rattling of the door handle only made everything more intense; they knew, they knew the four teenagers were hiding in the office.

" you better not be in there!" one of them called out, now attempting to kick down the door.

"JJ, help please." Renee no longer attempted to be all calm, her voice pleaded with her friend to try and pry this window open.

He began to pull on the edges, Renee still cutting, being extra careful not to harm JJ.

After a few moments which felt like hours, the fresh air finally hit their faces. The window was open.

JJ practically pushed Renee up and out of the house. She sprinted aimlessly, her breath becoming heavier making a B-line towards the chicken coop.

the slightly delayed panting indicated her friends were behind her. Everyone was safe (for now at least.)

Renee ducked, her spine hunching to fit into the small entrance to the coop. The same time being as a gun shot rang out around the next few miles.

She looked down at her rapid moving feet, not wanting to trample on any of the chickens or the roosters neck. It was no surprise the rooster began to go insane about the five teenagers taking sanctuary in it's home.

One by one finding a out of view space to sit and stay until the two men had left or killed them. Either or.

JJ and Ren sat by one another. Her legs tightly pulled into her chest whilst she tried to force herself to stop releasing tears from her eyes and the sobs that came with alongside them. Her hand clasped around her mouth to stop the heaviness of her breath.

As much as she hated the place, she wanted to go home. She wanted someone, anyone to save them from what was happening. but their lives weren't a fairytale — more like a tragic tale to scare the curiosity and recklessness out of children.

In the end they have to save themselves, no matter if they are only kids or not. Life was a  merciless and cruel bitch.

Renee didn't want to die like this. She had so much she still wanted to do — go to college, study how to be an accountant like her father or the way she could pick a fight with anyone maybe a lawyer like her mom.

Travel. She wanted to travel, leave this island and go somewhere, live in a hut by the beach, any beach — surf all day and hike up cliffs. She wanted to live a life worth living.

JJ wrapped his arms around Renee , not knowing how to comfort someone he cares about besides doing this. He had seen Renee and Kiara hug eachother so many times he knew it must've done something to make her feel better.

He seemed to be prove himself right as she shuffled to rest her head against his covered chest. Moving her arms from around her legs to his torso. The familiarity of his cologne was calming and the feel of his arms around her also. Clutching onto him like a safety blanket, insistent on not letting go.

John B reached out for Kiara's hand, trying to
Comfort her also as she sobbed softly also. The mood in the air was solemn, all five of them waiting for it to be safe for them to leave.

The only noise being the rustling of the men taking stuff from John B's home. The rooster hadn't seemed to noticed the silence and instead decided on continuing making as much noise as possible.

John B had his head turned to look out the small wire window, he inhaled sharply as he watched the two men carry his dad's belongings to their truck.

And as much as he wanted to go out there and brawl for stealing, he couldn't risk his life or his friends life's for something as little as this.

" do something Pope, shut him up!" JJ seethed, trying to keep his tone low whilst Renee released herself from his embrace. Leaning her head against the wall.

" what do you want me to do?" Pope fired back, not knowing how to calm down a rooster, whilst it continued to crow which most definitely brought attention to them, very unwanted attention.

Renee ran her hand under her running nose, shaking her head anxiously as she looked at Pope.

" I don't know P, just hold it or pet it, please just do something." Renee sobbed once again, her heart feeling as if it were pounding against her chest. Like it wanted to break free.

Pope couldn't seem to grab ahold of ' Edna the rooster' leaving it to cluck and make more noise.

And by the way John B sharply turned back to the rest of them meant nothing but bad news. Renee began to panic, she was sure this was the way she was going to die. Her eyes squeezing shut that they'd have some kind of mercy and make it quick.

" you do something." Pope bickered to JJ, references the rooster who was about to be the one to get them all killed.

JJ sighed gently, turning to Renee who had her eyes squeezed shut as if she was awaiting her fate.

" don't open your eyes , you're not going to want to see this." he told her before he launched towards the direction of the rooster.

His hands found its way to its neck, pushing it to the ground. Renee listened to JJ not daring to open her eyes as the sound of the fading crowing  and increase of screeches of suffering made her realise what the boy had just done.

He had killed Edna.

She could hear the cries of Kiara from across the hut. Renee would have normally opened her eyes and comforted her friend but she couldn't. She physically could pull up enough strength to open her eyes and see what had just happened, it was all too much and too fast.

The seconds that passed felt like harrowing minutes before someone eventually spoke again.

" Ratter, what the hell are you doing? Let's go!" One of the intruders called out to the other one , he seemed distant so one of them must have been looking for them.

Renee eventually peeled her eyes open, blinking a few times to clear her vision. The tears fell silently the sobs being replaced with heavy breathing.

Her eyes settled on JJ's left hand, clutching the broken neck of Edna. Her heart sank to the tips of her feet as she looked at Kiara, reaching out her hand to place on her knee.

" we're okay Kie." she mumbled softly, hearing the engine of their truck begin. Slowly pulling away and back onto the road.

She looked around to the rest of them, their eyes all red and puffy. A few tears escaping each of the boy's eyes, but they seemed to hold it together better than Kie and Ren.

" we're alive." she breathed out.

ELLIE SPEAKS
rip Edna the rooster
(??? - 2019 )
🪦