𝟏𝟎𝟎.                    𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬

like him  ────  tyler, the creator, lola young

☀︎ 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐥𝐲𝐧'𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐯

𝖨'𝖬 𝖠𝖥𝖱𝖠𝖨𝖣 𝖮𝖥 𝖶𝖧𝖤𝖱𝖤 𝖳𝖧𝖨𝖲 𝖭𝖨𝖦𝖧𝖳 𝖶𝖨𝖫𝖫 𝖦𝖮．

Tonight has been the best night of my entire life but it's about to become difficult.

Unsurprisingly, tonight was the greatest night of my life as JJ asked me to freaking marry him, a stolen ring now sitting on my finger above my mother's ring. However, tonight is stepping into difficult territory because we're now facing a man who may have the answers we need── the answers JJ needs in order to decipher whether Luke was telling the truth or not, whether he was right in believing me when I said to believe Luke.

We stand in the same room we sat in when we were first introduced to Chandler Groff. In this room resides the portrait of Larissa Genrette, and now as I look to the photo, it's so glaringly obvious that her son is the one standing beside me. Despite it only being a portrait, I can see the similarities pouring off that image.

When we walked into the home, Groff offered us towels as we're, you know, soaking wet from the horrible rain. "Is there news?" he asks, stealing my attention away from the portrait of JJ's mo── Larissa Genrette. I'm not sure if JJ has fully grasped the concept that he is quite literally the epitome of the woman in that portrait.

"Wh-What?" I look to JJ, also seeing him encapsulated by the photo of Larissa, likely trying to distinguish the similarities.

"They found the amulet, I assume? Too late for Wes, I'm afraid." Right. Wes Genrette is dead which is, well, inconvenient as asking him would be far easier than going through Groff who, based off first interactions, doesn't seem like the type of guy who likes to tell the truth. No offence to him.

"No, it's actually not about that. It's──" His eyes fall upon the portrait, Luke's words likely coming back to him as he looks into a mirror of his eyes. Groff has his back to us, not aware that JJ is so entranced by the portrait of Larissa. Slowly, he pries his eyes off the portrait, finally looking to Groff. "It's actually about you."

Groff turns, eyes narrowing in confusion. "Me?"

"Yeah." JJ inhales sharply, head shaking as he attempts to find the correct words. He exhales, rubbing his palm against his chest. "Okay, uh, I just── Yeah, I fucking── I, uh── Okay, I don't know how to ask this, really, but..." JJ steps forward, needing to pace as he struggles to get the words out, and it pains me to watch him be psychically unable to get his words out when he's usually more outspoken. "Am I, um..." He looks over at me, eyes pleading.

"It's okay," I whisper, trying to act like Groff isn't standing nearby watching us strangely. "I'm right here, JJ, just..." I swallow thickly, glancing at Groff, seriously trying to figure out if JJ looks anything like him. Hell, I'm even trying to find similarities between him and Emory. With Larissa, there's obvious features that match JJ, but with Groff, it's much harder to compare. "You can ask him."

"Ask me what?" Groff inquires, looking to me like I'm the one who's supposed to ask such a loaded question.

Pulling my eyes off Groff, a strange sensation rushing through me that tells me I shouldn't be here interfering, though I couldn't leave JJ to do this alone. I look to JJ, seeing him come to a standstill from across the room, his eyes laser-focused on Groff.

"Are you my father?"

Groff's head rears back, his expression displaying nothing but confusion which, for a moment, has me lost. "Uh... What a thing to ask."

Yeah, that was quite a loaded question wasn't it? I mean, it's late at night, pouring rain outside and he's being asked if he is somebody's father like it's just a casual thing to ask somebody.

Groff and JJ continue to look at one another, my eyes flitting from one to the other. I look to Groff for longer, seriously trying to figure out if the confused expression on his face is genuine. Something deep within me is telling me that he's lying, that I need to grab JJ and run for our lives. However, another part of me wants to stay put and see how this plays out. I want to know if he's lying.

JJ brings his gaze off Groff, looking away. "Yeah. I guess you're right. It is odd." He sniffles, releasing a deep breath. "But, uh, okay. Um... I got this letter, and I ca──" A wave of guilt washes over me as I watch him, feeling completely useless to him at the moment as I have no idea how to help him in this scenario where he could be facing his biological father.

JJ inhales again, his breathing frantic but he pushes himself to continue. "And Wes Genrette wrote it, and I couldn't make any sense──"

"Wes wrote you a letter?" He scoffs, head shaking gently. "Wow, he really... he really wasn't there in the end, was he?" My eyebrows string together, both JJ and I perplexed, a little lost on what he could possibly mean by that because the letter didn't seem like Wes didn't know what he was talking about but maybe that's just my opinion.

Groff hesitates for a moment, his eyes landing back on JJ. "Look, JJ, you seem like a fine young man. I-I'd be... I'd be lucky." He chuckles, the sound rubbing me in the wrong way, and I can't figure out why. "But... Don't you already have a father?"

JJ brings his head down, choosing to look anywhere but at Groff. "Luke," he answers, speaking his name like a curse word. "Except he was the one that told me... After I got the letter from Wes, he told me that you gave me to him... after Larissa died."

"Luke told you that?" He genuinely sounds surprised, though I still have a sinking feeling that there's more hidden behind this wall he's putting up. "Extraordinary. Forgive me, but he's got kind of a checkered past, hasn't he? Fugitive, I believe. Drugs?"

It's almost like he's trying to shove JJ's feelings and questions away, replacing them with this notion that he's insane to put any kind of trust in Luke Maybank. Perhaps, in any other kind of scenario, he would be, but I don't think Luke would lie about something as big as this.

"Yeah. No, I guess you're right."

I clear my throat, looking towards Groff who has his head down. "If you don't mind... can you... tell us what happened to that baby?" I ask, trying to keep my tone confident despite the raging thump of my heart.

Lifting his head, his eyes stare forward, not really looking at either of us. "My baby," he whispers, something of a smile crossing his lips as he must recall pleasant memories with his child before all exploded before him. "He drowned." His tone elevates while his expression depletes. "They never found the body." Groff observes the painting of his wife that hangs high. "Imagine that. Not being able to bury your own child."

JJ peers at me, once again appearing uncomfortable which pains me as I wish I could do more. All I can do for him is exist in his orbit and act as some kind of guidepost. Slowly, he refocuses back on Groff, speaking once again. "If you couldn't find him... do you think that baby might've survived?" He lifts his hand, pointing a finger to himself. "That that baby is me?"

Thunder claps outside, the rain continuing to patter against the windows, and the realisation that Groff may not be JJ's father crashes in. "JJ, I don't know what Luke told you." JJ avoids eye contact, not even looking at me as Groff steps closer. "And if I... If I had someone like Luke for a father, I guess I'd want to swap him out too." I'm skeptical, more so now that Groff thinks he can just judge how Luke fathered JJ when he barely knew him, especially after Larissa died. "But I... Look, JJ." Groff plants a hand on JJ's shoulder, and I watch JJ tense. Hell, I tense at the contact, not liking Groff being this close to JJ. "We all draw certain cards in life. I mean, I wish it weren't so. I really do. But..."

Sighing, I gaze at JJ, noticing the upset evident on his face. He's confused, rightfully so, as he tries to figure out who is lying to him. Did Luke just decide to strain his relationship further with JJ by dropping fake news, or is Groff lying to us right now? Again, the latter is calling out to me, telling me that Groff is lying to JJ. For what reason, I don't know, but I believe that Luke didn't make up a whole story for nothing.

Call me crazy but that's what I believe.

I can't even imagine what JJ must be thinking, what he must be feeling. He looks lost, trying to decipher between what's right and what's wrong. Little does he know that I'm no better than Groff and Luke. I'm holding a secret too, technically lying to him about his relation to Emory. Though, if Groff really isn't his father and Luke was lying, there'd be no relation to Emory, so in a way, I'm not entirely sure if I'm like the rest. I just don't know anymore.

I open my mouth, wanting to say something, anything to help JJ feel less puzzled, though I don't get the chance to say anything as an air horn blares loudly outside, alarming us.

Groff backs away, looking away from us. "Oh, no." He steps towards the window, going to check the noise.

"What? What was that?"

"That's a warning... from Demp," he tells, and I think I feel my heart plummet.

"A warning for what?"

Groff doesn't respond, instead looking away from the window and dropping his head. "A warning for what?" I ask, repeating JJ's question as I'm not just going to stand here and be ignored, not when JJ came all this way to get answers.

Groff lifts his head, finally looking to us. "Trouble," he throws out, speaking casually like that's not the worst possible thing to say. "Come on. Follow me." He walks away, heading towards one of the many dusty cabinets.

"What do you mean 'trouble'?" JJ questions, moving towards the window. "What's happening?" I watch JJ look outside the window, trying to grasp what's going on. "Can you just tell us what's going on?"

"Stay away from the window!" I glare at Groff, appalled that he thinks he can just bark out orders to JJ who just wants some freaking answers.

Frustrated, I speak up. "Okay, no bullshit, what is going on?" I step towards Groff, arms crossed over my chest.

Does he answer? No. I mean, I shouldn't be all that surprised, but I was hoping for a slither of something, you know? All Groff does is ignore me whilst taking out a shotgun, tossing it over to JJ. "I assume you know how to use one of these?"

Catching the shotgun, he examines it. "What is this piece of shit? It's rusted shut. You can't even open it." He moves towards Groff, going to show him that this shotgun can't be used.

"Oh. Here." Groff switches the shotgun out for a different one. "It's been a while since I handled one," he admits, looking back to the cabinet.

"Um, hi." I wave my hand awkwardly. "I'm feeling a little left out here, so, uh..." I shrug, attempting to be polite. "Can I have a gun? You know, to protect myself from whatever's out there."

Groff looks at me strangely, his eyes narrowed. "You can handle a gun?" The way he says it like it's crazy for a woman to handle a gun sends a literal chill down my spine. He doesn't know me, not in any kind of way, so he has no right to judge me, not when I've handled my fair share of guns. Sure, I've never killed anybody, but neither has JJ and he got a gun.

I rear my head back, offended. "Excuse me?"

"She can handle a gun," JJ speaks up, defending me. "Believe me. She can probably handle one better than me."

I peer at JJ over my shoulder, damn grateful for his presence and support. Looking back to Groff, my smile drops, replaced with a scowl as Groff reluctantly passes off a measly pistol to me. "Seriously?"

"Only got the one," he replies, and a small part of me wishes I could shoot him just for the hell of it.

JJ cocks the shotgun, checking the compartment where ammo is stored. "You got ammo?" As he checks his, I check mine, also seeing it empty.

Groff passes off one round of ammunition to both of us which, in itself, is wild. "One round?" He just nods firmly, holding his hands up.

I slot the ammunition into the pistol, finding it lame that I don't get a shotgun when I know I could shoot if the situation warranted it. If JJ was ever in a lick of danger and I had a weapon, you can trust that I'm going out swinging. I'd stab, maim, kill anyone who crosses him, including this guy who may be wasting our time and lying about being JJ's father.

Whoever is on this island, whoever is on their way to hurt Groff, they aren't going to get anywhere close to JJ, that much I can promise. I'm not letting him get hurt, so if I've gotta shoot some tiny pistol, I can do that.

JJ sighs, and I see that he's going to back out from aiding Groff, though I don't know if it's smart for us to just leave when we have no idea what's out there. "Alright, then. Twenty-five yards. Whites of their eyes." JJ presses the shotgun against Groff's chest. "Good luck." He looks to me. "We're leaving, Sunny. Let's go."

"Can I keep the gun?" I ask, swinging it around, knowing that if we leave, I can at least try to protect us with this shitty thing.

Groff grabs ahold of JJ, keeping him still. "No, no, no. You keep it."

"No, I'm not keeping it," he chews out. "Whatever this is, this is not our fight." He's not wrong about that. This isn't our fight, whatever this is, so we should be given the freedom to just walk out the door, right?

Something crashes through the window, glass shattering and falling away from the impact. "It is now," Groff says, shoving the shotgun right back into JJ's hands.

We break off into another room, more glass smashing just behind us. We split up, taking either side of the wall next to the archway. Groff stands on one side, JJ and I on the other with my back pinned to his front.

"Groff! Chandler Groff!" Clutching the pistol tighter, I lean further into JJ. We both glance at Groff who we find to be flicking open a knife, but I don't see how that will get him far. It's not a large knife, not in any kind of way, so I'm not sure what kind of damage it'll offer. Then again, he seems determined to fight, so I guess that's all you need at the end of the day.

JJ's voice enters my ears, his words reserved for me, and me alone. "You don't leave my side, alright? I'm not letting you get hurt."

"I'm not letting you get hurt," I respond, trying not to breathe too heavily as I don't want anyone to somehow hear.

"I'm serious, Brooke, don't you dare leave my side." I swallow, nodding slowly as his chin rests against my head. "We're getting out of this, baby, I promise. We'll be fine."

I trust that we'll be fine. I just don't trust that we won't get hurt on the way out.

Glass continues to break, shouts continue to be administered, and loud footsteps continue to shake the home. However, the smashing, shouting and footsteps seem to descend throughout the house, moving away from us, so we deem it safe to move.

Groff gestures his head towards the door, and we follow pursuit, sneaking out the front door. We move down the steps quickly, keeping our guns raised just in case we cross any surprises. The moment we find we're safe-ish, JJ turns to Groff. "Okay, that's it, we're out."

"JJ, don't," Groff whisper-yells.

"What? I got my boat."

"They'll have it covered. I've got a skiff, up by the north end." Huh, skiff is a funny word, isn't it? Not the time, B. "Come on. Follow me."

"North end?" Groff moves past us, not saying another word. More fucking running── that's what going to the north end will mean, and I hate to run, in this weather especially, when I've just stopped.

With JJ's hand in mine, he strings me along, the two of us following Groff. "In here!" We reach some kind of garage beside the main house. "Hurry up!" He waves us over, insisting we move faster though he doesn't quite understand just how much running we've done today alone.

I wonder how many steps I've done.

So not the time to think about that, Brooke.

JJ comes to a slow just outside the garage, using his shotgun to push a camouflage tarp out of the way. "ATV?"

"No time. They're coming. Come on, in here."

We step into the garage, JJ's hand still tucked into mine. "What are we doing?" JJ asks, his breathing heavy once again as we, of course, had to run.

Ignoring us again, he shushes us. "Against the wall. Against the wall," he insists, pushing himself up against the nearest wall.

Following suit, JJ and I press our backs against the wall too, remaining close to one another. "We're sitting ducks, man," JJ utters, shushed once again by Groff who, in turn, receives a scowl from me, though we do need to be quiet as there are people just outside.

"Check the other side."

Somebody is right outside the freaking garage, just about ready to catch us. I tighten my hold on the pistol, fully prepared to shoot if I need to. JJ also grips his gun tightly whilst Groff flicks his knife open again, though I seriously doubt he'll be able to do much damage when we have literal guns.

"No sign."

The door suddenly opens, startling me. Nobody steps in, however, and instead a light shines into the room, scoping it out. Looking forward, I find the torch light reflecting on a mannequin wearing a beautiful white dress. I peer up at JJ, seeing that he's also got his eyes on the dress, likely thinking the same I am. Why is there a woman's dress in here of all places when a woman doesn't live here anymore nor has a woman lived here for a long time, I suspect.

"This way! Come on!"

The light fades away, indicating to us that they're leaving. I release a breath, leaning my head into JJ's arm as I hear the shouting and footsteps disappear. Looking to JJ and Groff, I watch them both lift their hands to push the hair from their faces. My eyes narrow, a little freaked that they did that action at the exact same time.

Like father, like son.

It feels so wrong to even think such a thing.

"You got the keys?" JJ asks, his jaw ticked. He seems frustrated, not that I can blame him. This, after all we just went through tonight, is not what we wanted to be doing.

"In the ignition," Groff replies, tilting his head towards the ATV. Following JJ who pushes off the wall, we step to the ATV outside. JJ pushes his shotgun into Groff's hands as he does so, going to uncover the camouflage tarp.

JJ sits upon the ATV first, and I go to sit behind him. "Where's he going to sit?" I ask JJ, referring to Groff who is watching us.

"Behind you."

I swallow the bile that crawls up my throat. "Or we could ditch him," I whisper, speaking loud enough for only JJ to hear. I wouldn't mind ditching Groff, especially when I've got a strange feeling about him. I don't, in any sense of the word, trust him. I barely know him, yes, but his existence just rubs me the wrong way, I can't quite explain it.

JJ looks over his shoulder, pinning me with a hard stare. "Babe."

I sigh, sliding my hand up his back. "Yeah, yeah, whatever." Groff moves to sit behind me, too close for my liking even if there's a gap between us. I shift towards JJ, needing to remain in his space rather than in Groff's space. Although, because I like to be a little snappy, I look over my shoulder and smile innocently. "Get any closer and I'll pistol whip you, 'kay?"

Groff chuckles lightly, though I am completely and utterly serious. If he dares to come any closer to me, I swear I'll whack him. "You're fiery."

"Yep," I snap, turning away from him and looking straight ahead. My arms embrace JJ's middle, keeping my front against his back as JJ starts up the ATV which kickstarts forward immediately whilst the men from before attempt to run and catch up with us. A machete even lands on the ATV, though it does no damage as JJ drives on.

My forehead presses into JJ's back, my breathing beginning to slow as I attempt to keep myself calm. "Alright, where are we going?" JJ asks the man sitting behind me. "Where we going?"

"Straight ahead," Groff responds, speaking loudly over the rattling noise of the ATV. "Just through those trees there." Using the shotgun, he points in the general direction that JJ needs to steer in.

Suddenly, we hear the roar of engines behind us followed by yelling. "Ah, shit, they're on us." I tighten my hold on JJ, feeling him try to speed up in order to get away from the men.

"Watch it! On your left!" JJ moves harshly to the left, knocking into the other ATV which, in turn, swerves to the left and crashes straight into the tree, knocking the man straight off the ATV. Looking over my shoulder, a laugh ripples out of me, finding that to be very cool.

Another ATV drives us beside us on the right, prepared to attack. Although, luckily, Groff uses the shotgun to shoot out the tire which brings the ATV to a slow. "Whoo!" JJ cheers just as the ATV rolls forward, hitting a root in the ground and shooting the man straight off it.

"Yes!" Groff celebrates, laughing. "Good driving."

As the sun began to rise high in the sky, the darkness being replaced by the light, the ATV drove along the grass smoothly. One minute it was dark, the next it's light. I swear time is moving faster than I thought possible, though I don't have much time to acknowledge it as we're arriving at a boathouse in the middle of fucking nowhere.

"Stop right here," Groff speaks, pointing to the boathouse ahead.

"This?"

"Yeah." The ATV slows, and JJ switches the engine off before we each get off the vehicle. "We lost them," Groff realises, glancing over his shoulder. "Come on." He hands the shotgun back to JJ, walking ahead of us.

"Who are those guys?" JJ asks, following Groff with me walking close behind.

"Don't worry about it. Let's keep moving."

"Don't worry about it, he says," I repeat, tone mocking. "We nearly died, and you're telling us not to worry about it. Yeah, that makes sense." He keeps avoiding our questions, keeps jumping to the next thing rather than facing the now. He's fucking irritating.

"It's fine," Groff forces out, moving into the boathouse with us just behind. "There she is."

We stand in front of the skiff that Groff mentioned earlier, and I suddenly miss The Snapper. This thing doesn't look like it'll run, not in any kind of way. It appears to have been sitting here for years. "This is the skiff?"

"Yeah."

"When was the last time you used this?"

"It's been some time," he replies causally.

Looking at the skiff, I spot the name visible on the side. "Albatross," we both voice, looking to one another, realising just what this is. "That's the boat Larissa drowned on."

I find myself standing in front of JJ, glaring at Groff as another wave of worry smacks me straight in the face. "How is it here?" I ask, knowing the boat sunk because Larissa and her baby supposedly drowned.

Groff scratches his chin, nodding. "Yeah, that's Larissa's boat. It was recovered out there."

"Recovered," JJ scoffs. "And when was the last time it was serviced?"

"I don't know, JJ!"

"God, do you know anything?" I ask, seriously close to whacking him with my pistol just for the hell of it.

JJ steps away from me, hopping over the wooden railing to get into the boat. As JJ moves to the engine to check it out, I observe Groff, seriously trying to understand him and his unfortunate presence. "Okay, let's see. Hope it works. Piece of shit." JJ begins to pull at the string to the engine, attempting to make it work, though I already know it ain't gonna budge. "Come on. Come on, you piece of──" Knowing it ain't going to start up miraculously, JJ drops the string. "Yeah, okay, that's not happening."

JJ then looks out to the open water, nodding slowly. I already know what he wants to do before he brings himself up and back over the wooden railing. "Hey, where are you going?" Groff asks as JJ walks by him. "W-What are you doing?"

"Tide's coming in," JJ responds, shrugging his jacket off. "So that current is going to push us straight across. Come on, Sunny." He slots his hand into mine, bringing me around the bend in the dock. "We're leaving."

As I'm wearing a dress── annoying, I know── I drop the pistol onto the ground, knowing we need to get the hell out of here before we get shot and killed. I'd much rather swim than run, let me tell you.

"Tide? The current in that channel is danger. That's why we have a boat!" Groff yells, watching JJ who drops his jacket on top of the pistol.

"Look, I don't know what you did to those guys, but they're not after us. They're after you."

"JJ! Brooke! Wait, please!" Groff cries out, sounding so unbelievably panicked, but we ignore him to step over the railing, ready to throw ourselves into the water. "That's where The Albatross sunk. I-I can't── I can't go in that water."

JJ looks back to him, his hand still in mine. "I'm sorry. But we can." His eyes find mine, and I offer him the bravest smile I can muster up. "You ready, Sunshine?"

"Just about," I respond, looking to the water.

"Guys, wait!" We're already jumping into the water, fully prepared to swim all the way back home if that's what it comes down to. "They're coming! I can't── I can't make it without you guys!" Well, that sucks, don't it? "Brooke! JJ! JJ, please!"

I don't care if he's scared of the water. That may sound cruel or insensitive but I really, really don't care. Yes, he lost his wife... and child to these waters, but he can't be scared forever, not when he is about to die if he doesn't get out of that boathouse. Why would we go back and risk our lives for a man we don't know and don't want to know? We need to get out of here safely.

If he wants to live, he'll know what's good for him, and he'll get in the water and suck his fear up. Although, if he doesn't get in the water, I'm entirely fine with that as I don't care about the man, not in any kind of way. He's just ignored our questions and shoved us to one side this entire time, so why can't we do the same?

"JJ, I'm your father!"

Well, I guess we can't do the same now, can we?

Slowing down, the words processing in both our heads, I peer at JJ, seeing that his mouth is agape and the shock is evident on his face. Luke was right just like I suspected, revealing that Groff has lied this entire time, trying to make us believe that Luke was insane to say such a thing and that Wes Genrette was just ill.

Turning away, not even sparing me a glance, JJ begins to swim back. "JJ, wait, no." We should just swim away, ignore Groff and leave because I'm afraid of what he's going to discover now that he knows the truth about his father. "JJ, hey!" JJ isn't listening, not that I should expect him to with the weight of what he just discovered, so I move to follow after him.

I watch JJ bring himself back up the dock, his leg swinging over the railing. "JJ..." I stare at Groff, wishing I could turn this bastard into ash because not only is he JJ's father, he's Emory's father. The truth is that I am holding back information from JJ about his relation to our friend. I'm no better than this man before us. "JJ. I'm sorry, JJ. I don't know why I couldn't tell you."

JJ grabs him by his suit jacket, yanking him towards him threateningly. I don't stop him, just moving to lift myself up and over the railing as I can't, in good conscience, leave him. "Either you're lying to me now, or you were lying to me then," JJ speaks, voice harsh.

"Easy, son." My eyes roll, finding the term, son, to not be the right word right now.

"Which is it?" JJ asks, speaking forcefully.

"Easy."

"Tell him to go easy again, and we'll see how far it gets you," I chew out, only wanting JJ to get the answers he rightfully deserves. Though, just before JJ or Groff can say another word, I hear the creaking of footsteps behind me. "JJ!"

A man holds a machete, ready to swing but I pull JJ back from Groff before he has the chance to attack and harm us. "Run!" Groff shouts, and we don't waste anytime, we just bolt.

Although, we don't get very far as Groff gets grabbed by the machete man and JJ and I get stopped by a painfully familiar face── Lightner. He's holding a gun up to us, and I suddenly wish I had kept the pistol on me, but I just had to go and wear a dress, didn't I?

"You two again." He grabs JJ, shoving him towards one of his minions behind him. "Hold on to him."

"Hey!" I shout, charging forward in a lame attempt to help, but I'm then grabbed, Lightner's fingers digging so harshly into my shoulder that I swear I hear a crack.

"Brooke!" JJ attempts to fight for me, but the other man holds onto him too tightly.

I'm shoved into the arms of another bastard who pins my arms behind my back, forcing me to remain still.

Another man brings Groff outside with a machete under his chin, the blade against his neck, and Lightner moves to press the barrel of his gun against his chest. "How you doing, buddy? You miss me?" Groff exhales a heavy breath, peering at JJ who looks pissed.

How does he know Lightner?

This is where trying to find answers got us── kidnapped.

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❀ soph speaks

just a little note, brooke is gonna be the biggest bitch to groff but it's totally deserved ty

groff doesn't like brooke either, you'll realise that very quickly

thankyou for reading :)