➔ WORD OF THE CHAPTER: shhh

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"We came to retrieve an object," maya repeats the man's word.

"I think he means that thing," berger refers to the glowing ball in Charlie's hand. "Yes, obviously he means that thing," maya says.

"Okay, where did you go," she asks charlie. "I- i don't know.. it showed me things like a vision. Whatever it is, it's powerful," charlie says. "Well, whatever it is. Let's give it to them and get the hell out of here," berger tells him. "What no! It's not ours to give. It belongs to my dad," charlie refuses. "Who cares? If we don't give them that thing they're gonna kill us," berger says. "Well, they still might kill us even if we do. I don't trust militias," maya says.

"wait, kill," I look at them shock. "They won't kill us," charlie tries to reassure me. "Oh no, they definitely will," berger tells me.

"Not unless we give them that," berger points at the ball. "Don't listen to him, y/n, he's not in the right mindset," charlie says. "Y/n, nous ne leur faisons pas confiance," maya tells me. "Ohh, bad people," i say, squinting my eyes.

"There's nothing we can do," berger says. "Wrong. There is something we can do," charlie says. "Defend ourselves!"

I smile, "Yeah, that's what we should do!"

"Thats what i'm talking about," maya whispers as well.

We all place our hand on the ball.

——

Third POV:

"Okay, I lied to you guys. Listen, it's my date." lizzie raises her hand.

They were at the front door. The person on the end kept mixing and calling for Lizzie.

"Please, let me just get rid of him. He's not part of this. No one has to get hurt," lizzie pleads. Jersey steps up closer to her with the gun. "Wait- wait. His parents are both lawyers. I mean.. one is just a personal injury lawyer. But still. They'll come looking for him. And they'll call the police. You don't want deal with an ambulance chaser trust me," lizzie continues.

"LIZZIE."

"Cover the door," argon tells jersey. "wait wait wait.."

"You have sixty seconds to get rid of him."

"ITS SCARY OUT HERE."

"be cool," argon tells lizzie.

Lizzie opens the door, "hey."

"bon..soir, ma cherie. You look.. ravishing as.. always," he says in a slow french accent.

"Uh.. thanks big mac. Um. so.. ixks snay elp ney ans jay and jay el kay el pay," she whispers gibberish.

Big mac was leaning his ear in to listen. "What's that," he asks.

Beside lizzie, jersey was holding a gun near her.

Lizzie whispers louder, "Get help! Call the cops!" She didn't get to finish when she got dragged inside. "Get her inside!"

"That's enough! Get in here!"

Big mac gets dragged inside as well.

———

"Looks like eugene just got his license," jersey says.

"uhm.. can you- can you not call me eugene," big mac moves his hands but both of them were handcuffed.

"He likes to be called big mac," lizzie talks for him.

Jersey places his hand on his gun.

"Gun," eugene nods.

——

"Defend ourselves.. how do you expect us to do that," berger asks taking a puff from his inhaler.

"Uhm.. i have an idea. Have you guys ever heard of guerilla warfare," maya says.

"Yes, i have," i tell her. "Xbox? or PS5," berger questions. "No actual guerilla warfare," maya says. "Using your weakness as strengths. We're smaller than them. But we're mobile. We have home field advantage and a giant 3d printer. I say we get the gadgets, get scrappy.. and fight our way out," maya says.

"Oui?" I say unsure. I don't know half what she said but it was probably right. I mean i did understand it but i never learned their multiple meanings for one word thing.

The intercoms comes on.

"Is this thing on," a male voice asks.

"Yeah, hi. I'm looking for a... Charlie Kincaid. I got someone here who'd like to say hi to you," he says. "Charlie! These old guys have guns! Do whatever they say," lizzie speaks through the intercom. "They got lizzie.." i whisper.

"Berger, berger! Hey man, look, if i die i'm gonna kill you," a boy voice speaks up.

"Dude shut up," the male guy cuts him off.

"Give me the source, charlie kincaid. Or i'll kill your friends, you got it," the male threatens.

the intercom ends.

"My brother's here. They're gonna kill my brother, give me that," berger goes to charlie. Charlie backs away. "Berger, I know you're scared. I am too. But we have a plan. We can fight back," charlie defends.

"shhh.." maya tells them.

"come on, charlie. You're not exactly the action, hero type," berger retorts. "What am i then? since you seem to know," charlie asks him. "You're a scaredy cat and you know what? Scaredy-cat is good," berger still walks after charlie.

They're walking in circles around the rock stand, where the energy source used to be.

"Guys..." maya whispers.

They were still bickering. "But this is not the time to play hero cat, okay? Stick to scaredy-cat," berger says. "shhhh.." i try to hush them.

"this? coming from a guy who's scared to leave the house without a back up inhaler. With all the asthma, the celiacs, the tubs of flonase?"

"Guys, come on. You guys are friends," i tell them.

"We're risking our lives for that rock so you can prove to your dad how brave you are. but guess what? he doesn't care. He cares more about his job then he cares about his own son," berger says.

They went silent.

"Guys, stop it. This is not the time," maya tells them.

All of a sudden, charlie punches berger. on the leg. He doesn't flinch. Berger slaps charlie.

"Guys, stop fighting," maya says.

They began to play tug of war with the ball. Fighting over it.

I walked up to them and pushed them apart.

"Stop it! Listen to me and maya. Not the time for... diffusion des griefs," i shout.

They pause and stare at me.

"Great. Now let's work together," i clasped my hands.

"No way. I'd rather go Han solo than to be teamed up with you," he looks at charlie when he says that.

He starts to walk away, passing us.

Charlie and I look between each other, silently.

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