CHAPTER FOUR: GUNS ABLAZING

( episode two + three: the lucky compass + the forbidden zone )

✲*'。

"What the fuck are we meant to do with her? She's passed out!" Arden wearily heard as she tried to curl back into the warmth of the source that was heating her up.

"What? Do you want to wake her an explain why the fuck we're in a graveyard? Oh Hi Arden, yes, we're going grave digging to find some mystery clue for some make believe shit!"

"Arden sleeps like the dead, let's just go." The voice above her hissed, gently extracting their grip. Arden whined at the loss of heat, muttering under her breath as she curled in on herself.

"Let's go." Another voice quietly stated, footsteps beginning to fade away as Arden was left by herself. Once she couldn't hear them anymore, she sat up tiredly, stretching her arms. She stared around curiously and wanted to cry when she realised where she was. Why the fuck was she alone in the pogues van without them? Where was Haven?

Arden groaned, quietly stepping out of the van to see she was in a fucking graveyard of all places. She looked around and briefly could hear voices from inside the centuries old graveyard. Arden huffed, moving forwards to carefully climb the wall. One foot in front of the other, pulling herself upright was the way Arden focused, until she swung over the wall, quietly landing on her feet.

She almost leapt a foot into the air when she suddenly heard JJ barking and the others attempting to hush him up. Arden crept forward until she could see their silhouettes highlighted by their flashlights.

"Guys it's not going to move," Haven sighed while Arden could see someone looking at the hole in the shrubbery. "Look there's a hole."

"Who the fuck is going to go in there after seeing a snake?" Pope hissed while Arden felt a smirk settling across her face. She bounced forward, coming to a quiet halt.

"If none of you chickens will, I'll do it."

At her choice of words, all the pogues shot around, their facial features ranging from pure anger to exasperation.

"Ard we got this handled, just go back to the van." John B quietly hissed, trying to work out his next move without involving the crazy pregnant teen.

"What, you're gonna make Kie climb in there? Haven? The girls who are terrified of snakes?" Arden countered, crossing her arms. "Look I don't care about ... whatever the fuck it is your doing. Quite frankly I don't want to get involved but what are your options here?"

Arden felt a smirk growing on her lips as John B shot her a frustrated look. "I hate when you do that," He muttered.

"Hold up," Pope cried out when Arden walked forwards, trying to find the best way to climb in now that the vines had been moved. "We're seriously not going to let Arden go in are we?"

"I think it's too late now," Arden heard Haven sighing in exasperation as she grabbed a hold of one of the vines, to pull herself up. With one foot wrapped around the decaying vines, Arden tried to pull herself upwards to get both feet off the ground. "Once Arden sets her mind to something, she's not going to give in."

"She's right," Arden called down, shooting the pogues a wink as she tried to focus on finding another good vine to hold her weight, but of course, it would be that moment that Arden would lose her gripping. Arden squealed in surprise, hissing in frustration as she tried to cling onto something but much to her surprise, she didn't fall, it was JJ who shot forward, placing both of his hands under her knees to support her weight.

Arden glanced down in confusion while JJ stared go are her, frustration evident on his face. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?" he snapped. "Jesus, Ard, just —— just let me help, alright? Get down."

Arden could only nod dubiously in surprise. For once Arden did as someone asked and allowed JJ to lower her to the floor. Arden was surprised to say the least, when JJ looked her over to make sure she was unharmed, his gaze lying on her belly for just a few seconds longer than necessary. When he saw the outline of a kick, JJ nodded to himself, satisfied. He pressed his back to the stone door, shooting her an expectant look.

"I'm gonna give you a boost, alright? I've seen it in the movies several times."

Arden did not like the sound of that at all, no sir. From a quick glance, she could see the after effects of what smoking the weed was doing to JJ. "If you drop me, I'll kick you on the way down," She warned as she lifted her foot for him to grab and boost her up.

"Alright, on three," he said but she ignored him as she pushed herself up. Arden tightly held the wall as JJ struggled under the sudden added weight. "Okay, nevermind, just forget about three."

It took her a minute of trial and error before she could find a legible way to disappear into the crypt. The first thing Arden did feel the wall and listen closely to hear if she could hear anything. A wry smirk crossed her lips as she dramatically gasped, hearing the pitter patter of Havens feet, drawing close to her.

"You good?" She asked and Arden couldn't help messing with her. She dramatically gasped and began to demand for someone to hand her the flashlight 'before the snakes got to her.' Arden giggled to herself as she could hear Haven sighing from the outside.

"If my hand gets bitten off, Arden, you're giving me your's." Haven spoke aloud, dropping the flashlight in to Arden.

"Yes, ma'am."

Arden narrowed her eyes in concentration as she began to fiddle around, trying to spot anything out of the ordinary. She cocked her head to the side as she tried to work out what exactly would anyone put in a crypt like this. Arden huffed, shaking her head as she began to root around the dents in the wall. A few moments had to have passed when Arden could hear another set of footsteps coming to closer to her. She rolled her eyes, determined to find .... whatever the fuck it was that the pogues wanted.

"You alright in there, Ard? You got, like, a heartbeat and everything?" John B questioned while Arden rolled her eyes, while she continued shuffling around.

"A heartbeat?" Arden chortled. "I'd need a heart for that, JB."

She could practically see the way John B rolled his eyes. "Hilarious, Arden. Just tell us what you see."

"Darkness, John Routledge, darkness." she spoke in a deadpanned tone.

"Apart from the obvious."

Arden smirked widely to herself, moved aside a large rock. She caught sight of a white envelope, addressed to someone called Bird, whoever the fuck that was. Arden giggled to herself before gasping aloud just before she released a sharp squeal as she accidentally knocked her leg against a rock.

Arden's eyed widened in shrouded surprise as she heard JJ shouting her name frantically. She cut off the squeal and after a moments hesitation, she couldn't help the hearty giggle that escaped her. Oh god the ridiculousness of this situation was finally beginning to dawn on her.

"Arden, I'm going to kill you when you get out of there," Haven growled from outside the crypt. Arden couldn't help the wry smirk she felt growing on her face. "Oooh, kinky."

"Arden Kim!"

"Alright, alright, I'll stop it," She sighed in surrender, she had messed with her ex friends enough for one night. "Someone help me out of here. I think I hear hissing."

"Leave her in there," Kie deadpanned. Arden poked her head out of the crypt ready to lay into Kiara but didn't have the chance as JJ's hands moved in towards her for her to grab onto. Arden barely registered Haven stepping back, her focus entirely on JJ as he carefully moved his hands to her hips so she could wrap her arms around his shoulders. Arden decided to test her luck and in all honesty couldn't resist the urge to tease JJ.

"Oooh is the big bad blondie worried about little ole me?" Arden teased in a cooing voice smirking to herself as she saw JJ's eyes narrow into the soft annoyance they used to whenever Arden had used to tease him.

Once she was situated safely on the ground with no snakes in sight, Arden reluctantly stepped away from JJ. Trying to hide the shakiness in her knees, she quickly passed the large white envelope to John B. Arden settled herself on the ground, not particularly caring about the fact her clothes were going to be covered in dry dirt.

Arden watched on in contemplation as she saw the others. muttering in disappointment. In comparison, John B held it close to him with a frown.

"This is from my dad," he murmured as the other's quickly went quiet. Arden winced, keeping her gaze rooted to the ground. She didn't want to admit it but Arden had an inkling that she understood what was going through John B's head.

She scoffed in disgust, pointedly crawling away from JJ who had unconsciously appeared behind her. He reeked of smoke, which was perfectly explained as he went into a new joint, inhaling the smoke before gasping and choking on the residue. "C-Code red, code red. Square--Square groupers, square groupers!"

Arden bit down her lip to stop the screech of surprise leaving her lips as John B tightly grappled her wrist. He lead the way into hiding behind the crypt, Arden behind him followed by Kiara, Pope, Haven and JJ. Of course JJ was bringing up the rear as he struggled to keep his blunt safe. Arden paid it no mind. She had bigger problems at the moment——such as the fact this was her second time being shot at today!

"It's the guys who robbed your house," JJ hissed to John B as he not-so-subtly peered around the corner.

"How do you know?" Haven sighed. "Can you even see who it is, JJ?"

"Are you really doubting me right now, Haven?" he scoffed before groaning and quickly ducking back around the corner. "Shit, homie's got a gun!"

"Oh, screw this," Kie exclaimed. "I'm not dying in a graveyard."

"At least they wouldn't have to move your body far," Arden chirped, trying to lighten the mood to hide the terror she felt.

Pope leant around her to frown at Arden, a wide grin settling on her face as he couldn't fight the urge to correct her. "Actually, the coroner would need--"

"That doesn't matter right now," Kie cut them off with a scowl. "Let's get out of here."

Arden immediately jumped up, not needing to be told twice when it was time to bolt away. In all seriousness these guys had to be dedicated, prepared to shoot kids, following them to a graveyard. All for what? They had to be some sort of creepy grave diggers.

Arden quickly pushed herself up the fence, thankful for the fact she didn't fall flat on her face. She was about to bounce back to the van when she saw Pope's shorts getting stuck in the gate. Groaning under her breath, Arden ran towards him, reaching up to get a good grip on the waist band.

"NO NO NO! NOT YOU ARD!" Pope screeched as Arden aggressively tried to pull him down. "You're gonna rip them!"

"Who cares!" Arden hissed just as she got him free.

Arden quirked an eyebrow in surprise as she caught sight of Pope's tight underwear before a wry smirk grew on her lips. As she opened her mouth to speak, Pope glared at her. "Don't you dare. Don't you dare make any jokes," Pope growled, running ahead of Arden as she followed after him jubilantly.

"I wouldn't dare!"

✲*'。

"Po-Po!" Arden cried out just after John B took off driving, a devilish smirk on her face that was enough to make anyone feel suspicious and worried.

"What the fuck do you want Ard," Pope sighed, slowly backing away from the advancing teen as she forced herself down beside him and JJ.

"I'm here to offer you some advice." Arden began, adjusting her imaginary glasses as she sat in a professional like stance, one leg crossed over the other.

"Good luck with that man," JJ smirked, sliding over closer to Haven to try and get away from his ex who kept her full attention on Pope. If anyone noticed the awkwardness between them they didn't comment on it in favour of keeping the peace.

"So." she stated, a cryptic look in her eye that made Pope want to scream as she practically invaded his personal space. "We need to talk about you and Haven——Hope if you will."

"Oh for Christ's sake." Pope sighed, looking determinedly at Arden and not at the girl who was only a few feet away.

"Now. Here's my advice. If you want Have, go for it! Those underwear are the sure way to start! Your ass looks unreal in—–"

"Way too much!" JJ hissed suddenly, leaping forward pulling his ex backwards as Pope stared at Arden in horror. Arden continued to smile obliviously to the way JJ's arms were almost possessive on her waist as she squirmed in his arms.

"I'm really starting to wonder what the fuck goes on inside that head of yours." Pope sighed, warily watching Arden as she only giggled at him.

When Arden didn't speak up and stopped squirming around, JJ released her from his arms. Arden slid away from him, pointedly looking away. She awkwardly rubbed her hands together as she tried to think of something, anything; Arden smirked as she laid eyes on Haven.

She slid over to her, her friend dubiously watching her, an eyebrow raised as Arden smiled up at her innocently. "So, how are we doing?"

"Ard ..." Haven asked in a odd tone, prompting Arden to roll her eyes.

"Haven. I am asking you a simple question."

"I'm good why." she huffed out, deciding to humour her friend.

"Don't you think it's a little hot?" Arden teased, gently fanning herself.

"No Ard I don't, it's the middle of the fucking night."

"How can you not feel the heat, let me tell you I'm feeling. Pope in those——"

"Arden Kim, don't you dare finish——" Haven hissed with wide eyes but much to Haven's horror Arden continued. "His ass in those——"

"Ard!" she hissed, her cheeks flaming red as JJ shot forward again to catch the giggling Arden.

"Have there's no shame in it!" Arden declared, trying to loosen JJ's grip on her.

"Fuck off." Haven hissed but once again Arden continued. A wry smirk never left her face and it just felt like old times——perfectly blended in with Haven. Hell Arden felt as if no time had passed in that moment and it was something she was extremely grateful to feel if only for a minute. "See these arms? Holy fucking——"

"I am very much uncomfortable right now." Pope cried out while Arden tutted having too much fun to quiet now. "Same man same. But I'm uncomfortable because I'm pregnant. Why are you uncomfortable?"

"That's enough!" Haven hissed, gently shoving Arden's head down into JJ's lap.

"Sleep now!"

Arden huffed, glancing upright to see JJ's blue hues intently studying her. There was no burning anger nor was there any joy in his eyes. JJ looked confused and troubled and it was beginning to make Arden uncomfortable. She abruptly broke eye contact, laying her head half on his thigh and the seat, trying to drift off to focus on anything other than the guilt....

✲*'。

JJ Maybank could honestly say he was fucking tired of Arden Kim. For the last two months he had been trying to escape the girl and the reality of what happened. He had been successful for the most. He completely avoided the usual spots he knew Arden would be, didn't see her around. She never came by the chateau anymore.

Arden Kim was no longer a pogue. She had lost the right to that when she ended up pregnant with the kook princes spawn. Arden, the girl he had been hung up for ever since he was fourteen had completely broken whatever JJ once felt for her when she left him.

The cheating bitch deserved to suffer, that was JJ's attitude on the matter. He didn't care if he was being a dick, Arden Kim deserved to suffer. She didn't know what had been going on inside his head since she told him about her pregnancy. Despite the fact he hadn't laid on the girl for over two months ( which was a feat in itself, given how small the Outer Banks really was ) she had never once left his mind.

The first JJ had gotten a proper glance of Arden Kim since she completely destroyed their relationship had been at the boneyard. It pissed JJ Maybank off to see Arden casually chatting with Haven—— his cousin, no sign of any sadness on her face. In fact it had been the opposite. Arden Kim was radiant, the pink play suit she had been wearing hugged her bump. She was proudly showing off the demon spawn, the consistent reminder of her actions.

So, seeing Haven casually handing Arden one of the water bottles he himself had helped Pope to pack had been enough to rip the bottle from her grip. Petty? Yes. But JJ didn't give a fuck. Instead of the usual spunk he associated with Arden Kim, he saw a timid, frailer version of his ex. It didn't matter.

Arden Kim deserved to suffer.

The second time JJ Maybank laid eyes on his ex was of course the fucking day a shooter was after them. It would take Arden fucking Kim to rock up to the chateau at the worst possible; ie, hiding out from the men who had tried to shoot at JJ and his friends only the night before. Seeing Arden Kim standing in the middle of the yard, quite possibly in the sight line of the shooters was enough to stir JJ Maybank into action, dragging Arden into the chicken coop. Despite the two month separation, JJ knew his former best friend and ex like the back of his hand. Arden was terrified, clutching him like a lifeline. Hell even the devil spawn cradled inside of Arden JJ couldn't help the morbid curiosity he felt as he slowly laid his hand onto the outline of her stomach, almost retracting his hand away when the kid immediately kicked at his presence. JJ felt relieved. Arden was safe. She was in his arms. Hell, JJ felt relieved that the spawn in her womb was safe.

All JJ had felt was horror when he could hear the footsteps closely approaching the chicken coop. JJ didn't hesitate when it came to killing the rooster. He needed to protect his friends. Arden was the one who grounded him to the moment when he moved back to hold her. He had done what he needed to do to safe them all.

Of course after it all, JJ was stuck around his ex again that night, feeling the ever familiar panic he felt whenever Arden volunteered for something stupid like she usually did. What has she been thinking? Volunteering to go into a crypt full of snakes, pregnant! JJ, despite the high he was riding couldn't help the worry and panic he felt as he waited for Arden to find whatever the fuck was inside this crypt. As he helped her down, with her soft coo's teasing him over the worry he felt, JJ couldn't find it within him to force up the cold mask he had been presenting to her the last few days. He was tired of the mask. Hell, it almost felt like the old times, with the new addition of Haven as Arden mercilessly teased Haven and Pope.

Which led JJ to this current moment——Arden Kim cradled in his arms as he gently lowered her down into the bed in John B's spare room. Arden was out like a light. She wouldn't wake up anytime soon. JJ wasn't wrong in previously saying that Arden slept like the dead——kind of ironic given where they had just been. He had removed her shoes, and gently raised the blanket over her shoulders. JJ had been about to leave——that was until he caught sight of the necklace that had popped out from where Arden had kept it hidden underneath the black top of her romper.

JJ recognised the large, circle shaped golden locket immediately. It had been the necklace he had given her as a birthday present when they were twelve, just before her father died. Seojun Kim had noticed the way JJ was eyeing the locket and presented it to the young boy to gift his daughter. JJ, shrugging off the curiosity he felt, leaned in close, gently opening the locket to see inside. The first photo was of a young Arden with her father, the love Seojun Kim had for his daughter shining through.

JJ shifted his gaze to the second photo and couldn't look away. It was a closeup of what looked to be a sonogram of the demon spawn. The sonogram had to be months old. JJ assumed it was one of the first Arden ever received, given the shape of the demon spawn.

They .... They looked awfully like a little jelly bean.

Despite everything, JJ couldn't help lean closer, slowly laying his hand on her stomach. Immediately, JJ was rewarded by a series of wild kicks, that were enough to prompt Arden to groan in discomfort as she shifted around in her sleep.

"Fuck you really are a wild one huh demo—— jelly bean," JJ corrected. A small smile grew on his face as the baby kicked in response. "Huh, you're not so bad are you?"

JJ felt another wild kick, his excitement growing as he gently felt them fade away into stillness. Jelly bean was finally recognising their Eomma needed to sleep. JJ forced away the bitter tears as he couldn't help but wish that the kid inside of her was his. JJ couldn't deny the odd little connection he felt to Arden's kid. It was confusing and mind wracking.

He needed to get away from here.

As JJ extracted his grip from Arden's shoulders, he looked back at his ex, whose hand had moved down to instinctively comfort the little life inside her. JJ turned around, forcing the indifferent mask back into his face as he forced away the one thought that was beginning to run rampant in his mind.

Rafe Cameron be damned. He could raise that kid. That kid deserved better.

JJ Maybank was no fool. He knew well that if given the chance, Rafe Cameron could lose his temper and take it out on JJ's family.

That Kid and Arden deserved better. They deserved someone who could love and support them. What terrified JJ Maybank was that he believed he could fill that role...

✲*'。

Authors Note; I accidentally published chapter four as chapter three I'm so sorry about that 😭 but now chapter three is up!!!