CHAPTER SIXTEEN: FUN AND GAMES
( episode six: parcel 9 )

✲*'。

"How fucking hungry are you?" Kiara questioned with wide eyes as she made her way back over to their table, carrying a full plate of sandwiches along with a bowl of fruit.

"Kie as they used to say, I am with child." She declared, reaching for one of the sandwiches as she dug in happily. "I am eating for two. I eat on the hour every hour."

"Right." Kiara commented, shaking her head in amusement as Arden dumped some of the fruit into JJ's hands. "Eat." She barked, making her way through the plate.

"See jellybean what we're eating now is a typical BLT. I wanted chocolate cake but your godmother is watching our diet." Arden sighed sadly as JJ shook his head in amusement.

Arden opened her mouth to speak again, but much to Kie's relief.

"Is John B here yet?" Haven asked as she sat down beside her. That was fine—— until the damned girl stole one of her sandwiches. Arden let out an outraged squawk as Haven took a bite, reaching for it despite half of it already being gone. "Ard, you have four sandwiches left! Sharing is caring, okay?"

Arden pouted at her. "But I don't want to share."

"Too bad. I haven't eaten yet and they look good."

"And how is that my problem?" she grumbled before her frown changed to a smile as John B arrived and hobbled over to their table. "Hey, I heard you came out with the exact same injury as me. Twinsies!" John B barely had time to comprehend her abrupt mood change compared to the last time he'd seen her. Arden turned around to grab a bowl from the counter, shoving it into his hands. "Eat. I don't know when the last time you had a proper meal was."

"So he can have your food and I can't?" Haven rolled her eyes. When Arden just ignored her, she sighed and took another bite of her sandwich. "Fruit isn't even a proper meal." Arden countered, smiling behind the food as JJ's hand landed back on her belly.

"Anyways, how's life with the Cameron's, John?" Arden began, the curiosity beginning to bubble up now that everyone was here. Initially, after Sarah had told her the news Arden had been happy for John B. He got to stay, not having to worry about the foster care anymore. Then that quickly shifted into confusion. "Are you legally John B Cameron now? Wait a second, that's a bit weird, don't you—"

"I'm sorry, you're staying where?" Kie cut off Arden's rambles as John B avoided looking at her.

"Uh, Tannyhill," he mumbled.

"So you're living with Sarah Cameron."

"They're adopted siblings now, Kiara, keep up," Arden smirked, though she went quiet as John B shot her a dark look. "Okay, I'm just gonna go over there."

As she stood up, Arden squeezed JJ's hand once before snatching the plate of sandwiches out of Haven's reach. She moved to the table beside them, listening to what they were saying so she wouldn't be out of the loop.

"Okay, look, the only reason I'm living there is because her dad bailed me out, alright? And it's way better than foster care which, by the way, is where I was about to go if Ward didn't—"

"Hey, so do you have a membership to the clubs now?" For once, it wasn't Arden herself with the smart remarks, but Pope. Oh how she was proud of her little nerd!

"And what about those little golf carts they drive around?" JJ snickered. "Do you get one of them?"

"Does it come with a sweater vest, or do you have to buy one of those on your own?" Her nerd was on fire!

"Look, you promised," Kie cut off Pope with a sigh. Like Haven, she wasn't in the mood for games. She just wanted things to go back to how they were before. "You said you weren't with her."

John B went to protest but faltered, knowing there was nothing he could say. "Bro, just own it. She got you."

"Look, if you want to hang out with her, that's fine. But I'm letting you know right now that I'm not doing anything with Sarah."

"You can count me out too," Haven said. "It's one thing for you to tell her, but if you bring her anywhere near me, I'm out."

"Oh, my god. Do you guys see her here?" John B rolled his eyes.

"She might not be here, but she's definitely left her mark on you," Arden hummed as she wandered back over, tugging on the necktie he had hanging around his neck. When he smacked her away with a glare, she raised her hands in surrender. "Jesus, I was just trying to lighten the mood. No need to hit the pregnant lady."

"Look, a little focus would be fantastic."

"I'm focusing," she hissed as he looked at her pointedly. "Have, tell him I'm focusing, the most focused here."

"Just go back to your sandwiches, Arden," Haven sighed as the girl crossed her arms defensively.

"I can't. I ate them."

"Then go get more."

"Fine then."

After being dismissed from the conversation ( yes, Haven if you're reading this you dismissed me! ) Arden clambered into the kitchen, where Mr Carrera was all too eager to provide her with another plate of sandwiches.

She hadn't been left alone for long, John B being the one who was forced to drag her away from her beloved food. Arden knew he had been forced from the adorable scowl on his face.

"So ..... Vlad hows that head? Planning any more stupid stunts where I have to save your ass?" She questioned.

Arden smirked to herself, walking ahead, placing the fifty dollar note into Mr Carrera's palm before walking out of the restaurant, John B hot on her trail.

"Ard wait up!"

Arden turned around, cocking a hand on her hip. "How do you even know about that?"

"How do you think I know about that Vlad?"

"Seriously? I thought you and JJ weren't talking!"

"Things change John B, keep up with the programme. Plus it wasn't JJ who told me." Arden stated, a smirk growing on her lips.

"Ard you can't tell Kie or Have," He begged.

Arden turned toward him, eyes narrowing at his words. "Don't do that. I'm washing my hands of secrets between my friends, especially with the father of my child and my girls. I'm already in an enough of an awkward position with them John B. I'm not keeping any secrets."

John B opened his mouth to reply but Arden walked away the moment she heard JJ calling her name. She awkwardly walked down the ramp, nodding at JJ as she moved to climb into the back, she felt an arm wrapping around her's tugging her backwards.

"Uh ... JJ, watcha doing?" Arden questioned he pushed her forwards.

"Your riding up front with a belt." JJ stated, as Arden dug her feet into the ground, forcing herself to stop in the one position.

"I don't want to ride up front!" Arden huffed while JJ shot her a frustrated look.

"Jeez I'll ride up front," Pope sighed, shoving past his friends into the front seat. Arden shot around, a triumphant smirk on her lips. "Po-Pope will ride up front." Arden declared happily, bounding into the back of the twinkie, situating herself beside Haven and Kie on the other side of her.

"Ard, we were talking not even ten minutes ago," Kie deadpanned, though she was cut off by JJ childishly slamming the door and stomping his way over to his seat. "Jesus, someone's in a bad mood."

"That might be because of me," Arden winced before reaching out to tap the blonde boy on the nose. "Chin up, baby, we're going gold hunting... aren't we?"

Arden didn't bother to finish off her sentence when she realised that she had no idea what they were doing, swaying on the spot as John B reversed out of the parking lot and sped off around a corner.

"Yes, princess, we are. Now get the fuck down before you hurt yourself." He gently pulled her down into his lap, wrapping an arm around her waist. Arden giggled to herself as she began to tease him about his adorable protectiveness.

Things finally felt normal between them again, and for that Arden was grateful.

"You both are as disgusting as before," Pope commented in disgust, though Arden saw the pure joyful smile on his face. Pope was glad that both his friends were together again.

"You hear that baby, Po-Po is happy for us!" Arden exclaimed, as JJ rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"Now, onto more important matters." Arden declared as JJ, John B and Pope shared a concerned glance.

"What now Ard?"

"Now that I'm once again in a stable .... whatever we are, you can count on this love-bug to give the best advice for your relationship advice. Got it?"

Abruptly, Pope winked at Arden, "Got it... love-bug!" Haven furrowed her brows as Kie giggled at Arden's shiver of disgust. "No love-bug?"

"No love-bug, Po-Po." Her cheeky nerd had gone too far this time!

"What did I miss?" Haven asked, prompting Arden to reach out and pat her on the head. "Just Pope being his weird self, Have."

Arden sighed, leaning back against JJ's arms, playing with the fingers wrapped around her waist in boredom. Arden half-listened to the idle conversation Have and Kie had with one another, only speaking up when she felt the need to offer up her opinion on the matter they were discussing. Otherwise she remained quiet, listening to the steady rhythm of JJ's breathing patterns as he had a conversation with John B.

It didn't take them much longer to arrive at Battery Jasper. It was a simple rock formation on a hill overlooking a good portion of Figure Eight, no signs of gold in sight. The pogues exchanged doubtful glances before hopping out of the van, Pope making his way over to the rock to lay the map out across it.

"We're in Battery, right here." He pointed at a particular location before tracing the nearby surroundings. "So if this is Parcel Nine, then it's somewhere North-East of here."

"Over there?" JJ frowned. "Guys, that's not Tannyhill, that's a subdivision."

"Tannyhill Plantation used to be the entire island," John B explained. "It got sold into smaller pieces over time."

Pope analysed the map again, brows furrowed in confusion. Great, they were screwed because Pope didn't know what he was doing for once. "What about that?"

Pope followed her gaze, eyes brightening as he grinned. "Haven, you're a genius."

"Jesus, Pope, you're such a flirt," Arden smirked, though she sighed when he just shot her an unimpressed stare. "Alright, fine. Why is Haven a genius?"

"We've got to look for an old stone wall," he said as he began to fold up the map. "Then we should hit the jackpot."

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get this show on the road," JJ huffed as he bounded back over to the van.

They were driving for another ten minutes before they came across what they were looking for. Pope was in the front directing John B while the other four holed up in the back. Arden had forced Haven into the chair beside JJ, sitting at their feet with Kie despite Haven's look of protest. She'd noticed the distance between the two and was not-so-subtly trying to fix it for them. She didn't want to be the reason two cousins lost their relationship. And yet, JJ just stared out the window stubbornly while Haven played with her hands. Of course no fucking progress was made.

"This looks like a stone wall to me," JJ piped up as they parked outside an eerily familiar house.

"Not the Crain House," John B groaned while Arden eagerly followed him outside to get a closer look. "Are you kidding me?" Kie huffed in disbelief.

"I don't get it..." Haven whined, her words going unnoticed.

"Why did it have to be here, of all places?" Pope whined.

"Okay, what's so bad about the Crain House?" Haven tried again.

"Oh, please don't get him started," Arden groaned as JJ turned to look at Haven sharply.

"Mrs Crain is an axe-wielding murderer," he hissed."I heard she buried her husband's head on the property."

"Thanks for that, JJ," Arden huffed, her face turning green at the thought."I think I might be sick." That was the last thing Arden needed right now.

Haven rolled her eyes at her in response. "That's what you get for hogging all the food, Ard."

"Okay, surely we can move on from that now," she implored before turning back to the Crain House and glowering. "You know what, we should get this over and done with. I'm not really in the mood to go hunting for dead corpses."

"Or to become one," Haven added.

Kie glared at them. "Did you really have to say that?"

Haven shrugged while Arden mockingly saluted a delighted grin on her face. "It's what we're here for."

Mrs Crain's yard was overgrown from years left unattended. The grass was knee-high in length, the plants dead and withered. Perfect spot to film a horror movie if you asked Arden.

"Look, you guys know whose house this is, right?"

"Honestly," John B said. "I don't really believe the stories of this place."

JJ glared at him before hurrying after Kie. "Which stories did you hear?"

"The one where she killed her husband with an axe and that she's been holed up ever since." For a moment, she was deadly serious, but she couldn't resist smirking as JJ listened attentively. "On certain nights when the moon is full, you can see her in the window."

"Kie, it's not funny 'cause it's true," he huffed. "I swear to god, guys, this is real. I knew Hollis—" He cut himself off with a high-pitched shriek, jumping into Arden's unsuspecting arms, startling her momentarily. A moss-covered statue gave him the fright of his life. Just great. His face flushed pink as the others laughed, quickly brushing himself off and shooting the statue one final glare.

"Wait," Pope frowned as JJ's words finally registered with him. "You know Hollis Crain?"

"Who's Hollis Crain?" Haven echoed as JJ nodded, squeezing her hand once as he moved towards Pope.

"Dude, how did you know Hollis Crain?"

"No one's going to answer me?" Haven sighed. "Okay, that's cool, I guess."

"She was my babysitter, man," JJ said. "She told me about it. Told me the truth... about her mother and what happened in this house." So that explained it. "So, as a kid, she heard all the stories that her mother killed her father, and she was a murderer and all. Hollis didn't believe it... until that night..."

"Oooh, what night?" Arden frowned, invested as she leaned in towards him. Hey, her boyfriend has a knack for telling stories!

"It all came back to her. When Hollis was six-years-old, she heard her parents arguing downstairs. So she goes downstairs to see her mum washing her hands in a sink full of blood. Her mother just says that she cut her finger. The next morning, she says her father and her have split up. But then, Hollis noticed something. Her mother going into the parlour constantly, in and out and in and out with plastic bags. Weeks pass, and Hollis decides to use the outhouse. And as she's using it, she looks down, and there, in the outhouse, is her father's head looking straight back at her."

"God, you are so full of shit," John B scoffed.

"Dude, I swear to god."

"Well, did she call the police?" Pope asked.

"She didn't have time—" He was cut off by John B shaking his head and shoving past them, intent on leaving them behind if it meant finding the gold. JJ rushed after him in a panic, dragging him back as he grumbled to himself. "You sure you wanna do this? She's an axe murderer. You've got a cast on."

"I don't give a shit if she's an axe murderer, okay?" he snapped. Arden went to point out that she definitely cared but was interrupted by Kie covering her mouth. Arden had a kid to raise in about four months. She definitely does not want to get killed by a fucking murderer. "I've got nothing to lose, right? So you comin' or what?"

Of course she was fucking coming!

✲*'。