CHAPTER THIRTY NINE: HELL ARISES ONCE MORE

( episode two: the heist )

✲*'。

The rest of the night was far from smooth sailing. Pope and Brec had managed to glue the broken glass back together, but already fragments were falling away.

But of course, what could have anyone expected? Arden Kim was an inferno waiting to erupt, and erupt she did.

It all started to go wrong when they were forced to sit in a dingy van ( which was now being called the mystery machine which made things even worse ) together on the way home, which was bad enough in itself. But of course, JJ's kidnapping vehicle just had to break down, leaving them stuck in the rain with no cars around to jumpstart them and no tools in the back for JJ to even attempt to try and fix the broken fuse.

Arden didn't feel that the remaining pogues, Haven and Brec were forced to sit and watch as he and her had a particularly heated blow-out where she went at him again for buying a dodgy van, and he retorted back with just as much frustration.

Just like they were usually doing nowadays unfortunately.

In the end, the group simply decided to hike the rest of the way back to their houses. They'd already hit rock bottom. What was a little rain and cold if it meant they got to be away from each other? So Pope and Kie went one way, Arden another, leaving JJ to drag his feet after Haven and Brec.

Good fucking riddance.

Of course Arden knew Logan was back in Havens house but she just couldn't muster the energy to walk backwards. She was too tired to try come face to face with Haven Murphy again. So after firing a quick text to Liam, Arden made the miserable twenty minute walk back to the Chateau that just continued on and on.

When she did make it home, Arden made a dash the shower, trying her best to wash away the disappointment of the day.

John B was still the prime suspect of a murder case he had nothing to do with. Her mother had of course found another way to shackle Arden down. Then the fucking cherry on top had to be Haven Murphy charging into their lives like she had to right to do so.

Arden was so bloody tired. Everything had gotten so complicated. She nearly wished for the days back when she was in the early stages of her pregnancy. Back then everything had seemed so dire but at least all of Arden's loved ones had been in close proximity to her, even if they had heavily disliked, maybe even hated her back then.

At least then Arden had Sarah to depend on. Those days seemed so far away and Arden wanted them back.

She wanted Sarah back. She wanted her best friend. The pogues were her family and always would be but for Arden Kim, Sarah Cameron had once been her rock through the worst times of her life.
Arden longed for the days when she wasn't quick to anger. She wished for the days when her smiles came easier, when she didn't struggle to make witty, stupid comments to lighten the mood.

Now?

Now Arden was the most serious person in the room. She was the most temperamental. Arden's days were so dark and gloomy, she longed for the glimmering sunshine that only seemed to shine whenever her daughter was around.

Regret was a fucking killer.

Once she had finished showering, Arden quickly changed into an oversized hoodie belonging to JJ and a pair of loose fitting shorts as she dazedly pumped the excess of milk gathering in her breasts. She had just finished bagging the pumped milk when the door opened revealing Liam and her beloved daughter.

"I gave her a bottle an hour ago and has been sleeping since." Liam Powers declared, carefully watching the way his goddaughter tiredly stumbled over to him, a weak smile on her face as she disappeared with her daughters car seat in hand.

Gently easing himself into sofa, Liam pointedly raised an eyebrow at his goddaughter slid down beside him, pure exhaustion evident on her face.

"Well, out with it kid. Why is JJ at Melinda's?"

"Don't know. Don't care." Arden hissed eyes narrowing as she finally met his gaze.

"Kid..."

"Don't kid me!" Arden quietly hissed, mindful of the fact her daughter was sleep in the room next door.

"Why haven't you came forward?" Arden accused, pure unadulterated anger radiating off her body as she finally unleashed everything she had been trying to keep bottled up for the past two months.

"You were there with me! You saw Rafe Cameron shoot Peterkin. You knew my mother killed my father. You knew that she had been abusing me all my life, especially after his death. You knew everything and only showed up now. You said you were to protect me, to help me but you've done bat shit!"

"Kid," Liam trailed off, trying his best to find the phrase to say as to not set off the broken teen.

"You know why I can't." Liam lamely answered, reigniting Arden Kim's fire.

"Bullshit!" Arden hissed, standing up to get as far as possible from Liam as possible.

"Do you know why my witness statement was dismissed?" Arden spoke aloud. When Liam didn't speak again Arden continued on her rampage.

"My mother. She had every one of her staff say I was at home that day when I hadn't been home for weeks before that. Can't you see that she's still controlling me!" Arden cried, sinking to her knees as tears began to pour down her cheeks.

"She's still controlling me despite everything. It's going to only be a matter of time before she tries to get rid of me lie she did to appa." Arden spoke, her voice dead of emotion.

Immediately Liam leapt into action, kneeling before his goddaughter as Arden stared ahead blankly, tears falling down her cheeks. This was the last thing he needed his god daughter thinking. Hell in fact it should be the last thing for Arden Kim to be thinking about.

Once again, Liam Powers was finally catching sight of the fragile little girl, terrified of her mother's ire. He had only seen her once and was determined this would be the last time.

"Kid I promise you I won't let your mother anywhere near you or your daughter."

Instead of his words reassuring Arden, more tears began to silently make their way down her cheeks. She didn't believe him. Liam didn't think she ever would.

He had failed his best friends daughter again.

Liam Powers refused to do so again.

✲*'。