*Charlie's P.O.V*

"GET OFF MY BOYFRIEND!!!" Autumn screams.

Instantly, Mr. Yeltsin's head drops on Harry, whose eyes bulge.

Autumn quivers, gripping the gun tighter.

I inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale -

"What is happen- CHARLIE!" Leo's voice resonates. Before we know it, he is in the room, too, untying me.

Once freed, I have to hit his shoulder hard before he sees the gun in Autumn's hand. Alarmed, he warns her, "Hey, give me that. You can hurt someone -"

"Harry-"

"Charlie, where are you running to -"

"Harry!" I try to lift Mr. Yeltsin. The man is hefty and slippery from his blood, so Leo quickly comes for his torso. Together, we push him off so Harry can breathe.

Harry gasps. I hug him with everything in me. "Sor-sorry, sorry, sorry, you're fine, you're fine, I'm right here, bestie. It's okay, we are okay."

Leo envelops us, too, and we stay like that for a moment. Just breathing. So many thoughts are running.

When we break apart, Harry tries to glimpse Mr. Yeltsin, but I grab both sides of his face. "Hey, bestie, hey, don't look. Please. Please. Trust me. Don't look."

Then I mouth to Leo, "I-i-is he dead?"

"Urr ... huh," His eyes roam Mr. Yelstin until he spots the gunshot wound.

Seeing Autumn gaping at it, Leo bashes, "Don't just fucking stand there!"

"Why- what do you want me to do?!" she replies.

Mr. Yelstin's neck is splurging blood, and he's gurgling some, and Leo has no idea what to do in this situation besides - "Call a fucking ambulance! Obviously!"

"Huh?"

"CALL AN AMBULANCE!"

"DON'T YELL AT ME, ARSEHOLE!"

"WILL YOU CALL PLEASE?!" I share Leo's frustration with Autumn. "GO! GO!-"

"OK!" She exits. I rip the sheets to blindfold Harry while Leo tells Mr Yeltsin to hold still, pressing the rest of the sheets on his neck. Supporting Leo's hands, the man croaks, "I... I-I...Igor..."

Leo doubles back. I flinch.

He grabs Harry suddenly. I shake my head, but he blasts, "CHARLIE, GET THE FUCK UP!"

My head shakes again, but Leo yanks me by my shirt just as Autumn reappears.

She steps away from our scuffle, only for Harry to slip on her. The blood on him stains her shirt, but before she can react, Leo orders, "Hey, hey, don't let him fall!"

Autumn slings his arm over her shoulder, turns to her dying uncle and then back at Leo, nodding fervently.

*

What is happening to us?

In about a minute, the girl gives Leo her keys, kisses Harry, slips him into the backseat with me and retreats to her uncle's house as if he may not be dead by now.

"Sh-she called an ambulance, though, right?" I croak.

Leo grips the steering wheel.

"Do you think -" I am cut off by Harry's head swaying on my lap. He is still in the blindfold, but I can sense his fright. I hate this. I wish I could erase it all from his memory.

When we reach Harry's house, no one is around, fortunately. Leo helps me carry him to his bedroom, after which I bathe him.

He hasn't spoken since, so when I see his lips moving, I break into the most relieved sigh ever. "Come again, Harry?"

"... Di-did," he stutters, "Someone die?"

"I don't know," I say, shivering.

"Oh," Harry speaks in monotone. I feel like crying. I can't bear him going through the same torment I did.

The moment we arrive at Harrys house, we get him some sleeping pills, after which we clean ourselves. I cuddle him till he falls asleep while Leo tries to contact his ex.

"Autumn is not answering,"

"Just try again," I say.

Leo makes a face. I already know what he will ask next: "What were you even doing at that house?"

"Her uncle is Mr. Yeltsin."

"That doesn't answer my question. "

"Yes, it does. I pretend to work for him." I inch away. "Anyway, how did Harry get there?"

"He asked me where you were and -" Leo flusters. "I couldn't conjure an excuse quick enough, so he asked his ex and she fucking drove us in circles for God knows how long until Harry pretty much got possessed, so she too got possessed and they were arguing -oh my goodness, they are so toxic, and then Autumn pulled a gun and was like, 'Guys, chill, it's a toy -'"

"Wa-What?!"

Leo observes my confusion for a frightening amount of seconds. Then he utters, "Why did you not tell me you were there?"

"I did not want you to worry. Sorry." I gulp as his eyes slit.

"Sorry for what?"

"For putting you guys through this -"

"Charlie," Leo cuts me off shakily, "What happened before we got there? "

There's a pause.

"Nothing."

"Wow ... ok."

"Nothing happened. Mr. Yeltsin just tied me up to test me and ur. Can we not fight?"

"I'm not fighting you. I'm asking for an explanation."

"And I have given you one. We have a million and one other worries. This is not the time to be doing whatever this is." At this juncture, I walk out on him.

Returning to the room, I climb to bed and hold Harry again. He rests a hand on mine, and like that, my tears start to brim.

I sniff them back. I'm not going to cry. I'm going to think of my next move.

I can't make Harry go through the misery I did, so we'll have to report everything soon.

I just need another way to get evidence of the child trafficking, and then -

What if it falls into the wrong hands? Who in the police department can we trust?

Leo comes in. He sits far from us and buries his head in his arms.

I gulp.

When lifting his head, he finds his camera and fiddles with it.

When our silence becomes suffocating, I head downstairs to make us some food.

Harry's parents arrive. After exchanging pleasantries as calmly as possible, they ask of him, and I tell them he's sick.

Then, I return to his room, balancing three plates of fried rice. Leo feeds him while I ponder our current dilemmas.

Harry notices my frown and asks, "How's Autumn?"

"Good." Leo lies.

"Charlie?" Harry still stares at me.

I sigh, "Your parents are here."

"Huh?!" He rolls down his sheets.

"Yes."

"OH MY GOD -"

I guess they didn't tell him because he rushes downstairs as though resuscitated.

About an hour of tensious silence passes before his return.

"They bought me a guitar! AHHHH! They got -" Harry shrieks, rummaging through some shopping bags he just dumped on the bed. Leo shakes his head, managing a slight chuckle while I stare blankly.

"See, urm, they got you so many books!" Harry gushes. Leo's smile falters as Harry pulls out books from different fields.

"Urm, when can we talk about, you know?" Leo grumbles finally.

I gulp.

"Charlie!" Harry quirks as though he has not heard. "You should have come down and heard the fantastic stories they had to tell. They went to ten countries, and what was there to say? Ur, mom, my ex shot her uncle, and his neck was oozing blood on me, so. Sounds like you had more fun -"

"Hey, relax," Leo says.

Harry nods.

Breathes in.

And then one book flies across the room.

"I just said calm-"

The next book nearly hits my head. Harry's eyes take on that wild, ballistic haze I dread.

"Hey, stop that!" Leo shoots him a stern look.

Harry spares me a glance and then speeds into the washroom. Leo goes after him. I gasp as they reemerge.

"Charlie! Charlie!" He yelps, "Save me! Get this jerk off -"

"Will you calm down?!" Leo's fright echoes as he slams Harry onto the bed.

As they struggle, I want to stop them, but - I think I will faint.

"Guys, please stop," I mumble, leaning on something. They don't hear. I shut my eyes. Try to breathe.

Charlie. This is not the time. This is not the time to faint. Be strong. Be strong -

"Please stop fighting. I'm just going to get some air-" I clutch something and rush out.

Harry's mother sees me descending, but I don't hear her words. I get outside. Run.

My heart is caving in.

"Charlie?! Dear?!" Harry's mom calls after me. I yell something reassuring and continue. My vision gets foggy. I throw my head back.

Something rings. I look down and see Roon's number - on Leo's phone.

"Hello?"

"Yoo... Charlie?" His voice sounds like he's sniffing.

I hug my knees. "Yes, it's me."

"Hm... maybe that's better," Roon sighs.

"Why?"

"It's... Leo's mom. She's dead."

The world stops.

*

I can't go back.

I just ruined everyone in one day.

How can I go back?

Clutching Leo's phone, I walk barefoot. Autumn calls, informing me that Igor is hunting her for her uncle's death. I don't have any words of encouragement, so I hang up on her, too.

I reach a bridge. I'm not scared of heights. I'm not frightened of death. I'm afraid of life. I've wasted it.

Oh God, I'm so sorry. You gave me so many chances to live, so many opportunities, and I just wasted it all. I have made so many people believe everything will be fine as usual, but it's not, and I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. Give Leo and Harry strength and help the trafficked kids. I want to be there. But this is just too much. I'm too weak. I'm too weak. Everything hurts. Oh, God, it hurts -

*

*Mia's P.O.V*

School sucks everywhere. That's what I have learnt so far. And on top of that, Joe left after the party, so aside from the earplugs that translate whatever I hear - Even with them, sometimes, there is no telling if a teacher said to find 'x' or 'inverse'.

Everyone is not at home for long, and I'm still uncomfortable around Granny since the video call, so there is no help. And -oh, I haven't heard from Charlie.

You know what? Let me call him.

He doesn't answer.

Of course, he won't. Have you forgotten it's like midnight there?

I roll my eyes, opening the stall door. A girl in my new class stares at me.

I wiggle my brows.

She spins on her heels. For some reason, ever since my new peers heard my surname, they avoid me.

I call Leo, thinking he can stay up all night. The line goes through, and I hear someone breathing heavily.

"Ur, Leo?"

There is a whimper.

"Leo? Is every- wait a minute, is that you, Charlie?"

"Mm."

Which of them?

"Where the fuck are you?"

"Language."

Ok, now that is clarified, I say, "Where are you, though, Charlie?"

"Mm."

There are some wind sounds in the background. "Charlie, are you near ... water?"

"Mm."

"Dude, maybe that's, like, dangerous."

A pause.

"I'm tired," he sighs.

"Ya, so go and sleep." I quirk.

"Mia?"

"Ya?"

"I'm tired."

"Just go and sle -" I freeze. Something is off. No - this boy is suddenly making my heart race."Charlie, WHAT?!"

"Mm."

"What are you tired of?"

"Mm."

"Charlie, you are scaring me."

"Sorry."

Ok, that is it. I storm out of the stall. "Charlie, call 911. Tell them where you are, OK?"

"It is no use."

"Ya, but listen to me. Just call 911."

"Mia, it's no use -"

"DUDE, SHUT UP AND CALL THEM!"

There is a pause, and then he cuts the line. I call again.

"Hello? Charlie?" My whole body is vibrating.

"Mia?"

"Did you call them?"

"Mm. No."

I smack something. "DUDE, YOU BETTER FUCKING CALL -"

"Where is your aunt?" Charlie suddenly says.

It takes me a head shake to recover. "Ur, she travelled again. England -"

"Tell her I'm sorry and... " His voice breaks. "A-and that Loré was killed by a hitman named Albert, and I did not tell her because of his son. But his son is not like him at all. His son is annoying, and he-he is one of a kind a-and I don't want Jawl's cartel or -or those paedophiles to kill him. So please, please, ple-please, please tell your aunt to make sure that no thug gets hold of his evidence or him. Please ask her to protect him. If she sees the video of his dad, she- sh- She'll see he's a victim, too. No, he's a fighter. He's so strong."

"Woah," is all I can reply. That sounds horrific, and Charlie's whimpering makes it hard for me to process it all, but like - "Are you talking about ... Leo?"

There is a pause so acute it's like Charlie is not breathing.

"Yes."

WHAT THE FUCK?!

"His dad is a hitman?! Is that what you said?" I am beyond flabbergasted.

Charlie affirms this, and I gasp. That's the scariest shit I have ever heard in my life.

Like, how?! How is that even possible and Leo, he-he doesn't look like... He doesn't... Oh my goodness, I feel like I've been blind the whole time.

"... Mia?"

"... Shit. Has the dad hurt you too?"

"Please, tell your aunt. I beg you. Mia -"

"Dude, it's ok. It is ok. Don't worry, I'll take of it... Hey, please -" I shut my eyes because he is coughing like someone choking on tears now. "Hey, dude, stop crying.... Oh shit! Tell me your location!"

After Charlie says it, Harry's parents find him on a bridge, passed out.

*

When I tell Joe everything, her jaw drops. She travels back to the US without me, unfortunately.