Jane

       We were silent for a moment, the only sound was coming from the gentle breeze that skimmed across the lake. I hadn't noticed before, but I was cold.

       "Who is 'him'?" Lucas asked, stepping closer to the boy, "Who are you??"

       The boy's eyes darted back and forth between all of our faces, the terror in them unmistakable.

       "We're not gonna hurt you." My voice shook even as I tried my very best to sound calm, "Who were you running from? What are you so afraid of?"

       His big blue eyes finally landed on my hazel ones. "I- I can't talk about him. He's never gonna leave me alone...." his voice trailed off and his eyes unfocused. He dropped his head, his chin resting on his chest, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." he mumbled, not lifting his head.

       "Sorry for what?" Lucy said, her voice raising a few octaves.

       The boy didn't respond to her directly, keeping his head down and repeatedly mumbling, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

       I looked at my friends, all of them wearing the same look of utter disbelief.

       Roger spoke first, running a hand over his face to pinch the bridge of his nose, "We need to get him inside."

       We shook our heads in agreement, everyone but Lucy.

       "No," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

       Roger spun on his heels to face her, "What?" he asked, his corners of his lips curling down.

       Lucy threw her hands up, "Why would we bring him inside? Hm?! Whatever is after him could tryta get us too!" she exclaimed, glaring at Roger.

       "Lucy, we have to help him," Charlie said, his voice sounded softer than fresh snow, "It's one against five, we can handle whoever's chasing him."

       She pressed her lips together and I knew she was biting down the urge to say anything more about the disagreement.

       Roger helped the boy up, using an arm to sturdy him, "Can you walk?" he asked.

       The boy still replied, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

       Roger looked away from the boy and back at us, his eyes were wide as saucers and he was mouthing, "What the fuck!"

       I took a small step closer towards them, tapping the boy on the shoulder. I gasped and felt my eyes widen as he whipped his head up and stared at me, unblinking.

       I swallowed my anxiety and, staring right back at him, said, "We're gonna take you to our cabin, okay?"

       He shook his head violently, eyes wide like they were about to pop out of his skull. I saw him shaking as he wrapped his arms around himself and said, "I don't wanna go inside. Can't. I can't. He'll find me. And I'll- I'll be stuck in there. He'll get me... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

       I didn't want him to stop talking, so I continued, "Okay, that's fine... Where do you want to go?"

      "I need to stay outside. I can't let him get me." The boy looked around into the nearby woods with panic-stricken eyes.

       "We could go on the speedboat," Charlie said in a lowered voice.

       We all stared at the boy while he stared back.

       "Do you wanna go out on the water?" I asked.

       The boy glanced behind himself and was quick to nod, meeting my eyes once again.

       With me taking the lead, and Roger bringing up the back, we walked silently in the direction of the dock. Noticing the breeze had picked up, I felt a shiver creep up my spine. 

       All of us on the lookout, we trampled onto the dock and I untied the Bayliner speed boat. I ushered everyone in, "Be careful, please," I said, my voice unintentionally coming out in a whisper.

       I hopped in behind them, crossing the small deck and sitting down at the wheel. I reached into the pocket of my hoodie and retrieved the keys, inserting them and starting the engine. The boat roared to life and I asked, "Roger, can you give us a push?"

       Without speaking, he stood and reached an arm out, shoving against the wooden dock.

       We sat in silence for a while, and the longer I drove- the better I felt. I had calmed down exponentially and began to get lost in my thoughts. 

       My friends and the situation faded into the background and I wondered why I was so scared in the first place. I should have realized that whoever was after the boy wasn't going to face all of us, especially not at once. I should have realized Charlie was right.

       I also realized again that I was cold. With the breeze that blew up from the speed boat, my arms had acquired goosebumps and I slowed the boat down.

       "So what's going on?" Lucy glared at the boy.

       Without looking up he said, "I feel safe now."

       I didn't have to look back to know Lucy was biting her bottom lip to stop from screaming her lungs out at him.

       "Dude! Come the hell on! Just tell us who's after you!" Lucas paused, only to continue, "And what the fuck do you wants us to do? Ride around on this damn boat all night? Cause that's not gonna fuckin' happen, man. I'm tellin' you that right now." Lucas said.

       "That's for sure." I heard Charlie mutter from the corner seat.

       I heard the sound of a lid screwing off a glass bottle and then heard,

       "Seriously, man?" Roger asked Lucas.

       I glanced back just in time to see Lucas meet Rogers' eyes and take a swig from the bottle in his hands.

       "You're seriously drinking right now?" Roger demanded from Lucas, his voice growing louder, "You really think now is a good time to be wasted? You really think being drunk is gonna make this any better?"

       I brought the speed boat to a stop, turning slightly in my seat to look behind me at my friends. Lucas didn't say anything, just took another long sip from my parents now almost empty Jack bottle.

       I stood up, positioning myself between them before things could get any worse. I looked at each of them, "You guys need to get your shit together." I snatched the bottle out of Lucas's unsteady hands, "There's a more serious issue we need to focus on." I motioned my eyes towards the boy, who still had not picked his head up.

       My friends had semi-relaxed and the boy was the center of attention again.

       I crouched in front of him, "He's not gonna get you," I said, finally calm again.

       The boy lifted his head, tears streaming down his cheeks, "I'm sorry," he whispered.

       I stood up, taking a few steps back and looked down at him, "For what?" I asked, wrapping my arms around myself to keep myself warm. 

       I could hear the waves slapping the side of the boat. The constant back and forth, and up and down were making me sick; here was the high-tide I was looking for earlier.

       "He'll be after you now," the boy said matter-of-factly.

       I swear I felt my heart stop. "Excuse me?" I asked, feeling the boat rocking harder beneath my feet.

       "This is all my fault." His head collapsed into his hands as he sobbed.

       I was racking my brain for something sympathetic to say when he suddenly stood up.

       "I'm sorry," he repeated again.

       I looked at him, confused. My friends were still seated but they all stared up at the boy. Their eyes reflected my confusion until the boy climbed up onto the edge of the boat, where he was now standing tall, still facing us.

       "I'm so sorry," he said one last time before letting himself fall off the edge of the boat and into the dark water below us.

**********

Authors Note:

hey, guys! Hope you liked this chapter!

from here on out, things are only gonna get crazier so

I really hope you all stick around for the madness ;)

don't forget, I  t h r i v e  on feedback!

so don't be shy! press that cute, lil'

★ if you're enjoying! :)

oh! also!

the picture at the beginning is just what I imagined for the speed boat :')

hope you guys have a wonderful day! 

Be humble.

Be kind to one another.

I love you all!

-N. King