https : *⋆❝ sadiesinkhergf ! ❞
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🪷 . . . chapter sixteen
┈➤ 𝗚𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗕𝗢𝗫,  jj maybank
❦༄

🪷 chapter sixteen !
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"LET'S GO GET RICH, GUYS!"

the energy in the twinkie was electric, everyone buzzing with excitement as the six of them gathered their flashlights, ropes, and other essentials to enter the crain house.

just as they were about to step out, john b stood in front of them, his expression unusually soft. "wait, guys," his eyes swept across the group, lingering on each of them. "i just want to say thank you. seriously. it means a lot to me that you're here tonight."

"you're so corny." valentina let out a playful scoff, earning soft chuckles from the others. pope, sarah, and kiara each offered john b sincere replies, but jj quickly cut the sentiment short.

"alright, are we done with the circle jerk? can we go do this already?"

valentina laughed and nodded. "please, i can't stand to see john b with a big smile on his face," she teased, brushing past him and flicking his forehead as she went, and the routledge boy recoiled with a mock offense.

"why are you always making fun of me?" he called after her.

"because you're easy to make fun of," she shot back without missing a beat.

"are you calling me ugly?" he asked, feigning outrage as he followed her.

she glanced over her shoulder with a sly smile. "i never said that."

"but you're implying it."

"guys," pope interrupted, holding up a finger to shush them. "can we have this conversation later? and be quiet, please."

valentina widened her eyes dramatically, mimicking pope's gesture as she pretended to lock her lips with an imaginary key, before grinning, looping her arm through his and she poked his cheek.

"you worry too much, angel," she teased, making pope sigh in exasperation.

"no, i just want to get that wheat in the water," he clarified.

"weed?" jj chimed in, wedging himself between them and slinging an arm over both their shoulders. "i'm up for weed."

"of course you are," valentina muttered at the same time the other boy corrected him. "wheat. i said wheat."

pope was already scaling the fence, chasing after john b, kiara and sarah, who had slipped over with ease, and jj turned to valentina, his grin wide as he took his arm off her shoulder, giving her a gentle nudge toward the wall.

"ladies first."

"okay, so go ahead." valentina blinked at him, crossing her arms, and the two stood there for a moment, locked in a silent standoff, waiting for the other to move. suddenly, the girl shoved jj with more force than he'd expected, causing him to stumble forwards a step.

"alright, alright, i'm going!" he snickered, holding his hands up in surrender.

"that's what i thought," she muttered, rolling her eyes dramatically as he vaulted over the fence in one smooth motion. "fucking show-off."

"you need me to find you a ladder, princess?" he called over, grinning.

"unless you want a shoe in your face, i'd suggest you to shut the fuck up." she shot back, and he laughed.

"aw, come on, I'm just trying to help," he teased. "don't want you breaking a nail or anything."

she sighed, trying to figure out the best way to climb over without flashing anyone. note to self: buy black shorts tomorrow, she thought as she awkwardly began scaling the wall. when she finally scrambled over the top, jj was already waiting below, his arms open, smirking.

"c'mon vee, i'll catch you. don't worry- i'm strong. got these guns for a reason."

"yeah, probably from jerking off so often," she paused and glared down at him, crossing her legs as she saw his gaze shift from her face towards her lower body. "eyes up here, fuckface."

"i know." he smirked up at her. then, under his breath, he added, "but i wasn't aiming for your eyes."

"jj!" she found a small rock and threw it at him. it missed, but he ducked theatrically anyway, and she couldn't help the corners of her lips twitching in amusement.

"alright, alright, no more jokes! scout's honor." he said, holding up two fingers.

"asshole." she muttered but reluctantly let go, and he caught her easily, his hands settling on her waist as he steadied her before setting her down.

"see? no broken bones," he said with mock pride, his voice softening. "you can trust me."

she adjusted her skirt quickly, trying to hide the blush creeping up her neck. "thanks," she mumbled.

"no problem," jj said, his smirk returning as he leaned in closer. "anything for you, pretty."

before valentina could respond, pope's sharp whisper interrupted them. "what the hell are you two doing back there? let's go!"

the two exchanged a quick glance, both stifling laughter. "yeah, yeah, we're coming," jj said, throwing a salute as they jogged to catch up.

"guys, duck," pope whisper-shouted, his wide eyes darting toward the house.

valentina and jj furrowed their brows in confusion when they arrived, about to ask what was going on, before the porch lamp suddenly flicked on.

"Shit!" valentina hissed, ducking down and pulling jj with her. her heart raced as she looked at pope. "motion sensor lights?"

"yep." he nodded, glancing around in panic.

"we could uh... move really slowly maybe?" jj suggested, and valentina stared at him for a second, suppressing a laugh.

"the fuck?"

"what?"

"that's not how it works."

"oh, i know! let's throw a rock at it!" john b's eyes went comically wide, and Valentina pinched the bridge of her nose, shaking her head in exasperation.

"we've got dumb and dumber over here."

"that's a really good idea," kiara deadpanned. "let the axe murderer know we're here."

"you got a better idea?" john b shrugged, clearly not picking up on the sarcasm.

"literally anything but that," she shot back, rolling her eyes.

"wait," valentina muttered, lifting herself slightly to peek at the side of the house. "what about the breaker? in the circuit box on the porch?"

sarah pointed a finger at her, nodding quickly. "yes! we used to play hide-and-seek here as kids. if we were brave enough, we'd go all the way to the porch."

"i was always brave enough," valentina said smugly, raising her chin, and jj grinned, holding out a fist.

"that's my girl."

valentina smiled and bumped her fist against his, the moment lingering until john b interrupted with a scowl, holding sarah down. "no. no way. you're not going up there alone."

"um, dumbass?" valentina scoffed. "we're not alone, there's two of us. no wonder you failed math."

pope stiffened a laugh as john b sighed in frustration. "i'm serious. i won't allow it."

"watch us," sarah replied casually, shrugging, and valentina started to stand, only for jj to reach out and pull her back down by the shoulder.

"crain chops people into pieces," he said, his voice low and cautious, and she shot him a look as if to say okay?

"she's, like, what? a thousand years old?" she countered with a roll of her eyes. "she's probably barely kicking."

"exactly," sarah agreed with a nod, clearly unimpressed by the supposed threat.

kiara studied both girls for a moment, her eyes staying on valentina's a beat too long, before a nervous smile spread across her face.

"i'll go with you guys."

"okay," Valentina said softly, glancing at her with a grateful smile, and kiara looked away quickly.

"we'll wait for the signal," pope whispered as the three girls prepared to leave.

valentina reached out to ruffle pope's hair playfully, earning a sharp slap to her hand.

"okay, okay, i'm going!"

just as she turned to head toward the house, jj grabbed her hand, stopping her in her tracks. his grip was firm but not demanding, his usual teasing expression replaced with something softer.

"hey- be safe," he murmured, his blue eyes locking with hers.

valentina blinked, caught off guard for a moment, before offering him a reassuring smile. "we will."

and with that, she turned and followed kiara and sarah toward the porch, her heart fluttering just a little.

"she must have a generator plugged into the main power supply," sarah whispered as the three girls crept cautiously toward the porch. the dim light from valentina's flashlight cast faint shadows on the worn wood beneath their feet.

valentina reached for the electrical panel, her fingers trembling slightly. when she opened it, a scoff of disbelief escaped her lips just as sarah leaned closer.

"where are the breakers?" the blonde asked, her voice tinged with unease.

"shit," kiara muttered, her gaze darting around nervously. valentina bit her lip, tracing a wire that disappeared into the wall, and her heart sank as she whispered.

"it goes inside."

without waiting, she carefully pushed the door, her breath hitching when it gave way with a soft creak. "it's unlocked," she murmured, her voice almost drowned by the pounding of her heart. she turned to the others, grabbing the nearest hand instinctively for support. her grip tightened as her gaze met kiara's, whose calm, encouraging smile did little to ease her nerves, and for a moment, kiara expected the girl to let go of her hand in disgust, but she didn't.

"come on," valentina mumbled, though her feet felt heavy as they crossed the threshold. the eerie quiet inside the house amplified every sound. sarah raised her flashlight, the beam sweeping across the cluttered room. the sudden yowl of a cat broke the silence, and valentina let out a startled gasp, stumbling back into kiara.

"you know what? let's just go," she laughed nervously, turning to retreat, but kiara's hand remained firm on hers, gently pulling her back.

"val, come on. we're already here," kiara reassured her, her voice soft but steady.

with a shaky nod, the girl forced herself to follow as the three of them moved deeper into the house. every creak of the floorboards under their feet sent a shiver down her spine. kiara suddenly nudged her, pointing to a wire snaking across the ceiling, and valentina glanced back at sarah, who nodded, her lips pressed into a determined line in understanding.

they followed the wire until it led to a breaker box tucked into the corner of a dimly lit room. kiara stepped forward, her hand hovering over the switch, and with a glance at the others, she pressed the button, plunging the house and the yard outside into darkness.

for a fleeting moment, the girls shared a soft laugh of relief, the tension momentarily broken. But the sound was abruptly cut off by a thump—loud, deliberate, and far too close for comfort.

they froze, eyes wide, and instinctively ducked behind the nearest wall. valentina's whispered prayers filled the tense silence, her voice shaky and barely audible until sarah slapped her arm lightly, gesturing for her to stop.

but then came another sound- a dragging noise, low and unnervingly deliberate.

valentina whimpered softly, her head snapping toward the blonde, whose wide eyes mirrored her own terror. "sarah," she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath, "what was that?"

kiara, pressed against the wall beside them, shook her head as if to say she didn't want to find out. they exchanged fearful glances, their breath shallow as the thumping noise grew louder, each sound vibrating through the floor.

"we need to get out of here," sarah mouthed, her grip tightening on the flashlight.

valentina nodded, her body trembling, but her feet refused to move. the darkness suddenly felt suffocating, and all she could hear was the sound of her own rapid heartbeat echoing in her ears.

she slapped a trembling hand over her mouth, muffling her panicked breathing as mrs. crain shuffled past, her steps slow and deliberate. the dim light cast long shadows on the walls, and her chest tightened as the woman's raspy voice pierced the silence.

"i can hear you, leon," the woman muttered, her tone chilling and unhinged, and valentina's wide eyes darted to sarah, silently mouthing, who the fuck is leon? but sarah's only response was a whimper, her body trembling.

"i've been waiting all night," mrs. crain's voice echoed ominously, and the girl froze as the woman suddenly turned to face them. her wild eyes scanned the room before landing on their hiding spot.

valentina's blood turned cold as woman screeched, her voice high-pitched and ear-splitting, sending a wave of adrenaline surging through her veins. instinctively, the brunette shoved the other two behind her. "go! get out of here!" she screamed, her voice laced with terror.

the three girls bolted in different directions, the sounds of their hurried steps reverberating through the old house. mrs. crain's shrill cries followed them.

"leon?! where are you, leon?!"

valentina's shaky hands fumbled with the lock on a door, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she tried to force it open. "come on, come on," she muttered to herself, glancing nervously over her shoulder. the air felt suffocating, her heart pounding so loudly she swore it would give her away.

and then she felt it- the looming presence behind her. a chill ran down her spine as she slowly turned her head, locking eyes with the deranged woman. she pressed herself against the wall, her voice trembling.

"please don't kill me. i can't be caught dead in this outfit!" she yelped, her expression a mix of terror and disgust.

mrs. crain lunged forward with a fire poker in her hand, slashing it across the girl's cheek. a sharp, searing pain shot through her face, and she cried out. "fuck!" she gasped, her hand flying to her cheek as warm blood dripped down her fingers.

the woman swung again, and this time the fire poker sliced into her hip. a wave of pain washed over her, her knees buckling as she clung to the wall for support. blood soaked her side, the sticky warmth making her head spin. desperation clawed at her as she tried to push the woman away, her vision blurring.

mrs. crain raised the fire poker once more, her wild eyes gleaming with madness, and valentina braced herself, her arms instinctively coming up to shield her face. but before the blow could land, kiara appeared out of nowhere, grabbing the weapon with both hands and yanking it free from the woman's grip.

with a fierce determination, the girl slammed the fire poker onto the floor with a deafening clatter. "come on!" she shouted, grabbing valentina's hand and pulling her to her feet.

the girl stumbled, her legs weak from the blood loss, but she forced herself to run, clutching kiara's hand tightly. they dashed through the narrow hallway, mrs. carin's screeches echoing behind them. the door burst open ahead of them, and sarah waved frantically from the other side.

"hurry!" the blonde urged, and the moment they crossed the threshold, she slammed the door shut, leaning against it with all her weight.

valentina collapsed against kiara, her breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps. her cheek stung, her hip throbbed, and her bloodied hands shook as she looked up at the girls. "i'm never- ever- breaking into a psycho's house again," she muttered, her voice shaky but alive with relief, but the relief quickly turned to fear again.

the three girls screamed as a loud, bone-chilling thud slammed against the door they had just come through. valentina scrambled backward, her eyes darting wildly before she pointed to a small door tucked into the corner.

"this way!" she yelled, her voice urgent. "it leads underneath the house!"

without hesitation, the girls bolted toward the door, tumbling down the narrow staircase as quickly as they could. the damp, earthy smell of the crawl space hit them as valentina's eyes darted through the darkness, and relief washed over her when she saw familiar figures ahead.

"guys!" she called out, her voice trembling, and jj and Pope turned, startled, before their expressions melted into shock at the sight of the three disheveled, bloodied girls.

"what's going on?" he asked, his voice laced with concern, his eyes scanning the girls for injuries.

valentina bent over, hands on her knees as she struggled to catch her breath. she tried to speak, but the words came out choked and incoherent, so kiara took over, gesturing wildly toward the stairs. "mrs. crain- she's up there!"

"she tried to kill val!" sarah added, pointing toward her friend with wide, panicked eyes.

at the mention of the girl being attacked, jj's head snapped toward her, his eyes narrowing as he took in her disheveled appearance. she was clutching her side, blood seeping through her fingers as she applied pressure to a deep cut on her hip. his stomach churned as his gaze traveled upward, landing on the gash just beneath her cheekbone.

"shit," he muttered, rushing to her side. he yanked the bandana from around his neck without hesitation and pressed it firmly against her hip. "hold this," he instructed, his voice calm but urgent.

valentina winced, a sharp hiss escaping her lips as the pressure sent a new wave of pain shooting through her. jj's hand lingered, steady but gentle as his gaze flicked to her face, his lips parting slightly at the sight of the blood streaked across her cheek.

"your cheek too," he murmured, his thumb brushing the uninjured side of her face instinctively.

"guys, we need the fuck out of here!" sarah shouted, snapping everyone's attention back to the present danger. "she's coming!"

jj nodded, his jaw tightening. "yes, yes, okay. we gotta get out of here," he said firmly, turning his focus to pope. "where's john b?"

"he's still down the well." the boy replied, his voice tense.

"code red!" jj yelled, cupping his hands around his mouth. "john b! get back up, man!"

a muffled voice echoed faintly from below. the group immediately grabbed the rope, pulling with all their strength, but the uneven weight distribution caused them to stumble and fall, sending the entire group sprawling to the ground.

"fuck!" valentina cursed, her heart pounding in her chest. she scrambled to her feet, rushing to the edge of the well. her voice was frantic as she leaned over. "john b? what the fuck are you still doing down there?!"

everyone crowded around the edge, their ears straining to catch his muffled reply. the sound of rushing water grew louder, and valentina's stomach dropped.

"what's he saying?" jj asked, his voice tight with urgency.

"jj! pope! kie!" his voice called out, faint and panicked, and valentina's face paled as realization hit her.

"he's drowning!" she gasped, grabbing at the rope. "b! hold on!"

"get back on the rope, we're gonna pull you back up, okay buddy?" pope yelled as they all scrambled into position.

the group pulled with all their strength, their fingers straining against the coarse rope. the effort was exhausting, every second dragging like an eternity. valentina's legs burned as she leaned back for leverage, but she refused to stop.

amidst their frantic effort, none of them noticed the faint creak of footsteps descending the stairs behind them. a shadow loomed in the doorway, the presence creeping closer as they remained focused on saving their friend.

a sudden gunshot shattered the tense silence, and the group froze in terror. valentina let out a piercing shriek, instinctively grabbing onto pope as she released the rope.

"pull!" he yelled, urgency and fear mingling in his voice. the archibald girl's pulse raced, but she quickly pushed herself off pope and lunged back to the rope. her hands shook as she gripped it, her voice trembling with panic. "oh my god, oh my god!" she whimpered, pulling with all her strength.

another gunshot rang out, closer this time, and she flinched, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.

"POPE! TIE IT!" she screamed, her voice breaking as adrenaline coursed through her veins.

he nodded quickly, his movements frantic as he scrambled to secure the rope to the edge. the others had already ducked behind somewhere, shielding themselves from the shots, and valentina groaned in frustration when the rope slipped. she glanced at pope, her face etched with fear and something else.

the next moment, she made a split-second decision. "stay down!" she ordered, shoving pope to the ground beside jj, ignoring his startled yelp. she ran back to the rope, her hands grasping it firmly as she pulled with everything she had.

"valentina, duck!" jj yelled, his voice hoarse with panic.

she barely registered his shout before another gunshot echoed through the room. this one flew so close that she felt the rush of air as it whizzed past her head.

"valentina!" jj bellowed, his voice filled with a raw mix of fear and anger. he lunged forward as if to go after her but was yanked back by pope.

"i'm fine!" she shouted back, though her voice cracked in fear. her arms burned, her hands slipping against the rough rope as her breaths came out in short, uneven gasps, but she refused to stop. if they didn't get john b out of the well, she would never forgive herself.

she ducked down next to jj, her breath ragged as she finally managed to tie the rope securely, and before she could even catch her breath, jj was already moving, shielding her with his body.

"are you insane?" he hissed, his blue eyes burning with frustration. "you could've been shot!"

"yeah, but i wasn't!" she shot back, her voice a mix of exasperation and defiance. "john b needed us!"

before their argument could escalate, pope hissed for silence, his wide eyes darting toward the source of the gunfire. the group froze for a tense moment, but another shot shattered the stillness, whistling far too close for comfort. the three scrambled to their feet, moving as one, jj's arm instinctively wrapping around the girl as he continued to shield her while they ran.

"go, go, go, go!" pope urged, his voice tight with urgency.

"that's buckshot!" jj yelled, the words barely registering over the pounding of her heart. valentina glanced back into the darkness, squinting to make out anything through the chaos.

"john b!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the noise, but she barely had time to react before jj pushed her forward.

her heart was racing, and the sharp sting in her hip forced her to limp, her steps uneven.

"come on," the blonde muttered, his tone softening as he slipped his arm under hers, lifting her arm around his shoulders to help steady her. his grip on her waist was firm but gentle, keeping her upright as they hurried toward the wall.

ahead of them, pope turned back, his gaze flickering to the girl before giving jj a quick nod of acknowledgment. without hesitation, jj hoisted her up, his strong hands steadying her as she struggled to climb the wall.

"you're good," he murmured, his tone steady even as chaos erupted around them.

on the other side, pope stood waiting with outstretched arms. "come on!" he urged, his voice edged with panic.

valentina took a breath and jumped, her legs barely cooperating. to her surprise- and relief- pope caught her, staggering slightly under her weight but holding firm. the moment her feet hit the ground, she groaned as the sharp pain in her hip reminded her of her injury. still, she let the adrenaline carry her as she limped toward the twinkie, her heart pounding in her chest.

she burst into laughter, a mix of nerves and disbelief as she clung to pope. "i can't believe your lanky ass actually did that!" she exclaimed, still breathless.

pope scoffed, equally winded. "yeah, me neither," he admitted, flashing her a quick, sheepish grin before urging her inside the van.

as sarah threw her arms around the girl in a tight embrace, jj started the van, its engine rumbling to life. the sound jolted valentina, who sat up abruptly, her face full of concern. "wait- where's john b?" she demanded, her eyes darting toward the open door.

"start the car!" pope yelled urgently, cutting her off, but a moment later, rustling from outside caught their attention, and they turned to see john b barreling toward them.

"why are we always getting shot at?!" pope shouted, throwing his hands up as kiara leaned out the window, yelling at john b. "run faster, dude!"

valentina stretched out her arm toward the running boy as he reached the van, her fingers gripping his tightly before yanking him inside. the momentum sent him sprawling onto the floor, and pope quickly slid the door shut behind him.

as john b sat up, gasping for air, valentina wrinkled her nose.

"you smell like fucking shit!" she exclaimed, her voice somewhere between disgusted and amused. everyone burst into frantic, overlapping exclamations, the adrenaline still pumping through their veins.

"jj, drive!" sarah yelled, urgency snapping them all back into focus.

his eyes flicked to the rearview mirror as he stomped on the gas. "i'm going, i'm going!" he snapped, the van lurching forward as gravel spat from the tires.

"are you okay?" he called over his shoulder to john b, his voice a little more tender this time. "are you shot?" his blue eyes glanced back repeatedly, flicking between the road and his friend.

john b shook his head, still trying to catch his breath.

"i think i'd know if i was shot," kiara asked, placing around as she started touching her stomach, and valentina nodded with a groan, the topic reminding her of her own cut.

"definitely."

the van erupted in laughter, the kind that comes from pure, unfiltered adrenaline and disbelief.

"all-time pogue hall of fame, baby!" jj declared, his grin wide as he smacked the dashboard for emphasis.

kiara leaned over, giving him an approving pat on the back. "hell yeah! that bitch is possessed!"

"the bitch can't aim!" sarah gasped, still catching her breath.

"how does she even move that fast?" Pope exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief, shaking his head as if to clear it.

but valentina barely registered their words. Her eyes were locked on john b, who sat across from her with a lazy, triumphant smirk tugging at his lips. slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out something that gleamed faintly in the dim light, and her heart stuttered.

"no." she murmured, her head shaking even as her chest tightened with a spark of hope.

"Yes." john b's grin only grew wider

"no way," she repeated, her voice climbing as disbelief gave way to joy.

"yes way," he shot back, holding it up like a trophy.

"oh my god. oh my god!" she shrieked, nearly launching herself at him before stopping short, her nose wrinkling at his dirt-covered figure. "i was gonna hug you, but... never mind," she quipped, her gaze dropping to the gold. "you fucking did it!"

"i know," he replied smugly, his tone drenched in satisfaction.

the commotion caught everyone else's attention. "wait- what is that?" kiara asked, craning her neck to see as sarah let out a delighted giggle.

"no you didn't," she said, though the grin on her face said she knew exactly what had happened.

"we did it, baby!" john b crowed, his enthusiasm infectious.

valentina burst out laughing at the sheer disbelief etched on pope's face, and she reached over, wrapping an arm around him and leaning into his side.

"no you didn't!," sarah repeated, her grin widening as the realization set in.

"we did it!" john b confirmed, holding up the treasure for all to see.

the van exploded with noise. whoops, hollers, and shouts filled the air as the pogues celebrated wildly. jj turned around in his seat, his jaw dropping when his eyes landed on the gold.

"i did it!" john b yelled over the chaos, his voice cracking with exhilaration.

"oh my god!" jj exclaimed, his grin stretching ear to ear, and he punched the air. "that's it! we're rich, baby!"

"wait, wait!" kiara shouted, silencing the others with a wave of her hand. her eyes darted around the group, her voice filled with awe. "we're gonna be rich."

valentina couldn't help but smile at the pure joy on her newfound friends' faces. a soft laugh bubbled out of her as she leaned closer to pope, shaking his arm in excitement.

"you guys are gonna be fucking rich!"

pope let out a whoop and threw an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into a quick hug as the group broke into another chant.

"full kook, full kook, full kook!"

the energy in the van reached a fever pitch, everyone shouting and laughing until their voices cracked. valentina felt a warmth bloom in her chest, a contentment she hadn't felt in ages. seeing them so happy, so alive, filled her with an overwhelming sense of belonging.

she crawled over to jj, who was shouting along with the others like a madman. giggling, she grabbed his shoulder to get his attention.

"you're gonna be rich," she said softly, her voice cutting through the noise.

he turned to her, his face lighting up with a grin that could rival the sun. "i'm gonna be fucking rich, baby!"

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

🪷 . . . MAISSA !
hi angelllsss

idc if val & jj are moving fast i need them to kiss NOW!

but that won't happen x 🤣

next chap is gonna be one of my favs

love you alllllll💘💕