Jack

I collapsed against the restraints I had been trying so hard to free myself from, Josh taking this opportunity to only pull me closer to him. Dammit May. Put the gun away. I leaned forward, bearing all my weight down on his arms; I wasn't going to make this any easier for him.

I looked over at my sister, standing tall and gun aimed at Dan's head. From a quick glance, not even a was quiver breaking her composure. Upon closer inspection I saw her bottom lip trembling ever so slightly.

Dan merely laughed, "Oh really, love?"

"Don't you dare try me." May's bottom lip stopped trembling. "Trust me when I say a bullet wound hurts." By now, people at the park were starting to notice us, murmuring and clutching each other as they eyed May's gun. "Let him go," she was oblivious to their stares.

"Make me," Josh mimicked her threatening tone, making the request seem childish by adding a lilting accent to it. A woman screamed as the gun fired; the bullet flying a few inches away from Dan's head.

"Warning shot." May remarked as it embedded itself in a tree.

"May!" I couldn't contain myself, "put the gun down."

She looked over at me and my pathetic attempt to break free. The bullet had been to close for my liking to Alex. If she shot him, I wouldn't forgive myself. I was the one who got us in this mess. Right from the very beginning. If only I hadn't asked Alex out to get a drink.

"Shut up you," Josh said, jerking me back harshly, knocking the breath from my lungs. May looked at him indignantly. "I won't hesitate to put a bullet in your brain either, you twat."

Catching my breath, I looked over at Alex and my eyes widened in shock. He was slumped over, his legs unable to support him; they bore more resemblance to jelly on skewers rather than long, lean limbs. Dan's arms were around his middle, and he was cooing softly at the lump, one hand holding an empty syringe and placing it in his pockets.

"Lex!" I managed to gasp, alerting May of the crisis. Her face fell, but her gun was still aimed at Josh and I. She knew she couldn't shoot them both, in fear of hitting Alex or I, but now that Dan had a deadweight to drag around, and by default most easier to block bullets with, Josh was the preferable target. Josh chose against punishing me for my outcry, instead gritting his teeth and shifting his body behind mine more.

May smiled, bittersweet. "He won't protect you." Ice clutched my heart as she relined the gun and cocked it.

The people in the park had moved away, shuffled back to the main streets around it by Leeyh. Josh's arms tightened around me; he didn't want to lose me. Just wanted me to call him mine. "Fine," Josh snarled, dropping me. A metallic taste filled my mouth as I kissed the ground, my teeth scraping against my tongue. "I let him go." My hands stung as I brought them under me, lifting myself onto all fours.

"Leeyh, help Jack." May demanded. I felt a pair of arms around me, pulling me to my feet and away from Josh.

"Where's Alex?" I murmured, looking around the abandoned park for him. At a glance, nobody would know this was the type of day for a kidnapping. The sun was shining brightly, the light filtering through the leaves. I could hear a few stray birds chirping, not at all affected by the presence of the gun. A softer, quieter constant noise could be heard from the streets bordering the park; the chatter of voices filling the air.

My eyes landed on the space I had last seen the brown eyed, brown haired boy. My heart started beating faster as Leeyh said, "I don't know. Dan's gone." May's lapse in concentration had enabled him to get away. Josh knew this and was smiling.

"Thanks May, on behalf of Dan." He walked off, May trembling where she stood.

"Stupid!" She exclaimed. She dropped the gun, lowering herself to the ground and putting her head in her hands.

"Leeyh, help me follow him." I said, wiping the blood from my hands on my jeans and spitting the mouthful of blood I had acquired onto the dirt.

"I don't think that's a good idea -"

"Leeyh! Just do it! Please." Leeyh gritted his teeth and put an arm around me, helping me run. The shock my body had taken hitting ground and the small adrenaline rush that had followed had only lasted a few seconds. My legs were shaking now; my heart also wasn't coping well with having a bullet aimed near me or fired near my loved one.

"Jack," Leeyh began, craning his neck in a vain attempt to look forward, "I don't think we're going to catch Dan.'

"We're going to try." I insisted, picking up the pace as I saw Josh's retreating body. I watched as Josh stopped dead in his tracks, backing up a few paces after a few seconds. I halted, as did Leeyh.

'Alex." I whispered, setting off at a run again. "Alex," I repeated, louder this time. Alex looked up from the car he was standing next to, rubbing his wrists. He smiled breathlessly before glancing at the sight of Dan pressed against the hood, handcuffs around his wrists. Josh looked back at me, a scared look on his face. I saw Alex exchange a few words with a police officer and point in mine and Josh's direction. 'See you in court, bitch." I said smugly, strutting over to where Alex was and enveloping him in a hug. "It's going to be okay." Our embrace was cut short as a few police officers started to ask questions concerning the event.

"Do you mind if we go back to headquarters to explain?" Alex asked, taking my hand in his. "It's a long story." The police officer eyed us, before giving a curt nod.

"That can be arranged. Why don't you get into that car and I'll get Fuentes to take you back immediately." He waved his arm in the air, obviously alerting this "Fuentes" person, and a short heavily tanned man came over.

"Okay boys, you heard him. Into the car."

Notes

Title credit: Million Dollar Houses (The Painter) - Pierce the Veil
c0l0urfultears