Page 18

AUTUMN

“ A utumn, baby, wake up.” I groan at being shaken awake. What the hell? I finally get some sleep and now what? I roll over hoping it will stop but it doesn’t.

“Autumn please, I need you to tell me how to get to whatever The Crypt is.” The Crypt, no.

I shoot up, taken aback by the words. I haven’t went to that place since I was a cheerleader in high school and thank God for that.

It was hell on earth. The only reason it wasn’t so bad for me was because I was dating Heath and the two times someone tried to hit on me, he pushed them down the stairs and threatened them to never talk to me again or else.

Then he beat up football players the next time. Everyone stopped after that.

“What’s going on?”

“Montana called Grimm saying she had gotten taken along with Theodora and heard the guys say they were going there.” How the hell would they get taken? Theodora is guarded by her older brothers and Montana’s family is loaded; she has a private driver and a personal guard as her dad is the mayor.

“Let’s go.” I get out of bed and slip on socks along with my UGGS. I grab a jacket, and my phone.

“It’s like you’re going into battle.” Heath chuckles.

“You remember that old church we met at, when a party happened there.” He nods “Under it are catacombs, that’s The Crypt, where boys take girls to do dirty things.”

“Did someone touch you there?”

“I was lucky, I was dating you.” I tell him, grabbing his hand. We leave my room, and I see Maya is no longer on the sofa, but the pizza is open. She saw it, good. I text Maya telling her what’s going on. She replies quickly.

Maya:

I took DJ to work. Be careful and good luck on your mission. I love you

Me:

I’ll give you all the details about last night when we both get back. We can have a girl's night.

I put my phone into my pocket as we leave the apartment. “How is Grimm?” I ask Heath. He must feel horrible, knowing he couldn’t protect Montana. Or Thea.

“Pissed.” He answers. Grimm is Montana’s brother's best friend, but I believe he’s always had some secret thing for her.

And her him. Heath quickly starts his truck up and leaves, speeding to St. Bernard's Church. The place has been completely abandoned for years but oddly very up kept. We reach the old church seeing Grimm’s black jeep already outside, along with another car.

Heath randomly parks somewhere then jumps out beelining to Grimm’s Jeep. Grimm gets out holding a baseball bat.

I turn off the truck, take the keys and get out myself. “Scottie hey, I didn’t expect you two together.” Grimm says as I approach.

“Let’s just say we fixed things.” Heath says. Grimm’s eyes widen as if he’s realizing something.

“You did the thing.” Grimm says, patting his shoulder.

“Did everyone know you planned to torture me?” I ask before turning around and walking over to the church.

“Just the trusted circle Scottie.” God, I’ve always hated that dumb nickname his friends gave me.

It’s kind of cute when Rex does it but that is because he’s all nerdy but from Grimm and Thatcher, it is degrading.

At least Thatcher is away in New York right now.

I roll my eyes and lead them to the side of the church that has the catacomb door and open it.

“This has been here the whole time?” Grimm asks.

“It's normally covered.” I reply. Normally some of the football players cover it with a makeshift top that’s covered in leaves and vines, concealing it.

“I’ll go first.” Grimm swings his baseball bat over his shoulder and slides his mask over his face.

I forgot they all had one and I’m the one who made them.

Unlike Heath’s black and orange colored mask, Grimm’s is black and in the little dents it’s gotten over time he’s painted in silver.

Heath puts his mask as well and follows Grimm down into the catacombs.

“Keep straight. They are most likely in the third room.” I tell Grimm as we descend the staircase lit by a couple of torches on the wall.

I hate this place, it’s always given me a very creepy vibe with the cold stone walls, spider webs in the corners, the dirt floors, and dim lightning. It feels so enclosed.

The last time I was down here was senior year and there was the end of the year party for the athletes.

Grimm leads us close to the third room where we start to hear voices. “Now why don’t you two tell us why you think you’re too good for us. For god's sake you’re cheerleaders.” A guy laughs.

“I know I’m too good for you.” Montana replies.

“She’s not. She’s an old dirty country rat.” A new voice comments. They must be talking about Theodora.

“Leave her alone. She’s way too fucking young,” Montana says. It sounds like she’s getting pissed.

“That’s why she’s a good one,” That’s so gross.

Heath quietly walks to the other side of the door and pulls out a pocketknife.

I stay where I am behind Grimm, too scared to move to the other side of the door.

Him and Grimm nod to each other before bursting into the room.

I peek through the doorway seeing Grimm hit the boy near Montana clear over the head with his bat and continue beating him while Heath fights the other.

I run over to the girls and start to untie them from the wooden poles they have them tied to.

“Thank fucking god.” Montana throws her head back, relieved.

“Why did they want you two?” I ask them as I untie her.

“They tried to talk to us in the hall after school and started talking about tonight's party down here and saying we should come because we know we are the compensation from the big man, but we refused so they said they would keep us here until then.” Theodora explains.

“The big man?” I move onto untying Theodora.

“Yeah, I guess some guy tries to pimp us out in exchange for his debts.” Montana says.

“Who is this guy?”

“His business card is somewhere on the ground.” Theodora says as I finish untying her.

“I didn’t think this would be when I see my estranged cousin,” referring to Grimm.

The Mcentire and Grimm family have always had some underlying issues.

I start to search the ground close to them and find a metal gray card.

I pick it up, observing it. I recognize the logo; it’s crossed axes with a skull in the center and the place is called The Exchange.

I know I’ve seen this before. Nothing seems off to me until I notice the name.

It’s a code name my father always used to identify himself when he was around shifty people: Jack Cobalt.

My fathers middle name is Jack, and his fathers was Cobalt, so he put them both together.

“This is my dad’s.”

“I’ve seen him around sometimes.” Montana says. Sometimes! He comes down here?

“Time to go ladies.” Grimm calls out. Theodora wastes no time leaving. Montana still stands in front of me as if she’s going to do something but doesn’t.

“Montana, let’s go.” Grimm says, demanding her to start moving.

“I’m sorry,” She whispers, walking away.

“You take them home, me and Autumn got this.” Heath tells Grimm. I turn around facing them in complete shock of what I’ve found.

My dad could be or is trafficking girls to some guy but for what? Why young girls? Why are the football players in on it? And who is he working for because I know my dad wouldn’t do this alone.

I’m drawn away from my thoughts for a moment as I see the two high school boys laying on the ground unmoving.

Oh god. My chest tightens at the scene and a pit rises in my stomach. What the fuck. They are all bloodied and beaten. Their faces are barely recognizable anymore.

“Are they dead?” I ask Heath. I think they are, but I need confirmation.

“Yeah, we need to bury them.” We?

We! I can’t do this.

I’m not a criminal and last time I checked this was a first-class ticket to prison. My chest heaves up and down as I stare at the scene in front of me. Two teenagers just bleeding out on the ground while he’s standing over them. Bile threatens to raise up my throat, but I swallow it down.

“Autumn?” Heath calls my name, but I’m stuck in tunnel vision backing away from the scene till my body collides with a solid surface. “Hey, you, okay?” Heath is now in front of my face in clear view. I still say nothing, only sliding down the wall and he follows.

“I can't do this…..it’s too much. I can’t be a part of a murder,” I cry, tears streaming down my face.

“It’s okay, Freckles, I can do it on my own. What do you need me to do for you?” My mind still whirls at the possibility of prison as I cry harder.

“Distract me.” I whisper. Yeah, that will help.

Heath leans in kissing me hard but I can’t kiss him back, I’m still in my thoughts.

It doesn’t bother him though he continues kissing me while slowly moving my body under him.

Now I lay on the ground. The coldness of the ground is slightly distracting, but I can still see the bodies behind me and the scene of Heath and Grimm hurting them pops into my head.

Heath holds my waist to the ground as he kisses my neck. This isn’t distracting enough. “I need something more. Please.” I cry.

“Okay, but you asked for it.” He says, slightly unsure but completely willing.

I feel my leggings and panties get slipped down first before he slips down his sweatpants.

I don’t have time to think about anything before he plunges inside of me.

My eyes widen. My mind is totally taken over by the sudden feeling of him inside of me.

“Holy shit,” I say.

“I told you, you asked for it,” Heath says, plowing into me hard. This was the perfect distraction.

“Fuck,” the word rolls out of my mouth slowly as I get overtaken by the pleasure.

“That right baby, put all your attention on me.” Heath says. I’m finally able to turn away from the bodies and look at Heath. His eyes get me every time. Staring into his eyes doesn’t last long as I feel him hit my cervix and my eyes roll back, and I moan out.