Lucas stood looking in the mirror. He looked horrible. His eyes looked so exhausted. He forced a smile, but it was not real, you could see it in the eyes they only screamed. He backed away from the mirror. He didn't like seeing himself like that. His lip trembled. He walked back to his room breathing very fast and shallow. He sat on the bed again. Again trying to even his breathing. He again failed and again he lay on the bed curled up trying to quiet himself as teats again streamed down his face. He shook and gasped quietly. There was a nock on his door.

“Lucas? You awake” It was Penny.

Lucas sat bolt upright staring at the door. She knocked again. He hugged himself backing up against the wall. He squeezed his eyes shut. She knocked again, He pushed his hands against his ears closing his eyes. 

“Just go away.” He whispered through gritted teeth. He curled up again still hands on his ears. He whimpered, biting his lip. Why was he so weak. He took a shaky breath rubbing his face and stood. He could feel his body shaking. He wiped the tears and spit from his face. He opened the door. Penny stood there in her pajamas. 

“Lucas, Lucas your lips are bleeding.” She said, stepping forward and reaching out her hand.

“It is?” He said weakly, his voice cracking. It was clear he had been crying. You could see it too. his eyes were red and his cheeks were still damp.

“Here I'll get you a towel.” Penny said, slipping past him and to the bathroom. 

Lucas went and sat on his bed. He needed to pull himself together. No one wanted to see him like this. He needed to encourage others, he couldn't cry and be useless. He needed to be strong for the others. He needed to do it. He needed to smile for them he had to be more be better. Penny tapped his shoulder handing him a damp cloth. He took it with a muttered thankyou and held it to his lip. Penny sat beside him. 

“Lucas.” Penny started but failed.

He did not look up. Just sat staring at the floor.

“Lucas. What's going on with you? I mean, come on. I know your going through a lot. But we're here for you. I'm here for you. Lucas you can talk to me.” Penny said.

“Lucas.” She said, taking his free hand.

He finally looked up and forced a smile.

“Penny, I-I'm ok, i just. I'm ok, no need to worry about me.” He said. 

“Lucas, stop lying I can see you're not ok, Lucas be honest to me, just tell me.” Penny said looking deep into her eyes. Her eyes were so beautiful and round. Her entire face was beautiful. Lucas didn't deserve her, he knew deep down he didn't. She was too perfect and beautiful for him. 

“Lucas.” SHe said again.

“Really Penny.” He started but felt his lip quiver.

“Really, I'm ok.” He said tears came again to his eyes.

“Im ok, i'm doing fine, ok..” Finally he burst and felt more tears coming. 

Penny hugged him wrapping her arms around him. He loved it, he hated it. He should be the one being strong for her. She was so warm and nice. He was being weak. SHe smelled nice. He needed to be better, he didn't deserve her. She really like him, she was so amazing. He hated her, he loved her. He wanted to die. He wanted to fight and live. He was going to beat the monster. It was going to kill them all and it would be his fault. He needed to just leave and let it kill him. Penny hugged him tighter. He felt weak, he felt loved. He cried more. He hugged her back. He felt like some small child looking for some comfort from his mother after falling and skinning his knee. Lucas wondered if this was what it was like. He took a shaky breath finally getting somewhat hold of his emotions. But Penny didnt let him go, just continuing to hug him. He closed his eyes. There was no need to think now, thinking only brought pain and bad memories, there would be plenty of time for that later. Know it was just him and Penny, No one else, Just him and Penny.

WEDNESDAY

The group left fairly early, they wanted to go to the storage unit before anyone e;ese was there, they didn't want to be seen by anyone and need to answer any unnecessary questions. It was a short drive to the yard. Everyone seemed to hold their breath as Roxanne typed in the code for the gate, but it clicked green and peeping the gate opened, there was a kind of collective sigh in relief at this, and soon they were inside and parked, they all got out and walked over to her grandfather's container, There was a big garage sliding door, and a white door, Roxanne pulled out a key from her pocket and fitted it into the lock, it clicked easily enough and she pulled the door open. Walking in Roxanne flicked on the lights flickered. The room was mostly what you'd expect dimly lit with piles of boxes on the walls. but against one wall was a kind of rack, and hanging from the rack were the guns they were planning to take. 

“Your grandpas ready for something.” Mike muttered.

Roxanne only shrugged, walking forward. She looked at the guns and selected a few, then handing them to Mike she grabbed a few boxes of bullets. He could tell she was nervous and kept glancing back to the door where Penny stood just to be sure no one would suddenly enter. 

“Ok this is good.” Roxanne said stuffing the items into a duffle bag. 

The group left and began the short walk back to their car. Lucas sighed sure they were in the clear. He could see the car, it had gone so smoothly just in and out. 

“Hey, you guys?” He froze, the voice was unfamiliar. He saw the group stiffen. 

Lucas turned, his stomach lurching. It was a security guard he called out again.

“Hey excuse me.” He shouted while jogging over. He stopped in front of Lucas.

“Can I help you?” He said, smiling as pleasantly as possible. 

The rest of the group all forced smiles as well. Roxanne casually standing  behind Mike doing her best to hide the duffle.

“Hye sorry, but it's just i've never seen you guys around here, I mean dont want to come off as rude or anything but I mean. What are you guys doing here this early in the morning.” He said smiling, but his tone was kind of stiff. He was blatantly suspicious. 

“Oh we're just here for my friend's grandfather," he said, nodding back at the group. Roxanne handed the duffle to Mike who held it behind her back, as she stepped forward. 

“Eh hey, and I mean, whose grandfather, I mena his name?” He said his smile was fading slightly. 

“His name is John Dent.” Roxanne said, smiling slightly and laughing.

“Oh yeah I know him.” The guard said nodding, he looked deep in thought trying to decide whether she was lying or not. She was definitely acting strange, but lots of people come off nervous when talking to security guards. And the other guy seemed completely relaxed. He thought.

“And what did you grab for him?” The guys asked.

“Oh just this. took us forever to fine in all that mess, but we finally did.” Lucas said laughing and pulling a photo out of jus coat pocket. It was framed nicely in a neat little wooden frame. The photo was old and dusty, it was of who Lucas assumed to be Roxans grandfather as a younger man, he was standing with a beautiful woman by his side. They were both smiling and hugging each other. Lucas handed the photo to the guard. He examined it for a moment before nodding and handing it back.

“Ok, um just one last question, what's in the duffle?” He said pointing to Mark. 

Lucas visibly winced.

“Um dont need to pry, but can I take a look?” He said, folding his arms and eyeing Lucas. 

He had recovered his expression quickly but it had shown. And he noticed that the other people in the group were doing much worse at hiding their fear. He took a step forward holding out his hand. 

Lucas' mind was racing. The guard was a fit guy, even bigger than Mark. They could probably all take him, but it was possible that he had an alarm on him. And he also knew there was  a good possibility that Mark and the others wouldn't help. Lucas scraped his mind, eyes darting side to side, his lip quavered. 

“Hand me the bag.” The guard said.

Mark looked to Lucas. but he was staring at the ground, gritting his teeth. And so with a sigh he handed the bag over. The guy took the bag and put his hand on the zipper, but right as he began to pull it he felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck and then darkness. He fell face forward. Lucas stood over him breathing heavily and shaking out his wrist. 

“We have to go now!” Lucas yelled. 

The others stood frozen for a second but began to follow Lucas who had grabbed the bag. They got in the car and floored it out of there. 

“Man what the heck! What are we going to do now!” Mark shouted, turning to Lucas.

“Were going to go to jail.” Roxanne said with her hand over her mouth.

“Lucas!” Even Penny shouted. 

Lucas looked around, eyeing each one of them slightly glaring.And then he spoke. His voice was cold but even.

“What else should i have done?” He asked simply, when no one answered he began to speak again.

“There was no better option, look, if he opened it and saw a bunch of teens with a bag full of guns, what then? It probably would go a lot worse. I mean, what else would we do, really? Give me another option?” He said angrily. CLosing his eyes and gritting his teeth.

“But what do we do now!He knows who we are!?” Penny said, trying to keep her voice calm. 

Lucas sat for a long painful moment tapping his finger on his arms thinking. Finally he opened his eyes.

“We have to act a lot sooner, we deal with this later, if they do come to us, the police, and they probably will. You tell them that I made you do it, that I'm crazy and threaten to kill you guys if you didn't.” Lucas said coldly.

“What! You want us to throw you under the bus!?” Marks shouted.

“Yes, Roxans grandfather will probably pardon you guys or us whatever.” He said looking at Roxanne who nodded dully.

“And the rest you say I made you guys do it. Say we took random stuff and I buried it.” Lucas shrugged.

“What why?” Mark asked.

“I'll bury the photograph at least. And maybe the duffle. But come on, paperwork wise I already look crazy. Come on, I'm a teenager who's lost so much, and so quickly. It should work.” Lucas said, nodding and closing his eyes.

“Man this is crazy.” Mark said.

“Lucas, we can't do that, you might go to jail.” Penny said pulling off on a curb on the side of the road. 

“No, I'd only go to juvy.” Lucas said, shrugging. 

“Besides story works that we go to the woods.” Lucas shrugged.

“What do you mean go to the woods?” Roxanne asked, rubbing her eyes.

“Well we have to move a lot faster. I mean a lot faster, so…” He trailed off.

The others stared at each other then to Lucas.

“You dont mean know.” Penny said, visibly beginning to shake.

“Know. And we'd better get going, getting pulled off on a busy road is not a good idea.” Lucas said gritting his teeth, He had a headache. He felt terrified he crossed his arms hoping no one would notice his hands shaking. 

“Lucas? Know.” Penny asked, her voice sounding weak.

“Yes. we are going to the bridge now.” He said.

No one spoke. Penny started the car again and pulled out into the road. The bridge was only five minutes away. It seemed an eternity and an instant till they pulled into the little parking lot. At least that was good how hidden it was. Again it wouldn't be good if cops just showed up. 

They reached the bridge too fast. The air was hot and muggy today as well. Lucas tried to breathe evenly but was shaking so bad he couldn't breathe properly. He felt his teeth chattering even though it was hot. 

“You guys get in position.” He said, He could hear his voice shaking as he spoke.

They all nodded their faces pail. Mark walked off first then Roxanne and then Penny. As she passed Lucas she stopped turning.

“Whatever you do, don't die, swear it.” SHe said tears in her eyes.

“What?” He asked, voice still shaking. He felt cold.

“Lucas, dont die. I dont care what happens afterwards whether we all go to prison. BUt dont die.” Penny said, hugging him tightly as if she were holding onto a piece of driftwood at sea.

“Penny.. I.” He started but could say no more.

“Lucas, Lucas I love you ok. I love and, and please don't die on me! Lucas.” She said sobbing. 

LUcas only stood frozen.

“I won't.” He said finally nodding. SHe gave him one last squeeze and went to get in position. All Lucas had to do was wait. Really he couldn't do much. He was only armed with a baseball bat Penny kept in her car for an emergency situation. Lucas gripped it tightly, feeling terrified. His hands were frozen and he wanted to cry. He only stood in the middle of the bridge. He wondered how long they'd have to wait, WOuld the thing come out in such nice weather in the bright morning. Lucas shuttered thinking of it. But he tried to comfort himself, thinking that the second it stepped onto the bridge he would be able to see it. He had told the others to wait till it was close before shooting. He wanted it to be close enough so even if it ran, they'd be able to shoot it a lot of times before it was able to hide in the woods. 

It looked like the nice weather was not going to last though as clouds were rolling in darkening the sky. Lucas felt the air getting colder as well. He shivered more. He wanted to scream the tension of this, he gripped the bat so hard his hands hurt but he could not relax. This was it, the final stand was known. 

It began to rain after a few hours of waiting. And still no one left their position. Lucas shivered but felt numb by now. He only sat there. Rain, fog, and a general sense of darkness. His adrenaline was still pumping fast. He stood feeling numb but still up, shaking and shivering. Lucas stomped his legs trying to stay warm. He was soaking wet. His hair plastered down over his face. 

The others watched him from above. Their positions had a covered roof allowing them to stay somewhat dry.

“we should call it quits.” Penny said, shivering and looking down at Lucas' silhouette.

“I dont know, it's only been a few hours.” Mark said, cracking his knuckles and resisting his grip on the gun.

“Are you guys sure, were going to die of exposure?” Penny said, folding her arms.

“No, if Lucas doesn't call it we stay.” Roxanne said, laying on her stomach holding the rifle.

Penny sighed weakly. She knew the others were right but still. She felt hopeless. And so they sat and the hours slowly crawled by.