Thirty minutes later, the situation at Penny's Road had been neutralized. Across the city, the rest of the squad finally arrived at their destination.
"The outskirts of the city sure look good," Derick remarked.
He stood with Raymond as the area in which they were looked like it was begging for the city's attention to help maintain it. There weren't many buildings there—just one stood out, out of all the others.
Ponytail brought out his phone; he checked the picture of the home they were searching for, and it was the one that still stood on firm ground. He gave his phone to Derick to confirm if it was the place.
"This is it, right?" He asked
Derick took the phone and saw the photo in it, and the blue-colored house was their main focus, he replied. "Yup, this is it. He turned to the car, he yelled. "Yo, gizmo, we're going in."
Larry called back. "Shut up, I'm coming."
He got down from the car, he joined the other two, and they walked towards the building.
The silence of the area echoed their footsteps. As they got close to the house, Raymond told Derick. "We're getting closer; use your senses."
"Done that the moment we got here," Derick replied. They walked up to the front door of the building and rang the doorbell.
They waited, but no answer—rang it again, no answer.
"Are you sure people are in there?" Larry asked.
"Yeah, two, in fact." Derick answered. His x-ray vision kicked in; he saw through the door—two old lads sat at the dining table, unmoving. Derick shouted. "We know you're in there; we just need to ask a few questions."
A shaken, crackling old voice called out from within. "Derick Andrew, please stay away."
They stood there, thunderstruck, unable to process how he knew Derick's name.
Raymond spoke lowly. "Kick down the door."
"What was that? I couldn't hear you," said Larry.
Raymond roared. "I said, 'Kick down the goddamn door!'"
The tall dark fella immediately knocked down the door. They walked in; the oldies in it sat—worry on their faces—shook their heads, and raised their hands, urging them not to come closer.
Raymond didn't care about their pleas; he rushed forward.
He barked, "How do you know his name?"
No reply, just the stay-back gesture. Derick stood frozen; Larry walked to Raymond's side and said,
Not to sound stupid, but you should chill.
Raymond turned to Larry. Fury in his eyes, those words from Larry angered him. He yelled. "It is stupid. How do you expect that I should chill? He faced the old ones. "How and why do you know Derick?"
The old woman replied. "Because she knew he was coming."
"Who?" Raymond's voice cut through the air, cold and sharp.
Raymond's words sent shivers down their spine; the old lady replied in a stutter. "T-the one we all know."
Raymond and Larry exchanged puzzled looks. Just as Raymond was about to speak, Derick cut in:
It's Jean, right? We came here for her, remember?
Derick moved closer—wanting to get close to the old couple, but they brought out something dangerous—a knife. The guys were stunned; the old woman burst into tears. "Please, Derick, stay back; you don't want blood on your heads, do you?"
Derick took a step back—the knife was dropped. Everyone paused a bit—silence but cut short soon after. A phone rang. Old Richy said to his wife. "Gloria, go bring the tablet."
Gloria stood from her seat, walked to the center table in the living room, picked up the tablet, and went back to where she was sitting. She held the ringing tablet in a landscape position facing the boys—who were dumbfounded. The call was for a video call; Gloria clicked answer. Lo and behold, who they came searching for appeared on screen.
Their eyes widened in shock. Raymond clenched his fist; Larry and Derick stood frozen, eyes on the screen. Jean had this seductive look on her; she pressed her teeth on her lower lip. She didn't say anything at first; her eyes were locked on Derick.
She finally spoke:
You love what you see, don't you? I know I'm beautiful, but don't eat me with your eyes; I'm someone else's property, you know. She smiled.
With desperation in his voice, Larry pleaded, "Why are you doing this?"
Jean replied. "Don't know really; it's what the boss wants."
Tears ran down from the eyes of the old couple after the words of Jean.
Raymond retorted, "Who's the boss?"
She turned her eyes to Raymond and said. "I have nothing to say to you, cool head."
Ponytail was about to fire at her—Larry blocked him with his hand and turned his head to Derick. "Move forward; it's you she wants."
She chuckled. "Ooh, I like you. You must know how to handle a woman; Momma must be proud."
"Shut up." Larry growled.
Derick came forward and asked again. "Why are you doing this?"
She answered. "Already answered you."
He asked another question. "Who are these people? Why are they like this?"
She raised her eyes and realized who he meant. "These frail things, hmm, well, they are my parents."
The old couple's tears increased; Richy got up and reached his wife, patting her head.
"It's alright, Gloria."
Jean shouted. "Shut up, Richy, and stop crying, please; you're grown-ups."
The boys could only look at themselves at the horrors of what they just heard. Jean smirked, licked her lips, and sighed.
"You didn't have to bring your family into this. If they are holding you captive, I can help." Derick pleaded.
She laughed. "You can't even help yourself, and you want to help me."
Derick cried out. "Why would you do this, just because you want to cause chaos?"
Jean replied. "Haven't you heard the saying, 'The hardest choices require the strongest wills'?"
Derick just shook his head and said. "You're sick."
"Are you done? She asked. Don't you want to know how I knew you were coming?"
Derick replied. "How?"
She smiled, pointing at him through the screen. "Simple, Derick, I'm in you."
[Narrator]:
What the fuck.