The building didn't look like a clubhouse. It looked like a school. It was a big brick building. It had tall windows. Long stretches of wall that probably used to hold kids' artwork and spelling tests. The kind of place that once smelled like crayons and glue sticks.
Now it was wrapped in tall fencing, thick, unwelcoming, like it was meant to keep the world out. Or keep something in.
"Welcome to the Dead Line compound," Blaze said.
I stared up at it. It didn't feel safe, but it didn't feel like my old house either. That had to count for something. Bikes were lined up everywhere, rows of chrome and black, gleaming like weapons. Music pounded through the walls, heavy bass and screaming guitar that made the windows vibrate.
Before I could say anything, my door opened. Ghost leaned in. And then I was off the seat, and lifted like I weighed nothing.
"I...I can walk once we're inside," I mumbled, heat creeping up my neck.
He gave a single nod, but he didn't put me down. I hugged my teddy bear tighter. The doors swung open. And everything hit at once. The noise, the heat, the smell: beer, weed, perfume, and sweat. There were bodies everywhere. My ears are filled with loud laughter, shouting, and music pounding so hard it felt like it lived in my chest.
Men covered in tattoos. Women barely dressed: tiny shorts, straps that barely counted as shirts, draped over them like decorations. Someone grinding in the hallway. A bottle shattering somewhere behind us.
People are yelling cheers. Its too loud, too close, too familiar. My heart shot into my throat. My fingers dug into my bear. Ghost's arms tightened,j ust slightly, ilke he felt it, and it felt like he knew. As we walked through, people parted for him without question. Blaze stayed close behind, eyes sharp, watching everything.
A blonde woman paused mid-laugh when she saw me.
"Is that her?" she shouted. "She's so cute!"
"Yeah," Bear said flatly. "Move."
She moved. Ghost carried me through the chaos, through the noise, through the memories clawing their way up my throat, back to parties, back to being invisible and back to being useful. I squeezed my eyes shut. Blaze's voice cut through the noise, sharp, commanding, and people started clearing out. Ghost leaned down slightly.
"Few more steps," he murmured.
It helped just a little.
He carried me into a quieter room, still messy, still loud in the distance, but softer. It had a couch, an TV, and space to breathe. He set me down gently, like I might break.
Honestly…Maybe I would. Bear crouched in front of me, trying to catch my eyes.
"Sunny… it's not usually like that. We had people over. Some didn't leave."
Behind him, a woman stumbled into a man, laughing as he grabbed her hips. I flinched. Bear saw it immediately.
"We'll clear them out," he said, already standing. "Two minutes."
Blaze and another guy who looked just like him started forcing people out, their voices cutting through the noise. Ghost sat beside me, not too close, not touching me, just there for me.
Solid.
Quiet.
Safe.
I pulled my knees up as much as I could with the cast and whispered, barely audible "I don't belong here."
Ghost glanced at me. Then shook his head once. It was simple, and certain. Like I was wrong or maybe, like I wasn't alone. I didn't know which. The soun dof footsteps bounced toward us. They were fast, loud, chaotic. Joker practically vibrated into existence.
"He hasn't stopped moving since the store," Blaze muttered. "I'm shocked he didn't explode."
"I almost did," Joker said proudly. "BUT—discipline. Monk-level discipline."
"No, you don't," three voices said at once.
Joker ignored them completely. He spun toward me so fast his hair slapped his face. His bright green eyes locked onto mine. They were beautiful.
"Oh! AND we got so much stuff—you're gonna LOVE it—"
"Did you introduce yourself?" Bear cut in.
"RIGHT." Joker threw his arms out dramatically. "I'm Joker. I'm kinda like your brother. Bear keeps me alive. Feeds me. It's a whole system."
"I'm… Sunny," I said softly.
"She's a scared little mouse, ain't she?" a deep voice rumbled behind us.
I froze. It was the man called, Tank. He was huge, massive, like he could break walls just by leaning on them. The words slipped out before I could stop them.
"Even a little mouse can bring down a tank…"
No one spoke. The air froze in my throat. Everyone stared at me. Tank blinked.
Then, he exploded into laughter.
"You're RIGHT, little mouse!" he boomed. "I like her!"
Heat rushed to my face., but something small flickered in my chest. Something nice and warm.
"Wanna see your room?" Joker bounced.
I hesitated. "…Okay."
Bear lifted me again, carrying me down the hall while Joker sprinted ahead, talking nonstop.
"Kitchen's out there—ignore earlier chaos—Ash's room is there, don't wake him unless you want a fork thrown at you—Blaze's room—same fork risk—Ace's room, he's dramatic—my room—AND YOUR ROOM—"
"Joker," Bear groaned.
"OKAY!" He slapped his hands over his mouth.
It didn't help.
"Here we are!"
He flung the door open, and everything, stopped. The room glowed. Soft white walls, but everything else was yellow, a warm yellow, bright yellow, and safe yellow. There were blankets, pillows, rug, and curtains. Sunlight without the sun. It is my favorite color.
A stuffed unicorn sat on the bed, and a little owl on the dresser. I had a desk, a closet, a bathroom and my own bathroom. I just, stared.
"DO YOU LIKE IT?!" Joker practically screamed. "I PICKED THE OWL—ASH SAID IT WAS WEIRD BUT I SAID—"
"Aaaand he's off," Blaze muttered.
Joker pointed at everything like it was a tour.
"CLOSET—REAL ONE—DESK—UNICORN—YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND—BATHROOM—YOU GET YOUR OWN—"
"Joker."
He froze and took a breath. Then he smiled at me. It was a bright and real.
"Welcome home, Sunny."
My chest tightened. No one had ever said that before. Especially not like that. Bear set me on the bed. The mattress dipped softly under me. I clutched the unicorn.
"…It's perfect," I whispered.
Joker made a strangled happy noise.
"Alright," Bear said. "She needs rest. Out."
They filed out one by one. Bear lingered.
"Do you need anything?" he asked gently.
I shook my head.
He leaned in, and I flinched, hard. His expression didn't break, but it changed. It was softer and sadder. He shifted, patting my head instead.
"Get some sleep, little mouse." Joker said to me.
Then they left. The door clicked shut, and silence settled in. I looked around the room again. The yellow and the softness made my heart swell. The space, it was all mine. I wanted to believe it. I wanted to feel safe and wanted to love it.
But hope… hope was dangerous. So, I curled around my bear, small in a big, beautiful room... And waited. Because the other shoe always drops.