The Box

Here it was inevitably happening again. Another speak break beginning back home instead of in Miami somewhere. It didn't matter anyways because i missed my no good friends. Thats what every adult in town would try to tell me anyways. I was here to have fun this time, no sitting in the house all day. I just can't do it anymore. I wanted this spring break to be memorable.

I got off the plane and took the taxi to silverwaters. Once i arrived i made my way to rockfish where my family awaited me with open arms and so much love. My phone notifications were going crazy after the selfie i posted with the caption, "look who's home, where is the party!?". Margarita cup and sweaty emoji of course. My dad and my mom were begging me to stay in for the night and spend some quality family time but i was too eager to get out with my friends miloh, pheonix(nixxie), and lenny.

I talked my way out the house and the two hour lecture my parents gave me as if i wasn't in college. I met my friends at an old childhood hangout spot at the abandoned skating rink. I walk through the back doors to see lenny sitting in the back. "Heeeey, how is the college life man?" He says with a huge smile giving me a hug. "It's alright, how is everything been here at home?". We start to walk to find miloh and pheonix. "Same craps, different day. It's great to see you though, we get tired of the ordinary everyday and now that you're not always apart of that, its refreshing to see you when i do" Lenny says.

I started to feel bad because i know what home was once like for me too. Rockfish is a great town to raise a family but it's also like a pit stop that turns into a dead end. I made a deal with Phoenix and the guys that if one if left rockfish let alone silverwaters, that we would all go. We were serious about it but my parents had different plans for my life. "Yeah i know you mean Lenny. I really get home sick and miss you guys". We got to the main area of the skating rink. Pheonix and miloh sitting of the rink walls eating snacks.

"Oooh man, you're really home dude!?" Miloh says getting off the walk. Nixxie walks over and hugs me saying "Yeaaaah man, my girls home, and we are going to have a BLAST!". we sit for awhile, catch up, eat snacks and let time fly by. "So Izzy, you down to have some real fun tonight?" Miloh asks passing me the chips. I smile and reply, "well that depends if you're talking about stacys party because i sure i'd be better off". "No but definently better than any college party you've ever been too. A real thrill." I say, "sure why not, it's spring break isn't it?".

We went to the towns biggest lake with huge boulder rocks that we used to jump off of in the summer when we were kids. We had some beers, and some food from Ryans Burgers. We were having so much fun when stacy and her friends arrive. They hated us and we hated them. "Well well well, if it isn't the old izzy" Stacy says walking up. "Don't start Stacy, we really don't need the drama right now" nixxie says wrapping the towel around her body. " Oh, don't worry nixxie I'm not here for drama but Jason might be" stacy says as her boyfriend Jason and his three friends coming from being the tree. I got a odd feeling and started to gather my things.

"Im here for Miloh and you all know why. He owes me". Jason says stopping me from going to get my towel. "No one is going anywhere until i get my box back". Miloh came from around the rocks from the water. "What the hell is going on, what is Jason doing here?" He questioned as lenny followed behind him. "Coming for his box apparently" nixxie adds. I was so lost and no one had filled me in yet. Jason was a prick and his father was the towns sheriff.

He was a spoiled menace. Jason and his friends walked up to miloh. "I want my box and better yet i need it right now. If you don't hand it over i guess we'll have to call the sheriff" He said. Miloh and lenny laugh as me and nixxie stand to the side. "Yeah, thats a good idea lets do that" lenny adds in. "Nixxie whay is going on, what box?" I whisper as we turn our backs to talk. "We found a box in the old skating rink in the utility room. I guess it belongs to Jason but we don't believe him". She shrugged as she turned back around. "Whats in the box?" I ask with my eyes big as day. Next thing i know everyones gone but all our belonging on still on the rock.

Lenny comes running back sweating and out of breath. "Lenny what the hell man?", "where is Miloh" we asks. Lenny catches his breath and replies " Jason and his friends basically kidnapped him man" while grabbing his belongings. Me and nixxie hurry and grab our things and follow Lenny to the car. "Lenny slow down, where are we going anyways?" Nixxie asks. Lenny hesitates for a moment. "Listen, i can't it explain it right now just tell me you're in" he says hitting a hard right turn. "In for what!?" I asks nervously. We arrive at Lennys house and head to his basement. "Lenny please, my anxiety is through the roof here" Nixxie proclaims as she takes a seat on the sofa.

Lenny comes over and has a seat across from us. " Miloh just got kidnapped by a crazy mans son". Me and Nixxie look at eachother with confusion. "Jasons dad is apart of the cartel man, and me and Miloh were the only ones in town who knew about it." I was speechless and Nixxies jaw was to the floor. " what the heck man how come you guys never told me? Thats so unfair". She whines. "Are you serious right now nix? Thats all you can think about?" Lenny asks. Nix shruggs her shoulders.

An hour earlier from now we planned a while scheme on how to get to Miloh. We were broke as ever and couldn't even tell anyone what we were about to get into. We needed money fast and we haven't done anything spring break crazy yet. We were going to do the unthinkable. Something we never thought we'd do. When it comes to friends who are more like family, in a town like Rockfish, you'd do anything for. We were going to rob the local Quicky mart.

Here we are, three big dummies with halloween character mask on. Me Micky Mouse, Nix Minnie, and Lenny as Donald Duck. Nothing in our hands but painted tip squirt guns, and the market signs neon lights shining on my red overalls. We walked into the market and all hands went up. We didn't even think, it was like a movie in slow motion. Me and Nix circling the market getting wallet after wallet. Lenny at the register demanding cash and putting it all in a brown potato bag. We ran out the market and around the corner the back to the car. We hopped in and dashed off onto the highway after getting gas and food. We counted the money and laughed at how stupid we were to pull something like that off. We were on our way to The Boons were they took Miloh. A road trip that was unexpected for all of us.

We got the The Boons and recieved info on Milohs whereabouts and what we needed to do to get them back. We Had a whole plan together before getting to the warehouse. We walked inside and was led through by two big italian guys in black suits. We see the sheriff and his son Jason standing there waiting. "Lets cut too the chase here huh?", "where is my box?" He asks. The box was in Nixs backoack and we still didnt know what was inside. "It has a lock that no man under me can unlock, it is useless to you!" He screamed. We were terrified and forgot the whole plan by now. "Lets have a seat and talk about this".

Lenny refuses the chair and puts his hand in his pocket. "I hope you didn't bring a knife to a gun show my friend" the sheriff says. "No. I want to see Miloh before we give you the box. We don't care about the box we just want our friend back". The sheriff pauses for a moment. "Bring him in!" The sheriff yelled as two other men brough Miloh out. He was beaten up pretty badly. "Miloh!" I scream in disbelief. This was all happening. "You kids don't know who you're messing with, you listen to me or you wont leave here". He demanded. The squirt gun in Lenny pockey began to slip out as he catches it with his hand. " He has a gun!" One of the guards yell as he draws his weapon.

"NO!" Nix yells as guns start to blaze and bullet fly. Lenny flips the table in front of the sheriff and the guards. I grab Miloh and we run out the room. The guards chase us and we're dodging bullets from left to right. You would think they had names on them because out of nowhere Miloh stops and his shirts begins to bleed red. He was hit. "Oh no, Miloh" Nix says as she starts to droo a tear. "He will be okay lets get out if here!" Lenny yells. We get in the car fast as we can and hit the road. A big black truck follows us down the road. I hold Miloh in my arms in the backseat. He doesn't look good.

I hated all thsi was hapoening to us. I just wanted to have a fun slring break instead we fell into the pit of a dark town secret. I had to kniw what was in the box. What was causing all this havoc to take place. It couldn't just all be about saving a friend, a brother. "Hey nix, give me your bag" i asks. "Is he alright? Is he gonna make it?" She asks handing me the backoack from the front seat. "We're almost at the hospital, maybe they won't follow us inside because cops" Lenny says racing the road. I ipen the backpack and take out the box. A tin army green box the size of a jewlery box like the ballerina one i had as a young girl. It used to play the mist beautiful music. We arrived at the hospital and the ER rushed Miloh to a room. "Come on Izzy, they're taking Miloh in!, Lenny yells from the hospital doors. "I'll be right in!".

I see a bult tire wrench in the trunk. I wanted to know what was in this box. I hit the lock with the wrench and on the third hit, the top of the box flung open. I couldn't believe it, there it was just sitting there like a quiet storm waiting to roll over our horizon. "What the hell did we get ourselves into?".