Chapter 20 – The Theft
Camp had just started breathing normally again.
Which, honestly, should've been the first warning.
JJ sat outside her tent, ice pack resting on her shoulder, Snorlax tucked beside her like it always was—like it had to be. Percy was hovering. Aries was pretending not to hover. Keifer wasn't even pretending.
Then—
A car engine cut through the air.
Sharp.
Out of place.
Aries froze first.
"…He's here."
Percy whispered, "We're finished."
JJ didn't turn immediately.
She didn't need to.
---
Angelo Arrives
The car door opened.
And Angelo Fernandez stepped out.
Same presence. Same control. Same cold that didn't need volume to dominate the space.
But this time—
his eyes went straight to Keifer first.
Not JJ.
Not Aries.
Keifer.
A brief pause.
A silent acknowledgment.
History.
Then he walked toward JJ.
"Stand up."
JJ sighed. "You don't even say hi—"
"Stand."
She stood anyway.
Aries stepped forward. "Kuya—"
"Later."
That shut him up instantly.
Angelo's gaze moved over JJ—shoulder, wrist, posture, the way she was hiding pain.
His jaw tightened.
"You went alone."
JJ crossed her arms. "I handled it."
"You got attacked."
"I handled it."
"You put someone in the hospital again."
Percy coughed. "Okay, technically accurate but—"
JJ glared. "Not now."
Angelo stepped closer.
"You think this is strength?" he said quietly. "Walking into things alone?"
JJ's voice sharpened. "So I wait for permission to live?"
"You don't walk into danger like you're untouchable."
"I'm not untouchable," she snapped. "I just don't run."
That silence hit harder than shouting.
---
The Connection –
Before it could escalate—
Keifer stepped in.
"Enough."
Angelo's eyes shifted to him.
Not hostile.
Not soft.
Measured.
"You're still stepping in for people like this?" Angelo asked.
Keifer didn't flinch. "I always do for her."
Angelo exhaled slowly, then looked back at JJ. "He already told me what happened."
Keifer added calmly, "Cyrus didn't stop. She handled it as long as she could."
Angelo's gaze flickered once more between them.
Then quieter—
"You're still reckless."
JJ muttered, "Everyone's repeating that today…"
Percy raised his hand. "Because it's TRUE."
Aries: "For once, we agree with Percy."
Angelo ignored them.
He looked at Keifer again.
A silent check.
A silent trust.
"Keep her from doing this again."
JJ immediately: "Excuse me—"
Keifer replied before she could continue.
"I will."
JJ stared at him.
Annoyed.
But didn't argue.
And that?
That said more than anything.
---
Night – Calm Before the Next Storm
By evening, the tension settled… a little.
Angelo didn't leave immediately. He stayed at the edge of camp, watching. Not interfering. Just… there. But eventually he left.
Later that night, Section E had to head to the administration cottage for camp formalities.
Boring.
Endless.
Pointless.
By the time they came back—
Something felt wrong.
Cin stopped first. "Why is it quiet?"
Felix frowned. "Too quiet."
Rory whispered, "I don't like this."
JJ stepped forward.
Then froze.
"…no."
---
The Theft
Their camp area was—
emptied.
Not destroyed.
Not messy.
Just stripped.
Food bags? Gone.
Snacks? Gone.
Extra blankets? Missing.
Random essentials? Missing.
And then—
JJ's voice dropped.
"…Snorlax."
Percy gasped like his soul left his body.
"WHO TOOK BABY SISTAH'S SNORLAX?!"
Aries' face darkened instantly. "That's not funny."
Keifer's eyes sharpened. "Who did this?"
A slow clap answered.
Freya.
Standing with her group—Kiko, Mica, Grace.
Smirking.
"Oh relax," she said casually. "We didn't destroy anything."
Felix snapped, "YOU TOOK EVERYTHING."
Kiko grinned. "Camp prank."
Rory: "THIS IS NOT A PRANK THIS IS WAR."
JJ stepped forward.
Calm.
Too calm.
"Give it back."
Freya tilted her head. "No."
Silence.
Real silence.
Percy blinked. "You… said no?"
Freya crossed her arms. "We'll return it later. Maybe."
JJ's eyes didn't move.
"That's not happening."
Freya smirked. "What are you going to do?"
Aries muttered, "Freya… don't."
Freya ignored him.
Big mistake.
---
Line Crossed
JJ took another step forward.
"Give. It. Back."
Freya laughed lightly. "Or what? You'll summon your… what was it… Baracudda?"
Kiko snorted.
Mica chuckled.
Silence from Section E.
Then Percy whispered, "She shouldn't have said that…"
Cin nodded. "Yeah… this is bad."
Keifer didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Just watched JJ carefully.
Because he knew—
this wasn't about stuff.
This was about something personal.
Freya pulled something out casually.
Snorlax.
Dangling it by one arm.
JJ froze for half a second.
Not long.
But enough.
That tiny reaction?
Everyone saw it.
Freya smirked. "Relax. It's safe."
JJ stepped forward again.
Hand out.
"Give it."
Freya pulled it back.
"No."
---
The Shift
Something in JJ changed.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just—
cold.
"You have five seconds," she said quietly.
Freya raised an eyebrow. "Or what?"
JJ tilted her head slightly.
"You'll find out."
That tone?
That tone made even Kiko step back slightly.
But Freya held her ground.
"Try."
Silence stretched.
Then—
JJ turned.
Walked back.
Just like that.
Everyone blinked.
Percy whispered, "Wait… what?"
Aries frowned. "JJ?"
JJ picked up a random bottle.
Sat down.
Opened it calmly.
Took a sip.
Like nothing happened.
Keifer watched her closely.
Because he understood something others didn't yet.
This wasn't over.
Not even close.
---
Ending – War Declared (Silently)
Freya laughed. "See? All talk."
Her group followed.
They walked away with the stuff.
With the food.
With Snorlax.
With everything.
Section E stood there.
Processing.
Felix muttered, "Did we just… lose?"
Rory: "We got robbed."
Cin: "We got disrespected."
Percy slowly turned to JJ.
"…baby sistah?"
JJ didn't look up.
Just said softly—
"Let them enjoy it tonight."
Silence.
Then she added:
"Tomorrow… we start."
Keifer smirked faintly.
Aries crossed his arms.
Percy grinned like chaos just got permission.
Because everyone understood now.
This wasn't over.
This wasn't even revenge yet.
This was just—
the beginning.