They arrive in Las Vegas within four hours. As they exit the RV, JJ looks around at the city, taking in all the casinos and flashing lights. He covers his eyes, squinting against the brightness. "Good lord, this place is loud!" he exclaims, cleaning out one of his ears.
Meanwhile, Luna's eyes widen, practically sparkling as she stares at the lights. "They're so pretty!" she exclaims, about to sprint toward the casinos. Before she can, Sunny places a firm hand on her shoulder.
"Calm down, partner. Remember, you're still twenty, not twenty-one!" Sunny reminds her with a smirk.
Luna groans. "Yeah, but I can do stuff other than gamble!"
Sunny shrugs, still smiling. "I guess that's true. Well, we're all sticking together. I don't want you or Jamal getting hurt—or killed. And we definitely don't need JJ over here getting too overwhelmed."
As they chat, JJ wanders over to a nearby food truck, feeling a bit hungry. He begins to place an order, but before he can pay, Sunny steps in and covers it for him. He gives her a grateful smile. "Thanks, Sunny."
JJ is still adjusting to Sunny and the rest of the group, especially the idea that Sunny is his granddaughter. As he takes a bite of his food, he suddenly remembers something. "Whatever money you have, don't use it. We can trade it in at a pawn shop. It's worth a good amount."
He quickly pulls out his wallet and shows the group its contents. "I've only got a few ones, a ten-dollar bill, some pennies, and two quarters."
Sunny raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "That's worth something? Alright, trust me—follow me. We're going to a pawn shop!"
The group follows Sunny to a nearby pawn shop. Once inside, JJ hands his money to Sunny while he wanders around the store. His attention is immediately drawn to a Colt 1911 pistol and an M1 Garand rifle, both on display. The pistol is familiar to him, but the rifle is something he's never seen before.
As JJ admires the firearms, Sunny smirks while showing the pawn shop worker the old bills and coins. After a few minutes of negotiating, Sunny walks over and hands JJ $1,800 in cash.
JJ's jaw nearly drops. "Eighteen hundred? For that old money?"
Sunny grins and nods toward the guns he was eyeing. "Go on. If you don't have enough, I'll cover the rest."
Encouraged, JJ purchases both the rifle and the pistol. After paying, he's left with $300. As a courtesy, the pawn shop includes a box of ammunition for each firearm. JJ also purchases two additional boxes for each gun, ensuring he's well-stocked.
As the group heads back to the RV, Sunny hands JJ a holster for the pistol and a strap for the rifle.
"There you go, gramps. All set," she says with a grin.
JJ rolls his eyes at Sunny's remark, knowing she's not wrong, though he feels far from being a grandpa in terms of age. "So, this monster we're hunting—what are we thinking? Where could it be hiding?" he asks, his tone serious.
Luna looks at JJ, her usual enthusiasm still intact. "Well, I mean, we need to go look around, find clues, and all that," she says.
JJ's expression remains stern and unyielding. "Every second we waste is a second lost. And every second lost could mean a life is in danger."
Luna blinks, taken aback by his intensity. She's not used to this kind of energy. Jamal has a chill, calm presence, and Sunny always makes her feel confident and safe. But JJ... JJ feels intense, a little intimidating, and just a tad scary.
Sunny places a reassuring hand on JJ's shoulder. "Don't worry. If the monster starts attacking right now, we'll be there to save whoever needs saving. So don't go wasting all that intensity here—save it for our mystery monster."
JJ sits down at a table and begins checking over his guns. "Alright, if you say so. But Jamal, was it? And Luna—what the hell are you two good at?"
Jamal shrugs nonchalantly. "Pyrokinesis and willpower, mostly."
Luna shuffles nervously in place. "I, uh… I like magic. I'm getting better with willpower too. I've started practicing with a gun, and I've been learning how to use a knife and a dagger for combat."
JJ blinks slowly, taking in her nervous demeanor. "Okay… Good lord, woman, you don't need to be so tense around me. I ain't gonna bite ya."
Sunny chuckles at his bluntness. "Nah, she's just like that naturally. But don't let her nerves fool you—she's pretty darn talented when it comes to hunting and fighting."
Luna's cheeks flush red at the compliment. "Thank you. I, um… I'm working on being less nervous."
JJ smiles, his tone softening. "Well, one step at a time, I suppose, for you."
Jamal steps out of the RV, stretching his arms. "Alright, I'm gonna check out some of the stores!"
Luna quickly follows behind him. "I'm coming with you!"
Sunny lets out an exasperated sigh. "Alright, try to be back soon. If there's trouble and y'all can't handle it, run back here. Got it?"
Both Jamal and Luna give her a thumbs-up as they head out. Sunny shakes her head and leans back against the couch. "Lord have mercy… Now I'm gonna worry about them until they get back."
JJ slides the magazine back into his 1911, looking at Sunny with a serious expression. "What the hell is attached to that Luna woman? It feels terrifying—like it could kill me at any moment."
Sunny sighs, sitting down on the couch across from him. "I have no clue. I can't tell what it is, but I know it's hiding inside her. Good lord, though—whenever it comes out, my fight-or-flight instincts ramp up to about twenty. I'm certain whatever it is takes over sometimes, 'cause Luna's mana changes completely. It feels malicious and cunning. But… it doesn't seem to want to mindlessly kill. If that were the case, it would've tried to take over completely by now. My guess? Maybe when Luna got captured, it took over to protect her. So, who the hell knows what it really wants? Maybe it's just bored, or maybe it has some alternate goal."
JJ shakes his head, frowning. "Whatever the hell it is, I don't like it. But I can tell that Luna girl is a good one—just a bit… off. Same with that Jamal kid. Good lord, I wonder what'll happen if they hit an awakening or something equivalent. When that happens, I can tell they're gonna shake this whole damn world."
Sunny grins at JJ's remark. "I can't argue with that. I guess I just have a good eye for talent! Anyway, I'm gonna head out for a bit and pick up some things to cook for dinner."
She leaves the RV, leaving JJ alone.
JJ leans back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. "I wonder if anyone I know is still alive... Since I'm really in the future now. At least I've got a family and a place to rest my head, but still... Oh, Annabel, are you out there somewhere?"
He lets out a heavy sigh and gets up, placing the pistol down on the table. The silence is heavy, and he quickly realizes he doesn't want to be stuck here alone with his thoughts. Deciding to catch up with Sunny, he steps outside the RV and jogs to catch up with her.
As he walks alongside Sunny, he glances to the side and notices Luna and Jamal heading into a store. He shrugs, deciding to leave them be. For now, he focuses on helping Sunny gather supplies.
The two continue their walk, knowing full well that their stay in Las Vegas is bound to be a hectic one.