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''Good night, bird shit!''

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THE HOUSE WAS quiet when I crept in, the usual hum of the old fridge the only sound breaking the silence. I didn't expect anyone to be there, but as I crossed the threshold into the kitchen, I nearly jumped back. My dad was sitting there with a tired smile on his face.

''Didn't expect you back this late,'' he remarke. I could feel his eyes studying me, searching for signs of whatever it was I'd been up to. I managed a small nod.

''Yeah... I, um... I guess I usually do,'' I replied, trying to sound casual as I shrugged. My dad looked down. He seemed almost... apologetic. Finally, he let out a breath and ran a hand over the back of his neck.

''Look, Mavie, I know I haven't been around much,'' he admitted, and there was a weight in his voice I hadn't heard in a long time. ''But I wanted to make things a bit easier for you when I'm not around. Got some groceries, stocked up the freezer. Meals you can heat up whenever.''

''Thanks, Dad,'' I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. I started to turn away, thinking it'd be easier to just head to my room and let this moment linger without getting too deep.

But he stopped me. ''Hey, how's John B?'' he asked. There was genuine concern in his eyes, and I knew he meant more than just the usual check-in.

I met his gaze, nodding slowly. ''He's... okay,'' I answered. ''I mean, he's holding up. We all spend a lot of time together. Helps to keep things... normal, you know?''

My dad's face softened into a smile. ''I'm glad you've got such good friends, Vivi. Means a lot to me to know you're not alone out there.''

He pulled me into a hug, and for a moment, I let myself relax, burying my face in his shoulder. The comfort was familiar, yet it stirred something inside me, a reminder of just how much I missed him, how much I missed the feeling of having a complete family back at home, even if it's just with one parent. As I pulled away and slipped back into my room, the emptiness crept back in, and it wasn't long before I found myself lying in bed, tears quietly slipping down my cheeks, one after another.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

THE NEXT MORNING, we were all outside at the Chateau, sprawled in hammocks under the sun. The warmth did its best to chase away the lingering heaviness from last night, and I tried to lose myself in the conversation around me.

''You really think it's out there? Like, no bullshit?'' Pope's voice broke the silence.

John B nodded, his gaze distant as he thought it over. ''My father thought it was,'' he answered.

''But do you?'' Pope pressed, his eyes searching John B's face for any sign of hesitation.

John B looked up. ''After hearing his voice on that tape... I think I do.''

They clasped hands in their signature handshake, sealing some unspoken pact. 

''Look, we're gonna find it, you know?'' Kiara chimed in, a reassuring smile on her face as she nudged JJ. ''Even JJ believes.''

John B smirked, glancing over at JJ. ''Oh my God, JJ, do you really believe?''

JJ rolled his eyes, leaning back in his hammock with a dramatic flair. ''Totally. Wait, are we talking about four mil?''

Pope and I exchanged a grin, both of us correcting him at the same time. ''Four hundred mil.''

''Jinx,'' Kie quipped, bumping her shoulder against mine with a grin.

JJ let out a contented sigh, his head tilting back as he looked up at the sky. ''I'm gonna dream about shipwrecks,'' he declared. He stretched out, arms behind his head. ''Good night, birds!'' 

John B chuckled, replying with just as much spirit, ''Good night, bird shit!''

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

''ALL RIGHT, JJ. Pin it here,'' John B. called out.

''Roger that! X marks the spot.'' JJ grinned, his hands steady on the wheel as he turned the boat to align us perfectly. Beside him, Kiara watched with a small smile. I was in the back with John B. and Pope, prepping the drone. 

''All right, ladies and gentlemen. To going full Kook.'' John B. gave me a quick nod before he released the drone into the water, handing me the hose to lower it. I carefully guided it down, watching as the cable slipped into the choppy water.

''Okay, JJ, we're right over it. Ten seconds northwest,'' John B. called out, his eyes tracking our position on the small map in his hand.

''Got it! Ten seconds northwest,'' JJ responded, his grip on the wheel tightening as he made the adjustment.

''One hundred feet,'' I shouted over my shoulder, keeping an eye on the chalk marks we'd made to measure the depth.

Suddenly, Pope gasped, loud and sharp. I jumped, startled, and I could feel my heart race in my chest. John B. whipped around, concern etched on his face as he moved quickly to Pope's side. ''What? What, what, what?'' he demanded, scanning the monitor Pope was watching.

Pope's eyes were wide, but he quickly shook his head, trying to brush it off. ''It's... nothing,'' he muttered, a little embarrassed. ''Just a fish.''

John B. let out a groan, rolling his eyes. ''Don't do that to me, man,'' JJ huffed from the wheel, casting Pope a look. ''Come on, bro.''

I shot Pope a grin, shaking my head. ''That gasp took like four years off my life,'' I muttered, and he just shrugged, looking slightly sheepish.

Pope suddenly grinned and, in a deep, exaggerated voice, quoted, ''And to quote the Hobbit, 'Down, down, to Goblin Town. Down, down, you go, my lad.' ''

I laughed, feeling the tightness in my chest. ''Four hundred feet,'' I called out, chalking another mark on the side of the boat. ''The tide's turning.''

John B. glanced up at JJ. ''Hey, JJ?''

''Yup?''

''Ten seconds easy, south-southeast, right?''

''Copy that!'' JJ responded, shifting the wheel as I guided the tether further down. The boat rocked slightly with each adjustment, and I could feel the tension in the air as the waves grew choppier. I focused on the tether, making sure it stayed clear of the propeller.

''Keep the tether out of the prop!'' JJ shouted over his shoulder, glancing back at me.

I rolled my eyes and smirked. ''I'm trying, bird shit!''

JJ snorted, throwing a quick glance back at me. ''Just don't lose it, Mavis!''

The boat rocked harder now, the waves slapping against the hull as dark clouds began gathering above us. Thunder rumbled in the distance, making the entire sky look as though it was pulsing. Each jolt of the boat made me hold the tether tighter, keeping my balance as best I could.

''John B., is that good?'' JJ yelled from the wheel, his voice barely audible over the wind and crashing waves.

John B. leaned over to check the monitor, giving JJ a thumbs-up. ''We're good! We're good!''

I glanced at the chalk marks again. ''Seven hundred feet,'' I called, watching as the depth gauge continued to drop.

''Okay...'' JJ braced himself as a particularly rough wave rocked the boat, and he stumbled, momentarily losing his balance as he bumped into the wall. He steadied himself with a nervous laugh, then looked back at us.

 I grabbed hold of the tether, feeling it tug and strain with every dip of the boat.

''JJ, keep it steady!'' I called.

His face was tense, his grip firm on the wheel as he did his best to hold our course.

''Okay, 900!''

John B's voice cut through. ''JJ, we're gonna turtle in this storm!'' His brows furrowed as he steadied himself beside Pope, his fingers nervously running through his damp hair.

''920!'' 

I glanced over at John B. ''Crank it north by northwest! Ten seconds!'' he ordered.

John B turned back to Pope, who was glued to the monitor,. ''Pope, how we doin'?''

Pope barely looked up. ''Almost there.''

The wind whipped around me, and I felt a jolt of anxiety rise in my chest. ''John B, there's too much current! We're gonna lose it!'' I shouted, holding onto the side of the boat as it lurched with the current.

''South southwest, JJ, hard!'' John B yelled.

''Half speed, steady at this bearing, JJ!'' I echoed, glancing between the guys as I tried to keep the tether in check. The waves surged, relentless, tossing us like we were nothing.

Then the monitor beeped, and John B's eyes went straight to Pope. ''What do you got, Pope? Come on, man. What do you see?''

Pope's face fell, and he shook his head, looking back at John B. ''Nothin'. A whole lot of nothin'.''

John B's eyes flicked to me. ''You should be right above it.'' he insisted.

''Mavie!''

''960... 970... 980!'' I shouted.

My pulse quickened as we all leaned in. Then Pope's face lit up, and he yelled, ''I'm at the bottom! I'm at the bottom!''

John B's eyes gleamed with a thrill that made my stomach do a small flip. ''Okay, steady here, JJ! Steady here, quarter speed, all right?''

I gripped the side of the boat, waiting. ''You should be seeing something by now.'' I muttered, hardly daring to breathe.

Pope nodded, his gaze glued to the screen. ''I know, I know! Wait, wait!'' He adjusted the controls, and we all leaned in.

And then, in a moment that felt like it stretched on forever, we all saw it. Something vast and unmistakably real, sitting there on the screen. Pope's jaw dropped, his eyes wide. ''Oh, good God...'' he murmured, awestruck.

JJ's voice broke through. ''See anything?''

John B's face broke into a grin. ''It's the Royal Merchant.''

I felt a thrill run through me. But before any of us could celebrate, Pope raised a hand. ''Wait, guys, let's see if the gold is there first!''

We held our breath, eyes glued to the screen. Seconds stretched on until finally, the monitor showed... nothing. The weight of disappointment settled heavy in my stomach, and I saw the same feeling flicker over John B's face.

''It's not there,'' he sighed, shoulders drooping as he looked over at Pope. ''Look, just—just pull the drone up.''

''Shit,'' I mumbled under my breath.

''Look, we can do another pass, recharge the battery. We can—we can go back down,'' Pope suggested.

JJ let out a frustrated groan, running a hand over his face. ''Guys, we've been through it three times. There's nothing there!''

Kiara shot him a glare, crossing her arms. ''Shut up!''

''What? It's true!'' JJ snapped back, irritation flaring in his eyes.

Kiara wasn't backing down. ''The gold could be buried. We don't know.''

John B looked down, clearly frustrated.''If it was there, it would've been found on the metal detector, okay?'' He sighed. ''Somebody beat us to it.''

JJ grumbled, crossing his arms and staring out over the choppy water. ''Or it was never there.''

I shot him a look, rolling my eyes. ''A ray of sunshine, are you?'' I muttered.

JJ glanced over at me. ''Hey, just calling it like I see it, Mavie.''

The waves rocked us again, harsher this time, almost as if the ocean itself was mocking our bad luck. 

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