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''I'm ripping up our whole vagina pact right now,''

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JOHN B WAS STILL out there somewhere, running for his life, and no one could stomach the idea of him being out there alone for another second. Pope checked his watch.

''Well, if we're gonna be outlaws,'' Pope murmured, ''we might as well help John B.''

''So, find him before they do?'' JJ questioned, raising a brow with a sly grin that quickly turned serious.

Pope was already moving toward the car, grabbing the keys. ''I'm gonna get gas for the boat,'' he explained.

Kie smiled encouragingly. ''Hey, you be careful,'' she warned softly.

Pope just nodded and looked over at me and JJ. ''Meet me at the dock at three. Don't be late.'' He didn't even spare a glance back at Kie, just walked off with purpose. Kie's smile faded slightly as she watched him go.

Out of nowhere, the distant rumble of an engine shattered the calm, and we all glanced up. A helicopter was hovering above.

''Who's that?'' JJ muttered, squinting up.

''Don't know,'' I shrugged, feeling my pulse quicken as I noticed the way the helicopter seemed to linger. ''But I'm high,'' I admitted, almost to myself.

JJ shot me a disapproving look. ''Did you take it from my stash?''

I shrugged, feeling a strange, defiant urge to defend myself. ''I was feeling stressed, okay? It helps with pain, right?'' I mumbled. My back had a giant bruise on it after Rafe pushed me against the kitchen counter and I was desperate for it to stop hurting. Then, almost to myself, I muttered, ''I don't know why I admit stuff when I'm on edge.''

Kie rolled her eyes as she filled a bag with food for John B and Sarah. ''It wasn't really the kind of thing that needed interpretation,'' she said with a dry chuckle.

As she inspected the supplies, she turned to JJ. ''Is that enough food for them?''

JJ looked over the collection of snacks and canned goods. ''I mean, for a couple of weeks. That's all they need, so it'll have to do,'' he murmured, picking up a box.

''I think I actually hurt his feelings,'' Kie admitted, her voice softening with regret. She looked at me for a response, but I could only roll my eyes.

''Woah, really? I didn't notice,'' I replied sarcastically, the words slipping out before I could stop myself. ''I'm ripping up our whole vagina pact right now,'' I added, shrugging with a slight laugh as the haze of my high blurred the edges of my words.

JJ shrugged, throwing a supportive glance her way as he loaded the box into the car. ''Don't beat yourself up too much, Kie. He's been all over the place lately—Jekyll and Hyde for the past 24 hours.''

Kie sighed. ''I hate to admit it, but I miss the old Pope. At least then I knew what to expect from him.''

Before anyone could say more, Kie's mom appeared out of nowhere. ''Where have you been?'' she demanded, her gaze fixed on Kie.

Kie hesitated. ''Uh... I'm fine, Mom. I just slept here.''

''We were up half the night, scared to death looking for you. Were you even gonna tell us where you were?''

Kie glanced between JJ and me. ''Well, I'm telling you now,'' she replied.

Anna's gaze shifted to me and JJ. ''What the hell are you three up to?''

JJ stepped in. ''I'm sorry, Miss Anna, but we really gotta go.''

Anna shook her head. ''No.''

Kie looked at her mom. ''Mom, I have to go. John B needs me.''

''Have you seen the storm warnings? This isn't safe,'' Anna argued. ''These cops are armed, Kiara. You'll get shot.''

Kie was resolute. ''I'm sorry, Mom, but I have to go!''

''I am not letting you do this!'' Anna insisted.

Kie's voice softened, and her gaze wavered just a bit as she held her mother's worried gaze. ''I understand. I'll be careful,'' she promised. Then, with a final apologetic look, she pulled the car door shut. ''Sorry!'' she called, starting the engine and speeding off.

Anna's voice faded behind us, muffled by the closed windows, as Kie pulled out of the driveway and sped down the road.

None of us spoke until we pulled up to JJ's house. ''Home sweet home,'' he muttered, his voice heavy with sarcasm.

I looked at him. ''Do you want us to come with you?''

He shook his head. ''Nah, this'll only take a second.'' With that, he stepped out of the car, walking toward the house with his head down.

I felt Kie's gaze on me and turned to face her. ''So... your dad's really okay with all this?'' she asked, still surprised by how calm I'd been about it.

I nodded slowly. ''Yeah. He used to search for the gold with Big John. They were partners. But after my mom... after she disappeared because of it, he gave up.'' I swallowed, the words catching in my throat. ''He let me do this, so now I'm gonna do everything I can to protect John B. And to find the gold, obviously.''

Kie's expression softened, and she reached over, giving my shoulder a squeeze. ''I'm really sorry, Mavie,'' she whispered.

''It's fine,'' I replied quietly, not meeting her gaze.

A few minutes later, JJ emerged, his face flushed, eyes a bit red. He tried to cover it with a smile as he walked back to the car, holding up a set of keys in his hand.

''How'd it go?'' Kie asked gently.

JJ didn't answer, just showed us the keys and forced a grin, though I could see right through it. But for now, we all chose to ignore it as JJ slid into the passenger seat.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

THE OLD MARINA air filled my lungs as I took in the sight of the Phantom. JJ stood there grinning like a proud father, his fingers tapping the sides of the boat.

"There she is. Hey, girl," he greeted the boat, giving it an affectionate pat. His face lit up as he looked over at us, eyes shining. ''A 1983 Formula 402 SR1. The Phantom.''

He took a step back, gesturing to the boat as if he were introducing us to royalty. ''The first boat to make the run to Bermuda in under 16 hours, baby. Forty years old! Forty! And still the fastest thing that Kildare's ever seen.''

Kie raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. ''It's kind of a junker,'' she muttered.

JJ looked taken aback, clutching his chest in offense. ''Really? She's right there, Kie. She can hear you.'' He shook his head. ''Let's put it this way, you wouldn't be smokin' weed right now if she never existed, okay?'' He flashed me a grin.

Kie shrugged, eyeing the boat doubtfully. ''I just hope it runs.''

JJ gave an easy, confident laugh. ''Oh, no, she'll run, alright. She's faster than any cutters the boys in blue got,'' he assured us.

The roar of a motorbike broke the conversation.

''Hey there. What's goin' on? JJ? How you guys doin'?''

My heart froze as Barry strolled into view, his eyes flicking over us with a knowing smirk. Panic flared in my chest. Barry—the guy whose car I'd ditched in the lake, the guy I'd lied to about being Rafe's girlfriend to get away. I slipped behind Kiara, my fingers gripping her arm in instinctive terror.

''Whoo-hoo!'' Barry whistled. ''Well, well. See, don't think I forgot about me and you on the side of the road,'' he sneered at JJ, raising a gun, pointing it directly at him.

My stomach dropped as Barry aimed a kick straight into JJ's stomach, sending him stumbling backward. ''I'm here because I want my motherfuckin' money,'' he snarled.

''JJ!'' Kie gasped, rushing forward to help him.

Then Barry's gaze shifted to me, his smirk widening. ''And also, my car,'' he hissed.

Before he could move toward me, Rafe appeared from behind Barry. He pushed Barry aside and reached for Kiara, his hand gripping her hair as he yanked her away from JJ. 

''It's not you we want, right now,'' he growled. ''Where's John B?''

I glared back. ''We don't fucking know!'' I spat, my voice shaky but defiant.

Barry took advantage of the distraction, kicking JJ again. The sound of it, the way JJ fell, hit me like a punch to the gut.

''We know what you did,'' Kiara snapped, her voice trembling with barely concealed disgust as she held her ground.

Rafe's lips twisted into a mocking grin, eyes narrowed. ''What? What did I do?''

Without thinking, the words burst out of me, rage taking over. ''You murdered Peterkin!''

Rafe's expression darkened instantly, and he turned his glare to me. ''Don't you ever say those fucking words again,'' he warned, but I was too high to even take a step back.

Barry continued pummeling JJ, who struggled to keep himself up. ''Stay down, boy!'' Barry snarled, each kick landing harder than the last.

My fists clenched as I tried to move forward, but Rafe shoved me onto the ground. I couldn't bear to watch JJ like that. ''Don't touch them!'' Pope's voice boomed as he charged in from behind, fists swinging as he tackled Rafe to the ground. I was too stunned to move.

JJ seized the moment and scrambled up, tackling Barry with all the force he could muster.

Barry scrambled away, cursing, while Pope's grip tightened around Rafe's neck with a piece of hose. ''Pope, stop!'' Kiara cried, rushing forward and pulling at his arms.

''Pope, seriously, fucking stop!'' I screamed, throwing myself onto Pope, grabbing at his shoulders, trying to shake him out of it. ''Pope!'' My shout finally broke through, and his grip loosened, his breathing harsh and unsteady as he let go. Rafe crumpled to the ground, his face a mess of blood, gasping for air.

I reached into my pocket, pulling out a crumpled Peppa Pig band-aid—the only thing I had. I tossed it down at him, barely able to contain the mess of emotions boiling up inside me. ''That's all you get, bitch'' I muttered, still high and shaking as I hurried back toward the others.

''Okay, we gotta go. We gotta go!'' Kie's voice broke through the chaos.

Pope leaned down, giving Rafe one last glare. ''Stay off the cut,'' he warned in a low, dangerous tone before finally turning to follow Kie, JJ, and me as we stumbled away.

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MY FINGERS FIDGETED against the boat's railing as I scanned the darkness, searching for any sign of John B. He was supposed to be here by now.

''Dude, where is he?'' Kie muttered as she hugged her arms across her chest.

Pope leaned over. ''Give him a second. He'll be here.''

''He's coming. He'll be fine,'' JJ added, glancing at me reassuringly as we busied ourselves with last-minute prep on the boat. My head was still hazy from earlier, but I felt steady enough now, and being here with them—my friends, my family—was grounding. I took a deep breath, feeling JJ's confidence radiating as he worked on the ropes, his eyes trained on the path we knew John B would take.

''They're probably running here, so it might take them a while,'' JJ mused with a half-smile, looking over his shoulder. But just as he said it, a sharp siren echoed in the distance, piercing through the night.

''Shit!'' I cursed, my heart leaping. Without a word, JJ and I scrambled, moving quickly to untie the boat.

''Hey, yeah, get back on the boat!'' JJ urged as he tugged the ropes free, eyes darting toward the oncoming car. ''Untie it, hurry!''

But just as we were about to push off, I caught sight of a familiar figure behind the wheel, and a disbelieving chuckle escaped me. ''Wait, wait, wait!'' I stopped them, squinting my eyes. ''No way...''

The car pulled up, and there, against all odds, was John B. Grinning like an idiot, and somehow alive. ''No f'ing way,'' Pope murmured beside me, his face breaking into a grin as he took in the sight.

''You idiot,'' I called out, leaping down from the boat. I felt relief flood me as I reached him, wrapping my arms around him tightly. It was almost surreal. John B, standing right here after everything, like he hadn't just risked his life—again. But that was John B, relentless as ever. He'd managed to escape yet again, just like his dad used to. Somehow, it made me proud.

''How did you do that?'' Kiara asked, laughing as she joined us.

John B grinned, shrugging like it was nothing. ''Shoupe let me take it for a spin.''

Kie rolled her eyes. ''Okay. That's believable. I'll buy that for now.'' She pulled him into a hug, her smile growing as she held him tight.

JJ shook the keys in his hand, pointing to the Phantom. ''It wasn't easy, bro, but I got the Phantom for you. She runs like she was made yesterday. You ready to go?''

John B's expression shifted as he scanned the dock. ''Where's Sarah?''

''She's not with you?'' Kie asked, frowning.

John B shook his head. ''No, we got separated in the swamp. She said she'd meet me here.''

Pope stepped closer, his brows furrowed. ''No, we haven't seen her, man.''

John B's jaw tightened as he looked at us. ''Okay, well, I'm not leaving without her.''

JJ placed a firm hand on John B's shoulder. ''John B, look at me. I know you feel bad for leaving, but there's no time, man. You've got plenty of gas, plenty of food. Once you get around that point, it's a straight shot across the sound to Dismal Swamp, okay? Once you get there, lay low. Hang out for a couple of weeks, then go overland. Cross the border at Brownsville. You got that? Brownsville.''

John B nodded, repeating it. ''Yeah, yeah. Brownsville.'' He climbed aboard the Phantom, pausing, his voice cracking as he looked back at us. ''Hey... I'm sorry for basically... throwing us off a cliff with this whole treasure hunt thing.''

JJ's face softened, a faint smile tugging at his lips. ''Hey, John B, yo... we were bound to run off a cliff at some point, right?''

John B's gaze met ours, tears shimmering in his eyes. ''Yeah...'' he whispered, a sad smile breaking through. ''At least we did it together.''

JJ wrapped an arm around Kie and me, and I reached for Pope, all of us holding on tight in a messy, uncoordinated hug. ''Pogue style,'' JJ murmured with a grin, his voice breaking a little.

''Pogue style,'' John B repeated, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes glistening as he looked at each of us one last time.

''Get out of here! Please,'' Kie urged, her voice a mix of encouragement and sorrow.

Pope's voice shook as he lifted his hand in a wave. ''We'll see you in two months, down in Mexico.''

John B hesitated, taking a breath. ''Hey, wait... wait a second.'' His voice wavered as he tried to hold back tears. ''Tell Sarah I said goodbye, okay?''

''We will,'' I promised, my throat tight as I met his gaze. ''We'll miss you.''

He smiled through the tears threatening to spill. ''I'll miss you too.''

JJ gave him a last, firm nod. ''Don't forget. Cross the border at Brownsville, okay?''

John B nodded, his gaze lingering on us. ''Got it.'' He looked at us for a final moment, then turned to start the engine.

JJ gave him a light shove, pushing the boat away from the dock. ''Okay, go! Get out, now!''

We watched as the Phantom slipped into the night, the hum of the engine fading slowly into silence, taking John B with it. I tried to blink back my own tears as we stood there, bound by this moment, this goodbye that felt both freeing and unbearably heavy.

The fog in my mind cleared a little, but the ache in my chest felt more real than ever. I fought the lump in my throat, knowing it was probably the last time we'd see him for a long while.

But before we could even process it, the sudden wail of sirens sliced through the night, followed by flashing red and blue lights across the dock. I turned, a pit of dread settling in my stomach as police cars pulled up, their doors slamming open. This was it; there was no escape now, but at least John B was safe.

''Move! Hands up! Hands up!'' an agent from the FBI shouted, his gun trained on us. His eyes swept the dock. ''We're too late. He's gone. God damn it!''

Sheriff Shoupe stormed forward, his gaze hard as he looked between us, eyes landing on JJ, then Pope. ''All right, where the hell is he?'' he demanded. ''Where the hell is he?! JJ? I see you're living up to your name. Pope, what about you? This isn't a damn game!''

Then his eyes fell on me, narrowing as he took a step closer, his voice cold and cutting. ''Mavis, do you really wish to end up like your mother?''

None of us answered. We stood there in silence, refusing to betray anything, our heads held high as we faced him down, knowing we'd done what we had to do.

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