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''No, that's more of a natural Viagra.''

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AS JOHN B DROVE the Twinkie down the dimly lit road, the tension inside the van was palpable. JJ sat in the passenger seat, his hat pulled low over his eyes as he tapped his fingers rhythmically against his knee. The rest of us were in the back, crammed into the tight space.

The mood shifted sharply as we turned the corner and saw flashing red and blue lights up ahead. Pope leaned forward from his spot, craning his neck to see what was going on.

''Oh shit! They found the truck,'' Kie muttered.

''Chill. Chill, chill, chill, chill,'' Pope urged.

''Of course,'' JJ grumbled, his sarcasm cutting through the tension as he adjusted his hat and slumped back in his seat.

John B, trying to sound calm, glanced back at us briefly. ''All right, just relax. Just relax,'' he whispered as he pulled the Twinkie to a slow stop near the police blockade.

From the back, I could see Sheriff Shoupe and Officer Plumb making their way toward us, their flashlights slicing through the dark. The beam of Shoupe's light landed on John B first, and I held my breath as he rolled the window down.

''Good evening, officer,'' John B greeted.

''Sheriff,'' Shoupe corrected gruffly.

John B nodded quickly, his hand tightening on the steering wheel. ''Sheriff. Yeah, that's right. Speed kills, huh?''

Shoupe didn't laugh. ''I pulled the tags, and I know whose truck that is,'' he said, his flashlight shifting toward the back seat. The beam landed on Kie, who was trying to shrink behind the passenger seat. ''Hey, Kie, you drop your weed pen back there?''

Kie straightened up. ''Found it,'' he said holding the pen up for us to see.

Shoupe hummed knowingly before shifting his attention. ''Sheriff, I just wanna say that this is all my fault,'' Pope interjected, leaning forward. ''She had nothing to do with this. I take 100% responsibility.''

Shoupe raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. ''Nothing to do with it? Uh-huh. You wanna try that again? Your parents reported the truck missing four hours ago, and the keys were missing from the house. I'm taking you home,'' he told Kie firmly. ''Or I can pull you all in for leaving the scene of an accident.''

Kie let out a frustrated sigh. ''Okay,'' she muttered, sliding the van door open as Plumb stepped aside.

''Hit me up later and make sure I'm still alive,'' she threw over her shoulder, climbing out and we continued to drive towards figure eight.

When we arrived at Tannyhill, the rest of us piled out of the Twinkie cautiously. The Cameron estate loomed large in the moonlight.

''He's got the truck,'' John B whispered, his voice barely audible. ''Stay low, stay low, stay low.''

We crouched behind the wall, peering over it as quietly as we could manage. The crunch of tires on gravel made me freeze, and I watched as Rafe pulled up to the house. He parked the truck and sauntered inside with the same swagger that made my blood boil every time I saw him.

''How much do you wanna bet Rafe has the cross inside that truck right now?'' Pope muttered, his eyes fixed on the vehicle.

''There's only one way to find out,'' Sarah announced before moving to stand.

''Hey, hey. Wait,'' John B hissed, grabbing her arm.

''What?'' Sarah shot back, her voice low but sharp.

I leaned further into the bushes, watching as John B began to stammer about their relationship. His voice softened, and before I knew it, the two of them were kissing, completely absorbed in their own little world.

''Hey, do you want me to perform your vows while you're at it?'' Pope quipped.

''Did you say 'be safe'?'' JJ added with a smirk.

''Christ, could you take any longer?'' Pope asked, glancing toward the house nervously.

From our hiding spot, we watched Sarah sneak over to the truck, peering through the windows. She turned back toward us, shrugging as if to say there was nothing there.

''What's she doing?'' Pope whispered harshly.

''I'm going inside. I'll be fine,'' Sarah whispered, motioning toward the house.

''No. No. Don't go inside!'' Pope warned in a sharp whisper.

''You said don't go in the house,'' JJ pointed out to John B.

''I told her,'' John B replied, throwing his hands up in defeat.

I leaned toward him. ''Do you think she'll be okay? Rafe literally tried to drown her.''

John B didn't answer, and before I could say more, Sarah was already slipping through the front door.

Suddenly, a loud horn shattered the quiet. We all ducked further into the bushes as an older man approached in a golf cart, holding a shotgun in one hand.

''Excuse me. Can I help you?'' he called out, his tone dripping with amusement. ''I got double-aught bucks in this thing. I can't miss.''

We raised our hands slowly, climbing down from the wall as the man trained his flashlight on us.

''It's not what it seems,'' JJ began, his hands still raised in surrender.

The man eyed us suspiciously. ''You guys are on the wrong side of the island. I think I'll call the police.''

JJ stepped forward cautiously, his voice smooth. ''Sir, can I just talk to you for a minute? Just to explain. I know you think we're just some derelict kids from the Cut, but we weren't that to Mr Cameron.''

''Sure weren't,'' John B chimed in.

''We were his yard workers,'' JJ continued, gesturing to me. ''And this is his daughter's school tutor, sir. We were just waiting for our yard associate Tommy to get back from planting a row of flowers for Mr Cameron's memorial.''

The man's stern expression softened slightly. ''Keep talking.''

JJ didn't miss a beat. ''The Knight of the Rhododendron lives on. That's why we planted those flowers. You smell that, right?''

The man sniffed the air, his brow furrowing. ''What is that? Night-blooming jasmine?''

JJ shook his head solemnly. ''No, that's more of a natural Viagra.''

The man blinked, his grip loosening on the shotgun. ''Sorry to bother you.''

As he climbed back into his golf cart he mumbled to himself, ''I've gotta get some of them flowers.''

''How did he fall for that?'' I whispered to JJ as the man drove away.

JJ smirked, his confidence brimming. ''He fell for my charm.''

Before I could roll my eyes, Pope suddenly sprinted off after the Cameron truck, clinging to its back as it pulled away.

''Pope!'' I called out, reaching for him, but he was already gone, holding onto the car as it drove off.

My heart sank as I saw Rose and Wheezie walk out of the house with Sarah unconscious in their arms. 

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

THE COASTAL VENTURE loomed before us, massive and rust-streaked, its size making me feel even smaller than usual. We crouched low behind a weathered crate. My legs were starting to cramp from holding the position, but I couldn't risk standing.

Ahead, Rose and the crew dragged Sarah's limp form onto the gangway leading to the ship. Seeing her like that twisted something inside me.

''I know that ship,'' JJ murmured. ''My dad worked on her last summer. Total tramp steamer. I worked on her in port too.''

John B's gaze darted toward the gangway, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. ''Is that the cross?'' he whispered, pointing toward the massive wooden crate being hauled onboard.

''Looks like it,'' JJ confirmed.

''We've gotta come up with a plan,'' John B declared.

JJ's eyes flicked to the barge nearby. ''Maybe if we get over there, we could swim to the boat. We'd have to beg into the water, though.''

Before any of us could respond, a familiar voice made us all jump.

''Howdy,'' Kiara greeted, stepping out from the shadows with Pope beside her.

I nearly choked on my breath. ''What the—''

JJ's hand flew to his pocket. ''Yo! I was about to stab your eyes out.''

Kie's laugh was a soft, teasing sound. ''You looked scared as shit.''

John B ignored her, his attention fixed on Pope. ''Are you okay? What happened?''

Pope's clothes were streaked with mud, his face bruised but defiant. ''Rafe, round three,'' he muttered.

JJ threw up his hands. ''Are you freaking kidding me? Again?''

''This one was a tie,'' Pope replied, wiping at his face.

''So, half a win,'' I added with a small smirk, trying to lighten the mood.

''How'd you guys even find us?'' JJ questioned, looking between Kie and Pope.

''Geo-located your phone,'' Kie answered simply, shrugging.

''Smart,'' JJ murmured impressed.

Pope's gaze shifted to the ship. ''Is that the cross?''

JJ nodded grimly. ''Yeah. And they're holding Sarah hostage.''

''We have to get on that boat,'' I stated firmly.

JJ raised an eyebrow, gesturing toward the ship's guards. ''First, we gotta get past the goon squad.''

''Okay, let's move,'' John B cut in, his tone brooking no argument. He started toward the barge, but when he noticed Pope hanging back, he stopped. ''Pope, what are you doing?''

Pope's expression hardened, determination flashing in his eyes. ''I have an idea. Just trust me.''

John B frowned. ''No, hey, stop running. We gotta go, dude.''

''Trust me, man,'' Pope urged, already moving away. ''I'll meet up with you guys. Go.''

''Don't you dare die, or I'll kill you,'' I called after him.

Pope shot me a quick grin. ''I'll keep that in mind.''

The four of us stayed crouched in the shadows. Moments later, a loud bang shattered the night, followed by a fiery explosion that lit up the dock like a second sunrise.

Shouts erupted from the workers as they scrambled toward the blaze.

''It's working,'' Kie whispered, her voice laced with relief.

Pope reappeared, running toward us. ''That container's going on the ship,'' he panted, pointing at a nearby crate. ''We can get in that way. Are you with me?''

I touched his arm briefly, my heart swelling with gratitude. ''You're a genius. Let's go.''

''This way,'' John B directed, and we sprinted toward the container.

Pope climbed in first, motioning for the rest of us to follow.

''Wait, whoa,'' JJ objected. ''Did you think this through?''

''Yes,'' Pope replied. ''This is the plan.''

JJ gestured toward the container with both hands. ''That's a trap right there. You see that, right? We can't get out once we get in.''

''I know,'' Pope said evenly.

''You guys don't have to come,'' John B interjected, glancing at each of us.

''I sacrificed too much to back down,'' I declared without hesitation.

''Nothing to lose?'' JJ asked.

''Nothing to lose,'' Kie and I answered in unison.

With a resigned shrug, JJ climbed in after helping me get in, and Pope helped Kie up next. ''Guess it's better than boarding school,'' she muttered as she settled inside.

The doors slammed shut with a metallic clang, plunging us into near darkness. 

''We're officially on the boat,'' JJ whispered.

''And officially out of options,'' I replied grimly following the others towards the end of the container.

The container swayed, the metallic groans echoing around us as it began to move. The shift was sudden, jerking us all off balance. My fingers scrambled to find something to grip as my shoulder pressed against the cold, corrugated wall.

''What's that?'' Pope whispered, his voice low but sharp.

I barely had a moment to answer before the container pitched again. JJ's hand shot out, grabbing my arm for support. I felt the weight of him leaning into me, his balance as unsteady as the rest of ours.

''Hold on,'' I muttered, bracing my foot against the floor to steady myself.

The rocking eased for a moment before the movement came to a jarring halt, throwing us all forward slightly.

''We made it,'' JJ announced, a grin breaking through the tension in his voice.

''Be quiet, JJ,'' Kie snapped in a harsh whisper, her wide eyes darting toward the sealed doors.

John B moved toward the small window at the front of the container, his steps cautious as the rest of us held still, waiting. He squinted through the narrow pane of scratched, dirty glass, his brow furrowing in concentration.

Before he could say anything, a loud thud reverberated through the container, making us all jump.

A hand smacked against the window, the shadowy outline of fingers visible through the scratched glass. John B flinched and dropped to a crouch, pressing his back against the wall.

''What? What was it?'' JJ hissed, his voice rising slightly in pitch.

I shot him a sharp look and clamped my hand over his mouth before he could say anything else. His wide, startled eyes locked onto mine, and I gave a small shake of my head.

He nodded slowly, his expression softening as he got the message. I felt him relax under my grip, and I pulled my hand back. ''Thanks,'' he mouthed silently, though the smirk tugging at his lips almost made me roll my eyes.

words: 2087