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''You were the best son any man could hope for. I want you to know that... it was a pleasure to take care and watch you grow, Mavis Routledge, my daughter. You're a strong young girl, just like your mother.'' 

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THE HUMID SOUTH American air wrapped around us like a heavy blanket, making it hard to breathe as the bus rolled to a jerking stop on the uneven dirt road. I wiped a bead of sweat from my temple, the relentless heat sticking my hair to my forehead. JJ leaned out of the bus window, his signature smirk plastered across his face.

''¡Cómo estás, amigos?'' JJ's voice rang out.

Below us, Pope's head whipped around, his jaw dropping in a mix of surprise and relief. ''What the...'' His expression quickly shifted as he slapped JJ's outstretched hand in greeting. ''Hey! Run!''

''We gotta go!'' Cleo yelled, her tone sharp and urgent as her gaze darted over her shoulder.

''You gotta be kidding me,'' JJ groaned, shaking his head as he scrambled back onto the bus steps.

Kie's voice cut through. ''Already? We just got here!''

The three of us jumped off the bus in sync, the worn soles of our shoes crunching against the dirt as Pope and Cleo rushed toward us. 

''What's going on?'' I asked, the words spilling out as my eyes searched their faces.

''Singh's men,'' Pope huffed, his voice clipped as his eyes flicked toward the street behind him. ''They're right behind us.''

''They're after us,'' Cleo added. ''We gotta think of a plan.''

JJ threw out a suggestion with a dramatic flourish of his arms. ''Okay, why don't we just hijack the bus?''

Kie turned on him. ''This bus? The one that goes ten miles an hour?''

JJ shrugged defensively. ''I'm just spitballing here.''

''Guys!'' Cleo hissed, crouching slightly as her voice dropped to a whisper.

I could hear the faint sound of a car engine rumbling closer, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up.

''They're coming now! Hide!'' Pope barked.

''Fruit stands! Duck!'' Cleo whispered sharply, her hand pointing to a cluster of stalls just across the road.

We bolted for cover, crouching low behind the stalls piled high with bananas, mangos, and papayas. I found myself holding my breath as the men pulled up in a black car.

My pulse quickened as they began speaking to the driver in rapid Spanish.

''No, no, no,'' the driver protested, shaking his head firmly.

''No. Don't say no,'' one of the men replied in English, his tone menacing before switching back to Spanish.

The group fell silent as we watched the men step onto the bus, their heads ducking low as they peered into the aisles. I could feel the heat of Pope's arm pressed against mine as we stayed as still as possible.

After a few agonising moments, one of the men gestured to the alleyway down the road. ''Go this way. All right, Fenny. Come on. Let's check down the alley.''

The sound of the car doors slamming shut sent a wave of relief crashing through me, and we all exhaled at once as the vehicle sped off down the alley.

''Welcome to South America,'' Cleo quipped, her voice dry as she leaned back against the stall, finally allowing herself a moment to breathe.

I let out a soft groan, shaking my head as I glanced at the others. ''That wasn't the warm welcoming I was hoping for.''

JJ chuckled lightly. ''What? You weren't expecting a parade?''

''More like less running for my life,'' I retorted, arching an eyebrow at him.

Kie let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head as she wiped her face. ''Guess we're not getting that honeymoon phase, huh?''

''Not with Singh's men around every corner,'' Pope added grimly, his voice low as he straightened up and scanned the street. ''We should keep moving before they circle back.''

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THE SALTY BREEZE from the open water hit my face as Barracuda Mike led us toward the weathered dock. His boat—a rugged, beat-up thing that looked like it had seen one too many storms—bobbed lightly against the tide.

''Got anything to protect yourself?'' Mike asked as he turned back to look at us. His steely gaze lingered on JJ, who was fidgeting with his shirt collar like it was a little too tight.

''Uh, kinda working on that part,'' JJ admitted.

Mike snorted, reaching into a burlap sack he had slung over his shoulder. ''Here.'' He shoved it into JJ's hands.

JJ blinked, holding the sack awkwardly. ''What's this?''

''Machetes,'' Mike stated simply.

My breath caught in my throat as the word hit me, a flash of memory lighting up my mind like a bolt of lightning. JJ in the water, the glint of a blade—I shook my head sharply, forcing the memory down. Not now.

Mike's voice cut through the fog in my head. ''You'll need 'em. I'm adding the cost of this rig to what you already owe me. I don't expect to see it again anyway.''

JJ gave a half-hearted laugh, tucking the sack under one arm. ''Great. Love the confidence.''

Ignoring him, Mike pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over. ''Look, I asked around at the landing today. Your buds did leave this morning, but I was able to get directions to El Tesoro. Pretty loose.''

JJ unfolded the paper carefully, his brow furrowing as he examined the crude map. ''Only Jose knows the real way,'' Mike continued. ''But you get in the right zip code, maybe.''

''It's a start,'' Kiara chimed in, leaning over JJ's shoulder to peer at the map. 

''Thanks,'' Pope offered.

Mike let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. ''Don't thank me. Start praying.'' He jabbed a finger in JJ's direction. ''And JJ—''

''Yeah?'' JJ perked up, turning to face him.

''You owe me, dude. Ten times.''

''Got it,'' JJ responded, flashing a lopsided grin as he stepped onto the boat and fiddled with the engine.

''Good luck,'' Mike added, stepping back with a small wave as the engine roared to life.

Cleo's sharp voice snapped our focus forward as she pointed toward the open water. ''JJ, you were right. That's Singh and his men.''

I squinted against the sunlight and spotted the sleek speedboat in the distance, its occupants scanning the area.

''But they're not looking for us,'' Cleo continued.

''Yeah, they're moving real quick,'' JJ observed, his hands tightening on the wheel. ''They're looking for John B and Sarah. They're gonna know where they're headed. We gotta go. They're gonna need us.''

The boat jolted forward as JJ cranked the engine harder, the sudden momentum making me grab the edge for balance.

After what felt like hours but was probably only minutes, Kiara's voice cut through the droning of the motor. ''Okay, guys, I think this is El Tesoro.''

I looked ahead and saw a dense forest stretching up toward a mountain trail. ''The trailhead to the mountain is supposed to start here,'' Kie added.

Before we could move, Pope pointed toward a figure in the distance. ''Oh, shit. That's one of Singh's guys.''

''What are we gonna do?'' JJ asked, his voice low but urgent.

Pope's eyes narrowed as he thought quickly. ''Get past them somehow.''

Time seemed to blur as we moved through the jungle, setting up distractions and throwing Pope's fireworks to draw Singh's men away. The explosions echoed through the trees, and I could hear the shouts of confusion from the other side.

''Miguel! They're shooting at us!'' one of Singh's men yelled.

''Is he buying it?'' JJ asked, glancing at Kie.

She nodded. ''Pope, another one!''

Pope lit another firework and tossed it toward the boat, the explosion causing the men to duck instinctively. ''Shit, we're surrounded!'' one of them yelled, and a round of gunfire rang out.

''Pope, return fire!'' JJ ordered.

Another firework sailed through the air, landing with a satisfying bang that sent Singh's men scrambling.

''There's too many of them!''

''Let's get out of here! Go!'' 

''Come on, faster! Faster!''

''Bye-bye,'' Pope muttered under his breath as the boat sped away, leaving Singh's men shouting in the distance.

JJ's triumphant laugh filled the air as he turned to Pope. ''Think we're getting better at this.''

''Oh, yeah,'' Pope agreed, and the two launched into the Pogue handshake.

''Hey, hey.'' Cleo's voice cut through. ''Ain't no time for celebrating. We didn't do nothing yet.''

''That's fair,'' Kie admitted.

''I thought we did something,'' JJ grumbled, more to himself than anyone else.

''We did,'' Pope reassured him, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

JJ grinned, leaning closer to him. ''Well done, soldier.''

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THE JUNGLE FELT alive around us, the hum of insects and the occasional distant call of a bird filling the tense silence as we pushed through thick, tangled bushes. My machete sliced through the undergrowth.

''All right, so, what are we gonna do?'' Pope's voice broke through the quiet, his words carrying a nervous edge. We crouched low, peering through the dense foliage at Ward. He stood, gun in hand, facing Big John, John B, and Sarah. 

''Is this ride or die?'' JJ asked.

''P4L,'' Cleo declared as she drew her machete.

''P4L,'' Pope echoed, pulling his own blade free.

''P4L,'' Kiara agreed.

''P4L,'' I whispered, gripping my machete tighter. My fingers trembled slightly, but I tried to mask it by tightening my jaw. 

''Frickin' P4L,'' JJ muttered, the corner of his mouth twitching in what could barely pass as a smirk.

Ahead, Ward's voice cut through the air like the crack of a whip. ''You're supposed to be dead,'' he growled at Big John. ''I think I liked you better that way.''

Before I could think, we burst out of the bushes, our weapons raised. ''Stay back!'' JJ hollered, his voice fierce as we surrounded Ward.

''Ward, put it down!'' he demanded, stepping forward.

''Stop right now!'' Pope's voice joined his.

''Stay!'' JJ bellowed.

Our shouts overlapped, each of us pushing Ward toward surrender. ''Come on! You're outnumbered, Ward,'' JJ barked.

''What are you gonna do, shoot us all?'' Pope challenged.

Ward's eyes flicked to me, narrowing with venom. ''And my son begged me to spare you,'' he spat.

I blinked, startled by his words. ''Excuse me?'' My confusion slipped out before I could stop it.

Ward ignored me, his focus shifting back to Big John. ''If you gotta shoot somebody, Ward, shoot me,'' Big John said.

Ward raised his gun, aiming it directly at Big John. But before he could pull the trigger, John B stepped in front of his father, his arms outstretched. ''Stop,'' he urged.

''Enough.'' Sarah's voice broke through. She moved forward, her steps steady despite the trembling in her hands. She stopped when the barrel of Ward's gun pressed against her chest.

''Don't!'' I found myself blurting, but Sarah didn't flinch.

''You're not gonna kill all of us,'' she said softly. ''I know you won't. I know you. You forget that I know you.''

Ward's hand began to shake as Sarah reached out, gently wrapping her fingers around the barrel of the gun. ''You can't,'' she whispered, her voice cracking. Slowly, she pushed his hand down, taking the weapon from him.

''I couldn't,'' Ward choked out, tears streaming down his face. ''I couldn't do it.'' His hand trembled as it reached for her cheek, cradling it like she was the only thing holding him together.

The moment shattered when Ryan's voice rang out behind us. ''Yeah? Well, I can.''

We turned as one, seeing Ryan step forward, his gun trained on us. John B reacted instantly, aiming the gun he'd taken from Ward, but Ryan's weapon swung to Big John in response.

''Toss it,'' Ryan ordered.

Big John spoke calmly, trying to de-escalate. ''Take it easy, bud. Your boss is dead. You got no reason to do this.''

Ryan's lip curled into a sneer. ''I can think of a few reasons. Toss it!''

Reluctantly, John B lowered his gun, letting it drop to the ground.

Ryan smirked as he stepped closer. ''Thought you'd end up with the gold, eh?'' His tone was mocking as he circled us. ''All right, nobody move.''

''J,'' I whispered, glancing toward JJ. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes burned with barely contained rage, but he didn't move.

Ryan's gun swung toward Sarah, his finger tightening on the trigger. ''You go first,'' he hissed.

''No,'' Ward muttered, stepping forward. His face twisted with anguish as he met Sarah's tearful gaze.

Her lips parted, shaking her head slightly. ''Dad, no,'' she whispered.

Before any of us could react, Ward let out a guttural scream and charged at Ryan. The gun went off, the deafening shots ringing in my ears as Ward staggered but didn't stop. His body slammed into Ryan, the force sending both of them tumbling off the edge of the cliff.

Sarah's strangled cry pierced the air as she stumbled forward, her knees nearly giving out. ''Sarah,'' John B murmured, rushing to her side. The rest of us moved closer to the edge, peering down at the lifeless forms sprawled far below.

''Hey. Hey. Big John?'' Pope's voice drew my attention. He knelt beside Big John, his hands shaking as he tried to rouse him.

''Big John? Hey!'' John B tore himself away from Sarah and dropped beside his father.

''Okay, Dad, we gotta get you out of here,'' John B said, his voice tight with desperation as Pope and I helped Big John to his feet.

''It's all right,'' Pope reassured him.

''Stay awake. Please stay awake. Come on,'' John B urged, his grip on our father tightening as we began to move.

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THE BOAT ROCKED gently beneath us, the quiet slap of the waves against the hull doing little to soothe the ache settling in my chest. Big John lay sprawled on the deck, his head resting on John B's lap, his breaths coming in shallow, uneven gasps.

''Hey, hey, hey, pop. Hey. Hang in there, okay? You didn't give me a younger sister yet.'' John B said trying to keep our dad awake.

Big John's lips curved into a faint smile, a weak chuckle escaping him. ''But we did it together, my boy,'' he murmured, his hand trembling as it reached out. His fingers found my arm, their grip weak. His hazy gaze softened as he looked at me. ''You might have not seen it, but your brother will tell you all about it.''

I swallowed hard, my throat tight with the weight of unshed tears. ''He'll me about it later,'' I whispered, forcing a small smile for his sake.

''Yeah,'' John B sniffled, his head dipping forward as if he couldn't bear to look his father in the eye.

''Just like we drew it up,'' Big John added, his voice growing fainter, the effort of speaking visibly draining him.

''Yeah,'' John B muttered, his hands fidgeting like he didn't know where to put them.

Big John's hand moved to clasp his son's. ''Hey, hey, Bird,'' he rasped. ''Hey. Sarah. Sarah.''

''Hi,'' Sarah replied softly, her voice trembling as she crouched down beside us. ''I'm here, Big John.'' Her hands joined ours, her delicate fingers clutching his.

Big John's eyes darted between them, his gaze lingering on John B. ''Bird, you got to hang on to this one,'' he said.

A groan slipped past his lips, his body trembling slightly. ''I know that I wasn't any great shakes as a father,'' he admitted.

''Stop, dad,'' John B pleaded, shaking his head. His grip on his father's hand tightened like he could keep him anchored to this world.

''But you...'' Big John drew a laboured breath. ''You were the best son any man could hope for. I want you to know that... it was a pleasure to take care and watch you grow, Mavis Routledge, my daughter. You're a strong young girl, just like your mother.'' His eyes met mine, and the tenderness in his voice broke the fragile barrier holding back my tears.

My lips parted, but the words wouldn't come. My throat burned, and all I could do was nod, gripping his hand with both of mine.

''You can tell me when we get home, okay?'' John B urged, his voice trembling as he fought to keep it steady. ''Almost there.''

''Okay,'' Big John whispered, his voice so faint it was almost lost to the sound of the water lapping at the boat. His gaze flicked between John B and me. ''Just take care of each other now, all right? As a family.''

John B's movements stilled, and he pulled something from his pocket. ''Hold up. Look, dad. Look.'' He placed a small piece of gold on Big John's chest, his hands shaking as he did. ''We did it,'' he whispered, tears spilling freely down his face. ''You did it.''

Big John's lips moved, forming the faintest of smiles. ''I'll see you... I'll see you at home, kids.'' His eyes fluttered shut, his chest rising and falling one last time before going still.

''Dad?'' John B's voice broke as he shook our father gently. ''Dad?'' He collapsed forward, his sobs wracking his body as he clung to the lifeless form.

My hand tightened around Big John's, the warmth seeping from it as if it were slipping away with his soul. I blinked hard, but the tears came anyway, streaming down my cheeks as I reached for John B's hand with my free one. 

I stayed by his side, holding him and our dad as if that could somehow piece us all back together. 

words: 2800

A/N

Mavis is an orphan now <3 That turned out so well and totally didn't backfire on them at all.