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''I'm going to be an aunt.''

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THE WORLD FELT eerily still, like the quiet after a storm, though the devastation left behind screamed of chaos. Broken glass crunched beneath our feet as we moved through the remnants of JJ's wake. The burnt-out husk of a dumpster nearby sent up faint tendrils of smoke, the acrid smell lingering in the air.

''Oof. This place is trashed,'' John B grimaced, his eyes sweeping across the destruction. We walked past the smashed windows and deflated tyres littering the street.

''JJ's long gone. We should get out of here,'' he added, glancing back at us over his shoulder.

''And go where? They're probably already bulldozing Poguelandia,'' Kiara muttered, her arms crossed tightly against her chest. 

John B scoffed, shaking his head. ''That means JJ's slashing tyres.''

I nodded. ''That's actually pretty likely.''

As we trudged on, John B slowed his pace, his gaze landing on Sarah. She was walking beside me, her shoulders slumped, her expression distant. ''Hey. You okay?'' he asked, his voice softer now.

Sarah hesitated, biting her lip before offering a small nod. ''Yeah. I'm... I'm... I have to... you know, I'll be right back,'' she mumbled, her words rushed as she veered toward a nearby drugstore.

John B and I exchanged a glance before he exhaled sharply. ''His dad comes back, and the next thing you know, sells the house right out from under them to the Kooks of all people,'' he muttered. ''I mean, Luke makes Mavis and my dad look like fathers of the century. That's crazy to think about.''

''And he might not even be his...'' Kie started, her voice trailing off as she realised what she was saying.

John B turned to her, his brow furrowing. ''What?''

''Nothing,'' Kiara replied quickly, avoiding his gaze.

There was a pause before she spoke again. ''Goat Island. I know where JJ went.''

John B blinked, looking at her incredulously. ''What are you talking about?''

''We're going to go get Sarah,'' Kiara said firmly, grabbing my hand and tugging me toward the drugstore. I stumbled slightly before following her lead.

''Yeah, we'll just wait out here with the police,'' John B called after us.

The dingy fluorescent lights inside the store cast an unflattering glow as we walked down the aisle. We made our way to the bathroom door, where Kiara knocked lightly. ''Sarah?''

''One second,'' Sarah's voice called from the other side, strained and uneven.

''Are you in there?'' Kiara asked, leaning closer to the door.

''Yeah, um.'' There was a sharp inhale, and then a pause. ''Yeah.''

Kiara and I exchanged a concerned look. ''Okay,'' Kiara said softly.

''Look,'' Kiara began, raising her voice just slightly. ''I think I know where JJ went.''

A moment later, the door opened, revealing Sarah. She looked pale, her skin damp with sweat, and her eyes were wide as they darted between us. I immediately felt a knot of worry tighten in my chest.

''Are you okay?'' I asked, stepping closer to her.

Sarah hesitated, forcing a weak smile. ''Yeah...''

Kiara's eyes drifted past her, and I followed her gaze to the sink. My breath hitched when I saw it—a pregnancy test. Two, in fact.

''What is that...'' Kiara murmured, her voice almost a whisper.

Sarah froze for a moment before turning her head to follow our line of sight. Her lips pressed into a thin line.

''Is that yours?'' Kiara asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sarah gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. ''Mhm.''

Kiara's mouth opened as if to speak, but no words came out. An awkward silence stretched between us.

''Are you sure?'' I asked gently, my voice trembling slightly.

Sarah glanced back at the sink, her eyes lingering on the tests. ''Well, I took both,'' she admitted quietly.

Kiara exhaled, her eyebrows shooting up. ''Confirmation,'' she said.

Sarah nodded again. ''John B?'' Kiara asked.

''Yeah,'' Sarah replied quickly, shooting her a sharp look. ''Of course.''

''Yeah, yeah, for sure,'' Kiara clarified, her hands going up in surrender. ''Like, does he know?''

Sarah's expression softened slightly as she realised what Kiara meant. ''Oh no. I just found out,'' she said.

''Oh.'' Kiara and I echoed simultaneously.

''Impeccable timing,'' Sarah quipped, her lips curling into a wry smile.

''I mean, homeless, broke again, chased by killers. I don't really know how it could get better.'' Kiara tilted her head, her voice tinged with sarcasm.

''It would be super great if maybe you could find like one positive thing.'' Sarah huffed a small  nervous laugh, shaking her head.

I stepped forward, my chest tightening as tears pricked at my eyes. ''I'm going to be an aunt,'' I whispered, my voice breaking.

Sarah let out a soft laugh and pulled me into a tight embrace. I clung to her, blinking back tears. ''You're going to be an amazing mom, Sarah,'' I whispered into her shoulder.

Sarah pulled back, her face glowing with a mix of gratitude and nerves. ''Well, John B is going to be an all right dad,'' Kiara teased, earning a round of laughter from all of us.

''And you have all of us,'' Kiara added, her voice turning serious. ''They say it takes a village.''

''You have all of us,'' I echoed, reaching for both of their hands. We fell into a group hug, the moment warm despite the circumstances.

''I love you both,'' Sarah murmured.

''We love you too,'' Kiara replied, her tone soft but certain.

As we stepped out of the drug store, the warm, salty air hit me. Sarah walked ahead of us, her shoulders back, trying to ignore the familiar voice calling out.

''Oh, hey, Kie,'' Topper greeted, leaning casually against a post as if he owned the place. His smirk widened as his gaze shifted. ''Hey, Sarah. Looking good.''

Sarah didn't even dignify him with a proper response. Her eyes rolled so hard I half-expected them to stay stuck.

''Looking good?'' John B repeated, his tone dripping with mockery as he stepped forward. ''The lamest thing you've ever said.'' He waved his hand dramatically, as if dismissing the very idea of Topper existing, before flipping him off with a sharp motion. ''Bitch.''

''Go,'' Kie snapped. She stepped closer, making it clear none of us were in the mood for whatever Topper thought he was pulling.

Without waiting for a response, we moved toward the docks, leaving Topper behind in his pathetic attempt at charm.

The sound of our footsteps against the dock echoed faintly as we approached the boat. My heart was pounding louder than the gentle lapping of the waves against the hull. Everything about this felt off, but I couldn't let JJ down.

''Okay,'' John B said, his hands already working to untie the boat's rope from the cleat. ''So, you're telling me that JJ thinks Chandler Groff, the heir to Goat Island, is his real dad?'' 

''I don't know, maybe,'' Kiara admitted, brushing her hair back as she stepped onto the boat.

''Look,'' she continued as John B climbed aboard, ''I wouldn't have even told you, but he's been freaking out ever since he got that letter, and I know that's where he went.'' Her eyes darted towards me, silently asking for backup. ''I'm worried.''

''Okay, but why would the Genrettes keep that a secret for so many years?'' John B asked as he extended a hand to Sarah, helping her step onto the boat. He turned and offered the same to me.

''People keep secrets for a lot of reasons,'' Kiara replied. She sounded distant, like she was turning something over in her mind.

I caught the quick glance Sarah shot Kiara's way, her lips pressing into a thin line, but no one else seemed to notice.

''Okay, well, it's the last place we've looked,'' John B remarked, reaching for the engine. ''So, dealer's choice.''

The hum of the motor filled the silence as we approached the secluded island. My eyes scanned the looming boat ahead, a sense of unease settling in my stomach.

''What is that?'' Kiara asked suddenly. She leaned forward, squinting. ''Wait. Kill the engine. Kill the engine.''

John B cut the motor, and the sudden silence was deafening.

Kiara pointed toward the larger boat. ''Oh, God, it's JJ.''

My stomach dropped. 

''And that's Groff,'' John B muttered pointing.

''Those are the guys from Charleston who took the scroll,'' Sarah noted.

''The scuba guy,'' Kiara added, her fists clenching at her sides.

''What do they want with JJ?'' John B asked, his voice low.

Kiara didn't look away from the scene ahead. ''I think it's JJ that they want,'' she murmured grimly.

The tension was suffocating as I broke the silence. ''We could, like, ram 'em,'' I suggested, ''Create a distraction.''

John B raised an eyebrow, looking at me like I'd lost it. ''Ram that? No, it's not even gonna leave a dent.''

''I don't know, John B,'' I retorted, crossing my arms. ''I'm just trying to think. We gotta help JJ.''

Sarah suddenly straightened, reaching for something nearby. ''Wait. Guys, guys,'' she said quickly, holding up bottles of cleaning supplies. ''We have these. We have gasoline in the back.''

Kiara blinked at her, deadpan. ''That's psychotic.''

A grin tugged at the corner of my lips. ''And I like it,'' I admitted.

John B nodded, already moving. ''Let's find some rags,'' he instructed, his focus locked on the task.

The rest of us scrambled into action, gathering materials as John B assembled the Molotov cocktails.

''We're going to use the fire to distract them. He'll get free, jump over, and we'll go grab him.'' Kiara instructed.

''I'm not worried about that. Easy-peasy,'' Sarah said, her tone feigning confidence though her hands trembled slightly.

''Easy-peasy,'' John B repeated under his breath as he soaked a rag in gasoline, stuffing it into the neck of one of the bottles.

I leaned closer, my gaze fixed on the larger boat where JJ stood, barely moving. ''Just don't hit him with the bomb, please,'' I reminded John B.

He glanced at me. ''Don't hit JJ with the Molotov cocktail. Gotcha,'' he replied, his hands steady as he worked. ''All right. Anybody got a lighter?''

''Yeah, right here,'' Sarah chimed in, pulling a small lighter from the compartment by the wheel.

Kiara stepped forward, holding out her hand. ''Let me do it.''

Sarah hesitated, her brows knitting together. ''Why?''

Kiara's gaze didn't waver. ''Why do you think?''

With a small huff, Sarah handed over the lighter. I exchanged a quick glance with her, sensing her frustration but also understanding Kiara's point.

''Just be careful, John B,'' Kie cautioned. She crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on my brother like she was already predicting the disaster he was about to cause.

''This is gonna have to work,'' John B replied. His grip on the makeshift Molotov cocktail tightened as he glanced at us.

My stomach churned as I watched John B fumble with the cocktail, his hands shaking just enough to make me nervous.

The group of people on the other boat shouted, their voices carrying over the water like a warning we were too stubborn to heed.

''Shit, shit, shit,'' John B muttered under his breath, trying to steady himself.

''Oh, my God,'' Sarah whispered, her voice barely audible as she watched him swing the bottle back, the flames flickering ominously.

Time slowed as he hurled the bottle into the air. I held my breath, already bracing for the worst.

It didn't take long. The bottle arced upward, missing its mark entirely, and plummeted back toward us.

''Oh, my God!'' Sarah shrieked, her voice breaking as we all dove for cover behind the chairs. The crash was deafening, flames licking up from where the bottle shattered and ignited part of the boat.

''Oh, shit!'' John B flailed, losing his balance and tumbling over the edge into the water.

''John B!'' I yelled, panic surging through me as I scrambled to the side of the boat.

''You threw it up, dumbass!'' Kiara scolded.

''What do we do? The boat's on fire,'' Sarah exclaimed, her hands shaking as she pointed to the growing blaze.

''You dumbass! You almost killed us!'' I snapped, turning back toward John B as he tread water below. ''Are you okay?''

''I'm fine, just—'' Sarah sighed, running a hand through her hair as Kie grabbed a bucket and started dousing the flames.

''Oh, God. That was a terrible idea,'' John B admitted, splashing water onto the boat in a desperate attempt to help. ''I miscalculated.''

''Are you trying to kill us?'' Kie barked, glaring at him as the fire finally fizzled out.

''I'm so sorry,'' John B stammered as he climbed back onto the boat, dripping wet.

Kie scoffed. ''A blind bat could've thrown that better.''

Sarah shushed her. ''We need another bottle,'' Kie announced.

''On it,'' John B replied, fumbling to assemble the next one.

''This time throw it further.'' Kiara ordered sharply,

John B nodded, loading the bottle into JJ's slingshot contraption. ''Bye-bye,'' he muttered before letting it fly.

The bottle soared across the gap, crashing perfectly onto the other boat. Flames erupted, and the shouts from the other group turned frantic as they scrambled to get away.

''Holy shit!'' John B's eyes widened in disbelief, and I felt a strange mix of relief and pride.

''It worked,'' Kie breathed, a small smile breaking through.

''Let's go,'' Sarah urged, her voice trembling slightly.

''Yeah, go get JJ. Go, go,'' I added, nudging Kie toward the wheel as we started to move.

''Oh, my God. That guy's on fire,'' John B whispered. I placed a hand on his shoulder, grounding him as we watched the man leap into the water to extinguish himself.

We approached the boat, but JJ was nowhere in sight.

''I'll find him,'' John B declared, jumping onto the burning vessel without hesitation. ''Circle back around.''

Kie steered us away, turning back once he was safely onboard.

''I see them!'' Sarah pointed to the top of the boat, where John B and JJ were clinging to the edge.

''Oh, my God,'' Kie breathed, her grip on the wheel tightening.

The two boys leaped into the water with a splash, their yells echoing as we pulled up beside them.

''Come on, come on,'' I urged, reaching out to help JJ climb aboard. He stumbled in, dripping and breathless. Sarah pulled John B up next, snatching the scroll from his hand.

''Go! Punch it, Kiara! Punch it!'' JJ shouted as gunshots rang out behind us.

''Kiara, go!'' Sarah yelled, her voice sharp and urgent.

''Are you okay?'' I asked, glancing at John B as he took the wheel from Kie.

''Yeah,'' JJ answered for him, slumping onto the bench beside me.

''Are they following?'' John B asked after a tense silence.

''Not yet,'' Kie replied, her voice calmer now.

''I think we're out of range,'' JJ added, pulling me into a tight hug.

''Okay. I got the scroll,'' John B announced, holding it up triumphantly.

JJ released me, his grin wide as he gestured toward the tattered parchment. ''That leads to the Blue Crown.'' He laughed, the sound full of relief.

''I thought I was gonna die,'' John B admitted.

''No shit,'' Kie muttered, though there was a small smile on her lips.

''Back in the G game, baby!'' John B exclaimed, throwing an arm around Sarah as we all laughed.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

WE WERE CROWDED around the table, the map spread out in front of us like some kind of holy grail. 

''Okay, so, obviously, it's a map of sorts, right?'' John B broke the silence.

''Yeah, but looks like a trippy mosaic,'' JJ chimed in.

''It's so weird. It's all scrambled,'' Kie murmured, her brow furrowed as she leaned in closer.

''What are we supposed to do with this?'' Sarah asked, arms crossed.

''Decode it. That's what we're supposed to do,'' JJ declared confidently, taking a drag from the joint he held loosely between his fingers before passing it to John B. ''All right, everything's coming into focus now. You've just got to let your eyes go out of focus for it to be in focus.''

Sarah reached for the joint, took a puff, and that's when I acted without thinking. I slapped it out of her hand making her pause. Sarah looked at me, wide-eyed and stunned, the haze of realization quickly sobering her.

''Really?'' I muttered not wanting to start a bigger argument.

''I think we're mind melding,'' John B said, oblivious to the interaction between Sarah and me as he continued staring at the map.

''We got a mountain range,'' JJ observed, pointing at a pattern on the map.

''Water lines, right?'' Kie added.

''Good job. The water's blue,'' JJ teased, earning an eye roll from Kie.

''The jungle—'' John B started, but his words were cut off by the faint sound.

We all froze.

''What was that?'' JJ whispered, his body immediately tensing.

The noises came again, faint but unmistakable. John B grabbed a bat, JJ grabbed paddles, and the two of them moved like predators stalking prey, ready to defend the safe haven we'd barely managed to find.

''I knew we shouldn't have come back here,'' Kie hissed under her breath, her hands trembling slightly as she threw a blanket over the map to hide it.

I moved closer to her and Sarah, our shoulders brushing as we instinctively sought safety in numbers. My eyes darted around the room, my ears straining for any more sounds. The creak of a board here, the rustle of something outside there—it all felt too close.

''Nothing on your sides?'' JJ asked, his voice low.

''No. Nothing,'' John B replied, his grip tightening on the bat. ''That's so weird. It kinda sounded like maybe it was—''

We all jumped, gasps escaping as Chandler stumbled in, soaking wet and out of breath.

''Oh. Sorry. I'm sorry,'' Chandler panted, leaning heavily against a post. His drenched clothes dripped onto the floor, leaving a puddle beneath him.

''Jesus,'' Kie exclaimed, clutching her chest.

''JJ.'' Chandler's watery eyes focused on him. ''You made it.'' His laugh was weak, almost a sob. ''I, uh, I'm sorry to bother you here.''

''Oh, my God,'' Sarah muttered gripping my hand.

''I swam... I swam all the way in,'' Chandler stammered, coughing harshly.

''What are you doing here?'' JJ demanded.

''I... I had nowhere else to go, son,'' Chandler admitted.

JJ hesitated before walking over and helping him to a seat with the paddle. It wasn't an embrace, but it was something.

''So you're JJ's real dad?'' Kie asked.

''I don't deserve the title, but yes, I am JJ's biological father,'' Chandler stated plainly. ''I could have done better by him, I know that. I look forward to telling you all about it.''

''Right,'' Kiara replied, skeptical.

Chandler shifted. ''But I'm afraid time is short.'' He gestured toward the map container. ''Let me guess. You opened up that packing tube over there, and you found a