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''Because I'm all you've got. And you're the only family I have left.''

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THE WHARF STRETCHED out before us, cloaked in the faint glow of moonlight. 

''Looks super wharfy,'' Kie commented as she scanned the scene. ''This has gotta be it.''

JJ nodded, shoving his hands into his pockets. ''Groff was on Hollis' boat, so look for something fancy.''

John B stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the line of vessels. ''I mean, it's gotta be here. This is the only wharf in town.''

Cleo pointed confidently toward the far side of the dock. ''I don't know about no fancy boat, but that's Terrance's boat. The one on the right.''

Pope squinted, trying to make out the details. ''Are you sure?''

''I grew up on that boat. I'd know that boat anywhere,'' Cleo replied.

JJ gestured toward the vessel, the faint scorch marks along its hull catching his attention. ''You can see the singe marks, Pope.''

Pope nodded. ''If his boat's here, the Corsairs are here.''

John B stepped closer, his jaw tightening. ''Which also means Groff's here.''

Cleo crossed her arms. ''And the one who killed Captain T.''

''No lights,'' Kie observed.

Sarah frowned, leaning forward slightly. ''I don't see any movement on the boat.''

JJ straightened, cracking his knuckles as if preparing for action. ''My vote is, we storm the fort, see if we can use anything.'' He took a step forward before Pope's hand shot out to stop him.

''Hold on. Not you,'' Pope warned.

John B raised his voice just enough to catch JJ's attention. ''Whoa, whoa, hey.''

I stepped up beside JJ, grabbing his wrist firmly. ''They know what you look like, dumbass. Use your head for once.''

JJ let out an exasperated huff but didn't pull away, instead glancing down at me with a mix of irritation and grudging respect. ''Well... all right, guys.''

''Somebody else needs to do it,'' Pope interjected.

Sarah straightened up. ''I'll do it.''

''No, no. I'll do it,'' I countered, stepping forward instinctively.

Sarah turned to me. ''You were seen with Rafe and stole the food. They'd recognise you, Mavis.''

John B shifted uneasily, as if about to step in. ''Hey, maybe...''

Sarah cut him off. ''What? I'm fine. I can do things.''

John B quickly held up his hands in placation. ''I believe you. I believe you.''

''They don't know what I look like. I'll do it. I can do it,'' Sarah insisted. Without waiting for further protests, she strode off toward the boat.

John B hesitated for a moment before following her. ''I'm coming with you. Um, you guys keep a lookout. We'll storm the fort,'' he added, jogging to catch up.

We split into two group. Kie, JJ, and I climbed toward the fort while Pope and Cleo stayed behind, keeping a watchful eye on the dock below.

As we reached the fort, JJ suddenly stopped, gesturing toward a figure in the distance. ''Wait, wait, wait, dudes. See that guy?'' he whispered, pointing. ''That one right there. That was one of the Corsairs that kidnapped me and brought me onto his ship.''

Kie squinted in the same direction. ''He's definitely heading toward the boat.''

''I see it,'' JJ murmured. His jaw tightened as he approached an old cannon, picking up a metal object and banging it against the side with a dull clang.

The sound echoed through the night, followed by a softer metallic noise from below.

''Hey. That's the signal,'' Pope's voice called faintly from their position below. He lifted a paddle and tapped it against a barrel in response.

JJ stilled as a low, rhythmic chanting began to fill the air.

Kie tilted her head, her brows furrowing. ''What is that?''

''It's the call to prayer,'' I whispered.

Kie shook her head. ''They're never gonna hear us.''

JJ rubbed the back of his neck, muttering under his breath. ''I know.''

Kie's tone shifted as she turned toward JJ. ''JJ, you're not gonna like this.''

He glanced at her sharply. ''What?''

''He's definitely armed, and he knows you,'' Kie pointed out.

JJ's eyes widened in protest. ''No, are you kidding me? Kie, no. Way too sketch right now.''

But before either of us could stop her, Kie was already moving, her figure darting off.

''I'm going. Stay here. Hold down the fort, literally,'' she called back over her shoulder.

I threw up my hands in frustration, exchanging a look with JJ. ''Great. This is going to go well.''

He didn't respond, just muttered something under his breath and gripped the cannon tightly,

Kie moved down toward the Corsair, her body language casual but calculated, as though she were just another passerby. JJ and I stayed close to the wall, hidden behind the fort's worn stone.

''Be careful,'' JJ mumbled under his breath. His eyes were fixed on Kie, his knuckles white as they gripped the edge of the wall. ''Be careful.''

I placed a hand on his shoulder, more to steady myself than him. My pulse hammered in my ears as Kie made her move, deliberately bumping into the Corsair. She played it cool, her words too low to catch from where we stood.

The man glanced at her suspiciously but eventually shrugged her off and walked away. Kie turned back to us and waved, her signal that it was clear. We barely had a second to react before JJ hissed, ''Frick!'' He bolted from our hiding spot, his legs carrying him toward the dock at full speed.

''I know, I know, I know,'' JJ muttered as he sprinted past Kie.

Kie threw up her hands in frustration. ''I know. I tried! JJ, be careful!'' she called after him.

I followed in JJ's wake as he snatched a paddle from a nearby boat. My breath caught when I saw the Corsair raise his gun, aiming toward where I knew John B and Sarah were.

''JJ!'' I shouted, but he was already moving.

With a swing of the paddle, JJ struck the man squarely in the head. The crack of the impact echoed loudly, followed immediately by the gunshot. The bullet ricocheted off a nearby post, missing John B and Sarah by inches as they ducked instinctively.

The Corsair crumpled to the ground, the gun slipping from his grasp and skidding across the dock. My legs felt shaky, but I forced myself forward, glancing at JJ as he caught his breath.

''Where's Cleo?'' JJ demanded, his voice sharp as his gaze flicked to Pope.

''I don't know,'' Pope admitted.

''She was with you. That was your job!''

Pope didn't wait to argue. ''I'm gonna go get John B and Sarah.'' He took off toward the end of the dock, leaving JJ, Kie, and me behind.

''JJ? You good?'' Kie asked, stepping closer to him, her voice softer now.

JJ nodded, still clutching the paddle like a lifeline. ''Yeah. Are you okay? You guys good?''

I exhaled a shaky breath. ''Yeah...''

Before the relief could settle in, JJ's head snapped up. ''Guys, come on! Where's Cleo? Cleo!'' he bellowed, spinning in a circle as though she might appear out of nowhere.

A loud honk shattered the tense moment, followed by the screech of tires. We turned toward the sound and saw Cleo behind the wheel of a beat-up car, waving wildly at us.

''Come on! Come on, guys! Hurry!'' she shouted.

The group didn't hesitate, sprinting toward the vehicle as Cleo revved the engine.

''How did you get this?'' Pope asked, panting as he reached the car.

''I stole it,'' Cleo replied simply. ''Hurry, hurry, hurry. Come on!''

The car door barely shut behind me before Cleo floored it, the tires squealing as we sped off into the night.

''Cheese on bread! If one more engine goes out on me, I'm going to be the one blowing it up next time,'' Cleo had grumbled, kicking the side of the van before climbing into the driver's seat earlier.

Pope leaned forward from his seat, gesturing with the map he'd been studying for hours. ''So, yeah, putting together all those photos you found, it definitely looks like they're going to this place, Agapenta.''

''Looks like a straight shot,'' he added confidently.

''A straight shot as in how many miles, Pope?'' John B questioned, glancing at him briefly before returning his focus to the winding road ahead.

''100 kilometres, give or take? About 62 miles,'' Pope clarified. ''We can definitely make it there. Can't guarantee we're gonna make it back, but we can definitely make it there.''

''Well, that's comforting,'' Sarah muttered, leaning her head against the window with a tired expression.

''You don't think it was dangerous just running up on him like that? What if he had just turned? He was, like, actively shooting a gun. He was holding the gun.'' Kiara asked turning towards JJ.

JJ, who had been nonchalantly fiddling with the gun now tucked into his belt loop, shrugged. ''Not anymore, though.''

He turned to secure the gas can they'd just filled.

''Live a little,'' he added with a smirk, his eyes briefly meeting Kie's.

''Really?'' Kie shot back, her arms crossing as her voice rose with exasperation. ''JJ, this is what I'm talking about. You know, your luck's gonna run out one day.''

I nodded in agreement. ''She's right, JJ. You're acting too recklessly.''

JJ hesitated for a fraction of a second before stepping away, his expression hardening as he turned to the gas vendor. ''How much do I owe you, sir?''

''300,'' the man replied gruffly, eyeing the group.

''She's ready for the road,'' Cleo announced as she slammed the hood of the van shut as she hopped back into the driver's seat.

''All right, hey, let's go,'' Pope called out to Sarah and John B, waving them back to the van.

Sarah held up a bag of food she'd managed to grab earlier, earning a collective cheer from the rest of us.

''All right, John B, this is the turnoff here,'' Pope directed as we pulled onto an even rougher stretch of road. ''Looks like there should be a well or something up the road. We can stop for water and then head to Agapenta.''

The van slowed to a halt next to the ancient well, its weathered stones covered in moss and grime.

John B cut the engine, leaning back with a groan. ''Pope, I really hope you're right about this well.''

''No, it's good. It was on the map,'' Pope replied firmly.

''Feels like we've been driving for seven years,'' Sarah complained, rubbing her temples.

''I'm thirsty,'' she added.

''Is there any water in this thing?'' Kie asked as we all piled out and approached the well.

Before anyone could answer, a sharp shout in French echoed up from its depths. We froze, exchanging wide-eyed looks.

''What the hell?'' I muttered, stepping closer to peer over the edge.

The voice grew louder, frantic, and then recognisable.

''I guess we found Groff, huh?'' JJ commented.

''Help!'' Groff yelled, his voice hoarse. ''Help! I'm trapped!''

JJ rolled his shoulders and stepped forward. ''Just... let me handle this.''

Groff's pleading continued, and when JJ leaned over the edge, his expression hardened. ''Dad?''

Groff's tone shifted, his words laced with fake affection. ''JJ. Is that you? Oh, my God. Divine vision!''

The well itself was weathered, the stone edges chipped and darkened with moss. JJ was standing a few paces back, his arms crossed tightly across his chest.

''What happened?'' JJ asked, his voice sharp and clipped.

''I'm trapped down here because of that... Rafe,'' Groff shouted up.

I glanced at John B, who stood next to me, arms hanging loosely at his sides. ''I told you Rafe's useful,'' I mumbled, nudging him lightly. John B rolled his eyes, but his lips twitched in what could have been an almost-smile.

''But now, my boy, my beautiful boy, is here to rescue me,'' Groff called out.

''What happened to the scroll?'' he demanded, stepping closer to the edge of the well.

Groff's reply came quickly, as if he'd been waiting for the question. ''Rafe!'' he exclaimed. ''He took it and he tried to kill me, but I know where it is. I know how to get it back. We'll go. We'll go together. Just throw... throw me the rope.''

JJ hesitated, his face twisting with an emotion I couldn't quite read, before he turned on his heel and began walking away from the well.

''JJ?'' Groff's voice cracked, panic creeping in.

Pope glanced between JJ and the well, his brow furrowing. ''I don't think we should trust him, but that kinda goes without saying, huh?'' he muttered.

''JJ, it's your call,'' Kiara said quietly.

JJ stopped and stood still for a moment, his back to us, before turning and heading back to the well.

''JJ?'' Groff called out again, relief evident in his voice.

JJ leaned against the edge of the well, resting one foot on the stone ledge, his knee bent as he peered down. ''JJ! J—ah. Did you get the rope? It's just... it's attached to a bucket by the well. Just throw it down to me.''

Stooping down, JJ picked up the rope, turning it over in his hands.

''JJ, I need you to throw me the rope,'' Groff pleaded.

JJ's grip on the rope tightened. ''Why?'' he asked flatly. ''Why should I do that when you tried to kill me?''

Groff's reply came quickly. ''I snapped. Sorry. But I knew you'd... get to shore. And I'm so glad you did. Just get me out of here, JJ, and we will get the crown. Together. Just like we planned.''

JJ straightened up, letting the rope drop back to the ground. ''You gave me away,'' he said. ''You gave me away because you don't want me. You don't want a son. Now you come back into my life acting like you had to do that.''

''No, of course not,'' Groff insisted. ''You're my boy. I love you.''

JJ flinched, his jaw tightening. ''No, don't... don't say that. You don't know what that word means. You don't even know me. You never were my father. You never even tried.'' He kicked the rope aside.

Groff's voice cracked. ''I'm a weak man, JJ. You wouldn't kill me for that, would you? That's not you. You're better than me.''

Without a word, JJ grabbed the water jug from the ground.

''Being better than you really isn't that hard,'' he quipped as he tipped the jug over the well, sending a stream of water splashing down. ''Bye, Dad.''

Groff's screams followed us as JJ turned and walked away. ''JJ! JJ, come back here! JJ!''

I watched him go, my chest tightening as I imagined the weight of what he'd just done. I caught up to him, placing a hand on his arm. ''He's selfish and would screw us over again,'' I told him firmly. ''You made the right call.''

JJ didn't reply, but his expression softened just slightly, his shoulders dropping a fraction.

''All right,'' he finally muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. ''Let's go get this crown.''

As the group climbed back into the van, John B fired up the engine, and we rolled away, leaving the well—and Groff's cries—far behind us.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

JJ LEANED FORWARD from the backseat, his eyes glued to the horizon as if willing the treasure to appear out of thin air.

''Look at that,'' JJ murmured.

I turned to see what he was pointing at, catching the faint outline of a weathered, ancient sign half-hidden in the foliage.

''What does that sign say?'' John B asked, squinting at it through the glare of the sun.

''Here it is,'' Pope answered. ''Agapenta.''

''I'll be damned,'' John B muttered under his breath, shaking his head slightly as if in disbelief.

''It's that way. Keep going,'' Pope urged, pointing toward a narrow trail barely visible ahead.

The van groaned in protest as John B guided it over the uneven terrain. 

''All right, it's just up ahead,'' John B announced, easing the van to a halt. ''We gotta do the rest on foot.''

We all piled out, the oppressive heat instantly wrapping around us like a suffocating blanket. The scent of damp sand and decay filled my nose as I adjusted loose shirt.

''Careful,'' John B warned. ''We don't know what we're walking into.''

The group moved cautiously, staying low. The sound of raised voices reached us.

''We just want the map!'' a woman shouted.

My chest tightened as I recognised the voice immediately—it was the same one from Charleston. Dalia.

''Okay, just take it easy, okay?'' Rafe's voice replied.

We froze, crouching low. Through the gaps, I could see Rafe standing with his hands raised, the Corsairs' guns trained on him. In his hands, he held the map and the lens.

''Damn it. Damn it,'' John B whispered harshly, clenching his fists.

''I know, I know, I know,'' JJ muttered back.

''Keep your hands where we can see them, and we won't have to blast them off, okay?'' Dalia instructed.

''Yeah,'' Rafe replied tensely.

''You want to put it down,'' she continued.

''Put it down slow. Slow,'' one of the Corsairs echoed.

''Shit,'' Cleo hissed beside me.

Rafe bent down, placing the map on the ground. ''Okay,'' he muttered. The Corsairs edged closer, their weapons still trained on him.

''They're gonna kill him,'' Cleo observed grimly.

''Do we care?'' Pope asked, his voice flat.

''Yeah, I do,'' I interjected without hesitation, meeting his sceptical gaze.

''I don't,'' Pope countered, crossing his arms defensively.

''Yeah, but then they'd take the scroll,'' Cleo reminded him.

The Corsairs' guns gleamed in the sunlight as they stepped closer to Rafe, clearly relishing their advantage.

''You're trigger happy, yeah?'' Rafe quipped, trying to buy himself time.

''Just a little practice shot,'' Lightner replied smugly.

''Well, of course, we need that little lens as well,'' Dalia said.

John B scanned the scene nervously. ''There are seven of them. They all have rifles.''

''I know,'' JJ replied, the wheels already turning in his head. ''That's why we're gonna need to think outside the box.''

He pulled out the gun he'd swiped earlier.

''What are you doing?'' John B asked, alarmed.

''Diversion,'' JJ said simply.

''Dude, you can't be serious. This isn't Call of Duty,'' Pope hissed, watching him put the gun back reluctantly.

''We've got four rounds. Seven of them,'' JJ pointed out.

''Four rounds?'' Kie repeated incredulously.

''Yes. We're going to hit them heavy, and then we're gonna take their vehicle.''

Before JJ could act further, I grabbed the gun from him, my grip firm.

''Hey. Whoa,'' JJ protested, stepping closer to me, but Sarah quickly positioned herself between us.

''Mavie,'' John B whispered cautiously, his tone almost pleading.

I met his gaze. ''I won't let him die,'' I stated before aiming at one of the Corsairs' vehicles and pulling the trigger.

The explosion rocked the ground, sending the Corsairs flying.

''Huh,'' Sarah remarked, tilting her head in surprise. ''If you weren't going to do it, I would've.''

''Nice shooting, Tex,'' John B commented with a faint smirk.

In the chaos, Rafe grabbed the map and bolted.

''Kill him!'' Dalia screeched as her men scrambled to their feet, firing at