"John B," I exclaim, my voice cracking in fear as I latch onto my brother for dear life. He turns around, his grip loosening on the throttle as his eyes go as wide as saucers.

    "Get away from the throttle!" Ward demands. John B and I hold onto each other tighter than we have ever before, one of his hands up in the air to show he means no harm as we follow Ward's instructions. 

    Ward holds the metal hook high, lazily swinging it at us as if he meant us no harm. We keep pushing further and further away from my father figure, his facade cracked as he shows the psychopath underneath. "We're not going anywhere until you listen!"

    "Okay, okay!" I breathe, using the little oxygen I have left in my lungs, my hands leaving my brothers arm as I hold my palms out in surrender. 

    "Relax!" John B screams, his voice hoarse.

    "You understand?" Ward yells once more, the hook dangerously close to my brother's face as he angles himself in front of me. "It wasn't my fault! It was your father, okay? It was your father that tried to change-"

    "You piece of shit!" John B yells, letting his emotions get the best of him as he charges for Ward, his hands latching onto the hook as they fight for control.

    "Shit," I wheeze, dodging out of the way just in time as Ward slams John B's back against the ledge of the captain's nook. 

    I race to John B's defence, grabbing onto the hook and trying to help John B yank it away from him. 

    Ward turns to me, his eyes still wide and wild, "You weren't supposed to be here!"

   Before I can react, Ward lets one hand slip from his grip on the hook, using his free hand to shove me away with all the adrenaline-fuelled force in his body. I stumble, my foot snagging on rope and throwing my body over the glass shield. I hit the plastic of the boat, sliding down until I hit the below deck of Ward's boat.

   I screw my face up tightly, feeling a stinging pain in my hairline. I push myself up, my hand running along to the affected area, my hand pulling back to show blood on my fingertips. My squinting eyes look up, watching as Ward headbutts John B, sending him sliding down the boat until he lands next to me. 

    The second John B is beside me. I watch Ward turn and disappear from sight, presumably running to make it down to the deck with us. I grab John B by his bicep, pulling him up while simultaneously using him to steady myself. I must have hit my head on one of the metal rope loops.

    I hold onto his arm tightly, pulling him along the deck of the boat until he's orientated enough to walk by himself. We run down the side and to the back of the deck, John B slides to his knees as he rips the transmitter box open, yanking the object out. He presses the button, screaming down the line, "Mayday! Mayday!"    

    The device transmits static, both our faces screwing up at the harsh sound. John B continues to feed information down the deadline, my stomach sinking in realisation, "He cut communications. John B,-"

    My words are cut off as Ward appears behind John B, holding the hook high as he prepares to swing it down at him. I yelp, holding my hands out and grabbing the pole to stop it in it's warpath. John B jumps, moving out of the way as Ward yanks the weapon from my grip, swinging it at me so the pole hits me on my already sore head. 

    I hit the deck, my vision blurry and my ears ringing, the pain in my head throbbing throughout my entire body. 

    Hands wrap themselves around my arms, my eyes wide and my heart racing until my vision clears and reveals the worried face of my brother. He pulls me to my feet, dragging me up the stairs and into the galley. I stumble around as he lets me go, diving for the couch and pulling a harpoon from under the cushion. 

   My vision clears, my head throbbing as I join John B's side, his hands shaking viciously as he loads the weapon. John B stands tall, aiming it towards the door with confidence as Ward enters.

    "Stay right there! Don't move!" John B screams.

    "Why are you doing this?" I cry, my hand holding onto my damaged head. Ward looks at me, his eyes unforgiving.

   "I'm sorry, Phoebe. It wasn't supposed to go like this," He says, stepping closer with the hook still close.

   "I said don't move!" John B repeats. "I swear I'll kill you, Ward,"

    "Do it. Do it, John B," Ward encourages, taking a few steps forward, unphased by the harpoon in his face. "I know you want to,"

    "Shut up!" John B warns.

    "But, then," Ward begins, holding his arms out wide and smiling, "You'd have my body to deal with,"

    I feel sick to my stomach either from the head wound or from the implications of his words. Is that what happened with my Dad? Is he speaking from experience? Is my Dad's body being consumed by sea animals or even hidden on this boat?

    Then, as if to make it worse, Ward confirms my worst suspicions, "Believe me, it's more complicated than it seems,"

    "Did you kill our Dad here?" I speak, begging for answers I know I won't get aside from a few vague comments. 

    Ward uses this as a distraction, throwing the hook towards John B and knocking the harpoon out of place, an arrow shoots into the wall and just misses my head. Ward then races forward, grabbing onto the harpoon in another battle for control.

  Acting fast, I grab a glass from the table beside me, lifting it and smashing it across Ward's head. He falls to the side, his body landing on the couch as he struggles to regain his bearings. 

   "C'mon," I yell, grabbing onto John B and running for the entrance to the lower deck. It must be the adrenaline keeping me from passing out and keeping me strong enough because I run faster than I ever have through the dark hallway. 

   We run to a room at the end of the wall, slamming the door shut behind us and locking it.

   "This way," I lead, knowing this boat all too well as I race to the other end of the room, reaching up to unhook the hatch that leads back to the upper deck. 

    I pull myself through the hatch first, the sun hitting my sweaty skin once more as I move fast, allowing John B to pull himself up behind me. 

   "Here, here, c'mon," I breathe, my words rushed as I reach the blue jetski, signalling for John B to help me prepare it. "We have to be quick, he's gonna hear us,"

   John B nods, snatching the remote and lifting it into the air. As he does that, I move the jet ski, positioning it over the edge as John B then begins to lower it over the waves below.

    C'mon, c'mon, c'mon. 

    "Get on!" I yell, racing to the edge of the boat as the jet ski hangs mid-air. John B swings his legs over the railing, jumping from the deck and onto the jet ski. I go next, the machine swinging at my added weight. I look up as John B grabs the release handle above, both of us meeting the dead eyes of Ward as he aims the harpoon right at us. I tap John B on the shoulder aggressively, his whole body shaking as he pulls the handle.

   The jet ski drops from the air, hitting the waves with a splash as the arrow flies past our heads and into the water behind us. I righten my arms around John B's waist, my hands shaking as I link my fingers together 

   John B wastes no time before taking off, the jet ski turning so fast I almost slide off. I'm sure I would have if I weren't holding on for dear life.

    "Go, go, go!" I chant, turning over my shoulder to watch as Ward has a meltdown behind us. He moves to the controls, pressing down on the throttle and steering himself towards us, "He's coming, Johnny!"

    John B somehow makes us move faster through the waves, Ward's boat becoming a distant, horrible memory.

   We don't stop until we run out of fuel.

                    I feel numb. Almost as if someone is standing off to the side with a remote control in their hands, moving me in the ways I'm expected to. My eyes stay straight head, blood surely smeared into my hair from me wiping at the spot. 

    My wet hair sticks to my face and neck from swimming the rest of the way to the dock, something that usually irritates me beyond belief barely phasing me now. 

    We walk up to the front door, droplets of water falling from us and marking our spots on the red deck. I pause at the entrance, leaning against the open doorway as John B stands with shaking hands. 

    Mrs Lana turns from her position in her house, the coffee cup in her hands lowering as she makes eye contact with us, her expression anything but shocked and rather understanding. 

    "We need to know," I speak.

   Silently, John B and I enter the house. She ushers us to the dining table, letting us take a seat as she disappears to the other room. She comes back--quickly or not I can't tell--and hands John B a shirt and me a slightly mesh cardigan similar to the one she's wearing. 

    I blindly take it from her hands, threading my bare arms through the clothing and covering my bikini-clad chest, shivering into myself not just from the cold but from adrenaline wearing off. 

    She wets a tea towel, handing the item to me before resuming her spot at the kitchen bench. I take the small towel, raising it to my forehead and blindly dabbing at the spot. The small acts of kindness warm me, something I need so very much. It's like she's saying she understands, and showing us the kindness we tried to show her that day the men broke in and hurt her.

    "The night your father disappeared," She begins. I pause my actions on the sensitive spot on my head, moving the towel away and looking up at her, "I came home early from work to find Scooter talking to Ward and Linus,"

   I blink, my hand dropping even lower as my worst fears come true, "Linus?"

   "Linus and Ward were here that night, to see Scooter. Ward was distraught. He said that the three of them argued about their split of the gold and Big John refused to give it up unless he got a greater share. Ward believed that he and Linus deserved an equal percentage because it was their boats and money that helped find it. They argued and Big John hit his head on the cleat," Lana explains, moving to sit with us at the table. I can't help but think back to my head injury, the way Ward looked at it and looked at me. "Ward wanted to call for help, but Linus convinced him not to, said they'd spend years in Court. It didn't take much to convince Ward. Then, I guess, they took what they needed and... threw him into the water,"

    "So.. he stole our father's map," John B begins, his jaw trembling as he turns to Mrs Lana. "And then he tossed his body into the sea?"

    Mrs Lana looks at us sadly, clearly resonating with that grief and anger all too well, "He sunk your father's boat where no one would ever find it,"

    John B stands, moving to the window with his hands clenched at his sides.

    "They looked for the gold every day for nine months. When Agatha built up, there was only one place they hadn't looked," Lana explains, her eyes drifting to the table, "So they sent my husband out into that storm. I begged him not to go but he said that they were worried that the storm would wash everything away. But, Scooter did find something out there. Not what he expected,"

   I watch her intensely, wishing she could just transfer all her knowledge to me with just a look. I turn behind me, watching John B's shoulder softly shake. Mrs Lana's voice brings my attention back to her.

    "He wasn't dead when Ward and Linus dumped him,"

    "What?" I whisper so quietly I wouldn't be surprised if no one heard me. My mind begins to swirl, a montage of all the horrible things my father endured flashing through my head until I feel like throwing up.

   "He made it to shore," Lana continues, her eyes soft as she reaches for my hand, holding it tightly on the table, "And the last thing he ever did, was for you two,"

    The compass. Redfield.

    Tears threaten my eyes like a hurricane, my head shaking softly as my lip unintentionally wavers at the words. Mrs Lana looks at me softly, shifting her eyes to where my brother stands and back, "I am so sorry. I should have told you both a long time ago,"

    My jaw ticks, clenching tightly as I push myself to stand up. Her hand slips from on top of mine, John B turning at the movement.

    Mrs Lana stands, looking into my narrowed eyes, "But, you can't say anything! They're dangerous!"

    "I've had enough of cowering to that monster. He is going to pay!" I shout, storming past Mrs. Lana and out the door, John B close behind me.

   "They're capable of anything!" She pleads.

    "I don't care!" John B adds.

    No matter how dumb and irrational it seems to confront two killers, I knew neither of us were going to back down. Not anymore.

                    John B left my side to go to his house. His target is Ward, mine is Linus. 

    I march up the steps, my hands shaking as I clench them into tight fists. I raise one, knocking hard on the wooden door in front of me. It feels like an eternity before the door opens, Linus's face coming into view.

    Without thinking, I lift my hands and shove him back. He loses his balance, dropping his glass of scotch to the ground where it shatters. 

    "Phoebe! What the hell are you doing?" My Mum shouts, looking between me and her husband. 

    "I know what you did," I snap, my chest feeling like sandpaper rubbing together. "You're a fucking psychopath!"

    "I'm a psychopath?" He yells back, swinging the door closed. The sound of it slamming causes me to flinch. Despite my anger, he still scares me. "Ward told me what happened. I had to beg him not to turn you in along with your scum brother,"

    "Turn me in? What the fuck are you talking about?" I laugh, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion, "You're lucky I'm not down at the station right now turning you in for killing my father! And for what? All for some gold that you don't have any proof even exists?"

    "You think they'd believe you and a pogue?" He almost spits the words, laughing as he looks down at me and steps closer, ignoring the way my Mother begs to be included in the situation, "Everyone on the island has already heard about how John B attacked poor Ward with a harpoon, including Peterkin,"

    "Are you serious?" I laugh bitterly, "John B didn't do shit to Ward. I was there, I'll go tell Peterkin exactly what happened right now,"

   I turn to walk away but I'm immediately stopped when Linus harshly grabs my arm and yanks me away from the door, hard enough to hurt my shoulder socket.

   "You will do no such thing, you little fucking brat," He sneers in my face, so close spit almost lands on my skin, "I have given you everything you've ever wanted. Ward even opened his home to you, not to mention everything Rafe has done for you. I stuck my neck out to make sure you were excluded from Ward's story. The least you could do is show some fucking appreciation,"

    "Appreciation?" I yell, ripping my arm from his hold, "For what? For abusing my Mum until I stepped up and took the hits for you? Appreciation for Mum letting me take the hits for her? Or, maybe I should appreciate you pimping me out to the fucking psycho that is Rafe Cameron. Rafe Cameron who fed me coke just so I was placid enough to be around him!"

    "You think I give a shit?" His lip turns in anger, his voice scarily calm as he looks down at me, "You can continue to tell yourself your poor little sob story but the truth is, without me, you and your mother would be working six jobs between you to make ends meet. Do you think snorting coke with your rich friends makes your life hard? You don't know a hard life thanks to me,"

    "Money isn't anything-"

    "Money is everything," He corrects. 

    "Is that why you killed my Father, huh?" I yell, lifting my hands and shoving against his chest with all my might. Before I can even register the effect of the shove, he bounces back, grabbing me tightly by my neck and lifting my feet from the ground. 

    I will myself to hold eye contact with him, my mouth opening to try and suck in as much as I can as he squeezes tighter.

    "You don't have the guts," I cough out. He holds eye contact for a while longer, his lip twitching as if to show his internal debate. After what feels like an eternity, his fingers slip from my throat until my feet hit the ground, my back slouching against the wall I was pinned against as I rub my neck. I glare up at him through loose strands of hair, pushing myself up and moving to the door, "You won't get away with this,"

    "I already have,"