"Dude, where is he?" Kie exclaims, searching the surroundings from her position on the dock.

     "He's taking his sweet ass time," I huff, taking the boat coverings from JJ as he prepares it for John B. He's kept himself busy by reversing the boat onto the water and detatching it from Kie's car, as if he's on autopilot.

    "Give him a second, he'll be here," Pope reassures as he wraps his bloody knuckles.

    "He's coming. He'll be fine," JJ adds.

    I freeze as sirens approach, a Kildare squad car appearing in the clearing and driving right up to us.

    "Oh, fuck," I exclaim, trying to get a better glimpse of which officer is inside. Please, don't be any of the cops from last night.

    A familiar face climbs out of the vehicle, the lights and sirens switching off. My shoulders relax, a smile overcoming my face as John B appears out of the car alone.

    "No way," JJ comments.

    "You jacked a fucking cop car?" I almost laugh as John B approaches the pier I'm standing on, a bag slung over his back.

    "Shoupe let me take it for a spin," He shrugs off everyone's praise and surprise as he walks up to me, opening his arms for a much-needed hug. I wrap my arms around my brother, holding him tightly enough for the future.

    "It wasn't easy, bro. But, I got The Phantom for you, and she runs like she was made yesterday," JJ announces, walking along the side of the boat with the keys in his hand. He tosses them towards John B, who catches them in one swift movement. "You ready to go?"

    "Where's Sarah?" John B asks, observing his surroundings.

    "Was she not with you?" I ask, my smile sinking.

    "No, we got separated in the swamp," John B explains, a sense of urgency to his tone. "She said she was gonna meet me here,"

    "No, no, we haven't seen her, man," Pope shakes his head.

    "Okay, well, I'm not leaving without her," John B refuses, shaking his head.

    "John B," I sigh, wishing I had a solution.

    "What? No, I can't leave her," He protests. 

    "John B, look at me," JJ begins, crouching down from his position on the boat deck to be eye level with John B, "I know you feel bad for leaving but there's no time, man. You've got plenty of gas, you've got plenty of food. Once you get around that point, it's a straight shot across the sound to Dismal Swamp, okay? Once you get there, lay low, alright? Hand out for a couple of weeks, then go overland, cross the border at Brownsville, you got that? Brownsville,"

    "Hey," I reach my hand onto John B's shoulder, snatching his attention, "I know it feels wrong, but Sarah would want you safe more than anything. I'll watch out for her, okay? I promise,"

    John B stares at me silently for a second, an ache on his face as if he wishes he could stay not only for Sarah but for me and everyone else here. He nods, his eyes still not shifting.

    "Alright, saddle her up, saltwater cowboy. Let's do this," JJ hypes, standing up straight and jumping down to the pier.

    "You could come with me, yknow?" John B suggests. I blink, taken aback by his sudden suggestion. As much as it would make sense for me to leave my shitty life behind and flee with the only real family I have, the idea of being a fugitive and leaving my Mother behind sickens me.

    I smile sadly at him, "I know it's scary to do it alone, but if anyone can, it's you. Once we prove it was Rafe that killed Peterkin, Sarah and I will be on the boat to come and get you,"

    "Well, if anyone could prove it was Rafe, it's you," He repeats my earlier phrase with a smile. He looks at JJ on his other side before turning back to me, "Keep him in check, will you?"

    "Aye, aye, captain," I mock as John B climbs onto the boat. He moves to the centre, turning to look at us all with tears in his eyes, "I'm sorry for basically... throwing us off a cliff with this whole treasure hunt thing,"

    "We were bound to run off a cliff at some point, right?" JJ dismisses, causing John B to choke out a small laugh through tears. JJ lifts his arm, wrapping one arm around my shoulders and the other around Pope's. I follow his lead, lifting my arm around Kie as she returns the gesture. JJ pulls us all close, the same sad expression on his face, "At least we did it together, right? Pogue style,"

    "Pogue style," John B repeats almost breathlessly.

    "Get out of here, please," Kie exclaims from beside me, her words sounding more sad than stern.

   "Now, see you in two months down in Mexico," Pope adds, gesturing to the ocean.

    "Get a burner phone and let us know you're safe or I'll kill you, seriously," I laugh, biting back my own tears. John B nods, laughing at my threat, "Love you, JB,"

    "Love you!" JJ follows my lead as John B turns and heads for the engine.

    "Hey, wait a second," He pauses, turning to us with even more tears, "Tell Sarah I said goodbye, okay?"

    We all nod, my teeth finding the inside of my lip as I force my emotions deep down, not wanting to cry in front of anyone.

    "Don't forget. Cross the border at Brownsville, okay?" JJ repeats once more.

    John B climbs down into the Helm, his presence still visible behind the openness of JJ's boat as John B speaks, "Got it,"

    We all lean forward, pushing the boat off the edge of the grass and helping John B set sail. The engine purrs quietly as if out of respect as he pulls away from us, not wanting to look back at what he's leaving behind.

    The second he's far enough away, I turn my back to the others and walk a few steps away. My arm covers my stomach, my other hand bracing myself on my knees out of fear I'll fall without it. 

    "He'll be fine," JJ says, joining my side. I push myself up straight, nodding as I tuck my hair behind my ears. A smartass grin overcomes his face and I smile, bracing myself for whatever flirtatious comment that's about to come, "Y'know with him out of our way now, we can finally be together,"

    "Oh, is that what was stopping us?" I play along. I know JJ wants to make me feel better in the only way he knows how. He's not the emotional type, but distracting me with shallow, flirty remarks is a way to lift my spirits and help me focus on something else. It's obvious from the way he mostly does it in tense or serious situations. Like he knows I don't want to talk or be emotional. I smile at him, lifting my arms to wrap them around his shoulders and rest my cheek against his chest, "Thank you. I know this is hard for you too--Please don't make that joke,"

      "It'll be hard not to, but I won't," He smiles down at me as I pull back from the hug, his hands dropping from my back. His face looks like a dam holding back an ocean of sadness, his eyes red like they were crying invisibly.

    I turn to Pope and Kie, attempting to ask them if they're ready to leave, only to be met with the sight of them engaged in a passionate kiss. I all but flinch, turning to JJ, "When did that happen?"

     "That's my boy," JJ whispers proudly under his breath. The sound of sirens approaching rips us away from the moment, JJ's face turning serious quickly, "Hey guys, I'm sorry to ruin the party but, uh, we gotta go right now. Come on,"

    We barely make it two steps before the police sirens reach us, one uniformed car and one undercover black car, both with pounding lights on.

    Officers climb out of both cars, aiming their guns towards us. A bald agent with the words 'SBI agent' sprawled on his jacket takes the lead, instructing us,  "Move. Hands up, hands up,"

    JJ can't help it as he lifts his fists, subtly beckoning for Pope and I as we each bang the side of his fist with our own. I bite back the smile as I raise my hands high into the air, the other pogues following.

    "We're too late, he's gone. Goddamn it!" Shoupe yells, his frustration only making me want to smile more. "Bratcher, have your guys stand down. Let me talk to these kids. Alright, where the hell is he?"

    None of us answer, avoiding eye contact with Shoupe which only makes him angrier.

    "JJ? I see you're livin' up to your name," Shoupe scoffs, turning to me next, "Phoebe? I know you know where he is, this isn't a fucking game!"

    I ignore him and instead look up at the darkening sky, small flashes of lightning greeting me.

   "Alright, put 'em in the car," Shoupe demands, turning his back to us.

                    My heart pounds in my chest, my knee bouncing rapidly as the flashes from the cop cars bleed through the windows and onto my face. My eyes are stuck on the windows, watching as Shoupe pulls us up to the operation centre.

    Massive tents decorate that once empty area, hundreds of government officials swarming the place, all moving to their designated positions.

    All this for John B?

    JJ turns, catching me eye as he peers through the gap between the front seat he occupies and the door. He makes eye contact with me, his expression conveying the same gnawing feeling I have.

    Shoupe parks the car, moving over to my side of the vehicle and opening the door, JJ's too. I climb out, Kie sliding out behind me, followed by Pope until we're all standing out in the open.

    It all seems louder, more alive now that everything is muffled by the squad car. I suck in a breath, my eyes drifting up to the star filled sky, police choppers moving and blocking the shiny artifacts.

    "Follow Plumb to that tent," Shoupe instructs me. I nod sheepishly, taking slow and hesitant steps, feeling JJ so close behind me he's practically side by side. 

    "This way," Officer Plumb, the female officer from the police station that night, orders. I glare at the back of her head, watching her intently as she leads the way into a nearby tent, "Come on,"

    "I'm literally coming," I snarl under my breath.

    I follow her into the tent, the confinement warming my cold skin. She points to a set of chairs at the side of the tent, right near the door, silently instructing us to sit as if we're show dogs and she wants us to perform.

   "Sit down, don't move. We got a lot to talk about," Shoupe demands, his voice stern and filled with a stifled rage. I plop down in a seat between JJ and Pope, Kie seated on the other side of Pope. Her stare looks far away, like mentally she's in a different place at a different time. Shoupe looks up at other officers, walking away, "Keep an eye on these kids?"

    A man with a bulletproof vest sprawled with SBI stands guard, watching us closely like we're a flight risk. I pay no mind to him, my eyes drifting off to the left where a bunch of official people stand around a table, listening to one man as he speaks, "Blockade is up at the marsh and Masonboro and all other inlets from Shem Creek to breach inlet. I want eyes on all coastal access points, people. Let's get this guy,"

    I turn to JJ, my heart only sinking further into my chest at the words. They have the whole island blocked off, and their determination to capture an innocent man is stronger than ever. I reach for him, something that feels like reflex now as I capture his hand in my own, down by my side and hidden from the eyes of the officers looking. Something they can't try and take from us.

   Thunder booms outside, the noise causing me to flinch. The incoming storm isn't sounding good. But, I know John B, so does JJ. JJ looks at me without a worry, burying that emotion deep, but not deep enough. I can see the twitch in his face, the fear over the fate of his closest and longest friend. 

    John B doesn't just have the law against him, Mother Nature is pushing back as well, as if the world itself has decided he's guilty.

    A commotion starts on the outside of the tent, my spine straightening as I crane my neck to get a better look outside without disturbing the SBI agent babysitting us.

    "That's them! There they are!" I hear a distant voice shout.

    Them? Sarah must have made it to John B. 

    My legs push me to stand before my brain can think, JJ's hand dropping from mine as I move to the tent's opening. The SBI agent steps in my way, his eyes not even bothering to meet mine as he blocks me from moving.

    "Hey! What's happening?" I shout over the commotion, all those government officers from before rushing and racing back and forth. 

    Maybe it's not them, maybe it's just a hoax, a couple out for a ride in the dark that are just ignorantly unaware of the shitstorm happening on land. 

    Rain starts pounding from outside, my body shaking even more at the desperation to claw my way around the officer and see for myself. Sirens ring, police boats zooming past my vision and heading south, right towards the storm.

    My breath gets stuck in my throat, the direction paired with the ferocity of the rain and lightning giving me another sinking feeling. John B wouldn't put Sarah in danger by heading into the eye of a storm, I have to believe that. I also have to believe that he wouldn't choose to die, not like that, not like Dad.

    I push against the bulletproof vest of the agent, trying to stick my head around every gap in his strong frame.

    "Ma'am, sit down before I remove you," He threatens, his voice low in warning.

    "That's my brother out there, just let me talk to someone!" I shove, the man barely budging from the hit.

    "C'mon, dude. She's just worried-" the uninterested agent cuts off JJ's defence, his eyes finally drifting down to mine.

    "Ma'am-"

    "You," A stern, formal voice cuts the agent off. I turn, finding the source of the voice as the agent from the pier appears from the back entrance of the tent, agents behind him. Bratcher, I think his name is. He heads right for me, the pouges in the seats beside me all standing on high alert, "You Phoebe Crivari?"

    "Routledge," I correct, feeling distaste at my mother's last name, the mother who pushed me out, pushed me here. I nod, looking cautiously between him and the other officers, "Yeah, I'm Phoebe,"

    "Come with me," He instructs, one of the officers appearing at my side to gently grab my arm, tugging me toward the back exit.

    "Whoa, hey, where are you taking her?" JJ questions, attempting to stand, only to be pushed back down by the SBI agent assigned to watch us.

    "What's going on? Where are you going?" Kie questions, watching the officers move me with worry in her eyes.

    "Don't worry, it's okay," I reassure them, looking over my shoulder as I'm escorted further away.

    The officer holds my elbow as we exit the tent, rain almost instantly drenching my hair and sticking my clothes to my skin. Despite the gentleness of the hold, I find myself ripping my arm out of his touch like I'm on fire. He doesn't protest, doesn't try to assert any more authority and instead lets me walk myself.

    Bratcher is ahead, his back to me as we approach a different tent, the tail end of a voice catching my ears.

    "-John B, please, I will make it right. I promise you, come back,"

    The voice causes me to stand rigidly, my feet almost freezing in place if it wasn't for the officers gently nudging me into the tent. I enter, water dripping from me as my eyes land on a man sitting broken at the table, a communication device in his firm yet weak hand.

    Ward.