"𝐉𝐉" 𝐈 𝐘𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 as I shoved Barry off of him, only to get grabbed by Rafe.
Kie tried to help JJ but was pushed to the side, knocking herself against the boat as she fell. "Kie!" I could hear him yell as Rafe carried me off to the side.
"Get off of me," I seethed as I tried to push him off of me. "You're the last person I want to see right now,"
Rafe let me go as his eyes went dark. "You're not the one I want, right now," He growled, "Where's John B?"
"I don't know," I grunted as I stared at him, my temper shorting by the second.
Grabbing my shoulders tightly, he asked more forcefully, "Where's John B?"
"I don't know!" I yelled as I slapped him clear on the cheek. He gasped slightly as his head was thrown to the side, then touched his stinging cheek with his fingers.
"I really wish you didn't do that," He snarled as Barry mocked JJ, who was still on the ground and hurt.
"I know what you did, Rafe," I whispered and he took a step closer, his breaths heavy.
"What?" He asked, "What did I do?"
"You murdered Peterkin," I fumed as I took a step back, deep down scared of what he could do. From behind Rafe, I could see Barry eyeing us with amusement. "So go ahead, do your worst," I spat as he grabbed my throat, my hand retracting to try and pull him away.
"Don't you ever say those fucking words again," He demanded as my eyes watered.
"Rafe," I begged, his hand still tight around my neck.
"Understand?" He continued, completely furious.
I gasped for air as he stared at me, clearly not in the right mind. "Rafe... please"
"Where's John B?" He continued and I felt as if the world had slipped out from under my feet.
"I. Don't. Know!" I cried as I stumbled backwards, his arm wrapping around my waist to stop me from falling. "Please stop," I pleaded as his face finally softened for a split second.
As if he was about to let me go, Pope smashed a crowbar at his legs, sending him down to the ground. "Don't touch her!" He yelled as he hit him again.
I quickly rushed away to get Kie, who was still on the ground. I could hear the four boys all fighting as I shook Kie. "C'mon, wake up," I muttered as their grunts and swings grew louder as they made contact with one another.
Suddenly, Barry fell to the ground as the gun slide from his hand. "Y/n! Kick it!" I quickly grabbed it and threw it under the boat as Kie woke up with a short gasp.
"You're okay, you're good," I told her as she sat up. And that's when I saw Pope and Rafe, and the fact that Pope was beating the shit out of Rafe. "Pope!" I yelled as I stood up, nearly missing Barry and JJ.
"Pope!" Kie yelled as she joined me, not sure what to do in this situation either.
"Get off of him!" I yelled as JJ raced towards us.
The next thing that I knew, Pope had found some type of hose and had it pulled against Rafe's neck. "Snap out of it, man!" JJ yelled as Pope began to strangle him.
JJ raced around to the backside of Pope while I tried to pull the house out of his hands from the front, all three of us yelling for him to stop. Instantly, he dropped the hose as Rafe fell to the ground, blood splattered across his face.
I fell down next to him on my knees, my hands holding Rafe's cheeks as if nothing had just happened. Pope began hyperventilating as Rafe coughed loudly on the ground.
"It's okay, you're okay," I breathed as I pushed his hair out of his face.
"Okay, we gotta go. We gotta go," Kie said as JJ pulled Pope away from Rafe and Barry.
I looked up at JJ who was heading to the car with Kie. "Pope?" I questioned as he took a step towards Rafe.
"Stay off the cut," He seethed as the engine started. Walking away, I stayed next to Rafe, my fingers covered in blood.
"Y/n..." He gasped as he looked at me.
"You shouldn't have--" I choked as Kie and JJ called my name.
"Y/n," He tried again as I stood up.
"Just stay away from us," I told him as I backed away from him, "Please," I could feel my words choking in the back of my throat. The feeling of his hand leaving mine was as if I ripped out my heart and stepped on it.
"Don't," He breathed as he looked at me, watching as I walked away from him.
"I'm sorry," I finished as I turned around and rushed into the car as they quickly sped off.
✮
"Dude, where is he?" Kie exclaimed as she hopped off of the boat and onto the dock.
"Give him a second, he'll be here," I answered as I looked at the group. I knew I wouldn't be able to stop thinking about Rafe, after everything that he'd done. But I knew that John B had to be first on my mind; the main priority.
"He's coming, he'll be fine," JJ said as he pulled a long sleeve shirt on, sirens wailing in the distance.
I stopped in my tracks, watching as a police car pulled into the driveway only meters away from us and the boat. "Shit!" I swore loudly as the car stopped.
"Hey, yeah. Get back on the boat," JJ called out as he pulled me aboard.
But when the driver's side door opened, it was not who we expected.
Stepping onto the grass was John B, a backpack in his hand. "Holy crap," I exclaimed, a big smile on my face.
"No f-ing way," Pope added as we all stared at the boy.
"You gotta be kidding me," JJ laughed as Kie shook her head in amusement.
"Shoupe let me take it for a spin," John B told us as I hopped back onto the dock.
"Okay. That's believable, I'll buy that for now," Kie joked as she wrapped her arms around John B's neck.
"It wasn't easy, bro, but I got the Phantom for you," JJ called out, "And she runs like she was made yesterday," He tossed the keys to him as he walked across the front.
"You ready to go?" Pope asked as John B eyed the boat.
"Where's Sarah?" He questioned, which received confused glances around the four of us.
"She's not with you?" I asked.
"No, we got separated in the swamp. She said she'd meet me here," He replied as he turned around to face us.
"No, no, we haven't seen her," Pope corrected, his eyes squinting from the setting sun.
"Well, I'm not leaving without her," He snapped as I shielded my eyes.
"John B, look at me," JJ said as he jumped off of the boat. "know you feel bad for leaving, but there's no time, man. You've got plenty of gas, 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, all right? Hang out for a couple of weeks and then go overland, cross the border at Brownsville, you got that? Brownsville,"
John B looked off to the side, in hopes of catching a glimpse of Sarah.
"You-- hey! You got that?" JJ confirmed.
"Yeah, yeah. Brownsville," John B nodded as thunder rumbled in the distance.
"All right. Saddle her up, saltwater cowboy. Let's do this. Yeah," JJ said as he gave John B a quick hug.
Pope followed behind, and then he stopped in front of me.
"You're really doing this, huh," I replied as I gave him a cheeky grin.
"Well, I don't have much of a choice, do I?" He lightly joked as he pulled me into a hug. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I felt as if letting go would completely destroy me.
"Please be careful, okay?" I whispered as I pressed my chin into his shoulder.
"I always am," He replied and I chuckled softly.
"Try not to get eaten by a squid or do anything stupid as replace me, or whatever," I added.
"I don't think I ever could," I sighed as he gave a short squeeze and pulled away.
Hopping up into the boat, he turned to face the group, tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry for basically... throwing us off a cliff with this whole treasure hunt thing,"
"Hey, John B, yo... we were bound to run off a cliff at some point, right?" JJ answered back in which we all laughed lightly.
"Yeah," He breathed.
"At least we did it together, though," I joined as I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, while JJ wrapped his arm around Pope and me, while I grabbed Kie.
"Pogue style," Kie piped in.
"Pogue style," John B retorted softly.
"Now, get out of here, please," I commanded with a quick wave of my hand.
"We'll see you in two months, down in Mexico," Pope added as he pointed towards the water.
"Love you," JJ called out.
We watched as he headed towards the main section of the boat then stopped. "Hey, wait--wait a second," He hesitated as thunder continued to rumble in the back. "Tell Sarah I said goodbye, okay?" He asked with tears in his eyes, just like the four of us.
JJ nodded, "Don't forget. Cross the border at Brownville, okay?"
"Got it," He answered as we all gave him a small salute.
Leaning against the boat, we pushed him away from the dock and out into the open water. My body shook as I watched the boat travel down the river and out into the distance.
"He's gonna be just fine," JJ told me as he bumped shoulders with mine, trying to put a small smile on my face.
"You're right," I nodded.
Did I just write three chapters in three hours? Yes. Now compliment me because I want my ego boosted 😤😫
And i'm gonna need to see a fucking chiropractor after all this cause my back is FUCKEDDDD :)
Anyways, I'll hopefully be finishing the final chapter tomorrow, so let me know what you think of this book before it ends. I really like your feedback FYI.
So, goodnight, good morning and have a wonderful day besties <3
- Syd <3