"Treasure hunt!" I let out as we got into the van, laughing filling the space. It was later in the night now, me, the pogues and Sarah had spent most of the day going over the plan.
Even though Kiara and I kept our distance, Sarah was there and we had to accept that. Plus after our night trapped in the boat, we had a shared mission, to get the boys back.
"rope" Sarah read off, "you guys got a rope?" John B asked from the front seat, Sarah next to him looking down at the piece of paper in her hands. The list of materials we needed was messily scribbled down on it.
"Got it," Pope said, pointing quickly to the pile of rope sitting next to him.
"What's this say?" Sarah asked me as she twisted in her seat to show me the paper. "hmm, hold on let me see" I said and Sarah nodded as she let go of the paper, allowing me to look at it closer.
"JJ your writing is horrible" I insulted, receiving a light shove for the comment. "Let me see it" He argued, looking down at the paper himself. "oh fuck, I can't even read it." He said, laughing as I shoved him back.
"Let me see it," Pope said after letting out a sigh, the paper soon being placed in his hands. "grappling hook?" He read, his tone unsure.
"Yeah, I think that says grappling hook," Kiara confirmed. "So do we have it?" John B asked from the driver's seat, looking up at the rearview mirror.
"We don't have a grappling hook, we're not batman," Pope said, tossing the paper back to Sarah. "JJ why'd you put it on the list?" I asked as I turned to look at the boy confused.
"I thought it sounded cool" He defended.
The six of us continued to go over the rest of the list, the majority of the items things we actually needed unlike the 'phat joint' or the 'matching criminal masks' JJ had added.
"Okay we're here" John B let out as we pulled to a stop. "ready?" He asked, turning in his seat to look at everyone.
"hell yeah" Kiara let out, smiling as the rest of us agreed. "Let's go get rich," JJ said, wrapping his arm loosely around my shoulder.
"It's the goonies mission I always wanted to go on," I said laughing.
"Wait wait," John B said as he opened the van side door, stopping our movements. "I wanna say thank you, guys. Seriously. It means a lot to me that you're here tonight" He paused slightly when he looked at me.
"Always," Kiara said, rolling her eyes.
"Of course man," Pope said, everyone just smiling at each other.
"thank you" When John B said it that time it felt like it was all for me. His eyes stayed on mine and he smiled. I copied his actions and nodded.
"All right, we're done with this circle jerk? Can we do this?" JJ said, looking around at each of us, breaking the stare between me and John B.
"Let's get that wheat in the water," Pope said as he jumped out of the van.
"weed? I'm up for weed" JJ voiced his face lighting up.
"Shut up you idiot, he said wheat," I corrected, and when he got out from the van he stopped in front of me. "move" I let out frustration. "jump on babe," He said, patting his back.
"oh my god," I laughed, rolling my eyes before jumping on. Knowing it was probably the only way I'd get out of the van.
"alley-oop" Sarah cheerfully said as she climbed up and over the wall, Kiara close behind. When JJ got near the wall I jumped down from his back, grabbing one of the flashlights from him. I found a vine and used it to hoist myself up, grabbing onto the top of the rock to pull my body.
When I jumped down I got this feeling, this was finally feeling real. After many different methods and following the clues we had finally found it. At least I hoped we all did. And no matter the earlier skepticism we all felt so sure it was there.
As I started to walk, following the girls I felt an arm on mine. I stopped walking and turned to see who it was. "yeah?" I asked, looking up at the boy.
"Can we talk quickly?" John B asked, scratching the back of his neck.
"now?" I asked, motioning with my hands to the group and what we were doing. "just quickly" He assured me and I nodded, waiting for him to continue.
"I'm sorry. I've been treating you like shit and you don't deserve it." He told me.
"John B" I tried to say something but he raised his hand, stopping me.
"The morning after, everything that happened between us I didn't want to just leave like that. I didn't know what I felt and I still don't, I mean I can't stop thinking about you." He admitted and my eyes widened. I didn't know what to think or if I had even heard him right through his rambling.
"Can we please just find time soon to talk about everything?" He pleaded and I nodded, I just couldn't seem to form my words. "Okay, we should get back" He said and I nodded again, following him.
As we got close to the house lights flickered on and everyone froze. "shit" I panicked, hearing gasps and swears fly out of the other's mouths. We all ducked down, hiding behind a bush. "Flashlights" Kiara warned and each of us rushed to turn ours off.
"shh" John B hushed as he brought his finger to his lips.
"Okay, so she has motion sensor lights" Pope let out, looking at everyone as we slowed our breathing and heartbeats.
"what do we do?" I asked and JJ looked up. "we could, uh, move really slowly, maybe?" He suggested but received glares and confused looks.
"That's not how that works," Pope told him. "oh, shit. Let's throw a rock at it" John B added, looking happy with his idea. "That's a really good idea. Let the axe murderer know that we're here." Kiara mocked, Pope also turning down his idea.
"Do you guys have a better idea?" John B asked, taking defense. "literally anything but that" Kiara told him and he rolled his eyes as he mocked the girl.
"What about the breaker? In the circuit box on the porch. We used to play hide and seek here as kids. And if we were brave enough we'd go all the way up to the porch. I've seen it" Sarah suggests, but John B shook his head.
"no, no. you're not going into the house alone," John B told her. "watch me" She sassed. "Crain chops people into pieces," JJ said looking at the girl like she was dumb.
We argued a bit longer about the idea and how the old woman was probably barely still kicking. I still wasn't sure if I believed in the old woman and the stories about her, but I had listened to JJ's rant about it so often lately that even if it wasn't real, it still freaked me out.
"i'll go with you," Kiara told Sarah, breaking the argument. "okay we'll wait for your signal," Pope told the girls as they got up but John B stopped them. "hey, Be safe," He said to them and Sarah nodded, "we will" She assured him before ducking away and heading towards the house.
I watched as JJ grabbed Pope's face and began making fun of John B. "be safe" He whispered and Pope couldn't help but join in. "i'll be so safe. I'll be safe for you" He joked and I bit my lip to stop my laughs as John B tried to stop them.
"I'm gonna kill you" He bluntly told them and when I continued to giggle he looked towards me. "and you too," He said, his smile falling through as he gave me a 'stern' finger point.
"But how would that keep us safe?" Pope asked, trying not to laugh as he did. His comment made JJ topple over, falling onto me as he tried to keep his laughter quiet. "Shut up," John B scolded.
As the four waited JJ tried to talk more about Hollis and the things that happened in the house. Not successfully though as Pope, John B and I shut him down and told him to be quiet.
"JJ shut up," I told the boy after he tried to continue. "rude," He said as he sat back, pouting like a child. I rolled my eyes at him and shoved him.
"ow, that hurt!" He whined, holding his arm. "oh boo hoo" I let out, Pope and John B laughed.
When the lights finally turned off the four of us shared a look. "go time" John B whispered and we got ready to go in. JJ stopped to adjust the bandana I had around my neck.
"Can I help you?" I asked in a hushed tone, looking at the boy confused. "It's so you're safe" He mocked and John B glared at him.
"three, two-" John B started to count down but JJ got up and left, leaving the three of us still behind the bush. "Just, just go," He said following behind me as we all made it to the basement entrance. "let's do this" I let out, smiling as me and JJ fist-bumped. All four of us heading towards the well.
"holy crap, you know what this is?" JJ let out as we started to set up. "it just hit me. Pope, Elle look. This is Chud. Full chud." JJ continued. "What is he talking about?" John B asked as he looked up and over to me.
"no fucking clue" I let out, as I untangled the rope.
"cannibalistic humanoid underground dwellers? Have you guys not seen that film?" JJ asked, looking around as if it were obvious. "no, JJ we haven't" I said trying to shut him up so we could get the gold but he missed the social queue.
"It's actually a good film. It's about cannibals that live in the sewers and under New York City, and it's like-" He rambled.
"Shut up, shut up!" John B said, cutting him off. "How deep do you think this is, Pope?" John B asked, looking over the edge and into the well. I leaned my head over a bit but JJ's hand steadied in front of my waist, holding me back.
"I don't know" Pope sighed, each of us just staring into the well.
"Now or never" John B let out and everyone nodded. We finished setting it up and started to lower John B into the well.
"Hey boys, Elle. I have one request" John B told us as he got in.
"yeah?" I said, looking up from the rope to look at the boy. "don't drop me" He said and JJ looked at me, him Pope and I letting go of the rope a bit to drop him. "I'm killing you first for sure" John B confirmed as he looked at JJ.
"got ya" JJ let out.
I wasn't very strong, to say the least so I wasn't much help to the boys as far as holding the rope went so I stayed to look over the well, making sure John B was okay and not going down too fast. At least for as long as I could see him. I steadied my flashlight as I watched, the boy briefly looking up at me and smiling.
"Wait, hold on one second. I'm gonna get situated." JJ said and I looked back slightly to see JJ slip. "shit" Pope let out as the rope began to pour into the well fast. "whoa!" John B yelled to us. I leaned over to attempt to stop the rope.
"Jesus!" JJ let out, and everyone stopped. I leaned over as the boys got their grips on the rope back, John B looking up at me with wide eyes. Everyone's rapid breaths could be heard. "I told you not to drop me!" John B freaked.
"Are you okay?" I shouted, leaning slightly further over the edge of the well. "What the hell was that?" John B asked. "little technical difficulties," I said as I turned my head, looking to where JJ was.
"Keep going slow," John B told the boys. "Okay, we're gonna start paying you out again, all right?" Pope said, leaning over the edge of the well now too.
"Hey, hey we got 15 feet left," Pope said to me and I looked back over the edge. "15 feet left JB" I yelled to him.
"Are you close to the bottom?" I asked, barely being able to see him anymore. "I can't tell" The boy let out. "just keep going"
I turned back to watch JJ and Pope feed the rope down, my heart rate still very lively. "whoa! Stop!" John B let out and I turned, looking over the edge again. "I'm hangin' over some sewage water lookin' shit," He told them.
"you want back up?" I asked.
"no, keep going I guess." John B said, unsure.
"Here we go" I heard John B say, the boy preparing himself for the water. "Okay okay! I'm at the bottom" He called up to them and the boys made their way to the edge next to me.
"How is it down there?" Pope asked.
"it's worse than I thought." He admitted and I scrunched my nose. "find any gold, '' JJ asked the boy, leaning over my head to look. "None yet, '' John B told us.
"Wait, I think I felt something with my foot" I heard the boy's whisper echo against the well.
"JJ Hey! Pull me up! Pull me up! Come on, man! Go!" John B screamed, starting to panic. My eyes widened and I shot up, running towards JJ and the rope. Pope, JJ and I pulled as hard as we could to bring him up. "wait wait wait!" He called out, stopping us.
"Hey, I think I found something," John B said, calmer this time. "Just give me a minute. hold on" He told us and the Pope, JJ and I shared a look.
"Guys" I let out after not hearing anything else from the boy. "John B, you okay?" JJ called out. "Any dead bodies?" He asked.
"JJ," I said panicked, looking at the boy and then leaning back over the edge of the well. I was taking shaky breaths, waiting to hear something from the boy.
"guys! Guys!" Kiara and Sarah yelled out, running into the basement. "what's going on?" Pope asked and I turned to look at the girls. "Mrs. Carin! She's up there! She's crazy. She tried to kill us with a fire poker! We gotta go" The girls spewed. "we gotta go!" Kiara urged.
"Okay, code red" JJ got out, leaning over the edge of the well. "John B! Get back on, man!" JJ yelled. "JJ hold on man i'm comin"
We all grabbed onto the rope, pulling up hard, John B's missing weight sent us flying back. Each let out curses as we rushed to the well. We could hear him yelling but not what he was saying.
"Hey! John B! Get back on the rope. We're gonna pull you back up, okay buddy?" JJ yelled down, everyone standing at the ropes again. "I'm on" John B called up and each of us began pulling, using all our strength to bring him up.
As we were pulling a loud gunshot when off, scaring everyone. "shit!" I let out. "climb up" JJ yelled to John B as Pope and I ran to tie the rope up. "Laney hide!" JJ yelled, grabbing onto my foot.
"let's go" Kiara let out, hiding with Sarah. "She can't aim for shit." Kiara said, panting. "she can't see, she's blind" Sarah's voice attracted the women and she shot towards them.
"shit! Go go!" Kiara yelled, booking it for the exit. JJ was next to me, both of us breathing heavily. I watched John B pull himself up but Mrs. Crain cocked the gun and shot again making JJ grab onto me and run.
All six of us ran towards the van, screaming out random things as we continued to hear a few gunshots. "Where is he?" Sarah yelled as we got in. "Start the van" Kiara yelled to JJ as he hopped in.
"John B let's go!" I yelled as I saw his hands on the wall.
"Why are we always getting shot at?" Pope let out. JJ started driving, slowly so that John B could catch up. He jumped in, absolutely filthy. "JJ drive!" Sarah yelled and JJ stepped on it, speeding away from the wall.
"Are you okay? Are you shot?" JJ asked, turning back and forth between the road and John B. "no" John B got out, shaking his head.
"I'd know if I was shot right?" Kiara asked, everyone's yells muffling each other.
"You look disgusting," Pope said.
"you smell like ass"
"What the hell just happened?" Sarah let out, her head leaning back and onto my shoulder as we laughed.
"That bitch is possessed," Kiara said, turning to look at Sarah and me. "That bitch can't aim," Sarah said next. "how can she move that fast?" Pope asked.
"she's possessed" I reasoned.
"She's blind" Sarah corrected. "It doesn't make any sense, scientifically" Pope argued.
"oh my god," I let out, my eyes falling on John B who was looking at something in his hands. "Is that?" I said, looking up at his face a smirk plastered on it.
"No you didn't" Sarah and Kiara said once they realized he was holding something gold in his hands.
"We did it baby!" John B said, everyone now looking at the gold in his hands. "I did it!" He screamed. "oh my god!" JJ screamed too.
All six of us began hooting and hollering as we celebrated finding the gold. We were flipping and yelling at each other, surely looking crazy.
"Wait, wait. Guys were gonna be rich" Kiara said, looking between everyone "like kook rich" Pope let out.
"Oh my god, full kook!" I let out, everyone following after me as we chanted.
"full kook! Full kook! Full kook! Full kook! Full kook!"
We started screaming and cheering again as we drove fast down the road, we had actually found the gold. And as I laughed and cheered with them I couldn't help but think
that running away from home was the best thing I had ever done.