❝are you having a bad dream, baby?
tossing, turning in our sheets lately
are you having a bad dream, baby?
i wanna wake you, but you won't let me❞
-bad dreams, wallows
✿
chapter seventeen, WELCOME BACK TO REALITY
The sound of the plane was what stirred Pope Heyward awake. He let his eyes adjust to the light as he stood, unaware at first what woke him up. When he stretched his back, the sound finally met his ears. He instantly moved over to where the blonde girl was sleeping next to him and shook her shoulders.
"AJ! Wake up" He grabs his shoes from the sand before the lighter, shaking the girl one more time. "guys, guys! There's a plane" He let out, running down the beach toward where they set up the smoke signal.
AJ was quick to get up so much so she didn't even think about her shoes, the girl just simply ran after Pope. She barely noticed the pain in her feet until she stopped at the top of the hill.
Pope was flicking the lighter with frustration, trying to get it to light. AJ rushed over, sinking to her knees next to him, trying to cover his hand to allow the lighter to spark.
"I got it, I got it" The words spilled from AJ's mouth as she grabbed the lighter from Pope's hands. Giving it a try herself. Cleo, who followed the pair up took the open spot next to her and covered the lighter with her hands.
When it finally held the flame AJ brought it to the dry shrubs they had by the wood, lighting it on fire. "It's lit, it's lit come on" Pope was fast to stand and wave his hands in the hair.
"Hey! We're down here." AJ and Cleo joined, standing and shouting at the small plane flying overhead. "Come on, please please" Pope was practically begging at that point.
"hey!" Cleo shouted, adding to AJ's long slew of shouts.
"We're down here! Look down, you idiot!"
"no!" Cleo let out as the plane passed over.
"fucking shit" AJ let out, her bare feet kicking against the rocks on the ground.
"please" Pope's defeated tone made AJ squeeze her eyes shut. That might have been their only chance. And while she could easily live in the comfort of her own island, she couldn't watch Pope pray for a way out and not also want it for him.
Instinctively AJ leaned over, her body acting without her mind and standing closer to Pope. She couldn't watch the plane pass over them so she looked down at her bare feet, finally noticing the lack of footwear.
"he's turning around" Pope breathed out and AJ's eyes shot up. "They see us!" AJ looked to Pope, the happiness in his eyes enough for her to forget ever wanting to stay on the island.
"yes!" Cleo jumped and cheered. "we did it!"
"We fucking did it!" AJ let out, the girl leaping into Pope's arms as they celebrated. His arms caught her immediately, holding the girl close.
"we did it" Cleo wrapped her arms around the already hugging pair.
"holy shit, we actually did it" Pope finally let go of AJ and the blonde girl noticed Cleo was holding onto her shoes. She thanked her and slipped the beat-up Converse before running down the hill, over to the pond where the plane was landing.
The plane was small, The Flying Fish painted in blue letters on the side of it. "hello hello" John B greeted as a man stepped out of the plane.
"Hey there" He replied, taking a look at the group.
"Hey! We're finally getting out of here. we're finally getting out of here!" Pope cheered as he wrapped his arm around AJ again.
"Well, what do we got here?" AJ turned at the noise behind her and found JJ looking ahead disappointed. She looked back to Pope before moving over to the blonde boy.
"we're saved" The lack of excitement in her voice resonated with JJ.
"yippy" JJ stared forward, disappointment didn't even cover it. Sarah's presence didn't surprise AJ, the three had nothing to go back to. And facing the real world for Sarah and AJ meant facing their families.
As the man talked a feeling settled in AJ's stomach. "we're in the middle of nowhere" Her words could only be heard by JJ and Sarah. "how the hell did this dude find us?"
"I have a bad feeling about this. It screams Ward" Sarah agreed, sharing a look with AJ. The three blondes all having uneasy feelings about the entire situation.
"Well, have no fear. Jimmy's here. I got ya" The man announced, bringing AJ back to the current moment. The moment where they were being saved.
"Well, all hail Jimmy guys! Lets go" Cleo let out.
"Welcome aboard 'The Flying Fish'. I'm Jimmy Portis. I'll be your captain today. Is this all? Seven of you?"
"Uh yeah, that too heavy?" John B asked, looking between the pogues.
"Nah. Uh, technically maybe but I think old fish here'll probably be okay. We could always throw somebody overboard, right?" He laughed but nothing stopped the bad feeling from rising in AJ's body as Cleo and the others started to get into the plane.
"You're the dog man" Pope shook his head as he got in.
"Pleasure to have you" Jimmy welcomed them in. When AJ and JJ slowed before the steps they shared a look, neither wanted to break it but JJ did first as he got into the plane. The two taking spots closer to the front.
"we're actually saved" Pope's happy voice brought comfort back to AJ. She gave him a small smile as she sat down.
"yeah, just tuck on it. Let's uh, get this shit going" Jimmy announced as he took his spot, flipping a few switches and starting the engine.
"So what were you doing all the way out here?" JJ asked, the question weighing heavy on his mind.
"I got a little quite outfit in Saint Vincent. I was spotting fish" He answered, adjusting a few things.
"what were you spotting?"
"You know, the usual. Wahoo" His answer made JJ and John B share a look and even though AJ had no idea about anything related to fishing, the look made the pit of nervousness in her stomach grow.
"I'd hang on to something. Gets a little spicy on takeoff" Jimmy told the pogues. AJ reached up, sharing the same handle as Pope. The pair shared a look and AJ knew he was still more happy than nervous, which ate at AJ. She didn't mean to be a negative person. But facts resonated with her.
Fact, this dude gave AJ the creeps. Fact, John B and JJ clearly are suspicious of the dude's answer. Fact, they were in the middle of nowhere. Fact, Sarah JJ and AJ all had the same feeling which had to count for something.
AJ shared a concerned look with JJ as they took off. The engine was loud, so much so that AJ was starting to get a headache from it. JJ spent a few minutes looking out of the window before looking back to the pogues. He signalled lightly for them to come closer and they did.
"Wahoo don't run in September. Ever. all right? So whoever this man is, he's not a fisherman" Fact, JJ Maybank knows a hell of a lot more about fish than AJ. Fact, Wahoo don't run in September.
"maybe the run just starts earlier out here" Pope tried to reason but JJ shook his head.
"Are you sure about that? In the Caribbean?" JJ asked.
"No, I know what this is. He's working for my dad. And he's probably been looking for us the entire time" Sarah told them.
"All right. we gotta find out. start looking for some sort of" JJ looked around before stopping at the bag hanging off the seat. "clues" He signalled to John B to distract Portis.
"Hey Jimmy" John B had to shout a bit to be heard.
"Yeah. what's up?" With his face turned JJ leaned forward.
"how long you had this bird?" John B asked.
"Oh, about ten years now" JJ opened the bag and AJ leaned closer, as John B continued to distract the pilot.
"Uh," John B stalled and AJ looked up. She stole a glance at the front of the plane and pointed to a picture of a woman. "who's that lovely lady right there?" He sent a thankful look to AJ and she shrugged.
She leaned back and turned to JJ, the boy holding a book in his hands. 'The Loss of El Dorado' by V.S Naipaul. When he opened the book a photo was stuck inside. AJ leaned closer to get a better look, the eerily familiar boat making her stomach turn.
JJ held out the photo for Sarah and her face paled. "The Coastal Venture. Oh my god. This is the boat we were on with Eberhimi and the cross"
John B leaned away from Jimmy, joining the huddled group. "So he was looking for us?" Cleo asked, looking down at the picture in Sarah's hands.
"Exactly" JJ let out in a huff, the defeat washing over them all. AJ couldn't fight the urge to look at the boy on her left. His excitement to be saved vanishing before AJ's eyes. She wanted to do something, say something to help but what could she do?
"he's working for my dad" Sarah confirmed. As the words left her mouth the plane shook. AJ's hand went to the seat, holding on as the plane rocked.
"hey, y'all better hold something. We got some unexpected turbulence up here" Jimmy warned and AJ was reminded of her fear of plane crashes.
"Guys whatever it is. it's happening fast, look" Kiara pointed out the window and AJ turned, land in sight.
"That looks like Barbados. I've been there with Terrance" Cleo voiced, the girl taking in the sight.
"Okay, there's seven of us, one of him. You know my vote. We storm the cockpit"
"JJ that can't always be the plan" AJ argued.
"Yeah" John B agreed with the girl. "who's gonna fly the plane, dumbass?"
"I've seen Pope fly simulators" JJ defended.
"I- I crop dusted for my uncle last summer." Pope explained "This is not the same thing"
"We don't have time to pretend that's a real option" Kiara returned to the original argument.
"Do you have an idea?" JJ asked.
"Something safe?" Kiara got out, looking at the boy like he was crazy.
"Why don't we just wait until the plane lands somewhere safe, and then we sneak out and if somebody comes to mess with us, we mad dog them" Pope's plan was one they all agreed on.
"Okay" AJ breathed out.
"I like the mad dogging part" JJ nodded, sitting back slightly.
"Just put that back. Put it back, be cool" Kiara pointed to the book in JJ's hands.
"Hey, Jimmy." John B turned back to distract the pilot. "Is that the burning man? Right there?" He asked, leaning more so Portis wouldn't look back at JJ.
"Yeah, that's burning man all right. That was my first time" AJ turned to JJ as he put the book and photo back. The shiny clip from a wallet catching AJ's eyes as JJ removed it from the bag, slipping it into his pocket.
"JJ" AJ got out through gritted teeth but the boy waved her off.
"How many times you been to burning man?" John B continued to ask questions to keep Portis occupied.
"I started going when I was eighteen. GT's baby GT's"
"Yeah, I've heard a lot about that" John B's answer wasn't enough to keep Jimmy looking forward and he turned, catching JJ's sticky hands in his bag.
"Hey man, what the hell are you doing?" He freaked out pushing JJ back. The two fought a bit and AJ stood, shoving Jimmy's arms off JJ. AJ almost fell, her balance shifting when the plane started to shake. The lack of a pilot making the plane tilt downwards.
"That's mine" Jimmy shouted.
"Fly the plane!" Sarah yelled at the man, the planes shaking getting worse.
"It's my book. Give it back"
"who gives a shit about the book, fly the fucking plane" AJ shook the man's shoulders.
"Please fly the plane please fly the plane" Pope got out through panicked breaths. The controls on the plane beeping loud. Jimmy finally turned, sitting in the seat and trying to regain control.
"come on come on fish, come on fish" He begged the plane and AJ felt Pope's hand grab onto her, pulling her back to the seat. When AJ looked back to the front the sight of water filled her eyes. They were heading straight down.
The pogues were screaming around her and she shut her eyes, squeezing them shut and praying it was all a bad dream. The impact hit harder than AJ expected and she flew forward a bit, the only thing stopping her from smashing into JJ and the seat in front of them being Pope's hold on her.
The sound of coughing filled the air. AJ opened her eyes, water filling the plane rapidly. She let a few coughs out as water entered her mouth. "guys guys guys" Kiara panicked.
"Is everybody good? JJ wake up man, we gotta get out we gotta get out of here" Pope's rambles meeting AJ's ears. She moved forward, shaking JJ's shoulder.
"J, wake up come on" She linked her arm with his as the others moved through the plane. John B kicked the door open as Pope came to help with JJ.
"We gotta get out before it sinks" JJ voiced, coughing afterwards.
"Oh no. They don't look friendly" John B said, men running towards the shore.
"No, they look very unfriendly" Pope added, turning back and ushering AJ.
"We gotta go, come on." John B said, getting himself out. He helped AJ out next and the others followed.
"Kie let go" She was the last in the plane.
"I'm coming, go" Kiara let out.
"Kie get out before it sinks" JJ yelled at the girl.
"guys we got to hurry up" AJ let out, her eyes on the armed men running toward shore. More showing up on atvs and in more trucks. There were so many AJ couldn't even count.
"hang on" Kiara stalled and AJ turned back, realizing what Kiara was doing, helping the pilot.
"Kiara!" AJ yelled for the girl and when she got no answer she swam back.
"AJ what are you doing?" JJ tried to grab her arm as she reentered the plane.
"go, we'll meet you there" AJ shook his arm off, swimming back in and going to the front.
"Kiara, come on" The water almost filling the entire plane.
"I gotta save him" She argued.
"Okay, come on" AJ moved forward, helping grab ahold of him and pulling him through the window. Once they were out AJ stared in shock at the girl.
"We can't go to shore, Kiara!"
"AJ, I'm not letting him die"
"Goddammit Kiara" AJ let out, helping her drag the body to the shore. AJ was looking around, finding the pogues under the pier further off. The men on the atvs were getting closer and AJ cursed to herself as she helped Kiara.
"Kiara, come on. He's on shore, someone else can help him now" AJ urged the girl, people running towards them. "Kiara!" AJ had to pull the girl away.
"We have to go!" Finally, Kiara seemed to understand and listen and the two booked it. They ran at first in the same direction until Kiara insisted they split up.
"that's stupid" AJ argued.
"do we want all of them chasing us or half chasing each of us?" Was her only defence and AJ nodded, the girls spitting off and running in opposite directions.
AJ couldn't afford to look back and see if Kiara was getting away, she needed to focus on getting away herself. She didn't want to run to the pogues, she couldn't risk them all getting caught so she ran off the beach and into the town. Her feet aching.
Her lungs were burning but she couldn't slow down yet. She could still hear ATVs behind her and she ran down a small alleyway. She slowed to a stop and hid behind a wall. Not daring to peek around it to see if they followed.
When she was a bit more sure she wasn't followed she started walking, staying close to buildings she could duck into the hide and things she could hide behind.
She cursed to herself at the reminder that she had no clue where she was, no clue where Kiara was and no clue where any of the other pogues were. She was lost.
She tried to backtrack, find the easier and most hidden way back to the pier so she could at least guess where the pogues went. She couldn't risk trying to find Kiara.
She let her feet bring her further away from the centre of town and closer to the outskirts. If she couldn't find the pogues she'd have to find somewhere to hide out on her own.
The growl from her stomach made her wish they took some of the food from the island with them. At least she never starved there. JJ was right, paradise was at their fingertips and they let it slip away. And what did that get them? Being kidnapped and running for their lives again.
✿
(NOTES)
season three!!!