Okay. I have to apologize i did not plan to take this long to posts. This chapter was a struggle for me, its needed to get to where i need to progress my storyline but it was difficult to manipulate for what i wanted. So that being said... i am so sorry if this sucks but i have big plans for the next 3 possible 4 chapters.
Kidnapping, Rafe, Rowyns Father, the whole ship thing i have most of it detailed out i just need to put it on paper so to speak. So i hope you stick around and give it a chance i promise it will get better.
The drive back to the Twinkie I was anxious. JJ hadn't said much after leaving the marina and I couldn't find the right words. Four bodies sat on the top of a well sunk in Volkswagen as when I back my Jeep up to the water line. It didn't go unnoticed that John B was laying on his side, propped up on his elbow, his foot on Sarah's Lap.
"Where the hell were you guys?" Pope asked a bit of frustration laced in his voice.
"Complications arose…" I said, not sure how much JJ was willing to reveal.
"Luke was at the Chateau." JJ added seemingly stoic about the situation. I could see a bit of shock on John B and Kie's face, but Pope had blinders on to the fact we were late.
"Oh great! While you were having family time with your pops, John B got bit by a gator." He shouted, and if the news of John B and the gator hadn't thrown me off, I would have snapped back at him.
"What?" I scowled looking John B. That explained the foot and the random blood spots on the hood of the van.
"Like for real?" JJ asked.
"Yes, for real." John B stated.
"Does it look like we're joking?" Sarah questioned in disbelief.
"What the hell happened?" I asked still trying to wrap my head around everything.
"What happened?" John B repeated. "I got bit by a gator!" he exclaimed with a simultaneous. 'He got bit by a gator!'
"Why are you yelling at me?" I instantly got defensive. "Whose bright ass idea was it to go walk around a freaking gator infested swamp?" I snapped and it just stirred up everyone. I wasn't sure who I was arguing with, and I'm not sure we knew what the others were saying but it was clear we were all trying to out yell the other.
"Shut up!" JJ exclaimed and we all instantly stopped talking. I turned to see JJ running his hand anxiously through his hair and I felt bad. Out of everything the last thing he needed was to hear us all fighting. "Seriously guys, I can't take it anymore, all right? Everyone just cut it out for a second. Look I just helped my dad leave this island for good. Like, he's not ever coming back. He straight up like the Spanish. Just 'Bon Voyage.'"
"That's French…" Pope whispered and I scowled at him before looking down at my feet.
"All we got… and I know for a fact all I got is you guys, okay? You're it." He shrugged leaning on the closest tree looking over everyone. The thing about JJ is all his emotions could be read in his eyes, they always betrayed his hard exterior and the wall he would put up to be strong. In this moment I could see the fear of loss. "And I have come too close to losing you, all of you. I mean shit, Pope, you were almost kidnapped. Sarah, you've been shot, John B you were almost dinner for a freaking gator bro, and you I've almost lost you too many times." He met my eyes and I nodded biting my bottom lip thinking on all he dangerous situations I had been in. He held my gaze a few seconds longer before continuing. "So, this blaming each other is some kook-ass bullshit, all right? We don't do that, Okay? We're Pogues."
We were all shocked, surprised and impressed by the speech and we all processed it quietly. I looked from JJ to John B and Kie who both looked guilty. Clearing his throat JJ stood up rolling his shoulders out and apologized. "Sorry that was a lot right now. I didn't mean to…" As he spoke, I found myself smiling and the group started clapping. "Yeah all right …" he rolled his eyes.
"That was just… wow babe. I'm impressed." I walked over to him.
"That great!" Pope commended.
"I got to be honest… That was the best freaking speech you have ever given." John B. added and JJ responded by flipping everyone off, "Also you should think about, like, a Rosetta Stone because your Spanish and French are flip-flopped."
"We should Bon Voyage out of here."
"All right, lets get this damn Twinkie out of here." JJ said and I kissed him quickly before jumping up the roadside and into the driver seat. Rolling down the window I listen to JJ as he connected my jeep to the Twinkie and yelled instructions to both Sarah and I, slowly the Twinkie was released from the marsh. "The Twinkie Lives!"
JJ jumped into the passenger seat and we followed Sarah to the Freedman's church. We slowly made our way into the old church, the door squeaking loudly as we entered. Everything was covered in a layer of dust, and the wood was rotted.
"Okay, you're telling me Denmark Tanny decided to hide the cross here?" JJ asked discouraged by the surroundings. I stepped further into the church and scanned over everything.
"Everybody just spread out." Kie stated and everyone took to different areas of the old church looking under and around everything around us.
"Okay well if I was a cross and wanted to be hidden in an old church, where would I hide?" John B asked as he limped around.
"Pope are we sure its here?" Through this whole thing I had tried to be optimistic, but slowly I was starting to feel like this was a wild goose chase with no end.
"It's gotta be here somewhere guys." Pope encouraged.
"What if we have to push a secret button, or like play like, a… a certain cord, and then all of a sudden the ground beneath us reveals the catacombs or something on which we stand?" JJ asked standing at the old piano and I looked at him and scowled.
"Are you referencing The Goonies?" I asked. "This isn't some tunnel under the city."
"But we have some crazy lady that's been following us with her lacky, all after treasure." He pointed out and I opened my mouth to respond but stopped. He had a point, a good one. "See…"
"How about we try and find obvious clues?" John B said and I turned around back to the alter in the back of the room.
"It's gotta be in here." Pope muttered. We had all looked in every corner of the room with no cross found, but Pope continued to look around, he was determined to find the cross.
"Pope I don't see a cross anywhere, not even a small gold one." I said sympathetically. "Maybe it was moved or…"
"No, no. There's no way he would set us up on a freaking goose chase that would lead us to a church that has nothing in it." Pope shook his head, not ready to accept it.
"I know I know… I get it, I know…" John B tried to calm him down, limping over to Pope trying to follow him around as he spiraled. "Yes I get it. I don't know what to tell you man."
"The clues led us here. The cross is in this church." Pope stated.
"What if it's not?" I asked. "It doesn't mean its over, we just need to… I don't know… need to regroup."
"Yeah, we've had setbacks in the past, and we figured it out. We're gonna find it." John B. agreed.
"He's right."
"Okay so let's think about this, what do we know so far?" I asked as the group less Pope stood in the center of the room going over all the clues. As John B spoke, I watch Pope open the spyglass and look around the room pausing at something on the ceiling. My eyes followed the direction of the spyglass and I stepped passed the group my arm brushing JJs arm as I passed him.
"What?" JJ scowled turning to look what I was staring at.
"Oh My God. Look at that." Kie stated in awe.
"That looks like a…"
"A cross." I nodded with a smile.
"Pope?" Sarah called and our attention was dragged back to the ground where Pope was now at the wall looking for a spot to put his foot.
"What the…"
"Hey, Yo!" JJ exclaimed.
"Now he's climbing the wall." John B stated obviously running a hand through his hair.
"Are you nuts?" I called out.
"Wait Pope!" Sarah followed.
"Pope, this church is old. Like really old this isn't safe." We continued to try to talk Pope out of climbing up the wall of the church until he made it to the top beam, unfazed by our comments and concerns.
"All right this one's solid wood. I'm gonna try the other beam." Pope called down to us shimming over the beam and around another to the center of the room.
"Pope that's rotten as shit right there, okay?" JJ said. He was trying to sound strong, but I could tell this was making him anxious. He had just poured his heart out about nearly losing all of us, and now Pope was up several feet in the air as if he was a professional gymnast. "Pope I hate to break it to you but that's wood."
Disheartened Pope was moving the third and final cross-shaped beam.
"Jay." I hissed grabbing his arm quickly pointing to something hanging in the corner of two of the wooden beams.
"Shit," he cursed. "Bro just look out for that giant wasp nest right above your head."
"Pope you gotta move slowly." I stated squeezing JJ's arm nervously. "Shit I can't look." I squinted, wanting so bad to close my eyes but unable to completely look away. As Pope started knocking on the wood, we all heard the empty space behind the wood and stared at Pope with hope.
"Look, its hollow!" he called. "I need a crowbar! Go get me a crowbar!"
"I got it." I stated moving past JJ and running out to the Twinkie. Rummaging around the back I found the crowbar and slammed the door shut moving back towards the church. I stopped suddenly when the sound of a twig snapping, or crunching behind me. Heart pounding I turned and looked at the foliage around me. Everything was so densely packed I couldn't make anything out, and despite every horror movie I had ever seen, I started walking towards the sound. Crowbar clenched in hand I swallowed the lump in my throat.
"Roe!" Sarah called coming out of the church. I jumped turning towards her and back at the tree line. "Hey, you okay?" she asked coming up to me scowling between me and what I was looking at.
"Yeah…" I said clearing my throat before nodding. "I thought I heard something."
"You sure?" she seemed genuinely concerned about what I was looking at.
"Yeah it was probably nothing." I shrugged handing her the crowbar. "Here."
"Great come on!" she smiled running back to the church. I began to follow her, only stopping at the church steps turning back towards the clearing feeling uneasy about what may be hidden. Shaking my head, I stepped back into the church only to hear Pope tell Sarah to throw the crowbar.
"Oh for real?" Kie stated stepping back followed by JJ and John B giving Sarah enough room and then some to throw the object up to Pope. To everyone's amazement she made the toss in one shot and grinned proudly as Pope started hitting at the wooden beam, a piece of wood crumbling to the ground in front of us.
"Watch your heads!" John B. stated. "Hey Pope, Pope, there's the wasp nest right up there okay? Just move slow alright?"
"Got it." Pope eyed the wasp nest before continuing to swing the crowbar at the beam. Slowly the wood splintered and fell revealing the space behind it. Squinting I moved forward.
"Guys…" I stated. Attentions moved from the debris to Pope to the large gap in the wood where an object was now shinning and glisten against the dark wood.
"What is that?" Sarah asked
"Do you guys see that?" John B question a hint of relief in his voice as he put his hand on his head.
"Holy Shit." JJ exclaimed moving behind me his hand on my shoulders.
"It's here, Oh my God." Sarah started laughing turning to Kie.
"You did it buddy." JJ state his hand moving around to hug me. I reached up and grabbed his arms leaning my back into him, as I laughed excited and happy. Turning in JJ's arms, he was grinning from ear to ear and he moved to cup my face and kissed me. I could feel him smiling against my lips, but so was I. When we broke apart, he draped his arm over my shoulder to pull me to his side as he applauded Pope as he continued to reveal the cross. As Pope cheered, he started to swat the air around him.
"Pope?" I called my smile fading and the excitement turning to concern.
"Okay, they're stinging now." Pope stated the crowbar dropping from his handS. JJ pulled me back as it hit the ground right in front of me.
"Pope man, hey take it easy!" JJ called still holding me. Popes movements became more frantic as he continued to swat the air around his head. The excessive movement caused him to lose balance and in a blink of an eye he was hanging by his fingertips.
"Holy shit!" I cursed turning from JJ as John B and I pushed the Pew behind us back, the other grabbing as many cushions as they could find, piling them below our hanging friend.
"Hold on Pope!" Kie called. We all rushed around throwing cushion after cushion on the ground until there was none left and a moment later Pope fell from the beam. He landed in a cloud of dust as he hit the old material. He lay still as he tried to collect himself, the rest of us gathering around him. John B and JJ leaning over him to try to get him to respond. Pope seemed to be dazed and confused, breathing heavily staring at the ceiling. There was a collective yell as he rolled out of the way and the large, heavy gold cross fell from its perch above us. I pulled both JJ and John B back falling back into the pew we moved earlier.
A cloud of dust surrounded the cross and the wood beneath the cushions once used to support Popes fall was now splintered and broken. Coughing I stood up and slowly moved towards the cross.
"Pope, are you okay?" John B asked followed by JJ asking a similar question. Pope was standing now hands on his knees as he took several deep breaths.
"Yeah I'm good. Just give me, like, one second to, like catch my breath." Circling the gold statue in front of me I let my fingers graze the cool surface, tracing each embellishment, each curve. The elegance and beauty of it was mesmerizing.
"You did it Pope." John B. stated moving from his friend to examine the treasure.
"Pope… she's, she's beautiful." JJ said softly.
"I've never seen anything like it." Sarah added.
"Hey look here." I pointed to a spot in the front of the cross.
"That's why Limbrey wanted the key so bad. There's a key hole." John B. nodded standing behind me as he took a closer look.
"Okay so like, how much do you think she's worth?" JJ asked bluntly and I rolled my eyes scowling at him as he continued, "Like if we melted her old bones down, dude I'm talking like high billions."
"You're asking that… now… after all that, really?" I asked and he just shrugged.
"This belongs in a museum." John B. stated
"What? So, no one sees her. Are you kidding?" he argued.
"Literally in a museum where everyone sees it Jay." I said in disbelief and confusion towards his statement.
"Hey it's my ancestors' cross!" Pope exclaimed and JJ quickly looked back to the Cross disappointed.
"Right okay, all right, all right. Well…" JJ nodded solemnly running his hand over it.
"This is bigger than money, and the world's gotta know the truth." Pope explained. He still seemed out of breath.
"Yes and if we don't get this shit outta here before Limbrey gets here, nobodys gonna know." John B stated. "So saddle up."
"It's heavy like right here." JJ instructed as we all found a place around the large object. "Wait hold on. John B. You're gonna pull, all right, pull down."
"All right I'm gonna pull down." John B agreed before looking at the rest of us. "You guys pull up. Ready one, two, three…" We all groaned putting all our strength into lifting the cross. To my surprise, the cross was actually lifted form the hold it created when it fell. Slowly we shuffled backwards until all at once the cross started getting heavier and heavier. Pope suddenly let go which brought a domino effect. I was forced to drop my section as Sarah and Kie did the same.
Pope was off to the side shaking his hand before sitting down. Walking over to him I scowled concerned sitting beside him. I could hear JJ angrily snapping at Sarah for dropping the cross, but my attention was on my friend who seemed to be breathing quickly, almost gasping.
"Pope?" I asked quietly the other still arguing. He finally looked at me and my concern turned to fear quickly. His face was swollen and red and his breathing was turning into gasp. "Shit!" I cursed loudly to get the others attention. I could feel bodies around me, but I didn't bother looking. Taking Popes face in my hands, I turned it, so he was focused on me. "You have to breath Pope, as big of a breath as you can take. In and out slowly." I instructed.
"You good? You don't look good bro." JJ stated directly behind me.
"I… I can't… I can't…" Pope struggled to talk but I shook my head.
"He can't breathe. It's the wasps. He's having and allergic reaction." I said quickly standing nodding to John B who helped me lift Pope up and draped his arms over our shoulders. Half leading, half dragging we start moving quickly to leave the church.
"What about the cross?" Sarah asked. None of us were thinking of the treasure we had been searching for, risking our lives for.
"JJ, try and hide it." John B instructed without looking back. We both worked to get Pope to my car, opening the door and slowly placing our gasping friend along the back seat.
"Pope what do you need buddy?" JJ asked running up behind me as I pushed Pope legs into the car, John B already going to the other side of the car and getting in at Pope's head. Pope made a motion with his hand to his leg the resembled a stabbing motion, it took me a second but I quickly turned to my boyfriend grabbing his arm.
"A shot, he needs epinephrine." I said quickly. JJ seemed to stare at me unsure for a second before nodding.
"Okay." He said running a hand through his hair before reaching his hand out to me. "Give me your keys. I know where to go!" Without hesitation, I pulled my keys from my pocket and put it in his hand before jumping into the back seat sitting on the floor in the middle so Kie could sit at Popes feet. As JJ pulled away from the church I kept my hand on Pope's chest trying to get him to focus on me and breathe with me as best he could. I couldn't see where we were going but I knew JJ was not abiding by the laws of the road.
The car screeched to a stop and I had to brace myself to keep from toppling onto my side. Kie was quick to get out, followed by John B. JJ was already running to the front door. I heard banging and yelling behind me and then the distinct sound of a door slamming shut. Looking to Sarah, she nodded and switched spots with me so I could run up to the house.
"Ricky open the fucking door!" I yelled as JJ was at the window. It only took a split second for the front door to open again and an annoyed Ricky look at me. "Don't even think about slamming that in my face!"
"The last time I helped you guys…"
"You stitched me up, you kept me from bleeding everywhere." I interrupted daring him to argue. "We need your help, he…" I pointed to Pope being helped across the lawn, "he can't breathe, you slam that door, and he dies!" Ricky looked up at the nearly unconscious teen being held up by two other panicked teens.
"Look at him!" John B stated and then pleased. "Help my Friend!"
"You know I wouldn't have come here if it wasn't an emergency." JJ said as we rushed into the home. I had an odd feeling of déjà vu. They had barged into this house a few months ago when I was injured and now here we were again. Sarah was quick to push anything that was on the table to the ground while Kie and John B brought Pope over and we all lifted him up.
"What's wrong with him?" Ricky asked.
"Wasps." Sarah answered quickly
"Wasps?" Ricky repeated, "Is he allergic to Wasps?"
"Clearly…" Kie said shortly.
"It was a bee hive worth of wasps." John B added.
"Okay hang tight… I gotta get my kit!" Ricky said and we all watched in shock and confusion as he left into a back room.
"Is he kidding?" I asked looking at JJ.
"Hang tight!?" JJ repeated annoyed and angry.
"He's looking for a kit. Go help." John B suggested and JJ was quick to follow his cousin.
"Pope look at me buddy." I said at Popes head trying to get him to focus again. "You're gonna be okay, you're gonna be fine." I wasn't sure who I was reassuring at this point. Looking up at John B in front of me he met my eyes, equally as concerned and scared as I felt. "He's gonna be okay right?" He opened his mouth to respond but couldn't come up with a response that would make himself or me feel better. JJ and Ricky emerged from the garage, Ricky carrying his bag.
"Okay what do we do now?" JJ asked anxiously, as Pope's wheeze got fewer and far between.
"You… you don't do anything cause you're not a paramedic." Ricky stated bringing his attention to Pope. I moved to the side, hand on my chest as my heart felt like it was about to explode. "Okay. Hey Pope, how you doing man? You look like shit…"
"Please tell me he's kidding." I said under my breath eyeing Kie as she looked at Ricky annoyed.
"Okay, here's the thing, this is a pediatric dose of epinephrine." Ricky explained holding up the syringe.
"Is that gonna be enough?" Sarah asked.
"He's not a kid." John B pointed out.
"Ricky will this work?" I asked coming up beside him.
"It is ten time the normal dose." He explained and I noticed the unsure tone in his voice. "So if… if it doesn't stop his heart, it'll help him. But I gotta use the whole thing or it wont work… And I'm not going down if he dies."
We all paused to look at each other, no one wanting to make the call.
"Is there any other option?" I asked and Ricky looked at me shaking his head slowly.
"Okay, fine do it!" JJ final spoke up his hand on the top of his head. "Come on hurry up and hit it!"
It took only a few second and he was done. "Okay um that's it." Ricky stated putting the empty syringe down.
"Now what?"
"Now we wait…" Ricky sighed in the background I could make out Steve Harvey's voice playing on the TV. We all stood around Pope waiting for a sign. Kie was talking to him, begging him to wake up.
"You killed him." Kie accused when Pope didn't respond. She had tears in her eyes as she held onto Popes face.
"No."
"Yes you did!"
"I didn't do shit! I did exactly what you asked me to do!" Ricky defended. JJ was around him grabbing onto Pope begging him to wake up. All I could do was cover my mouth as I tried to keep my tears from spilling forward. We had found the cross… Pope's cross… but this was the cost, it wasn't worth it. The room was a dark cloud of depression until a loud gasp came from the table and we all stared at Pope as he continued to gasp for air and sit up.
Despite the best efforts of John B and Kie to get him to take it easy he was up and moving and complaining about being hot, stripping his sweatshirt off and heading for the door. I was laughing, happy tears in my eyes as Ricky ushered JJ, Sarah and I out the door.
"Is there anything we need to know?" Sarah asked but Ricky just shook his head.
"He's gonna have a rocket up his ass for a bit but he should be fine."
"Thank you." I smiled hugging the man.
"Just stop bringing me injured people. I don't know stop by and have a drink or smoke weed. Leave this shit next time." He stated and I laughed along with JJ turned to Pope who was jumping and yelling about getting the cross. I am not sure how it happened but at some point, my keys got to Pope, and he was driving. I was in the back on JJ's lap, Sarah, and John B next to us and Kie was in the front, all of us not too sure what prompted us to tell Pope he could drive.
"Uh, Pope… you're driving pretty fast." Sarah commented uneasy.
"Last to judge, but I think you should slow down a little." JJ added his arm protectively around my waist his other holding the handle above his seat.
"That would definitely delay our arrival to the cross." Pope stated. His enthusiasm and excitement were overwhelming. "We gotta get there."
"We aren't going to get there if we crash Pope." I stated nervously, leaning back into JJ and digging my fingers into his jacket.
"Why did we let him drive again?" Kie asked.
"Because he said he'd rip our ears off." Sarah answered.
"Yeah you were kinda graphic about it too." I added.
"I was joking about that by the way." Pope shrugged lightly and I looked over at Sarah and John B sharing the same nervous feelings.
"That's a really funny joke." Kie laughed awkwardly side eyeing Pope as he sped down the road.
"Hey, how ya feeling buddy?" John B asked leaning forward patting Pope on the shoulder.
"Uh fantastic!" Pope stated. "I don't know what JJ's cousin gave me but i… am…movin."
"We couldn't tell."
"Okay well you're going really fast right now." John B tried to keep his voice light, but we all heard it waiver a bit as he worked to convince Pope to slowdown.
"Yeah really fast." JJ piped up.
"Pope, there is a car in front of us." I mentioned seeing the taillights of a vehicle. "You need to slow down." Rather than slowing down he started speeding up and moved to the other lane.
"You don't need to pass. You don't need to pass!" Kie exclaimed and we all said similar statements as Pope sped past the car as another car came towards us in the other lane. We yelled and braced ourselves waiting until we were back in our lane a horn following us as we narrowly missed the oncoming traffic.
"What an asshole right?" Pope genuinely asked like the other drivers were in the wrong.
"We're the asshole!" I stated started to get frustrated.
"We aren't going to get to the cross if we're dead Pope!" John B shouted.
"We're not gonna die. It's our divine right to get that cross." As he spoke, he turned away from the road to look at John B. We all yelled at him to look at the road but by the time he looked back the car was already losing control. I closed my eyes as I heard the tires screech with every attempt to overcorrect the jeep. I wasn't sure what way we were facing, or how out of control we were, we hit something hard and despite JJ's tight grip around my waist my shoulder still hit the side of the car. His grip on my wrist moved up and he pulled my head to his chest attempting to keep it from slamming into the window as the car continued to crumble and crash.
Finally, the car stopped, and I could here broken glass and metal settling around me. With great amount of effort JJ and I pushed the door open.
"Is everyone okay?" John B asked with a groan.
"I think so." Sarah answered.
"Never better." JJ added and I slid from his lap, when my feet touched the ground I could feel the ache in my muscles. Leaning forward, palms on my knees I took a few deep breaths. "You good Roe?" I felt a hand on my back and slowly I stood straight grimacing slightly. JJ was staring at me concerned. I gently grabbed my shoulder that had hit the car while we crash and rotated it slowly. Smiling I nodded before walking around to the front of my car. "That is the last time you drive Pope."
"Shit my car." I cursed running a hand through my tangled hair.
"We're gonna have to walk the res of the way." Pope stated oblivious to any conversation or around him.
"Are you kidding, you just totaled my car and you're thinking about the cross?" I asked frustrated.
"Dude…" Sarah added watching as Pope moved away from the wrecked car.
"I'm going to get my cross." Pope stated walking away.
"He's joking right?" I looked at JJ who just shrugged. John B ran with Pope trying to stop him with little luck. I could make out them arguing and John B limping to try and keep up with Pope. In the distance there were lights heading right towards Pope who walking on the side of the road. "Pope!" I yelled starting to walk towards them. "There's a freaking car get off the road!" Both him and John B paused as the vehicle got closer and was revealed to be a large, covered truck. I stopped my pursuit along the road to watch as the truck passed me, Rafe sitting in the passenger seat.
He met my eyes and grinned at me. I could feel myself pale at the sight of him. He smiled and waved putting his lips together in a kissing expression before winking at me as they passed.
"Oh Shit." JJ stated.
"We gotta get back to the church!" Pope exclaimed and without waiting to see if we would follow him, he took off in a full sprint towards Freedmans Church. Taking off in a full run we were all breathing heavily by the time we reached the old building. Hesitantly and a bit uneasy we walked into the church. Sure, enough the cross that had once been in the middle of the room was gone, the cushions used to cover it thrown to the side.
"It's gone." Kie said quietly.
"Damn it!" JJ cursed clenching his fist. "I know I didn't hide it well enough!"
"Jay, this isnt on you." I commented trying to comfort his guilt. "We didn't have any other choice."
"We need a plan. We need a plan. What's the plan?" He ignored my sentiment and started to pace the room. "All right here's what we do, we'll grab some kerosene tanks from the CHAT, then we… we go to my dad's shop and grab some dynamite…"
"Dynamite JJ are you serious right now?" I asked surprised and taken back.
"It's something Roe!" He snapped and I scowled at him crossing my arms. "This is some bullshit. This fucking Charleston lady thinks she can just wave her hand and then bam get what she wants, well not this time… not this time we fight back…"
"And do what, blow up her house, that does nothing but sink us down to her level." I rolled my eyes.
"Well maybe we should Rowyn, we have played it the safe way, the right way…"
"Safe? That's what you call anaphylaxis? Nearly downing? A fucking Gator? None of this has been safe, we need to be smart, because I am not going out their guns blazing if it means losing anyone in this room right now!" I exclaimed loudly. JJ seemed to stare at me, the anger that had flashed over his face a moment ago was gone and he signed running a hand through his hair.
"Roe, that's not what i…" he started, and I just shook my head putting my hand up to stop him. The others were standing awkwardly around us trying hard not to stare. "Pope I'm sorry…"
"Denmark would have stood right here… Preaching to everyone he set free. A slave, the sole survivor of the Royal Merchant. He got the gold and the cross and be brought them both to shore and used it to free every person who walked through those doors. He made a church, a family, a congregation…a home. And the Limbrey's took everything from him. They sicked dogs on his wife and his kids, and when he tried to go get her remains, they hung him." Pope stood at the alter overlooking us. "Well, I'm done. I'm tired of that shit. That is not how this is gonna end. We needed a freaking win, guys. I'm going to get my family's cross." He added walking down past us towards the door. "You guys coming?"
"I mean…" I shrugged looking at JJ who smiled nodding.
"Well if you put it that way." John B added
"Maybe we should think about it, you know…"
"Pros and Cons?" John B suggested and I laughed as we followed Pope out.
"Hell yeah we're coming Pope!"
Thank you for continuing to stick by me and hope you come back for the final few chapters until Season 3 gets posted.
:)