Chapter 6: High Stakes and Heartbeats
John B pulled the van into the crowded parking lot of the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum, its old engine sputtering like it was barely holding together. It was spring break, and the place was crawling with tourists and families. Kids in pirate costumes ran between cars, waving plastic swords and shouting at each other in exaggerated pirate accents. Parents, laden with bags of souvenirs and snacks, tried to keep up.

He navigated into a spot near the back of the lot, the sun glinting off the windshield as he cut the engine. As the van stilled, Sarah let out a dramatic groan, leaning her head against the window.

"Ugh, I'm starving. And someone," she shot a pointed look toward the backseat, "ate all the good snacks."

JJ, reclining lazily across the seat with his feet kicked up on the back of Pope's chair, grinned without a hint of remorse. "Hey, survival of the fittest. You snooze, you lose."

Kiara rolled her eyes from the passenger seat, stretching her arms above her head. "We've been on the road for hours. You could've saved some for the rest of us."

JJ shrugged. "I'm a growing boy. Besides, I left you guys the granola bars."

"I'm growing a whole other human and Granola bars are not snacks, JJ," Sarah grumbled, rummaging through the glove compartment for any sign of food. She found one last, sad granola bar, ripped it open, and took a bite, sighing as stepped out the door moving round to lean back against the front of the van, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her face.

John B moved to join her, shooting her a playful smile. "Don't worry. Once we're done here, we'll grab some real food."

"Yeah, assuming we don't end up in jail," Pope muttered, adjusting the strap on his backpack as he surveyed the bustling parking lot. He glanced at Cleo, who was standing beside him with her arms crossed, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd.

They had been talking strategy for the past hour, but now it was time to move. Pope and Cleo had volunteered to go in first and scope out the museum, while the others stayed back to wait for the signal. It wasn't the cleanest plan, but the Pogues had never been known for their flawless execution.

"Alright, let's get this over with," Pope said, giving Cleo a nod. "We'll go in, check out the layout, and see what we're dealing with. Keep your phones close—we'll text if anything looks off."

Cleo smirked. "Piece of cake. You guys stay put."

As Pope and Cleo started walking toward the museum entrance, Sarah took another bite of her granola bar and leaned against the Twinkie's front grill. "You guys better not take too long. I don't want to sit here all day."

JJ snatched the hacky sack off the dashboard, tossing it up in the air. "Relax, Princess. We've got time. Plus, this gives me a chance to school you two in hacky sack."

Kiara, ever competitive, caught the sack mid-air. "School us? You wish."

Inside the museum, Pope and Cleo moved carefully, taking in their surroundings. The Pirate and Treasure Museum was surprisingly well-done, with dimly lit halls, pirate artifacts under glass, and interactive exhibits for kids. It felt almost like stepping into a theme park.

As they walked through the main exhibits, Pope spotted it—the Anne Bonny exhibit, a large display dedicated to the infamous female pirate. A huge portrait of her hung on the wall, and beneath it, various artifacts were arranged in glass cases. Swords, maps, and a replica of her ship. But what really caught Pope's eye was the journal.

"There it is," he whispered, nodding toward a glass cabinet near the center of the display. Inside, resting on a velvet cushion, was Anne Bonny's journal—thick, leather-bound, and locked behind a glass door. "That's the journal we need."

Cleo crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the room. "Yeah, but it's locked up tight. No way we're getting that without setting off every alarm in the building."

Pope frowned, thinking. "We don't need the original. If we can access the museum's digital archives, we can download the scans."

Cleo nodded. "Then we need to find the archives. You think it's in the back?"

"Most likely," Pope replied, glancing at the signs for staff areas near the back of the museum. "Let's head out, tell the others what we found, and figure out a way to get in."

They turned and slipped back into the flow of tourists, making their way toward the exit. As they stepped outside, the sun hit them again, and they headed back to the van where the others were waiting.

John B sat in the passenger seat of the van, his feet propped up on the dash as he flipped through his dad's journal. The pages were worn, the ink smudged in some places from years of use, but it was still clear enough to read the cryptic notes and hand-drawn maps. He was deep in thought, trying to piece together the fragments of his dad's obsession with Anne Bonny and the treasure of the San José.

Outside, Sarah leaned against the front of the van, picking at her nails, the warmth of the sun relaxing her muscles. She stretched, feeling the tension melt away as she looked around at the bustling parking lot. Kids in pirate hats and eye patches ran past, their parents trailing behind with weary smiles. It was a world away from the chaos and danger they'd been dealing with, and for a moment, it felt like they were just another group of friends on a road trip.

In the open space beside the van, JJ and Kiara were locked in a heated game of hacky sack, their competitive spirits fully on display. JJ bounced the little sack off his knee and head, smirking as he sent it flying toward Kiara with a well-timed kick.

"Can't touch this, Kie!" JJ gloated, spinning around dramatically as he caught the sack again and sent it sailing back in her direction.

Kiara scoffed, her eyes narrowing with determination. "I'm gonna wipe that smug look off your face, Maybank."

She leaped into the air, catching the hacky sack on her foot and flipping it back toward him with an impressive spin. JJ's eyes widened as it zipped past him, landing on the ground behind him.

"Okay, okay, that was pretty good," JJ admitted, laughing.

Before their banter could escalate further, Pope and Cleo emerged from the crowd, walking toward the van with purpose in their strides. They had spent the last twenty minutes inside the museum, scouting the place out. Pope's face was serious, but Cleo wore a slight grin as if amused by the whole ordeal.

"Alright," Pope said, sliding the van door open and hopping in. Cleo followed, standing in the doorway. "We found it. Anne Bonny's journal is in a glass cabinet, locked up tight. No way we're getting to it without setting off alarms."

JJ stopped mid-hack, catching the bag and tossing it into the van. "So, what's the plan, brains?"

Pope leaned forward, looking over at John B. "The museum's pretty well protected, but I noticed something—there's a staff area in the back, and I'm pretty sure they've got digital scans of all the important documents stored somewhere. If we can get access to one of their computers, I can download the journal. We won't even need to touch the original."

John B nodded thoughtfully, his fingers still resting on the journal in his lap. "That's good. So, what's the move?"

Cleo chimed in, arms crossed over her chest. "The layout's tricky. There are two different areas in the back that could house the archives. One near the staff offices, the other near the loading docks. We're gonna have to split up and check both."

Sarah finished her granola bar and dusted off her hands. "Sounds like a plan. We'll need a distraction, though. Something to keep the staff and security busy while we sneak in."

Everyone turned to look at JJ, who immediately flashed a mischievous grin. "Say no more. I've got this."

Kiara raised an eyebrow. "Just don't break anything... expensive, JJ."

"No promises," JJ said, standing up straight and dusting off his shirt as if preparing for a performance. "Alright, team. I'll keep the heat off you. You guys just do your thing."

Pope nodded, adjusting his backpack. "Once we get inside, we'll split into two groups. Cleo and I will check the offices. John B and Sarah, you head for the loading docks. Keep your eyes open for anything that looks like an archive or server room."

"Got it," John B said, closing his dad's journal and slipping it into his bag.

Sarah stretched one last time, feeling the weight of the mission starting to settle in. "Ready when you are."

The museum was packed with families and tourists, all of them caught up in the pirate-themed atmosphere. Pope and Cleo had already given the place a once-over, so they led the way, weaving through the crowd as the group entered. JJ immediately peeled off, heading toward a large display of pirate treasures, his target set.

While the others moved toward the back, JJ approached a guard near the display. He flashed his most charming smile and waved his arms dramatically as he began asking an over-the-top question about cursed pirate gold.

"So, like, have you ever seen any of this treasure... move? Like, by itself? Come on, there's gotta be a haunted piece in here somewhere."

The guard raised an eyebrow, looking confused but clearly intrigued. "Uh... no, man. I just... work here."

"Right, right," JJ said, leaning closer. "But I mean, you've heard stuff, right? Like, stories about haunted treasures? Ghosts?"

As JJ kept the guard talking, his arms gesturing wildly with every word, he "accidentally" knocked over a display of pirate coins. The clatter echoed through the exhibit, drawing the attention of both staff and tourists. JJ dramatically stumbled into another display case, sending a fake pirate sword skittering across the floor and knocking over a treasure chest model.

The sound of glass cracking filled the air, and people around him gasped as the security alarm buzzed to life.

John B and Sarah exchanged quick glances before slipping into the back hallway with Pope and Cleo while the museum staff scrambled to address the chaos. Kiara stayed close to the entrance, her eyes darting around as she tried to act like an innocent bystander.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Man down!" JJ cried, grabbing his arm in mock agony. "I'm bleeding!"

Security immediately rushed over, and Kiara, watching from a distance, sighed, half impressed and half exasperated by JJ's antics. "Of course, he goes full tilt."

Once inside, the group moved quickly through the back hallways. The sound of muffled voices and footsteps echoed through the narrow corridor as they passed closed doors marked with "Staff Only" signs. Pope led the way, his sharp eyes scanning for anything that might lead them to the archives

"Alright," Pope whispered. "We split up here. Cleo and I will head toward the offices. John B, you and Sarah take the loading dock area."

John B nodded, motioning for Sarah to follow him down a narrow hallway to the right. As they disappeared into the shadows, Pope and Cleo made their way left, toward the staff offices.

As they moved deeper into the building, Cleo gave Pope a sidelong glance. "You sure we're going the right way?"

Pope nodded. "Archives have to be close. Just keep your eyes open."

They rounded a corner, but before they could go any further, footsteps echoed from the hall behind them. Without thinking, Cleo grabbed Pope's shirt and pulled him into the nearest alcove, pressing him against the wall as the footsteps grew louder.

"What the hell are you doing?" Pope hissed, but Cleo just grinned and leaned in closer.

"Play along," she whispered, just as a museum employee turned the corner and spotted them.

The employee, a woman in her early 40s, stared at them with her hands on her hips. "What are you kids doing back here?"

Pope's mind scrambled for an explanation. "Uh, we're... on vacation with my family. We just... wanted a moment alone. Didn't mean to wander off."

The employee raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Yeah, well, this isn't the place for that. Go on, back to the museum floor."

Cleo, still standing close to Pope, nodded solemnly. "Got it. Sorry about that."

The employee pointed toward the exit, and without another word, Pope and Cleo slipped back toward the main exhibit, hearts racing. As they stepped back into the crowded museum, Cleo gave Pope a playful grin. "Guess we're pretty convincing."

Pope, still flustered from the encounter, managed a nervous laugh. "Yeah... maybe a little too convincing."

Meanwhile, John B and Sarah found a storage room by the loading dock, they stumbled upon a small room filled with storage shelves and old computers. John B rushed over to one of the computers, frantically trying to log in, but everything was password-protected.

"Come on, come on," John B muttered under his breath, his fingers tapping away at the keyboard as he attempted to crack the system.

Sarah stood behind him, arms crossed. "John B, this isn't working. You're not Pope."

John B ignored her, too focused on the screen to realize she was right. He was typing random things, hoping for a miracle.

"John B," Sarah said again, louder this time.

Nothing.

Rolling her eyes, Sarah finally reached out, grabbed his face with both hands, and turned him toward a shelf full of labeled hard drives.

"Look, genius," she said, pointing to a hard drive labeled 'Anne Bonny Exhibit Archive'.

John B blinked at the shelf, then at her, before grinning sheepishly. "Yeah... that'll do it."

They grabbed the hard drive, stuffed it into John B's bag, and made a break for the emergency exit. The alarm didn't sound, and they quickly texted Pope and Cleo to meet them at the van.

Kiara helped JJ bandage his hand with the first-aid kit that she had thoughtfully started keeping in the van for situations just like this. JJ winced as she wrapped his hand a little tighter than necessary, though a grin still played on his lips.

"You're such an idiot, JJ. Seriously, you could have been hurt." JJ smirked, wincing slightly as Kiara tightened the bandage.

"But I wasn't, was I? Besides, the distraction worked."

Sarah and John B appeared from the side of the museum, Pope and Cleo close behind. "We've got it," John B called out, tossing the hard drive to Pope.
The jumped in the van John B turning the engine over and pulling out of the parking lot quickly. Sarah leaned back in her seat, feeling the adrenaline fade as she buckled in.

Pope immediately connected the drive to his laptop, his fingers flying over the keys as the files loaded onto the screen. The rest of the group huddled around, holding their breath.

After a few tense seconds, Pope looked up, his eyes wide with excitement. "It's all here. The journal, the scans, everything."

The group erupted into cheers, JJ pumping his fist in the air—though he quickly regretted it as his injured arm reminded him of his earlier mishap. "Ow! Still worth it though!"

The Pogues had found a small dinner off the highway. Inside, the clatter of plates and the hum of conversation filled the air, but the group was crowded into a booth, focused solely on Pope as he scrolled through the digital scans of Anne Bonny's journal on his laptop. The booth was tight, elbows knocking as they leaned in to see the small screen.

Pope, with his face close to the laptop, had his eyes glued to the digital scans. "There's definitely something here," he murmured, more to himself than to the others. "But it's going to take time to cross-reference this with Big John's notes. The clues are scattered."

John B, seated next to him, drummed his fingers on the table. "We'll figure it out. What's the next step?"

Pope sighed, rubbing his temples. "I can't tell yet. We'll need to cross-check the coordinates, but right now, I need more time—and a full battery. This thing's about to die."

Across the table, Sarah, who had been so vocal about her hunger earlier, was now picking at her fries without much enthusiasm. Her face was a little pale, and she seemed distracted. Kiara, next to her, nudged her elbow. "You okay? You were starving like half an hour ago."

Sarah forced a small smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just… tired, I guess." She stabbed a fry and half-heartedly took a bite.

JJ, who was sitting next to Kiara, waved his fork in the air dramatically. "Tired? Come on, Sarah, this is the fun part. We're treasure hunters on the brink of discovery! This is peak Pogue life!" His enthusiasm was infectious, but Sarah's attention was elsewhere.

Pope closed the laptop as the screen flickered, signalling the end of its battery life. "Alright, we've done what we can for now. We'll figure the rest out on the road."

John B glanced at the others. "We should probably hit the road soon. Got a long drive ahead."

Kiara stretched, glancing toward the back of the diner. "I'm gonna pee before we go anywhere."

Sarah nodded, pushing her plate aside. "Good idea."

Sarah followed her, the two of them slipping out of the booth. The bathroom was small and a little rundown, with flickering fluorescent lights and cracked tiles. Kiara washed her hands as Sarah disappeared into the one stall.

"So," Kiara said, leaning against the sink. "What do you think is going on with Pope and Cleo? I mean, did you see how close they were getting back there?

"Sarah gave a soft chuckle. "Yeah, I'm picking up the vibes…" Her voice trailed off, and she suddenly went quiet.

Kiara immediately picked up on the shift, her brow furrowing in concern. "Sarah?"

Sarah took a shaky breath, her eyes wide and starting to well with tears. "Kei, I… I'm bleeding."

Kiara's heart skipped a beat, panic flashing in her eyes. "What? What do you mean, bleeding?" She moved toward the stall door, her voice rising slightly in alarm. "Sarah, unlock the door. Let me see."

Sarah unlocked the stall, stepping out with tears already welling in her eyes. Kiara glanced down, seeing the blood on the tissue in Sarah's hand, her heart dropping.

"Okay, okay," Kiara said, her voice shaky but trying to stay calm. "It could be nothing. We just—we need to get you to a hospital. Right now."

Sarah nodded, but the tears were already streaming down her face. "What if something's wrong?" she whispered, her voice breaking. "What if—"

Kiara grabbed her shoulders, looking her in the eyes. "Hey, hey, we don't know anything yet, okay? Don't jump to the worst conclusion. Let's just get you out of here and to a doctor."

Sarah nodded again, trying to steady her breathing, but the fear was clear in her eyes.

When they reached the table, the guys were already standing, ready to leave, laughing about some joke JJ had made. But when they saw Sarah's face, the laughter died instantly. John B's eyes widened with concern as he took in Sarah's pale complexion and Kiara's tense expression.

"Sarah?" John B rushed over, his hands immediately on her shoulders, his voice full of panic. "What's wrong? What happened?"

Sarah swallowed hard, trying to keep herself together. "John B, I'm… I'm bleeding."

The air around them seemed to freeze. For a second, no one moved, no one spoke.

"We need to get her to a hospital," Kiara said, her voice firm, though she was clearly struggling to keep her own fear at bay. "Now."

John B nodded, his heart racing, but he didn't waste a second. "Let's go. Now."

Without another word, the group sprang into action. JJ rushed ahead to start the Twinkie, while John B gently guided Sarah out of the diner, his arm wrapped protectively around her. Pope and Cleo exchanged worried looks but followed close behind, their lighthearted banter forgotten in an instant.

As they piled into the van, the reality of the situation hit them all at once. They had been on the verge of another treasure-hunting adventure, but now, nothing else mattered. The road trip, the journal, the clues—it all took a backseat to Sarah's safety.

JJ sped out of the lot, the tension thick in the van as they raced toward the nearest hospital. John B held Sarah in the backseat, whispering reassurances, though his mind was racing with fear. He prayed silently, his heart pounding in his chest.

Kiara sat beside Sarah, gripping her hand tightly. "We're gonna get you help. Everything's gonna be fine."

The van sped down the road, the weight of everything they'd been chasing suddenly paling in comparison to the life that now hung in the balance.