BRIZO | 𝐉𝐉 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤

THIRTY-SEVEN (II)

CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE - YOU DID IT, POPE

We find a ladder that goes to the lower deck. We climb down fast, with JJ leading the way and Kie and I behind him. The red light is not flicking anymore, and instead there's a gloomy ambience. The place is lit up by orange dim lights, there's not a single glimpse of natural light here.

It's hot, not as much as it was inside the container, but still hot. Sweat is dripping down my forehead again, and it doesn't matter how many times I wipe it off with the back of my hand.

"Time to jack this loot." JJ says, jumping off the ladder and walking straight to a wooden big box in the center of the deck, covered with a tarp.

He smiles, looking down at it, and grabs the hem of the fabric, "There she is."

Kiara and I share a smile, and we help JJ pull the tarp to the side, uncovering the gold cross that has caused us so much trouble.

JJ looks down at it fondly, and then turns his head to look at me in the eyes, glancing briefly at my lips and then back up. "Surf trip." He whispers softly and chuckles under his breath, leaning in to peck my lips quickly.

Kiara smiles, standing on the other side, and I reach out my hand for us to do a handshake, not wanting to leave her out.

Locks click, and we throw our heads up, searching for the origin of the noise. I feel my heart race, thinking that we're about to get caught, but instead, the ceiling parts in two, and pulls to the sides, opening a wide gap that allows us to be bathed in sunlight and also revealing Pope standing on the top floor and looking down at us.

He looks proud and undefeated, as if he was a superhero. I honestly get goosebumps and a huge grin plasters on my face, looking up at him. JJ laughs, and Kie has a smile from ear to ear on her face, using her left hand to block the sun from her eyes.

"You did it, Pope!" I yell, and throw my hands up in the air, jumping and clapping. JJ and Kiara join me, cheering up and screaming, celebrating our not-yet victory.

"That's what I'm talking about! Let's go!" JJ yells, throwing his fist in the air, cheering for Pope, while Kiara and I burst out laughing and we hug each other.

"The time where people do shit to us and we just sit back and take it is over!" Pope yells, with his right fist in the air, looking powerful as ever.

"Whoo! That's my boy!" JJ yells again at the top of his lungs, making his happiness contagious. "Let's get this done, baby!"

Pope disappears, and it's time for us to prepare the cross for the extraction. I find a rope, and I ask for Kie's help to carry it. She gives me a hand, and throws one of the ends to JJ, "Here, just tie it up."

While I help tying the cross, I get an uneasy feeling. It feels like a shiver going down my spine, making all my senses alert, and I look around, not sure if it's a bad feeling about being discovered or something else.

There's something in the pit of my stomach telling me something's not right, something's happening.

My head starts to hurt, hammering like if someone was hitting me. Realization hits me, I recognize this throbbing pain. I've felt it before.

John B is in danger.

"You all right, Bee?" JJ asks, finishing tying up the cross, and grabbing my arm softly with a frown.

"My brother needs me." I almost choke on my own words.

But there's no time for me to go find John B, Pope's already lowering the crain's hook, and he's waiting for us to tie it together.

JJ purses his lips, looking between me and the cross, and wipes the sweat of his forehead. Then he nods, and says, "All right, we get this done and we find him."

I nod, and I help him and Kiara wrap the rope around the hook as fast as we can.

"Take her up, Pope!" JJ yells.

The hook pulls up, and the cross moves with it, raising it from the box and swinging to the sides. We try to keep it still, at the same time we dodge it trying not to get hit.

"Slow. Slowly!" Kie yells.

The cross keeps going up, until it's almost out of our reach. JJ and I jump on the box to keep it still, and I yell at the top of my lungs to Pope, while holding the rope, "Bring her in to the middle!"

"Okay. That's good!"

The cross keeps going up, and the only thing left we have to secure is the ends of the long rope. JJ and I hold onto it, both of us using our strength to keep her still on her way up.

Suddenly, the cross swings with force to the side, taking JJ and I with her. We land on the floor and we roll, letting go of the rope, causing the cross to swing freely around and throw blows to everything in her way.

"No! Too far! It's too far! Pope!" Kiara screams.

"Sorry! My bad!" We hear Pope's muffled screams.

"Fucking hell." I grunt, standing up while dodging the swings from the cross. "Your other middle, Pope!" I scream, looking up at Pope's silhouette in the crane.

This time, the three of us grab the rope, and pull it together, helping Pope and making sure the cross didn't get stuck or hit by the walls or the closed sides of the roof. It keeps going up and up, and Kiara and I let go of the rope, knowing it is now Pope's job.

JJ keeps holding onto it, and his feet leave the ground for a second, before he lets go of it. I get scared for a second, but my heart beats again when he is back on the floor.

"There it is. Yeah."

"We need to find John B." I say with a serious tone, looking between Kie and JJ.

"We have to help him load it up on the lifeboat." JJ nods, and starts running with Kiara behind him.

I stay behind for just one second, looking up and seeing the golden shine of the cross lit up by the sunlight. I see Cleo is up on one side, guiding Pope and I know they don't need me anymore.

We got the cross. Now I need to find my brother. 

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just one chapter left... and the epilogue :( 

thank you for everything guys, i'll see you on the next chapter <3

-circe