Kind Of Infinite (Outer Banks)

Chapter 9

"Of course, I didn't give her the key. She was creepy as hell.", Pope said and threw his hands in the air. Pope had gone to a weird meeting with a weird, strange woman. JJ hadn't really listened to whatever Pope and Kiara had said, but he did understand, that this strange woman wanted the key. And after what Ava had told him earlier, maybe this woman wasn't the only one. Sighing, JJ decided to tell his friends about what Ava had seen.

"She knows about the key?!", Kiara asked and JJ rolled his eyes at her offended tone and facial expression.

"Don't come at me for that. I didn't want her to know anything. But Pope didn't give a shit about what I wanted."

"Look, I'm sorry, alright? She could read the engraving, so yes, I asked her about it. It's not like I wanted her to be part of it.", Pope apologized and felt visibly bad for not respecting his friends wish. JJ shook his head and slumped back in his seat. He didn't really know if he was angry, disappointed or sad. Maybe all at once and above all, he felt bad for leaving Ava at the restaurant.

"Well, I mean, she knows something is up now. So, what do you want to do?", John B asked and knew, that something was bothering his best friend.

"Shit, man, what I want to do? Is this a fucking therapy session or are we trying to find a treasure?", JJ responded and stood up from the old, grey couch.

"He's right. Ava isn't our priority right now. What did she say does the engraving mean?", Kiara said and folded her hands, as she leant forward. JJ knew, that she didn't mean to hurt him, but his chest tightened anyway as Ava's name fell from her lips. Of course, the pogues didn't know Ava. She was just a girl they had met on a party the night before. They didn't know her, they didn't care for her, they didn't want her, they didn't need her. Of course, Ava wasn't their priority. But JJ felt, that maybe, she was his priority. He knew Ava. He cared for her, her wanted to be with her, he needed her.

"Sure, the queen has spoken.", JJ mumbled and walked off the porch. Kiara and Pope were too busy to talk about the key and the engraving, but John B and Sarah shared a knowing look. Sarah gave her boyfriend an encouraging nod, before she tried to get back into the conversation between Pope and Kiara. John B left his spot and walked over to JJ, who had lit a cigarette while leaning against the big tree.

"Do you want to tell her everything? I mean, I'm cool with it, if you want her to be part of it. We wouldn't mind having her around.", John B started and put his hands in his pockets, as he watched JJ blowing out some smoke. JJ looked at him for a short moment, before he turned his head again to rest it against the tree.

"We? We both know, that Kie would totally flip. She didn't even trust Sarah, someone she's been knowing her whole life."

"You're worried because of Kie? Bro, that girl broke Tyler's nose without hesitating, I don't think you need to protect her from a little argument with Kie." JJ smirked a little and let the cigarette fall down to the ground before he stepped on it.

"Maybe I don't need to protect her from Kie, but I feel like I should protect her from everything else.", JJ admitted quietly and John B nodded in understanding. He had been in the same place with Sarah, just a few months ago. Sure, in the end, it had worked out for them and he wouldn't want to miss her, but John B couldn't deny, that Sarah nearly died because of something he had started. John B wasn't sure, if he would have let her part of all this, if we would have known what would happen.

"What if she doesn't want you to protect her?", another voice joined the conversation and JJ lifted his head to see Sarah walking up to them. She wrapped her arms around the left arm of John B and leant her head against his shoulder. JJs mind drifted off immediately, thinking back to the night before, where Ava had done the same thing.

"I just mean... maybe let her decide? Tell her everything, be honest with her and let her decide if she wants to join us or not.", Sarah explained and reminded the boys, that she had made the decision once, too.

"Look, I'm just a boy she met while she was lost. I don't think it's worth it. She's better off without me and the miserable life I drag along."

"I've been in her place and I chose that miserable life you guys drag along. You know, sometimes... someone maybe makes your life a little less miserable. You're not just some boy to her, JJ. I mean come one, she broke someone's nose for you."

"What do you mean for me?", JJ asked and quickly lifted his head to stare at Sarah. Sarah looked at John B for help, who just shrugged his shoulders.

"She didn't really mind his behaviour, until he talked shit about you. And before I could do something, she had punched him right in the face. Pretty much badass, she really doesn't need you to protect her.", John B explained and shared a smile with Sarah. JJ slowly shook his head, like he was thinking about something, when they suddenly heard a car coming closer. The three friends looked up, even Kiara and Pope stopped talking and stood up from their seats. The car came closer and the headlights lit up the small property of the Château. The lights blinded JJ and he lifted his hand to cover his eyes, when he walked a little closer to the car, once it had parked. John B and Sarah followed him and he heard how Kiara and Pope walked down the porch to join them.

"What do you want here?", Pope asked angrily, when he saw how the blonde woman got out of the car. She closed the door and slowly walked around the car, so she could face the pogues.

"I'm sorry, that it had to come his far, but I really need that key, Pope.", the woman explained and JJ felt a shiver run down his spine at how her calm and cold her voice sounded.

"She sounds like every psychopath I've seen in horror movies.", JJ whispered to John B, who stood next to him. John B cracked a smile and Sarah smacked the boy's arms, thinking that this was not the right time for jokes.

"I'm not giving you the key. You can leave.", Pope repeated his words from the meeting with her earlier. The woman sighed and turned back to the car, before she slowly nodded her head.

"I want something you have. And I have something, that you might want back.", she said and looked back at Pope. Pope knotted his eyes in confusion and stayed quiet. Suddenly, a dark-haired man with a beard got out of the car and walked around it to open the back door. With a gun in his right hand, he grabbed for something inside the car. The pogues could hear him talking to someone, before he pulled out a person by their arm. The man pulled their arms behind their back and kept them in place, before he pushed them forward while holding the gun to their head. Just when the man stepped next to Limbrey, the headlights revealed the blonde, wavy curls and the blue jeans and black top Ava had worn earlier that day. JJ felt sick to his stomach and in just one second, his mind went through a thousand different thoughts. JJ started to run towards them, when the man suddenly pointed his gun at him and John B quickly went to hold JJ back.

"Kid, don't even try it. If it was for me, I already would have shot your friend with the key. I won't hesitate, so just give us the key and you can have back the little girl.", the man said and watched how the teenagers exchanged looks. Pope looked at JJ, then at Ava who looked anywhere but at the pogues. He stepped forward and took off his necklace.

"Let her go.", Pope said, as he held out the key. He saw how the man exchanged a look with Limbrey, before she nodded. The man let go off Ava's arms and pushed her forward, making her stumble into Pope. Pope caught her and held her back a little with his left arm, while he still reached out the key. Limbrey took it from him and nodded at him thankfully. The man finally let the gun drop to his side and Pope breathed out. Still holding his arm in front of Ava like a shield, he stepped backwards, as Limbrey and the man got back in the car and drove off.