Storm Chaser // JJ Maybank

46

Rafe and I hide in the back of the truck as it slows down. They get the all clear and we start moving again. Rafe and I sit up. I try to keep my distance but it's hard in such a small space.

"I told you we just had to work together," Rafe tells me. "All right. Listen, I'm headed out to my boat, okay? I can give you a ride out, drop you wherever, somewhere safe. One thing though." I don't say anything. "Look at me. I know your friends are on the island and my sister. I'm not helping them. All right? I can't trust them, okay? I'll give you a ride out, not them. Okay?"

I nod my head. "I just want to get off the island."

Rafe and I make it to the harbor. I look around making sure no one notices us.

"Come on. My boat's down here," Rafe tells me.

I follow Rafe trying to look as normal as I can in a pair of pajamas.

"Make sure your shoes are off," Rafe tells me.

He gets onto the nicest catamarans I've ever seen. It's a Lagoon 620. JJ would be buggin' if he could see this boat.

"Okay, we should have enough juice to get us to Saint Lucia, no problem," Rafe tells me. He realizes I'm still standing on the dock. "Hey, get in the boat." I still don't move. "Storm!"

"You're not gonna pull anything if I get in?" I ask.

"No, I'm not gonna pull anything, okay?" Rafe tells me. "I'm trying to do you a solid here. You really wanna be back there with Singh, or do you wanna be somewhere safe? Can you help me with the bowline?" I finally get on the boat. "Thank you."

I walk down towards the bow. "Hey, uh, I... I can't get it."

"What?" Rafe asks."

"I need some help!" I shout.

Rafe comes down to help me. "Move."

As Rafe leans over the railing, I take the opportunity to push him off the boat. I run up to the flybridge.

"Storm!" Rafe shouts.

I ignore him as I get the boat started.

"Storm! Where are you going?" Rafe yells.

"I've gotta help my friends!" I shout.

"You don't know what you're doing!" Rafe warns. "I'll find you, Storm! I'll find you! Storm, you're gonna regret this shit. Storm! You're done!"

No that I'm done with Rafe I can get to the crew. I send a text to the phone I know they have. "Meet me at the pin at 6:15. P4L."

I dock the boat and wait anxiously for 6:15. I smile when I see a tall guy in boots and shorts walks down the dock.

"JJ?"

He turns and see me. I run towards him. JJ wraps his arms tightly around me.

"JJ."

"I'm so glad you're safe," JJ tells me.

I feel tears slipping down my cheeks. I pull away from JJ and put my hands on his cheeks. "I didn't think I'd see you ever again."

"Yeah, but I'm here now. Okay?" JJ tells me. He pulls me into him. "It's all right. It's all right."

I hear laughing. I pull away and see the crew running towards me. Pope and Cleo hug me first. Followed by Sarah and John B.

"We thought you were dead," John B tells me.

"Are you kidding me? Storm..." JJ starts.

"Is this you?" Pope asks.

"What... what is..." Sarah starts.

"You wouldn't believe it if I told you," I tell them. "Come on."

"Where'd you get this?" Cleo asks.

"Holy shit," John B remarks.

We all start to get the boat ready to leave Barbados. I don't want to stay here any longer. Not with Singh looking for us. And not with Rafe having it out for me.

"Yeah, so I have just a couple of questions," JJ tells me.

"Go ahead," I tell him.

"A Lagoon 620 with twin 150 Volvos. You understand we can go anywhere with this thing, right?" JJ tells me.

I smile. "I know, kind of a piece of shit."

"Way to be discreet, by the way," JJ remarks. "What did they want anyway?" He steps closer to me. "They didn't hurt you, did they?"

I shake my head. "No. No, I'm good. It just... I mean, you're not gonna guess what Singh wanted from me. Denmark's Diary."

"Why?" JJ asks.

"I don't know. Said it leads to a treasure that's a lot bigger than the Merchant," I explain.

"You're saying there's a bigger treasure?" JJ asks. "Then, sign me up."

I laugh. "Sign us both up."

We get the boat ocean ready. As we're ready to leave I see John B hopping off the boat.

"Hey! John B!" Pope shouts.

"What are you doing?" I yell.

"I'll be right back!" John B insists.

"What are... What?" Pope asks.

"Be right back!" John B shouts as he runs down the dock. "I love you, Sarah!"

"What the hell?" JJ asks.

Now we're stuck waiting for John B. We're losing daylight. Every passing minute makes me more anxious.

"I can't believe he just took off," Pope says.

"Guys, incoming!" Kie warns.

I see trucks and motorcycles heading our way.

"No, no, no. That's Singh's men!" Cleo shouts.

"Where's John B?" Pope asks Sarah.

"He said he'd be back by now," Sarah tells him.

"Well, he's not! JJ, what are we gonna do?" Pope asks.

"We gotta make a stand," JJ insists. "That's what we gotta do. That's the only option."

"What?" I ask.

"Storm, we're not splitting up again!" JJ tells me.

"Guys, y'all didn't see what I saw," I argue. "He killed Portis! We can't stay here!"

"We're not leaving John B!" JJ insists.

Pope agrees, "No Pogue left behind!"

"What are you gonna do?" Sarah asks.

"They're here!" I shout. "They're getting closer!"

"Damn it!" Sarah says.

"We're not splitting up again!" JJ tells me.

"JJ, we don't have a choice anymore!" I argue.

"Go," Pope tells Sarah. "Shut up! Shut up!"

"John B! We need to get John B!" JJ shouts.

"We'll find John B later!" Kie tells him.

Singh's men make it to the dock.

"We can't just leave him like that!" JJ insists.

"JJ, get down!" I tell him.

I hear gunshots. I grab JJ by the arm and pull him down. Singh's men keep shooting at the boat.

"Hold your fire!"

I let out a breath as we clear the harbor.