Outer Banks (JJ Maybank x Reader) Book 1

The Graveyard

It's night when we're finally on the road again. John B explained to JJ and I what happened at the lighthouse. How the warden had told them about the Royal Merchant, the ship our dad had been chasing after, but when they showed him the compass, he called the cops on them and told them they were crazy. He also told us about everything that happened after, how he got fired from his job for stealing the scuba gear, how the square groupers chased him down and he was electrocuted by the fence, and how Sheriff Peterkin showed up before they could kill him and then made him give her the compass. He even told us about how he had kissed Kiara and pretty much been rejected.

"You mind if I just relax on this one?" JJ mutters laying his head back. "It's been a long day, and a lot of weird stuff's gone down," He says, shooting me a glance. I fight the urge to slap him.

"I'm just gonna lay low," He nods. "Oh, did you wanna hit of this?" He asks Pope with a smirk, holding his cig out to him. "I keep the signal clear," Pope says, rolling his eyes and holding his hand up. "Dude, okay," JJ says. He's high. "Do you understand that your problem is that you don't get creative," He says. "If you got creative, then...," JJ says, trailing off.

"Look, I-I know I was wrong about the lighthouse, and-and pretty much wrong about everything else that was going on, but I- I was right about one thing," John B says. "Okay? Our dad is trying to tell us something," He says, nodding at me.

~~~~~

"Come on, come on," John B hisses as he shines the lantern on our path. "I'm coming. This place is scary," Kiara retorts, stepping over the graves. "John B, what are we doing?" She asks angrily. "Shut up, shut up," He whispers. "Okay, so, you know how you're trying to remember a song and you can't remember who sings it?" John B asks. "Yeah," She says uncertainly. "So, Redfield, this whole time I thought it was a place, right?" He asks. "But it's not a place," He says, stomping through the weeds and towards another grave. "It's a person," He whispers, stopping in front of a grave and shining his lantern at the top to where "Redfield" is written on it. "Voi-effing-là," JJ laughs.

"Our great-great-grandmother, Olivia Redfield," I breathe quietly as I remember. "That was her maiden name," John B nods. The large crypt is covered in vines, but there's a small crack on the side of the outlined door. "Help me with the door, come on," John B says. "Alright," Pope nods, stepping forward. "One... two... three," John B and Pope pant. "Go," Kie says as they push at the heavy stone door. "Are you pushing," Pope grunts. "Yeah, I'm pushing," John B winces through gritted teeth. "Come on," Pope groans as they shove with all of their weight.

"Hold on. I got it," JJ says, handing me his flashlight as he throws himself against the door. "Come on this door is like 700 pounds man, it's not gonna budge," Pope grunts as the three of them push. "We didn't come this far, to get this far, alright, we go this!" JJ shouts as they keep pushing. Suddenly, a hiss echoes from the door and a snake pokes it's head through the cracks on the side of the door. The three of them start screaming. "Woah! Woah! It's a snake!" Pope yelps as they back away from the door. "Woah, woah, woah, woah!" Pope shouts as the snake drops from the cracks and on to the ground, slithering around us.

"That's a moccasin alright!" JJ shouts, backing away and slamming into my chest. "Ye olde Dr. Cottonmouth," He says in a country accent as the snake slithers away. "Death in tall grass," He mocks, shuffling after it and barking. "JJ, shut up! Shut up!" Kiara yells as he continues to bark. "You're gonna wake the frickin' dead man," I say, shoving him back. "Dude, they're afraid of dogs, everyone knows that man," He defends as Kiara rolls her eyes. "Wait, wait, hold on, hold on, hold on," He says as Kie and Pope go back towards the door. "What?" The ask, annoyed.

"If there's one, there's probably dozens," He says, shining his flashlight on the vines. "Can you stop?" Kie asks. "All around," He grins slowly. "Stop. You're scaring me," She whisper shouts at him. He starts barking again. "Stop barking at the snakes!" John B snaps at him. "Look, John-," Pope stops as JJ keeps rambling. "I was just making sure it's clear," JJ argues. "Shut up!" Pope says. "It's a snake!" "Shut up. John, look, we're not gonna get in there, alright? It's not budging," Pope says. "We should probably just go," Pope says.

"I can get through," I whisper. They all stop arguing, turning back to look at me. "What?" John B asks. "No, no, no, no. You think you're gonna fit through the hole?" JJ asks. "That hole?" He asks skeptically, motioning to the wide cracks. "Look, this is for dad," I say, turning to John B. I shake my head. "And honestly, I really don't believe in it, but, we deserve to know the truth," I tell him confidently. He nods. "I'll do it," I shrug, switching my flashlight into the other hand and reaching for the cracks.

"Wait, wait, wait, y/n, you can't go in there," JJ says. I turn to face him as Pope moves the vines out of the way for me. I pause for a second, lifting my chin to hold his gaze. "Since when do you care?" I snarl, my voice dead. His eyes drop, hurt. "Come on," I nod to John B as I turn back to the hole. "Can you help me with that?" I ask them as they struggle to pull the vines apart for me.

"Ready? Come on," John B grunts as he shoves them. "You got it?" Kie asks. "I got it," He says, finally shoving them off. "Yeah, yeah, we got," Pope says. "Give her a boost," Kie nods to John B. "I'm gonna boost you, alright? I've seen it in the movies several times," He nods, pressing his back against the wall and squatting down. "Ready?" He asks, lacing his hands together as a foothold. "Remind me what we're looking for?" I ask.

"You'll know when you see it," John B nods. "Hold my flashlight," I tell Kie, passing it off to her. "Alright, so put your hands right there," He says. "Yep...," I nod, lifting my chin. "Foot...."

"Alright," I nod, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, alright, on three," John B says. I grunt, pushing myself onto the ledge off of his hands. "Okay. Never mind. Just forget about three," He grunts with an eye roll. "I got it," I groan as I pull myself up. "Okay, flashlight?" I call once I'm inside. "Yeah, here," Kie calls, passing it through to me.

I turn it on, shining it around the walls. "You alive?" Pope calls. "You got like, a-a heartbeat and everything?" John B asks. "So far," I call, my voice echoing as I shine the flashlight onto the ceiling. "That's good. That's good," John B calls nervously. "Yup!" I call sarcastically. "Uh... I need some more light," I yell. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Here, I gotcha," John B says, passing me a lantern.

I don't take it though, instead I stare at the thing in front of me. "Did you find something?" JJ calls. "Is there gold?" Pope calls. "Oh, my god," I breathe with a smile.