Alluring - JJ Maybank Fanfic

Secret of the Gnomon: 3

Willow's POV

We walked all night, my dad leading the way to El Dorado. I can tell he's going in the right direction, I can feel the strong pull in my body, urging me forward. It's fascinating how all of this works, I never would have imagined something like this would even be possible, but it is. I was relieved when the gnomon told me that things will somewhat go back to normal for me when I leave the area, when I leave the gnomon behind, now that it's set in it's rightful spot on the temenacyle. I'll still be able to use my eye trick when I need it, and the gnomon will tell me if I'm in danger, but I won't be pulled to El Dorado anymore. Meaning the nose bleeds should stop and I don't have to be close to the gnomon to live, I'm thankful for that. 

I'm in so much pain, but I've been able to hide my gunshot wound, I don't want to slow us down. I noticed my dad doing the same thing. I spotted the blood on his shirt, and I can see the pain written all over his face, he's been lagging behind us the past few hours.

Emmy has been happy now that we aren't running anymore, I've been nursing her while we walk, it's not ideal but it's better than stopping every few hours and letting Singh catch up to us, we only stop when I have to change her diapers, which is pretty quick process. She seems content with watching the birds and monkeys when we pass them. This is like a free vacation, very dangerous vacation, but still. Who can say they got to walk the jungles in South America for free? I can.

The farther we go up the mountain side, the louder the singing I've been hearing gets, it's celestial and beautiful, I know it's calling to me, guiding me to El Dorado. I feel honored to be chosen for this, even if I don't feel like I deserve the title. I didn't even have a choice on the matter, really, but it's whatever, I'm just ready to get this part of the journey over with. Experience the moment, and then go see my gorgeous man, who's probably hating life without me and Emmy in it. 

I miss him so damn much it hurts, I know Emmy does too. 

Sweet girl looks around a lot, like she's searching for her daddy, obviously not used to being away from him for this long. It's really sad to watch, but I had a shirt of his in my bag that smells like him, so I put it next to her in her carrier so she can cuddle it, so now we both smell like old spice, weed and the ocean. 

Home, that's what it smells like. Anywhere with JJ is home to us. 

John B slows his pace, glancing back at our dad, "Pick it up, old man. Let's go."

Big John grunts, stopping to sit down on a boulder, "I need a minute."

I stop a few feet away, looking up to see Sarah farther up the cliff side, leading the way. Somehow she's got more energy than all of us, though it's not like she's shot, pregnant and holding a heavy four month old baby like I am. Fuck, this scares me, I really hope my baby bean is okay, I have no idea how bad this gunshot really is. I know the gnomon is using his power to try and help me, dulling the pain a bit, probably slowing the bleeding until I can get off the mountain and get patched up. 

"Sarah, one sec. We got a straggler." John B yells, she stops where she is and sits down while he turns back to our dad, "Dude, what's going on, man? We gotta go."

"It's just my legs ain't what they used to be." Big John pants, "I'll be fine in just a second."

"Dad, what the hell was that at Solana?" He quietly asks, "You were really gonna let
them shoot me back there?"

Big John groans, "Come on, give me some credit, kid. Sarah just beat me to the punch."

I scoff, "Great excuse. We all saw what happened back there."

John B shares a pained look with me before staring our dad down, "Always about the treasure, right?" His eyes flicker down to his bloody hands that are clutching his torso, "Jesus, Dad, are you okay?"