ISSUES 2 II OUTERBANKS S3/S4

ending

"Look how lovely, aren't you?", Ward interrupts our short moment of happiness, "Big happy family, huh?" "What's the point of this, dad?", Sarah asks sighing. "I'm not strong enough right now, Ward", Big John admits strongly, "If that's not okay for you, you have to shoot me immediately." "You should be more cautious of what you wish. It might happen soon", Ward threatens him. 

"Put the gun down, now." "Shut up, Sarah." I swear to god if after all these hard moments and finally finding another gold we're dead because of Ward Cameron.. I'd rather kill myself before. He drove himself insane. "You've got it all, don't you, John?", Ward speaks as he's coming closer to Big John still holding the gun upright, "Now you get it all, huh?" "Thank you, honey", he says as he takes the gold out of Sarah's hand. 

"You can go home, home to Kildare. Happy ever after, loved by your son and his friends and with my daughter who hates me. "Are you surprised?", I mutter annoyedly. He could have had it all himself. He decided to let down Rafe and then Sarah. He could have just helped us today. "I'm sorry, John, I don't think that I can allow this." 

I think about a plan how to defend Big John when I see JJ's head pop up from behind a tree. For once in a lifetime, I've got this feeling that he's going to do something really great. "You should be dead already", Ward continues not having a clue of what's happening behind his back, "I think this is how I liked you the most." 

"Stop!", Kiara shouts emphasising the vowel. The four of them jump out of their hiding place and run up to Ward with huge knives in their hands. "Put down the gun!" "Now!" "Put down the gun!" Holy shit, Ward's driving himself even more insane wondering who he might shoot. From Big John to John B to me to Sarah who speaks up strongly. 

"Stop it. It's enough." "Don't do this!", Ward shouts at her as if he'd pull the trigger any second. "I know that you won't kill us. I know it. I know you. Don't forget that I know you." Sarah lays a hand on Ward's to make him put down the gun. He looks relieved as hell. "You can't." He wouldn't have shot anyone of us. Not today. He was trying to make the best out of his situation for himself now finally clearing his senses. 

"I couldn't do it", Ward whispers shocked. "You can't but I do", a voice appears behind us. Great, one of Singh's men. Shouldn't he enjoy his life now that Singh is dead? John B raises Ward's gun but the man points his gun to Big John. "Put down the gun." "Oh, come on, man. Your boss is dead. There's no reason for you to do this anymore", Big John groans out of pain. 

"Oh, I've got a few reasons. Gun down." As soon as John B put down the gun, the man approaches us still holding his gun tightly. "You thought you could just take the gold away with you. So no don't make a move. Singh is dead because of you. Your first", he threatens Sarah by holding the gun to her. The next seconds elapse more quickly than anyone of us could realize.

18 months later

"The expedition of a man, John Routledge, and a group of teenagers who are here with us today, local residents who grew up here and who were successful where conquerors, admirals and hundred other people failed. Today, we're find ourselves gathered here to celebrate these young people. Teenager from both sides of the island who solved a five hundred years old mystery. Thunderous applause to them", the mayor congrulates us and everyone claps for us. 

I take a look at my friends. Sarah and John B, Kie and JJ, Pope and Cleo. I'm proud of what we did together. Yet, I can't clap myself. We've faced too many losses on our way and eventually, I've lost myself. I'm still trying to figure out what it is that keeps me from smiling proudly like our parents do. No one else knows what we went through. 

"Iz", John B nudges me on our way down from the podium when the others are planning how to celebrate this moment. I only hear their voices in the back of my head. My mind is full of memories from what's happened during the past years. "Let's celebrate what we've accomplished." I nod and give him a weak smile before a man comes up to us. 

"I would like to congratulate all of your for what you've accomplished. Royal Merchant, El Dorado, Denmark Tanney, an impressive vita. I hoped that you would be interested in taking a look at one of my pieces", he tells us presenting his briefcase, "It's a manuscript. I would like to solve this myself but.. I'm quite advanced in age. I need partners and all of you were on top of my list." Pope reaches out to take the journal that the man holds in his hands. We take a look at each other and know what we've got to do. We're back in the game.