you're on your own, kid... obx

063. p4l

"You're bleeding." Brooklyn notes after her flashlight shines on Big John's abdomen.

"Nah, I'm all right." He argues.

"You got shot. That's not very all right." Brooklyn remarks.

"I'm fine, Brooklyn." Big John says.

"I can try to patch it up, help slow the bleeding down somehow."

"I'm fine!" He snaps.

"Fine. Bleed out. See if I give a shit." She mutters.

"I know you're bleeding, Mr. Routledge!" Brooklyn tenses up at Singh's voice. "I know I hit you, and I'm gonna find you, you know. Cause you couldn't have gotten far, John."

Brooklyn quickly limps to the best hiding spot she can find, pressing her body against the rock as much as she can. She tries to keep her breathing slow despite her heart beating a million miles a minute and the fear overwhelming over.

"Mr. Routledge! John!" She hears Singh chuckle. "Where are you, John? I know you're here somewhere."

"There's only one way out of here, John. You can't hide from me for much longer, you know." Brooklyn hears water splash after a few moments. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" She hears a gun cock. "Easy now, young Routledge, easy!" Brooklyn's eyes widen, knowing now Sarah and John B are in danger. "Go for a little swim now, did you? Step out of the water and put your hands up, both of you. Now!"

"Put your hands up. Put your... put your hands up! Easy now. Very good. Drop the flare. Drop it!"

"I'm gonna put it down." John B says.

"Very good. Looks like you're carrying a load there, young Routledge. You want to tell me about it? What is in the bag? Show me what's in the bag." The gun cocks and he aims it at Sarah.

"Okay, okay, okay." John B says. "Okay. Right here. Look. Hey. You want it? There you go."

Singh laughs.

"So, you found El Dorado at last. I know I was right to keep you alive, you know." Singh calls out. "But, unfortunately for you son, the celebration will be short lived. You have three seconds to come out before I start firing. One. Two!"

"I'm here, Singh. Over here." Big John comes out of hiding with a firework. "You kill us, I'll make sure this thing blows." Brooklyn gets out of her hiding spot, still staying back, but she manages to give Sarah a reassuring look.

"That roof won't hold, and you'll never see El Dorado." Big John says. "Drop your gun. Drop the gun!" Singh aims the gun at John B's chest. "No. If my son dies, we all die."

"You see, the problem is, I don't believe you, John. I don't believe that you would blow up your opportunity to see El Dorado, even to save your own son, and even your own son knows that, you know. You've proven it time and time again, John, you know that. This, John, is the great quest. This is what I've been looking for our whole lives. So put that thing out and join me."

Big John looks down, appearing to start to put the firework out.

"No, I can't." He says. "This is for you, kid." Big John throws the firework and it lands on part of the rock that's above the opening. "Run!"

"No!" Singh shouts, rushing into the water.

The four start to run away.

"Dad, let's go!" John B says.

"Keep going!" Big John yells.

"Take the gold. Get out of here. Go." John B orders, giving Sarah the bag.