𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 [𝐣𝐣 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤]

𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐨?

I slept in a little later than everyone. Their conversation had woken me up and after using the bathroom, I went straight to the kitchen to find some kind of breakfast for everyone. With no luck on actual food, I settled for the Poptarts I had managed to snag from my house a few days ago. I grabbed enough for everybody and walked out onto the porch.

John B held a smile on his face as I handed him his Poptart, "Good morning sunshine." I smiled back and walked over to sit on the empty part of the couch, lifting Kie's legs and putting them back on my lap once I was comfortable. Her eyes were closed making me assume she didn't sleep well last night either.

As the Poptarts were devoured, Sarah came walking through the porch.

"Well hello, princess." JJ said sarcastically making Kie open her eyes and sit up to make room for Sarah to sit.

"Shouldn't you be on Figure 8 with your little group of Polo players? Or did you break up with Topper?" John B asked, being a dick. His previous good mood going out the window at the first sign of her. I rolled my eyes at him. He was hurt and that was fine, but he didn't need to be rude to her.

"We're just friends." She replied back with just as much sarcasm.

"Oh, he's just a friend." John B repeated slyly. "You have a lot of friends, Sarah Cameron."

"You know, I could say the same about you." I was trying my hardest to not let my facial expressions show I was totally team Sarah right now. She was giving it right back to John B and I was loving it.

Before John B could inflict any more rudeness, I shot her a smile and asked what she was doing. She smiled back, looked at everyone and said, "I'm here for Pope." Pope's face was just as confused as everyone else. "I think I found the Island Room." With no further questions, we were all up and grabbing shoes before taking off for the twinkie.

On the way, Pope read us the journal. It went over the cross and what was inside of it. Everything made sense when he said the shroud was an object that could heal whoever held it in their hands. Limbrey was sick. She believed that if she found the cross, she would be healed. I couldn't be mad at the lady. If I believed the shroud actually worked, I would use it for my dad.

When we got there, Sarah made sure no one was home before we walked in. We followed her down to what used to be an extravagant dining room. Only now it looked like a tornado had flown through and ripped all the wallpaper off.

My phone rang and made me walk out in the hallway. It wasn't a number I recognized, but I answered it anyway.

"Hello?" I answered apprehensively.
There was a shaky breath before the person answered, "Laney..." it was Liam. I looked back into the room making sure no one heard and walked down the hallway a little.
"Liam?" I spoke quietly, trying to keep my voice quiet.
"Laney, I really need to see you. I need someone to talk to."
I started walking back to the dining room, "It can't be me." I hung up the phone and rejoined them.

"Okay, throw it at me."

Pope looked at me then back to the walls. "Denmark painted this entire room."

"Question is why? Like what's he trying to tell us?" Kiara asked as she looked closely at some of the paintings. I looked at the ones by the door. They were detailed, but also just kind of random.

"How'd you know these were here?" I asked Sarah after wondering the whole ride over here.

"I didn't. It looked like this when I came back for some clothes."

"Well then who found it?" John B followed up.

"The freaks." Wheezie said from behind me as she entered the room.

"Wait, what freaks are we talking about?" JJ asked.

"That sick lady and her attack dog. They showed up last night wanting to talk to Rafe."

"Pale blonde lady?" Wheezie nodded, "Did she have crutches?" She nodded again with an 'uh huh'.

John B pressed on for more information and Wheezie did not disappoint, "First they searched the whole house looking for something, then Rafe told me to go upstairs but I didn't want to miss out. So, I listened through the vents. They talked about how they found it and how they were gonna get a cross the San flamingo? I'm not sure. I couldn't really hear."

"That's code. It's gotta be." JJ said with so much confidence as I raised a brow at him. She was obviously talking about the cross of Santo Domingo.

"The cross? The cross of Santo Domingo?" Pope clarified, earning a yes.

"And they were talking about angels. A lot of angel talk. I don't know." Everyone started talking over Wheezie but I had nothing to say. "Liam was here too, he said something about you to Rafe." She said directly to me.

"About me?" We were trying to keep as quiet as possible, even Wheezie knew the topic of Liam and I was something that wasn't supposed to be heard by the others.

"Guys, Denmark said he buried the treasure at the foot of the angel." Pope said turning to the paintings, "We're looking for an angel. We have to find an angel in the painting."

I walked away, trying to look for what everyone else was but also so I could be alone with my thoughts about Liam. Why did he say something to Rafe about me? And why did he call me earlier?

I found myself staring at a tree for longer than I wanted to, trying to rack my brain for the name. But with everything else floating around there, I couldn't figure it out. JJ stepped up next to me and looked at it as well.

"I can't remember the name." I whispered to him, frustrated. I went to say something about our conversation and boat ride that never happened, but he had turned to call everyone else over.

"This tree is still on Goat Island, and you know what it's called?" He looked back at me, and it finally clicked.

"Angel Oak." Pope and I said simultaneously.

I looked back at the painting, "And look. The key holes right there." I pointed to it in the heart of the tree.

"That means the cross is buried at the foot of the angel." Pope said slowly, "That must be where he put it. That's gotta be where they are right now. We have to go!"

Everyone rushed out of the room, but I fell back with JJ. "I feel like Sherlock Holmes." He said to me, "You're welcome by the way!" He yelled down the hall as everyone ran out of the house.

Before we reached the front door, I grabbed his wrist to stop him. "We really need to talk-"

"We can when we get back Lou. I promise." He gave me a smile before hurrying into the van and looking back at me. I kept a good pace, but I didn't run to the van, I only ran in extenuating circumstances. This was not one.