𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 - JJ Maybank

Chapter 61: You And Me

The sun was setting as the Pogues made their way down a beach.

"Cleo, do you actually know where you're going?" JJ asked, getting impatient.

She stopped making the rest of the group do the same. "We can hole up here," she pointed to a run down building up on a hill, "It ain't the Taj Mahal, but..."

"It'll do," John B finished.

"I get the biggest room." Cleo skipped up the beach.

They made it up a flight of rickety steps and onto the concrete structure (calling it a building would be generous; it looked like it was on the verge of collapse).

Cleo led the way, shuffling along a narrow concrete beam. Pope followed behind.

JJ made his way to the ledge to peer out onto the street below while Sarah took her turn on the beam.

Two ATV's buzzed as they drove by, making JJ duck behind the stone wall quickly before rushing his friends along.

"Come! Quick!" Cleo whisper-shouted over her shoulder. The others followed behind as lights shone into the building. They ducked behind walls to avoid being visible to the rays.

Cleo held up a thumbs up when a guard yelled, "All clear!" She continued guiding them through the concrete maze, up a flight of stairs which had far too many cracks.

"You sure this is safe?" John B asked without slowing down.

"You got a better idea?" Cleo replied.

Cleo hurried through a hallway and into an open room, the Pogues on her tail. "We can stay here. It's an old hotel. Terrance and I squatted here before."

"Five stars," JJ joked while making his way into the room.

The group was quick to spread out, surveying the room and street below for any guards.

"Watch your step!" Cleo called just before Sarah fell through a hole in the wooden floors. "Massive sinkhole."

"Home sweet home," Sarah said sarcastically while backing away from the pit.

"We gotta get them out, guys. Does anyone have anything?" JJ spoke, drawing their attention back to their nagging issue. He hadn't stopped thinking about it. His brain ran a mile a minute trying to find any possible way to get her out.

"Well, we can't storm the fort. We can't call the cops," Pope listed.

"It's not helping, Pope," JJ tugged on the roots of his hair.

"We can't negotiate," Pope continued nonetheless. "We don't know what they want. It's got to be about the cross or the gold."

"Mm-mm," Cleo shook her head. "Guys like Singh, it's always about money."

John B had been staring out at the quiet street below him while his friends rambled. "What are you thinking?" Sarah made her way to his side.

"I don't know. We all just gotta get off this damn island."

JJ bit his lip, hands still tangled in his hair as he watched Sarah rest her head on John B's shoulder. He'd give anything to have Grace doing that to him right now.

"Hey, we're gonna get her out," Pope rested a hand on his shoulder, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Yeah," JJ sighed.

"We have to," Pope gave his shoulder a squeeze. 

___________

Grace and Kie had shared the bed, forcing Rafe to sleep on the floor. They'd changed into silk pyjamas that were left for them but the luxury of it all provided little comfort.