Part 17

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Once they finally leave pop jumps up and runs towards the casket "Pope

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Once they finally leave pop jumps up and runs towards the casket
"Pope. Pope wait. Wait! Shit." JJ says as we jump up and follow him
"Wait wait" I tell them watching as pope kneels down at casket.
"Cecilia Tanny Denmark's wife. He wasn't talking about the cross." He says
"He buried her at the foot of the angel." He tells us
"The true treasure" Kie tells us
"His wife" John B says as we glance at each other
We all kneel down like pope did
"Denmark was hung for burying his wife and now they defiled her grave." Pope says
I pick up Cecelia's wedding ring.
"This must have been from Denmark. Her wedding ring." I smile glancing at John b who was already looking at me
"We can't leave her like this" Pope says
"We won't" John B tells him

John B and JJ put the lid back on the casket and we all hammer it back in place. Pope gets flowers and them lays on top.
We put the casket back in its place putting dirt on top of it.
"I... I just don't get it. I mean you guys saw the map. He hides his gold so no one finds it for 170 years. And then he sends a message to his son Robert to come here to his mother's grave but the message never gets to him. Denmark wanted him to find the cross. I know we're in the right spot. It just feels like-" pope starts to tell us
"Like we missed something?" JJ says
"Guys. Come here." JJ says climbing on top of the van as I follow him
"There he goes" John B mumbles

JJ points to a hole in the tree
"That looks like-" he starts to say
"The painting in the island room" I finish
"It's worth a shot right?" JJ asks
"Yeah" I nod
"Let's do it" John B tells us
"Go for it" JJ says looking at me.
"Excuse me? No way" I tell him
"You do it!" Kie tells JJ.
"Why won't you do it?" JJ asks me
"I went into that crypt remember and I almost died while scuba diving. So sorry but no" I tell him
"She did do that" Kie nods
"Yeah. No I'm gonna do it. It's just-" JJ says trailing off
"He's scared" I say
"I'm not scared Ella" JJ tells me
"You seem a little scared" I say
"There's something in here." JJ says as he sticks his hand into it
"Wait." JJ says then starts to yell
I grab him and try ti pull him back
"Come here!" I yell but JJ stops yelling and instead he's laughing
"Oh you asshole" Pope says
"Bitch" I say hitting his arm
"Oh man! I got all of you on that one" JJ laughs
"Oh yeah real original" Pope tells him
"Wait but seriously there's something in here" JJ says pulling something out in the shape of a cylinder
"Let me see it. HMS Royal Merchant." Pope says after JJ gave it to him
JJ and I both jump down from the tree
"Give it to the captain. Here we go. It's a spyglass." JJ says taking it back from pope
"There's something on the ends" I say
"An inscription right there. Look at that shit." John b says
"Oh what does it say?" JJ asks him
"You've come this far. Do not falter. The cross is on the Freedman's altar. Freedman's altar. The cross is at the church!" Pope yells
"What are we doing here guys?" JJ asks
"Come on! We got it!" Pope yells
Pope and JJ do the handshake.
"Woogity-woogity." JJ says
"Let's go." I say as we start to drive back. Only to be stopped a few seconds later because the tide has the road completely washed up
"Ah crap! The tide!" John B groans
"Oh this doesn't look good" Pope says
"How deep is that?" Kie asks
"I dunno. The road's gone" John B says
"Tide rose faster than I thought it would" JJ tells us
"Just a little bit" John B mumbles
"Uh John B how high are the spark plugs?" JJ asks him
"They're good. We're fine" John B says
"How high are they?" Pope asks him
"Oh, um... Uh just above the tail light." He tells them
"Okay so that's what three feet?" Pope asks us
"That's three feet. Yeah" JJ tells him
"That water can't be three feet deep" Kie says
"Then what's the problem?" John B asks
"Not a problem. No, we're good. We're good.
She'll make it" JJ tells him
"Yeah. Ladies and Gentlemen fasten your seat belts. Hold on to something. We're going into hyperdrive" John B says
"I'm gonna say a quick prayer" JJ tells us
"Three... two... one." John B says then hits the gas
"You got this! You got this!" JJ yells
"Faster! Faster!" He yells as we start to go through the water
"Whoa! Whoa!" John B yells
"Speed is your friend. Speed is your friend John
B. You got it! You got it!" JJ yells but just then
the van swerves to the right
"Oh my God! Oh my God!" Sarah yells
"No no no no no no no" John B mumbles
"I think we miscalculated" Pope says
"I knew I should have driven" JJ says

We get out of the van and start to push. But it didn't even budge
"Maybe we can walk from here" I suggest
"What? And leave the Twinkie?" John B asks me
"The... the tide's coming in." He says
"So then what are we supposed to do?" Sarah asks them
"Not stay here" JJ says
"I can take my dad's truck" Kie suggests
"Kie are you sure?" John B asks her
"How much worse can it get you know?" Kie shrugs
"We're gonna need something to pull her out with. There's the winch at the Chateau. That's like two miles" JJ tells us
"Yeah that's a good idea" I say
"If you're gonna do it let's go okay?" John B tells them
"All right" Kie says
"Three stay three go?" I ask
"Yeah sounds good I'll go with them" Sarah says
"Tide's coming in. Twinkie's going underwater"
John B tells them trying to get them to hurry up
"Come on. Double time Kie. We gotta move Sarah let's go" JJ says

I sit on top of the Twinkie as John B and Pope try to find a way to free the van.
"How long does it take to go two miles and back in a car?" Pope asks
John B just throws his hands up.
"I feel like they're taking a minute. Should I go look for them? Should I go find them and bring them back?" Pope asks
"I don't... I don't... I don't know. Just give me a sec." John b tells him
"Damn it! Every time! Why do we got to send JJ Sarah and Kiara the slowest people on earth? Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! This is always happening to us. Like we're always right there and then it's bullshit. Okay. So here's something I think we can do. We can find something to leverage the Twinkie and you can drive it out." Pope says ranting
"Let's do driftwood" John B suggests
"Driftwood will work" Pope says as they do the handshake.
"All right all right. Be safe all right?" John B tells him
"Let me know if you find anything" Pope says
"I will. Hey Pope!" John b says
"Yeah?" Pope asks him
"Hey nothing smaller than three feet all right?
Big pieces" John B tells him
"Got you. Yeah" Pope nods

I just sit there waiting as both boys look around
"Hey Pope come help me out!" John B yells
"Give me a second. I'll be over there" Pope answers him.

I hear a water splash and when I turn John B is gone.
"John B?" I asks
"Help!" John b yells coming out of the water for a second
"Pope!" I yell jumping off the van
"John B! Pope! I need help!" I yell grabbing a knife
"John B! Hold on!" I yell
"El?" Pope asks
I start to make my way over to John b
"Pope! Hurry!" I yell
"Pope!" I yell again
"John B! Hey!" Pope yells
"Pope a gator has him!" I yell
But as I get closer it all went silent
"John B?" I say but just then he resurfaces yelling
"John B!" I yell as I start to stab the alligator with the knife.
After a few more second the gator finally lets go of him
"You okay man? Holy shit!" Pope says
"Are you okay?" I ask him.
"Come on" Pope tells us
"Let's go. Go!" I tell them
"Get to the Twinkie now" Pope says

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