𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞 || jj 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤

019

As I watch the cross fall, I feel someone pull me away from the cushions. I look up to see JJ holding me in his arms.

"You ok?" He asks as he hugs me tightly.

"Yeah... yeah I'm ok." I breathe out once he pulls away from the hug.

"Pope, are you ok?" JJ questions as he helps me over to Pope, who's curled up in a ball.

"Pope, you good?" I put my hands on his stiff shoulders.

"Yeah, just give me like— one second to catch my breath." Pope responds as he holds his shaky hands up.

"You did it, Pope." I chuckle lightly as we walk over to the cross.

"Pope, she's... she's beautiful." JJ is mesmerized by the treasure in front of us.

"Not as beautiful as me." I nudge his shoulder teasingly.

"Of course." JJ laughs, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

"Never seen anything like that." Sarah chimes in.

"The detail is insane." I speak as I trace my finger along the cross, ignoring the throbbing pain in my injured hand.

"I can see why Limbrey wanted that key so bad." John B claims as he points to a keyhole that's in the middle of the cross.

"Good find." JJ compliments. "How much do you think she's worth?" He adds. "Like, if we melted her old bones down. Dude, I'm taking like high millions." He continues.

"This belongs— no! This belongs in a museum!" John B interjects loudly.

"What!? So no one sees her?" JJ counters, his brows knitted together.

"A museum where everyone sees her!" John B retorts reasonably.

"Are you kidding me?" JJ exclaims, frustration evident in his voice.

"Hey! It's my ancestors cross!" Pope interrupts both of the arguing boys.

"Right, ok. Alright, well-" JJ stutters with a nod.

"This is bigger than money, and the world's gonna know the truth." Pope mutters.

"Yeah, if we don't get this shit outta here before Limbrey gets here, nobody's gonna know." I point out as I rub the back of my sore neck.

"Saddle up." John B clears his throat.

"It's heavy right here." JJ says as we all get ready to lift the cross up.

"God, this shit is gonna be astronomically heavy." I murmur as I stare at the cross, slight dread in my tone.

"John B, you're gonna pull, alright?" JJ instructs. "Pull down." He nods.

"Alright, I'm gonna pull down, you guys are gonna pull up." John B explains, his hands moving to the back of the cross.

"One, two, three." I count.

"Oh my God." Sarah gasps in surprise as we all lift the cross up. The cross being just as heavy as one million bricks.

"Ok." Kie breathes out as she focuses on lifting the cross up.

"Ok!" JJ shouts as he struggles to lift it. "I got it!"

"Holy crap—" I wince as my hand shakes in pain.

"Who's not lifting right now?" JJ asks, his teeth gritted.

"Everyone's lifting, it just weighs a fuck ton!" I argue as my arms start to feel weak.