SUNBURN | JOHN B ROUTLEDGE

020

Kiara, still inside the crypt, noticed something wedged between the stones—a small, white envelope. With careful fingers, she pried it loose and pushed it through the narrow hole.

John B grabbed the envelope, his heart pounding with anticipation. Pope, watching from outside, frowned and said, "That's not gold," his voice tinged with disappointment.

Kiara began to crawl out of the crypt, grunting her way through the tight hole. Gabriella helped her, gently dusting off the dirt and cobwebs clinging to her clothes. Kiara whispered, "Thank you," her voice barely audible, but filled with gratitude.

John B turned the envelope over in his hands, noticing a familiar handwriting. Scrawled across the front was the nickname, the name only his dad ever called him, BIRD. "Holy shit." His breath caught in his throat. "This is from my dad," he choked out, a mix of disbelief and joy washing over him.

Everyone turned to face him, their expressions shifting from curiosity to shock. The air was thick with tension and unspoken questions. JJ, sensing the depth of the moment, placed a comforting hand on John B's back, consoling him.

John B's fingers trembled as he clutched the envelope, feeling the weight of the message within. It was as if his father had reached out from the past, guiding him towards the truth. The significance of the envelope was not lost on any of them; it was a piece of Big John, a connection to the man who had set them all on this journey. The group stood in silence, the gravity of the discovery settling over them, binding them even closer.

As John B stared at the envelope, memories of his father flooded his mind. He remembered the way Big John would call him Bird with a mischievous grin, the countless nights spent poring over maps and old documents, and the stories of the Royal Merchant that had filled his childhood with dreams of adventure. The envelope felt like a lifeline, a tangible piece of his father in a world that had felt increasingly devoid of him.

Gabriella watched John B closely, feeling a mix of empathy and admiration. She knew what it was like to search for something that felt just out of reach, to hold on to hope when everything seemed lost. As she stood by his side, she felt a surge of protectiveness, wanting to shield him from further pain but also knowing that this journey was a part of who he was.

Gabriella, having regained her composure, looked around at the group. "This changes everything," she said softly, her voice filled with conviction. "This proves your dad is not dead."

Pope, ever the pragmatist, nodded. "We need to be smart about this. If Big John left this for you, it's because he knew it would lead you somewhere important. But we also need to be careful. We're not the only ones after the Royal Merchant, they could be dangerous."

JJ, always the one to lighten the mood, grinned. "Yeah, but we're more dangerous." He winked at Gabriella, trying to inject some levity into the tense moment. He began to ignite his lighter, needing to have a smoke after their new found discovery when a vehicle began to approach. "Code red. Code red. Square groupers! Square groupers!"

"Go! Go!" Gabriella shouted.

Kiara peered out from behind a hidden tomb, "Do you think it's them?" Referring to the two men that had previously shot at them and invade the Chateau. After all, at this point, anything was possible.

"Homie's got a gun." JJ realised, his voice shaky.

The Pogues bolted out of the graveyard, their footsteps echoing against the tombstones as they ran as fast as they could. Their breaths came in ragged gasps, driven by adrenaline and fear. The old iron fence loomed ahead, a barrier between them and safety.

John B vaulted over the fence first, followed by JJ and Kiara. Gabriella was right behind them, her heart pounding in her chest. Just as she landed on the other side, she heard Pope's frantic voice behind her.

"Guys, guys, guys, I'm stuck!" Pope's shorts had caught on the spikes at the top of the fence, leaving him to hold himself up from being punctured precariously.

Kiara and Gabriella skidded to a halt and rushed back to help. As John B turned to assist, JJ pulled out his gun, his face set with determination. John B immediately pushed JJ's hand down, silently conveying that using the gun was not an option.

"Wait, you're gonna rip me!" Pope pleaded, his voice tinged with panic.

With a concerted effort, Gabriella and Kiara managed to disentangle Pope, but not without his shorts tearing away. He landed on the ground in his tight white boxers, his face flushed with embarrassment. Pope quickly scrambled to his feet, and the group sprinted towards the Twinkie. The old van was their lifeline, its rusty frame a familiar comfort amidst the chaos.

"It's like a little tootsie roll," Gabriella laughed, her tension momentarily broken by the absurdity of the situation. JJ roared with laughter, having to hold his chest from the pain of sprinting so far and the laughter erupting out of his mouth.

They piled in, breathless and wide-eyed, as John B turned the key in the ignition.

The engine roared to life, and they sped away from the graveyard, the sound of their laughter and Pope's indignant muttering filling the cramped space.