𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬| 𝑅𝑎𝑓𝑒 𝐶𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑛

twenty-two

"Why don't I go ahead and see those hands in the air right now?"

Banksie glanced toward JJ, who kept his eyes locked on the man pointing a shotgun at John B.

"All y'all's hands up in the air, now!" the man shouted. "You, out of the car right now, let's go," he said, stepping back as John B reluctantly exited the vehicle. "Out of the car! Let's go!" he repeated, trying to rush him.

Once John B was out, the man directed him to get everyone else out, following close behind. "There you go, pretty girl, here we go!"

"Bro—" JJ began but was cut off.

"Shut the hell up!"

"Alright!"

"I said, shut the hell up!"

"Just relax," JJ muttered.

Banksie stepped closer to JJ, placing a hand on his shoulder to try and calm him down.

"I'll blow your damn head off!" the man barked again, ordering them to get on the ground. "On your goddamn hands and knees! Down!"

Banksie winced as the man shoved JJ's head, forcing him to the ground faster.

As the man rummaged through the Twinkie, Banksie could hear JJ's breathing grow heavier. She could see his irritation building.

"Jay, it's fine. Don't worry," she whispered, but it had no effect.

"That old bat shanked us," JJ hissed through clenched teeth.

"I know, I know," she whispered. "He's not leaving here with that gold, I promise," she assured him, making JJ glance over at her.

"John B, no, no," Sarah's voice cut through the tension, catching everyone's attention.

John B had started creeping toward the 'cop' car.

"John B, don't be the hero, man," Pope whispered urgently.

Banksie shook her head, shifting her gaze back to the man inside the Twinkie, now masked and looking more familiar than she wanted to admit. She felt like she knew him. living in the obx, you got to know most people, especially with her parents always lending a hand to help out.

But, she couldn't quite place him.

Finally, the man found the gold, wrapped it in the cloth they had it in, and stuffed it into his pocket.

"Alright, y'all stay just like that," he said, pointing at the group still on the ground. "Unless you want your brains blown all over this road!" He yelled. "Don't move your goddamn heads, okay?" He jogged back toward his car.

As he got into the car, John B jumped up, waisting no time to punch him and snatch the gun away.

"Oh, shit," Banksie muttered, immediately getting up with JJ and running toward the car.

"Guys, I got the gun!" John B yelled.

JJ lunged, landing a punch on the man, but was knocked down when the guy retaliated, hitting him square in the face.

Kiara ran up next, using all her strength to land a punch, but she was quickly shoved to the ground as he ducked from her punch.

The man turned toward Sarah, who froze, looking helpless and terrified. She'd never been in a situation where things escalated like this.

Banksie snatched the gun from John B's hand, rushed over to the masked man, and slammed the butt of it into his lower back. He collapsed, crawling on his hands and knees.

"Sarah, the door!" Banksie shouted, pointing frantically.

Sarah quickly caught on, pushing the car door back and slamming it repeatedly into the man's side.