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"What the hell happened?" John B asks as they tie the boat off at the dock
"Someone tried to kill us." Estrella pants holding her hand to her stomach
"What? Why? That doesn't make sense." Pope says
"Obviously, they were going after the same thing we were, right?" John B says. Estrella takes deep breaths as she hangs her head low
"That amulet was worth something. That old man is keeping some secret." Cleo says holding JJ's head up, "Then someone else is waiting down there? I knew that story was bunk."
Pope eyes Estrella and JJ as the girl groans, "My stomach feels like shit."
Pope walks over to JJ and grabs his face, "Hey, man, did you take your safety stop?"
"I'm gonna say it one more time." JJ breathes, "Someone was trying to kill us. We did not make the safety stop."
"They have the bends. We need to get them to the hospital. Now."
John B and Sarah rush to Estrella as Pope and Cleo help JJ up, "Nice and easy. You've just got a couple bubbles in your blood right now."
"I've got bubbles in my blood?" Estrella grunts
"No. You're gonna be fine." He says as Charlotte and Kie help them off the boat
•••
"Come on, John B!" Cleo yells
"I'm going. I'm going." He says stomping on the gas
"Hey, watch out! Watch out!" Pope yells. A car honks at them while John B swerves.
"Deep breaths. Deep breaths." Sarah says calmly. Estrella looks to her as Sarah pushes her hair out of her face, "John B, can you please go faster?"
"Shit." John B mutters
"Hey." Pope calls out, "Who was down there with you guys?"
"No idea, Pope." JJ strains, "But y'all are not gonna believe this."
JJ pulls a shirt out and hands it to Sarah. Sarah unwraps it as Cleo looks over, "What is that?"
"You found it?" Sarah asks wide eyed as she uncovers the amulet
"Oh shit."
"What?" Pope asks
"That's the thing he was looking for."
"Holy shit. Holy shit." John B gasps, "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
"I was too busy dying." JJ grunts
"John B!" Cleo yells
"I'm going. I'm going."
"You're a rock star, girl!" Cleo says, but Estrella can barely share her excitement. She had never felt pain like she had in this moment. Tears gathered at her waterline as Cleo smiles, "Fifty thousand!"
