✯ North Star ✯

25 - Everything Changing

"That thing still working?" John b asks pope as we walk.

"You hear it beeping don't you?" Pope shoots back.

The sound suddenly feels ten times louder.

Sirens cut through the air.

"Hey hold on. This way" John b says, already breaking into a run.

"Go" pope says, following him.

"Oh shit" I breathe

"Wait no this way come on" John b says, then-

"Wait- John b, the garage. Come this way" pope insists.

"What?" John b muttered, but we follow pope anyway, sprinting inside just as the sound echoes closer.

"Stop beeping. Stop beeping" pope whispers frantically.

"It's not a dog pope it's not gonna stop" I whisper yell back

Cleo crouches down, tugging at the ankle monitor.

"Stay still, maybe I can slide it off" cleo said

"Stop thats not gonna work" pope says, panic creeping into his voice.

"Shhh" I hiss

"Stop ouch! Try to tear it off" pope whispers

"Please be quiet." I beg

"Guess we gotta cut off your foot" cleo mutters

"What?" I ask

Before anyone can respond, a cop starts talking right outside the front door.

My heart slams.
I glance behind us- and spot it.

Wire cutters.

I grab them without thinking and shove them into cleo's hands. She cuts through the band in one clean snap.

Then we take off.

We didn't stop until we're back on the boat, the engine roaring as we tear through the water toward the house.

"Hey, kie!" John b yells as we jump off.

"Kiera!" Cleo shouts

"Kie! Wasn't she supposed to be here?" I ask

"Kiera!" Pope calls

"And JJ?" I ask, scanning the porch.

John b's jaw tightened.
"We'll check the surf shack." He said

"Alright we'll check the house" pope says

"Kie!" I shout as we head that way.

"Kiera!" John b yells again.

Then-
Yelling.

"You hear that?" John b asks

"Kie" we both say at the same time- and break into a run.