✯ North Star ✯

26 - Hell Is Other People

"Growing up, Luke would always tell me when he was drunk off his ass, if there's one thing that I know, hell is other people. When I was a kid I didn't get it. It didn't make any sense to me. But then one day, I just decided to ask him. I said, what do you mean hell is other people? And he looked at me for a while, then he just said, just keep on living... and you'll find out. Luke's been wrong about a lot of things. But man was he right about that one. Went from a fake dad, to a real dad, who just tried to kill me. Yeah Luke, yeah I found out. Hell certainly is other people," JJ said, his voice flat and exhausted in a way that scared me more than if he'd been yelling.

The words sit heavy between us, the fire crackling low, nobody quite knowing what to say into a silence that big.

"So this Berber guy that drew the map, he's Moroccan right? Last time JJ saw Groff he was probably headed to Essaouira on the Moroccan coast. Seems like that's where we need to go," Pope says, breaking the silence.

I just glance at John B, something wordless passing between us.

After a while, I push myself up and walk over to JJ.
"Hey J," I say quietly.

"Hey," he mutters, taking another swig.

"You know that's not gonna help. Drinking. Trust me— I tried. It doesn't," I said.

"Sure feels like it is," he says, though the words come out hollow, like even he doesn't quite believe them.

I sit beside him, the sand still warm beneath us from the day.
"Talk to me. I get it. I really do." I said

He sighs, staring at the bottle, turning it slowly in his hands.
"I don't even know what to think. For the first time in my life, I thought I had a real dad. Someone who wanted me for me."

His jaw tightens.
"And then— gone. Just like everything else."

I don't say anything. I just pull him into a hug, feeling the tension in his shoulders, the way he held himself like he was bracing for one more loss.

"You're gonna be okay. We'll figure this out. I'm not going anywhere," I said softly.

I pulled back just enough to look at him.
"I mean— hey. I'm family, right? I'm stuck with you forever."

He huffs out a small laugh, something in his face finally loosening just a little.
"At least I know you won't bail on me."

"Never," I smiled, meaning it with everything I had.

Then his eyes flick past me.

"Oh shit. Guys," JJ mutters, and every ounce of warmth in the moment vanished at once.

He jumps onto a flipped boat.
"It's the cops."

We all turn.

"How did they find us?" Kie asks, panic already sharpening her voice.