𝗠𝘆 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 ⇉ 𝗝𝗝 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸

𝘨 𝘰 𝘰 𝘥 𝘣 𝘺 𝘦

ARIELLA COULDN'T FALL back to sleep. Her mind was too restless, her heart too conflicted. Her eyes fixated on the newly found ring encircling her finger, a symbol of a promise fulfilled, a dream realized. She glanced over at JJ, who slept soundly with Cora Lynn nestled on his chest, the two of them wrapped in a cocoon of warmth and love.

The sight should have filled her with joy, and it did, but it left her with a feeling of hollowness and confusion.

She was finally his wife. Their family was together, a picture of the future she had always hoped for.

But beneath the surface of her happiness lay a gnawing guilt that she couldn't shake. All she could think about was John B and Sarah, her family who were out there, somewhere, dead or alive, fighting for their lives.

The weight of their absence pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe, hard to celebrate.

The ring on her finger felt heavy, not just with the significance of her marriage, but with the burden of her worry and guilt. She twisted it absentmindedly, her mind a storm of emotions.

How could she allow herself to feel happiness when John B and Sarah were out there suffering?

The thought of them out there, struggling to survive, haunted her every moment, casting a shadow over her newfound joy.

Morning fully settled upon them, and there was no time to share pleasantries. The Pogues found themselves hiding in the mix of trees and bushes, the boat fully off.

Their eyes followed Singh's boat speeding through the water, him and his men all on it, sharing that same deadly and eager look in their eyes. The Pogues knew exactly where they were going and who they were after.

JJ spoke first, breaking the tense silence. "They're moving real quick. They're looking for John B and Sarah. They're gonna know where they're headed."

Ariella picked her hair up as Pope took Cora Lynn from her arms, happy to hold her. Ari shared a look with JJ, fear evident in her eyes. "We gotta go. They're gonna need us."

"Let's get a move on then." Cleo urges as JJ turned the boat back on before taking off. The engine roared to life, breaking the stillness of the morning.

Ariella's heart pounded in her chest as they sped through the water, the wind whipping through her hair. She hoped they could make it to John B and Sarah on time. The urgency of their mission pressed down on her, making every second feel like an eternity.

The landscape around them blurred as they navigated through the waterways, the trees and bushes becoming a green haze. The tension in the boat was palpable, each of them lost in their thoughts, driven by the same unspoken fear and determination.

Ariella clung to the hope that they would reach their friends before Singh did, praying silently for their safety. The stakes had never been higher, and failure was not an option.

Wanting to ease her mind, JJ's free arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her into him. He placed her in front of him, both arms going around her as he steered the small boat.

Ariella leaned back into his chest, turning around in his grip to hug him. He was always exactly what she needed to feel a sense of peace of mind.

JJ pecked her head. "We're going to get them back."

"I know. Just hope we get there before they do."

As they sped through the water, the urgency of their mission weighed heavily on both of them. They knew that every second counted, and the thought of what might happen if they didn't reach John B and Sarah in time was almost too much to bear.