more than gold, jj maybank

The Storm

This is the longest chapter I have ever written so enjoy over 9000 words y'all!

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"Growing up, Luke would always tell me when he was drunk off his ass, 'if there's one thing I know, hell is other people'." JJ says, staring into the blossoming fire in front of him.

Jade had never seen rage and betrayal affect JJ so much as it was now. It was scaring her and the other pogues around them. She was sat beside him, watching his face with a worried frown as he continues, his eyes not leaving the fire in front of them. "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, and then he just said, 'Just keep on living... and you'll find out.'" JJ pauses as he shakes his head, "Luke's been wrong about a lot of things, but man, was he right about that one." He says, throwing a stick into the fire, "Went from a fake dad... to a real dad who just tried to kill me." He nearly scoffs, "Yeah, I found out. Hell really is other people." He says, chugging his beer as they all sit in silence, everyone looking around at each other.

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"Look, Jay. I should've noticed something about Groff, or just begged you not to go..." Jade says as she shakes her head, the boy nearly rolling his eyes at her words, and instead taking a swig from a nearly empty bottle of Whiskey.

"Look, Jade... your sympathy or whatever, it's not gonna help." He says, being honest but mean to her. "This does, though." He nods his head, looking out to the marsh.

"Thanks, JJ." Jade says, frowning as he jumps up suddenly and runs over as he notices something further along in the water.

"Wait, guys!" He suddenly hisses, everyone sitting up and rushing over to him as they see a boat drifting closer.

"Who would be out here this early?" Pope asks.

"It's the cops." JJ says, ducking down behind the bushes.

"How did they find us?" Lily frowns as she grabs her jacket and pulls it on.

"I have no idea, but we seriously need to go." Jade says, looking over to John B.

"What's the plan?" Pope asks.

"Follow me." John B says, turning around and walking over towards the marsh.

The group quickly follows his lead, sticking to the side of the dock where they couldn't be seen, especially in the dark. They all quietly began walking through the water, trying their best not splash or make any loud noise as they hide underneath the dock, waiting until they could get to their boat.

The officers get out of their boat, stepping onto the dock and walking towards the camp, "JJ Maybank!" One of them yells, everyone's eyes snapping to the boy. "JJ! We dom't wanna hurt you! Come on out!" He yells, the group nodding at John B as he starts to swim towards the boats. "I have an arrest warrant for JJ in connection to the murder of Hollis Robinson!" The man yells.

The word 'murder' echoes through the sky as they all freeze in shock. JJ's head snaps around in shock as he his eyes widen. "Murder?" Kiara asks aloud.

They all continue swimming, Jade's mouth dry and head spinning slightly as she continues the officers words in her head. "We'll take the pontoon." John B says, climbing up the ladder and into the officers boat, "It's ready to go."

They all pull themselves up, trying to stay quiet as John B starts the boat, the engine growing louder. "Go, go, go!" Kiara hisses, watching as the officers turn to them.

"Hey! Stop there!" One yells.

"Quickly!"

Jade sits down in the boat, her head still reeling as she looks towards JJ who wasn't looking at anyone and simply at the ground.