riptide- outer banks

sixty-seven | one step forward, three steps back

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Kori brought her arms over her chest, glad she had worn jeans instead of shorts. It was by no means cold, but it wasn't warm either. It was the first week of November and it was already dark outside, a cool breeze billowing through the air. She'd tied her flannel off over her cropped tank, providing with her a little bit of warmth. It would definitely help when she was riding on the back of Logan's motorcycle, too.

Because not only did he not want her driving, neither did JJ. It was stupid, really. But what they were doing was also incredibly dangerous, so she'd just rolled her eyes and agreed to it.

Logan would drive; she'd be on the back.

"Guys, news flash." Kiara voiced, eyes surveying the thousands of trains laid out below them as they stood atop one. "We're not getting out of here unnoticed with a giant cross."

"We won't have to." Pope pointed out. "We can nab it somewhere further in the country. Just gotta figure out how to stop the train."

"Leave that to me." JJ remarked.

Cleo leaned forward to look at him. "How you gonna do dat?"

"Well, I got an uncle up in New Bern, right?"

Kori's brow drew together. "You mean Uncle Richie?"

"Yeah." He nodded his head before continuing to explain. "When he got tipsy, he'd just throw an old chain across the tracks, just for shits and giggles."

"Uncle Richie?" Kori repeated.

"Yes, Uncle Richie, Kor." JJ emphasized.

"I don't remember that."

"Well, you were, like, six." He quipped, rolling his eyes. "Anyway, that old little chain would stop all the train traffic in coastal Carolina."

Kie's brow raised. "A chain?"

"He's actually right." Pope expressed, meeting her gaze. "There's a low-voltage current that runs across all rail tracks. Throw a chain on it, you close that circuit. It would read as another train crossing— lights come down. Science is actually pretty sound."

"Science." JJ chirped. "I knew my science."

Kori inhaled excitedly, facing him. "Good job!"

His face dropped at her mockery as Pope continued. "Well, we don't have a chain.

"No, but," Logan let out a breath. "Topper definitely has jumper cables."

"Yeah, would that work?" Sarah asked, turning to Pope.

He had barely nodded his head before an annoying voice cut through the air from below. "Yo, what's goin' on? Are we doing this or what?" Topper demanded, both arms emphatically raised in the air.

"All right." Cleo voiced, altogether ignoring him. "You guys wait here. Me and Pope will go look for it and send a signal once we find it."

Sarah's brow furrowed together. "Wait, do we actually have a plan right now?"

"I think we do." JJ mused, locking onto her eyes.

"Let's not jinx it while we're ahead. Come on." Pope urged, him and Cleo subsequently climbing down the box until they were on solid ground.

Kori was near the edge of the train they were standing on, her, Kie, and Sarah watching from above. None of them turned around or even heard as JJ grabbed Logan's arm, pulling him aside.

Logan locked onto his worried gaze, eyes narrowing. "What?"

JJ's voice was low when it came out, only audible to him. "Do not let anything happen to her. You hear me?"