riptide- outer banks

ninety-four | you call, i come

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Logan kept his eyes on the darkened road, hardly listening to the quiet music spilling out of the radio. His hand came up, putting his signal on as he switched lanes. They were still at least ten minutes out from meeting the others and they hadn't heard from them. They knew that they were fine, but nothing other than that.

"So you tink they found it?" Cleo voiced, eradicating the silence that had settled.

Sarah leaned forward from where she sat in the back, filling the void between Cleo and her brother. "Well, I don't know. I mean, do we really think that this amulet thingy is just down there? I don't buy it."

There was a pause.

The blonde glanced at her little brother, instantly taking note of a few things. He was being quieter than normal– meaning he was deep in thought. And when he got lost in the catacombs of his mind, that's when the self-sabotage happened. But that wasn't the only thing she noticed. Her eyes fell on his hands next. His right was barely supporting the wheel, but his left was tightly holding to the top of it. His knuckles were white and that only meant one thing. He was starting to spiral.

"Hey, I'm sure they're fine." Sarah expressed, lightly setting a hand on his shoulder. "I mean, no news is good news. Right?" She added, glancing at Cleo for support.

The brunette's eyes widened slightly. "Right. Dat's what I always say. And I–"A buzzing noise suddenly cut her off, forcing her attention down to the phone it was coming from, which just so happened to be Logan's. Cleo grinned as she picked the device up. "Speaking of. It's your girlfriend."

Logan's gaze snapped to her.

"KJ." She read, grin remaining on her face as she finally met his eyes. "Cute."

"Cleo, just answer it." He cautioned, returning his focus to the road.

"Okay, okay."

There was a beat.

"Logan?" Kori questioned.

Relief flooded through his system at the sound of her voice. "Yeah, I'm here. I'm right here. Are you guys–"

"You need to get here right now." She pleaded, the panic in her voice saying it all. "It's JJ and Kie...they have the bends."

Logan felt a breath leave his lips. They were seven minutes out. His knuckles tightened on the wheel as determination seeped into his persona. "We'll be there in four. Be ready."

Sarah suddenly hit the back seat as her brother's foot slammed down on the gas pedal and they accelerated down the road at a quicker pace than before. Much quicker than before. Time was not on their side in a situation like this. If JJ and Kie really had the bends, they couldn't waste a single second. So it was a good thing Logan was driving.

They got there in three minutes.

The twinkie screeched to a halt, Sarah already throwing open the van doors for the approaching pogues. Logan, on the other hand, was flying out of the front seat to meet the boys at the end of  the dock. He reached John B and Kori first, taking no thought as he scooped Kiara up in his arms, carrying her the rest of the way to the van.

"Come on, Kie. I got you." Logan breathed out, gently setting her on one of the seats as she grimaced.

"You're gonna be fine. You're gonna be fine." Kori sputtered, reaching the van next. She lifted JJ's arm from off of her shoulders to help him step up onto the floor. "Come on."

Before they knew it, they were back on the road, accelerating towards the hospital. John B was driving, multiple honks ringing out as they swerved past other cars. "Thank you." Kori breathed out, turning her head to glance at Logan.