𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃─𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬

one hundred twenty six.

─☼☼☼─

"HERE, CHARLEY," KIARA said softly, passing her sister a bottle of water before joining her on the hammock. "You need to drink something."

Night had passed, dawn breaking through the morning sky, casting them in a blue glaze as the two sisters joined together on the hammock.

Charlotte let out a deep breath, swinging her legs over so Kiara could sit comfortably next to her. "Not thirsty," she lied, her voice barely able to escape through her swollen throat.

Kiara fixed her with a look. "You're not thirsty because you can't get anything down." She paused for a moment, eyes locked on the bruises on her sister's neck. "Maybe you should go back to the hospital."

"No," Charlotte argued instantly. "The minute I show up there, they're calling Shoupe and that's the last thing we need right now."

The youngest of the two pursed her lips. "The last thing we need right now is for you to die."

"I'm not going to die," Charlotte muttered, but the throbbing in her head might have told another story.

Kiara stared back at her older sister, complete heartbreak written all over her face. "I literally thought you were dead when I walked into the house and saw you laying there..." She trailed off, sniffling as she shook her head. "I don't know what I would have done if you were."

Charlotte's heart broke at her little sister's pain. She knew it went deeper than what had happened to Charlotte. This was about JJ, too. And everything else they had been through. Silently, Charlotte wrapped her arm around Kiara, sheltering her beneath her embrace.

"I know I've given you a hard time over the years," Kiara continued, voice slightly muffled in their embrace. "But I couldn't ask for a better big sister. And I am glad you're here with us. And I'm glad that you're finally realizing your worth."

"I love you, Kie." Charlotte said quietly. The two sisters were never ones for heartfelt conversations, but Charlotte was realizing that needed to change. Life was fleeting, it was important to tell the ones you loved the truth.

She knew that now.

"Hey, guys!" Pope called from where he and Cleo were sat on one of the hammocks. "I might have something."

Kiara stood first, sticking out her hand to pull Charlotte to her feet. The older of the two winced at the exertion, doing her best to hide it on her face. If Kiara saw it, she didn't push the topic.

Pope waited until the Carreras had joined him before addressing the group which included everyone aside from JJ. The blonde was poking around at the fire, miserable look on his face like it had been for the better part of the night.

"So this Berber guy who drew the map, he's Moroccan, right?" He looked down at the map in his hands. "Last time JJ saw Groff he was probably headed to Essaouira, on the Moroccan coast. Seems like that's where we need to go."

Charlotte almost groaned before stopping herself. The thought of another cross-ocean excursion literally made her stomach flip. They had never ended well -- not once. But then she looked back to the fire where her best friend sat, the miserable look on his face still there, but so was a flicker of hope in his eyes. Then she looked to her little sister, who had seen so much that it was written on her face, but on her face showed a hopefulness as well. Charlotte knew she had no choice. She would go almost anywhere with them.