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"Okay, so, obviously, it's a map of sorts, right?" John B points
"Yeah, but looks like a trippy mosaic." JJ mutters
"It's so weird. It's all scrambled." Kiara says
"What are we supposed to do with this?" Sarah asks
"Decode it." JJ says blowing out smoke, "That's what we're supposed to do."
"But... how?" Charlotte squints
"With the code breaker? That's how." He says making her tilt her head, "All right, everything's coming into focus now. You've just got to let your eyes go out of focus for it to be in focus."
"That- doesn't make any sense." Estrella mumbles with her head in her hand. John B passes the joint to Sarah
"I think we're mind melding." He says
"We got a mountain range." JJ says
"What are you doing?" Kie whispers to Sarah
Charlotte looks over as Sarah's eyes widen, "Oh. Oh. Shit. Sorry."
"Waterline, right?" John B says
"Good job. The blue's water. The jungle-"
The room goes silent as something clatters. John B looks around as JJ eyes stay on the map, "What was that?"
He turns when the fence rattles. He and John B stand upright at the continued noises. Kie looks around, "I knew we shouldn't have come back here."
John B grabs the bat beside the counter while JJ grabs a paddle left on the wall. Estrella reaches over and takes a random flannel hanging on the chair and covers the map. John B looks out at the front lawn while JJ takes the back.
"Nothing on your side?" JJ asks
"No. Nothing. That's so weird." John B says, "It kinda sounded like maybe it was-"
Gasps are let out as someone jumps out from behind him. Groff holds his hands up, "Oh. Sorry. I'm sorry."
"Jesus." Kie sighs
"JJ." He pants, "You made it. I, uh, I'm sorry to bother you here."
"Oh my god." Sarah mumbles
"I swam... I swam all the way in."
"What are you doing here?" JJ says
"I... I had nowhere else to go, son."
Estrella looks over catching JJ's eyes. With a huff through his nose, he sets the paddle down and walks over to Groff. Wrapping his arm around his shoulders and helping him sit.
•••
"So you're JJ's real dad?" Kie asks
Groff sighs, "I don't deserve the title, but yes, I am JJ's biological father. I could have done better by him, I know that. I look forward to telling you all about it."
