Drakeness from small Beginnings

Chapter 24: Please Don't Be Angry

"And that was the moment, we changed our last names to Drake. We became, you know, explorers, adventurers.", Nathan told Elena. "Mostly thieves.", he added. "You know, for a while it felt like we weren't taking turns going to jail it was because we were in jail together. And after I lost him, I- After I thought, I lost him ..."

"You didn't want to bring him back up again.", Elena finished his sentence.

"Something like that.", he nodded.

"And you? You knew him, Jo."

"Well, yes.", I answered, but was cut off by Elena.

"And it never occurred to you, that it would be nice for me to know?"

"I figured, that this is Nate's business."

She scoffed. "You two are ..." Elena sighed.

"Well, that's it.", Nathan said. "Now you know everything."

"With you I doubt that's everything. And I haven't even started asking you about your past, Jo."

"I think this talk should be postponed. It would take really long to explain everything ..."

She nodded.

"I'd love to know what you're thinking.", I asked. Please don't be mad any more.

"I'm thinking, that you're lucky that I found you."

"Why is that?", Nathan asked.

Without answering she pulled out a walkie-talkie. "Come in, Sully."

"Of course, Sully. Always saving us, when everything turns to shit.", Nathan said.

"Hey, darlin'", we heard Sully speaking through the walkie-talkie. "How are they doing?"

"Nathan has a torn muscle fibre in his stomach and Jo's shoulder has obviously bled very much. I looked at both wounds and cleaned them, but they're okay for now."

I helped Nathan up, more careful than last time, and put my arm around his waist, just in case he would fall down again.

"Now we just need to rescue the other Drake.", Elena told Sully.

"What do you mean?"

"I'll let Nathan tell you.", she tossed the walkie-talkie to Nathan, who caught it with one hand.

"Hey, pal. Glad you could join us.", he greeted Sully.

"Yeah, wouldn't miss it. So, what happened to Sam?"

"Rafe's got him."

"Shit. You know where they are?"

"Yeah, they're headed to the northern side of the island. See, if you can find a place to set down over here. Once we get Sam, we're going to need to get outta here pretty quick."

"What about the treasure?", Sully asked confused.

"Forget it.", he answered. "We don't need it." He looked at me with a smile.

"But Alcázar-?"

"No. There is no Alcázar. Sam made it all up. What an asshole, right?"

Elena chuckled.

"Look, I'll fill you in on everything, when I see you.", Nathan excused himself.

"Yeah. I can't wait. Look, you three be safe down there."

"You know us."

He handed the walkie-talkie back to Elena, who then gave both of us pistols. I thanked her.

"Sure.", she answered.

"No, I mean for showing up after all and patching us up."

"Again.", Nathan added.

"I almost didn't this time. C'mon. I got us a ride."

She walked off and we followed. After half an hour of climbing and even shooting mercenaries we reached a truck, Elena had parked on top of a cliff.

"Borrowed it from your Shoreline-friends.", she proudly said.

Nathan sat in the driver's seat, while I sat down on the passenger seat next to him. Elena sat in the back. Nate started the engine and drove upriver. We spotted a huge wooden elevator and figured out, that New Devon had to be on top of it. While Nathan drove Elena started a conversation.

"So here is my question: Why does Rafe Adler want Avery's treasure? I mean not for the money."

"Glory.", I answered. "He wants to prove everyone wrong, that ever doubted him and he wants to be known as the man, who found the legendary pirate-treasure. Quitting is not an option for him."

"Well, Rafe is a good match for Shoreline. He needs their muscle, they need his money."

"They do?", Nathan asked. "They seem pretty well stocked."

"Shoreline got involved in some civil wars, that didn't pan out for them. Nadine inherited her father's mess. She's probably hoping, that this'll put her back on the map."

Nathan kept driving upriver.

"I bet, you could write an article about all this.", I suggested.

"I doubt anyone would believe it."

"You could take pictures."

"I didn't bring my camera. Kinda wish I did though."

"Speaking of things left at home: Where is John?", I turned around to loo at her.

"In fact, at home. I told him, I had to do a research for a special article and needed to fly to Madagascar for a week or so.", she blushed. "But that's entirely different from what you did."

"Really?", I asked raising my eyebrows.

"We lied to you to keep you out of this mess.", Nathan said.

"To protect you.", I added.

"I may understand your point, but you knew, I can handle this and John doesn't. He needs protection. I don't. But, yes, I understand you two.", she smiled.

After a few minutes of driving we reached another elevator, which -to our surprise- still worked. Elena drove the car inside it, while I helped Nathan activate it. Suddenly the elevator started moving, so Nathan and I could do nothing but clench onto the wooden bars from the outside, while Elena was standing next to the car, smiling at us.

"Hey, there.", Nathan smiled back.

"Hi.", she grinned at us. "Enjoying the journey?"

Suddenly, there were mercenaries shooting at us.

"Elena! Get down behind the car!", I screamed and pulled out my gun.

Nathan already started firing and I quickly joined him. Eventually we made our way up the cliff by climbing. Nathan was about to kill the last one, but apparently the elevator had arrived and Elena drove out of it right against the mercenary, killing him instantly.

"Holy shit!", Nathan shouted.

"You two okay?", she asked.

We nodded and got back in the car and Nathan begun to drive.

"You didn't bring any spare clothes, didn't you?", he asked.

"Oh, I did.", she replied.

"Great.", I said.

"They're on the plane."

"Not great."