𝙽𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚂𝚊𝚢 𝙳𝚒𝚎 | The Goonies

Chapter Seventeen | Truce

A/N: this has not been proofread.
I'm back from the dead with a determination to finish this! My writing style may be a little different, so let me know what you think!

Despite needing a little coaxing, Lacey managed to convince them to at least investigate the news' claims. After all, she reasoned, it could prove yet again to be the answer to their problems.

She tried her best to avoid Mouth's accusatory stare and unusual silence. She noticed Mikey bump his shoulder questioningly as everyone assembled on their bikes, and she looked away as he turned eyes on her.

She was saved from the awkwardness by Brand approaching her with the map in hand.

"So which bay was it?" He asked, shaking out the map.

She leaned over. "I don't know," she admitted, squinting at the area around Astoria. "It didn't say."

Stef rolled her eyes. "So we're looking for a ghost ship that may or may not have actually washed up, and we don't know where to start looking."

"We can go to the TV station," Data suggested helpfully.

"That's two hours away," Mikey pointed out, shaking his head.

Chunk pushed his bike closer into the group. "You guys, we should move soon..."

After a couple of minutes of debating and guessing, Andy sidled up and peered down at the map. "Mouth, what do you think?" she asked, looking over at him.

He glanced up from where he was fiddling with his brake cables. "What?"

Andy beckonned him over. "You do geography, don't you?"

"Yeah."

Lacey stepped out of his way as he approached and Brand held it out for him to see.

"You said it was in Astoria?" he asked.

Lacey nodded, resisting the urge to worry her lip. "Yes. Somewhere remote."

They all watched him with mild confusion as he looked at the map, his eyes scanning the paper.

"Well, it's likely to have been washed up in one of the less exposed bays, since the rocks would trap it there in low tide. Consdiering the position of this headland into the tide, and its distance from Astoria, I'd say we check out this one," Mouth suggested. "If we hug the coast on the way we can check some of the others in that diretion."

As it turned out, he was almost spot on. They cycled for half an hour before reaching the cove that he had indicated, and Mikey spotted the emerging tip of the mast in the next little cove over.

"So," Chunk said, as they grouped at the top of the sheer cliff. "That's it, right?"

Mikey nodded, slightly awed at seeing the ship again. It was mostly unharmed by the rockfall in the cave five years ago; he wondered how it had stayed intact all these years.

"How we going to get there?" Data peered over the edge. "I don't know about you guys, but I haven't got my climbing gear."

"We could have a look for another way down," Stef suggested, though her tone wasn't too hopeful.

They looked around for a bit, splitting up to explore the area. Lacey tried not to be too hurt when Mouth headed off in the other direction with Stef, and instead she fell into step with Chunk as they wandered towards the next cove to look for a way down to the beach.

"Do you think they'll leave us alone?" Chunk asked as they walked. "After we pay them, I mean."

Exhaling heavily, Lacey looked back at the Inferno, its barnacle-encrusted bow thrust upwards against the dense wet sand.

"I really hope so," she replied hesitantly.

Chunk nodded, reassured by her answer, and continued walking. Lacey left her fear unsaid - could they really put a price on revenge?

"I'm sorry about what happened this morning," she ventured, after a little while of comfortable silence.

He shrugged. "It's okay," he said, without looking at her. "It's not your fault."

"Well," she said, "still. It was unnecessarily cruel for them to do that to you."

Chuck nodded, lost in his thoughts. "They weren't too bad," he mused. "I mean, they are. I fake puked at a theatre once and started a puke-fest. Pretty gross." He laughed uncertainly. "But I haven't killed anyone or anything. I stole a hamburger once, though-"

"Chunk," Lacey interrupted, catching his arm. He stopped and stared at her nervously, as if she were about to shout at him, but she smiled and patted his shoulder. "Don't overthink it, okay? You haven't done anything worse than anyone else has done."

"Not even starting a puke-fest?"

She pursed her lips and gave him a grin. "Well, maybe not that bad. But it must have been pretty funny."

"A smile spread over his face. "Oh yeah, it was! It was this totally sappy movie, and all the people below were puking their guts up everywhere like it was some gory horror film. I mean, I couldn't stop laughing at all their disgusted faces!"

"Hey, Chunk! Lacey!" Data called out. "We found a way down!"

They exchanged glances and hurried back in the other direction. The others had already made their way down the rough steps two coves over from the Inferno; they would have to find a way around the rocky outcrops to get to the ship and back out again before the tide came in.

Chunk went first, and Lacey gave him a bit of room before carefully following. The steps were worn smooth by the elements, and of wildly varying depth and width, so concentration was paramount to not missing a step. The last couple were particularly tricky: the waves had worn them at a steep angle.

Lacey carefully lowered herself down each one, and almost stumbled in surprise when the one she was on tipped unsteadily, having come free from the earth around it.

She squeaked and hastily rebalanced herself, but almost toppled again when she found an outstretched hand blocking her way. She lifted her head to find Mouth offering her his hand, looking up at her expectantly.

Without thinking, she took it, and with the reassurance of his grip managed to get down the last two steps and jump the last one - over half a meter tall - onto the sand. As soon as she was down, she anticipated him dropping her hand, so she let her grip slacken.

He didn't let go. "Thanks for telling us about the ship," he said.

"It's nothing," she replied haltingly. She tried for a smile. "I'm just happy to be along for the ride."

He bit the inside of his cheek at her raised eyebrow. "I'm sorry I've been so pushy," he apologised earnestly, taking up her other hand. "I just didn't want you to get hurt."

Lacey ignored the fluttering in her chest. "I appreciate that. You just pushed a bit too much."

"Only because you're so stubborn," he countered, his smile taking away the sting. "Truce?"

His tone was casual, but there was a hopeful glint in his eye. Lacey nodded.

"Truce," she agreed.

"Hey you guys!" Chunk called out. "Are you coming?"

WORD COUNT: 1149

PUBLISHED: 16/02/20