Anchor // JJ Maybank

16.

"Well? What'd you find?"

John B's voice rang out throughout the tomb and Cassidy worried what his voice would stir in the dark. Her hands clasped firmly around the envelope and she made her way back toward the hole that she had entered through. Cassidy had again recognized the familiar handwriting of John B's dad and her heart panged at the thought of causing the boy any more pain. But he needed to know the truth.

"Alright guys, I'm coming out," Cassidy called out once she had reached the opening. Her height made the task ahead a bit difficult, but she had a lot of practice climbing onto counters because of her height so hopefully those skills would come in handy. She took in a deep breath and without thinking about the possible insects that could be lurking in the wall, she gripped a ledge and pulled herself up off of the ground, with the envelope firmly between her teeth. Her feet scraped on the side of the tomb until she finally found a foothold and was able to pull herself up and push her torso out of the hole. Once JJ saw her form appear, he wrapped his arms around the girl and helped her down to the ground. 

"That's not gold," Pope said, staring at the envelope in her hands disappointedly. 

"Holy shit. This is from my dad," John B said breathlessly. Cassidy placed a hand on his arm comfortingly but the group was quickly distracted by the sound of a car pulling up. 

"Code red. Code red. Square groupers. Square groupers," JJ informed the rest of the group before they all dashed in the direction of the van. Cassidy turned back to look at the men chasing them, and she couldn't spot the familiar shape of her father so she let out a relieved sigh. Cassidy was suddenly pulled down to the ground by JJ and she joined the rest of her friends hiding behind the gravestones. Pope motioned desperately for the teens to turn off their lights and Cassidy quickly went to turn off the flashlight that John B had given back to her earlier.  She held in her breath and pressed her back further into JJ's chest. He gripped her hands and the silence was so deafening that the only sound she could hear was his breathing in her ears. 

"Homie's got a gun," JJ said after he peeked around the gravestone to look at the men following them.

"Screw this," Kiara exclaimed exhaserbated and she stood up quickly and bolted in the direction of the van. Cassidy glanced at JJ and they could automatically tell what each other was thinking so they each shot up from their sitting position and followed Kiara towards the gate that stood between themselves and the van. 

"Come on Cass. I'll give you a boost," JJ said out of breath and quickly launched the small girl over the gate. Her landing wasn't very graceful, but at least she got over the gate in one piece, unline another member of their gang. Cassidy turned back and looked in fear but also amusement at Pope stradeling the top of the gate, seemingly stuck on one of the spokes.

"Guys! Guys! I'm stuck," Pope said shakily, looking at the group for help.

"Pope, come on man. I gotchu," JJ said, pulling out his gun which Cassidy didn't even know he had brought with him. The girl immediately stuck her hand out and smacked the gun down so that it wasn't aimed at Pope anymore. She sent JJ a glare and looked back to see Pope still struggling. 

"Come on Pope. I'll buy you another pair of pants. Just let go," Cassidy called out to the boy, trying to reassure him. Pope finally let himself slide down the side of the gate, his pants ripping and being left behind him. The group sprinted to the van quickly once Cassidy made sure that Pope was okay.

"It's like a little tootsie roll," JJ laughed breathlessly, taunting the other boy. Cassidy chuckled at the boy's antics and climbed into the back of the van with JJ and Pope. Cassidy noticed Pope desperately trying to cover himself up so she threw him a blanket which she had left in the van from earlier. He looked at her gratefully and the group fell into an eager silence in anticipation of what could be in the envelope.