𝐹𝑜𝑜𝓉 𝒾𝓃 𝐵𝑜𝓉𝒽 𝒲𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹'𝓈 || OUTERBANKS

-8-

•The Lucky Compass•
*************************************************

After a few minutes of me sat by the window in John B's spare room, I heard three gentle knocks on the door. I took my head out of my knees before turning to look at who it was.

"I come in peace," JJ spoke holding his hands up, obviously noticing the angry look on my face, he walked over sitting in front of me as I watched the sea through the window, "Dont listen to him, I agree, there's nothing we could've seen"

"He just makes me so angry sometimes, like yeah he's a scholar but he's actually really stupid" I rolled my eyes making JJ let a small smile cross his features.

"True, true but I-"

JJ was cut off by the others walking into the house, heading to Mr Routledge's office. We got up confused, before walking to where they were, Pope didn't dare look at me as I shot him a glare.

"Yeah for when he gets back" Kie spoke, to which JJ and I looked at each other confused. We stood waiting for John B to open the office.

"Yeah"

"I've slept over here like 600 times, and I've never seen this door opened" Pope spoke as we walked into the yellow lit office, there were books and papers piled everywhere, it looked like Agatha took a hit at this top.

"Same" I whispered, walking over to a photo on the side of JB and his father. Picking it up I put it in my bag, before turning around where John B places a big pin board on the desk.

"Here, look. This is the original owner" He spoke pointing to a picture stuck to the board.

"Okay. Robert Q. Routledge, 1880 to 1920. There's the lucky compass, right there." Kie read out loud, as I leaned against the desk.

"Actually, um... he was shot after he brought it. Then the compass was shipped back to Henry," JB corrected as the roosters called outside, he then pointed to another photo of 'Henry', "He was killed in a crop-dusting accident when he had the compass. After he died, the compass was given to Stephen. Stephen had the compass with him when he died in Vietnam"

"Let me guess he died in action, right?" JJ asked, kinda worried.

"Sort of," He replied to which I just looked at him with a concerned look, "Uh, a-actually, he was killed by a banana truck. In— in country. An-anyways, after that, Stephen passed the compass down to him, my dad"

"Okay.... quick question...... why didn't your dad tell you that he's passing down the compass of murder?" I spoke crossing my arms.

"Hm. True, sounds like there's a reoccurring theme here" JJ backed me up from next to me as he stood leaning over the desk in the same position I was, exactly, to which I rolled my eyes.

"Whatever"

"Seriously dude, get rid of it" I told him standing up again, as JJ did the same, "It's cursed and it's made it's way back to you."

"Look, my dad used to talk about this compartment in here. Soldiers used to hide secret notes" JB spoke picking up the compass and messing with it, to which I walked around the desk to kneel infront of him as he sat down on the couch.

"What's that?" Kie spoke pointing to a piece that fell out, it had something carved into it, I'm guessing words.

"That wasn't there before. This is my dads handwriting" He told me before showing me the word written on it, that's definitely his dads writing, it said 'Redfield'.

"How can you know that?" Pope asked unbelievingly.

"Because he does those word Rs with the—-" I spoke before getting a piece of paper from the clipboard with 'Routledge' written on it. Putting it next to the piece in John B's hand, "See it?"