chapter seven
50k or priceless

"Attie, Attie, wake up. Athena, wake up. Hey, look at me."

Athena groaned at the voice that interrupted her sleep, her eyes fluttering open. She looked over at JJ, who was staring at her with concern, the boy sitting up to lean above her. Athena's eyebrows furrowed as she rubbed the sleepiness out of her eyes.

"What?"

"Hey. Listen." JJ stated. "There was a guy in the hall just now. I think it was the guy. The dude from the wreck. Cause he had a wound, right where I got him with a spear gun."

Athena started to sit up, her worry growing with every word JJ spoke. "Did he see you? Did he recognise you?"

JJ hesitated, turning and looking out the small window. "Yeah."

"So, he knows we're here." Athena realised with a small sigh.

"Yeah." JJ nodded. "We've got to get  out."

"We gotta go." Athena agreed.

JJ turned to the window once more. "Wait. Ma'am!"

"JJ, no, don't."

"Ma'am. Miss!" JJ tried to get a nurse's attention, tapping on the window. "Hello! Ma'am. Is there anyone out there? Ma'am, hello! Hey! Ma'am. Come here. Ma'am, there was a dude in the hall just now."

"I'm sorry. It's only a few more minutes." The doctor told him.

"That man tried to kill us, okay?" JJ tried to explain. "He tried to kill us."

"I can't hear you."

"No, ma'am! Ma'am! Call security."

"Can you help me with the door?" Athena asked, trying to pull the door open but it wouldn't budge. "I can't be stuck in here."

"Ma'am, please."

"JJ just help me!" Athena stressed. "She's not letting us out. Just help!"

The nurse gave up and left the room causing JJ to let out a huff before moving over to help Athena. The two tried to pry the door open, using all their might but it was no use. Athena looked around for any other way out, her breathing picking up. She could not be stuck in here!

"JJ—we gotta—"

"Hey, hey, hey." JJ sat in front of the blonde, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Breathe, just breathe, we're gonna be okay, we're gonna get out."

"JJ."

"I know, I know." JJ reassured her, looking around. "Okay, I've got an idea, all right? This is not my best idea."

Athena nodded as JJ placed his feet against one of the windows, trying to kick through it. He tried multiple times, the glass weakening with every blow. Athena held her breath as JJ continued, only letting it go when the glass suddenly shattered.

The alarm in the chamber starting to blare but that didn't stop the couple, JJ climbing through the window and opening the door for Athena just as the doctor walked back into the room.

"What the—Security! We got a runner."

"All right, I'm gonna buy you some time. Meet me outside." JJ instructed, taking off out of the door. Athena watched him in confusion as she climbed out of the chamber. "Oh my God, my brain! We were in there way too long. No, you microwaved me. What are you trying to do? Fry me like chicken? No, no."

Athena walked out of the room just as security reached JJ, the boy fighting against the men. She stayed pressed up against the wall in order to not be seen. JJ made eye contact with Athena for just a few minutes.

"I'm gonna file a formal complaint, okay? File a formal complaint!" JJ shouted, emphasising his words.

Athena nodded as he was pulled away around the corner, a smile making its way onto her face. "A file."

She took off towards reception, blending in with the people from the commotion. The blonde slowed down as she reached the desk, stopping and pretending like she was waiting for one of the nurses to come back as she looked around for the file she was looking for. Suddenly, she caught sight of an arm that had been sliced open, one that looked like it could be from a spear gun.

Without any second thought, Athena grabbed the file, not looking around once as she headed for the front door and towards Cleo, Kie and Sage that were waiting for them.

"How do you climb up a tree in a hospital?" Cleo asked sarcastically.

"Where's JJ?" Pope asked.

"JJ's coming." Athena shouted as she jumped in the back, landing on Kie. "Drive. Go!"

Kie patted the girl's head as she sat up, Pope beginning to drive off when JJ exited out of the side door, sprinting straight for the moving truck. He stumbled a bit but then jumped and rolled into the truck by the three girls.

"You good?"

"Yeah, go, Pope!" JJ exclaimed.

"Are you guys okay?" Cleo wondered.

"Yeah. So you know that guy that was down at the wreck that tried to kill us?" JJ asked.

"He was there!" Athena stated.

"At the hospital with you?" Pope questioned.

"Yes!" JJ and Athena exclaimed in unison.

"He was getting stitched up where I got him with the harpoon gun." JJ explained.

"I got this. I swiped his file." Athena held the file up.

Sage grabbed it from her, scanning the contents. "It's got an address. Downtown Pelican somewhere."

"What are we supposed to do with that?" Pope asked.

"What do you mean? Pay him a visit." Kie answered like it was obvious.

"Exactly. We find out who this goon is, Po." JJ added. "Four against one? I mean I think we could take him."

"Or get there first and just scope it out." Athena suggested not really wanting to get into another near-death experience so soon.

"I'll be ready for him this time." JJ responded, staring off into space.

Athena leant against the edge of the truck, letting out a small breath, and watching the town go past.

"You okay?" Kie wondered, placing her hand over Athena's to catch her attention.

"Yeah." Athena nodded. "I'm good, actually."

"Good." Kie smiled. "What did you do in the chamber for twelve hours?"

Athena hesitated, a smile creeping onto her face. "Uh, we... talked."

"Talked?" Kie repeated in confusion before the realisation settled in, her face scrunching up in disgust. "Ew, Thena!"

"What?"

"Ew."

"I didn't even say anything!" Athena defended herself with a laugh.

"This is gross." Kie stated. "Ew."

"Shut up!" Athena shoved her shoulder slightly. "You're just jealous."

"Always." Kie responded easily. "That should be me."

"Calm down Justin Beiber, you have me now, you don't need Athena." Sage cut in the conversation.

"But she's number one." Kie reminded her girlfriend. "I can't help that."

"Yeah, Sage, she can't help that." Athena shrugged.

"How have you dealt with this for so long?" Sage wondered, turning to JJ.

"You just have to accept it." JJ answered, not even fazed. "Before you came along a lot of people thought we were some kind of throuple. Y'know, this is my girlfriend Athena, and this is Athena's girlfriend Kie."

"Confusing."

"We got some strange looks." JJ commented. "But whatever makes them happy I guess."

"You two are weird." Sage told the two girls.

"Don't be jealous of our love, Sage." Kie shook her head. "It's not a good look."

"Shut up."

"She's kidding." Athena reassured the girl with a soft laugh. "She loves you, I love JJ, there will always just a what if for Kathena."

"Kathena?"

"Kie and Athena. Kathena." Athena explained.

"Right."

"Are you sure this is the right place?" Cleo asked, interrupting their conversation as they pulled up onto the beach outside the oceanic hotel. "This is the pier."

"It was the address that was in the file." JJ shrugged. "But he probably just gave a fake address. That's what I would've done."

"You guys really think he's here?" Cleo questioned.

"I don't know." JJ shook his head, jumping out of the truck. "But I need some fresh air."

"We've had nothing but fresh air out here." Athena stated.

"Some not truck air." JJ corrected. "Anyone, fresh air? Might as well take a look around."

Sage, Kie and Athena followed the boy, leaving Cleo and Pope in the truck. "Have fun."

"Oh, we will."

The group of four walked towards and onto the pier, looking around. Kie glanced at them all. "So, what's our plan if we actually find this killer?"

"Run." JJ deadpanned before he noticed the looks he was receiving. "That's—I'm kidding, all right? We detain, extract, investigate."

"How are we gonna detain?" Sage wondered.

"Uh, I mean, we, like, sneak up on him, like, spy-like." JJ tried to come up with a plan as they walked further onto the pier.

"Okay, I like it." Sage and Kie nodded.

"I'm not sure that's the best idea." Athena disagreed, sending her boyfriend a look.

"Trust me." JJ reassured her. "It's going to work."

"So, we're undercover." Kie stated.

"Exactly."

"Yeah."

"Just act like we're on a double date." Kie announced before she sent Sage a look. "If Sage knew what that looks like."

"I know what a date looks like." Sage defended herself.

"No you don't." Kie disagreed. "We've never been on a date."

"Yes we have." Sage argued.

"All right, name one." Kie retorted.

"We—I—we're on a date right now." Sage gave in, grabbing Kie's hand.

"Okay."

"I would say JJ doesn't know what a date looks like but... he's pretty good at them." Athena spoke up from next to the two girls, leaning into JJ who had his arm around her shoulders.

"Hell yeah I am." JJ cheered, scoffing at her doubt in him. "I taught you how to surf, we had a candlelight picnic, and I won't even mention that night on the beach."

"Okay, we get it, JJ is amazing at dates and I suck and you two are sickeningly in love and are soulmates or whatever." Sage exclaimed, throwing her hands up in exasperation making the other three laugh.

"You'll get there." JJ reassured her. "I can give you pointers if you want."

"I don't need your help, Maybank." Sage told him.

JJ held his hands up in surrender. "Just offering. My girl loves my dates."

"I do." Athena agreed, nodding with a soft smile.

"Okay, wise one, what does a normal couple strolling on the pier do on dates?" Kie wondered, looking over at JJ. "Would they maybe get a snow cone?"

"Oh they most definitely would." JJ nodded, watching as Kie and Sage walked towards the snow comes. "You want a snow cone, Attie."

"Nah, I'm okay." Athena responded, leaning into him further. "This is nice."

"What?"

"Being out in public, on a date without fearing for our lives." Athena stated. "I like being with you."

"I like being with you too." JJ whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple.

Sage and Kie returned with their snow cones, the group continuing to the end of the pier. Athena rested her arms against the wood, looking out at the ocean as JJ wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into him, allowing her to rest her head against his chest.

"So, should we jump off this thing?" Kie suggested.

"Whoa. No."

"Come on." Kie encouraged. "It'll be fun, especially after you too have been cooped up."

"I will if you will." Sage agreed before turning to JJ. "And I dare you."

"Well I'm never one to turn down a dare." JJ sighed. "Attie?"

The girl looked between them before the hairs on her neck stood up, a bad feeling settling over her. "No, we shouldn't. We should keep a lookout for the guy."

"Come on, Attie!" Kie urged her. "Get your pretty ass up there."

The three began to climb up onto the edge. Athena let out a small breath before following after them, the bad feeling growing.

"Are we doing this?"

"We're up here, aren't we?"

Athena grabbed onto JJ's hand as he began to count down before she jumped off the end, her bad feeling melting away as she felt the cold water hit her body. The group all cheered as they began to swim to shore. Athena looked around, searching for what made her feeling pique, noticing the guy up on the pier.

"Guys we gotta go!" Athena shouted.

"What?"

"The guy, he's there." Athena pointed behind them, rushing towards the shore where Pope and Cleo were also shouting for them.

The group ran up the shore, jumping into the truck and heading back towards the house, away from the man and away from the danger. Athena slumped in the back, trying to regulate her breathing.

"I told you I had a bad feeling." The blonde announced.

"We need to put you in a dark room with a crystal ball." Sage told her.

"We could get her to do tarot readings and charge for them." Kie added to the idea. "Earn some cash."

"You have predicted it every time." JJ reminded her, tilting his head to the side. "You got a seer somewhere in your family."

"No." Athena shook her head.

"How did you even know he was there, blondie?" Cleo asked, shouting from the front.

"The hairs on the back of my neck stood up." Athena explained. "I thought it was from you guys trying to jump, I thought something was gonna happen but no it was him."

"Thank god we jumped, huh?" JJ tried to joke but it didn't land well as Pope pulled back in front of the house.

Athena was the first one out of the truck, heading up to her and JJ's room to change into some dry clothes she hadn't spent the last twenty four hours in. She put on a pair of linen trousers and a black cropped halter top. When she was finished, she joined the rest of the group – minus JJ who was getting dressed after his shower – to find out what John B and Sarah had learned.

John b held the amulet in his hand as he read the translation of the words engraved. "'Where the living and dead collide, the gatekeeper will guide the way.'"

"Sounds like a Bible verse." Sarah commented.

"It's like some fable." Cleo added.

"To me, it sounds like directions." John B shrugged as JJ joined them.

"Yeah, but to what?" Cleo asked, JJ leaning over John B to pick the amulet up.

"Well, I mean, Genrette was obsessed with Blackbeard so maybe directions to his treasure?" John B tried to come up with a plausible suggestion.

"And how much would that be in American?" JJ asked.

"Um, in almost every major currency, I think it's considered priceless." John B answered, turning to look at JJ. "Unlimited US dollars."

JJ made a face. "Tempting."

"So, what is this treasure?" Sage wondered.

"Gold?" Cleo suggested.

"No, wait a minute." Pope cut in. "I remember on the pier, the diver was talking to some lady about something. It wasn't gold. It was like a... like a—a crown. A blue crown."

"A blue crown?" JJ asked.

"A blue crown, Pope?" Sarah repeated like he was going insane.

"I don't know. I'm just relaying information I heard." Pope shrugged.

"What else did they say?" Kie questioned.

"I was hanging from the bottom of a pier." Pope defended.

"All you heard was 'blue crown'?" Kie scoffed.

"I heard blue crown and it sounded important." Pope argued.

"Or it could be code or something, like a clue." JJ piped up. "It could lead us to something. That's what it is?"

"John B what are you doing?" Athena asked but she went ignored.

"Honestly, what even is a blue crown?" Sarah wondered.

"Apparently, it is the most sought out artifact in the ancient world." John B stated, the group turning to see him reading from a book. He turned to show them the book that was called 'the fabled blue crown'. He tapped the front cover. "I don't believe I am capping on this one, Pope. Look at this."

"I'm interested."

John B flipped through the book, placing it down on the desk so everyone could see. The others gathered around. "What is that?"

"'Legends abound of the Crown's fabled origins.'" Pope read from the book. "So it's a real crown."

John B flipped through again, finding a picture of a man holding a crown with blue crystals in it. "Here."

"That's what Genrette wanted."

"It's a blue crown."

"It's a literal blue crown."

"Listen, listen." John B grabbed their attention once more. "'The Blue Crown created for Darius the Great of Persia over 3000 years ago.'"

"Looks more than 50K, I'll say that." JJ commented.

"'It was said to possess the blessing of the gods themselves, granting the wearer immense favour and rare invincibility.'" John B continued to read. "Holy shit, look at this. It say Xerxes, the son of Darius the Great, he was a badass. He's wearing it. Uh, Alexander the Great beat the shit out of everybody. He's wearing it. Julius Caesar, also a badass. Murdered a bunch of people."

"Hm, so it's like the opposite of that death compass you told me your dad had." Athena shrugged making John B turn and send her a look.

"She's right." JJ made a face.

"So, your dad told you all this?" Pope wondered.

"No, no. I don't remember any of this. I just know that it granted wishes." John B told them.

"Grants wishes?" Kie repeated, clearly not believing it at all.

"What, like a genie?" Pope added.

"How many wishes?" Kie wondered.

"Hold on. It says right here, 'The crown was lost sometime in the 1700s, but it was rumoured to be hunted down by...'" John B trailed off.

"Who?"

"Who?"

"Who, John B?"

"Bunch of owls." Athena muttered.

"Blackbeard." John B revealed.

"What?"

"Come again?"

"That's crazy." Sarah stated, leaning over John B's shoulder to get a better look.

"There's no way."

"It's right there. Look." Pope pointed to the paragraph. "'Hunted by Blackbeard.'"

"Come on. We're doing this. I know we're doing it, all right?" JJ began to get excited as they all shared smiled. "Priceless or 50K?"

"What other choice do we have?" Sarah added.

"Are we really doing this again?" Kie wondered.

"Priceless!" JJ exclaimed.

"Would it be astrology or something?" Sarah began to come up with ideas about what the directions meant, the group all getting excited about it.

"John B?" Athena snapped the boy out of his thoughts. "You okay?"

John B hesitated. "Hmm."

"What's up?" Athena wondered.

"I don't wanna be like—" John B began to explain.

"I get it." Athena nodded. "But you're not. You have us, he didn't. And we're not gonna let you become him."

"Promise?" John B held his pinkie up.

"I promise." Athena interlinked their pinkies together. "But you can't let me become my family either."

"Would I ever?" John B retorted.

"No." Athena shook her head. "Come on, let's join the others."

John B nodded, following after her to join the others who had started to celebrate. The beers had be cracked open and the fire had been lit, all of them glad that they were doing this again and that might actually be able to save poguelandia once and for all.

They laughed and joked around and Athena had not felt this happy in a while. She joined in on the drinking, a wide smile on her face as she messed out with the pogues.

"Miss Cameron, may I have this dance?" JJ suddenly appeared next to her.

"Now?"

"We always dance, Cinderella, it's a tradition." JJ stated, holding his hand out. "Can I have this dance, milady."

Athena giggled, curtseying. "You may kind sir."

She took his hand, allowing to boy to pull her towards him. They swayed together for a few moments before JJ spun Athena under his arm, watching her hair spin out and her smile grow before she crashed into his chest, smiling up at him. JJ paused, slowing them down at he gazed down at her wide smile that lit up her entire face.

"I love you." JJ told her. "More than anything else in this entire world."

"I love you too, J." Athena replied, leaning up to press her lips to his for a few moments. "I'd marry you with paper rings."

"Right back at ya." JJ responded, pulling them over to one of the sofas, grabbing a blanket and placing it over them as they sat down.

Athena placed her head against his shoulder, staring up at the sky. "Where do you think we go when we die?"

"I don't know." JJ shrugged. "Why?"

"I like to believe that we become stars." Athena told him. "The stars connect all of us, no matter where you are in the world, no matter what you're doing, the stars are there. I like to believe that some stars are the ones we lost, shining down on us, guiding the way."

"Your dad's shining down on you, Attie." JJ stated. "He's proud of you as well."

"Thanks J." Athena smiled. "When we die, we're gonna be stars together. Us pogues can form a constellation."

"I like that idea." JJ nodded. "A constellation for the pogues, shaped like a fish."

"Or a house?" Athena suggested. "Because we're each other's homes."

"That's a good idea." JJ smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "That's gonna happen, one day."

"Far far away." Athena added as her eyes fluttered shut, sleep taking over.

( 💌 ) isobels notes
some kie and athena cause i feel like
we havent had any of them yet
more cutsie jathena
john b and athena my babies always
cinderella making a comeback yayay
the stars thing will come back 🤭