"Is everyone okay?" John B mumbles as my body aches from the force of the crash.

"Just about," I reply as JJ opens his door, brushing the smashed glass off of his lap, which thankfully didn't hurt him.

"That is the last time you drive, Pope," JJ warns as he gives me his hand and helps me out of the car as Kiara climbs out of the front passenger seat.

"You okay?" JJ asks me, scanning my face, "You're bleeding a little."

"It's nothing," I mutter, feeling a small stream of the warm liquid rolling down my cheek from my cheekbone. With my clothes already in a bad state I use the cuff of my sweater to mop up the blood.

"Oh, my Dad's truck, no!" Kiara groans as she assesses the damage to the front of the vehicle.

"One word, Kie, totalled." JJ remarks as we join her at the front of the truck.

"My parents are going to kill me," Kiara whispers as Sarah and John B join us, "For real this time."

"Yeah, well, weren't they already going to do that, anyway?" JJ sighs.

"Helpful, thank you." Kiara mutters, and I can tell she's doing her best to suppress her anger at the situation.

"We're gonna have to walk the rest of the way," Pope declares, as though we haven't just been in a car accident.

"Dude." Sarah exclaims.

"He can't be serious." I whisper to the girls.

"I'm going to get my cross." Pope answers.

"Hey, just relax for a second," John B steps in front of Pope, resting his hands on his shoulders.

"Get off of me," Pope shrugs away from his grip.

"I'm just trying to help," John B attempts to reason with him.

"I'm getting my cross," Pope tells him bluntly, as though none of this has just happened.

"Dude, you just crashed Kie's truck!" I exclaim as he pushes past John B, heading in the direction of the Freedman church when I notice a large truck driving towards us.

"Pope, I'm trying to watch out for you!" John B trails after him.

"I need to get the cross!" Pope shouts as John B drags him off of the road and out of the path of the truck.

"There's a truck right there, you'll get hit!" John B shouts.

The next seconds are like those scenes you see in the movies, when everything feels like it's happening in slow motion. It's Renfield I see first in the passenger seat of the truck, but it's Rafe I'm drawn to, as though I'm unable to take in anything else.

His eyes are on me while his jaw is clenched as they pass us by, and it's as though they slow down to let us know that once again the kooks have won. It doesn't take a genius to work it out, they must have the cross, why else would they need such a big truck.

"We gotta get back to the church!" Pope shouts as they continue driving down the street further away from us.

We all begin sprinting down the street despite the pain from the crash, knowing that the church is only around the corner. I hope with everything I have in me that it was just a coincidence, that there is another reason for Rafe to be driving such a big truck.

After about five minutes, we reach the church, all of us breathless as Pope opens the doors, revealing nothing but the cushions JJ used to hide the cross. We've lost again, we lost to the kooks, we lost to Rafe, and I should've known that the lust for money would control him, even with Ward dead.

"It's gone." Kiara mutters as Pope approaches the alter.

"Damn it," JJ kicks one of the cushions across the church, "I knew I didn't hide it well enough."

"You tried, J." I attempt to reassure him.

"We need a plan, maybe we'll grab some kerosene tanks from the chateau, and then some dynamite from my Dad's shop, then we drive down to Charleston and show this lady who she's messing with!" JJ rambles.

"That's not gonna help." Sarah mutters.

"Well, then what is?" JJ asks.

"Sidney," Kiara turns to look at me from where she's sitting on the front pew, "Did you tell Rafe that the cross was here?"

"What?" I laugh at how barbaric the idea sounds.

"Well did you?" She asks, standing up, grabbing everyone's attention.

"That's ridiculous," I reply.

"Well you've said multiple times that you regret what happened, and that you still have feelings for him." Kiara tells me, and I can't quite believe she'd accuse me of something like that.

"You still don't trust me, do you?" I scoff, looking at the others who are yet to add their opinions, "Do any of you actually trust me?"

"Of course we trust you," John B sighs, "But we're just trying to work out how Rafe found out it was here, okay."

"I don't know what you all think of me," I sigh with frustration, looking at the people I call my friends, "But if you think that I would share this with the man who shot the sheriff, lied to me about it, shot his own sister, lied to me about it, took the gold from us, oh and lied about that too. Then you clearly haven't been paying attention to the way I've been these past few weeks."

"So you didn't tell him?" Kiara replies.

"No, I didn't," I huff, "I never told him about the gold, I never told him about Sarah and John B being alive, and I certainly didn't tell him about the cross," I explain, "But even though I hate myself for it, I still love him, but that doesn't mean I don't resent him for what he's done."

"So how did they know it would be here if they didn't have the spyglass?" Kiara asks, still seemingly puzzled.

"They must've followed us and taken their chance when Pope had his allergic reaction," I suggest, hating how it sounds, "They probably would've killed us for that cross."

"Not all of us," JJ mutters as I turn towards him, "Rafe would've spared you."

"I doubt it," I sigh, glancing down at my feet.

"You'll always be his weakness, Sid," John B adds in agreement.

I turn to Pope, hating that the man I still love was involved in all of this, "I'm so sorry that he did this to you, Pope."

"Denmark would've stood right here, preaching to everyone he set free," Pope mutters as the rest of us stand in silence, "A slave, the sole survivor of the Royal Merchant, he got the gold and the cross, and he bought them to shore to free the people who walked through the doors of this church."

"The Limbreys took everything from him," Pope continues, "But I'm done, I'm tired of that shit, that is not how this ends. I'm going to get my family's cross."

He walks past all of us, pushing the door open before turning to look at us, "You guys coming?"

"Well when you put it that way," John B grins.

"Maybe we should think about it," JJ jokes.

"Like pros and cons?" John B adds.

"A pros and cons list, exactly!" JJ exclaims, as John B wraps his arm around his shoulder, "Hell yeah, we're coming Pope!"

We all rush towards the twinkie where Pope is already waiting as John B pulls the keys from his pocket, "I love you Pope, but I think I'll take the driving from here."

"I'm okay with that," Pope sighs as we pile into the back of the twinkie, JJ and John B heading up to the front, "We've just got to work out where Rafe and Renfield would take the cross."

"Tannyhill seems like an obvious place to start," I suggest as we begin driving back towards the street.

"Sid's right," Sarah nods in agreement, "I can't think of anywhere else Rafe would risk taking that cross."

"So, what are we thinking?" JJ glances back at us as we reach the main street, "Ask Rose if we can pop in for a cup of tea, then bam! Acquire the cross when she's not looking."

"Recent events suggest that you're not made for logistical plans," Kiara sighs as we round the corner before where we had the crash.

"Oh no, that's not good," John B mutters, which worries all of us as we look up to see blue flashing lights and several police cars at the site of the crash.

"Oh shit, they found the truck," Kiara whispers, sounding panicked as she ducks out of view.

"Just act chill," I tell the group.

"Of course," JJ nods, "Act natural."

We come to a stop as Shoupe and Plumb approach us, shining torches into the twinkie.

"Evening officer," John B smiles awkwardly.

"Sheriff, actually." Shoupe corrects him.

"Of course, Sheriff," John B sighs, pursing his lips, "Speed kills, huh?"

"I pulled the tags, I know who's truck that is," Shoupe tells us, shining the torch into the back of the van, "Hey, Kie, you drop your weed pen back there?"

"Found it," She nods, giving him a thumbs up.

"Sheriff," Pope interjects, and I can tell this isn't going to end well, "I just want to say, this is all my fault, she had nothing to do with it, I take full responsibility."

"Nothing to do with it?" Shoupe replies, "You wanna try that again? Your parents reported the truck missing four hours ago, and the keys were missing from the house, so I'm taking you home."

"Does she have to go home?" I whisper to Sarah.

"Or if you'd prefer, I can pull you all in for leaving the scene of an accident," Shoupe warns us, which sounds like the last thing any of us need, especially if we want to get the cross back tonight.

"Okay," Kie sighs as Plumb makes her way round the twinkie to help her get out, "You guys hit me up later and make sure I'm still alive."

As Plumb and Shoupe lead Kiara to one of the police cars, Sarah pulls the door shut, each of us looking at each other, unsure what to say.

"We're going to Tannyhill, right?" I sigh.

"We don't have to, unless you want to." JJ glances at me, and I can't help but appreciate his concern for me going back there.

"Bricks and cement can't hurt me." I tell him.

ੈ✩‧₊˚

We drove to Figure Eight as quickly, yet safely, as possible. We don't know how much time we have left, but what we do know is that Rafe had a head start. I'm not a betting woman, but in this race, we're the underdogs, and who doesn't love an underdog?

We pull the twinkie up beside the back wall of the Cameron's house, ducking down behind the wall to stay out of view as we survey the area.

"He's got the truck," JJ whispers as we notice Rafe driving the truck from earlier into the driveway.

"How much do you want to bet that Rafe has the cross inside that truck, right now?" Pope looks at each of us.

"I don't have enough money to my name to bet on something like that," I whisper, watching as Rafe disappears inside the house, "I snorted most of my savings."

"Fair enough," JJ mutters, taken aback by my brazen remark about my previous issues with drugs.

"There's only one way to find out," Sarah declares, heading in the direction of the main gate.

"Hey, hey, wait!" John B hisses, running after her.

They stop just close enough for us to hear their conversation, which we can't help but listen to, "Look, before you volunteer for this death mission, I need to know a couple things."

"Death mission, that sounds familiar," Sarah sighs.

"Look, I just have questions," John B huffs.

"About what?" Sarah asks.

"Us."

"He really picks his moments," I nudge JJ with my elbow.

"Us?"

"Yeah, Sarah, come on," John B replies.

"You wanna talk about us, right now?" Sarah says, clearly surprised by John B's timing.

"I'm sorry, and I should have said it sooner. I want you to have this back," He holds out the thin piece of his bandana that one meant so much to them both, "Will you take it?"

After a moment of hesitation, without a word she kisses him, giving him the answer he so desperately wanted after all this time. I can't help but feel happy for them, but also yearn for the relationship I had that used to make me feel like that.

"Does that answer your question?" She mutters.

"Yeah." John B grins.

"And yeah, I want this back," Sarah takes the piece of bandana from John B's hand before turning and heading towards the gate.

"Okay, be safe." John B whispers.

"Hey, do you want me to perform your vows while you're at it?" Pope mutters as John B runs back towards us.

"I can officiate," I add as I keep my eyes on Sarah as she runs up the path.

"You took your time," JJ whispers.

"What is she doing?" I ask, drawing the boys' attention back to the truck, as Sarah looks in the driver's seat for the keys.

She turns to us, whispering so obviously we can't make out what she's saying from this distance, but as she gestures towards the house, we know it can't be good.

"Come back," We all wave frantically, aware that this probably isn't a good idea.

"No, don't go inside!" Pope mouths as we watch Sarah head inside the house.

"Why is she going in the house?" JJ asks.

Do the bird call," Pope tells John B.

I cringe as John B does what can only be described a pathetic attempt at a bird call, "What the fuck was that?"

"That's not what a bird sounds like," Pope adds.

"I'm going over," John B mutters, pulling himself up onto the wall, the rest of us doing the same, and before we can attempt to reason with him, the sound of a car horn interrupts us.

We slowly turn around to see a golf buggy pulling up beside us, "Uh, excuse me, can I help you?" He cocks a gun at us, which in my opinion is a bit intense for neighbourhood watch.

"I got double-aught bucks in this thing, so I can't miss," The man tells us as he steps off of his golf cart.

"Sir, this is not what it seems," JJ tells him as we climb down from the wall.

"You kids are on the wrong side of the island," He tells us, and I suppose our dishevelled appearances from today's excursion kind of give that away.

I look at each of the boys, worrying about how we should play this, but before I can muster up a plan, the man continues talking, "I think I should call the police."

"You don't have to do that," JJ assures him.

"I'll decide for myself what I do," The man tells us firmly, "All of you get on your knees."

We do as he says and kneel on the ground, unsure of which way this could go, all while the thought of Sarah inside the house plays on my mind.

"Sir, can I just talk to you for one minute?" JJ asks, and I mentally buckle myself in for another JJ spin story as he slowly stands up.

"Sir, I know you think we're just some derelict kids from the cut, but we weren't that to Mr Cameron," He tells the man as I glance at Pope and John B as JJ removes his hat, "We were his yard workers, sir. We were just waiting for our yard associate Tommy to get back from planting a row of flowers for Mr Cameron's memorial."

I've got to give it to him, that was good, I would believe him.

"Keep talking," The man tells him.

"Well, you see, Mr Cameron recruited us, as kids with little prospects," JJ tells him, which I realise is a classic method of wearing down a kook, praise, "I was on the streets, my friend here," He points at me, "She was a teen mother at just fourteen years old, the father abandoned her, but Mr Cameron gave her a lifeline, and now she's the best florist I know."

I'm going to swing for him in a minute.

"And these boys, well they were abandoned on the island, and Mr Cameron gave them shelter and employment, an almost prosperous future." JJ tells him.

"We're just doing what we can to keep his memory alive, sir," I add, slowly standing up beside JJ, "His legacy on this island must be remembered."

"Exactly," JJ nods, "The Knight of the Rhododendron lives on," Patting the man's chest, "In here."

"That's why we planted the flowers," I lie, attempting to strengthen JJ's story.

"Yes, that's why." Pope nods.

"You smell that, right?" JJ asks.

"What is it, night blooming jasmine?" He replies.

"No, it's more like, erm, it's like...natural viagra," JJ tells him and I have to stop myself from laughing.

"Really?" He remarks.

"Yeah, just one sniff and bam, It's hammer time!" JJ exclaims, "You know what I'm saying?"

"Our associate Tommy should be out here any minute," Pope adds, diffusing the situation.

"We'll be quiet, and we'll finish up here, I'm so sorry we bothered you," JJ smiles, guiding him back to the golf buggy.

"Very good," He nods, taking his driver's seat, "I need to get some of those flowers."

"Have a good night sir," JJ nods as he drives off.

As soon as he's out of sight we rush back to the wall, "Let's go," John B mutters as we pull ourselves up and over, landing on the grass on the other side.

We slowly run up the garden, our eyes on the truck as we all duck behind a bush. There's no sign of Sarah, which worries me, because it can't take this long to find a set of keys.

"Something doesn't feel right," I whisper, trailing my eyes over each window for signs of life.

"Yeah, we're at Tannyhill for the second time this week," JJ hisses.

"What do we do?" John B asks, "Sarah needs us."

In a moment of adrenaline fuelled stupidity, I make a quick suggestion, "What if I go in and say I need to speak to Rafe?"

"What good is that going to do?" JJ hisses as I mentally psych myself up for what I'm suggesting.

"Best case, he lets us have the cross, worst case, you have to call the cops," I smile, like it's nothing, trying to kid myself that this is going to be okay.

"Sid, are you sure?" Pope asks.

I look down at the ground and then back up at the house that I used to consider a safe haven, "He can break my heart again and again if he wants, but he's not getting that fucking cross."

"Atta girl," JJ grins, squeezing my hand.

"Sid, be fucking careful." John B tells me firmly.

I stare up at the house, feeling my heart race at what I've just propelled myself into. It was a stupid idea, but frankly I'm all out of good ones.

"Sid," JJ whispers, clearly noticing my anxious disposition, as he places his hands on my shoulders, "You're a pogue, so go in there and be a fucking pogue."

"Okay," I nod, straightening up and darting around the edge of the garden towards the front door, realising that there's no going back now.

My hand trembles as I slowly open the door and slip inside, pulling the door shut before heading into the main foyer. The space is so quiet that I can practically hear my heartbeat echoing around the marble floored room.

"Rafe," I call out, my heart thumping against my chest, hoping he's not too far away so that I can get this over and done with.

"Who let you in?" I turn around to see him coming up the stairs from the cellar, his jaw clenched, and his hair is clearly freshly washed.

"I let myself in," I reply, focusing my gaze on the floor, too overwhelmed by the familiarity and intensity of his eye contact.

"What do you want?" He sighs.

"To see you," I lie, although deep down I know it's partly true, "I think we should talk."

"Well at least let me get you cleaned up first," He replies civilly, observing my dirty clothes from the forest and injuries from the crash, "What happened to your face?"

"You should see the other guy," I joke awkwardly.

"Was it from the crash?" He asks hesitantly.

"So you did see us on the side of the street, that wasn't concussion causing me to hallucinate." I laugh humorously.

"Would you just let me help you?" He replies, clearly I'm testing his patience.

"Okay." I nod as he leads me upstairs, dipping his hand into a basket of clean laundry and pulling out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

He takes me straight to his bedroom, unhooking the door and leading me inside, "You can put these on, there's also fresh towels in my bathroom if you want a shower."

"Thanks," I smile, taking the clothes from him and heading for the en suite.

Although I need to get this job done quickly, I also don't want to arouse suspicion from Rafe. So I oblige and take a quick shower, scrubbing today's dirt from my body.

I change into the clothes he's given me, a pair of Sarah's jeans and one of his t-shirts before returning to the bedroom where he's sitting on the bed, waiting for me.

"Thanks for the shower," I smile awkwardly, running a hand through my damp hair.

"Will you let me clean that cut for you?" He asks, brushing past me and heading into the bathroom, returning with a first aid kit.

"You're not going to give me a choice, are you?" I sigh, reminded of how overly protective he once was of me.

"You know me so well," He smirks, pulling out a surgical wipe and dabbing it against the dried blood on my skin.

"I remember when it used to be me cleaning you up." I smile, looking down at my feet as he continues to gently clean my skin.

"You're not here for me though, are you?" Rafe pauses, tossing the wipe into the trash can beside his dresser.

I look up at him with baited breath, "You know exactly what I'm here for, you have something that doesn't belong to you."

Rafe laughs under his breath as he stands up from the bed, pacing back and forth in front of me, "So is this the way it has to be, you against me?"

"It doesn't have to be like that, if you give Pope the cross." I tell him firmly, reminded of what JJ said to me before I entered the house.

"Why would I do that?" He scoffs in disbelief.

"It belongs to his family, Rafe." I exclaim, devastated by his hunger for wealth.

"All's fair in love and war, you taught me that," Rafe sighs.

"Is that all I was?" I ask, "Just collateral damage in your war with the pogues?"

"We both know that's not true." Rafe tells me firmly.

"How am I meant to look you in the eye, knowing what you've done?" I reply, standing up in front of him.

"You won't have to for much longer, my family and I leaving the OBX tonight." He tells me, and it's like a dagger straight to my chest.

"So after everything, you're just giving up? On us?"

"Sid, you made it pretty fucking clear that there isn't an us anymore!" He makes a valid point, and even after everything he's done, the idea of him not being here anymore is terrifying.

"And you were going to leave without saying goodbye?" I mutter, hating the people we've become, compared to the couple who used to share this bedroom.

"I think you and I are past that point, don't you?" He scoffs, and I hate to admit it, but I think he's right.

I roll my eyes in disbelief, brushing straight past him, silently opening the bedroom door, "You're just going to walk off without saying anything else?" He calls out.

"We're past the point of goodbyes, remember." I reply before walking back down the hallway towards the large staircase, headed straight for the boys waiting for me outside.

I reach the bottom of the stairs, and head straight for the door, relieved that I've not had any more run-ins with other members of the Cameron family. I hope that in the time I was talking to Rafe, Sarah was able to get the keys and give them to the boys.

Quietly, I open the front door, slipping out and running across the driveway to where the boys were waiting. Crouching beside them as they eagerly await my news.

JJ does a double take as he glances at me, "How the hell did you have time to get changed?"

"Rafe insisted on helping me get cleaned up," I explain.

"How did it go?" John B asks.

"It's not good," I whisper, keeping my eyes on the front door, "Rafe isn't giving the cross up."

"Shit." Pope hisses.

"It gets worse," I add, noticing Rafe is now in the porch talking to Rose.

"How could it possibly get any worse?" JJ mutters.

"The Camerons are leaving the Outer Banks." I tell the boys, watching as their faces drop.

"Did you see Sarah?" John B asks.

"No," I shake my head as we all duck down at the sound of the front door opening, and I glance over the hedge to see Rafe getting into the truck, "Maybe she's with Rose and Wheezie?"

"I hate to alarm you guys, but Rafe's in the truck," JJ whispers as we all hear the sound of the engine starting.

"What's the plan?" JJ asks frantically as Rafe begins driving the truck down towards the road, "He might have the gun, so what's in our favour? The element of surprise."

"What can we surprise him with?" John B hisses.

"He's got my cross." Pope whispers.

"What if we threw something in front?" JJ suggests.

"Like what?" I exclaim in whispers, "A tree?"

"Or a slingshot?" John B adds.

"A slingshot, exactly!" JJ exclaims.

"I don't think we've thought this through," I whisper as Rafe drives straight past us.

"You're right, we could've taken him when we had the chance!" JJ exclaims.

"Guys, where's Pope?" I asks, noticing his absence.

"Holy shit, Pope!" JJ hisses as we watch Pope running behind the truck and pulling himself up onto the back of it, "Get back here!"

"Someone's got a death wish," John B exclaims as we watch the truck leaving Tannyhill while Pope clings on for dear life.

"What was that shit?" JJ mutters in disbelief as the truck disappears.

"Well, Rafe's gone now, so let's storm the fort," JJ declares.

"Who's that?" I whisper as we duck down behind the bush, watching the front door open.

"It's Rose," John B whispers, and I quickly realise Rose and Wheezie are walking with Sarah in between them, but she doesn't look very responsive.

"Shit, they've got Sarah," JJ whispers.

"What did they do to her?" John B mutters as Rose and Wheezie guide Sarah into the car.

"Rafe didn't mention Sarah," I tell them as I watch Rose climb into the driver's seat.

"We've got to get her out of there," John B tells us as the car begins to move.

"JJ, you take Wheezie's side, John B take Sarah and I'll go for Rose," I tell the boys as we wait for the car to approach us.

"Yes ma'am," JJ salutes as the car nears us.

"Go!" I exclaim as we all rush to the car, running along side it as we hit our hands against the windows, pulling at the door handles, but noticing that they are locked.

"Let her out!" John B shouts.

"Wheeze!" JJ exclaims.

"Please, Rose!" I add as we continue running alongside the car.

"Sarah, wake up!" John B shouts as the car speeds away from us, out of touching distance.

"The Twinkie," JJ shouts, "We need to get the twinkie!"

We run back across the grass, heading straight for where we parked the twinkie, John B dashes for the driver's seat and I take the passenger seat, JJ crouching in between us.

"Where do you go if you're trying to leave the island with a seven foot gold cross?" JJ asks as John B puts his foot down on the accelerator.

"Not the airstrip, that's for sure," I reply, "The wharf, perhaps?"

"It's worth a shot." John B sighs as we attempt to catch up with Rose's car.

"Nothing to lose?"

"Nothing to lose."

author's note: next stop, the coastal venture.

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