CHAPTER FORTY NINE
[49]
song: itch by nothing but thieves

The dial tone rang in her ear again, the sharp, mechanical beeping almost mocking her impatience. It had been over an hour since she'd last heard from anyone, and Cassie was beginning to feel the weight of the silence press down on her. This was the fourth call— they were probably still diving, she reminded herself. But still, she couldn't shake the anxiety clawing at her chest.

Cassie dialed the number quickly as she pulled the Twinkie off the road and down the gravel driveway. She hadn't heard from anyone for over an hour, and while she blamed it on poor connection— they were out on the ocean— she couldn't help but get antsy.

As she pinned the phone to her ear, and navigated through the dark threes to the house, she brought the van to a screeching halt seeing Rafe's bike stood just a few feet in front of their front porch. Cassie's stomach sank as her gaze locked on the tires, the familiar black-and-red frame, its wheels still.

She hung up the phone quickly, sure she wasn't going to get an answer anyway. Not even turning off the van, almost forgetting to put it in park, Cassie swung the door open and jumped out.

"Rafe!" Her voice echoed across the property, sharp and raw, like it had been building for hours. Maybe even years.

She was fueled with anger, so much of it she didn't even consider the fact that she might be in danger. She was the only one home.

She felt like her privacy had been violated. He didn't belong here. This was her house. He had no business showing up here like he owned the island.

Her head was on a swivel, scanning the property for any sign of him. "Rafe!" She screamed again, her throat burning with the force of it. She felt her anger, her fear, and the frustration of the last few weeks all mix together into something raw. This is was her house. This was her place, her last piece of peace, and he had no right to be here.

She sees him walking up from the dock in the dark, as he enters the light, he appears just as angry— if not more. Flinging his arms out to the side, like he was expecting an answer, he spoke. "What the fuck—what are you doing?" Rafe's voice cracked with fury, his hands flinging outward, as if she owed him some explanation for just existing.

"You're trespassing!" She points a finger at him.

They were charging toward each other, their feet pounding in sync, and for a moment, Cassie almost thought they might collide—two forces unwilling to back down, too proud, too stubborn. Neither one willing to concede.

"Oh, we— we're talking legality? You just stole a three hundred thousand dollar boat from me—"

Cassie lets out a loud scoff as she shakes her head, coming to a quick halt before he about ran her over. "You'll get your damn boat back, relax." She snapped the words out, her voice firm, though the two of them were inches apart— practically breathing the same air— neither of them were willing to step back.

His eyes widened, looking at her like she was crazy. "You— where is it?! You sell it— or some shit?! Here, here you can—" he quickly shoves his hand in his pocket, ripping out his wallet, and tearing a hundred dollar bill out before throwing it at her. "—you need money?!"

Cassie frantically flung it away like it was a fly. "You asshole!" She screamed, her voice going coarse. "Who do you think you are?!"

He got in her face, eyes still wide, almost confused. "I could've called the cops—"

"You—" she stops her previous sentence as he talked over her. "Oh, thank you Rafe you're so—"

"Where's my boat? Huh?!" He shook his head quickly.

There was so much pent up anger and adrenaline coursing through her veins right now, Cassie physically shoved him back and away from her.

He stumbled backward, wide eyes remaining on hers as his expression changed from angry, to surprised, to hysteric. He laughed, in shock. "You—" he was trying to piece this all together, but was in too much shock to get a sentence out. He clenched his jaw and got serious again, like a whole other person took over his body. "You stole my boat and then when I— when I show up asking where it is you're the one losing your shit?!" He leans forward, getting in her face again as he tapped both of his temples with his fingers. "What's the thinking there?"

Cassie was panting, trying to catch her breath, as she wasn't sure she'd stopped and breathed since she jumped out of the Twinkie.

It was like he was actually waiting for answer. "Huh?!" He raised his voice. "What's going on with you!? Are you—"

The question sent Cassie over the edge.

It was all rage that carried her forward, that spun her on her heel and toward the back porch. Up the stairs and through the screen door.

"Cassie!" Rafe yelled after her angrily.

She didn't stop. Didn't look back. Instead, she barreled into her brother's room, slamming the door open so hard it bounced off the wall.

She went to his closet, knocked a few boxes down from the top shelf as stood on her toes and reached up, her hands shaking violently as they rifled through the debris until her fingers brushed against cold metal of his gun.

She could hear the screen door open, Rafe's voice short to follow. "Hey!" It echoed loudly around the house. "I'm talking to you!?"

Cassie came out from JJ's room with the gun in her hand, and Rafe quickly stumbled backward, toppling back into the shutting screen door. "What the fuck— chill!" He yelled.

"Get out!" Cassie screamed.

She was too afraid to point the gun in his direction. Even with all the energy coursing through her veins, there was still a small part of her that was trying to break through all the walls she put up. A small part of her that was begging her to stop, and think, and be smart than this.

"Wh— what the hell are you doing?!" Rafe was backing up quickly, back onto the front porch and trying to get down the stairs without falling. Stumbling over his two feet as Cassie charged back toward him.

"Get—" Cassie stopped, her voice falling quiet as she saw his boat pulling into their dock. Its blue lights illuminating the water beneath it.

Rafe let out a sharp, shaky exhale as he turned from Cassie and to the dock. "Hey!" He turned, already forgetting the fact that she had a gun as he started going for the docks.

She ran after him, jumping off the porch and chasing after him before he got to them. She could already hear the commotion from the boat before either of them got to the docks.

John B hopped off the boat before it was even tied up, his boots thudding against the wood, his hands out defensively as if trying to calm Rafe down.

"Back to stealing from the family, Sarah? Huh?!" Rafe charged down the dock as Sarah slowly got off behind John B.

Sarah was going the calmer route, taking a breath before speaking. "We just—"

Rafe quickly spun back around, facing Cassie again like his anger was suddenly redirected. From the stealing of the boat and back to her, within milliseconds. "What are you gonna do?!" He shouts, shrugging. "You gonna shoot me?"

Cassie didn't even get a chance to respond, John B was already on her, quickly pulling the gun from her grip and stopping her from charging on any further.

"Chill. Chill." He muttered as he pried it from her grip.

"Get out!" Cassie screamed over John B's shoulder, watching as Rafe's smirk grew wider and wider.

He knew exactly what he was doing. He knew exactly what buttons to push, what made her tick. And it was all working. If his goal was to drive her over the edge, then he did it.

Sarah made her way over to Cassie and John B, taking Cassie from him so he could deal with Rafe. "Let's go upstairs." Sarah stood in her eye-line, separating her gaze from Rafe.

Cassie shook her head, lips trembling. "I don't— he can't be here. This is our house."

"Guys!" Pope yelled from the boat.

She was so preoccupied, she didn't even notice JJ and Kiara, who sat at the nose of the ship, both clutching their stomachs and wallowing in pain.

Sarah turned her attention back to Cassie. "Just go inside, we'll—"

"Sarah, I'm fine." Cassie pushed Sarah's gentle hand off of her arm, more aggressive than intended, as she carried on down the docks. "What's going on?!"

Sarah clenched her jaw, lingering in her spot.

"What's going on? What's— get off my boat!" Rafe was taken aback, now stuck in between a conflict he didn't need to be in.

"They've got the bends. We need to get them to a hospital— like right now." Pope says frantically, already moving to help Kiara off the boat.

Cassie's heart slammed against her ribs as she rushed to the edge of the dock. Her boots slapped against the wooden planks as she grabbed the line Cleo tossed her, tying it off with hands that trembled just slightly more than they should have.

"What the hell are you guys talking about?!" Rafe looked around for some sort of answer.

"Shut the fuck up!" Pope yelled desperately. "Help me pull this down!" He gestured frantically to Rafe as he extended the bridge as far as it could go.

"Wh—" Rafe didn't have much of a choice, letting out a loud huff as he grabbed the other side of the bridge and pulled it down to the dock.

John B pushed him out of the way as he climbed back on to bring Kiara down. Cassie looks over at her brother, her chest tight with fear. She can barely make out the words through the haze of dread and confusion. "The Twinkie... it's—" Her breath catches in her throat. "It's still on its out front."

John B nodded to Cassie, then looked Cleo as him and Sarah swung Kiara's arms over their shoulders. "You guys got him?"

"Yeah, yeah, we're good, just go!" Pope yelled, as he pulled JJ up.

Rafe clenched his jaw, letting out a deep sigh as he helped steady the bridge as they came down, though reluctantly.

"You got him?!" Cassie asked, as Cleo and Pope carried JJ on, following after Sarah, John B and Kiara.

"We're good— we got him." Cleo nodded, panting.

Cassie didn't wait for another moment. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she tried to gauge her brother's state. His groaning sent waves of unease through her, and she could see his eyes squeezed shut, his face contorting in pain.

"Hey!" Rafe barked, his voice sharp, pulling her attention back to him.

Cassie hesitated for a second, but then turned to face him. He stood there, glaring, with the kind of cold fury in his eyes that sent a chill down her spine. There was an anger in him, raw and unrestrained, but it was mixed with something else— something more along the lines of sorrow.

"You're lucky I'm not pressing charges," Rafe snapped, pointing a finger in her direction.

Cassie's lips trembled, barely able to hold back the storm of emotions threatening to erupt. It took every ounce of self-control not to charge at him, to scream, to lash out with everything she had. But as much as she wanted to fight him, to tear into him, there was something even more suffocating in her chest— a mixture of rage and grief, an ache so deep it felt like it could swallow her whole.

It wasn't just the hatred she felt for the man in front of her, though that was part of it. Ahead, she saw the boy she once loved. The boy who treated her like she mattered— like she was more than just a ghost in his life.

What really tore at her was the memory of who he used to be. Of who they used to be, together. And now, it was all gone. In their eyes, they saw nothing but strangers.

Her chest tightened painfully. The love she once felt was a distant memory, replaced by something sharper— something she didn't know how to name. But it hurt.

"Come on!" Cleo yelled after her, and Cassie turned back around and made a run for the van.

She slid the door shut after she jumped in, the van taking off before she could even sit down. She was thrown to the side, latching onto a grab handle as her eyes landed on her brother.

"What's happening?!" She asked frantically, watching him writhe in pain.

"They didn't make their safety stop." Pope responded, then looked up to John B. "Go!"

"I'm going! I'm going!" John B shot back, his voice tense, filled with the strain of trying to push the old van beyond its limits. The tires screeched as he took another wild turn, sending everyone crashing against one another.

Cassie was thrown onto the other side again. "He dives all the time he knows th—"

"They were attacked." Pope responds.

"Deep breaths. Deep breaths." Sarah spoke calmly to
Kiara. "John B, can you please go faster?!"

Cassie's eyes were wide. "Attacked? By what?!"

"By—" Pope starts. "Watch out!"

A car horn blares past them as John B yanked the van in the other direction. Kiara letting out a loud groan in pain, clutching onto her stomach.

"I don't know— there were other people out there. At the wreck." Pope spoke quickly, trying to gather his thoughts. "Who was down there with you guys?!"

JJ turns over, eyes squeezed shut. "No idea, Pope." He gets out. "But y'all are not gonna believe this." He reaches into the pocket of his shorts, and pulls out a small towel.

Cassie quickly leaned forward so he didn't have to reach and give it to someone, taking it from his hands. She looked at Pope before unraveling the towel, and revealing a rust-covered medallion. A red ruby glinted from the depths of the tarnished metal, catching the dim light.

"Is this for real?" Cassie looks up, handing it over to Pope.

"Oh, shit." Cleo scoots over to get a better look. "That's the thingy he was looking for."

"Holy shit." John B glances behind him and back to the road. "Holy shit. Why didn't you tell us sooner?!"

Cassie looks to JJ, who let out another loud groan. "Too busy dying." He says.

"Don't say that." Cassie scolds, then turns to John B. "Can you hurry?!"

"Guys this van is falling apart I promise this is the fastest I can go!" John B raises his voice over the commotion.

"You a rockstar!" Cleo yells excitedly. "Fifty thousand!"

"Holy shit." John B chuckles.

"It was worth it." Kiara groans out.

Cassie grabs onto Kiara's shoulder, trying to stabilize her as John B takes another sharp turn, trying to fight off her own nausea.

The tires screech and the van comes to a quick halt, sending everyone forward. "Jesus!" Cassie exclaims, practically fully latched onto Kiara as not to send her through the windshield.

"Let's go! Come on!" John B says, the van doors flying open. Pope lifts Kiara off Cassie's lap, Cleo stepping out to help take her.

"John B, you—" Cassie quickly followed out of the van as he came around from the driver's seat.

"I got him, you go inside and tell—"

But Cassie was already moving, already running toward the hospital. She barely registered the chaotic blur around her as she pushed through the automatic doors, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The harsh, sterile lights of the lobby stung her eyes, and the cold air felt too sharp against her skin.

"Help! We need help!" Cassie yelled, out of breath as she frantically glanced around for a nurse. A woman came out from behind the front desk, and she rushed over to her. "Outside— two people. My— they—"

The nurse waved to more people from behind the desk, urging them to get to their feet and get the right people. Cassie looked back outside, everyone helping pull JJ and Kiara inside.

"—they were diving and didn't make their safety stop." Cassie gets out, trying to sound coherent so the nurse understood what to prepare for.

"Hey!" Cleo yelled, the lobby suddenly becoming very loud and chaotic as they all piled inside. "We need help!"

"We need two wheelchairs!" The nurse yelled, as Cassie ran over to John B and Sarah who held JJ up.

"Come on, come on." She helped peel his arm off from around Sarah and over to where the wheelchairs were quickly being rushed over to them.

"We'll need to put them in the hyperbaric chamber." One of the nurses nodded to Cassie. "Do you know how long they were under?"

"Wh—" Cassie watched as JJ and Kiara were quickly wheeled away, trying to gather her thoughts. "No I wasn't there. Are they—"

The rest of the group quickly followed them down the hall, more nurses rushing over to help.

"Can I get their names?" The nurse's voice cut through the chaos, her tone a calm attempt to regain some control.

Cassie nodded, her heart still racing. "JJ Maybank and Kiara Carrera."

The nurse scribbled the names down, her hands moving quickly but steady, as if this was all just another day at the office. "Are they minors? We're going to have to call their parents and—"

Cassie's stomach twisted, the knot tightening as she shook her head, her voice a little sharper than she intended. "No. No, they're both nineteen. What's going to happen?"

"They're going to be fine," the nurse replied with an assuredness that felt almost too practiced, but Cassie clung to it, desperate for some sliver of hope. The nurse's face was impassive, almost distant, as if the frenzy around them was nothing more than background noise. "If they have the bends, they stay in the chamber for a few hours to let it settle. There's pressure in there that simulates the sensation of being underwater again, and the oxygen helps reduce the bubbles in their blood."

Cassie nodded along quickly. "So they'll be alright?"

She gives Cassie a soft smile and a nod. "They'll be just fine."

Just then, Sarah, Pope, and Cleo came back out of the room, their faces pale and drawn, each of them still catching their breath, as though they'd just sprinted a marathon. They looked at Cassie with wide, uncertain eyes, all trying to process what had just happened.

The nurse left them, and Cassie met the others halfway, shaking her head in confusion, disbelief settling in. "What the hell just happened?"

Pope exhaled heavily, the weight of the moment settling in his shoulders. "John B's talking to the nurse. It's gonna be a minute."

Cassie huffed, rubbing her eyes in frustration. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could get the words out, she stepped aside to let a nurse pass, guiding a young girl down the hallway. The girl was struggling on crutches, her face contorted in pain with each step. Cassie couldn't help but watch as the nurse spoke softly to her, offering encouragement in between the girl's winces.

It was a jarring sight—one that brought a strange weight to Cassie's chest. The girl's leg was in a cast, a brace wrapped around her torso, but it was the visible exhaustion on her face that struck Cassie hardest.

Cassie could remember trying to grasp crutches. At an age where she should've been the quickest one in any crowd, she trailed behind for months and months. The pain underneath her arms immeasurable, it got to a point where she didn't even want to get out of bed if it meant having to walk.

She remembered skipping a field trip to the sea-life conservatory. One of the first weeks of her moving to the Outerbanks after her mom's passing. She didn't want to slow the group down, so she told Luke she was sick, and stayed home.

The little girl down the hall looked tired, and frustrated. And all Cassie could wonder was where her mother was. She looked around the hospital, peeking into the lobby for someone who had the same auburn hair as the girls, and found no one.

"Hey," Sarah nudged Cassie's arm.

Cassie redirected her attention back over to her. "I'm gonna go wait in the van."

She was quick to exit, shuffling her way out of the lobby and back through the automatic doors as she clutched at the sudden pained feeling in her chest.

Somehow, grief found its place in her heart in the most unnecessary times.

Sliding open the van door before shutting it quickly behind her, she leaned back into a seat. She didn't want to cry, it wasn't the right time. But the grief was there, squeezing the air from her lungs like a vice.

She pressed her palms to her eyes, trying to force back the tears. She was too overwhelmed by everything that had happened in the past half hour—JJ, Kiara, the chaos of the hospital. Rafe.

She hated hospitals. The smell of antiseptic, the shrill beeping of machines—it all made her skin crawl.

She remembered sitting in that same lobby for hours as she waited for someone to come tell her grandma was dead. She was alone that day.

She remembered getting out of surgery as a little girl and asking for her mom, to which she was told she was killed in the accident. She was alone that day, too.

The van door slid open and Cassie leaned up quickly, taking a sharp inhale of breath as she tried to gather herself. Sarah climbed in, closing the door behind her, and for a moment, the silence between them felt thick with unspoken words.

Cassie cleared her throat, trying to sound more composed than she felt. "Anything?"

"No, nothing. Pope and Cleo are gonna wait up a bit." Sarah shook her head, she turns to Cassie after looking at the doors to the hospital.

Cassie was waiting for Sarah to say something, by the look on her face, it was like she was waiting for Cassie to answer some unasked question. "What?"

Sarah's eyebrows furrowed. "A gun, Cassie?" Her voice was low, cautious. "Where did you even get that?"

Cassie sank back into the seat, shifting uncomfortably. "It's JJ's."

Sarah was silent for a moment, her eyes never leaving Cassie. She was trying to read between the lines, to understand what Cassie wasn't saying.

"Did something happen? Did he try to—"

"No," Cassie cut her off quickly, shaking her head. "I just freaked out." She exhaled loudly, slumping into the seat. "I saw his bike when I got home and... I don't know. I freaked out."

Sarah hesitated, glancing over at the hospital again as though searching for something. She turned back to Cassie, her eyes softening, but the worry didn't leave her voice. "I know what happened was hard on you," she said, pausing before continuing, "But is something else going on?"

Cassie felt her heart tighten. Her breath hitched in her chest. Behind Sarah, out the van window. She could see him, being pushed on a gurney toward the automatic doors. The man she shot, a bullet hole in his chest, blood staining the white blanket that fell off him and revealed his body.

Cassie blinked, swallowing hard, trying to shove the image away as she refocused on Sarah. She nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm fine." She exhaled, the words coming out wrong, like she was trying to convince herself as much as Sarah. "And I'm sorry for— for snapping at you earlier. I was just..." She ran a hand through her hair, trying to explain the overwhelming feeling in her chest. "Adrenaline, I guess."

Sarah watched her for a moment, then nodded slowly, her expression softening but not entirely letting go of the concern that lingered. "Okay."

Cassie turned, staring out the window as they waited, watching the world move around her, knowing that somewhere between the adrenaline and the silence, something was breaking.