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Same Day - Same Scene

Day One

Afternoon - The Runway

After being shot by Rafe, Peterkin coughed violently.

Isa knelt down next to Peterkin worriedly, ripping her uniform open, pressing her hands over her wound to try and stop the bleeding. "Hey, hey. Hold still. Hold still. It's okay. Where is it? Oh, my God."

John B knelt next to them. "I'm so sorry."

John B put his bandana under Isa's hands to help slow the bleeding.

Rafe kept his gun on Isa and John B to make sure they couldn't do anything else.

Sarah was crying, sobbing in shock, completely horrified and overwhelmed.

Lia, still experiencing the effects of being drugged by her medications, double the dosage, completely out of it and exhausted, was still aware of what was going on, but she couldn't react in a big way like Isa, John B and Sarah could.

Sarah held Lia up as she was crying.

Peterkin could barely speak, gasping. "Call. Call for help."

John B grabbed her radio to call for help.

Rafe aimed the gun at John B. "Hey!"

"Rafe!" Sarah told him. "Rafe, no!"

Rafe walked closer with the gun. "Don't try it, asshole."

Lia tried to run closer to stop her brother. "Rafe, no!"

Rafe grabbed Isa from behind, putting the gun to her head to make Lia stop and have leverage over John B for him not to make the call. "Don't do anything stupid either, Lia."

Lia glared at Rafe.

"John B, give me the radio," Ward told him.

"Don't do it, JB," Isa told him, not caring that Rafe held the gun to her head.

John B looked at her worriedly. "Isa..."

"Just give me the damn radio," Ward ordered. John B slowly let it go because of Isa's life on the line. Ward took the radio. "Rafe, I got it. Calm down."

Lia pleaded with Rafe. "Let her go."

Conflicted by the pain on his sisters' faces, Rafe slowly moved the gun off Isa's head.

Lia instantly helped Isa up, pulling her away from Rafe, as both held onto each other's arms, tears in their eyes.

"Rafe, put the gun down," Ward told him, leading him away from the dying Sheriff and the four teens. "I got it."

"Run," Peterkin warned weakly.

Isa looked down at Peterkin, shaking her head. "We're not leaving you."

Ward looked at Rafe. "They can't do anything. He can't. I got you. You're okay."

John B looked at Isa, Lia and Sarah, all four of them with tears in their eyes.

"Run," Peterkin repeated.

John B's voice broke. "I'm sorry,."

Lia let go of Isa, guiding her closer to John B. "Go. Both of you."

Isa looked at Lia and Sarah. "You can't stay here."

"I can't run, Isa," Lia reminded her in a whisper, making sure that while Ward and Rafe were whispering to themselves, they couldn't hear her. "Not like this. I won't get far. But you and John B can get to Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope. You can get help."

"Lia's right," Sarah whispered. "Isa, John B, go. Go get help. Go to the others."

John B stood, reaching for Isa, who took his hand, both backing away.

Rafe noticed their movement, walking closer.

"Where are you going, huh?" Rafe asked.

"Run!" Sarah warned.

Lia and Sarah pushed Isa and John B away, trying to stop Rafe from getting to them.

"No!" Lia told him.

Isa and John ran as fast as they could off the runway and into the field leading toward the woods.

Completely losing it, Rafe pushed his sisters aside. "Lia! Sarah!"

Ward grabbed his daughters to pull them away from Rafe. "Lia! Sarah, no!"

As Rafe shot after Isa and John B, they were dodging bullets as they flew past them.

Lia pushed Rafe to make him stop shooting. "No! Stop!"

"Lia!" Rafe snapped.

Sarah tried to take the gun from him. "Rafe, no! Wait! Rafe, please!"

Rafe screamed in frustration. "Stop, Sarah!"

Ward let his daughters go to restrain Rafe instead as he was still screaming and thrashing. "Rafe! Rafe, calm down!"

"Isa, just keep running!" John B told her.

Isa and John B continued to run, hopping over logs and stray roots as they bolted into the woods, bolting further and further away from the airstrip. 

Sarah knelt next to Peterkin, crying. "I'm sorry."

Lia knelt on the other side of Peterkin, her tears starting to fall. "I'm so sorry."

Peterkin shook her head weakly. "It's not your fault, sweeties."

Rafe was gasping, trying to calm down, turning to face Ward. "Dad, I was trying to--"

"Shut up!" Ward told him, walking toward his daughters and Peterkin. "Sa--Sarah? Lia?"

"What?" Lia demanded in exhaustion, still out of it, distant and almost-zombie like because of the severe dosage of her medication.

"Girls, I need you to--" Ward started. "I need you to get up."

"No!" Sarah told him. "She is dying!"

"Enough!" Ward snapped.

Lia's tears fell more quickly. "What is wrong with you?"

Ward turned toward Rafe. "Take your sisters home. Get them home."

"What?" Rafe asked.

"Get them home," Ward instructed. "Take them home."

Sarah shook her head. "I'm not going anywhere until the medics come!"

"I'm calling," Ward told them.

"We're not going," Lia told him.

Ward grabbed Sarah. "Come on."

Rafe grabbed Lia from behind and pulled her up. "You heard Dad."

Lia tried to struggle free. "Get your hands off of me! No!" Lia nearly fell because of being so exhausted. "Let go!"

Ward carried Sarah to the car no matter how she struggled.

Sarah screamed. "No! No!"

Rafe lifted Lia up to carry her toward the car. "Come here!"

Lia struggled. "No!"

Lia and Sarah were still screaming as Rafe and Ward carried them kicking and struggling to the car.

Peterkin watched weakly from where she laid bleeding out on the ground, horrified by the sight in front of her, unable to do anything to help.

Ward opened the passenger seat door to put Sarah inside, closing and locking it to make sure she stayed. "I'm calling. I'm gonna call as soon as you get going."

Rafe opened the backseat door to put Lia inside. "Get in the car."

Lia tried to get out, pleading. "Rafe, please!"

Rafe put the child lock on before closing the door.

Lia slumped in the backseat, exhausted from being drugged with her medication.

Rafe took in the fact that Lia did not look well at all, turning to Ward. "What's wrong with her?"

Ward tried to keep Rafe calm. "Rose just gave her double the dosage of her medication. It's fine."

Rafe frowned in confusion, incredulous. "You drugged her?"

"It was to protect her," Ward insisted. "Now I need you to protect your sisters and take them home. Please, Rafe."

Rafe, of course, didn't have the mental capability of seeing how wrong this was as a form of protection. He just knew he had to please his father and protect his sisters even if it meant hurting them, nodding. "Okay."

Lia and Sarah were trying to get out of the car to no avail.

Ward showed his daughters the radio to try and get them to calm down, speaking loud enough to where they could hear even from inside the car. "I'm on the radio! Sweeties, look! I'm calling! I'm calling now!"

Rafe walked around the family car to get to the driver's seat.

Ward walked over to Peterkin on the ground, still speaking loud enough for his daughters to hear, but he wasn't really calling for help, not yet, just putting on a show for his daughters to try and calm them down. "This is Ward Cameron! I need help. Kildare Executive Airport. Runway five. I need help! Officer down! Got an officer down! At the airport! She's injured very, very badly! We need help!" Rafe got into the car, starting it, and starting to drive away. Ward spoke at normal volume now, no longer putting on the show. "We need... we need help at this--"

Rafe drove the car away with Lia and Sarah locked inside away from the tarmac.

Ward sat back on the ground, putting the radio down, looking at Peterkin, who was gasping, shaking and groaning weakly in pain, closer and closer to death.

Ward looked away, not making eye contact. "Shh, shh, shh." He crawled closer. "Hey, hey, hey. Shh, it's okay. It's okay." He took the handcuff keys out of Peterkin's pocket, using the keys to unlock the cuff that was around one of his wrists. "Why did you do it?" He put a hand on Peterkin's cheek. "We could've worked something out, Susan, I promise you."

Ward stood, turning away.

⚓️

Woods

Isa and John B were still running through the woods, looking behind them for just a split second, looking forward, seeing the woods divided by a gravel road. John B ran ahead of Isa, starting to cross it, but a car hit John B and John B rolled across the hood, falling to the ground.

Isa ran to John B, pulling him up. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, let's go," John B answered.

"Hey, are you kids okay?" the driver asked.

Isa and John B didn't answer, and continued to run.

⚓️ Worlds Colliding (Outer Banks) ⚓️

On the Road

Rafe was still driving the Cameron car. Sarah was in the passenger seat. Lia was in the backseat.

Both sisters were in shock, numb, no longer crying. Lia's distant and numb look was now more obvious than ever while under the influence of her medication.

Rafe truly believed that Sheriff Peterkin was about to kill Ward in his delusional, drug-hazed state. "She had the hammer back. You know that."

"No," Sarah corrected.

"She was gonna blow his head off," Rafe insisted.

"No, she was arresting him, Rafe," Sarah told him.

Rafe couldn't see the truth of her words, convinced his delusion was the reality of what happened. "Okay, I couldn't sit there and let it happen, okay? She was gonna kill him. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, she was gonna kill him."

Lia and Sarah were both horrified and heartbroken to see their brother like this, lost in his delusion that justified what he did in his mind.

Sarah tried to open her door to jump out of the car.

Rafe quickly reached over to grab Sarah by the arm and pull her back. "Hey, hey! Close the damn door!"

Sarah pushed his hand off of her as the door closed. "Get off of me!"

Lia was nearly hyperventilating, wishing that all of this was a nightmare of some kind that she would wake up from. "Stop, please! Rafe, eyes on the road!"

As Rafe swerved while getting Sarah under control, he looked at the road, getting the car back on track. He snapped at Sarah in frustration after what she just did which could have caused a crash. "Swear to God, all right? I've had it with your bullshit, Sarah!"

Sarah gave Rafe an incredulous look. "Do you realize what you've done?"

Rafe was breathing heavily. "I saved Dad. What was I supposed to do, okay? Sit there, hope for the best? All right? Listen, I'm a proactive type of person." Sarah rolled her eyes. Rafe noticed and grabbed the back of Sarah's neck in annoyance, hard enough to hurt her. "Guys, I'm a proactive type of person."

Sarah pushed him off. "Get off of me! Don't you dare touch me!"

Rafe wasn't looking at the road, but at both Lia and Sarah, going into the wrong lane. "Hope is not a strategy, okay?"

Lia could barely focus on what was happening around her as she held her head. "Eyes on the road."

Rafe looked back at Lia in the backseat, a flash of concern flickering over his eyes as he saw how weak and disoriented she was after being drugged by Rose. Despite the fact he was convinced by Ward that it was to protect her, he couldn't shake off the sight of her like this.

Sarah saw that a car was coming right for them. "Rafe! Rafe, car!"

The car in front of them blared its horn.

Rafe turned back to face the road, swerving to avoid an oncoming car at the last second. The tires screeched as he jerked the wheel, causing Sarah to grab onto the door handle and Lia to slide across the backseat.

"Jesus, Rafe!" Sarah yelled. "You're going to get us all killed!"

"Shut up!" Rafe snapped, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel. "Just shut up and let me think!"

Lia struggled to push herself back up into a sitting position, her head spinning.

"Please slow down," Lia pleaded weakly.

Rafe glanced at her in the rearview mirror, a flicker of guilt passing over his face before he shook it off. "We have to get home. Dad said to take you home."

"To do that, we have it make it there alive," Lia muttered softly.

Rafe heeded her advice and slowed down slightly so they wouldn't risk another car accident.

Rafe's grip tightened on the steering wheel as he glanced between the road and his sisters. His mind was racing, trying to justify his actions to himself and to them. "You don't understand. I had to do it. Dad was in danger."

"No, he wasn't," Sarah insisted, her voice shaking. "Peterkin was arresting him. She wasn't going to hurt anyone."

"You don't know that!" Rafe snapped, swerving slightly as he turned to glare at Sarah.

"Rafe, please," Lia pleaded weakly from the backseat, her words slurring slightly. "Just... just drive. We need to go home."

Rafe's eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, taking in Lia's pale, disoriented state again. A flicker of doubt crossed his face before he pushed it down, taking a deep breath. "I'm the problem solver of this family, okay?"

Rafe glanced back at Sarah and Lia, expecting an answer.

Lia was too out of it to focus on his words.

Sarah shook her head.

Rafe raised his voice desperately in anger. "Okay?!"

Sarah and Lia jumped, saying what he wanted to hear to calm him down. "Okay!" 

⚓️

Garage

Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope were waiting at a garage of some sort, walking up to the door of the garage when their attention turned up toward the sky when they heard and saw the plane flying past overhead.

"There goes the gold," Pope said with defeat. "Shit!" He turned around, walking over toward piles of old furniture and junk behind them. JJ turned to kick one of the plastic chairs on the opposite side of him. Pope yelled. "Fuck!"

Pope sent a metal trash can flying to the ground with a loud noise that startled Kaylee, JJ and Kie, making them jump.

"Pope!" Kie told him.

Pope was completely lashing out, yelling. "Goddamn it!" He grabbed a baseball bat, swinging it at some furniture. "Shit! Fuck! Shit! Damn it!"

Pope continued swinging the bat around, sending glass shards and wooden splinters to fall to the ground. Kaylee, JJ and Kie watched in shock, never having seen Pope like this before, exchanging a look, as Pope continued yelling and smashing things.

"Pope!" Kie tried again. "Pope!" Pope grabbed the metal trash can, lifting it over his head, throwing it across the room, hyperventilating as he fell back onto a wicker couch. Kie walked over to him. "Pope."

"Just let him finish," Kaylee told her. "He's probably been building that shit up for a while."

JJ walked closer. "Yeah, dude. I was wondering when this was gonna happen." Kaylee and Kie gave JJ looks. "Here you go, chief." JJ held out his juul toward Pope. "A little weed never hurt no one."

"Could help you relax," Kaylee pointed out, trying to help.

"Kaylee," Kie warned. "JJ."

"Relax, Kie," Kaylee told her.

Kie gave them both a look. "You know he doesn't smoke."

Pope grabbed the juul from JJ, surprising Kaylee, JJ and Kie.

"Well, maybe not until today," JJ replied.

JJ sat down next to Pope.

"Pope," Kaylee said. "You sure? It's not gonna fix anything, but..."

Pope looked up at Kaylee. "I lost my scholarship. Walked out in the middle of the interview." He looked over to Kie. "Every... it's gone. It's not gonna happen."

Pope shook his head.

Kaylee frowned sadly. "You did that for us?"

Pope stood. "No, not for us." He walked closer to Kaylee and Kie. "For nothing."

JJ stood, wrapping an arm around Pope's shoulders, patting him on the chest with his juul. "I'm here for you, Pope. Welcome to my world, okay?"

"JJ--" Kie tried to warn.

Pope stepped away from them.

"What, Kie?" JJ asked. "He's right. It doesn't matter anymore."

Kie looked at Pope. "You don't have to do that."

Pope leaned against a wooden post a few feet away from the rest of them, putting the juul to his mouth, taking a hit. "What do you care?"

Pope's expression changed when he noticed something behind JJ, Kaylee and Kie. They turned to follow his gaze, seeing Isa and John B walking in.

"Guys!" JJ said in relief.

Kaylee sighed in relief, running closer to embrace Isa. "Guys, you good?" She hugged John B. "Guys?"

JJ walked closer to give Isa and John B both a hug in relief.

Kie ran closer. "Oh, my God! Isa? John B?" Pope ran closer as well. Kie ran to hug Isa. "Thank God you're okay! Don't you ever do something like that again." 

They all stopped when they saw the blood on Isa's hands.

"Is this yours?" JJ asked.

"Who's blood is that?" Kie asked.

John B and Isa couldn't speak, in shock.

"Are you hurt?" Pope asked. "Isa, John B, are you okay?"

"Where're Lia and Sarah?" Kie asked.

Isa shook her head frantically.

"What happened?" Kaylee asked.

Before they could answer, they saw a cop car passing by outside with the horns blaring. Pope, Kie, Isa, John B, Kaylee and JJ quickly ducked down into hiding.

⚓️

Airport - The Runway

Peterkin was unconscious, unresponsive, and almost dead.

Ward was acting like he was trying to keep her alive by giving her CPR.

The cop car drove quickly up to the scene.

Shoupe quickly got out of the car, grabbing a medical bag. "Damn it."

"Come on!" Ward called.

Shoupe walked closer with his gun. "Hey! Hands, hands!"

Ward held up his hands, stained in Peterkin's blood. "I'm the one that called you, Shoupe. Help me. Come on."

Shoupe ran closer. "Shit." Ward continued with pretending to do CPR. Shoupe knelt next to Ward and Peterkin, putting his bag down. "Stop for a sec. Stop, stop. How long's she been unresponsive?"

"Since I've been doin' this," Ward replied.

"Shit," Shoupe said. "All right, go back to it." He quickly went through his bag to try and find anything that could help. "All right. Hey, all right." He used his radio. "Central. Central, 10-13. Kildare Executive Airstrip. Peterkin's been shot. Send a bus!"

Woman: (on radio) "Copy that. Dispatching bus to your location."

Ward put a breathing bag up to Peterkin, putting the tube of it into her mouth. "We got ya. Come on."

"Come on, Shoupe!" Ward snapped.

"I'm trying to get the goddamn regulator on!" Shoupe replied. "They give us trainin' once a year for this. It's been six months since I seen this fuckin' thing." He got it on. "Okay, okay. All right, I'll give her two breaths. Then you go back to it. All right?"

"Okay," Ward agreed.

Shoupe squeezed the regulator to give Peterkin two breaths. "One. Two. Go!" Ward pushed Peterkin's chest twice. "Who shot her?"

"You see the goddamn van?" Ward asked. "Who the hell you think did it? Isa tried to kill me. John B killed the Sheriff."

Shoupe frowned a bit, speaking through his radio. "Central. ETA on that bus?"

Woman: (on radio) "They're caught in the Cut. 15, 20 minutes."

"Well, damn it!" Shoupe said. "All right, en route. Tell 'em we're comin'. We gotta transport her ourselves. All right? I got her shoulders."

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Outside

Rose was outside the Cameron estate, gardening with purple gloves on, having a drink.

Rafe parked the car in the driveway, getting out of the car.

Sarah slowly got out of the passenger seat.

Rose looked at Rafe, frowning at the sight of her stepson. "Hey! Your dad is not gonna like that you're back home."

Rafe walked to Lia's door, opening it since he had placed it on child lock. Lia nearly collapsed as she tried to slide out of the car. Rafe caught Lia by the arm, holding her steady.

Rose had a flicker of guilt as she saw the state Lia was in - due to the fact that Rose had drugged her stepdaughter.

Rafe looked at Rose. "Actually, he told me I could come here."

Rose looked at Lia and Sarah. "Why aren't you two on the plane?"

Sarah and Lia were still shellshocked.

"Ask Rafe," Sarah replied, walking away toward the house without another look back.

Lia tried to walk on her own, stumbling, her arm still in Rafe's hold, which was the only reason she stayed on her feet.

Rafe helped Lia walk toward the house, keeping a firm grip on her arm to steady her. Rose watched them with growing concern, setting down her gardening tools.

"Rafe, what happened?" Rose demanded, following behind them. "Why are the girls back here?"

Rafe glanced back at Rose, his eyes wild. "There was an incident at the airport. Dad told me to bring them home."

"An incident?" Rose pressed. "What kind of incident?"

Lia stumbled again, nearly falling. Rafe tightened his grip, practically dragging her along.

"Rafe, be careful with her," Rose scolded. "She's obviously not well."

"Yeah, thanks to you," Rafe snapped. "Drugging her like that."

Rose's eyes widened. "It was for her own good. To keep her calm for the flight."

Lia scoffed softly.

Rafe ignored Rose, focused on getting his sisters inside, opening the door and leading Lia inside.

Lia closed the door in Rose's face, keeping her outside, not wanting to see Rose after she was the one that drugged her in the first place.

Rafe looked slightly amused by the fact Lia could still be defiant in her state.

⚓️

Inside - Foyer

Rafe guided Lia into the foyer, where Sarah was heading up the stairs.

"Sarah, wait," Rafe called after her.

"Don't talk to me," Sarah snapped, not looking back as she rushed up the stairs.

Rafe sighed in frustration, still holding onto Lia's arm. Lia was swaying on her feet, her eyes unfocused.

"I need to lie down," Lia mumbled.

"Okay, okay," Rafe said, his voice uncharacteristically gentle given the severity of everything that happened.

Lia looked at the stairs nervously, knowing that it was not going to be easy for her to get up to her room, even with Rafe's help.

Rafe noticed Lia's hesitation at the stairs and made a quick decision. He bent down and scooped her up into his arms, carrying her bridal style.

"What are you doing?" Lia mumbled.

"Getting you to your room," Rafe answered simply.

Despite everything that had just happened, despite the fact that Rafe had just shot someone, there was still a flicker of the protective older brother he used to be. He may have spiraled out of control, but some part of him still cared about his sisters' wellbeing.

Lia was too weak and disoriented to protest being carried. Her eyelids fluttered as she fought to stay conscious.

Rafe carried Lia up the stairs, being careful not to jostle her too much. Lia's head lolled against his shoulder, her eyes fluttering as she struggled to stay conscious.

⚓️

Lia's Room

When they reached her room, Rafe gently laid Lia down on her bed. He pulled off her shoes and helped her get under the covers.

"Just rest," Rafe told her softly. "I'll check on you later."

As he turned to leave, Lia's hand shot out and grabbed his wrist weakly. Rafe looked back at Lia.

Lia had tears in her eyes as she looked up at Rafe, her fear over what Ward did and could still do evident in her gaze. "You told Dad about Isa and Kie. About me."

Rafe's face fell slightly, but he schooled his expression. "I told him knowing he would put you in your room again. I thought it would keep you safe from Barry. I didn't think that Rose would drug you or that he would try to drag you and Sarah to the plane."

Lia shook her head. "This isn't Isa's fault. Dad hurt her and John B first. He killed their dad. That's why Sheriff Peterkin was there."

Rafe was stunned by this realization, processing what it meant. "Dad must have had a good reason--"

Lia could barely keep her eyes open. "It was over treasure. And he didn't have a good reason to try and kill Isa and John B. They don't deserve any of this. And I don't either."

Rafe stared at Lia in shock, processing her words. The realization that their father had killed John B and Isa's dad over treasure shook him to his core. For a moment, doubt flickered across his face.

"I... I didn't know," Rafe said quietly. "About their dad. About Dad hurting them."

Lia's eyes were heavy, fighting to stay open. "Now you do. Please, Rafe. Don't let Dad hurt them again. Or me and Sarah."

Rafe's expression was conflicted. He wanted to deny it all, to cling to the image of his father as a good man. But he couldn't ignore the fear in Lia's eyes. The drugs in his system warred with the protective older brother instincts that were trying to resurface.

"Lia, you don't know what you're saying," Rafe said, but his voice lacked conviction. "The medication Rose gave you... you're confused."

Lia's grip on his wrist tightened slightly. "I'm not confused, Rafe. I know what happened. Dad tried to kill Isa and John B. He hurt them. And now you shot the sheriff to protect him." Her eyes filled with tears. "This isn't right. None of this is right."

Rafe swallowed hard, looking away. "I did what I had to do. To protect the family."

Lia shook her head weakly. "She wasn't going to kill him, Rafe."

Rafe closed his eyes, intense. "You don't know that. I saw..."

Lia knew that it wasn't going to work to try and get Rafe to see sense, as she knew what Rafe recounted was what he truly believed he saw in his delusion. There was no way for her to convince him otherwise of what he had seen.

Rafe saw how scared Lia was and how desperate she was for reassurance. Somehow, Lia still had hope that Rafe would find his way back someway, and that touched Rafe in a way that he never expected it to.

Rafe swallowed, speaking softly. "Just rest now, okay? It'll all be okay."

Lia's eyes fluttered closed as exhaustion and the medication finally overtook her. Her hand slipped from Rafe's wrist as she drifted into unconsciousness.

Rafe stood there for a long moment, staring down at his sleeping sister. Conflict raged in his eyes as he processed everything Lia had told him. The image of his father as a good man warred with the realization that Ward may have done terrible things.

He wanted to deny it all - to cling to the belief that his father was a good man and that he had done the right thing. But he couldn't shake the fear he had seen in Lia's eyes, or the conviction in her voice even in her drugged state.

He thought about Lia's fear, about the fact that Rose had drugged her, about Ward trying to force her and Sarah onto a plane. For the first time, doubt crept in about whether Ward's actions were truly protecting his family.

Rafe ran a shaky hand through his hair, his breathing uneven. The drugs in his system made it hard to think clearly, but Lia's words had pierced through the haze. His breathing became more rapid as the reality of what he had done began to sink in.

He had shot the sheriff. He had killed someone. It was to protect his father, and he had to believe that everything Ward did was to protect their family. He didn't think he would survive if it was any other way.

⚓️

On the Road - Shoupe's Cop Car

Shoupe was in the backseat, trying to get Peterkin responsive.

Ward was driving the car. "Almost there."

"Watch the car!" Shoupe warned. "Ward! Shit."

"Sorry!" Ward said. "Tryin' to get there."

Shoupe continued trying to save Peterkin. "It's all right. Hey. Hey, we're almost there. All right? Home stretch. You all right?"

⚓️

Hospital - Outside

Ward pulled the car over.

A female paramedic ran up to the cop car. "They're here, let's roll!"

Other paramedics ran closer with the stretcher.

Shoupe got out of the car. "We got you. All right, come on! Come on, get her out! Be careful."

The medics took over as they moved Peterkin out of the car and onto the stretcher, all talking over each other as they hurried Peterkin inside to try and save her.

Ward was left in the car, numb and reeling from everything that had happened.

⚓️

Inside

Shoupe followed the medics inside with Peterkin, watching as they were talking over each other and trying to save her. "Hang in there, Pete. You got this!" Ward slowly walked in. Shoupe looked like he could cry. "Sorry."

Ward gazed off. "Me too."

"Uh, she, uh..." Shoupe trailed off.

Ward nodded. "I know. We did everything we could."

Shoupe got angry. "I'm gonna find those fucking kids." Ward nodded. Shoupe walked away, talking to two deputies. "Let's get on this! We got work to do, y'all."

The cops walked out. Ward turned to watch them go.

⚓️

Night - Kildare Sheriff's Department - Outside

The Carrera family SUV pulled up to the Sheriff's Station. Kie was driving. Kaylee was in the passenger seat. John B and Pope sat in the seats behind the sisters, while Isa and JJ were sitting on the other side of the back seat, backs facing the front.

JJ sighed. "Isa, John B, what are we doing at the police station?"

"Someone has to tell them the truth about what happened," John B pointed out.

Pope was smoking a joint, taking a big hit, coughing harshly.

Kaylee winced. "Ooh... easy there, chief. Damn."

"All right," JJ said. "I'm just gonna be real with you right now. You might end up in the lion's den, but you don't go there on purpose. It's fundamental. Just like my old man always tells me, you should never trust cops, no matter what the circumstance is."

Kie rolled her eyes. "Your old man's an abusive liar."

"I agree with JJ," Pope added. "Fuck the police."

Isa, John B, JJ and Kaylee looked at Pope in surprise.

Kie gave Pope a look. "You going dark side now?"

"When's the last time the police ever helped us?" Pope asked.

"They do cater to Kooks," Kaylee agreed.

Kie gave her sister a look. "Kaylee. Not helping."

Kaylee shrugged. "Just saying."

"Peterkin looked out for us, all right?" John B asked. "Tried to, at least. They need to know."

Isa looked at the dried blood on her hands. "Yeah. I'm going with you."

Isa and John B got out of the car, walking into the station.

⚓️

Inside

Isa and John B walked in, speaking to a lady at the front desk.

"Um, excuse me, ma'am," John B told her.

"This is not a good time, kids," the lady told them.

"We know who shot the Sheriff," Isa told her.

The lady looked at them seriously for a moment. "You two stay put. I'll be right back."

The lady walked away.

Shoupe: (on radio) "Central, three Vic. We have suspects in our 31. John and Isa Routledge." Isa and John B looked at each other in shock. "Copy that. All units, be on the look out for John and Isa Routledge. 16 and 15 year old white male and female. John is six foot. Isa is 5'5. John was last seen wearing a bad brains T-shirt, board shorts, and a faded red hoodie. Isa was last seen wearing white bandana-design tank top, black jeans, and zebra print tennis shoes. Female suspect is also wanted for the aggravated assault and attempted murder of Ward Cameron."

Deputy Plumb walked in with a male deputy, Deputy Thomas.

Isa reached out for John B's hand.

"Just breathe, all right?" Plumb asked.

"Let me see your hands," Thomas ordered.

"John B, Isa, do what he says," Plumb told them.

Isa and John B raised their blood covered hands.

"We didn't do it," John B told them. "We didn't do it, okay?"

"Don't move," Thomas ordered. "Don't move!"

John B grabbed Isa's hand and ran them toward the door.

⚓️

Outside

Isa and John B ran out to the car.

"Kie!" Isa called. "Start the car!"

"Start the car, Kie!" John B called.

Pope and JJ opened the car door, getting them inside.

"Isa, what?" Kie asked. "Guys, what did you do?"

"Just go!" Isa said. "Now!"

Isa closed the door.

"The cops!" John B explained.

"Shit," JJ said.

"Go!" John B urged. "Kie, drive! Go!"

Kie was fumbling with the keys to put in the ignition. "I'm going! I'm sorry!"

"Go, Kie!" Isa urged. "Go!"

Kie sped away.

Plumb clung onto John B's window. "Stop the car! Stop the car!"

Everyone was yelling.

Pope looked at John B. "Open it."

John B opened the car door, which caused Plumb to let go and fall to the ground, before closing the door as they continued to drive away.

"What happened in there?" Kaylee asked.

"They thought it was us," Isa answered.

"What?" Kie asked.

"They didn't even give us time to explain ourselves," Isa told them. "Ward must've told them we killed Peterkin. The radio said I was wanted for assault and attempted murder on Ward."

"When the fuck could you have done that?" JJ asked.

Isa thought back to the boat fight. "The boat. When he stabbed me, I stabbed him with a beer bottle. Slit it across his stomach. Fuck!"

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Kitchen

Ward was washing the blood off his hands.

Rose walked closer slowly. "Ward, whose blood is that?"

"It's Peterkin's," Ward answered.

Rose looked at him in shock, confusion. "Peterkin? What the hell happened to Peterkin?"

"She's dead," Ward answered, turning the water off. "She got shot."

"Jesus," Rose said. "By who?"

Ward didn't answer, looking around, sighing. "Where are the kids, Rose?"

"I don't know, they're up in their rooms," Rose answered. Ward nodded. "Ward, who shot her?"

"I'll be right back," Ward told her, starting to walk away.

"Where the hell are you going, Ward?" Rose asked. "Hey, no. Get back here. I need to know what's going on here!"

Ward turned back, raising his voice. "I don't give two shits what you need right now, okay?"

⚓️

Ward's Office

Rafe was sitting on the couch, looking a picture of himself and Ward, clinging to the belief he had in his father, swallowing at what Lia ad told him earlier.

Ward walked in, closing the door behind him.

Rafe hesitated. "Is... she alive?" Ward slowly shook his head. Rafe's stomach dropped. "No?"

"No," Ward answered.

Rafe nodded, not sure what to feel. "Okay." He sat back against the couch, running a hand through his hair. "Okay." He scoffed lightly, before sighing, looking at Ward anxiously. "What did you--what did you tell the cops? Are they coming here?"

"I told them John B did it, and Isa helped, after she already stabbed me," Ward answered.

Rafe gazed off with an expressionless face after what Lia told him earlier, swallowing. "John B? Isa?"

"Yes," Ward answered. "It was better than the police believing it was you."

Rafe's conflict rose even higher now - Ward was proving Lia's words right, but he was also seemingly proving Rafe's belief in him right, that everything Ward did was to protect his family. He framed Isa and John B to protect his son.

Rafe stared at Ward, his expression conflicted as he struggled to reconcile his father's actions with his own beliefs. "You framed them. To protect me."

Ward nodded gravely. "It was the only way, son. We couldn't let you take the fall for this."

Rafe frowned, his father's words both comforting and unsettling him.

"This is how we protect our family," Ward told him. "John B and Isa were already in trouble for attacking me. This way, you're safe."

Rafe swallowed hard, his eyes darting around as he processed this. "But Lia said... she said you hurt them first. That you killed their dad over some treasure."

Ward's expression hardened slightly. "Lia doesn't know what she's talking about. She's confused from the medication."

"But what if she's right?" Rafe pressed, his voice shaking slightly. "What if we're the bad guys here?"

Ward gripped Rafe's shoulder tighter. "Listen to me. Everything I've done is to protect this family. And sometimes, we have to make difficult choices to protect our family."

Rafe was lost as he processed that Ward was framing not only teenagers that he had already attacked, but also the fact that Lia had feelings for both Isa and Kie, and Sarah had feelings for John B. Ward was taking away his daugters' happiness by framing their loved ones for something that Rafe did to protect their father.

Yet at the same time, Ward's words wormed their way into his head and convinced him that was all that mattered - that they protected their family, no matter the cost.

"Rafe, I need you to go to your room," Ward told him. "I need you to clean up. Take a shower, all right? Anybody asks you, you were here, all day, doin' maintenance on the Druthers."

Rafe shook his head. "No, Rose knows I wasn't here."

"I will talk to Rose, okay?" Ward asked. "Please, just do what I say."

"What about Lia and Sarah?" Rafe asked.

"What about them?" Ward asked.

Rafe stood. "When Lia was talking to me before she passed out, she told me that you tried to take her and Sarah on the plane not just about Barry, but about Isa, Kie and John B, too. Becase you didn't want them to be with them."

Ward shook his head. "That's not..."

Rafe went on. "And you know how they are about the truth, about 'justice'. They won't let this go, especially if they love them."

"They're fine," Ward told him. "They won't sell the family out. They won't hurt us."

Rafe walked closer. "No, you don't understand. You didn't see them in the car. They're flipping out, Dad."

"I don't care," Ward replied.

"Lia's terrified that you could hurt them again, or her and Sarah," Rafe went on. "I can help calm them down, but..."

Ward raised his voice. "Rafe! Stop!"

"What?" Rafe asked.

"I don't need your help right now," Ward told him. "I didn't need it then, I don't need it now. I just need to think. So, please, go clean up!"

Ward turned away.

Rafe gazed after him with a numb, glassy look in his eyes. "You understand, right?" Ward turned to his desk, sighing heavily, but didn't look at Rafe. "You understand?"

Ward looked at him. "Understand what, Rafe?"

"Why I did it," Rafe answered, shedding a couple tears. "You were in trouble, and I was protecting you." Ward sighed, closing his eyes. "Okay?" Rafe pointed at himself. "Look, me, Dad. Rafe. Not Sarah, okay? It was me." Ward slowly walked closer, putting a hand on Rafe's head. "I'm sorry, uh..."

Ward pulled Rafe into a hug. "I know. Come here. Come on. Come on, bud. Come on, bud. I'm sorry. I love you." He kissed Rafe on the cheek twice. Rafe let out a shaky sigh of relief. "I love you, Rafe, so much."

Despite all of his conflict driving him further out of his mind, Rafe let out a laugh.

⚓️

Kildare Sheriff's Department

Shoupe was speaking to the station. "The first thing we gotta do is lock this place up. Suspend the ferry and, uh, set up patrols from Figure 8, all the way to the other side of the Cut. And I want fuckin' posters made, with a reward. 25 thousand worth of nautical from the impound lot."

"25 thousand?" Thomas repeated. "Wouldn't be enough to keep me from killin' the kids. Both of them."

"Double, then," Shoupe stated. "25 for each. 50 in total. That oughta be enough to turn every person on this island into a lookout."

⚓️

Day Two

Morning - Island (Everywhere)

Everywhere, cops were putting up wanted posters for Isa and John B's pictures, their descriptions, and with the $50,000 rewards listed, along with the Carrera family car since that was the last car they were seen getting into.

The driver that had hit John B at the beginning of the episode/chapter walked up to Plumb, pointing to the wanted poster she just put up. "I know those kids. The boy got blood on my car."

"Where was it at?" Plumb asked.

The guy pointed. "Just on the other side of the..."

All over the island, cops and pedestrians alike were on the lookout for Isa and John B.

⚓️

Woods

The Carrera family car was parked in the middle of the woods.

Kie and Pope had been sleeping in the front seats. In the back, Isa and John B slept in the seats behind Kie and Pope, while Kaylee and JJ were sleeping on the other side of the back seat.

Obviously none of them had time to change clothes, so they were in their clothes from the day before.

Kaylee was sprawled across JJ while they were still laying in the same seat, which was reclined to be comfortable, as JJ was running his fingers through her hair. Kaylee was still half asleep.

Radio: "Good news for residents of the Outer Banks. Dominion Power says their underwater transmission line, which will restore power to 90% of the area should be functional within 24 hours."

The sound of police sirens suddenly blazed past them.

JJ raised his head up. "Shit."

Kaylee opened her eyes. They all looked back out the window to see multiple cop cars speeding down the road. Once they had drove past, they all settled back down in their spots.

Radio: "And still, no arrest in the shooting death of Sheriff Susan Peterkin, or the attempted murder of Ward Cameron. The state police have issues a statement regarding two local people of interest, two juveniles from--"

Kie quickly switched the radio off.

JJ cleared his throat. "Let's game this out. Maybe you guys can help, being the smart ones and all, but who are the cops going to believe? Ward Cameron or us? So the accuser is a bigshot developer, kind of lord of the island, got the governor on speed dial kind of person, and the accused is John B and Isa, who are pretty much homeless 16/15 year olds at this point."

"Thanks," Isa and John B replied sarcastically.

Pope ran his hand over his face. "Shit."

"Okay, guys, Yucatan, all right?" JJ suggested. "I'm saying that's the only option. What other option do you two have?"

"Enough of the Mexico bullshit, all right?" John B asked. "Lia and Sarah are gonna bail us out."

"We can't just let Ward run us out of our home," Isa pointed out. "That means he wins, again, like he wins every fucking thing. Lia and Sarah can help us."

"They did witness the whole thing," Kie pointed out.

John B gestured to Kie. "Thank you."

"And they're gonna snitch on their brother?" Pope asked.

"Lia most definitely would after he basically blackmailed her with her dad about her own damn sexuality and made her life a living hell, both Rafe and Ward did that to her," Kaylee pointed out.

"Kaylee's right," Kie agreed. "Lia will come through, and I'm sure Sarah will too."

"Well, what if Ward has Lia locked up again?" JJ pointed out. "And he can do the same thing to Sarah. Then they can't help. Okay, we've got to get you off this island."

"No," Isa disagreed.

"The ferry," Pope suggested. "It's the only way."

"Yeah, exit stage left while you can, before the entire island is on lock down," JJ agreed.

"No!" Isa repeated. "Guys..."

They heard sirens approached.

"Guys, get down," Kaylee urged.

They lowered themselves slightly to stay out of sight.

"Lia might want to help, but she's not a Pogue, Isa," Pope told her. "And neither is Sarah."

"You two can't stay here," JJ told them.

"They're right, Isa," John B told her.

Isa nodded, holding back tears threatening to form. "Yeah."

Kie wrapped an arm around her. "Come here. It's okay, Isa. If Lia can come through... she would."

Isa nodded. "Yeah. I know, Kie."

Kaylee looked at them sadly. "We can't take the risk. Next stop, the ferry."

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Lia's Room

Sarah was sitting on Lia's bed with her.

Ward walked in.

Lia refused to look at Ward, both furious and fearful.

Sarah looked up hesitantly. "What's gonna happen to Rafe?"

Ward sighed, shaking his head. "Nothing's gonna happen to Rafe."

Lia frowned in confusion. "Excuse me? What do you mean, nothing'll happen?"

"Sweeties--" Ward started.

"That doesn't make any sense," Sarah told him.

"I know it seems that way," Ward told them.

"He shot her!" Sarah told him emotionally.

"Listen to me, sweethearts," Ward told them. "You grow up in this world thinking there is good and there's evil, and that's how it should be, because that's helpful when you're young, when you need some kind of... structure. But there reaches a point when you realize that the world isn't organized along some divine idea of right and wrong. It's not. It's something else. It's family... and tribe. Do you understand? Lia, Sarah, you have to pick a side. Them or us."

Sarah shook her head. "No."

Lia looked at Ward incredulously. "You're insane."

Sarah stood, looking at Ward, shaking her head. "I'm not doing this."

Sarah walked out of her room to go into hers.

Ward sighed, looking at Lia, standing, walking toward the door.

Lia stood. "Don't." Ward closed the door, locking it with his key. Lia wasn't going to beg this time, furious and overwhelmed with so many conflicting feelings, turning away, holding her head, yelling out. "Fuck!"

⚓️

Sarah's Room

Sarah turned to look at her door as Ward closed it and locked it.

Sarah ran to her door. "No." She tried to open the door but failed. "No. No! Shit." She leaned her head against the door. "Let me out. Let me out! Please!"

⚓️

Hallway

Wheezie walked up to Ward. "You always lock up Lia. But why are you locking up Sarah too?"

Ward put a finger to his lips. "Shh." He walked toward Wheezie. "Sweetie... there has been an... accident, and your sisters are very upset, and they just need a little time alone to calm down. So we're gonna give them that, okay?"

Ward walked away.

Wheezie turned after him. "You can't keep locking Lia up, and can't start doing it to Sarah too. It's super dysfunctional."

Ward held his head, turning to look at his youngest daughter. "Wheezie... just go to your room, okay?"

"What did I do?" Wheezie asked.

Ward raised his voice again. "Go to your room!"

⚓️

Ferry

Pope saw that the ferry was closed and the poster for Isa and John B. "Shit." He walked back toward the Carrera family car which was a few feet away. "Okay. All right, now."

In the car, Kie was in the passenger seat. Kaylee and JJ sat in the seats behind the passenger and driver's seats, while Isa and John B were sitting on the other side of the back seat, backs facing the front, leaning down in hiding.

"Pope, can you act normal?" Kie asked.

Pope got into the driver's seat. "So, um, okay. Bad news. The ferry's closed and there is this."

Pope handed Kie the flyer, and Kie's mouth dropped.

"What?" Isa asked.

"What is that?" John B asked. "What is this, what is this?"

Kie handed the flyer to Kaylee.

Kaylee was in shock. "Oh, fuck."

"What?" Isa repeated. "Somebody, please."

Kaylee handed the flyer to JJ.

JJ looked over the flyer. "Well, John B, that's a good framer for you. Let's check out Isa's. Yep. Good too."

JJ showed the flyer to John B and Isa. Their faces were beside each other under a large "WANTED" title. Below their pictures was $50,000 reward ($25,000 for each) in big bold letters. Along with their descriptions and the police station's phone number.

"Okay, so the whole island is looking for Isa and John B now," Kaylee stated.

Isa sighed in frustration. "This day just gets worse and worse."

"That's a lot of money," Kie pointed out.

"Congratulations, guys," JJ told them. "John B and Isa are famous."

"What the fuck do we do?" John B asked.

"Okay, guys, we got to get to the HMS," Kaylee stated. "We need something small, no running lights."

"It's at the Chateau, Kay," John B pointed out.

"And I wonder if the cops got the entire place staked out?" JJ asked sarcastically. "Let me think. Oh, yeah, no, they have that place locked down."

"Can you not?" Isa asked. "That's so not helping right now."

Kaylee sighed, nodding in agreement. "Copy that."

"Let me think," Pope told them. "Just give me a second. JJ?"

"What?" JJ asked.

"Does your dad still have that boat?" Pope asked. "The cigarette boat? The Phantom? The one he used to race?"

"Maybe," JJ answered, swallowing a lump in his throat and nervously running his thumb over Kaylee's thigh.

Kaylee could tell that he was anxious, taking JJ's hand comfortingly, rubbing a thumb over his skin.

"You could get right up the coast, no problem," Pope pointed out.

JJ shook his head. "It won't be that easy."

"Okay, look, the surf's running from three to four," Kie explained.

"I don't know where the keys are," JJ admitted.

"Well, find them," Pope replied.

JJ bit his lip in thought. "Okay, I'm thinking."

"Hey, it's okay," Kaylee assured. "We're in this, together."

JJ nodded.

Pope was freaking out behind the wheel as they were stuck in a line of traffic. "Why is nobody moving forward? What is going on here?"

"Can you relax?" Kie asked. "JJ, how much weed did you give him?"

John B was still looking at the poster, worried. "Kie. Kaylee. Your car's on the poster."

Kaylee and Kie looked back at them. "What?"

Pope honked the horn repeatedly to try and get the cars to drive so they could get out of there. "Can we move it?"

"Pope!" Kie scolded. "That's not gonna help anyone."

"Come on!" Pope continued yelling, drawing attention to the car.

"Stop it, Pope!" Isa chided.

A kid in the distance yelled, pointing his finger at the car. "Mom, look! Those guys! Right there!"

"Shit!" Kie complained.

"We got a snitch," JJ freaked out. "Pope, turn the car on."

"We get 50,000 dollars if we find them," the kid outside yelled, drawing more attention.

A man banged on Isa's window. "Hey! They're right there!"

Isa turned away from the man at the window. "Pope, drive!"

John B pulled his jacket over his face. "Guys!"

"Hey, dude!" Kaylee worried. "We gotta go!"

Pope seemed to be frozen with fear.

"Turn the car on!" JJ directed.

"I found them first!" the kid said.

The man glared at the kid. "Hell you did, you little bastard."

"Go, Pope!" John B urged.

"Pope, turn the freaking car on!" Kaylee urged.

Pope tried to turn the key in the ignition as it was stalling. "I am trying!"

"Can these fucking people go already?" Isa demanded.

"Dude--" Kie started.

"Turn the car on!" JJ called. "Go, go, go, go!"

The car suddenly jolted forward, crashing into the car that was stopped in front of them. Kaylee's body slammed into the seat in front of her. JJ wrapped his arms around her waist to secure her to him. The crowd of people that had collected around gasped at the crash.

"Pope!" Kaylee complained. "Jeez!"

"Dude, back up!" Isa directed.

"Hey!" John B said.

Pope slammed on the accelerator, ramming them further into the car ahead of them.

"Other way, Pope," Isa told him.

"It's okay," John B told him. "Pope, just go!"

Pope finally backed up, driving around the line of cars.

Kie scolded Pope's driving as it was completely reckless. "Hey!"

Kaylee called out to the people around them as they drove off. "Sorry!"

Plumb tried running after them, but stopped when they sped up. She pulled out her radio to call backup. "We need backup on a green SUV. Iota, Kappa, Echo, Foxtrot."

⚓️

On the Road

Pope was driving like a maniac.

"What are you doing?" Isa asked, freaking out.

"Well, bump out," John B commented.

Kaylee saw they were headed right for a mailbox. "Watch out! Pope! Whoa, whoa, whoa, watch out!"

Pope drive straight into the mailbox, destroying it.

"Pope, what the hell?" John B asked.

JJ laughed. "Oh, my God!"

"Pope!" John B scolded.

Isa gave Pope a look, breathing heavily. "What the fuck?"

Pope cheered, laughing like a mad man. "I'm living my best life right now."

"My mom's gonna kill me and Kay," Kie worried.

"We'll worry about that later, Kie," Kaylee replied.

JJ looked at Pope. "I should be the last one to tell you this, but you are not okay to drive, dude."

"Stop!" Isa urged.

Pope slammed on the breaks as the tires squealed to a stop. "Isa, John B, get out."

"He's right," Kaylee agreed. "We'll draw the cops and you run."

"I'll get the rig and we'll meet you in the dump tomorrow, okay?" JJ asked.

John B and Isa got out of the car, looking back at JJ and Kaylee to confirm. "Three o'clock, right?"

"Yeah," Kaylee answered.

"Three o'clock tomorrow at the dump!" JJ called after them.

"Yeah, okay," Isa answered.

"Go, run!" Kaylee told them.

"Three o'clock," John B told them.

Isa and John B took off running.

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - John B's Room

Rafe was in John B's old guest room, trying to remain calm, packing John B's things into a bag.

Wheezie walked in. "What are you doing?"

"Tossing this crap," Rafe answered.

Wheezie jumped onto the bed to lay down. "That's John B's." She saw Isa's bag that was already filled. "You got Isa's too?"

"Yeah," Rafe answered. "Well, I don't think they're gonna be by anytime soon to pick them up, so..."

"Why?" Wheezie asked.

Rafe looked at her. "Did you say why?" Wheezie nodded. "They didn't tell you?"

"Nobody tells me anything," Wheezie told him.

Rafe stood up straight, running his hand through his hair. He was still conflicted after everything Lia told him, but the more he and Ward told the lie, the easier it was for Rafe to believe. "Um... so Isa tried to kill dad, and she's an accomplice to John B killing Sheriff Peterkin."

Wheezie gave him a disbelieving look. "What?"

Rafe nodded. "Yeah." Wheezie shook her head, smiling. "You smilin' right now?"

"Yeah," Wheezie answered.

"I'm not joking," Rafe told her. "Like, this isn't a game. I don't--" He snapped John B's shirt against the dresser, making Wheezie jump. "I don't know why you're smiling, okay? Look at me." He leaned down to look Wheezie in the eyes. "I saw it with my own two eyes, all right? John B shot Peterkin, and then you know what then? Isa tried to shoot Dad, after she stabbed him. But I stepped in, and I stopped them, right? I saved his life."

Wheezie frowned in confusion. "Why would Isa and John B want to kill Dad?"

Rafe looked down. "Because they think Dad killed their father."

Wheezie considered this. "They want vengeance."

Rafe grabbed Isa and John B's bags, walking around the bed toward the door. "Oh, yeah." Wheezie sat up. "I don't know. I'm telling you, they're..." Rafe turned to look at Wheezie, sighing, nodding. "They're maniacs. And Lia and Sarah have been hanging out with them."

Rafe walked away. The conflict was still strong, though he told the lie to Wheezie so that he didn't lose his other little sister, like he knew he already lost Lia and Sarah after all of this. Lia and Wheeze were always Rafe's soft spots, and he didn't want to lose anyone else.

⚓️

Night - Neighborhood

It was just now starting to get dark.

Sirens were a constant echo around Isa and John B, everywhere they turned, their lights were flashing or a car passing by. They were panting for breath, hopping over someone's porch stairs, seeing a cop car drive pass, scrambling in the opposite direction, running through a backyard, getting to a large bush, ducking down. Once the cop car passed, they started running again.

Isa pointed to an open garage. "There."

They knew it was their only option to stay hidden at the moment, walking in. 

⚓️

Kelce's House - Garage

Isa turned off the lights quickly as John B closed the door. Looking around for something to hide under, Isa noticed a wooden work table, ducking under it. John B hid next to Isa. Both were breathing heavily, desperate to get air back.

"What are we gonna do, John B?" Isa asked.

John B sighed. "I don't know, but we'll figure it out. Together, remember?"

Isa nodded. "Together."

⚓️

On the Road

(Song:) Paid in Full - Eric B. & Rakim, Marley Marl

Pope drove the Carrera car around town, providing a distraction to lure cops away from Isa and John B. Music was blasting in the car.

JJ laughed. "Pope, you clocked that car, man. Like, it was so bad!"

Kaylee nudged JJ with her foot, giving him a look, shaking her head.

Pope was still driving, squinting his eyes, clearly high. "I'm just glad I'm not driving now."

Kaylee and Kie both looked annoyed that both JJ and Pope were laughing about this.

"Pull over, Pope," Kaylee stated firmly.

Pope didn't hear her or he just wasn't listening as he kept driving. One of the headlights was busted, and the road in front of them was becoming difficult to see.

Kie raised her voice. "Damn it, Pope, pull over! He shouldn't be driving."

"JJ, it's not funny," Kaylee told him.

Pope pulled over, swerving the car into the grass. Kie got out of the passenger's seat, slamming her door shut as she went around the car.

JJ was no longer laughing. "Mamas are mad."

Kaylee gave JJ look, scoffing, crossing her arms over her chest, looking away.

Kie paused in front of the car, holding her arms out to her sides. "What are you--"

Pope got out of the car, switching seats with Kie, so now that Kie was behind the wheel and driving.

JJ lit a blunt. "Where are we going?"

"Are you serious?" Kaylee asked.

JJ looked at Kaylee innocently. "What?"

"Pope is high out of his mind, and you really think that more weed is a good idea right now after earlier?" Kaylee asked. JJ looked between Kaylee and the blunt that was lit in his hands, before slowly bringing it to his lips. Kaylee rolled her eyes, letting it go. "You're unbelievable."

"And you're stressed," JJ replied, offering Kaylee the blunt. "Here, take a hit of this."

"Not now," Kaylee replied.

"We're going to the last place they're gonna look," Kie explained.

Kaylee sighed. "Great."

(Song Ends)

⚓️

Kelce's House - Garage

Isa and John B ended up falling asleep, when a loud bang from the other side of the garage door woke them up.

Isa held a finger over her lips, slowly crawling out from under the table. John B slowly crawled out as well. They walked through a random door in the garage, and into the house, trying to find an exit.

⚓️

Inside - Kitchen

Isa and John B walked through the house, finding Kelce in the kitchen.

Isa rolled her eyes. "Of all people, we choose the house of the one of the fucking psychos that keeps fighting us?"

Kelce looked at them in shock. "John B? Isa?"

John B raised his hands. "Hey, man." Kelce stood, slowly moving his way around the kitchen island counter. "Just listen to me for a second. Relax."

Kelce glared. "Man, what are you two doing here?"

Isa held up her hands. "I'm sorry, we didn't mean to."

Kelce scoffed. "Man, I know what you two did."

Isa shook her head. "Kelce."

"Please listen," John B pleaded.

"You need to get out of my house!" Kelce ordered.

"We didn't do it," Isa told him. "Just listen."

"Don't try to talk to me," Kelce stated angrily. "I know what y'all did."

John B shook his head anxiously. "No, no, no, no."

Isa lost her patience, snapping. "For fuck's sake, listen! We didn't kill anyone. I didn't try to kill Ward. We're being framed. Kelce, please. I know what you heard, but just please, help us."

Kelce grabbed a knife, holding it up.

John B held up his hand, one arm in front of Isa to protect her. "Yo, put the knife down."

Kelce stepped closer. "You just invaded home land, bro. I'm warning you, man."

"Put the knife down," John B repeated.

Isa and John B were backing away.

Kelce stalked closer with the knife. "You both need to get the hell out of my house right now!"

John B grabbed Isa's wrist, pulling her after him down the hallway, running through the first door they saw.

⚓️

Laundry Room

John B slammed his body against the door, locking it, realizing they were in a laundry room. "Kelce?"

Kelce realized what he could do, running off to grab a chair from the hallway, putting the chair underneath the door handle to keep it from opening, locking them in the laundry room.

"What?" Isa asked. "What's happening?"

John B tried to open the door to no avail. "Fuck."

Kelce laughed. "You're both in the house of pain now. You hear that? I got y'all. I got you both."

Isa and John B exchanged a look.

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Outside

Kie pulled the Carrera car up to the Tannyhill Estate.

Kie, Kaylee, JJ and Pope got out of the car.

Kaylee and JJ stood by the car for a moment, while Kie and Pope were scoping the place out.

"Are you mad at me?" JJ asked.

"No," Kaylee answered. "I'm just stressed. And I know that's not an excuse, and I'm sorry."

JJ put two fingers under her chin, raising her head to look Kaylee in the eyes. "Hey. It's okay. I love you."

JJ pulled Kaylee in gently for a kiss, his hand moving to caress her cheek.

Kaylee leaned into his touch as they kissed passionately, before pulling away to breathe, leaning her head against JJ's. "I love you too."

Kie looked around, looking back at Kaylee and JJ. "Looks all good. Come on."

Kaylee and JJ walked up to Kie and Pope.

"Perfectly focused," Pope commented.

"You sure this is a good idea?" JJ asked.

"We need Lia and Sarah's help to clear Isa and John B," Kaylee pointed out.

They walked toward the fence, climbing it, jumping down.

"Last place they'll look because of how stupid it is," JJ remarked.

"Okay, I've got a plan," Kie whispered as they were close to the house.

Pope nodded, rambling. "Yeah, I have plans. We can do plans. Let's do the plan thing. Let's get it. Let's plan it out."

"Can you handle a plan right now?" Kaylee asked.

Pope scoffed. "'Course I can handle a plan right now. I'm--I'm Plan Guy. I'm--I'm Mr. Plan-o-Matic. Hey, I'm--I'm always... thinking of a master plan, eye." He started singing. "'Cause there ain't nothing but a--"

Kie put her hand over Pope's mouth. "Shh, shh."

"Kie, let me--" Pope started, his voice muffled underneath her palm.

"Look, this is a quiet plan," Kie whispered. "Okay?" Pope nodded. "Can I move my hand?"

Pope nodded. Kie slowly removed her hand from Pope's mouth.

Kaylee sighed. "Let's go, we don't have time for this. Are you guys ready for the plan?"

"What's the plan, exactly?" JJ asked.

"For you and Pope to create a distraction, like set the grill on fire or something, while Kie and I climb up the balcony to Lia and Sarah's rooms and see what they can do, or if they can do anything," Kaylee answered.

"Lia's probably locked up and might be drugged again, and Sarah might be locked up too, but we have to try to get them out of there," Kie told them. "Let's go, Kaylee."

Kie and Kaylee walked away toward the house.

Pope and JJ exchanged a look, nodding.

⚓️

Kelce's House - Living Room

Kelce was shaking Topper awake. "Top, wake up. Top, wake up, man! Yo. Yo, look. You're not gonna believe who I got down the hall, bro. Yo, get up, man! Come on!"

Topper was groggily trying to focus. "Jeez."

"Top, get up," Kelce told him, pulling him up. "Come on."

Topper sat up. "All right, all right." Kelce pulled him along. "What?"

⚓️

Hallway

Kelce and Topper walked toward the laundry room, while Topper was still tired.

"Bro, I'm just--I'm just eatin' cereal, and--and I look up, and bam, intruder alert, bro," Kelce explained.  They stopped next to the laundry room door. "Knock, knock!"

John B tapped against the door. "Hey, hey, Kelce. Hey, buddy. Please just let us out."

Topper was in shock, looking at Kelce.

Kelce nodded. "Yeah, I don't think so, bitch. Word on the street is you got a bounty on your heads, bro."

Isa hit the door. "No, it's not what it seems."

"50k cash money, dead or alive," Kelce told them.

Isa turned away in frustration. "Fuck!"

"Right?" Kelce asked. "Isn't that right, guys?"

Topper whispered to Kelce. "Hey. What the hell's goin' on?"

"I'm--I'm gonna go get the cops, all right?" Kelce asked. "All right? Bro, don't let those dogs out."

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Outside

Pope and JJ walked up to the grill. Pope put some pillows in the grill.

JJ used Kaylee's lighter and spray to light the pillows on the grill on fire, though they were both standing too close, making their hats catch on fire when the flames bursted alight, making them both jump back and throw their hats to the ground.

"Shit!" Pope whispered.

JJ and Pope stomped out the fire on their hats, picking their hats up.

JJ shook his head. "Kaylee makes that look so easy."

Pope laughed quietly.

⚓️

Balcony

Kaylee and Kie climbed up onto the balcony that was outside Lia and Sarah's rooms.

Kaylee found Sarah's room. "I got Sarah. You go get Lia."

"Yeah," Kie agreed, walking over to Lia's room.

Kaylee looked into Sarah's room, seeing her sitting on her bed as tears stained her cheeks, knocking on the window lightly.

Sarah shot up when she saw Kaylee, running closer to the window, whispering. "Kaylee!"

Sarah tried pulling the window up, but it wouldn't budge, nailed down, trapping her in.

"Fuck," Kaylee cursed. Kaylee and Sarah immediately began trying to push the window up from either side, but it wasn't moving. They gave up. Kaylee pulled out the wanted poster with John B and Isa on it, pressing it against the glass. Sarah sadly looked over the paper. "Are you in on it?"

"Did you think I was?" Sarah asked.

Kaylee shook her head. "No. Never."

⚓️

Front Yard

Rose and Ward ran outside when they noticed the fire, but JJ and Pope were in hiding behind two trees.

Ward quickly closed the lid to the grill, realizing that it was a distraction, running to the house. "Lia! Sarah!"

Ward and Rose ran inside.

⚓️

Sarah's Room

Kaylee was still outside Sarah's window.

"Do you have a plan?" Sarah asked.

"We're working on it," Kaylee answered. "Just, uh, hang tight, okay?"

Sarah bit her lip, nodding, knowing she didn't have another choice. "Please, you have to get Lia out of here."

"We'll try," Kaylee assured.

There was a knock on Sarah's door as Ward called in. "Sarah!"

Sarah gasped. "Kaylee, go!"

Kaylee nodded, running into hiding.

Sarah ran to her bed, sitting down.

Ward walked in. "Sarah, you in there?"

"Yeah," Sarah answered. "Where else would I be? You locked us in our rooms."

Ward left the room.

Sarah let her head fit the bed.

⚓️

Lia's Room

Kie walked over to the many windows that led to Lia's room over the balcony, knocking on the windows.

Lia looked up from her bed, seeing Kie, gasping in relief, standing, running closer instantly, keeping her voice quiet. "Kie!"

Kie smiled sadly but sympathetically. "Hey, Lia."

Lia pointed to the windows. "All the windows are sealed shut. Ward had them sealed after the hurricane so I can't sneak out. He's keeping me and Sarah in so we can't tell the truth and expose him and Rafe."

Kie nodded knowingly, worried for Lia being trapped in, and worried about all the other Pogues during this situation. "Shit."

Kie tried to pull at all the windows to try and open them, but Lia was right.

"Kie, it's no use," Lia told her. "You have to go."

"I'm not leaving you in there, Lia," Kie argued. "Not after knowing what those psychos do to you."

Lia placed her hand on the glass in between them, tears in her eyes. "Please, I don't want you to get hurt."

Kie placed her hand to the glass over Lia's. "I can't leave you in there, Lia."

"You have to," Lia said softly. "I don't know when my dad or brother could come in and see you."

Kie and Lia stood on opposite sides of the glass, their hands pressed together, foreheads resting against the barrier between them. Tears glistened in both their eyes as the reality of their situation sunk in.

Kie could see the fear and desperation in Lia's eyes, mixed with determination to protect Kie from her family.

"Lia, please," Kie whispered, her voice cracking. "There has to be some way to get you out of there."

Lia shook her head slightly, her palm flat against the glass. "I've tried everything, Kie. The windows are sealed, the door is locked from the outside. My dad even took my phone so I can't contact anyone." She let out a shaky breath. "I'm trapped. My dad and Rafe are watching me like hawks. If I try to leave, they'll just drug me again or worse."

Kie felt anger and helplessness surge through her at the thought of what Lia's family had done to her. "We can't just leave you here with them. It's not safe."

"I know," Lia said softly. "But I can handle it for now. You need to go help Isa and John B. I'll find a way out, and I'll be right there with you. I promise."

They heard Ward's voice. "Lia?"

Lia jumped, looking from the door to Kie. "Go!"

Lia took her hand off the glass, running to her bed. Kie watched her worriedly, but knew she had to go, running off.

Kaylee ran toward Kie. "We gotta go."

Kie nodded in agreement.

Ward unlocked the door, walking in. "Lia?"

Lia laid on her bed, looking at him in annoyance. "What? What more do you want?"

Ward looked toward the windows, but didn't see anyone on the balcony, sighing. "I'll be back up here soon with dinner."

"Yeah, well, in case you and Rose try to drug me again, I'm not eating or drinking anything you two give me," Lia replied.

Ward sighed, walking out of the room, closing and locking the door behind him.

Lia looked toward the windows worriedly.

⚓️

Outside

Kaylee and Kie climbed over the railing of the balcony, hopping down to a landing below them, then down to the ground, running through the backyard as they continued running. They met up with JJ and Pope who were still hiding behind some trees.

JJ put himself in Kaylee's path to catch her, lifting her up slightly as he hugged her tight.

"We did it," Kie told them. "Lia and Sarah are locked up, but as soon as they can get out, they're on our side, and Lia is going to come clean."

"Let's go," JJ told them.

They ran over to the car.

⚓️

Kelce's House - Laundry Room

Isa and John B were still trapped.

John B tried pleading their case again. "Look, Kelce, just--just let us out, man."

Topper stood on the other side of the door. "Yeah, Kelce isn't here, bro. It's Topper."

Isa knew they were screwed, sighing in frustration. "Of course our captor has to be the guy you took his girl from. That's it, we're fucked."

John B made a face. "Oh, boy."

"Yeah," Topper agreed with both of them. "Yep, surprise."

Isa whispered to John B. "Distract him while I keep looking for a way out."

John B nodded in agreement. "Okay, um... Hey, Top. It's John B."

Isa looked around. "He knows it's you, dumbass."

"Shh!" John B shushed her.

"Hey," Topper greeted.

"Hey, man," John B said. "So, look--"

"Are you gonna try to talk yourselves out of this again?" Topper asked. "Just cut the bullshit, all right? Like the chickens are roosting, guys."

Isa frowned. "What the hell?"

Topper realized they didn't know that saying because of Isa's reaction, sighing. "Like it is over. You're in deep shit, you two."

"Listen to me!" John B urged, hitting his fist against the door with every word. "I didn't kill the sheriff, and Isa didn't try and kill Ward."

Isa muttered to herself while looking for another way out of there. "Had half a mind too."

"You didn't shoot the sheriff or try to kill Ward?" Topper asked mockingly.

"No!" John B answered. "Ward tried to kill us. Isa was defending us. Rafe shot Peterkin. Lia and Sarah were there, they saw the whole thing."

Topper nodded sarcastically. "Oh, Ward tried to kill you two. Right. And Rafe shot the sheriff. Oh, okay, my bad."

Isa sighed. "I get it, Top. You don't believe us. And honestly, I wouldn't believe us either. But..."

John B sighed. "I--I get it. You hate me because of Sarah, but don't take that out on Isa."

"You knew we were boyfriend and girlfriend, right?" Topper asked.

Isa frowned. "Are we in middle school?"

John B made a face. "Yeah, yeah, my bad."

Isa snorted. John B gave her a look.

Isa held up her hands, smirking, using John B's words to tease him. "My bad."

Topper shook his head. "Piece of shit. And, um, I got another question."

"Go for it, buddy," John B replied.

"Yeah, it's not like we're going anywhere," Isa stated sarcastically. "Got all the time in the world."

"Did you fuck her?" Topper asked. "Hmm?"

Isa made a face. "Okay, can you two not?"

John B's face contorted in fake confusion. "No."

Isa raised an eyebrow skeptically.

Topper didn't buy it either. "No? Are you sure?"

"No," John B said. "Yes, I--I did--no."

"Yes or no, John B?" Topper asked impatiently.

"Okay, look, man, yes!" John B answered.

"Yeah?" Topper asked.

"Why do you need to know this?" Isa asked, disgusted.

"We--we did it," John B admitted. "We did it, once. Okay? But maybe don't use the f-word. That's kinda gross. Grotesque... way to describe it."

Topper nodded sarcastically. "My bad, man. I'm so sorry. What word would you like me to use?"

"I don't know," John B admitted. "Any other word."

Isa was fed up. "No word, because this is literally the last thing we should be talking about. Look, Topper, I'd say I'm sorry it didn't work out between you and Sarah and that she wouldn't have sex with you, but I'm not. Maybe because you're a dick. Just my guess. But can you please, for the love of God, change the subject?"

"Stay out of this, Isa," Topper replied, though it was clear that her words got under his skin, before he asked another question of John B. "Do you love her?"

"Look, I don't know," John B admitted.

"You either love her or you don't, man," Topper told him.

"I don't know, Top," John B insisted. "It's too new. Okay?"

Topper sighed. "Okay, well, then... Okay, what does it feel like when you're with her? Does she make you crazy? Can you sleep at night?"

John B thought about how to answer. "I mean, it's--it's... it's, uh, fun and exciting and sometimes it's scary. I--I don't know, man. It's like getting struck by lightning and not getting burned."

"What the hell are you saying?" Topper demanded.

John B leaned against the door. "I don't know, man. It's like we're in a movie sometimes."

Isa smiled softly since she knew that John B was in love, and knowing that that sense of love applied to her to two others.

Topper scoffed. "It's like you're in a fucking movie? That's not love!"

Isa rolled her eyes. "Hate to break it to you, Top, but that's exactly what it is. You may think you're in love with Sarah, but actually you're just infatuated. When you are in love with someone, truly love someone, it is so scary. You are giving everything to that person. They become your happiness, your sadness, your home, your comfort, and you can never ever get mad at that person no matter the circumstance. You'd be ready to give up the life you had planned to keep them safe. That is love."

Topper was stunned speechless by what she said.

John B smiled at Isa, knowing that this conversation actually did help Isa realize that she did love Kie and Lia, just like it helped him realize for real he did love Sarah. "I'm in love with her, and I know that hurts. But, uh, I'm in love, man. I'm in love."

John B had a love sick smile, sliding his back down the side of the door to the floor.

Topper sighed. "It's over for you, guys. This is it. Your little wild adventure. Your movies are over. Cops are on their way. Hope you enjoyed it."

Isa saw a vent poking out from behind the dryer, pointing to the vent. John B stood, helping Isa quietly move the dryer away from the vent.

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Lia's Room

When Ward put food and tea in Lia's room, and left again before locking the door, Lia knew not to eat or drink it. Lia stood, throwing the tray of food and tea against the wall, making the tray and glass crash and break before falling to the floor, not bothering even looking at it before turning around, pacing back and forth, holding her head in her hands, trying to think of what to do. 

⚓️

Sarah's Room

In her bathroom to her room, Sarah was washing John B's bandana, wrapping it around her wrist, holding it close to her.

Just a bit later, Sarah was sitting down against her bed, trying to think of what to do.

She could hear Rose and Ward arguing.

"Wheezie just told me you locked both Lia and Sarah in their rooms," Rose stated. "What's going on?"

"I can't right now," Ward told her.

"I need to know!" Rose told him.

Ward raised his voice. "No!"

Because of the argument, Sarah realized what she could do. "Wheezie. Wheezie." She leaned closer to the floor vent next to her, whispering. "Wheezie?" She opened the floor vent, pulling out a dirty club with a string it in that clearly hadn't been used for a while, but it was exactly what Sarah needed right then. "Yes." She spoke into the cup/string. "Wheezie. Wheezie, are you there?" Down in her room, Wheezie could barely hear Sarah. "Wheezie? Damn it, will you stop writing in your diary, please? Wheezie, please? Talk to me." Wheezie stood, walking toward her vent. "Wheezie, SOS. Please answer me." Wheezie opened her vent, pulling out her cup/string. "Hello?"

Wheezie spoke into the cup. "Sarah?"

Sarah sighed in relief. "Wheezie. Hi."

"Can you believe it?" Wheezie asked. "I mean, you think you know people, but it turns out they're killers. I mean, living in our house. It gives me the total creeps."

"Wheezie, I need to talk to you," Sarah told her.

"When you see on TV, and they're like..." Wheezie trailed off. "All the neighbors are, like, 'they're perfectly normal people'. It's crazy!"

Sarah shook her head. "Wheezie, stop!"

"I mean, my sister dating a killer, and my other sister hanging out with one," Wheezie went on. Sarah faked sobbing to get Wheezie to stop. "You don't still have feelings for John B, do you?"

"Of course I do," Sarah answered.

"Like, women who fall in love with guys on death row?" Wheezie asked.

"It's just so horrible," Sarah told her.

"Are you crying?" Wheezie asked.

"No shit, I'm crying," Sarah answered. "I just really need my sisters right now. Can you please come up here? I need both you and Lia."

Wheezie sighed. "Well, Dad told me not to open the doors."

Sarah added a sob to convince Wheezie. "I really need you two."

Wheezie managed to get a hold of Ward's key, using it to open Sarah's room, walking in. "Sarah?"

Sarah took the key from Wheezie, placing a finger to her lips. "Come on. Let's go to Lia."

Wheezie nodded in agreement.

⚓️

Lia's Room

Lia was sitting on her bed, not knowing what Sarah managed to do.

Sarah used the key to open the door and walk in, followed by Wheezie.

Lia looked at them in surprise. "Sarah? Wheezie?"

"We're gonna get out of here," Sarah whispered.

Lia stood, walking closer instantly, before she realized something, walking toward her dresser, taking out a change of clothes for herself and Isa, packing them into a mini bag.

"What are you doing?" Wheezie asked.

"We need you to listen," Sarah told her. "Isa and John B are not killers. They did not kill or try to kill anyone. We were there."

"Well, then, who did it?" Wheezie asked.

Lia and Sarah couldn't tell their little sister that their older brother did it.

"Wheezie, we need to stay quiet about us for as long as you can," Lia told her.

"Okay," Wheezie agreed.

"Isa and John B need our help," Sarah told her. Lia and Sarah both held one of Wheezie's hands. "Can we count on you?"

Wheezie linked her pinkie with Lia and Sarah's. "Pinky swear."

Lia and Sarah linked their pinkies together with each other and Wheezie, and all three sisters kissed their hands, like the three of them did in 1.03.

Lia embraced Wheezie, kissing her on the head. "I love you."

Sarah wrapped her arms around Wheezie.

⚓️

Outside

Lia and Sarah grabbed their bikes, as Lia put her bag with clothes in her basket, and Sarah also brought a change of clothes for herself, placing them in her basket. They both rode off on their bikes.

⚓️

Neighborhood

The cops were interviewing people about Isa and John B.

Kelce rode his bike toward Bratcher. "Hey, Officer! Hey, officer, we got your guys! Got them locked up in my house. Got them trapped in my laundry room."

⚓️

The Pogue Nest - Second Floor

Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope were here.

Kaylee was pacing.

"Kay, baby, sit down," JJ told her.

Kaylee looked over at JJ, hesitantly nodding, sitting next to him, her leg bouncing up and down rapidly.

"It'll be okay," Kie tried to assure. "They'll meet us at the dock tomorrow."

"What if they find them before then?" Kaylee worried.

"They won't," JJ stated calmly, putting his hand on Kaylee's leg reassuringly.

Kaylee instantly relaxed a bit at his touch, letting out a shaky breath, nodding. "Yeah, no, you're right. I'm just tired and my mind is wandering."

"I'm in need of some sleep too," Pope agreed.

They all laid down to go to sleep, except for Kie, who frowned as she walked outside.

⚓️

Carrera House - Outside

Kie walked up to her house to head inside, intending to tell Anna and Mike that she was staying in the treehouse with Kaylee and the others that night so they wouldn't worry.

Lia and Sarah rode by on their bikes, pulling over to a stop.

Kie's breath caught as she saw them, running closer. "Lia! Sarah! How the hell did you get out?"

Lia and Sarah stopped.

Lia hurriedly got off her bike and ran to meet Kie halfway. "Our sister Wheezie snuck the key from Dad's office and let out."

Lia and Kie threw their arms around each other.

Lia and Kie held onto each other tightly, both trembling slightly with relief at being reunited. Kie buried her face in Lia's hair, breathing her in.

"I was so worried about you," Kie whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"

Lia shook her head against Kie's shoulder. "I'm okay. Just scared and angry." She pulled back slightly to look at Kie, cupping her face gently. "What about you? Is everyone else alright?"

Kie leaned into Lia's touch. "We're okay. Worried sick about you and Sarah, and Isa and John B of course."

They pulled back slightly, but kept their arms around each other as Kie cupped Lia's face gently, her eyes searching for any signs of injury or distress just in case.

Sarah joined them, giving Kie a quick hug. "We need to go. Dad and Rafe will realize we're gone soon if they haven't already. We need to find John B and Isa. Do you know where they are?"

Kie shook her head worriedly. "We had to split up to be safe. Kaylee, JJ and Pope passed out in the Pogue Nest, but we've been keeping tabs on the search party."

Lia and Sarah nodded in understanding.

"Get your bike," Lia told her. "We gotta go get them before the cops do, or before Rafe does something he can't take back again. We'll call get Kaylee, JJ and Pope later if we have to."

Kie nodded in agreement as she ran to grab her bike.

Lia, Sarah and Kie got onto their bikes, riding away.

⚓️

Kelce's House - Outside

Cop cars drove up to the house, parking, sirens wailing and lights flashing.

Shoupe got out of his car, walking over to the house.

Thomas was already here. "Shoupe. There you are. Over here."

Shoupe walked closer. "All right. What we got?"

"Haven't gone in yet," Thomas answered. "Had to set up the perimeter first."

"Where are they?" Shoupe asked.

"They're in the laundry room, around the corner from the kitchen," Kelce answered.

"This your house?" Shoupe asked.

"Yes, sir," Kelce answered.

"Your parents got him pinned in there?" Shoupe asked.

"No, sir, that was all me," Kelce answered. "But I got my boy Top in there guarding them."

Shoupe nodded. "All right. Are they armed?"

"No, sir," Kelce answered.

Rafe pulled his car up to the house, getting out, walking closer.

A woman pointed to the house. "Hey. I think they've got them trapped in this house."

A blonde girl pointed to the house. "It's Isa and John B. Routledge."

Rafe looked at the house, walking closer guardedly.

Shoupe spoke through a megaphone. "All right. Isa! John B! It's Shoupe out here. We got you surrounded. We don't want any more bloodshed. We're comin' in."

⚓️

Inside - Hallway

Topper still stood outside the laundry room, hand to his head. "What a misunderstanding, guys. Like, everyone thinks it's you."

⚓️

Outside

Thomas looked at Shoupe. "You want me to take lead?"

Shoupe shook his head. "He shot Miss Pete down like a dog in the street, and she targeted Cameron. I got this."

Rafe called out. "Remember the fallen, Sheriff!"

"Yeah, that's right," Man 1 said. "Kill the sons of bitches!"

"Get them!" Man 2 called.

"Get them, Shoupe!" Man 3 called.

Shoupe, Thomas and another deputy ran up the stairs to the house.

⚓️

Inside - Hallway

Shoupe opened the door, leading the other two inside. "Kildare County!"

Topper walked closer. "Hey, we're back here, sir!"

"Thomas, Williams, let me do this," Shoupe told them, walking down the hallway.

"We're comin' with you," Thomas told him.

They walked toward Topper.

"All right sir," Topper told him, pointing to the laundry room, moving the chair. "They're right in there."

Shoupe walked closer. "All right, I got it from here, son."

Topper nodded. "No mercy, all right?"

"Thomas, get the kid outta here," Shoupe told him.

Thomas led Topper away. "Yeah, I got him."

Williams walked with Shoupe toward the laundry room, both with guns drawn.

Shoupe sighed heavily. "Isa, John B? This is the end of the road! Put your hands on your heads. I'm coming in there."

Shoupe opened the door, only to find that the washer and dryer had been moved, the vent that Isa had seen was opened, and Isa and John B were gone.

Thomas called over. "Shoupe! Williams! You got them?"

Shoupe sighed in frustration. "Goddamn." He walked out of the room. "They slipped out the vent in the laundry room."

Topper walked closer. "No, sir, they were just in there. They were!"

"Get outside!" Shoupe ordered.

They walked outside.

⚓️

Outside

Isa and John B were running, trying to find cover in hiding, away from everyone else.

Shoupe walked outside. "They went out the back!"

Topper walked outside. "They were just in there. They can't be far."

"I want three deputies to hit the backyard now!" Shoupe ordered. "Come on, let's go!"

"We'll get them for you, Sheriff!" Rafe told him.

"The suspects are unarmed!" Shoupe called. "If you ain't the sheriff's department, go home!"

Rafe looked at a group of guys. "Come on, let's find them. Let's go. Let's go! Don't you worry, all right? We're gonna help." He led the way. "All right, come on. Hey, this way. Let's go."

Shoupe spoke through the megaphone. "Locate! But do not engage!"

Isa and John B hid behind a truck.

Rafe walked in their direction with Kelce and Topper. "Gotta protect the homeland."

"Hell, yeah," Kelce agreed.

"Isa!" Rafe called. "John B! Where you at? Kelce, check the other side."

Isa carefully reached into the back of the truck, grabbing a crowbar, throwing it down an alley away from them. 

"Yo, hold up," Kelce said. "Rafe, that way." They walked toward the alley. "You see them that way?"

"No," Rafe answered.

Kelce looked at a passing cop car. "Hey, bro. Hey. Hey, hey." The cop stopped driving. "They went this way."

"You sure they went that way?" Rafe asked.

"There's no other way they could have gone," Kelce stated.

"Hey, do not let them get far, all right?" Rafe asked. "Let's go!"

Once the coast was clear, Isa and John B ran away.

Kie, Lia and Sarah were riding their bikes up to the scene.

Lia looked at the blonde girl that had been talking to Rafe earlier. "Hey, did they catch them?"

"Not yet," the girl answered. "Said they're headed to Shem Creek. Come on."

The girl walked away.

Sarah looked around in confusion. "No."

"What?" Kie asked.

Sarah looked at Kie and Lia in realization. "John B took me to that old abandoned church the other day. Old Oak Church. And it's a place where Isa and John B used to go with their dad, and they carved their names up in the bell tower. It's an emotional place for them."

"And you think they're gonna be there," Lia realized.

Kie nodded in agreement. "Isa told me about the place years ago. I completely forgot about it. It's the last place these people will look. Come on."

Kie, Lia and Sarah started to ride their bikes in the direction of the church.

Topper was walking behind them, seeing Kie, Lia and Sarah ride off, following them.

⚓️

Old Oak Church

Isa and John B ran up to the church, breaking in through wood-rotted doors.

Isa climbed up the ladder that led to the bell tower. John B followed her up.

The entire island was lit up in red and blue lights as far as they could see.

Isa turned away, pacing around the room. "This is not how I wanted to come back to this place. This is our place, with Dad, John B."

John B sighed heavily. "I know. Isa, we're gonna be okay."

"You can keep saying that, but it's looking less and less true," Isa told him.

As Isa and John B took shelter in the abandoned church's bell tower, rattling sounds from inside the church alerted them.

John B grabbed a metal candle stick holder, pushing Isa lightly behind him protectively.

The trap door started to slowly open, and Lia peaked up through the door, causing John B and Isa both to relax in relief.

Lia climbed up, followed by Kie, and then Sarah.

John B lowered the candle stick holder, dropping it to the ground at once.

They all smiled in relief.

Lia and Kie immediately enveloped Isa in their arms, all three girls holding onto each other tightly with tears in their eyes.

"Hi," Lia whispered.

Isa held Lia and Kie tightly. "You scared the shit out of us."

Kie gave her an apologetic look. "Sorry."

"What are you..." John B trailed off.

Sarah hugged John B. "Hi."

John B held her close in relief. "I thought I'd never see you again."

Sarah cried into his shoulder.

Lia looked between Isa and John B in concern. "Are you two okay?"

"Yeah," John B answered. Sarah placed a hand on his cheek so they could kiss. "You okay?"

"I am," Sarah answered.

Lia and Kie held Isa close.

"Are you okay?" Kie asked.

Isa chuckled sarcastically, nervously. "Never better."

All Isa wanted to do was hold Lia and Kie and kiss them and feel like everything would be okay, just for one night. Her realization earlier in the night that she was completely in love with them, and their combined fear of the situation they found themselves in, only fueled her need for that.

Isa, Lia and Kie clung to each other tightly, all three girls overwhelmed with relief and emotion at being reunited. Isa buried her face in the crook of Lia's neck, breathing in her scent, while Kie stroked Isa's hair soothingly. The gravity of their situation hung heavy in the air, but for this moment, they allowed themselves to simply exist in each other's arms.

Isa pulled back slightly to look at both of them, her eyes shining with unshed tears, her gaze roaming over Lia and Kie's faces as if memorizing every detail.

"I was so worried about you two," Isa whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "When I heard Ward had taken you, Lia... and then not knowing if you were safe, Kie..."

Lia cupped Isa's face gently. "We're okay. We're here now."

Kie nodded in agreement, running her hand soothingly up and down Isa's back. "We're not going anywhere."

Isa let out a shaky breath, leaning her forehead against Lia's as she kept one arm wrapped tightly around Kie. She kissed Lia gently and tenderly but filled with passion and the love she had realized earlier that night. Lia cupped her cheek as she returned the kiss. When they broke apart, Isa turned to kiss Kie, pouring just as much emotion and adoration into their kiss as the one before.

They heard footsteps stomp loudly up the ladder below them.

John B held Sarah tighter, and Isa pulled Lia and Kie behind her. The five of them waited anxiously for the person to be revealed.

Topper climbed up.

John B pointed the candle stick holder at him. "What are you doing here, Top?"

Topper held up his hands in surrender. "Hey, just take it easy, man."

Isa glared at him. "Just don't fucking move, goddamn it!"

"Let me--I just need to talk to Sarah, please," Topper told them.

Lia rolled her eyes, looking away. "Oh, for the love of God."

"Are you serious right now?" Kie asked.

"I just need to talk to Sarah, please," Topper told them.

Sarah nodded. "Yeah."

Topper gave her a look. "It's not smart, is it? You, Kiara and Lia meeting up with fugitives like this? Look, I'm not gonna do anything, all right? What, are you gonna kill me too, or maybe take turns murdering people? Is that like a twisted sibling thing?"

"They didn't kill anyone!" Lia snapped.

"You kidding?" Topper asked. "They brainwashed you, Lia. All of you."

Lia shook her head. "No."

"Huh?" Topper asked. "No, snap out of it!" He yelled for people. "Hey, everybody, they're up here!"

Topper yanked the rope that made the bell ring loud enough for the whole island to hear.

"No!" Kie cried out.

John B pulled the rope out of his hands. "Stop it!"

Isa instantly stepped forward, pushing Topper against the wall, an arm across his neck to pin him. "Shut up! Shut your mouth! All right! Just shut up, Topper."

"Topper, knock it off," Sarah told him. "Isa, let him go."

Isa violently let Topper go, backing away. "What the hell was that? You done?"

Topper nodded. "We're good. Just take it easy. Sarah, Lia, I warned you about these Pogues, didn't I?"

Lia glared at him. "Funny how the Pogues are the ones people are scared off, but not once have they randomly jumped or hurt you Kooks. Every single time, it is to defend themselves and protect the people they love. Every single fucking time! You and Rafe, Tod and Kelce and your friends, you're the ones that people should be scared of. But not Kie and Kaylee. Not JJ and Pope. And not Isa and John B. They're innocent!"

Isa, Kie and John B looked at Lia, absolutely touched by what she said.

"Then who did it?" Topper asked skeptically.

Lia and Sarah answered together. "Rafe."

"What are you talking about?" Topper asked.

"Why would we say our own brother did it if it wasn't true?" Lia asked. "We were there, Topper."

Topper shook his head in denial. "Don't lie to me, Lia."

"Sheriff Peterkin was trying to arrest our father, and then Rafe shot her," Sarah explained.

"No," Topper denied.

"That's our brother," Sarah told him. "Why would Lia and I lie about that?"

⚓️

Outside

Rafe and Kelce ran up to the church.

"Yo, I heard the bell," Kelce told him.

Rafe pointed up to the bell tower. "Yo, yo."

Kelce nodded. "Yeah, yeah, that's it."

A cop car drove up to the church, pulling over.

Rafe and Kelce ran inside.

⚓️

Bell Tower

Isa, John B, Lia, Kie, Sarah and Topper heard police sirens getting closer.

Isa turned to the shutters. "Shit."

"No, no, no," Kie whispered.

They looked out through the shutters, seeing several cop cars and residents surrounding the church.

John B was trying not to panic. "We've gotta go."

Lia nodded hurriedly in agreement. "Yeah."

Topper walked closer. "Sarah, you realize I'm the one who loves you."

"I don't care right now, Topper!" Sarah snapped. "Do you understand what's going on?"

⚓️

Downstairs

Rafe and Kelce walked up to the ladder.

"Hey, bro, wait," Kelce told him.

"What?" Rafe asked.

"Don't run into an ambush," Kelce warned.

Rafe looked up at the door to the bell tower over their heads.

⚓️

Bell Tower

Sarah looked at Topper. "I'm sorry for what I did. I'm sorry. But this isn't about you."

"What does that even mean, Sarah?" Topper asked.

"It means you need to stop being an egomaniacal self-absorbed asshole long enough for us to get the hell out of here," Lia answered. "Stop thinking with your dick and think with whatever semblance of a brain you have. We've gotta go."

Isa and Kie smirked, proud of Lia. John B was amused but too stressed to do anything else. Sarah was unsurprised but clearly thought the same.

⚓️

Downstairs

Rafe lit a lighter. "Let's smoke them out, then. Yeah?"

Rafe turned to face the wall.

"Bro, what are you doing?" Kelce asked. Rafe set fire to the wall, fire reflected upon his face, having his mouth open in awe. "What are you doing, man?" Rafe stood, backing away, as the fire spread up to the ceiling. "Shit."

Rafe walked away. "Hey, this is war." As the two ran from the church, Rafe was cheering, laughing. "Whoo!"

The fire continued to spread.

⚓️

Bell Tower

Topper was still acting obsessed. "Sarah, you gotta realize that he doesn't love you! He doesn't love you. It's me who does!"

Topper grabbed Sarah's wrists.

Sarah tried to pull her hands free. "Stop!"

John B pushed Topper off of Sarah. "Get your damn hands off her!"

Lia felt heat within the bell tower, coughing at the smell of smoke, looking around, seeing thick streams of smoke coming up through the trap door. "Guys! There's a fire."

Isa followed her gaze. "Guys!"

Kie whimpered in shock and horror. "Guys, guys, guys, guys."

They all looked at the smoke, all starting to become even more frantic and worried.

Topper looked at Sarah. "He doesn't love you like I do, okay? And I'm gonna prove it."

⚓️

Outside

Rafe and Kelce walked outside to join the cops and the other people.

The fire was still spreading.

"Shoupe, fire broke out a few minutes ago," Williams explained, trying to keep people back. "Okay, folks, back up."

Shoupe spoke into his radio. "Central, we've got the suspects in the Old Oak Church chapel. It's on fire. Send units now."

"Somebody's in there," Plumb told them.

Thomas ushered people back. "Get back! Get back!"

"Let's get everybody backed up," Shoupe ordered. "Can I get a little help?"

Topper, in John B's clothing, stepped out of the church, coughing from the smoke of the fire.

"That's him!" a woman called. "That's the cop-shooter!"

The cops aimed their guns at Topper, thinking he was John B since Topper had his hood pulled up.

"Back up!" Thomas instructed.

"Get him!" Williams called.

"On your knees, Routledge!" Shoupe stated. "Where's your sister?" He walked toward Topper. "Hands where we can see 'em!"

"Shoot him!" a woman called.

"Get down!" Shoupe directed. "Stay back! Routledge, get down!"

Rafe was watching intensely.

Topper knelt down, hands held up. "Don't shoot, all right?"

"Get down!" Plumb ordered.

"Hands up!" Shoupe insisted. "Show me your hands!" He looked at the other cops. "Stand down!"

Topper pulled back his hood. "It's Topper."

"Topper?" Shoupe asked.

"It's Topper, all right?" Topper asked. "Just put the guns down, man." Rafe frowned in confusion. "Just put the guns down."

Provided the distraction they needed, Isa, Lia, Sarah and John B walked out of the church. John B was wearing Topper's yellow T-shirt and shorts.

"Come on, let's go," Isa whispered.

They walked toward Lia and Sarah's bikes behind the church, where Lia grabbed her bag, and Sarah grabbed her change of clothes, and the four of them ran off.

Thomas handcuffed Topper.

"Goddamn it," Shoupe muttered. "Topper, what the hell you doing?"

Topper shook his head. "I don't know what the hell happened in there, all right?"

Shoupe gave him a deadly look. "That's bullshit. I ain't buyin' it. You need to tell me what's goin' on right now."

"Is this how you treat people who are just trying to help?" Topper asked.

"All right, smartass," Shoupe replied. "Thomas! Plumb! Go talk to him. Get him in the car." Topper looked toward Rafe on the sidelines, as Rafe eyed him down coldly. "Let's get everybody backed up! There might be people in there. Somebody get on the bullhorn, let's get out back." Topper was put into the back of a cop car. "They're still out there. Goddamn it."

⚓️

Road

Isa, Lia, Kie, Sarah and John B were still running. away into the dark, making their getaway.