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Day One - Same Night

Night - Singh Estate - Orinoco Room

Rafe and Kaylee were confined in their room all night with no sign of escape. They tried windows, only to realize they were reinforced and bulletproof - unbreakable.

Rafe didn't want Kaylee to give up Denmark's diary if they had away to escape. He knew as soon as she gave it up that Singh would no longer need either of them and would likely kill them both. With that in mind, he didn't pressure Kaylee about whatever knowledge had about the journal for the rest of the night. The longer she stayed silent, the greater chance of escape they had.

With three wounds from Macias's machete - in Kaylee's side, her wrist and her leg - and a month of being stranded on a deserted island with the rest of her friends and her sister with only leaves to act as bandages and salt water from the ocean to clean their wounds), Kaylee's wounds were heavily infected, just like Isa, Lia and Wheezie's. Their infections were dangerously close to necrotic territory which added to their weakened states - severe fevers that induced hysteria at some moments, sweating profusely despite their chills, and their entire bodies aching.

Rafe had been aware that Kaylee was weakened when he first saw her, but seeing her sitting on the bed in their room - their prison - showed him just how bad it was.

Rafe couldn't shake the feeling of dread settling in his chest as he watched Kaylee rest against the wall, her eyes glazed with pain and fatigue. The vibrant red dress that had initially caught his eye now seemed to dull against her pallor, and every shallow breath she took made his heart ache more. He wanted to reach out, to comfort her, but he also knew they were in a precarious situation, and any hint of weakness could be exploited by Singh. Not only that, but he was aware that Kaylee might not have accepted the gesture even in her state.

"Hey," Rafe said softly, stepping closer. "Are you okay?"

Kaylee lifted her gaze to meet his, a flicker of defiance sparking beneath the weariness in her eyes, though it was clear she was struggling. "I'll be fine."

"No, you're not," Rafe countered gently. He crouched beside her, lowering his voice so only she could hear - even if they were locked in their room alone, he didn't doubt that there were cameras or a mic somewhere in the room that Singh could use to spy on them. "We need to figure out a way out of here before your wounds get worse."

"No shit," Kaylee retorted. "I figured that we'd just stay here until I died."

Rafe arched an eyebrow, relieved that even in her condition, she still maintained her fiery spirit and sense of humor. Though his heart sank as he studied Kaylee, her once-vibrant spirit dimmed by her trauma over the last couple of months with Tod and his family, and her own parents, and now her pain and exhaustion.

Kaylee's body was tense as she shifted slightly, every wince evident as she tried to find a more comfortable position. The red dress clung to her, but it somehow felt more like a shroud than an outfit meant for celebration.

"Kaylee," Rafe murmured, moving closer to her. "You need to rest."

Kaylee's gaze met his, bright but shadowed by pain. "Rest? How can I rest when we're trapped in this hellhole with that maniac? He could come for us at any moment."

Rafe nodded, understanding her fear. Singh's sudden presence in their lives was like a cancer, growing more threatening with each passing moment. "I get it. But you're not going to be able to fight back if you don't take care of yourself first."

Kaylee tugged at her dress uncomfortably. "I'm not sleeping in this thing."

Rafe couldn't really blame her for that.

As the sun was going down, the door to their room opened slightly, just enough for a tray to be slid in before it was closed and locked again before Rafe could even make a move for the door.

Rafe approached the tray, frowning as he took in the items on it.

There was a set of silver silk pajamas meant for a woman, and first aid supplies for Kaylee's wounds. Like before, the maid had treated some of Kaylee's wounds, but now the task was left to Rafe, as Singh knew that anyone who worked for him who was sent into the room was at risk with both Rafe and Kaylee inside.

Kaylee frowned as she forced herself to sit up. "What is that?"

Rafe picked up the tray, carrying it over to the bed, setting it down nearby Kaylee. "Pajamas and first aid."

Kaylee's eyes widened slightly as she examined the items. "Pajamas? Seriously? First this fucking dress and now... what is this, silk? Is he trying to play some twisted game with us?"

Rafe shrugged, his expression tense as he opened the first aid kit and began sorting through the supplies. "For the dress, that's definitely a game. Not sure what the hell that was for unless he's just a classist who can't less than the best. For the pajamas... maybe he just wants to keep you comfortable while he figures out what to do with us."

Kaylee scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Comfortable? Right." She picked up the silk pajamas and tossed them aside. "I don't think I'll be needing those."

Rafe glanced at her, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth despite the gravity of their situation. "You might change your mind after I clean up those wounds."

Kaylee's eyes softened at his concern, although she quickly masked it with a scowl. "I can handle it myself."

"I know you can," Rafe acknowledged, reaching for her wrist gently to examine the injury from Macias again. "You shouldn't have to. Look around, Kaylee. I'm the only friend you've got."

His words resonated deeply, as she knew he was right. Even if the Pogues found Kaylee, she knew that they would only get themselves killed trying to stage a rescue with all of Singh's military resources. They couldn't rescue her... so she had to find a way to rescue herself. Given her weakened state, that was only possible with Rafe's help..

As much as Kaylee wanted to do it herself, she could feel her body screaming against her for being so long without treatment. "And then what? We wait until Singh decides we're more useful alive than dead?"

Rafe's expression shifted, determination hardening his features. "No. We find a way out of here."

Rafe knelt beside her and began to unpack the first aid supplies. The air between them crackled with tension as they both recognized the reality of their situation. Time was of the essence, and staying alive required careful planning.

Kaylee reluctantly accepted the first aid treatment from Rafe, her gaze dropping low.

Kaylee pulled the comforter up around her waist while she pulled up the dress, keeping herself modestly covered while giving Rafe access to the injury on her side. The side of the deep, infected gash sent a chill through him, anger and frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. Despite everything they had faced together, or against each other, it stung to see her like this - wounded and vulnerable.

"Damn it, Kaylee," Rafe muttered, dabbing at the wound with antiseptic.

Kaylee flinched but didn't pull away. The heat of his touch contrasted sharply with the cold desperation of their situation.

"I'm fine," Kaylee insisted, though her voice lacked its usual bravado, revealing a hint of the pain she was in.

As Rafe continued to work meticulously, cleaning the wounds on Kaylee's side, wrist, and leg, the atmosphere in the room shifted. The sharp sting from the antiseptic made her flinch occasionally, but his presence was oddly comforting. She watched him concentrate, brow furrowed as he gently bandaged her injuries, and she felt a rush of gratitude for his care amidst the chaos of their circumstances.

"Why are you helping me?" Kaylee asked quietly, breaking the silence that had settled between them. "After everything..."

Rafe paused, looking up at her with sincerity etched across his features. "Because I can't just sit here and do nothing while you're hurt. You deserve better than this. You've fought too hard to give up now."

Kaylee felt warmth spread through her chest at his words. It was hard to reconcile moments of tenderness with their complicated past. "I guess I've gotten used to it."

Rafe bit his lip for a moment. "You shouldn't have to be." He clenched his teeth briefly, stepping away, giving Kaylee space. "Macias did this to you?"

Kaylee pushed the blanket off of her as she fixed her dress to cover herself. "Yeah."

Rafe shook his head furiously. "I knew it. I knew I should've killed him when I had the chance."

"Like you need to kill anyone else, Rafe," Kaylee retorted. "I saw what you did to him... when he came for me and JJ. What was it with, a gaff hook?"

Rafe paused as he noted that there was not a note of judgment in Kaylee's voice, knowing that she didn't blame him for what he did to Macias because what she did to him after went beyond what he had done. "Yeah."

Kaylee sighed heavily. "He said that you did that for me. To protect me."

"You were supposed to be off the ship before he had the chance to wake up," Rafe admitted.

Kaylee nodded in acknowledgement. "Yeah, well, we ran into some complications. Got held up. And thanks, I guess, but I can handle myself."

Rafe turned to give Kaylee a look. "I know you can, but he left you with three infected wounds from whatever he used against you."

"Machete," Kaylee clarified.

Rafe's face twisted in a mix of anger and concern. "A machete? Why the hell didn't you say something earlier? You should have gotten that treated right away."

Kaylee avoided his gaze. "Kind of hard to do that when we ended up stranded on a deserted island for an entire month right after escaping the ship."

Rafe was stunned speechless for a moment. "You were stranded for an entire month? All this time?"

Kaylee swallowed, nodding. "Yeah. That's why I couldn't get it treated. Or Isa, Lia and Wheezie's wounds."

Rafe's concern became more intense at the mention of Lia and Wheezie, realizing that they must have had serious wounds like Kaylee, worried for his sisters despite the complexity of the Cameron family. "Lia and Wheezie? I know that Dad hurt them and Sarah, but..."

"Your dad strangled Sarah almost to death and had Eberhini try to stab Lia in the heart and Wheezie in the stomach," Kaylee corrected. "Isa, Kie and John B saved them. Wheezie shoved Eberhini when he tried to stab Lia in the heart and the knife went into her shoulder instead. And Isa and Kie saved Wheezie, so the knife didn't go into her stomach, but across her side."

Rafe's expression darkened as Kaylee recounted the details of his father's cruelty. A surge of anger coursed through him, and he clenched his fists tightly. "I swear, once we get out of here..."

Kaylee placed a hand on his arm, her touch grounding him. "We need to focus on getting out first, Rafe. Then we can deal with your dad."

Rafe nodded, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "Right. I know that none of your friends or sister would trust me to help them, but... if Lia and Wheezie are as bad as you right now..."

"They are," Kaylee answered. "Isa, too."

Rafe swallowed. "All of you need to get to a hospital. Before it gets worse. I know Isa, Lia and Wheezie have no problem going to a hospital, but people are looking for you, Kaylee. After Tod, and his father..."

"After I turned Tod into a torch and burned his father's face off," Kaylee finished. "Yeah, I know. I'm still a fugitive. Kind of puts a limit on where we can go, don't you think?"

"I have some of that figured out," Rafe replied earnestly, causing Kaylee to frown. "But right now, we need a plan to get the hell out here first."

Kaylee's heart softened at his words, a flicker of hope igniting within her despite the darkness surrounding them. "Thank you."

Rafe nodded slightly, taking notice of how Kaylee's fatigue was overpowering her. "But first, you need to rest, Kaylee. You need your strength if we're ever going to get out of here."

Kaylee wanted to argue, but the exhaustion clinging to her, weighing her down, made it impossible to. She still refused to sleep in the red dress she was wearing, and as much as she hated the idea of using the silk pajamas, she didn't have another option. She picked the silver pajamas up from the bed and stumbled up to her feet.

Rafe caught her elbow, steadying Kaylee as she made her way to the bathroom alone.

Kaylee walked into the bathroom, closing and locking the door to get changed from the red dress to the silver pajamas. Once she was done, she returned to the main room and limped lightly toward the bed.

Kaylee paused when she realized there was only one bed.

Rafe gave her a soft look, the corner of his mouth twitching up in a reassuring smile. "You can sleep here. I'll keep watch."

Kaylee raised an eyebrow, her heart racing at the implication. "You mean, like...?"

"Yeah," Rafe said, his tone calm but firm. "If we're going to get out of this place, you need to rest. I promise I won't let anything happen to you while you're asleep."

Kaylee hesitated, her mind swirling with the chaotic memories of their past - the highs and lows, their shared moments of laughter blended with pain and betrayal. But looking at him now, seeing the sincerity in his eyes, a part of her felt safe, despite everything.

"Okay," Kaylee finally said, still feeling the weight of uncertainty hanging over her.

Rafe slid off the edge of the bed, allowing Kaylee to sit first. She settled down cautiously, the silky fabric sliding against her skin as she nestled into the bed.

Rafe took a seat on the floor next to the bed, as there were nowhere else to sit or lay down.

Kaylee glanced down at Rafe on the floor, frowning slightly. She picked up one of the pillows on the bed and dropped it on the floor next to Rafe.

Rafe looked up at Kaylee in intrigue.

Kaylee shrugged lightly as she laid down. "Fair's fair. We're even."

Rafe chuckled slightly. "Sure. Let's go with that."

Kaylee's skin was still coated in a sheen of sweat, but she was freezing even with the heat outside, given her fever from the infection. She pulled the blanket up around her tightly despite her pain from the wounds. For the first time in a month, however, with bandages over her wounds and no longer stranded on Poguelandia, she knew that they were protected despite the agony they still caused her.

Rafe looked at Kaylee intensely for a moment, knowing how much pain she had to be in, his teeth clenched as he thought about what Macias did to Kaylee, and what Eberhini did to Lia and Wheezie on their father's orders. "I swear, if I ever see Eberhini and Macias again..."

Kaylee glanced down at Rafe. "Lia and I already got our revenge for your sisters, Isa, me and JJ."

Rafe remembered seeing Eberhini and Macias recovering in the ship's infirmary - after Lia had stabbed Eberhini in the stomach with his own knife to save Wheezie, and after Kaylee had driven Macias's machete into his stomach and twisted to cause the most damage after his attack on Kaylee and JJ that almost resulted in both of their deaths.

Rafe hummed in thought. "Yeah. I guess you did. You and Lia definitely gave into your dark sides for that one."

Kaylee frowned. "You saw them, after..."

"On the ship," Rafe answered. "They survived, by the way. Barely, but they did."

Rafe's revelation sent a wave of conflicting emotion flooding through Kaylee - a mix of relief that Lia hadn't killed the captain that had nearly killed her and her sisters, and that Kaylee herself hadn't killed yet another person, mingling a deep resentment for the two men who didn't deserve to live after Eberhini had tried to kill Lia, Wheezie, Isa and Kie, and Macias was the reason why Kaylee and JJ had almost drowned in the ocean after he attacked them with the machete.

Kaylee knew that she and Lia hadn't held an ounce of guilt over what they did to Eberhini and Macias when it came to surviving and saving their loved ones. But Kaylee hadn't been ready for the knowledge at she had killed someone else, and Lia definitely wasn't ready for the news that she had killed someone. Now that Rafe told her that they both survived, it was a cause of comfort and conflict that Kaylee hated herself for.

Because Kaylee believed that both men should have died that day on the ship for what they did to her loved ones, to her, and so that they could never harm them again.

Still, Kaylee swallowed, trying to push that conflict down. "So they survived. That's... good."

Rafe looked at Kaylee knowingly. "You don't have to pretend with me, Kaylee. Remember? I want them dead as much as you do right now. If I had known how badly they hurt you, Lia and Wheezie, I would have killed them in the infirmary without a second thought."

"Believe me, I still want to," Kaylee said quietly, feeling that familiar anger bubble inside her. "But it doesn't change what we've done. Or what they might have done to us if we hadn't escaped. If Lia and I hadn't stabbed them, then we never would've made it out of there."

Rafe leaned back slightly, resting against the bed frame as he studied her. "You know, it's okay to admit that you enjoyed it a little. The same thing with Tod, and his father. It's not weakness; it's survival. We've both done things we aren't proud of."

Kaylee gazed off, hating how much Rafe could see through her. Even though she was pushed to those limits each and every time, and she wasn't proud of what she had done, she didn't regret it either, not with the circumstances of survival each time. And, as Rafe pointed out, there was a bit of enjoyment that the darkest part of her took from stabbing Tod in the hand and the chest with glass and setting him on fire the night he drugged her and attempted to assault her, burning his father's face off when he tried to kill her, and running the machete through Macias's stomach after he had delivered the wounds onto Kaylee and sent JJ overboard into the ocean, where he was going to drown if Kaylee hadn't taken Macias out and jumped in after JJ to save him, even at the risk of bleeding out and drowning with him.

Kaylee met Rafe's gaze, a flicker of defiance in her eyes. "Like you enjoy everything you've done?"

Rafe shook his head. "I don't enjoy it. When it was just fighting or Pogues vs. Kooks, sure. I was fucked up most of the time on coke anyway, like I was before. But Sheriff Peterkin, I was protecting my father. If it was your dad, would you just watch him die?"

Kaylee tilted her head, knowing that Rafe truly believed from his mental illness that Peterkin was going to shoot Ward, when in reality, she was just trying to arrest him. "Peterkin wasn't going to shoot--"

Rafe ran his hand through his hair, letting out a shaky breath. "You don't know that. She had the gun and she was pointing it at him. In that moment, I--I panicked, okay? I didn't want him to get hurt. I did it for my father. I'm as much of a victim as she is. Think about it. What did I get from shooting Peterkin, huh? Nothing, okay? I had nothing against her. I mean, I-I-I liked her. You think I wanted to make that choice, huh? What I did was a gift from me to my father, for--for him, and I got screwed because of it, okay?"

"You're a victim because your father drove you and Lia out of your fucking minds," Kaylee remarked. "That's why any of this started to happen in the first place."

Rafe couldn't deny Kaylee's true words, swallowing. "Exactly."

"But that doesn't change that you made other people into your victims," Kaylee pointed out. "Kie, JJ, Isa and John B, Pope, your sisters."

Rafe sighed. "I know. I tried to warn you in the tunnels about Kie, to get her out of there before I flushed the drain pipe. You know that. I thought you had enough time to get your sister out. And JJ... well, we just fight over you."

Kaylee rolled her eyes at the true claim, not bothering with a response at that.

Rafe looked down in thought. "Isa and John B... I admit, though, framing them for Peterkin after Dad had already killed their father... that was fucked up. I didn't see it like that back then because I only saw what my dad wanted to see. I also heard that my dad tried to have them hung in prison, like Barry did to Robbie, knowing exactly what it would do to Lia's mentality when she found out. I don't know. It's not like I have control over that anymore. I know I went after them because of my father framing them, to protect myself, but... it shouldn't have happened like that."

"No, it shouldn't have," Kaylee insisted with a slightly cut tone. "It shouldn't have happened at all."

Rafe exhaled. "And Pope... that was Pogue vs. Kooks shit that seems like a lifetime ago. I was spiraling already. Seems so fucking stupid now."

Kaylee tilted her head in acknowledgement, her jaw set as they recounted the ways that Rafe had hurt her friends.

Rafe hesitated when he got to the part about his sisters. "I never meant to shoot Lia. It was the same with you. I didn't even realize I had until after. And Barry, he was playing with me and my mind, understand? He exploited me to reach Lia, using my rage, the chaos, the voices in my head. I tried to talk to her and Sarah first, to try and get things back on the same page, but he showed up and turned it all to hell... I snapped because of him."

Kaylee knew he was telling he truth - Lia and Sarah had described that night exactly like this.

Rafe felt a familiar sting behind his eyes, his hands gesturing as he searched for the right words, trying to underscore his sincerity. "I will admit, though. What I did to Lia and Sarah... I... what I tried to do..." He inhaled deeply to gather himself. "Letting Barry drug Lia, and almost drowning Sarah... that was the worst night of my life." A tear fell down his cheek. "It was wrong. I know that."

Rafe put his hands to his head, almost crying, the familiar knot tightening in his throat, his teeth clenched as he resisted the urge to break down. He shook his head, preferring to believe that it was some other Rafe who had committed those terrible acts. The Rafe who had caused his sisters and their friends' pain and suffering, the one who had overwhelmed him and driven him to reckless actions he would regret.

Striking his head a few times, Rafe attempted to compose himself.

Kaylee watched him with a mix of wariness and concern.

Rafe took a deep breath. "They're family, I should've never touched them, you know? I should've never touched them." He hesitated before revealing this. "Some part of me... like Barry said... thought that if Lia was gone, then she wouldn't be hurting anymore. Struggling now with her mind and darkness like she does. Like I do, and she was so scared of ending up like me, and I--I know that sounds bad, okay? I know it does. But... Barry and the voices made me think that if she was gone... at least she wasn't going through that pain anymore. She would be saved from becoming a monster like me."

Kaylee was taken aback by the admission, though she sensed he was telling her the truth. She watched the torment on Rafe's face and knew that there was no way that it could be a lie. There was no reason for him to lie about this when it sounded so horrible and could potentially scare her away from him forever.

However troubled she was, Kaylee was stunned by the fact that like before, Rafe had been convinced by this delusion, which only compounded the gravity of his own mental state. "My God."

Rafe scoffed softly. "Pretty sure he turned his back on us a long time ago. And I've tried to make it better. For Sarah, for Lia, for Wheezie. For you. Ever since that night. That was the night I was at my lowest, and I've been trying to get better ever since. You know that's true."

Kaylee sighed heavily, nodding as she swallowed. "Yeah. I'm hearing a whole lot of regret, but not much enjoyment in what you've done."

"The one time recently I actually enjoyed giving into my darkness?" Rafe asked. "Going after Macias with the gaff hook after he threatened you and attacked you. I should've killed him though so that this didn't happen to you. I thought you would be off the ship by then, but..."

Kaylee shook her head. "I don't need you to kill anyone for me, Rafe. I've got enough blood on my hands as it is, including Macias's, even if the bastard's still alive."

Rafe chuckled lightly. "Looks like we both enjoyed giving that son of a bitch a taste of his medicine. He threatened to torture you and came at you with a machete. He deserved every bit of what we did to him."

Kaylee didn't respond right away, hoping that the talking would help her get closer to sleep. "I guess he did." She frowned as she thought for a moment. "When me and the Pogues were getting away... you had your rifle aimed at us."

Rafe's face fell at the reminder. "I had just found my father nearly dead, Kaylee. I didn't know what he did to Lia, Sarah and Wheezie. I just thought they left him for dead for no reason. I didn't know it was to save themselves. I reacted."

"I know," Kaylee said, her voice softer than she intended. Rafe looked up at her. "Lia, Sarah and Wheezie told us that you would've found Ward and that's why you would've reacted like that even after you told me that you would let us leave with the Pogues, our real family, if it made us happy."

Rafe nodded slightly, looking down.

Kaylee gazed off in thought. "I was just wondering what stopped you from pulling the trigger."

Rafe glanced up at Kaylee on the bed as he rested against the bedframe. "You know the answer to that, Kaylee. You and my sisters. You're the only things that matter to me anymore."

Kaylee swallowed at the words, looking away as she sat up slightly, her knees turned toward Rafe as if that could keep a little distance between them. The familiar push and pull of their dynamic threatened to resurface with each moment, no matter how much Kaylee tried keep it quelled.

Rafe shook his head, frustration evident in his features. "Not that it matters anymore. After what my dad did, on top of everything I did, Lia, Sarah and Wheezie would want nothing to do with our family. Including me. Not that I blame them for that."

Kaylee glanced down, not denying his words. Sarah wanted nothing to do with any of them. Lia and Wheezie were both conflicted when it came to Rafe.

Rafe glanced back at Kaylee, rising up to his knees so that he could meet her gaze from the floor, kneeling before her. "All I'm saying is I'm not the bad guy everybody thinks I am, okay? But even if I was, even if I was just, like, bad Rafe Cameron or something, you got no choice. You may not want to trust me, but I'm your best bet."

Kaylee was overwhelmed by the truth of his words and the conflicting emotions inside. Rafe reached out to placed his hands on Kaylee's knees. Kaylee pulled back and a hand between them.

Rafe immediately stopped, holding his hands up in peaceful gesture. He remained kneeling on the floor before her, meeting her gaze intensely. "Look, I got a boat that can get us off the island, okay? But first, we gotta get out of here, and it is better if we work together. Just like at the station riot."

Kaylee's memories of that night came rushing back. The night that her parents had sold her out to the police and started a riot outside of the station that nearly got her killed by Tod's parents and the mob alike. Rafe and Kie had been the only two to defend her with words and with actions as they fought by her side and Rafe helped escape to safety.

Kaylee knew that despite everything, she could trust Rafe to help her out of this situation too. She leaned back in bed as exhaustion once again took hold, forcing her to lay down, the fatigue weighing heavily on her limbs. "So what are we going to do?"

Rafe sighed in relief, knowing that Kaylee was going to let him help her again. "We need to find a way to distract Singh, maybe create an opportunity for us to escape while he's preoccupied."

Kaylee felt a spark of determination igniting within her, the fiery spirit that had kept her alive through so many trials reigniting. "What if we played into his game? Make him think we're completely compliant while we're looking for a way out?"

Rafe raised an eyebrow at this. "Hmm. This has to do with that journal you keep pretending you don't know nothing about?" Kaylee shot Rafe a look, causing him to smirk. Rafe shook his head. "You don't have to tell me, all right? How do you plan on using that to act 'compliant'?"

"I can act like I'm going to tell Singh where it is," Kaylee answered softly. "But in reality, I'm just trying to map out the layout of the house and get intel we need for when we get out of here."

Rafe nodded in intrigue, liking where this was going. "Okay. But they're not going to believe that you're going to be so willing to give it up without a fight."

"If they think that I'm trying to get out of here in time to get to the hospital and get Lia, Wheezie and Isa to the hospital before these wounds get worse, they will," Kaylee pointed out.

Rafe considered that as he sat back on the floor, facing Kaylee as they brainstormed their first step of getting out of here. "That's true. But you're going to have to get their attention somehow. To show them how urgent it is. How desperate you are to get out of here before it gets worse."

Kaylee nodded. "You could put on an act to try and stop me from telling them anything, knowing that it could get us both killed when they don't need us. But my mind would be consumed with fever delusion from the infections. I'd be hysterical, unwilling to listen to reason. It would get their attention enough to get me out of this room and take me to Singh so I can scope the place before they bring me back in."

Rafe was impressed, nodding. "I like your thinking. And then once we have an opening, we can stage another fight, lure the guard outside our door inside and take him out. Get out of here when we have the chance."

Kaylee nodded tiredly in agreement. "The guards all have guns. We can take one easily. I just wish I had my lighter and hairspray. I lost those on the ship."

Rafe smirked slightly at the irony as he reached into his pocket, taking out Kaylee's zippo, gently placing it into Kaylee's hand on the bed. "I found your lighter. After everything."

Kaylee was stunned speechless for a moment, feeling the cool metal in her hand, soothing against the feverish chills that ran through her body. "And you've just kept it on you since then?"

Rafe shrugged slightly, a little sheepish. "I never knew when I was going to see you again. Definitely didn't think it was going to be like this."

Kaylee's heart raced as she turned the lighter over in her palm, a sense of warmth washing over her at the familiar object. "You kept it for me."

Rafe nodded, his expression softening. "It reminded me of you. I knew you'd want it back."

Kaylee felt a rush of emotion. In a world filled with chaos and uncertainty, this small token was a lifeline, connecting her to everything that had been good as she remembered all of fires she had set to release her inner darkness - bonfires, fireworks, harmless fun in some cases. And yet the deadly weapon it could be when she used it in defense added with her hairspray, which had saved her from both Tod and his father, and saved her friends and sister from Kooks.

Kaylee clutched the lighter tightly in her hand, knowing that even without her hairspray, she could use it to defend them during their escape tomorrow. "Thank you, Rafe."

Rafe shrugged again, but there was a hint of pride in his eyes. "Just don't set anything on fire until we're out of here, okay?"

Kaylee chuckled lightly despite the heaviness hanging between them. "No promises."

Rafe smiled slightly, chuckling a bit. "So we have our plan for tomorrow. Question is, are you up for it? You're still pretty weak."

Kaylee's gaze was locked on her lighter as she traced her thumb over it. "I can do this." She took a deep breath of determination. "I have to do this."

Rafe nodded in understanding.

With their plan formed and adrenaline coursing through her veins, Kaylee felt the exhaustion start to pull at her again. She laid back in bed, holding the lighter tightly in her hand as if it were a talisman that would protect her from all that harmed her and help her find her light that she had been afraid had been snuffed out by the darkness swarming inside of her. She could barely keep her eyes open.

Rafe watched her with a softening expression. "Get some rest. You need it for tomorrow."

Kaylee's eyelids fluttered as she fought against the creeping fatigue, but Rafe's words made it harder to resist the exhaustion as her mind and body demanded she give in. The tension in her body began to ease as she allowed herself to trust him, just for tonight. She felt a flicker of hope sparking within her, igniting the resilience that had kept her alive through countless trials.

Rafe shifted slightly in his sitting position against the bed frame. "I won't let any of them hurt you."

With that simple promise hanging in the air between them, Kaylee surrendered to the exhaustion that had weighed heavily on her for far too long. She closed her eyes and let sleep take over, knowing that Rafe would be there to keep watch.

In the past, Kaylee knew that she wouldn't have been able to sleep, at all, knowing that Rafe was here. But now, after Rafe's involvement in helping Kaylee with Tod, the station riot, and the ship, she surrendered to the effects of her infection fever all too easily.

As she drifted off, Rafe remained vigilant, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of movement. He listened intently for any sounds beyond their locked door, thoughts racing through his mind about their plans for tomorrow, the shows that they would put on for Singh and his men to stage their escape.

It was a plan that they came up with in less than five minutes, but Rafe knew that it would work. A part of him couldn't wait to work side by side with Kaylee, knowing she was a force to be reckoned with. He used to fantasize about how they could rule OBX as partners of chaos, and in a way, tomorrow, they would be. But it was more like partners of survival.

Though, as Kaylee's history proved, she was willing to cross the lines of chaos and destruction in order to survive.

⚓️

Day Two

Morning - Beach

(Song:) The Gunslinger - Tommy Guerreo

The Pogues (minus the kidnapped Kaylee) were walking up the beach.

Cleo was leading the way.

"Cleo, do you actually know where you're going?" JJ asked.

Cleo pointed ahead toward a hotel just off the beach. "We can hole up here. It ain't the Taj Mahal, but..."

"It'll do," John B finished.

"I get the biggest room," Sarah called.

Lia gave Sarah a skeptical look, shaking her head, looking away. "Come on."

The Pogues walked up to the hotel, seeing Singh's men down below on the road a few feet down below the hotel, ducking into hiding as they went inside.

Isa urged them all along before they could be caught. "Go, go, go!"

⚓️

Hotel - First Floor

Inside the hotel, all the Pogues had to take cover, hearing ATVs driving by outside as Singh's men were still looking for them.

"Wait," Wheezie whispered.

They heard a man call, "All clear!" before the ATVs all drove away.

"Go," Pope whispered, leaving the way out of the room.

The others followed.

⚓️

Fourth (Top) Floor

They all started to run upstairs.

"Are you sure this is safe?" John B asked.

"You got a better idea?" Cleo replied, leaving the way into a top floor room, where there were holes and gaps in the floor. "We can stay here. It's an old hotel. Terrance and I squatted here before."

"Five stars," JJ remarked sarcastically.

Lia shrugged, looking around. "Better than nothing."

The boys immediately went to look out over the balcony outside the room, making sure the coast was clear.

Kie and Lia were about to follow.

Isa put her arms out on either side of her to stop Kie and Lia, nodding to the floor in front of them. "Watch your step. Massive sinkhole."

Kie raised an eyebrow. "Oh, lovely."

Sarah stood by them, nodding. "Home sweet home."

"More like home sweet hell," Wheezie remarked.

"We all good?" Pope asked.

The girls nodded, walking around the sink hole to get to the boys.

"We gotta get Kaylee out, guys," Kie told them. "Does anyone have anything?"

"Well, we can't storm the fort," Pope listed. "We can't call the cops."

Lia was pacing, a hand to her head. "It's not helping, Pope."

"We can't negotiate," Pope added. "We don't know what they want."

"It's got to be about the cross or the gold," Isa pointed out. "Or something related to it, right?"

The Pogues all seemed to be in agreement, aside from Cleo.

Cleo shook her head. "Mm-mm. Guys like Singh, it's always about money."

"You mean the kind you get from the cross and gold?" Isa replied. "There's no other reason why a stranger would go after one of us, unless it deals with all that. Plus, we saw that painting of the ship in Portis' house, also related to the gold."

Cleo tilted her head, knowing she had a point.

Kie was trying not to freak out, turning away.

Lia and Isa stood by Kie's side, looking at her in concern.

"Kie, it's gonna be okay," Lia told her. "We're gonna get Kaylee back." Isa nodded in agreement. "Knowing Isa and JJ, they'll come up with the plan to do it."

"I'm working on it," Isa agreed.

Kie remained quiet, consumed with worry for her sister. Lia kissed Kie's shoulder while Isa kissed her head comfortingly. Kie closed her eyes in reassurance, leaning her head against theirs gratefully.

John B stood at the window, looking out worriedly.

Sarah walked up to him. "What are you thinking?"

"I don't know," John B admitted. "We all just gotta get off this damn island."

Sarah placed a kiss on John B's shoulder before walking away toward Wheezie, wrapping an arm around her, glancing from Wheezie to Lia and Isa. "Are you okay?"

Wheezie, Lia and Isa were all exhausted, overrun with fevers from their infected wounds, but they couldn't focus on that when they knew that Kaylee was in danger, just as sick as they were.

"We will be once we get Kaylee back," Wheezie said softly.

Kie held Isa and Lia's hands firmly as she looked from them to Wheezie in concern. "Even after we get Kaylee back, we need to figure out what to do to help the four of you. Your infections are getting worse. Your wounds aren't even healing because of it even after a month of being on Poguelandia. We couldn't even bandage them."

"She's right," John B agreed gravely. "And with Kaylee being a fugitive, we can't exactly take you guys to the hospital, but we need emergency medical attention before your fevers get worse."

"And before your wounds become necrotic," Pope added. "They're already dangerously close to that. And once that happens..."

Cleo frowned. "What happens?"

Wheezie, Isa and Lia looked at each other nervously.

"It happens when the tissue dies and the wound won't heal properly, like ours," Lia explained. "It's dry, leathery, black or brown. The wounds are getting darker, which is how we know it's getting close to that."

"And?" JJ prompted.

"If necrotic tissue spreads, it could lead to toxic shock syndrome, which can lead to organ failure and death," Pope answered. "That's why we had to get them off Poguelandia. Even if we all wanted to stay."

Wheezie couldn't help a small whimper. Lia and Sarah both went to embrace Wheezie comfortingly.

"Hey, it's okay," Sarah soothed.

Isa and Kie shot Pope a look for scaring her.

"Pope," Kie warned.

Pope gave them a sad look, but he knew that they had to know.

Isa and Kie walked closer to the Cameron sisters.

"That's not gonna happen, Wheezie," Isa comforted. "Remember, we're all survivors, right?"

JJ walked closer, his heart aching and his anger raging at the thought of Kaylee, Isa, Lia and Wheezie being taken from them like this, desperate to stop it by any means necessary. "Wheezie, listen. We always figure out something, all right? We're gonna figure it out again, like always. I swear to you. Nothing's gonna happen to you girls."

"We're gonna save all of you," Kie agreed.

In their embrace, Lia, Sarah and Wheezie looked at JJ, Kie and Isa gratefully.

Everyone was terrified of what could happen if they couldn't get Kaylee back, and get the four girls the help they needed to prevent that from happening.

"We're not gonna be able to figure out anything tonight," John B pointed out. "And Isa, Lia and Wheezie need rest more than any of us, but we're all exhausted. We need to sleep before we come up with another plan."

Despite their hesitancy to go to sleep with what was on the line, they knew that John B was right.

"Okay," Wheezie said softly.

Cleo glanced between them. "You guys go to sleep. I'll keep the first watch."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

As the sun started to rise, the Pogues settled into their makeshift camp within the abandoned hotel.

Isa, Lia and Wheezie laid together, covered in sheen layers of sweat from their infection fevers, both freezing and burning up.

Sarah laid on the other side of Wheezie, allowing to nestle between both of her sisters.

Kie found a tattered blanket among the debris on the floor, draping it over Isa, Lia and Wheezie, as all three girls looked at her in gratitude.

"Get some rest," Kie urged softly. "We'll figure everything out in the morning."

Wheezie nodded sleepily, her eyelids heavy. "Promise?"

"Promise," Sarah replied, smiling warmly, tracing designs in Lia and Wheezie's arms to calm them so they could sleep.

Isa took Kie's hand, meeting her eyes with reassuring desperation. "We'll get Kaylee back. I promise."

Kie nodded, fear paralyzing her with the thought of her sister out there, taken by a man they knew nothing about, aside that he had more resources and military arsenal than they could have realized.

Lia took Kie's other hand. "We'll figure it out, Kie. We will."

Kie swallowed, nodding. "I'm just worried. You three are sick right now... she is too, but in captivity by whoever this guy is. She's more vulnerable than she's ever been."

"But Kaylee's strong," Sarah reminded her gently, looking over to JJ, who they knew was just as worried for his love. "If anyone can figure out how to survive in a situation like this, it's her."

Kie and JJ took comfort in their words, knowing that they were right.

"She still needs help," JJ said softly. "And I'll be damned if some random guy we've never known is the reason we lose her after everything we've already survived."

John B rested his hand on JJ's shoulder, looking between him and the girls reassuringly, nodding. "We'll get her back. And we'll find a way to help all of you girls."

"For now, just get some rest," Pope urged. "We all need to be at our best tomorrow if we're going to pull this off."

As the first light of dawn began to filter through the broken windows of the abandoned hotel, Kie carefully made her way over to where Isa and Lia lay. The two girls shifted slightly, making room for Kie to settle in between them. With gentle movements, mindful of their injuries, Kie eased herself down onto the makeshift bed of tattered blankets and discarded cushions.

Isa immediately curled into Kie's left side, her head finding its familiar place in the crook of Kie's neck. Lia nestled against Kie's right, draping an arm across her waist to link fingers with Isa. The three girls intertwined, seeking solace in each other's warmth and presence. Despite Isa and Lia's sickness, they comforted Kie over her worry her sister's kidnapping, just as much as she tried to return favor while they were ill, terrified of what could happen if neither of them, Kaylee Wheezie made it but unwilling to believe that she could lose any of them. The three girlfriends instinctively drew closer to each other and found solace in their embrace.

Just beside them, Wheezie was tucked securely between Lia and Sarah. The youngest Cameron sister had her head pillowed on Sarah's arm, as she held her little sister close. Lia reached her free hand, despite the injury in her shoulder, back to intertwine her hands with Wheezie and Sarah's.

Lia, Wheezie and Sarah's pinkies were interlocked, a symbol of their promises and how they survived the impossible together time and again - a vow that this time would not be different.

As the girls settled into their makeshift beds, John B, JJ, Pope, and Cleo formed a protective circle around them. The boys sat with their backs to each other, facing outward, their eyes scanning the darkened hotel lobby for any signs of danger.

John B's gaze kept drifting to Isa, on the outer edge of where the girls were sleeping. His heart ached with worry for his little sister - they had gone through literal hell together, from being framed for murders they hadn't committed, fugitives on the run, losing their father, arrested and nearly hung and killed in their prison cells before their names were cleared. He had seen Isa survive attacks by two men who targeted them for their father's compass, an electrocution, Ward's attempt on their lives and watched her fight Eberhini valiantly to save Lia and Wheezie's lives the day he stabbed the three girls with his knife. He refused to believe that an infection from those wounds could kill them, or their best friend Kaylee.

John B's gaze drifted to Sarah, his heart aching to see her also so worried about her sisters. He longed to hold her, to whisper reassurances in her ear that their sisters would be okay, but he knew she needed to be with Lia and Wheezie right now. Just like he knew that Isa needed to be with Kie and Lia right now, but he wanted to be there for his sister too.

John B sunk down near Isa, Kie and Lia, sitting next to his little sister. His hand rested on Isa's bicep, careful not to disturb the jagged knife wound on her arm that went from her elbow to nearly her wrist; a physical reminder that she was still here, and he was ready to spring into action if needed.

Isa's head turned toward John B slightly as she started to fall asleep, taking comfort in her big brother beside her while she remained in the loving embrace of her girlfriends.

John B and Sarah shared a knowing, worried look for both of their sisters as Sarah held Wheezie and Lia close, looking at Isa and John B sadly, knowing how much they had gone through, hating that they had to go through more. The feeling was mutual from John B as he gazed at Sarah and her sisters, determined to keep them all safe, and help Kie get her own sister back.

JJ's jaw was clenched tight, his body tense as a bowstring. His worry for Kaylee was evident in every line of his body, and his gaze never strayed far from the sleeping forms of Isa, Lia, Wheezie and Sarah - the four of them were the sisters he never had, and the fear of losing any of them, along with the girl he loved, gnawed at his insides.

Pope sat cross-legged near Lia's feet, his analytical mind still churning with possible solutions to their dire situation. Every so often, his gaze would flit between the sleeping girls, cataloging their symptoms and planning their next moves. Despite his exhaustion, he fought to stay awake, trying desperately to come up with a plan that would help them rescue Kaylee and get all of the girls the help they needed.

Cleo leaned against a crumbling wall, her eyes heavy but vigilant as she watched over the other Pogues and kept an eye out the window, in case anyone arrived looking for them. The more that she saw of the Pogues and their familial bond, the more she integrated with them. She would not have it any other way after spending a month with them on Poguelandia. This was her family now. She would do anything to protect it, just like all the rest.

⚓️

Singh's Estate - Orinoco Room

Rafe had slept with one eye open - metaphorically. He was always a light sleeper, so when Kaylee started to toss and turn in the bed from a fever-induced hysteric nightmare, Rafe woke up almost instantly.

Kaylee's brow furrowed as she tossed and turned, lost in a dream that felt all too real - a repeat of that night on the clifftop with Tod. Being drugged, assaulted, before she fought back. Her parents' betrayal as they turned her in and incited a riot that almost got her killed, as Tod's mother clawed at her face and Tod's father hunted her down in the woods and almost struck her down permanently before she ignited his face with her flamethrower. The weight of her wounds and the suffocating fear of being trapped pressed down on her, pulling her deeper into the shadows of her mind.

Rafe was instantly alert, his heart pounding in response to the distress radiating from Kaylee. He quickly dropped to her side, concern etched on his features as he gently shook her shoulder. "Kaylee! Wake up! It's just a dream!"

Kaylee's eyes snapped open, wide and filled with fear. She gasped for air, clutching the blanket tightly as if it could shield her from whatever terrors haunted her in the night. Memories of their captivity flooded back into focus like shards of glass piercing through the fog of sleep.

"Kaylee, it's okay," Rafe reassured her softly, trying to keep his voice steady even as he felt the adrenaline coursing through him. "I'm here. You're safe."

As Kaylee focused on him, the panic began to dissipate from her expression. Her breaths slowed, and she looked around the room, disoriented but gradually returning to the present. Rafe couldn't help but notice how vulnerable she appeared in that moment, exposed like an open nerve.

Kaylee couldn't let herself feel vulnerable in their situation. Not when they needed to get out of here as soon as possible before Singh could exploit any sign of weakness he could see.

Despite Rafe's concern, Kaylee's determination burned brightly in her fevered eyes. She pushed herself up, wincing as pain lanced through her infected wounds. "We have to do this. It's our only chance."

Rafe hesitated, worry etched across his features, noting the beads of sweat on her forehead and the slight tremor in her hands. "Kaylee, you're barely holding it together. Maybe we should wait--"

"No," Kaylee cut him off, swinging her legs over the side of the bed, clutching her lighter tightly. The silver silk pajamas clung to her sweat-soaked skin as she stood on shaky legs, swaying slightly. "We stick to the plan."

Kaylee, knowing that once Singh's men took her to Singh, if they found the lighter on her, they would take it from her, placed the lighter down on the bedside table, hiding it behind the lamp.

Rafe watched as Kaylee stumbled towards the window, her steps unsteady but purposeful. He could see the fever raging through her, her skin flushed and her eyes glassy, but there was a fire burning within her that refused to simmer down even in her state.

Kaylee stopped at the window, looking out at the guard outside on the balcony, Fenton - one of the guards that had hurt Kaylee the most during her kidnapping given her weakened state.

Kaylee glared out at Fenton, before glancing over her shoulder to make sure Rafe was ready for the scene they were about to cause to gain Fenton's attention to bring her to Singh.

Rafe reluctantly nodded, knowing there was no talking her out of it even after her nightmare ordeal just before. He knew she was right; the sooner they got out of there, the sooner they could make sure she would be okay.

Moreover, Kaylee needed to return to her friends and sister, aware that they were likely frantic, orchestrating a dangerous rescue mission, and she was desperate to do anything to avert that.

Kaylee tapped on the glass to get Fenton's attention, who stood on the balcony outside their window. "Hey, hey. I need to speak with Mr. Singh. Hey, go get Singh."

Rafe began their act, feigning confusion. "What are you doing?"

Without fully turning, Kaylee knocked on the window once more, addressing Fenton. "Hey, you! I need to speak with Singh."

Rafe moved closer in a convincing silent panic. "Shut up, shut up, shut up. Hey, what the hell are you doing?"

Kaylee turned away from the window, glaring at Rafe. "Like I owe you an explanation."

Kaylee walked past him toward the door.

Rafe turned after her. "Think for a second. Kaylee, what are you doing?"

Kaylee knocked on the window. "Hello?"

Rafe walked toward her. "Hey, what're you doing?"

Kaylee didn't even look at him as she raised her hand. "Don't talk to me!"

Kaylee knocked once more.

Rafe sighed and stood next to her, hands tucked in his pockets, speaking loud enough for Fenton to hear them through the window, but in a gentle tone of voice. "You're lying about this diary thing. You know where it is."

Kaylee breezed by him, not even a glance his way. "Nope, not a chance."

Rafe's eyes followed her, his voice dripping with disbelief. "Oh, really?" He gave a mock nod. "Okay."

"You wish," Kaylee shot back.

With a shrug, Rafe faced her. "Fair enough. I wouldn't tell me either. But then why are you trying so hard to get to Singh?"

"Because I'm sick and dying and so are my friends, two of which are your sisters!" Kaylee retorted. "I need to get out of here to help them so that we all survive!"

"I understand that," Rafe said softly. "But we can't let Singh think we know something. If he knows what we know, then he won't need us alive anymore. I know you're hysterical right now because of the fever, but think. We need to stick together."

Kaylee returned to knocking on the window, the fever and hysteria adding more desperation to her act. "Hey!"

Rafe stepped closer from behind. "Kaylee, please. We can figure this out together."

Kaylee was still knocking on the window. "Why are you trying to stop me? You said you didn't want to die over some stupid book."

As the door unlocked and opened, Kaylee made a break for it without hesitation.

Rafe turned after her, a hint of desperation in her voice. "Wait."

Kaylee looked at Fenton, who opened the door. "I need to talk to Singh. I have something to tell him. It's urgent."

Fenton looked between Kaylee and Rafe. "Yes."

Rafe threw his head back in feigned exasperation, frustrated.

Fenton led Kaylee out of the room, locking the door behind them.

With one last glance cast back at Rafe, Kaylee followed Fenton, both sharing a knowing look as she was led away.

Rafe sighed heavily, knowing that their plan worked so far, but also knowing that Kaylee was out there on her on right now, worried. "Shit."

⚓️

Big John's Safe House

Big John stood at the window, watching an ATV with armed guards drive by. "That's the fourth truck I've seen."

Carla was sitting inside at the kitchen table. "If they're still searching, it means they haven't found them yet." She coughed into her elbow before continuing. "I went to my connection at the police department. They said if they get to Isa and John B first, they'll turn them over to us. Where do you think they might've gone?"

"I don't know," Big John admitted, his back to her, his head down.

"John, who would they call?" Carla asked.

"I don't know," Big John repeated.

"You don't know your children?" Carla asked.

Big John, getting frustrated and overwhelmed, turned to face her, snapping. "I don't know! We should be out there looking for them!" He walked away to the door, hitting the door frame. "God!"

Carla used her crutches to get up, making her way over to him. "You always were too emotional, John. It's one of the reasons Ward got the best of you. No attention to detail. It doesn't do me any good if you get caught."

Big John didn't answer, getting distracted when he heard the bell tolling from the bell tower across the island, looking toward it in curiosity, realizing what he could do. "The game's not over yet."

⚓️ Worlds Colliding (Outer Banks) ⚓️

Hotel - Fourth Floor

On the fourth floor of the abandoned hotel, Isa, Kie, Lia, Wheezie and Sarah still slept next each other.

Isa, Kie and Lia were still intertwined, as Wheezie was tucked in between Lia and Sarah, the three sisters' hands still clasped.

John B had fallen asleep on the other side of Isa, a protective guard over his sister, his wife and her sisters, and the lover to their sisters.

Pope fell asleep at the girls' feet. After Cleo had been relieved from the first watch, she had fallen asleep nearby Pope.

JJ was taking the second watch, sitting at the crumbling wall with his back to it, keeping an eye out the window while simultaneously going through a phone in his hand.

One by one, John B, Kie, Sarah, Pope and Cleo started to wake up. Isa and Lia both stirred from their feverish sleep when they felt Kie start to move.

Isa glanced toward JJ, noticing he had something in his hand, unable to see what it was from where she was. "What is that?"

"This is a little souvenir that I plucked from Portis' pocket," JJ answered, waving the phone at them.

Sarah sat up, giving JJ a look. "You have a phone?"

JJ nodded, gesturing to his back pocket. "I forgot I had it. It was in my back pocket." He put a hand sheepishly to his chest. "That's my bad."

"Way to go, JJ," Lia told him sarcastically. "On the forgetting part, I mean." JJ gave a sarcastic smile in return. "But nice one with the actual phone part."

JJ gave a thumbs up to Lia.

"Oh, my God, dude," Pope complained. "Can we go anywhere without you stealing something?"

JJ didn't take his eyes off the phone. "You know the answer to that, Pope."

Isa reached for the phone. "Let me see it."

JJ stood, walking toward Isa.

"Nice work, rude boy," Cleo complimented.

JJ bowed a little. "I steal shit. That's my job."

JJ handed Isa the phone.

Isa looked through it. 

"How'd you get this unlocked?" John B asked.

"No passcode," JJ answered. "Portis keeps it loose."

"What are you looking for?" Kie asked.

"The kidnapper," Isa answered.

"And any information that'll help us negotiate with this guy," Pope added. "Look for that too."

JJ and Isa both gave Pope a thumbs up in response.

Isa scrolled through the contact list. "The only problem is, I don't see a Carlos Singh in the contacts."

JJ nodded in agreement. "That's the problem."

"Then what..." Kie trailed off.

"It's just a bunch of nicknames and shit," Isa answered.

Lia realized because of this. "Wait, didn't Portis call him something else?"

"You're right," Sarah answered.

"Yeah, he called Singh something when we were jumping his ass," Kie agreed, trying to remember.

John B put a hand to his head. "It was like Rockfish or--"

Cleo frowned, shaking her head. "Can't remember."

"I was kinda spiraling out, so I can't either," Lia admitted, looking down in guilt for the way that she almost hurt Portis with the broken bottle.

Isa and Kie looked at her knowingly but didn't get the chance to say anything as the others were still trying to remember.

"Oh, shit," JJ said. "No, no, no."

"Catfish?" Pope wondered.

"What was it?" Sarah asked. "Holy crap. Um..."

Wheezie had woken up without the older ones noticing, picking up her journal from the floor and flipping it to the page she had been writing in yesterday, knowing that none of them would have remembered the word given their worry for Kaylee. She was just relieved that she had written it down before she forgot the word too.

"Kingfish," Wheezie read aloud.

Everyone looked at Wheezie, surprised that she was awake now, noticing that she had written the word in her journal.

Cleo couldn't help a smile. "Have I mentioned enough that I love your habit with the journal? Lifesaver, girl."

Wheezie managed a small smile. "Thank them. They got it for me to document our adventures for Lia's book in the future."

Lia wrapped her arm around Wheezie, kissing her head. "And you're doing so brilliantly."

Sarah stroked Wheezie's hair back. "Good job."

John B did his signature finger guns at Wheezie. "Knew that would come in handy."

Wheezie smiled weakly.

Pope took the phone from Isa, looking through the contacts. "Kingfish." He showed the others. "There he is. Kingfish."

JJ nodded intensely. "And we in business. All right, phase two. Text him, okay?"

"And say what exactly?" Kie asked.

Isa pointed to Pope. "You know, Pope said it. Negotiate, right?"

John B slowly stood, starting to pace.

"Pretend to be Portis, ask him to meet somewhere in private," JJ suggested. "That was--that's really important. Just solo. Bam! We jump his ass, tie him up, and then politely request for Kaylee in return for his life. That's actually--that's the plan right there."

Sarah nodded sarcastically. "That's gonna work."

John B turned to face them. "It's not a bad idea."

"Not the worst one we've come up with," Isa stated.

"Not bad, not the worst?" JJ repeated. "It's terrific!"

Pope sighed. "Okay, I'm gonna say it. We should think this through."

John B sighed, turning away.

"What's rule number one?" JJ asked. "Thinking never helps when you already have the idea."

"It does when it's making sure that my sister doesn't die inside enemy lines because we didn't think shit through," Kie replied.

"Hang on, I agree with Kie and Pope," Sarah agreed. "This could make things ten times worse for us and Kaylee."

Isa nodded. "Okay, so we do this, but we think it through so it doesn't get worse, how does that sound?"

"Slightly better," Wheezie answered.

"How much worse can it actually get?" John B asked.

Lia had her head leaning against her hand which was propped up, lowering her hand and raising her head in exasperation at these words, giving John B a look. "Do you want me to slap you for jinxing us?"

Isa, Kie, Wheezie and Sarah gestured to Lia in agreement.

John B tilted his head.

"Yeah, I can think of a few ways," Wheezie told them.

"Okay, great," John B said. "Well, while you're thinking, why don't you just let it rip?"

JJ took the phone from Pope. "Thank you."

Cleo was nervous. "Come on, man."

Kie watched JJ text anxiously in worry for her sister and her friends.

⚓️

Singh Estate - Living Room

Fenton brought Kaylee down to the living room, holding her by her arm as he led her inside. "There."

Fenton left.

As Fenton had led her through the house, Kaylee had been scoping out the estate's layout that he showed her to see if there would be a way out given the opening, for both her and Rafe once their act paid off.

Singh was sitting at the table, looking up at Kaylee, waiting.

Kaylee stepped closer. "I lied. I know about the diary. I don't have the original. But I can get you a copy."

Singh nodded, pleased. "I'm relieved to hear you say that, you know." He plopped a grape into his mouth, pointing to the other breakfast food. "May I offer you something to eat?"

Kaylee shook her head. "I'm not hungry."

"Relax," Singh told her. "Nothing's gonna happen to you now. You're cooperating, and I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable, you know."

Kaylee scoffed, looking away. "Yeah, that explains why you kidnapped me, forced me to wear what you picked out like I'm a fucking doll and locked me in a room instead of taking me to a hospital or something."

Singh shrugged, casting a knowing glance at Kaylee. "As if you could go to a hospital without being caught."

Kaylee's eyes darted away before closing, not surprised that Singh knew about her history.

Singh chuckled. "Yes, I know all about you, Kaylee Carrera. And the boy you burned alive. Tod Laurent. You're lucky it was my men who found you and brought you here, instead of being imprisoned in a worse fate."

"Oh, so lucky that I'm dying while being held captive," Kaylee retorted.

Singh looked at her curiously. "How did someone so young get into so much trouble?"

Kaylee didn't answer. "I just want to get out of here and help my friends and my sister. Three of my friends are sick the same way I am because of our wounds."

Singh nodded in understanding. "And you want to return to them so that you can receive proper treatment after being rescued from the island. To save all your lives before those infections can risk taking them."

"Yes," Kaylee answered.

"I think that can be arranged," Singh mused. "If you hand over the diary."

Kaylee sighed heavily. "Look, I don't have it on me, but I know where it is. But I have to go by myself. Alone."

Singh chuckled without humor. "But how would I know that you'd come back? You know, I need some collateral."

Kaylee shrugged. "Rafe's here. Keep him."

Singh scoffed a chuckle. "Rafe."

Singh laughed, standing as he walked past her.

Kaylee looked at him from over her shoulder. "Look, I know where the diary is, and if you let me go, I promise you I can get it to you."

Singh turned to give Kaylee a skeptical look, knowing she was just saying anything she could to get out of here. "You know, I built this fortune myself, you know, from nothing." He stepped closer to Kaylee intimidatingly, threateningly. "From absolutely nothing." He pointed at her to drive his point across. "Do you know how that happened, Miss Carrera? Hmm? I can assure you it was not by being a fool. Don't waste my time. The diary holds the key to the ultimate conquest, and that, my young friend, Miss Carrera, is my destiny. So you need to tell me where it is, or I'm gonna--"

Before he could finish his threat, his phone on the table buzzed, the screen lighting up to show a text notification.

Singh sighed, running his hands over his face to calm himself down, walking toward the table.

Kaylee sighed, completely tired of this.

Singh picked up the phone, reading the text, seeing a picture, laughing. "Amazing. A text from our friend Jimmy Portis." He waved his hands upward. "From beyond the grave, apparently." He walked toward Kaylee. "It seems Mr. Portis has captured your friends."

Singh showed Kaylee his phone with the text that said "I got these kids" while showing a picture of Isa, Lia, Kie, Wheezie, Sarah and John B.

Kaylee was worried about the Pogues unintentionally leading themselves into a trap because they didn't know that Singh had already killed Portis.

Singh smirked, calling out. "Ryan!"

Singh turned around, walking away.

Kaylee was left anxiously worried for her sister and found family, not able to do a damn thing to stop Singh's army from going after them.

⚓️

Hotel - Fourth Floor

The Pogues were still gathered.

JJ still had the phone. "Yo, he's texting, he's texting."

Isa and John B spoke in sync. "What's he saying?"

"It's doing the little bubble thing," JJ explained. He read Singh's text. "Send me your location. I'll meet you."

"He wants our location?" Wheezie asked.

"Yeah, that's exactly what we wanted," Lia pointed out.

JJ held up the phone toward Isa. "Here, check it." Isa held out her hands so that when JJ tossed her the phone, she caught it. "Boom."

"And say what?" Sarah asked.

"We can't give Singh our location," Cleo pointed out. "Just give him some random place."

"All right, where?" Kie asked. "Where do we want to send him to?"

"What about the horse tracks?" Pope suggested. "I saw them yesterday. It's a wide-open space. We can do surveillance."

JJ shot up with a cheer. "Yeah, yeah! Now we're working. Now we're jelling. I like it." He took the phone back from Isa, pacing. "And if we have to make a getaway, we'll hop on some horses, guns a-blazing."

"No, we're not horse-backing with guns," John B told him.

"Scratch the horses," JJ said.

"Guys, we can really plan this out," Pope stated. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking we do whatever we have to to get my sister back, stupid or not at this point," Kie answered. "Before we run out of time to help Kaylee, Isa, Lia and Wheezie with their wounds. They're getting worse by the second and we don't have forever."

John B, Sarah and JJ looked at Isa, Lia and Wheezie worriedly, knowing Kie was right.

Pope and Cleo shared a concerned look.

Despite their sickness and fevers, Isa, Lia and Wheezie were determined to do anything to help get Kaylee back and make sure they all survived.

"All right," Wheezie said. "So what's the next step?"

JJ gave an update. "Just got another text."

Pope was answering Lia's question. "Maybe sneak from behind and use JJ as bait."

John B nodded. "Just put him in the middle of the field."

"Make sure that he's covered," Isa added. "Got his back."

JJ walked toward them. "Uh, little announcement." He read the text. "'Never mind. I just tracked your location. And I'm sending my men. They'll be there in ten minutes to pick you up'."

Knowing he screwed up, JJ bit his lip, looking away.

John B closed his eyes with a disappointed, anxious sigh.

Kie and Sarah gave the boys a look as if screaming 'I told you so'.

Isa, Lia and Wheezie were speechless.

Pope and Cleo were giving JJ eye daggers.

"Wait a minute," Wheezie said. "Did you turn off your location?"

JJ looked between them. "So--"

Lia gave him an exasperated look. "You didn't turn the location off?"

"Turn it off!" Sarah said.

"Little bit too late for that," Kie replied.

Pope stormed toward JJ.

Cleo stood to break it up, keeping the two apart. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!"

JJ backed away from the hysterical Pope. "I have a Samsung!"

"I have a Samsung too!" John B replied.

Cleo stepped up to them to get the phone. "I can help!"

"This right here is why we need a plan!" Pope told them.

JJ went to the side to calm down, worried that he screwed this up for everyone.

Lia was overwhelmed by all the shouting, hands to her head, unable to think clearly at the moment, which frustrated her to no end as she was one of the smartest Pogues. "Everybody relax for a second! Let's just think about this!" Everyone looked at her. "Let me think..."

Sarah placed a hand on Lia's back comfortingly. "It's okay."

"What are we gonna do?" Wheezie asked.

"It's done, okay?" Isa asked. "Just got to figure something out."

"And hope he doesn't kill us?" Wheezie asked.

"Guys, we're running out of time," Cleo told them.

"What are we gonna do?" Sarah asked.

John B stammered nervously. "I don't know. I'm thinking."

Lia was deep in thought, looking around at the destructive ruins of the hotel around them, an idea starting to spring up. "Guys, I think I have an idea. We can turn this around. Look at this place. Everything we need to pull some Home Alone type shit."

"What the hell is she talking about?" Pope asked.

Isa, Kie and Wheezie realized, smiling proudly and in anticipation to do this part.

Wheezie put her glasses on, a spark of determination in her eyes despite her sickness. "We're gonna booby-trap this bitch."

"Are you kidding?" Cleo asked.

"No, we are not kidding," Lia answered. "We're not running from this dude. This is our best chance to get Kaylee back."

"It's gonna work," Isa told them. "We got ten minutes."

"Come on," Kie urged.

They all set off to get to work, using whatever they could get their hands on.

Isa found a lot of rope to use.

Lia found tools left behind in the abandoned hotel.

Kie and Wheezie found more stuff that was left behind in the chaos.

John B, JJ, Pope, Sarah and Cleo exchanged a look, shrugging, knowing it was better than nothing, going to help.

⚓️

Singh Estate - Foyer

Men were already gathering for their assault waiting to happen on the Pogues.

Singh walked toward Ryan. "Get the big trucks and meet me in the back in three minutes."

Ryan nodded, already on the move. "Copy."

"Fenton," Singh called. Fenton walked closer. Singh pointed to Kaylee behind him. "Get Miss Carrera."

"Singh, please," Kaylee told him, desperate to protect her sister and friends, angry and afraid, knowing they were going after them. "Singh--"

Fenton instantly grabbed Kaylee and hauled her toward the stairs.

Kaylee struggled despite the pain that it caused her wounds, looking back at Singh, trying to fight back, but Fenton applied too much pressure to the side and wrist wounds he had his hands on, making her groan in pain and stop fighting. He even kicked the wound in her leg, making her cry out.

"Fucking stop!" Kaylee snapped. "Please don't hurt them! Please! Please!" Fenton dragged Kaylee upstairs. "Please, don't hurt them!"

Singh watched her go. "That depends, Miss Carrera. We'll continue our chat later. I look forward to it, you know."

⚓️

Orinoco Room

Rafe was pacing, anxious, biting his nail. He had heard Kaylee cry out from the foyer down below, and he was desperate to punish anyone who harmed her.

Fenton opened the door and pushed Kaylee into the room. "Inside!"

Kaylee pulled away from him instantly in pain. "Stop!"

Rafe turned to face them, eyes narrowing on Fenton with a glare, stalking closer.

Before he could get to the guard who harmed Kaylee, Fenton closed the door and locked it behind him when he left the room.

Kaylee was breathing heavily in pain, holding a hand to her side wound, sitting down on the bed, feet resting on the bedframe, horrified and worried for the Pogues.

Rafe watched her warily. "What happened?"

Kaylee took a deep breath, trying to focus. "It worked. I got the layout to the front door, but Singh was onto me. If he didn't get a text from a dead guy's phone, I don't know what he would've done."

Rafe's anger and protective instinct flared again especially after seeing the way Fenton handled Kaylee, but he forced himself to focus. "Dead man's phone? What the hell are you talking about?"

"Portis," Kaylee answered. "The Pogues have his phone. They don't know he's dead, but they set it up to look like he caught Kie, Isa, John B, Lia, Sarah and Wheezie. They sent a picture of them to Singh saying that he caught them."

Rafe quickly realized the same thing that Kaylee did. "Trying to stage a rescue for you."

Kaylee swallowed. "And it could've worked, if Singh hadn't already fucking killed Portis. They don't know they're in a trap."

Despite not caring for most of the Pogues, Rafe thought about his sisters in danger right now - willingly putting themselves in that position to save Kaylee.

Rafe clenched his teeth for a moment as he thought. "Sucks for them. That's good for us, though. This may be our only shot at getting out of here. And your friends and my sister just gave it to us."

Kaylee nodded, though she couldn't shake her worry for her sister and found family. "If they get hurt..."

Rafe shook his head. "We can't think about that right now, okay? We just have to focus on getting the hell out of here."

Kaylee nodded in agreement, walking toward the bedside table, picking up her lighter from its hiding place. "I'm ready to burn this fucking place to the ground."

Rafe looked at Kaylee with awe and pride, admiration evident in his gaze as he saw the real Kaylee emerge.

⚓️

Church - Outside

Big John was sitting outside the church with the bell tower that could be heard all over the island, sitting in the car.

Carla handed some money to a priest. "Thank you, Father."

"Thank you very much," the priest told her, walking away.

Carla made her way back to the car, breathing heavily as she did so.

Big John got out of the car.

"He said you can ring on the hour for a donation to the collection plate," Carla explained.

"I'll get you back, I swear," Big John told her.

"I only want payment in one way," Carla told him. "You know that."

Big John nodded in agreement, turning toward the church, walking closer, hesitating just for a moment before walking inside.

⚓️

Hotel - Outside

Two ATVs pulled up to the hotel, as guards with guns got out of the trucks, including Ryan and Singh.

Singh pointed to the hotel. "They're in there somewhere, you know. Find them."

"Yes, sir," Ryan agreed, walking away, giving orders to the guards. "You three sweep the bottom. B-team, middle floors. I'll be at the top."

The teams of guards were of three guards each, and for now, there were three groups.

Up above, JJ was watching from the second floor, darting inside to head up. "Oh, shit."

⚓️

Inside - First Floor

Ryan and his members of the team, two other guards, made their way in first, ready to head up, while the other two teams waited outside until they got the order to storm in.

"Portis?" Ryan called. "Are you in here?"

JJ called from up above. "Yo, I got them up here! There's six of them!"

Ryan and his guards nodded, making their way up.

Ryan looked at the guard. "I'm going up. You stay down."

Ryan continued on his way up.

⚓️

Second Floor

JJ was hiding behind a wall.

He heard Ryan's voice. "Where you at, mate?" Ryan walked into the hallway where JJ was. "Portis?"

JJ slid along the wall, remaining in hiding as he made his way to the end of the hallway. "Yeah, yeah, take a left at the hallway. The stairway's right on your right." 

⚓️

Third Floor

JJ ran upstairs, joining the Pope and Cleo. "He's coming. Y'all ready?"

Pope nodded. "Yeah."

JJ continued up the stairs. "Okay."

Pope turned to Cleo. "Okay, remember, you hit him in the legs. I'm gonna go for the gun."

"No, you're too slow," Cleo told him. "I go for the gun. You go for the legs."

"No, I'm gonna go for the gun," Pope argued.

Cleo shook her head critically. "Why do you have to argue everything?"

They heard Ryan's voice. "Portis!"

Pope got closer to Cleo as they hid from sight of the stairwell behind the nearby wall. "Shh, he's coming."

JJ called up from above. "Up here! One more flight of stairs now! You're almost there! You're coming, right?"

Ryan started his way up. "Yeah."

JJ ran off upstairs. "Okay."

⚓️

Fourth Floor

Ryan walked up to the fourth-floor hallway, looking around. "Portis?"

JJ's voice came from inside a room. "Oh, yeah. No, I'm still here. You just gotta come right in here."

Ryan held his gun up, ready to fire. "All right, Portis. I'm coming in!"

Ryan burst into the room.

John B, Sarah, Wheezie, Isa, Kie and Lia seemed to be tied to the posts of the room.

"Please untie us," John B told him.

"Help," Sarah agreed.

Ryan raised an eyebrow at how far they were willing to take this charade/trap. "All right, keep your hands still."

"Please, we just need help," Kie told him.

Ryan stepped closer; right onto a flimsy wood board that was covering the sinkhole in the floor, which cracked underneath his weight, causing Ryan to fall through the floor and into the third-floor room below him.

Lia was excited that it worked. "Oh, shit. Oh, shit."

"Yes!" Wheezie cheered.

John B and the girls immediately pulled free from the ropes loose around their wrists.

⚓️

Third Floor

Ryan groaned in pain, pushing himself up, raising the gun to fire at the Pogues through the floor.

Cleo ran closer with a weapon, swinging it at his gun to make him drop it. "Hey!"

In the hallway, JJ heard the gun go off, and ran downstairs to the third floor. "Oh, shit."

Pope came up from behind Ryan, swinging a crowbar at his legs, knocking his legs out from underneath him, making him fall to the ground on his back with a groan of pain.

Cleo raised her own weapon to knock the gun out of Ryan's hands.

The two guards that had been part of Ryan's team walked in, aiming their guns at Cleo and Pope. "Stop, freeze! Put them down."

Pope and Cleo put the weapons down.

JJ ran into the room. "Hey, I'm coming! This time--"

The two guards aimed their guns at JJ to make him stop. "Hold it!"

JJ was breathing heavily.

With JJ, Pope and Cleo held at gunpoint, there wasn't much they could do, even though Ryan had dropped his gun during the attack, which was too far out of their reach to grab.

"Don't even think about it," Ryan warned, reaching toward his gun to grab it, standing as the three guards held the three Pogues at gunpoint.

John B, Isa and Lia jumped down through the hole in the ceiling to tackle the three guards to the ground, making them fall and drop their guns.

JJ immediately picked up Ryan's gun, as Isa and Lia picked up the guards' guns, all aiming at the guards to keep them down.

"Hey, now," JJ warned. "Hey, now!"

"Easy," Isa stated. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I would take it nice and slow now."

"I think it's time for you to freeze," Lia told them, handing the rope that John B and the girls had used on themselves to Pope and Cleo. "Tie them up."

Wheezie, Sarah and Kie ran into the room after coming down the stairs, just in time to see the Pogues finishing tying up the three guards.

JJ took out Portis' phone to take a picture of the guards. "All right, y'all, let me see those mugs. This is going to your boss. Smile."

Wheezie pointed to John B, Pope, Sarah and Cleo. "For the record, they thought this plan wasn't going to work."

JJ smirked, standing, walking away to stand next to John B, texting on the phone. "All right, just sent that to your boss. Time for stage three. Hostage swap. We're gonna give your boss a little ring-a-ling, so hang tight."

JJ called Singh, who was standing outside when more ATVs with many more guards arrived.

Singh answered the phone. "Mr. Portis. Do you have Miss Carrera's friends?"

JJ was speechless for once, too overwhelmed when he heard him mention Kaylee.

"JJ?" John B asked.

Lia quickly took the phone to speak to Singh. "Listen, my name is Lia Cameron." Singh chuckled lightly. "We have your men tied up and they are in for a whole world of pain if you don't give us Kaylee back right now." Sarah, Wheezie, Isa and Kie were concerned to hear Lia talk like this, but knowing it was how they had to pull this off if they were going to get Kaylee back, for Singh to take the threat seriously. "Like right the fuck now."

Singh laughed. "You almost sound like your brother, Lia." The Pogues froze at that unexpected response, especially Wheezie, Lia and Sarah at the mention of Rafe, and given Lia's fear of ending up like Rafe and Ward. "But go on. Kill them."

"What?" Kie asked.

"Kill them," Singh repeated. "Go ahead and kill them, Lia Cameron. It doesn't matter to me, you know. Just know that if you do, the hotel is surrounded, you know." John B and Pope's eyes widened at this. JJ leaned his head against the wall in frustration and worry. The girls looked at each other in surprise and worry. "All of you inside will die."

JJ, Sarah, Wheezie and Lia looked out the windows to see the hotel surrounded with guards about to make their way inside.

"We gotta go," Sarah said, freaking out.

"Yeah," Wheezie agreed.

"We gotta go right now!" Sarah insisted.

"We still have some of the other traps Lia, Kie, Wheezie and I set up," Isa pointed out.

"It won't be enough," Kie replied.

"But it'll buy us some time," Lia countered.

The Pogues all started to run out of the room, leaving Ryan and the other two guards tied up behind them.

⚓️

Hallway

The Pogues ran down the hallway.

"Go, go!" Pope said.

John B went through a door, thinking it led to an exit, but he ended up on a balcony, turning back. "Uh, balcony. Bad, so bad."

"Go, go, go!" Cleo urged.

They had to run back in the other direction.

⚓️

First Floor

The first two teams that had been waiting outside for the order to go in stormed inside, splitting up to look for the kids.

The first team walked through a roll of clear plastic foil that was in the door ahead of them, covering their faces and distracting them so they wouldn't notice that they walked into a rope tied like a wire, which pulled on the broken shelves on the walls ahead of them; when the shelves fell, huge statue figurines fell off of them and onto the guards standing below, knocking and pinning them down.

As the second team took the back stairwell, they didn't notice that nails were hammered into the wooden floor, pointing upward, so that the guards would have to step on them, the nails going through their boots and into their feet, making them yell in pain as they struggled to pull their feet off the nails, falling back as they did, one of the guards falling down the stairs behind him as he did.

⚓️

Fourth Floor

The Pogues heard the booby traps being sprung and the guards yelling.

"It's working," Pope said in disbelief.

"We still need to go," Cleo urged.

"Go back to the main entrance," Kie ordered.

They ran along.

⚓️

Second Floor

A team of guards that made it past the triggered first floor traps came up the stairs.

Bracelet beads were gathered on the floor, rolling into the walking way of the guards. When the guards stepped on the beads, they slipped and almost fell, barely managing to regain balance, as one of them tripped the next rope trip wires, which caused paint cans tied at the end of the ropes to fall down from the shelves from above and slam into the guards' heads, knocking them down, almost knocking them out.

⚓️

Fourth Floor

Trying to go back to the main entrance, the Pogues stopped when they saw guards coming up the stairs in front of them.

Instantly, Isa, Lia and Kie picked up bricks leftover in the abandoned hotel to throw them down at the guards, hitting the heads of the guards and making them fall.

Wheezie, Pope, Cleo, John B and Sarah picked up what tools they had left over at their disposal from the tool shelf nearby and started throwing them as well.

Meanwhile, JJ was straining to lift one of the hotel columns that he, Isa, Kie, Wheezie and Lia had tied to rope to use as another booby trap. Wheezie, Lia and Sarah helped him lift it, so that Cleo could use her knife to slash the rope, allowing them to push the column right off their floor and down at the guards below, so that it would take down three more guards and send them flying, making them fall crashing down through the sinkhole in the middle of the floor below them and to the floor below.

Wheezie was worried. "That's it. That's all the traps."

"Go, go!" Cleo told them.

Pope led the way to the elevator shaft nearby. "Hold this."

"What are you doing, Pope?" Sarah asked.

"Guys," Pope said.

Pope and JJ opened the gate in front of the elevator shaft.

"There's gotta be a better option, right?" John B asked.

Kie looked down through the shaft. "Uh, that's a drop."

John B shook his head. "This is like the Hawk's Nest part two. I'm not doing this. Nope."

"And the banana tree," JJ added.

John B was pacing.

"John B," Isa told him.

The Pogues stared down the shaft nervously.

"I think we need to think about this from a risk-reward perspective," Pope stated.

Guards were making their way up.

"How about you go first and cushion my fall?" JJ asked.

"How about no?" Pope replied.

Lia shook her head, rolling her eyes. "Guys, we don't have time for this."

Sarah knew what she was about to do, shaking her head. "No, no, no, Lia!"

"Don't have another choice, Sarah," Lia replied.

"Lia!" Wheezie warned.

Lia pushed Pope and JJ aside lightly, running between them to jump toward one of the cables leading down the shaft, catching on, despite the pain in her shoulder from the stab wound, nearly falling because of the pain making her grip on the cable and holding her own weight up nearly impossible, groaning in pain as she started to fall with her grip loosened around the cable, but not completely letting go.

"Lia!" the others said worriedly, horrified as they all thought she was going to fall all the way down.

Lia swung herself forward to put her feet against the wall of the shaft, catching herself and getting her grip under control through the pain, breathing heavily. "I got it. I'm okay."

Cleo shook her head in disbelief. "Girl is crazy, but she's right. Forget this shit."

Cleo jumped onto the other cable.

Lia and Cleo started to climb their way down, with Lia fighting through the pain every second of the way.

The other Pogues exchanged a look of disbelief. "Okay."

Lia was groaning in pain as she climbed her way down, trying to keep her shoulder from going out so she wouldn't fall from such a height.

"You got this, girl," Cleo told her. "Just a little more."

Lia nodded, breathing heavily as they continued their way down, almost reaching the bottom.

Once Lia and Cleo were far enough down the cables safely, Sarah ran to jump onto the cable Lia used, on the left side, catching the cable and starting to climb down.

"Kie, go," Isa told her. "We'll be right down."

Kie nodded, running to jump onto the cable Cleo used, on the right side, catching the cable and starting to climb down.

Lia and Cleo were about five feet from the bottom when Lia's shoulder finally locked up and gave out.

Lia lost hold of the rope. "No, no, no." She fell from the cable and the rest of the way to the floor, turning midair so that she would land on her side instead of her spine. "Shit!"

Cleo stared in worry and concern.

Lia hit the ground from the five-foot drop, groaning in pain, coughing, gasping for breath as the wind was knocked out of her, her wounded shoulder jostled from impact (which was not the side that she intentionally landed on). Her other arm, which she did land on, was throbbing with pain.

Lia tried to get her breath back. "Oh, my God."

Once she got two feet above the floor, Cleo jumped down the rest of the way, landing safely, making sure she was okay. "Lia? You all right?"

Lia nodded breathlessly, her left shoulder wound throbbing as well as landing on her right arm. "Jesus, that hurt like a bitch."

Cleo helped Lia up to her feet, moving them out of the way for Kie and Sarah's descent. "I bet."

JJ gauged that Kie and Sarah were far enough down, turning to the youngest Cameron sister next to him, his hand resting on her shoulder in concern. "You think you got this, Wheezie?"

Wheezie nodded nervously. "I don't have much choice."

Isa protectively put a hand on Wheezie's head as she kissed her head. "You've got this, Wheeze. We'll be right behind you."

Wheezie swallowed her nerves, dropping her journal down the elevator shaft, which landed in front of Lia and Cleo at the bottom.

Cleo quickly grabbed the journal, picking it up and backing away, holding onto it for Wheezie while Lia cradled her shoulder.

Wheezie took off her glasses and tucked them into her pocket. She took a deep breath before running to jump onto the cable Lia and Sarah used, on the right side, catching the cable. She struggled with her strength to keep herself suspended due to her side wound and her infection illness like Lia before her - and Isa after her - but she used every ounce of strength she had left to climb down the shaft.

"You got this, Wheezie," Cleo called up.

"You're gonna be okay, sis," Lia assured.

Sarah and Kie were still climbing down, about five feet up from the floor.

Sarah looked up to see Wheezie climbing down the same cable she was on. "Just keep going, Wheeze."

Sarah and Kie reached the bottom of the shaft, retreating next to Lia and Cleo as they all looked up at Wheezie above in concern.

"Just a little while longer, Wheezie," Kie assured. "You're almost there."

JJ and Pope stood at the top of the elevator shaft, in front of Isa and John B, making sure that Wheezie was far enough down.

JJ looked at Pope. "You go first, all right?"

"What?" Pope asked. "No. You go."

"Go before the other guards get up here," Isa told them.

John B looked terrified given the Hawk's Nest 'incident'. "Shit."

JJ was also very worried given his banana tree incident, but tried to shake it off as best as he could. "Okay, just hold on."

Pope and JJ exchanged a look, nodding. "Same time."

JJ and Pope ran to jump onto the cables, with JJ on the left one that Lia, Sarah and Wheezie used, and Pope on the right one that Cleo and Kie used.

Wheezie could barely breathe as she descended the shaft, the infected wound in her side flaring pain throughout her body. She whimpered, biting her lip to steel herself for the rest of her climb down.

Lia and Sarah sensed that Wheezie could collapse soon, stepping closer instantly.

"Come on, Wheeze, just a few more feet," Sarah encouraged. "We're right here."

With the end in sight, Wheezie powered through. Her strength gave out within the last few feet, causing her grip to slip as she started to fall.

Wheezie's fall was not as intense or painful as Lia's as it hadn't been as high, and Lia and Sarah were right there to catch her even as the fall dragged them down with her - all they cared about was sparing their sister pain. All three sisters groaned, though the pain they felt now wasn't compared to the pain they'd felt before.

Kie and Cleo ran closer to help Lia, Sarah and Wheezie up to their feet and back out of the way of the shaft.

"You all right?" Kie worried.

Wheezie swallowed, nodding. "I'm fine. Lia? Sarah?"

"We're okay, Wheezie," Sarah murmured. "As long as you are." She shot Lia a look, shaking her head. "But never scare us like that again."

"Diving into a shaft without thinking and almost falling to your death," Wheezie quipped through her pain. "That was not the move, Lia."

Lia gave Sarah and Wheezie a sheepish smile. "Sorry. We had to move."

Kie noticed the way Lia was holding her lower right arm tenderly with her left hand while her wounded shoulder slumped in pain. She took note of Wheezie clutching her side in pain.

Kie frowned in concern. "You two okay? You both had intense falls."

Lia and Wheezie nodded breathlessly.

Cleo handed Wheezie her journal, which she took gratefully, as Wheezie took her glasses out from her pocket, only to realize that they were broken in her fall.

"Oh, great," Wheezie remarked, tossing the remains of her glasses aside.

Cleo looked up at JJ and Pope as they continued their descent. "Come on, guys!"

Sarah frowned in concern. "Where's John B and Isa?"

Wheezie called up in worry. "Isa, John B, hurry up, guys!"

At the top, Isa turned to John B. "It's all right. It's not like the Hawk's Nest, all right? We're gonna get down there and get the hell out and get Kaylee and get the hell off this island. We gotta go, John B." John B knew that she was right, sighing shakily, nodding, exhaling, preparing himself to go down. "We can do this."

John B nodded.

Just before Isa and John B were about to jump, they heard the church's bell ringing from the tower: Ding... ding... ding ding.

Isa and John B looked out across the island toward the church's bell tower on the other side of the island, memories from childhood resurfacing at the familiar bell toll.

⚓️

Flashback 1 - Childhood

Day - Chateau

Young Isa and Young John B were going fishing on the doc when they heard the same bell toll from their home at the chateau.

Big John called them home. "Isa! John B! Bring it on home!"

Young Isa called back with a smile. "Coming, Dad!"

Young John B reeled in his fishing pole. "Be right there!"

⚓️

Now

Day - Hotel - Fourth Floor

Isa and John B snapped out of the memory upon hearing their loved ones calling for them.

"John B!" Sarah called. "John B!"

"Isa?" Kie called.

"Isa!" Lia called. "John B!"

"Come on, hurry!" JJ told them desperately.

Isa shook the moment off, running to jump onto the cable on the left side, the one that Lia, Sarah, Wheezie and JJ climbed down.

John B took an extra second to snap out of it, running to jump onto the cable on the right side, the one that Cleo, Kie and Pope climbed down.

Isa cried out in pain as her grip on the cable was painful to her wound on her forearm - elbow to wrist - her grip almost slipping.

At the same moment, a guard walked toward the elevator shaft with his gun. "Hey!"

The guard started to shoot, and Isa, not having time to regain her grip on the cable from when it slipped, almost fell in an attempt to duck from the gun as it fired.

John B reached out to catch Isa with one hand, though it meant that he almost fell with one arm holding himself up.

Isa was more worried about her brother than herself, just as he was about his sister. "John B!"

With both of their grips slipping because of Isa's wound and the guard with the gun, they started to fall fast toward the bottom of the shaft, both of them screaming.

The other Pogues screamed in worry as they tried to catch Isa and John B's landing so they didn't get seriously hurt in the impact; Pope and JJ even reacted instinctively and provided themselves as a cushion of landing, so when they did land and it took Pope and JJ with them to the ground, hurting them in the process, it stopped Isa and John B from breaking any bones or something worse in the fall.

Isa and John B were coughing from the impact, their breath knocked out of them.

Cleo, Kie, Wheezie, Lia and Sarah were horrified, running closer to help the Isa, John B, Pope and JJ up.

"Oh, my God," Lia said softly in concern.

"Isa, John B, you okay?" Wheezie asked.

Isa and John B managed to nod as they were getting their breath back, looking at JJ and Pope in concern, as they were also breathing heavily to regain the oxygen that left them from the impact.

"You guys okay?" Isa asked. JJ and Pope nodded. "Thanks."

"Yeah, no problem," JJ replied, slightly sarcastic, but of course serious given the gravity of the situation of what just happened.

"We gotta go," Cleo told them.

Sarah took her man's hand to help him along. "John B, come on!"

Kie and Lia took Isa's hand to help her along, all three of them breathing heavily.

(Song:) Televised Mind - Fontaines D.C.

The guard from up above the shaft was firing his gun down the shaft toward them, but they all ducked out of the shaft.

"We gotta go!" Kie urged.

"Go, go, go!" John B told them.

Lia, with the gun she snatched from Ryan snug in her belt loop, whipped it out and took aim at the guard above. A shot rang out, urging him to retreat and buying them precious seconds to escape the elevator's clutches. She glanced at her sisters, lovers and friends. "Go!"

Their expressions were a mix of surprise and resignation; they were past the point of shock.

Meanwhile, JJ had a lightbulb moment, recalling the firearm he'd liberated from another guard. He drew and fired in sync. "Why the hell did you remember we had guns before I did?"

"Because you're literally the poster child for ADHD," Lia retorted.

With a nod, JJ conceded the point.

They all started to run, and as they were running, JJ would aim his gun up at the ceiling and fire through it to the guards above.

⚓️

Outside

The Pogues ran outside.

"Come on!" Cleo told them. "Shit."

They ran along to try and get away from the hotel through the trail that they had planned as an escape route around the back.

Kie stopped them when she saw a guard blocking the path, his back to them so he didn't see, whispering. "Stop, stop, stop!"

They all ran back into hiding before they could be caught.

JJ aimed his gun at the guard from hiding. "Whoa!"

Lia raised her own gun.

Sarah stopped them, her hand on Lia and JJ's as she lowered the guns. "No."

John B held up a finger. "One second, hold on."

John B walked away to grab a beer bottle, throwing it down below over the brick wall, making it shatter on the ground.

Of course, the guard took the bait and ran down below the hotel to see what caused the breaking bottle, only to find no one there.

The Pogues took this chance to run away as quickly and quietly as they could.

Wheezie whispered. "Let's go, come on."

Isa led the way into the woods behind the hotel so that they could get away. "This way!"

Luckily, the Pogues got away before they could be seen and caught.

⚓️

Singh's Estate - Orinoco Room

Kaylee and Rafe's escape plan was in motion, but they knew Fenton was lurking outside their room, listening to every word of their staged argument.

Kaylee relished the thought of being able to lash out at him without fear of retribution. "Just get away from me! Pussy ass bitch!"

Rafe shook his head, unfazed, amused.

In a flurry of exaggerated movements, Kaylee stomped her feet on the floor and made her way towards the bathroom, turning back to face Fenton in the doorway with a sly smirk.

But before she could fully retreat into the bathroom, Rafe suddenly closed in on her, punching the wall next to her head with a loud thud. Kaylee jumped in surprise, but quickly regained her composure, knowing that their performance had to be believable if they were going to make it out alive.

"I'm sick of this bullshit!" Rafe shouted. "I should just kill you right now, Kaylee!"

Rolling her eyes in mock annoyance, Kaylee couldn't help but mouth a sarcastic 'Really?' before playing along with the charade.

Her sassy response only seemed to amuse Rafe even more as he smirked and continued storming around the room, pretending to chase after her.

As Kaylee burst into the bathroom, her eyes locked on the first glass object in sight, picking it up, hurling it over her head and throwing it onto the floor to shatter it with all her might, letting out a theatrical scream as she did.

"Help!" Kaylee cried out dramatically.

In a swift move, Rafe offered a hand, helping Kaylee as she got into the tub, striking the most dramatically lifeless pose she could muster on short notice. She flung one leg over the edge, her body sprawled across the tub while peering anxiously at Rafe from behind her hair.

Peeking from his hiding spot behind the door, Rafe had a finger to his lips, catching Kaylee's anxious gaze.

(Song Ends)

In the hallway, Fenton pulled out his gun, turning to the room suspiciously in accusation. "Hey, you two! What'd you do?"

Fenton unlocked the door, slowly opening it, not seeing the two in the main room, cautiously nearing the bathroom. He caught a glimpse of Kaylee's limp leg, stalking closer to investigate.

Rafe kept a keen eye on the approaching figure through the crack in the door; the same guard Rafe had seen hurt Kaylee before, fueling his rage.

"What be this..." Fenton trailed off.

As soon as Fenton was within reach, Rafe slammed the door forward with all his strength, sending Fenton crashing to the floor and his gun skidding across the floor. With two powerful blows to Fenton's face and skull, Rafe made sure he wouldn't be getting back up anytime soon.

Kaylee climbed out of the tub, running to the gun on the floor, picking it up.

Even while knowing Fenton was down, Rafe wasn't done. He reached for the lamp, slamming it violently over Fenton's head, making it shatter as Fenton was rendered immobile and surrounded by sharp shards.

Rafe pressed his knee into Fenton's back to keep him pinned down. "Stay down! Stay down, you understand?"

Fenton struggled against Rafe's hold.

With a steady hand and unwavering determination, Kaylee walked out of the bathroom and stood in front of them as she aimed the gun directly at Fenton, voice dripping with conviction. "Don't move!"

Fenton froze, knowing that these two were not messing around.

Rafe looked up at Kaylee with pride and admiration. She had transformed from a helpless victim into a fearless warrior, fueled by their shared desire for revenge against those who had wronged them.

"Huge mistake," Fenton spit, heaving beneath the weight of Rafe on his back. "You'll regret this."

With a determined look on her face, Kaylee replied coldly. "Not as much as you'll regret hurting us."

"Hey, give me the phone," Rafe instructed, sifting through Fenton's pockets, retrieving the phone, cleaning the screen with the end of his shirt.

Kaylee grabbed the canopy curtains, tossing them toward Rafe. "Here. Tie him up."

Rafe quickly tied Fenton's hands behind his back with the curtains, making sure they were secure enough to hold him. "Don't move."

Rafe tightened the bindings until Fenton let out a pained groan, glaring at him as he raised his gaze to Kaylee with a protective and fierce look in his eyes.

The sight of Fenton - the guard who had taken her captive, hurt her, and used her own injuries against her - being punished by Rafe sent a sickening thrill through Kaylee's body. She couldn't help but feel a twisted satisfaction at seeing him beaten and tied up, held at gunpoint by her own hand.

But as Kaylee closed her eyes and tried to push away the darkness inside, she knew she had to keep a grip on reality. This was about survival and escape, not revenge. Yet the desire for vengeance pulsed through her veins like poison, threatening to consume her, just as it had with Macias. Her hand shook as she aimed the gun at Fenton, but she forced herself to click the safety on. She couldn't let herself lose control, even when faced with the man who had caused her so much pain.

Rafe's knowing look only intensified the internal battle raging within Kaylee. He could sense her conflicting emotions and it made her feel exposed and vulnerable.

Rafe grappled for more fabric, tearing it into a thinner piece, sliding it over Fenton's mouth as a gag, leaning over his shoulder, hissing in his ear mockingly. "Now you can't make a sound."

Fenton attempted to retort, but found his voice muffled and incomprehensible against the gag, squirming in an attempt to get free.

Unable to resist the urge to lash out, and in a desperate attempt to regain some sense of control, Kaylee kicked Fenton hard in the back, making him stop, seething with anger. "Asshole."

Rafe stood, quickly taking Kaylee by the arm, knowing they didn't have time for this, leading them both out of the room, leaving Fenton behind, closing and locking the door behind them.

Meanwhile, Kaylee was shaken with the thought that Rafe of all people had to pull her away from punishing someone for hurting them, as she struggled against the darkness threatening to consume her, so they could keep moving to survive.

⚓️

Hallway

Rafe let Kaylee's arm go, despite the concerned look in his eyes as he glanced down at her leg wound, wondering how far Kaylee could push herself with that and her side wound, and her feverish state.

Kaylee took a deep breath as she forced herself to focus, leading the way to the staircase. "This way. Come on."

Rafe followed Kaylee down the stairs, both taking the turn quickly. Kaylee was limping because of her wounds but she refused to let it or her illness slow her down much, her lighter in one hand and the gun in the other.

When they reached the hallway that would lead to the foyer and the front door, Rafe took the lead so that he could be on the lookout for any guards that were potentially still in the house.

Suddenly, Kaylee remembered the painting that Singh showed them the day before regarding El Dorado.

Realizing what she had to do, Kaylee urgently followed Rafe as she whispered hoarsely. "Hey, Rafe. Rafe. Rafe." When he didn't hear her the first couple of times because of her hoarse, feverish whisper, Kaylee forced herself to raise her voice. "Rafe!"

In hiding behind a thick mahagony door, Rafe abruptly turned toward Kaylee. "What?"

Their faces were dangerously close, breath mingling in the tight space between them, surprising them both, eyes burning into the other. It lasted only a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity in the charged atmosphere between them.

Shaken by their close proximity and the intense energy between them, Kaylee took a step back, breathing deeply. "The phone. Give me the phone."

Rafe gave Kaylee a puzzled look, reaching into his pocket. "Why?"

"Hand it over," Kaylee demanded.

Rafe fished the phone from his pocket. "Fine, just give me the gun, then."

Kaylee gave Rafe the gun in exchange for the phone. Once the trade was made, Rafe searched her gaze momentarily.

"Ready?" Rafe asked softly.

With her jaw set in determination, Kaylee gave a firm nod. "Yeah."

Rafe nodded in return, ready to face whatever came their way.

Rafe slowly opened the thick door to reveal the sight of more armed guards patrolling the entrance. "Shit."

Kaylee remembered a side door that she saw during her earlier mission to scope the place out, pointing Rafe in that direction. "Okay, this way. This way, this way."

While Rafe walked toward the side door, peeking around the corner to make certain the coast was clear, Kaylee went to take a picture of the painting on the wall.

Rafe turned to look at what was taking her so long. "Kaylee, what are you doing? Let's go, come on!"

"Hold on," Kaylee whispered, sending the picture to her own phone.

"Kaylee, come on," Rafe whispered.

When Kaylee was done, she headed over quickly, careful not to get caught.

When the door creaked behind them, Rafe put his hand on Kaylee's back and led them out through the side door before they could be caught, closing the door behind them.

⚓️

Outside

Kaylee and Rafe descended the porch stairs, hearts racing with adrenaline as they carefully made their way outside.

The closest guards outside were a great distance away, otherwise preoccupied.

Rafe walked up to an emerald-colored fence, peering around it to narrow in on the sight of a pick-up truck hauling dried stalks in the trunk-bed.

Rafe looked at Kaylee, knowing she might not be able to see over the fence due to her height. "Can you see?"

On her tiptoes, Kaylee craned her neck to follow his gaze, realizing his intent, nodding in agreement. Thinking quickly as she took notice of a shed nearby them, she stepped away from the fence with determination. "I have an idea."

By the shed, Kaylee spotted a can of gasoline and grabbed it, turning back to the driveway, dousing every inch of grass and pavement leading back to the house with the flammable liquid before pouring it over the front of the house itself.

Rafe watched her with apprehension.

Kaylee struck her lighter, lighting it aflame, setting the gas-soaked ground ablaze. As the flames quickly spread toward the house, Kaylee's face glimmered with satisfaction and revenge against their captors while also providing a distraction for them to flee past the guards.

Rafe smiled in admiration and pride, enjoying this fierce side of Kaylee, even more drawn to her. His goal of her rising as his equal by his side, even if she still resisted being with him, was realized in their escape.

"Let's go," Rafe said.

But as they turned to flee, Rafe noticed a nearby propane tank that would catch onto the gasoline and cause an explosion powerful to destroy the entire mansion. Without hesitation, he clicked the safety off his gun and aimed, firing, triggering a massive blast that set the sky ablaze.

Kaylee's eyes widened in surprise and awe as she watched everything burn down in a display of fiery chaos. Rafe grinned at her reaction, reveling in their victory as the flames reflected in their eyes.

The explosion attracted guards from all directions as they rushed to put out the flames and capture whoever was responsible for setting fire to the property.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Kaylee turned to Rafe. "Let's get out of here."

As Kaylee ran to avoid being found by the guards and made her way to the street, Rafe followed without a second thought. They raced through the back of the building to dodge the guards as they made their way to the street, determined to catch up with the truck that was driving away on the other side of the hedges.

Despite her exhaustion, illness and injuries, Kaylee pushed herself to keep running, driven by a fierce determination to escape. "They're slowing down, come on!"

Kaylee's body screamed at her in pain, but she pushed on.

Seeing her struggle, Rafe urged her on. "Go, go, go, go, go!"

Rafe reached the truck first, leaping onto the back of it.

Kaylee followed suit, struggling to lift herself up due to her weakened state, her body threatening to give out on her. Rafe caught Kaylee just in time, lifting her onto the back of the truck, holding her close to keep her from falling off the edge as their hearts pounded and their breaths came out in gasps as his gaze pierced hers.

Suddenly, a man jumped up from beneath the emerald tarp front of them, startling Kaylee and Rafe. Sensing the impending attack, Rafe released Kaylee and immediately sprung to his feet.

As the man lunged toward them, Rafe charged forward, grabbing the man, pushing him against the cab of the truck, punching the man in the face repeatedly.

Sliding to safety at the side of the truck, Kaylee knew how this would end if it went too far. "Rafe!"

The man's fist connected with Rafe's face, the impact jolting through his skull and sending white-hot pain radiating outwards. But instead of recoiling in pain, Rafe used the force of the blow to his advantage, channeling all of his adrenaline-fueled strength into a single burst of energy. With a primal roar, he lunged at the man, tackling him to the ground and quickly gaining the upper hand.

They tumbled over each other in a chaotic mess, crashing into a pile of dried stalks and nearly crushing Kaylee, who cowered against the side to avoid being caught in their violent struggle.

Despite her own injuries, Kaylee watched in horrified awe as Rafe took control of the situation, using every ounce of his survival instincts to protect them both. He didn't back down or show any sign of weakness, fighting like a wild animal, delivering powerful blows that left their attacker begging for mercy. With adrenaline coursing through his veins, he delivered a powerful kick to the man's face before hoisting him up by his shirt with all his strength.

"Please, don't!" the man begged, his voice trembling with fear.

Ignoring the man's pleas, Rafe hurled him off the truck. They could hear the sickening thud as he landed on the unforgiving ground below.

As they drove away, Kaylee couldn't tell if the man had survived or not.

Gasping for breath and covered in sweat, Rafe leaned against the truck's railing, shaking with rage and adrenaline.

Kaylee looked up at Rafe with wide eyes, numb with shock and fear. She knew he had acted in self-defense, but the violence she had just witnessed threatened to overwhelm her, along with the violence that Kaylee herself had participated in.

She had lost control against Fenton. Burned down the house with him inside, and they didn't know if he survived or not after Rafe further triggered the explosion.

The realization that Kaylee could have been responsible for another man's death suffocated her. She had done what she had to do to survive and escape, but at what cost?

The fear of turning into someone like Rafe was magnified all the more - or worse - and Kaylee barely kept herself from crumbling.

Breathing heavily and still fueled by adrenaline, Rafe turned to look at Kaylee, his fierce expression softening as he took in the sight of her. Their eyes locked for a long, knowing moment before Kaylee could no longer bear it and looked away.

⚓️

Racetracks

(Song:) Psyche - The Jimmy Castor Bunch

Singh's ATVs were searching the streets for the rest of the Pogues, including at the racetrack nearby where the horses were kept, but they remained in hiding until they were sure the coast was clear.

Cleo looked around the corner of a horse stall, making sure they were gone, before running down the way, whispering to the other Pogues. "Psst, psst, psst."

Cleo led them down the street as they ran around a corner quickly, up to one of the horse stalls, stopping in the doorway.

The rest of the Pogues hadn't noticed she stopped, still going.

"Go, go, go, go, go, go!" John B said.

Cleo looked after them. "Bloody rasshole! Hey, boy, come!"

The group turned back.

"That way, that way!" Kie told them.

They ran toward Cleo.

Cleo continued on. "Shit."

"She know where she's going?" Lia asked.

"No clue," Pope admitted.

They ran into hiding, all breathing heavily as they looked outside.

"They coming?" Wheezie asked.

"I don't see anything," Isa admitted.

"So what's the plan now?" JJ asked. "What's our Plan B? We just kicked the hornet's nest. We gotta think of something quick."

(Song Ends)

JJ was pacing anxiously; still the only thing he could think about was saving Kaylee before something happened to her, freaking out with the thought that she could get hurt because of something they did.

"JJ, calm down," Pope told him.

"Calm down, Pope?" JJ repeated, stopping in front of him. "We do something to their guys, they're gonna do something to Kaylee."

"That was your idea," Sarah pointed out.

JJ nodded. "Yeah, I know that was my idea, okay?"

Wheezie tried to hush him before he got too loud. "Shh!"

"My bad," JJ whispered. "That one's on me."

Lia shook her head. "Why did we leave that island?"

"We had to, for you, Kaylee and Isa and Wheezie," Kie answered. "Lia, if we had stayed, then you all could've gotten so much worse."

"Look around, Kie," Isa told her. "Kaylee's not in any better position right now, and neither were John B, Lia, Wheezie and I at that damn shaft."

"Because of our wounds that we left the island for to treat," Lia agreed. "But I highly doubt they're giving Kaylee the best treatment, while Isa, Wheezie and I still have none, Kie."

John B gave them a look. "We will figure it out. We will."

Isa and John B exchanged a look, both also clearly distracted by the way they heard the bell earlier.

JJ got an idea, turning to face them. "Ooh, ooh, wait, wait. I got something. What if I offer myself up as a hostage?" Cleo was twirling her knife in her hand, tilting her head skeptically. The others gave JJ a skeptical look as well. "No, hear me out, hear me out. What if I got inside the walls, did the Trojan horse type thing?"

Pope shook his head. "No, no!"

"That's how wars are won," JJ told them.

Sarah rolled her eyes.

"That's not how a Trojan horse even works," Pope told him.

JJ sighed. "Okay, fine, what do you got?" Isa and John B were distracted when they heard the ringing at the bell tower across the island, frowning. "This is usually where you got the moves, bro, all right? Remember Spock? We could really use him right now."

Sarah noticed Isa and John B's distraction. "Hey. What happened back at the hotel? We thought you got nabbed."

"We heard something," John B answered.

"What?" Wheezie asked.

John B pointed to the bell tower, looking at Isa. "That. You hear that too?"

"Yeah," Isa answered, both of them confused and not knowing what to believe. She turned to Sarah, Lia and Kie. "You hear that, right? The church bells?"

"Bells?" Lia repeated in confusion.

"Our dad used to use them to call us home," John B answered.

"In that same pattern," Isa added.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Kie asked. "It's nothing. We gotta focus on finding Kaylee."

Isa and John B nodded in agreement, but they still couldn't help but be a bit distracted given the bell tolls.

⚓️

Church - Bell Tower

Big John was using a mallet to slam against the church bell, making it ring throughout the island, looking out of the window out across the island. "Come on, Isa. John B. Bring it on home. Bring it home."

Big John went back to ringing the bell.

⚓️

Hotel - First Floor

Singh was standing at the arches of the hotel, looking out over the beach as his men searched for the Pogues who had escaped barely with their lives.

Ryan walked closer. "They ran off to the south. We'll get them."

"You know how much this means to me, right?" Singh asked. "But if you say you'll get them, then I don't need to worry." He looked over his shoulder toward Singh. "Do I?"

Ryan shook his head. "No." He turned around, walking away toward a team of soldiers. "Let's go!"

They ran off out the hotel.

Singh's phone rang, as he pulled it out to answer the call. "What?" His eyes blazed with fury as he listened to the report of Kaylee and Rafe's explosive escape. His jaw clenched tightly, knuckles turning white as he gripped the phone. "You incompetent fools." He clenched his fist, barely containing his fury as he realized the two had the last laugh. "Find them. I don't care what it takes. Bring them back to me alive."

With that, Singh ended the call abruptly, shoving the phone back in his pocket. He turned his gaze back to the beach, his mind racing with plans and contingencies.

This was an unexpected complication. Not only had the Pogues slipped through his fingers, but now Kaylee and Rafe were in the wind as well. He had underestimated these teenagers, these... children, and he realized just how dearly it was costing him.

Singh took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm and think strategically, calling out sharply. "Ryan." The soldier turned back, awaiting orders. "Change of plans. I need you to split the teams. Half continue pursuit of the Pogues. The other half track down Kaylee Carrera and Rafe Cameron."

Ryan nodded curtly. "Yes, sir. May I ask what happened?"

Singh sighed in frustration, his fury barely contained. "They made a... fiery escape. Seems Mr. Cameron was correct in how I shouldn't remark on sparks around a pyromaniac. Appears the joke's on me, as they sent my mansion into a fiery burst of flames."

Ryan's eyes widened in shock. "Any casualties?"

"None in the grave, as far as we're aware," Singh answered. "Fenton was inside, but he survived, barely. He's being transported for treatment as we speak."

Ryan nodded in understanding. "We'll find them, sir."

Ryan walked away, leaving Singh to stew in his anger.

⚓️

On the Road - Truck

The truck rumbled down the dirt road, jostling Kaylee and Rafe as they crouched in the back among the dried stalks. They remained silent, both still processing the violence and chaos of their escape.

Kaylee huddled against the side of the truck, arms wrapped tightly around herself. Her eyes were distant, consumed by the memories of what she had just done. The flames, the explosion, the man Rafe had thrown from the truck - it all swirled in her mind in a dizzying blur.

She had crossed a line... again. The darkness inside her that she had fought so hard to suppress had emerged in full force. Once again, she didn't feel remorse about it. She felt guilty and horrified that she didn't feel remorse, but she knew that she would repeat the same actions as she had. And the worst part was, a small part of her had reveled in it.

Rafe watched Kaylee carefully, noting her withdrawn posture and vacant stare. He knew that look all too well - the shock and horror that came after embracing one's inner darker impulses. A part of him felt pride at seeing her start to embrace that side of her, to use it to cultivate her survival once again, but he also felt the familiar twinge of concern. He didn't want her to lose herself to that darkness like he had done. It was a nightmare that he had barely escaped, and a nightmare he wouldn't wish on her.

As the truck rumbled down the dusty road, the warm breeze rustled through the dried stalks surrounding them. The sweet scent of sugar cane filled the air, mingling with the acrid smell of smoke that still clung to their clothes.

Suddenly, the distant roar of engines cut through the silence. Kaylee's head snapped up, her eyes wide with fear as she scanned the horizon. In the fading light, she could make out the silhouettes of several ATVs kicking up dust clouds as they raced along the parallel road.

"Shit," Rafe hissed, ducking down lower. "It's Singh's men."

Kaylee's heart pounded in her chest as she watched the ATVs draw closer. The search lights mounted on the vehicles swept across the landscape, illuminating everything in harsh white light. She could see the armed men perched on the back, their faces set in grim determination as they scoured the area for any sign of the escaped prisoners.

"We need to hide," Kaylee whispered urgently, her eyes darting around the truck bed for any potential cover.

Rafe nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning their surroundings for options. The dried stalks provided some cover, but it wouldn't be enough if the truck was stopped and searched.

"Quick, under here," Rafe whispered, lifting up a large tarp that was partially covering some equipment in the truck bed.

Kaylee hesitated for a moment, hesitant to be in such close quarters with Rafe. But as the sound of engines grew louder, she knew they had no choice. She quickly slid under the tarp, with Rafe following close behind.

They lay there in tense silence, face to face, bodies pressed together in the cramped space. Kaylee could feel Rafe's breath, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine. His eyes never left hers until she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to focus on staying still and quiet.

The searchlights swept across the truck, illuminating the tarp above them. Kaylee squeezed her eyes shut, her whole body tense as she silently prayed they wouldn't be discovered. She could feel the heat radiating off Rafe's body next to her, his presence both comforting unsettling. She held her breath as the ATVs drew closer, the rumble of engines growing louder.

Suddenly, the truck slowed to a stop. Kaylee's eyes flew open in panic, meeting Rafe's intense gaze. He placed a finger to his lips, silently urging her to stay quiet.

They could hear muffled voices as the driver spoke with Singh's men. Kaylee's heart pounded so loudly she was sure they would hear it. Rafe's hand found hers in the darkness, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Despite everything, Kaylee found herself grateful for the small comfort.

After what felt like an eternity, the truck engine roared back to life. The ATVs revved up and sped off, leaving the truck to carry on its way without further delay.

Kaylee and Rafe remained hidden under the tarp for several more minutes, hearts racing as they listened intently for any sign of pursuit. When it seemed they were truly in the clear, Rafe slowly lifted the edge of the tarp, peering out cautiously.

"I think we're safe," Rafe whispered, sliding out from their hiding spot.

Kaylee followed, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the fading evening light. Her whole body ached from being crammed in such a tight space.

Kaylee leaned her head back, breathing deeply to try and control her pain

Rafe turned to her in concern, firm. "All right, listen. I'm headed out to my boat, okay? I can give you a ride out wherever, somewhere safe."

Kaylee sighed wearily. "I just want to go home."

Rafe looked as if he expected this response, nodding, looking away. "I figured you would. That's why I've been using my dad's contacts to try and pool resources in OBX for Shoupe to clear the case about Tod and his father before you went home."

Kaylee looked at Rafe in surprise. "You what?"

"I told you I would," Rafe reminded her.

"I thought that was if I stayed with you," Kaylee admitted.

Rafe shook his head. "No. I gave you my word and I've been trying to keep it. I'm not going to let Tod ruin your life even when he's dead, Kaylee. He's taken enough from you."

Kaylee felt a swell of emotion at Rafe's words, her chest tightening with gratitude and something more complicated. "I... I didn't expect that."

Rafe looked serious, his gaze intense. "I wasn't going to let Tod win or let your parents win after they turned against you."

Kaylee took a deep breath. "It's not that easy, is it? I'm not clear yet."

"Not yet," Rafe confirmed. "But what I said at the station that night did convince a lot of Kooks afterward. Tod's parents are still out for blood, which is making things difficult, and you need to be there before Shoupe can close the case for good."

Kaylee's lip trembled slightly. "I get to go home. We do..."

Rafe nodded. "You can't be seen out and about just yet, but once you get better, we can finish what I started, okay?"

Kaylee's face fell. "How can I get better if I still can't go to a hospital? Isa, Lia and Wheezie?"

Rafe was already thinking about that as well. "I have a doctor contact in Guadeloupe. He worked on my dad while he was in his coma. He won't ask any questions, and I have enough to pay him."

Kaylee shook her head fiercely. "We're not going to Guadeloupe. Your sisters won't go anywhere near your father, and neither will I after he tried to use me to control all four of you."

"I know," Rafe said. "You, my sisters, your friends, you head home. I'll go to Guadeloupe, finish what I started working on, get him on board. I'll fucking fly him to Kildare if I have to."

"Sarah's not gonna want to see you," Kaylee admitted.

Rafe nodded barely, biting his lip. "I'm aware. I told my sisters if they need space, I'll give to them. I will. I'll just send the doctor to you guys once we get there. That way there's no risk of another fucking riot or whatever. But it'll keep you, Lia, Wheezie and Isa alive until we figure out the rest. I won't get in your precious Pogues' way, and they'll stay clear of mine. No harm done... this time."

Kaylee's heart raced as she processed Rafe's plan. The thought of going home, even under such chaotic circumstances, sparked a flicker of hope within her. But the shadows of doubt still loomed large. "And what if things go wrong? What if Tod's parents or Eberhini and Macias come after us again?"

Rafe ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his posture. "We can't live in fear forever, Kaylee. You need to trust that I'll handle it. I've got people who owe me favors - Kooks who aren't loyal to the Laurents or even my dad. If I say the word, they'll keep an eye on your family and friends. You know some of them, actually. Samantha and Mitch Michaels."

Kaylee frowned as she recognized the names. "They're two of the parents I used to babysit for. They gave me a hundred every night I babysat their daughter Lily."

Rafe tilted his head as if this proved his point. "You told me about them when we were still together, before everything fell apart, remember? They're two of the Kooks that helped spread the word that you to be innocent, acting in self-defense, because they knew you and how you took care of Lily."

Kaylee processed this, her heart racing. She would never trust a Kook normally, but the Michaels, she knew that she could after she worked for them - babysitting for them three nights a week during the summer gave 300 dollars for food, clothing and other essentials for herself, as her parents had always left her to fend for herself after they kicked her out of their home and she was living permanently in the Pogue Nest.

The thought that Rafe had remembered that she told him about them and he asked for their help to exonerate and clear her name, and they were trying to do so, was shocking, both overwhelming and a relief.

Rafe knew what she was thinking, nodding. "So they'll look out for you as much as they can, at least with the Kooks. And if you need to contact me before I get to OBX, after the doctor helps you and the girls, then you can go to them. But hopefully I'll be done tying up loose ends in Guadeloupe and be in Kildare by then, ready to finish what I started to clear your name."

Kaylee scoffed a slight chuckle, shaking her head in disbelief. "You have everything figured out, do you?"

"I had a month to work it out," Rafe retorted. "You, Lia, Wheezie and Isa being wounded and sick definitely wasn't part of the plan, but at least I know we can still get that taken care of once you and the Pogues get home."

Kaylee gazed off with worry. "That's if they're even okay."

Rafe knew she was worried about them after Singh sent his men after them, shaking his head. "They're fine. You all have the survival skills of cockroaches."

Kaylee scoffed slightly. "I'm not sure if that's supposed to be a compliment or a reassurance or an insult."

"Depends on which one I'm talking about, honestly," Rafe admitted. "So a little bit of all of the above."

In her fever-induced hysteria, Kaylee couldn't help but chuckle at Rafe's blunt assessment. The sound bubbled up from deep in her chest, a mix of exhaustion, relief, and the absurdity of their situation. It felt foreign to her ears after so much darkness and pain over the last couple of days, like a ray of sunlight breaking through storm clouds.

Despite knowing that her laughter was caused more by exhaustion and hysteria and the surprise of his comment, Rafe couldn't help but smile at the fact that he managed to get her to laugh. His own laughter joined in, a rich, warm sound that seemed to fill the small space of the truck bed. His eyes crinkled at the corners, genuine mirth replacing the fierce determination that had been there moments before. For a brief moment, they were just two people sharing a joke, the weight of their past and the uncertainty of their future temporarily lifted.

⚓️

Church

Carla was sitting in a pew in the main room of the church.

Big John was standing on the balcony overhead, behind her.

Carla turned to look up at him. "Anything?"

"Nothing," Big John answered. Carla turned away. "Sort of the definition of a Hail Mary, you know?"

"You have to believe in miracles, John, if you want them to happen," Carla told him, using her crutches to stand, starting to make her way to leave the church.

Big John considered this, turning around, heading back up to the bell tower.

⚓️

Marina

(Song:) Rated X - Psychic Mirrors

The truck was cruising down the street near the marina when it had to pull over briefly due to people moving items across the road, honking to urge them to clear the way.

Seizing the opportunity, Rafe and Kaylee rose and jumped out of the truck's bed, which then drove off without them.

Kaylee winced and hiss in pain, clutching her side, stumbling on her wounded leg.

Rafe turned to Kaylee. "You all right?"

Grimacing, Kaylee nodded unconvincingly, moving onward. "I can't stop. I have no idea if the Pogues are okay. We need to get the hell out of here."

(Song Ends)

Rafe followed, taking Kaylee by the elbow, steering her toward the right direction. "Come on. My boat's down here. Make sure your shoes are off."

Kaylee took off her shoes, climbing aboard the ship.

Rafe stood on the outer edge of the boat, handing Kaylee the keys. "You got it?"

Kaylee frowned, trying to process through her fever brain. "Wait... I know you said we had to split up, but..."

Rafe nodded knowingly. "You take the boat. Get everyone out before Singh catches you all. Get Lia and Wheezie to OBX and meet the doctor, all right? He'll save you guys when you get there."

"What about you?" Kaylee asked, confused.

She knew that Rafe couldn't come around the Pogues without stirring more drama between them and him, and she knew that he had to return to Guadeloupe to finish everything he explained before, but she didn't know how he planned to get there.

"I'll figure it out," Rafe replied. "I always do. You need this more than I do. You can't hop a ferry or a plane because you're a fugitive right now, but I can."

Kaylee stared at Rafe, her heart racing with conflicting emotions. She knew he was right; their paths were diverging once again, but the thought of him facing whatever dangers lay ahead alone after everything he was doing to help her made her stomach twist despite her best efforts to resist that conflict. "What about Singh? He'll be on the look out for you after what we did."

Rafe shrugged, a teasing smile playing on his lips, but there was a seriousness underneath. "I can handle it. I can hide if I need to until I can jump on the ferry. I have friends in the right places now. Plus, I'm good at getting ut of sticky situations. Or at least I try to be."

Kaylee felt a pang in her chest as she recalled the boy she had once known - the entitled, reckless Rafe who always seemed to find a way out of trouble - and the man he'd become. He had come so far within the last month that it was unbelievable, yet she knew that it was proof that he would figure out the rest as well. "Okay."

Rafe nodded, his gaze steady as he slid into the boat's cabin and began flipping switches to set it all up for Kaylee. "Just get moving."

Kaylee's fingers trembled as she gripped the keys, her heart pounding in her chest. She stepped cautiously into the cabin, taking a moment to absorb the luxurious feel of the boat - a yacht, really - with its white smooth exterior and a comfortable interior, the scent of salt and engine oil mingling in the air. It was a stark contrast to the chaos they had just escaped, and for a brief moment, she felt a sense of sanctuary wash over her.

Rafe joined her inside, quickly checking the instruments and preparing the boat for departure. The air crackled with tension as they both understood the urgency of their situation.

"Okay, you know how to handle this, right?" Rafe asked, his voice laced with concern as he leaned closer to her, their faces just inches apart.

Kaylee nodded, forcing herself to look into his eyes. "Yeah, I can do this. My uncle taught me and my cousin with boats and yachts when we were kids."

"Good," Rafe replied, offering a faint smile despite the gravity of their circumstances." He pointed to a cabin/bedroom in the far corner. "There's a cabin there, the bed's big enough for you and my sisters at least. I don't know about Isa. You'll be able to rest there until you get back home. If Lia and Wheezie are as bad as you are, then all of you need as much rest as you can get until you get back to Kildare."

Kaylee nodded in acknowledgement.

Rafe walked toward the bow to untie the bowline, the last preparation he had to do before Kaylee could set sail.

While he was doing that, Kaylee took out Fenton's phone that she still had from their escape and texted Portis's phone, remembering that the Pogues still had it. She dropped a pin for the Pogues to meet her so they could escape the island before they could be caught by Singh and his men.

Once Rafe finished with the bowline, he walked toward Kaylee, ensuring that everything was ready for her to leave.

"All set?" Rafe asked, his expression serious as he leaned against the cabin door.

Kaylee nodded, her heart racing as she glanced back at him. "Yeah, I texted Portis' phone. The Pogues will meet me at the harbor."

Rafe's eyes lit up with a mix of relief and pride. "Good. Just remember to keep it steady. Don't let the waves get to you. You've got this."

Kaylee could feel the weight of his gaze on her, lingering like a warm embrace despite the uncertainty that loomed over them. Their paths diverged here, and she needed to focus on getting her friends and sister to safety.

Rafe nodded, turning to leave.

Kaylee swallowed. "Rafe..." Rafe turned back. Kaylee stepped closer. "Thank you. For all this. For getting me home. Us home. I know we still have a lot of work to do when we get there, but... thank you."

Rafe's expression softened at Kaylee's words, the intensity of their shared experiences reflected in his gaze. "You don't need to thank me. Just make sure my sisters are safe. That's all that matters now."

Kaylee felt a surge of emotion welling up inside her as she took a steadying breath. "I will."

Rafe stepped forward, closing the distance between them once more. "If anything goes wrong, get out of there. You know how to take care of yourself."

"I will," Kaylee replied, her voice firm. But deep down, doubts loomed - what if they were caught again? What if Singh sent more men after them? Her heart raced at the thought.

(Song:) Cheated Hearts - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

With a final lingering look, Rafe stepped back, turning around, stepping off of the boat and onto the dock, turning to look at Kaylee on the boat while she remained at the helm.

As Kaylee began to maneuver the boat away from the dock, Rafe stood motionless, his eyes fixed on her retreating form. The gentle lapping of waves against the hull filled the air, a soothing rhythm that belied the tumultuous emotions swirling within both of them.

The warm light of the descending sun bathed Kaylee in a soft glow, highlighting the determination etched across her features as she guided the vessel with steady hands. Her silver silk pajamas billowed slightly in the sea breeze, a stark contrast against the pristine white of the boat. Despite her exhaustion, injuries and illness, she stood tall at the helm her posture radiating a quiet strength that had always drawn him to her.

Rafe's heart clenched as he watched her grow smaller in the distance. The fierce protectiveness he felt towards her warred with the knowledge that this separation was necessary.

(Song Ends)

⚓️

Horse Tracks - Stall

The rest of the Pogues were still in the horse stall to stay hidden, some of them (like Wheezie, Sarah, John B, Pope and Cleo) had fallen asleep after the adrenaline from that day had wiped from their systems and left them exhausted, added with only getting a couple of hours of sleep.

JJ, Kie, Isa and Lia were also on the verge of sleep for the same reasons but were also too wired to fall asleep.

Portis' phone buzzed and chimed.

JJ took the phone out of his pocket, seeing the text from "Fenton".

The text read: "Meet @ pin 6:15. P4L."

JJ took off his hat, sitting up. "Hey, guys."

Isa looked at the text, quickly shaking the other Pogues awake. "Wake up."

Kie, Isa and Lia shook them awake. "Guys."

"JJ's got something," Lia explained.

JJ read the text. "Meet at the pin at 6:15. P4L."

John B took the phone to look at the text.

Sarah sat up, skeptic, suspicious. "We're supposed to believe that's Kaylee?"

"I don't know," Pope admitted. "This all could be a trap. It's exactly how he set us up last time."

"He knows we got the phone, and he knows he can't track is, so--" Kie started.

John B nodded. "We go out there, and bam, he's got us."

Cleo shook her head. "Sometimes you guys can be so stupid."

"I'm sorry?" Wheezie asked.

Cleo stood. "You get beat so bad you flinch even when someone's trying to help." She took the phone from John B to show the text to all the Pogues. "P4L. It's Kaylee, man!" JJ, Kie and Isa started to smile. "No way she sent that as bait."

Isa shook her head in agreement. "They'd have to kill her."

John B, Sarah, Wheezie, Lia and Pope still looked hesitant understandably after all the times they had been tricked and beaten.

"We gotta help her," Cleo told them. "Come on, man. You're all just sitting there, just flinching." She tossed the phone to Isa. "Let's go."

Isa stood, walking away with Cleo to the front of the stall.

"I don't know, man," Pope admitted. "It could still be a trap."

"This is Kaylee we're talking about, who would rather have our parents emotionally abuse her than blame me or all of you for anything and would rather let Tod or anyone else beat her than one of us getting hurt," Kie pointed. "They're right."

Wheezie nodded in agreement. "Let's go."

Lia tilted her head, nodding. "It's the only option we got."

Kie, Lia, Wheezie and JJ stood to follow Isa and Cleo.

"We gotta check, right?" Sarah asked, standing to go with.

John B stood, nodding to Pope. "Come on."

Even when John B and Isa heard the bell toll again, they still had to keep going with their friends, wanting to rescue Kaylee and see for themselves what was at the bell tower more than anything, but Kaylee obviously came first.

⚓️

Marina

The Pogues followed the pin to a spot at the marina, seeing white trucks drive across the way, ducking into hiding.

"Get down," Sarah said.

John B whispered to Isa as they were scoping out the marina. "You got the boats?"

Isa nodded. "Yeah, you got windows?"

"Yeah," John B answered.

Cleo looked at Pope next to her while in hiding.

"Guys, Singh's men could be posted up literally anywhere," Pope pointed out.

"No shit," Wheezie agreed.

Cleo saw someone who looked like Kaylee from this angle across the way. "Guys, is that her?"

They followed Cleo's gaze. The girl turned her head to look around the marina, revealing that it was not Kaylee.

"No," Kie answered.

Lia held her hand toward JJ. "Give me the phone." JJ handed the phone to Lia. "I'll take care of this." Lia checked the pin, looking up at the boat ahead of them. "That boat, that's the pin. The white one right there."

JJ stood, taking out his gun, cocking it, before placing it back in the waistband of his jeans.

"What are you doing?" Sarah asked.

"There's one way to find out," JJ pointed out, putting his hat on, walking out toward the boat.

Sarah tried to stop him. "JJ. JJ!"

"JJ, wait please," Wheezie pleaded.

"Dude!" Pope told him.

"Stay there," JJ warned them, walking toward the boat.

"JJ!" Isa told him.

"Hey," John B warned.

"Better to stay hidden in case he needs help," Cleo pointed out.

All of their hearts were pounding nervously, the Pogues keeping an eye on JJ as he made his way toward the boat.

JJ looked around nervously, breathing heavily, on edge, turning away from the boat to keep an eye out on the rest of the marina.

(Song:) Sold Out of Love - The Nude Party

Kaylee walked out of the cabin of the boat, out into view.

JJ turned around, freezing when he saw her there.

Kaylee's breath caught when she saw him. "JJ?" Both of them seemed to stop breathing for a moment. JJ was absolutely stunned in relief to find her okay, taking off his hat, inhaling deeply. Kaylee looked like she could cry from relief. "JJ." She quickly made her way off the boat. "Jayj."

JJ quickly walked toward Kaylee as she ran into his arms, hugging him tightly with a gasp, nearly crying. JJ held her firmly against his chest, but carefully so he didn't hurt her, both of their eyes closed, both reeling, relieved that they were both safe in each other's arms.

JJ held his hand to the back of Kaylee's head, his fear dissipating away as he held her close, whispering in her ear. "I'm so glad you're safe."

Kaylee sobbed quietly as she put her head to his, eyes closed, trembling slightly as she finally almost broke down after how long she had to keep herself under control. "Jayj... I didn't think I'd ever see you again."

Kaylee and JJ pulled away.

JJ smiled. "Yeah, but I'm here now. Okay? It's all right, it's all right."

JJ wrapped his arms around her protectively and comfortingly.

The rest of the Pogues, seeing it was indeed Kaylee, ran out of hiding and toward the pair.

Kie instantly ran to her sister. "Kaylee!"

Kaylee and JJ pulled away.

Kaylee was absolutely relieved to see her sister. "Kie!"

Kie instantly embraced Kaylee in her arms, as the two sisters held each other tightly; Kaylee didn't even care about the pain from Kie's too-tight embrace.

Once they pulled away, Isa, Lia, Wheezie, Sarah and Cleo laughed and ran closer to hug their friend in relief, followed by John B and Pope.

Kaylee was absolutely relieved to see all of them. "Guys."

Pope, Isa and John B embraced Kaylee first, the four of them holding each other tightly in relief. Isa cried in relief as she gave Kaylee a kiss on the head, making her smile a bit as she tried to cheer her best friend up, and John B rubbed her shoulder comfortingly.

Once they pulled away, Lia, Wheezie and Sarah embraced Kaylee carefully knowing her pained state, but still with incredible relief that left the four girls laughing lightly. Kaylee even brought Cleo into the embrace with them, causing Cleo to laugh with them.

Now, all of the Pogues embraced in absolute relief and pure friendship.

Pope let out a shaky breath of relief. "We thought you were dead."

"I thought you guys were dead," Kaylee replied.

When they finally pulled away, they all looked at the boat, stunned with surprise.

"Are you kidding me?" Isa asked. "Kaylee...."

"You serious right now?" Lia asked.

"Is this you?" Wheezie asked.

Sarah laughed. "What--what is--"

"Holy shit," John B said.

"Where'd you get this?" Kie asked.

Kaylee became nervous as she looked back at the boat, knowing the consequences it could come with. She looked at Lia, Sarah, Wheezie and JJ especially. "You wouldn't believe it if I told you. But I'll tell you all everything. Come on." They all walked onto the boat. John B and Isa paused when they heard the bell tolling again from across the island. "Isa, John B, let's go."

Isa and John B joined the others on the boat.

The Pogues settled onto the deck of the luxurious yacht, their eyes wide as they took in the gleaming white surfaces and state-of-the-art equipment. The gentle lapping of waves against the hull provided a soothing backdrop as Kaylee began to recount her harrowing tale.

As Kaylee spoke, her voice wavering with emotion, the others listened in stunned silence. She described being held captive alongside Rafe, the fear and uncertainty that had gripped them both. Her words painted a vivid picture of their daring escape - the fire, the explosion, the desperate dash for freedom.

When she reached the part about Rafe giving her the boat, gasps of disbelief rippled through the group. JJ's jaw clenched, his eyes darkening with a mix of emotions he couldn't quite name. Kie reached out to squeeze her sister's hand, offering support.

Kaylee went on to explain about Rafe working for an entire month to try and clear her name so that she would be able to go home without the threat of arrest looming over her head so she didn't have to go on the run - and in her condition, it was obvious she could not, and neither could Isa, Lia and Wheezie. She explained about how people like Samantha and Mitch Michaels were helping spread the word about her self-defense and character defense to convince other Kooks the truth of what happened so that had a safe place to go home to, even if she couldn't sighted without being arrested on the spot just yet - the rest of the work was still to come to clear her name.

But she explained the doctor that would be waiting for them in OBX to help save Kaylee, Isa, Lia and Wheezie's lives from their necrotizing wounds, a ripple of relief passed through each Pogue despite the disbelief they felt about Rafe doing all of this to help Kaylee - and save her life, and the lives of two of sisters and even Isa.

As Kaylee finished recounting her story, the deck fell silent, each of the Pogues absorbing the weight of everything she had endured. JJ's expression was a mix of admiration and frustration; he couldn't quite reconcile the fact that Rafe Cameron had not only helped Kaylee escape but had also worked tirelessly behind the scenes to clear her name.

"So, let me get this straight," John B said, breaking the silence. "Rafe Cameron, that Rafe, just gave you this boat us home?"

Kaylee nodded slowly, the memories of her experiences flooding back. "I know it sounds insane, but... He saved my life more than once. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him. I wouldn't be able go home, and we wouldn't have this boat or that doctor waiting for us to save our lives."

Isa crossed her arms, skepticism etched on her face. "So what happens when he wants something in return? You don't just help someone like that out of the goodness of your heart."

"Especially Rafe, after everything he's done," Pope added.

Kaylee knew that it was a fair concern.

However, Wheezie felt surge of defensiveness rise up within her for her older brother despite everything that had happened. "He wanted to be better for me, Lia and Sarah, right? He helped us on the ship with our dad. And he helped Kaylee keep all of you guys secret so that no one got captured, tortured killed. And he saved her life from the riot that Mike and Anna started and almost got her killed by Tod's parents. And helped us make sure that Kaylee wasn't arrested that first night after Tod."

"We get that, Wheezie," Kie said softly. "But your brother's also hurt most of us, even almost killed Isa, John B and me, not to mention Lia and Sarah. We can't trust him easily."

"I know, but you can trust that he's serious about this," Wheezie pointed out. "I don't blame you all for hating him still, but he's the only way that Lia, Kaylee, Isa and I are gonna survive if these wounds and infections get worse."

"And if Rafe wants anything in return, then I'll deal with it," Kaylee stated.

Cleo frowned. "Kaylee..."

"I mean it," Kaylee said firmly. "This is on me, so I'll handle it."

Sarah sighed heavily. "As long as I don't have to go near Rafe or Dad again, I'm fine with it. Especially if Rafe really has his doctor friend save Lia, Wheezie, Kaylee and Isa."

The others nodded in acknowledgement.

Lia, like Kaylee and Wheezie, felt a surge of overwhelming conflicting emotion knowing that Rafe was doing all of this to help Kaylee and save the girls' lives. "We get to go home, and we'll get better. Even if this doesn't change anything for you guys where Rafe stands, that's more than fine. I don't blame you. But if this really works, then Kaylee's name is cleared, and she, Isa, Wheezie and I'll be okay."

"That's all that matters," Kie insisted, wrapping her arm around Kaylee, looking at Isa, Lia and Wheezie with emotional tears in her eyes. "So let's go home."

Sarah nodded in agreement. "Let's go home."

Cleo tilted her head. "I wouldn't mind putting other island under my belt for being a home."

John B knew that they didn't have another option, wrapping his arm around Isa as he held his sister comfortingly, gazing at Sarah as the couple worried about the lives of their sisters, nodding.

"All right," John B agreed. "Let's do it."

Kaylee's eyes fell on JJ, fully aware that he was the only one that hadn't spoken yet. She was worried about his reaction and that she could lose him. The couple had already felt a distance bridging between them even on Poguelandia after all of Kaylee's traumas even as JJ helped her through them.

"JJ?" Kaylee asked softly, hesitantly.

JJ's gaze was intense, searching Kaylee's face for answers. The moment stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words and emotions. He took a deep breath, his expression a blend of concern and something softer that Kaylee couldn't quite read.

JJ's voice was low but steady, though the tension in his body betrayed his worry and frustration - bordering on anger. "You really think he's changed? That Rafe won't try to screw us over again?"

Kaylee stepped closer to him, feeling the weight of his scrutiny. "I don't really know. I know we can't completely trust him, but he helped me - us - before, and right now, we don't have another choice. We have to go home and get better. I can't go on the run like this, Jayj. Lia, Wheezie and Isa can't go on the run like this. Not with us getting worse and even dying because of necro-whatever."

"Necrotizing wounds," Pope supplied.

Kaylee gestured to Pope. "Thank you."

JJ exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "It's just... it feels like we're putting ourselves in danger again by trusting him. How do we know this isn't some kind of trap?"

"We don't," Isa answered. "But look at us, JJ. Do you think that we can really take any other chances right now?"

JJ looked from Kaylee to Isa, Lia and Wheezie. He could see the pain lingering in their eyes and every move of their bodies, the exhaustion that clung to them like a heavy shroud, their glistening skin from feverish sweat. They had given their all for their missions and escapes from Singh and his men, and now they looked truly depleted of energy and strength.

It broke the hearts of John B, Sarah, Kie, JJ, Pope and Cleo, as they took note of how their wounds were getting worse, starting to blacken. They knew there was truly no other choice.

Lia looked at everyone in turn. "We can't let fear dictate our actions anymore. We've fought too hard to give up now. Rafe may have his own motives, but he saved Kaylee, and he's helping us escape and go home, and we all might actually survive at the end of it all. If we don't take this chance, then what was all of this for?"

JJ's brow furrowed as he weighed her words. He could see the sincerity in Lia's eyes and the determination that had always fueled her spirit. The rightness of her argument began to chip away at his instincts.

JJ hesitated, the conflict evident in his eyes. Finally, he sighed, relenting just enough to nod. "Okay. But if he tries anything... I swear..."

"I know," Kaylee interrupted softly, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "We'll face whatever comes together, like we always do. No one is getting left behind."

"And if anything goes sideways..." John B trailed off.

"We run," Isa finished.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Wheezie groaned in pain as she put a hand to her side. "Is there a place we can lay down?"

Kaylee pointed to the cabin bedroom. "Yeah, right there. He said that it's big enough to squeeze on to rest for the trip back."

"Good," Sarah replied. "You all need your rest after everything that happened."

"And we'll make sure all of you lay your asses down to get some," Kie agreed, giving Kaylee, Isa and Lia a specific look, knowing how stubborn they could be, causing them to smile in return.

"Let's get this thing ready to go, then," Pope said.

Cleo nodded. "Let's hustle, man."

(Song Ends)

⚓️

Hotel - Outside

Several guards were gathered around Singh.

Ryan walked up to Singh, holding up his phone. "They were just spotted out at the marina. Told you we'd get them."

Singh nodded, looking around. "Good, good." He walked up to Ryan, patting his chest. "You know, I never doubted you, you know."

Singh walked away.

⚓️

Marina - Rafe's Boat

(Song:) Sime Love - Dowdelin

The Pogues were prepping the boat to sail away.

JJ turned to Kaylee. "Yeah, so, I have just a couple of questions."

"Go ahead," Kaylee replied.

JJ looked the boat over. "A Lagoon 620 with twin 150 Volvos. You understand we can go anywhere with this thing, right?"

Kaylee nodded, trying to be sarcastic to play at the fact she was fine. "I know, kind of a piece of shit."

JJ rounded up the bowline, walking up to her. "Way to be discreet, by the way." He was concerned by the pain that he saw Kaylee in. "What did they want, anyway? They didn't hurt you, did they?"

Kaylee looked down. "Mostly just to keep me from fighting back, nothing more. And, um, most of the pain came from trying to book ass out of there to escape." JJ nodded in understanding. "But I'm good. It just... I mean, you're not gonna guess what Singh wanted from me. Denmark's diary."

"Why?" JJ asked.

Kaylee shook her head. "I don't know. Said it leads to a treasure that's a lot bigger than the Merchant."

JJ climbed aboard. "You're saying there's a bigger treasure?" Kaylee nodded. "Then sign me up."

Kaylee managed to chuckle.

Kaylee watched as the Pogues moved about the boat with a renewed sense of purpose, each one determined to help her and the others get back home safely. But even amidst the chaos of preparations, she felt the weight of JJ's gaze lingering on her.

"Hey," JJ said softly, stepping closer. The concern in his eyes cut through the clamor of their surroundings. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Kaylee took a steadying breath, her heart fluttering at his proximity despite the distance that had grown between them as a couple over the last month.

"I—I will be," Kaylee replied, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

The truth was, she felt far from okay. The pain from her wounds mixed with the residual fear of what they had escaped and what they could return to back home weighed heavily on her. She knew that her past would still haunt them even as they set sail toward a semblance of safety.

Kaylee knew that Tod's parents weren't finished with her. Even if she and Rafe managed to clear her name, the Laurents would still want her dead for the death of their son. They would likely try to punish her - and anyone around her - as much as they possibly could. She couldn't risk the lives and safety of JJ, of Kie, of the rest of their friends. She knew all along that it would come to something like this, so she thought if she started to distance herself slowly, maybe it could protect all of them in the long run.

Even if she had to separate herself from the pack to make sure that everyone was safe.

JJ knew that was exactly what Kaylee was doing, and while he knew that she needed space mentally and emotionally to recover from her traumas and discover who she was now after her darkness had taken hold, forced her to take a life and she lost her parents completely... and with the aftermath of Macias, Singh and his men, especially Fenton after what Kaylee did to him... she had a long, troubling road discovering just who she was and how far she would go to protect the ones she loved and to ensure their safety and her own survival.

Kaylee didn't want to drag anyone down with that burden, least of all JJ after all he had been through. She couldn't be something that held him back or put him in even more danger with the threats of the Laurents hanging over her head. Or with the risk that maybe Kaylee's name couldn't be cleared and she would be arrested. She couldn't let JJ or anyone else be dragged into that abyss with her.

JJ's heart ached as he watched Kaylee, seeing the weight of everything she'd been through etched in the lines of her face and the shadows in her eyes. He knew that look all too well - the haunted expression of someone who had been forced to confront the darkest parts of themselves. He could see the pain and fear she was trying so hard to hide.

A familiar ache settled in his chest as JJ realized just how much she had been through, how much she was still going through. He wanted nothing more than to wrap her in his arms and shield her from all the darkness that threatened to consume her, protect her from the world that had been so cruel to her. But as he stood there, watching her struggle to hold herself together, he felt a crushing sense of inadequacy wash over him.

How many times had he failed to protect her? How many times had he been powerless to save her from the horrors that seemed to chase her at every turn?

He hadn't been able to protect her from Tod, hadn't been there when she needed him most. He couldn't save her from the riot outside the police station, couldn't clear her name or keep her safe from Singh and his men. Time and time again, he had fallen short, and now Kaylee stood before him, wounded and haunted, relying on Rafe Cameron of all people to get them home safely... to clear her name so she could still have a life when all of this was over.

Rafe Cameron, who JJ hated to admit, had been there every time JJ hadn't been. Every way that JJ thought he failed Kaylee, he saw Rafe taking up the task.

It both infuriated him and devastated him. JJ knew that Kaylee didn't want to rely on Rafe. She would always want JJ by her side over his, but they both knew that Rafe had power and resources she needed to survive and save her future. Things that JJ didn't have and couldn't provide to help her through the next journey that would either make or break the rest of her life.

The one person who had been a constant triggering source for Kaylee's darkness was now the only one that seemed to be able to do anything about the darkness she now faced ahead.

That of all things, Kaylee knew it wasn't fair to JJ. She knew realistically she wasn't doing anything to hurt him - other than the fact that she needed to rely on Rafe of all people to get out of the darkness that she put herself - and all of them - in when she killed Tod. Even if it was to save herself.

JJ knew that Kaylee felt guilty for all of it. And he knew what possibly could be coming because of the growing distance between the two and everything that happened that led both of their mind states to dwindle like this. He knew that Kaylee would rather take all of the pain and the blame alone than let anyone else be hurt, which would push Kaylee to make a decision that he knew she would already be considering in an attempt to keep him safe and keep him from getting hurt - both physically and emotionally. Even if it meant breaking up with him.

In denial that all of this happened to both of them, Kaylee and JJ remained silent, neither of them wanting to speak and say the words that they both knew would come by the end of the night.

Despite the hurricane of emotions swirling in both of them, JJ wrapped his arms around Kaylee from behind, enveloping her in a warm, protective embrace to calm her anxiety and fears, comforting her. Kaylee was able to relax only slightly in his arms, tears in her eyes as she had no other idea on how to keep him safe and keep him from being hurt - even if it meant enduring the wrath of the Laurents alone.

Further away on the boat, Cleo tossed a white boat fender to Pope. "Think quick!"

Pope barely managed to catch in time, resting the fender on his shoulder. "Trying to clock me with this thing?"

Cleo shrugged, walking past him. "Gotta strengthen your reflexes. Come on, guys! We gotta go."

Pope followed her, looking slightly offended. "Feel like my reflexes are already sharp."

Up at the helm of the ship, Isa, Lia and Kie were untying more ropes.

Kie turned to Isa and Lia. "You two should go rest, like Wheezie's already doing. That bed's big enough for all you and Kaylee. It's a long ride back to OBX."

"We're fine for right now, Kie," Isa murmured, gazing off.

Lia was stunned. "Rafe's really going to save our lives."

Kie and Isa shared a look, looking at Lia.

Kie stroked Lia's hair back. "It looks like it. Are you okay?"

Lia looked toward the cabin where Wheezie was laying down to Sarah nearby. "Our father almost kills us, and a month later our brother saves us? After he almost killed us before? I'm tired of this roller coaster. But at least we know that he's going to help us live."

Isa leaned her head against Lia's. "We're gonna make it, Lia. It's gonna be okay."

Lia gazed off. "Singh said that I sounded like Rafe when I threatened his men. The darkness or whatever..."

"Hey, that is not your fault," Kie told her. "We were doing what we had to do to protect ourselves and try to get my sister back. You don't get to blame yourself for that."

Isa gently reached up to Lia's head to brush a bit of hair out of her face, comfortingly. "Besides, you've gotten a little better, right?"

"Not much," Lia answered. "Because I didn't have help. And I wanted Rafe to get better too."

"What we know is that you could never be like your brother, no matter what happened with Portis and those guards and your episodes," Kie told her. "You wouldn't be able to do anything like he did. All right? You're a good person, and that's not going to change."

Relieved and reassured but still scared, Lia took a deep breath. "I'm just glad we're all safe."

Isa and Kie nodded in agreement.

Kie took Isa and Lia's hands. "We're safe. I love you two."

"I love you," Isa agreed. "Like we said, we get through everything together, right?"

Kie nodded, giving a small smile. "Right."

"We have so far," Lia agreed. "I don't need a ring or a piece of paper to show and tell the world that we love each other. I just need you. I'd rather be a Pogue and a Carrera and a Routledge on a deserted island than a Kook and a Cameron. I'd rather be with both of you and our family than go back to the one that I had, because you are my family now." Isa and Kie smiled emotionally in agreement. "I love you both so much."

Isa, Kie and Lia leaned their heads together, taking a moment to just calm down and breathe.

John B and Sarah walked closer.

"Everybody's almost ready," Sarah explained.

Isa and John B got distracted when they heard the bell across the island again.

"Okay, you definitely heard that, right?" John B asked.

"Yeah, I do now," Sarah answered.

"What's up?" Kie asked.

"That's exactly what our dad would do to call us home," Isa answered.

"Guys, that--that pattern, those bells," John B listed.

Isa and John B both spoke along with the pattern of the bell ringing. "Ding... ding... ding ding."

"Isa, that--that's him calling us home," John B told her.

Isa and John B were clearly both desperate yet scared to see if it was true or if it was a trap of some kind, or if it was just in their heads.

Lia, Sarah and Kie looked at them in concern.

"I know, it--" Sarah started. "Yeah. It--that's... it's really weird. But it's not him."

"Okay, how do you know that?" Isa asked.

Kie gave her a look. "You know why."

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

Sarah shook her head. "I'm sorry."

"Maybe you get beaten enough, you aren't able to see the miracle right in front of you," John B pointed out.

Isa pointed to the bell tower. "I mean, that's exactly how he used to call me and John B home. Maybe it is him. Maybe the universe is trying to finally give us a gift, and--"

Of course, Sarah and Kie were skeptical, not understanding of why they thought this, like neither of them ever really understood why they went down the same path Big John did before; Kie had even said Isa needed to get a grip and that she was concocting in the beginning until she was proven wrong with the treasure, which was Big John's dream.

But Lia, however, had always been understanding of why they did what they did, so of course she would be now as well. "Okay."

"What?" Isa asked.

"Okay, I understand," Lia answered. "You wanna go to the tower to go look? Go look. I would want to too. Okay?"

Isa and John B frowned; John B was surprised that she did understand, but Isa wasn't, as she knew that Lia always understood even when Kie didn't, though Kie tried her best to.

"You sure?" Isa asked.

"Yes," Lia answered.

Kie gave in, sighing heavily, knowing that one way or another, Isa and John B needed to get this out of their minds. "Okay, go, but hurry." She handed Portis' phone to Isa. "And take this with you."

"Are you sure?" John B repeated Isa's sentiment.

"Yes," Lia answered with a slight chuckle. "Yes. Believe me, I would do the same thing."

Sarah and Kie exchanged a look, nodding.

"And you don't think we know what you're like?" Sarah asked. "You're gonna drive us all insane if you don't look, so go look."

Isa smiled slightly.

(Song:) There's A Place - Roo Panes

John B ran a hand through Sarah's hair, stroking it. "No, wait. I love you, Sarah Cameron."

Isa gave both Lia and Kie a passionate kiss, which they returned. "I love you. If we don't make it back in time, you gotta go without us. We'll find another way."

"No, we won't leave you," Lia told her in concern.

Isa backed away, tilting her head, loving Lia's response, but knowing that they had to be smart about this, turning to the other of the triad. "Kie, promise me. You get everybody out if it comes down to it. You, Lia, everybody."

Kie hated even the idea of something like this happening, but she knew that it was a smart move to make a plan like this and knowing that she would have to do what they had to in order to protect everyone. "I promise."

Lia gave Kie a look, flustered.

"She's right," John B agreed, looking to Sarah. "Promise me."

Sarah, like Kie, hated it, but knew it was something they might have to do, nodding in agreement.

John B kissed her passionately, pulling away, backing away toward Isa.

Lia gave them a look. "We're not leaving until you get back. Hurry."

Isa and John B nodded, getting off the boat.

"Go," Sarah told them. "John B, I love you."

John B gave her a smile. "I love you."

Pope noticed them off the boat. "Hey! Isa, John B! What are you doing?"

"We'll be back," Isa told them, looking at Kie and Sarah to make sure they were keeping their promises even though Lia, Kaylee and JJ would absolutely hate it and likely lose it with the thought of leaving them. "Love you guys."

"What are--" Pope started. "What?"

"Be right back!" John B told them. "Love you, Sarah."

Isa and John B took off running to try and hurry.

Pope shook his head in confusion. "What the hell?"

⚓️

Streets

Isa and John B were running as fast as they could.

John B: (voice over) "Our dad always told us that clouds have silver linings."

⚓️

Church - Bell Tower

Big John was still ringing the bell, looking exhausted and like he was about to give up.

Isa: (voice over) "But that actually cuts both ways."

⚓️

Woods

Isa and John B had to cut into the woods to avoid being spotted by Singh's ATVs headed past them.

John B: (voice over) "Sometimes sunshine blinds you."

Once the ATVs were gone, Isa and John B continued on their way, as fast as they could.

Isa: (voice over) "And sometimes miracles also have miseries."

⚓️

Marina - Rafe's Boat

The rest of the Pogues were waiting anxiously.

"I can't believe they just took off," Pope said.

"We told you guys why," Lia told them.

"Yeah, but their dad's dead," JJ replied. "I get why they had to go before they went insane, but..."

Sarah looked in the distance toward the setting sun, raising her hand to shield her eyes.

Cleo became paranoid when she saw ATVs closing in on their location at the marina. "Guys, incoming!"

They all followed Cleo's gaze to the ATVs coming for them.

Kaylee shook her head nervously. "No, no, no. That's Singh's men."

"John B and Isa?" Pope asked.

"They said they'd be back by now," Sarah told them desperately.

"Okay, well, they're not," Pope replied. "Kaylee, JJ, what are we gonna do?"

JJ took out his gun. "We gotta make a stand. That's what we gotta do. That's the only option."

"What?" Kie demanded. "No, Isa and John B told us that if we had to, to leave."

Obviously, this caused Kaylee and JJ to shake their heads instantly, incredulous with even the suggestion of leaving them behind.

"Kiara, we're not splitting up again," Kaylee told her.

"Guys, we can't stay here," Kie pointed out.

"We're not leaving Isa and John B!" JJ snapped.

"No Pogue left behind," Kaylee reminded them.

In the cabin of the boat, Wheezie was woken up from the commotion on the deck, stirring in her bed. She looked worried and confused as she pushed herself up and made her way to the door. "What's going on?"

"Kie, we can't leave Isa," Lia told her. "And we're not leaving John B. We just got back together."

"Lia, we have to," Kie told her. 

"What else can we do?" Sarah asked.

"They're here," Kie insisted.

"They're getting closer!" Cleo told them.

Sarah knew that she didn't have a choice but to keep her promise, slamming her hand down. "Damn it!"

Sarah ran to the helm of the ship.

"We're not splitting up again!" JJ snapped.

"We don't have a choice anymore!" Kie replied.

Sarah started the boat.

"Go," Pope told her.

Kaylee shook her head desperately. "No! Isa and John B!"

"We need to get Isa and John B," JJ said at the same time.

Lia was on the verge of freaking out as they didn't know if they would be able to see them again. "No, we can't leave them!"

Kie grabbed Lia's arms to calm her down. "We'll find Isa and John B later. Lia, I promise."

Lia shook her head, breath clipped and broken as she tried to calm down enough to breathe.

Worried for her sister spiraling out of control, Wheezie rushed over to Lia, holding her. "It's okay, Lia. We'll find Isa and John B. They'll make it back to us. I promise."

⚓️

Fields

Isa and John B were getting closer to the church, having to pause to catch their breaths from running so far so fast, climbing through a fence, looking at each other nervously, continuing on their way.

⚓️

Marina - Rafe's Boat

Sarah started to sail the boat away from the marina, much to the distress of Kaylee, JJ and Lia as Kie, Wheezie, Pope and Cleo tried to keep them calm.

Singh's men swarmed the marina, aiming their guns, which Kaylee, JJ and Lia didn't notice in their upset states.

"We can't just leave them like that!" JJ told them.

"We have to go back!" Kaylee insisted, scared of losing her best friends.

Kie grabbed Kaylee and Lia's arms to pull them down with her. "Guys, get down!"

When the gunfire started, they all ducked for cover, screaming and yelling.

Sarah made the boat go faster as they sailed out from the marina.

Ryan called off the gunfire. "Hold your fire!"

Once the Pogues realized that it was safe to get up, they started to stand, breathing heavily.

Desperately worried for their missing friends, Kaylee put her hands to her head, pacing back and forth. "No."

JJ angrily punched the boat. "Damn it!"

Lia looked toward the island with tears in her eyes, breath shaky, so worried, scared of what could happen. "No... Isa..."

Pope and Wheezie were stunned speechless with worry.

Kie and Sarah both looked heartbroken to leave, even though they were abiding by what Isa and John B made them promise to do in case this happened.

Kie ran her hands through her hair. "Shit." She turned away. "Shit!"

Kie turned to Lia with an apologetic look on her face, but Lia shook her head, looking away; she knew Kie and Sarah did what they had to do in her head, but her heart couldn't wrap around the thought of leaving someone they loved behind to fend for themselves against an entire island looking to capture or kill them, even if they did follow on what Isa and John B made them promise to do.

Sarah looked back toward the island sadly. "I'm sorry, John B. Sorry, Isa."

⚓️

Church - Outside

Isa and John B made it to the church, breathless and exhausted from having to run so far.

Isa was trying to catch her breath. "You think that the Pogues would've had to leave us by now?"

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

"If they were found, I hope they did leave," Isa said softly. "It would've killed Lia, Kaylee and JJ. And Pope and Wheezie. But Kie and Sarah promised."

"Yeah," John B agreed. "They'll keep their promise if they have to."

They finished climbing their way up to the church, breathless as they looked at the church, having no idea what to expect as they listened to the sound of Big John still ringing the bell.

Isa was breathing shakily. "Please let it be him."

Isa and John B, after catching their breaths, started their way up once again.

(Song Ends)