⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☽ bear and bird ☾₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!
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the reason i always say "please don't be a ghost reader" this isnt just because i want votes, i mean i do, but ive been writing on this app for 3 almost 4 years and it helps me stay motivated because that means people are reading my stuff. and unlike other people, they have so many views on their books and i know my writing isnt the best but i love to write and it just helps me stay motivated. and i know i unpublish and republish my chapters and i get thats really annoying

【 SEASON EPISODE 3 PART 1 】

JJ leaned back with a contented sigh, sprawling across the back seat with his usual carefree attitude. "You mind if I just relax on this one? It's been a long day, and a lot of weird stuff's gone down. I'm just gonna lay low," he announced, pulling out a crumpled joint from his pocket and lighting it up with a spark. "Oh, did you want a hit of this?"

Pope, sitting a bit straighter in the passenger seat, glanced at JJ and shook his head. "I keep the signal clear," he replied, giving JJ a look that mixed amusement and mild disapproval.

JJ groaned dramatically, flicking the ash off the joint as he turned to fully face Pope. "Dude, okay. Do you even realize your problem? You don't get creative. You never get creative," he argued, gesturing wildly as he spoke. "If you just loosened up a bit, maybe-"

"JJ, leave him alone," Clara cut in from her spot, her head resting against the cold glass of the van's window. Her tone was tired but tinged with amusement as she watched JJ's antics unfold, clearly entertained by his stubborn attempts to get under Pope's skin.

Before JJ could respond, John B's voice cut through, breaking the back-and-forth with an intensity that made everyone pause. His eyes were fixed on the dark road ahead as he navigated the twisting turns leading toward the cemetery. "Listen, I know I was wrong about the lighthouse, and I might've been off about... well, everything else going on. But there's one thing I know I'm right about." He took a deep breath, glancing over his shoulder at the others as the van slowed to a stop. "My dad is trying to tell me something."

A tense silence settled over the group as they processed John B's words. Clara lifted her head, feeling an uneasy thrill shoot through her. They pulled into the cemetery parking lot, the headlights casting long shadows across the looming gravestones.

Kie let out a groan from the back. "John B, seriously, what are we doing here?"

John B shushed her, his face set in determined focus as he parked the van and hopped out. The others exchanged wary glances before reluctantly following him, stepping out into the chilly, silent night air.

Clara shivered, wrapping her arms around herself as she glanced around the eerie cemetery. Shadows flickered ominously over the stones, giving her a deep sense of foreboding. "There's some weird stuff going on. Can we just go back? I don't want to die," she muttered, pointing accusingly at John B's back.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," he waved her off dismissively, his eyes already scanning the gravestones as he walked purposefully forward. Clara sighed, but curiosity got the best of her, and she followed, though every creak of the old cemetery set her nerves on edge.

As she took a few steps, Clara felt something soft and cold under her foot. Before she could react, a faint hissing sound reached her ears. She froze, looking down just in time to see a snake slithering out from beneath her shoe. A scream escaped her lips, and in a split-second reaction, she jumped, throwing herself into the nearest arms for support-which happened to belong to JJ.

JJ chuckled, wrapping his arms around her to steady her. "Easy there, Clare Bear," he teased, grinning as she caught her breath.

Clara shot him a glare but couldn't help the small, grateful smile that crept onto her face. "I hate snakes," she muttered, backing away as soon as her feet felt steady again.

John B's chuckle echoed through the quiet, catching their attention. "So, Redfield. This whole time, I thought it was a place, right? But it's not a place. It's a person." He stepped forward, shining his flashlight over a worn headstone, its engraved letters barely visible under a thick layer of moss and dirt. The name 'REDFIELD' was just visible, carved deep into the stone.

"Voi-effing-lá," JJ let out in an exaggerated, triumphant whisper from beside Clara, nudging her shoulder playfully. Clara smirked, then leaned her head against JJ's shoulder, a feeling of both anticipation and dread churning in her stomach as they gathered around the headstone.

John B continued, his voice low and reverent. "See, Clara and I's great-great-grandmother-Olivia Redfield. That was her maiden name." He knelt down, tracing his fingers along the edge of the stone. "Help me with the door," he encouraged, gesturing to what looked like a slab of rock pressed tightly against the entrance of a crypt.

JJ and Pope moved forward, grunting as they tried to push the heavy stone, their feet digging into the damp earth for leverage. Clara and Kie stood back, arms linked in a mix of excitement and nervousness as they watched the boys' progress. Just as Clara leaned closer to get a better look, a sudden, loud hiss echoed from the tomb. She snapped her head toward the sound, eyes wide, just in time to see another snake slithering out from beneath the stone.

"That's a moccasin, all right. Ye olde Dr. Cottonmouth. Death in tall grass," JJ declared dramatically, his voice dropping to a deep, ominous tone. He suddenly let out a loud bark, hoping to scare the snake off.

"JJ, shut the fuck up!" Clara hissed, clutching her chest as her heart raced. "You're going to wake the dead, man!"

JJ turned to Pope with a mock-innocent expression. "They're afraid of dogs. Everyone knows that," he stated with feigned conviction, clearly amused with himself.

Clara rolled her eyes, glancing back at the tomb. "Well, if there's one, there are probably dozens." She shuddered, trying to push the image of a swarm of snakes out of her mind.

JJ seemed unfazed and continued barking, focusing his attention on the vines surrounding the tombstone.

"Stop barking at the snakes," John B muttered irritably, his voice tight with impatience as he kept pushing on the stone.

Clara took a deep breath, focusing her flashlight on the stone and shining it around the crypt. The dim light finally revealed a small opening in the far corner of the tomb's wall, just wide enough for a person to squeeze through. She tilted her head, squinting to make sure she was seeing right, and a daring thought crossed her mind. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" she whispered to Kie, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

Kie let out a sigh, already knowing where this was headed. "Sadly."

"We can get through," Clara whispered, determination solidifying in her mind.

John B overheard and looked at her, eyebrows raised. "No, no, no. You think you two are gonna fit through that hole?" he asked, clearly worried about the plan.

Clara shrugged, already resolved. "Kie and I can fit. We're small enough to get through," she assured, glancing at Kie, who nodded in agreement.

"I'll give you guys a boost," JJ offered, stepping forward with a grin as he braced himself against the wall, the others moving the tangled vines out of the way.

JJ leaned down, gesturing for Clara to step up. "Okay, I'll give you a boost. I've seen it in movies. Now, Clare Bear, if you see any snakes-bark. Okay, ready?"

Clara chuckled despite herself, rolling her eyes. "I know what I'm doing, JJ," she teased, placing her hands on his shoulders as she steadied herself and climbed up, disappearing through the narrow opening with Kie close behind.

"Remind me what I'm supposed to be looking for," Clara asked as she crawled through, her voice echoing slightly.

John B's voice followed her. "You'll know it when you see it," he called, his tone serious.

Once inside, Clara took a moment to adjust to the darkness. She held out her hand, and Kie passed her a flashlight. Taking a deep breath, she turned it on, scanning the crypt. Dust and cobwebs hung thickly in the air, and her light caught on something partially buried beneath loose stones and debris. Her heart began to pound as she inched closer, lifting her flashlight to reveal an old, crinkled envelope. In faded but distinct letters, the words "BEAR & BIRD" were scrawled across its front.

"Did you find something?" JJ called out from outside, his voice tinged with excitement. "Is it gold?"

But Clara barely heard him, her attention fixated on the envelope before her. She felt a strange sense of familiarity and awe as she reached down to pick it up. The weight of generations past seemed to press down on her shoulders, filling her with a reverent, almost overwhelming sense of discovery.

"Oh... oh my God," she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Clara carefully pulled the envelope from the dark corner, brushing off a thick layer of dust. She inspected it under her flashlight, her fingers tracing the words "BEAR & BIRD" scrawled in big, faded letters across the front. Turning it over slowly, she noted the edges were fragile, crumbling slightly under her touch. Holding her breath, she passed the envelope through the narrow hole in the stone wall, where JJ took it from her with a mixture of curiosity and disappointment.

JJ squinted at the envelope before letting out an exaggerated sigh. "That's not gold," he muttered, barely masking his disappointment.

Clara smirked, rising up on her tiptoes to peek through the opening, her face illuminated by the flashlight. Clearing her throat dramatically, she held her arms up toward Kie like a kid asking to be picked up. "Princess Kie, help me out, please?" she asked with a playful grin, her tone carrying a hint of mischief.

Kie chuckled, shaking her head, but couldn't resist. Reaching down, she clasped Clara's hands and tugged, helping her scramble out of the narrow opening. As soon as Clara's upper half was free, she threw her arms around Kie's shoulders, laughing as she climbed up onto Kie's back with ease.

"Princess Clara," Kie teased, rolling her eyes affectionately. Just as the two were about to continue their banter, the unmistakable hum of an engine suddenly rumbled through the still night air. They froze, their laughter evaporating as they exchanged tense glances.

JJ's eyes darted to the shadows, his face pale in the dim glow of the flashlights. He whispered frantically, "Code red. Code red. Square groupers! Square groupers!" His gestures were wild, his face a mix of urgency and panic, signaling for them to run.

Clara let out a startled squeak, tightening her grip on Kie's shoulders. Her heart pounded as Kie sprinted after the others, carrying her toward the nearest stone wall for cover. They ducked down just in time, breaths heavy and eyes wide, Clara's arms still wrapped around Kie. She finally slid off her back, her feet hitting the ground lightly as she crouched beside her friend.

"Lights! Please, turn them off!" Clara whispered sharply, pointing to the glaring flashlights that still lit up their hiding spot. JJ quickly turned his off, plunging them into partial darkness, but John B fumbled with his, the beam stubbornly illuminating the ground as he scrambled to turn it off.

"John B? Your light!" Kie hissed, frustration tightening her voice as they all ducked lower, pressing against the wall. The footsteps of the approaching men grew louder, the crunch of gravel echoing through the night.

"I see something!" one of the men called out, his voice rough and alert, cutting through the stillness like a knife. Clara felt a chill run down her spine as she turned to Kie, her wide eyes betraying her worry.

"Do you think it's them?" Clara whispered, her voice barely audible, clutching Kie's arm with fingers that trembled ever so slightly.

JJ carefully peeked around the edge of the wall, catching a glimpse of the figures in the darkness. He turned back to the group, his expression serious as he muttered, "Homie's got a gun."

Kie's face hardened, glancing between Clara and the others with a steely determination. "Screw this," she muttered, gripping Clara's hand tightly as she sprang into action, pulling her friend along as they broke into a sprint.

"Right here!" one of the men shouted, their footsteps thundering as they began to pursue the group. Clara's pulse raced as she pushed herself harder, her breaths coming quick and shallow as they neared the cemetery fence.

She leaped up to grab the top, her hands slipping slightly as she struggled for a moment before swinging herself over with an unsteady but determined jump. Kie and JJ were already on the other side, urging her on with frantic gestures as John B finally made it over, landing heavily beside her.

"Hurry up!" JJ whispered, looking back over his shoulder with wide eyes. But just then, Pope's voice cut through the night, tight with panic.

"Guys! Guys! I'm stuck!" Pope's whisper was loud, almost desperate, his form tangled awkwardly on the other side of the fence.

Clara spun around, her eyes widening as she realized Pope was still struggling on the other side. "Shoot! How did you get stuck?" she whispered, her voice laced with urgency.

Pope shot her a defensive glare as he twisted and turned, his movements increasingly frantic. "I didn't do it on purpose!" he muttered, looking down as Kie and John B rushed to help free him. They grabbed his arms, yanking and tugging as Pope squirmed, his face twisted with worry.

"Wait, no-don't pull! You're gonna rip me! Hold up! You're gonna rip me!" Pope's whisper grew louder, panic edging his voice, just as a loud tear sliced through the night. The fabric of his shorts gave way with a sharp rip, the sound echoing in the stillness.

Clara's hand shot to her mouth to stifle a laugh, but her eyes sparkled with barely contained amusement as she reached out to steady Pope. He stumbled forward, nearly falling, but she caught him, helping him regain his balance before they both took off, racing toward the van with the others.

As they reached the van, JJ clambered into the backseat with a triumphant grin. "It's a little Tootsie Roll!" he cheered, clapping Pope on the shoulder with a mischievous laugh as Clara and Pope scrambled in beside him.

Pope let out a horrified squeak, his hands instinctively flying to cover the torn fabric, his face red with embarrassment. Clara couldn't hold back her laughter any longer, a grin breaking across her face as the van sped away into the night, leaving the chaos and danger of the cemetery behind them.

Clara wrinkled her nose in disgust as she watched JJ slap some stale bread onto a chipped plate in John B's dimly lit kitchen. She leaned against the counter, crossing her arms as she eyed the bread skeptically. "JJ, that bread had mold on it three days ago," she said, her tone dripping with disapproval as she watched him smear peanut butter over the rough, green-tinged edges.

JJ barely glanced up, shrugging casually as if she had pointed out nothing more than a slight scratch on a piece of furniture. "I'll just pull off the bad parts. Plus, mold's good for you," he said, his face the picture of nonchalance as he added a slice of cheese on top. "It's just a natural organism."

Clara looked at him, wide-eyed and dumbfounded, her mouth half-open in shock. She ran a hand through her hair, visibly cringing as he took a triumphant bite. "Natural doesn't always mean good, JJ. That's disgusting," she scoffed, backing away in exasperation as Kie's voice cut through the air, calling from the living room. The group had gathered around, their chatter and laughter echoing down the narrow hallway.

"Yup, yup, yup! Hot damn! Let's do it!" JJ said, his face lighting up with excitement as he shoved the rest of the bread into his mouth. But his confidence faltered almost instantly. He gagged, his eyes going wide as the taste hit him, and he made a retching sound, clamping a hand over his mouth. Clara chuckled, biting her lip to hide her amusement as JJ struggled to swallow, his face contorted in disgust.

The laughter quickly faded as everyone turned their attention back to John B, who was carefully unsealing the worn, crinkled envelope they'd found earlier. The room fell silent, an unspoken tension filling the air as he slowly slid out a faded, creased map. The paper looked ancient, marked with faint lines, symbols, and a small, hand-drawn "X." The others leaned in, eyes wide and filled with anticipation.

"Holy shit," John B whispered, his voice barely audible as he traced the ink with his finger. The faint, trembling excitement in his tone made Clara's heart pound a little faster. She leaned in closer, peering over his shoulder, her eyes scanning the map.

"Oh. X marks the spot," Clara murmured, her lips curving into a smirk as she nudged John B with her elbow, the familiar thrill of a possible treasure hunt sparking in her eyes. She could already feel the adrenaline starting to course through her veins.

John B squinted at the paper, his brow furrowing as he muttered under his breath, "Longitude, latitude..." JJ, meanwhile, was still inspecting the envelope, and his eyes widened as he noticed something else nestled at the bottom.

"Wait, there's somethin' else in there," he pointed out, reaching over with a flicker of excitement in his eyes.

John B's hands were shaking slightly as he reached in, carefully pulling out a small, dusty object. JJ squinted, his expression puzzled as he tilted his head. "What's that?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

Clara rolled her eyes, smirking as she recognized the item immediately. "It's a tape recorder," she said, her tone carrying a hint of amusement at JJ's cluelessness. But before JJ could respond, John B turned the recorder over in his hands, his thumb hesitating over the play button. After a heartbeat, he pressed down, and the device crackled to life, a faint static filling the room.

Then, a familiar voice broke through the static, deep and steady: "Dear Bear & Bird..."

Everyone stilled, the air suddenly heavy and charged with an unspoken emotion. It was Big John's voice, unmistakable, resonant, and so familiar it almost hurt to hear. Clara's breath hitched, her chest tightening as the sound washed over her. Her father's voice, rough yet warm, echoed in the quiet room, stirring a bittersweet ache in her heart.

"Who's Bird?" Kie asked, her voice a gentle whisper as she glanced at Clara and John B with curiosity and concern.

John B, swallowing hard, barely managed to reply. "That's what my dad called Clara and me," he said, his voice strained as he fought to keep his composure.

The recording continued, Big John's tone carrying a mix of humor and gravity. "I hate to say, 'I told you so,' but I told you so. And you doubted your old man. I suspect at this moment, you're filled with guilt and self-loathing over our last fight, but don't kill yourself just yet, kids. I didn't expect to find the Merchant either."

The words hit Clara like a punch to the gut. The Merchant. The legendary shipwreck they had heard about for so long, dismissed as little more than a rumor or a bedtime story. Her father had actually found it. She turned to John B, whose wide eyes mirrored her own, shock and wonder mingling with the overwhelming emotions in his gaze.

Big John's voice softened, becoming reflective and almost vulnerable. "You were probably right to call me out. Wasn't exactly Father of the Decade. What can I say, kiddos? I could smell the barn. And hopefully, we're listenin' to this in our brand new sugar-shack down in Costa Rica, livin' off passive investments and pulling on permits."

A sad, wistful smile flickered across Clara's face, a pang of regret mixed with longing. His words painted a vivid picture-a small beach house, her dad laughing, relaxed, with all of them together, far from any trouble. But that dream felt painfully distant now, like a memory that hadn't yet happened.

Big John's voice shifted, carrying a heavier, more somber note. "If not, and you find this for less than optimal reasons, well, that's what the map is for. There she is, the wreck of the Merchant. If somethin' happens to me, finish what I started. Go for the gold, kid."

The words settled over Clara like a weight, her heart pounding with a strange mixture of grief and excitement. Her father's plea-his unfinished dream-was now theirs to carry.

Finally, Big John's voice softened, tinged with a raw, unfiltered sincerity that made Clara's chest ache. "I love you, Bear and Bird, even if I didn't always act like it. I'll see you on the other side." And with that, the recorder clicked off, leaving a deafening silence in its wake.

Clara blinked, her vision blurring as a tear slipped down her cheek. She brushed it away quickly, her gaze darting to John B. His expression was raw, his face etched with a pain that mirrored her own. He looked lost, staring at the now-silent recorder with wide, unfocused eyes.

Without a word, Clara abruptly stood, turning and rushing down the hall. John B watched her go, his heart clenching as he saw the depth of his her etched in his every movement. He wanted to call after her, to tell him he understood, to say something-anything-that might ease the unbearable ache they both felt. But the words caught in her throat, lost amidst the whirlwind of emotions.

Clara's knees let out and she hugged her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms tightly around herself as she tried to hold back the storm of feelings welling up inside. The room was heavy with unspoken words, shared grief, and the lingering presence of Big John's voice-a voice that would stay with her, guiding her, even in its absence.

ASH SPEAKS!

clara needs so many hugs in this fic:(

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)