↣ 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘋𝘦𝘯𝘺

"Evening, officers." Pope spoke while attempting to project a casual demeanour in the hopes that the officers wouldn't perceive him as suspicious.

"Evening."Shoupe said, glancing at the four adolescents standing there. Nixie avoided staring at the officer for fear that she would reveal that they were hiding something.

"JJ, tie it off." Pope gave an order, and the boy with blonde hair immediately nodded and did as he was told.

"How you kids doing? You know the marsh is closed?" To avoid appearing suspicious, Nixie tried to look as astonished as she could.

"I didn't know that. Why...why is it closed?"

"Well, we're conducting a search out here. Boat went down." Shoupe spoke as he crossed his arms. "Seen anything?"

"No. No boats. No."

"Where's your friend you always hang with? He here?" Glancing around to check on the missing adolescent, he asked. With a sidelong glance towards the water, Nixie hoped John B was doing good.

"He's working." Kiara spoke as they all exchanged aw looks.

"I'm gonna check your little boat out." Nixie stepped back from him as he declared as he boarded the boat. "Uh... you got another one?" After glancing at the life jacket he was holding, Nixie put her hands behind her back and fiddled with her fingers.

Nixie felt her heart race for John B. as she saw JJ show him the other life jacket, and she couldn't help but hold onto Pope's hand to calm herself. Pope turned to face her, and she turned to face him, hoping he read facial expressions well.

"All right." Nixie nearly felt her heart stop at what Shoupe said, but they were safe for the time being.

"All right." JJ answered back, attempting to appear as composed as possible.

"Beautiful day." As he got back aboard his boat, he remarked, gazing out into the lake. Nixie couldn't help but nod as Pope caressed her hand. Just a little bit as their fingers entwine

"Sure is." JJ responded.

"Let us know if you see anything on your way out." As the sheriff turned to face them again, Nixie nodded.

"We'll be gone soon, sir." JJ remarked comfortingly,

"Yes, you will." Nixie was not at all pleased with his remark, which made her skin crawl for some reason.

Nixie felt as though a weight was being lifted from her body and, after a few minutes, the boat had finally disappeared from view. Pope held onto her to prevent her from toppling down.

"He's definitely out of air." As Pope said, everyone hurried closer towards the edge and Nixie frantically hoped that John B was alright down there.

She could finally feel her pulse beating again as he emerged from the water. He was okay, as did John B. Her laughter was happy laughter. "There he is!" JJ Announced.

"Don't scare us like that!" Pope said.

"How'd it go down there?" JJ asked, reaching over to assist John B. by moving the ladder. "Did you find anything?"

"Did I find anything?" Nixie was shocked that John B. put his life in danger for a black bag when he reacted arrogantly and tossed it onto the boat.

"Yeah, there we go! That's my boy!" With much excitement, JJ dragged the bag onto the boat in response.

"I hope whatever is in there is exciting." Pope put a hand on Nixie's shoulder to console her even as she sulked as she settled down on the boat.

"Hey, guys? Guys, bogey, two o'clock."They all turned to look at the boat as Kiara spoke.

"Do you recognize that boat?" Pope questioned the group out of interest.

"Never seen it in my life." Nixie responded.

"I've never seen it." Kiara said, steadying herself. "What are they doing here? The marsh is closed."

"Let's not stick around and find out." JJ remarked, hoping to avoid any more conflict with others.

"JJ, get the bowline." John B ordered, As JJ nodded and began doing what John B had ordered, Nixie observed the boat rapidly approaching them.

"Should we wait on 'em?" Pope questioned, to which Kiara merely sneered, while John B merely gave him a scowl.

"No, we're not. Go get the stern." John B spoke to Pope, who quickly did made his way towards the other side of the boat instantly.

"Are you joking? JJ, hurry up." Kiara's voice was tense, Nixie could tell something wasn't right.

"Guys, don't wait for me. Go." After pulling up the bowline at last, JJ went back to where he was supposed to be in the middle of the boat.

"Let's go!"

"I'm going." John B yelled. "Act natural."

"Hey, guys, they're following us." Kiara murmured, Nixie turned her head to discover they were actually following them.

"This can't be good. Shit." Pope began to panic, and Nixie was also on the verge of experiencing another panic attack.

"Dude, you gotta go faster!" John B merely gave him a sneer when JJ called out to him.

"I'm going!"

Nixie was in complete horror when she turned around and saw that they were pointing weapons at them. "What the fuck is going on here!" She let out a scream.

"We're gonna die!" Pope yelled, he covered his ears as the noise was so loud.

"Shit! Pope, move." As Kiara passed Pope, Nixie turned to face the girl, wondering if she was as foolish and desiring to die as John B.

"Get down, Kie!" Nixie was attempting to hide in case she, you know, was shot, so she wasn't really able to hear which one of the boys yelling out.

The men kept shooting at them as Kiara clung on the fishing nett. Before she pushed the nett back into the water, she glanced over at the boat. The sound of an engine roaring to a halt indicated that the nett had been entangled in the boat's engine.

"Oh, my God! Whoo!" As they entered the crystal-clear water, JJ called out to them. Kiara instantly accepted as
Nixie threw her arms around her,  two girls' laughing.

Kiara released her hold on Nixie, who couldn't help but smile when she saw Pope. "I appreciate you consoling me earlier." She remarked, taking a step towards him and planting a quick peck on his face.

"N-no issue, Nix." He staggered a little and felt his face getting a little hot. When Nixie turned around, Pope simply rolled his eyes at John B and JJ as they both gave him the thumbs up

𐬽𐬼𐬽

When the sun began to drop and they returned to John B's, Nixie sat on the dock railing and pushed JJ, who flicked her for taking his place.

John B stood with the black bag in front of him as they crowded around him. "What do you think it is?" Kiara inquired.

"Gotta be money, right?" Nixie was really hoping this wasn't all for nothing, John B stated as he began to open the bag.

"That or a couple of keys with street value to the low-to mid-mils!" JJ spoke, a grin spreading on his face.

"Can we please just open the bag?" Pope spoke loudly, everyone looked at him in shook.

"Wow, Pope. That's a rare outburst of emotion." John B replied, Pope rolled his eyes and Nixie kicked John B slightly with her foot.

"Okay. You guys are literally killing me with anticipation." Pope responded, defending his outburst. "Open the bag. We almost died over this."

When John B eventually reached inside the bag, he found a silver canister. After some difficulty, he opened it and turned it upside down, revealing a capsule with a bronze tint.

"Oh, wow. Yup. That's about right." Nixie gazed at it and cocked her head, wondering where on earth she had seen that compass before, when Pope broke the quiet. "Good job, everybody. We found a compass."

John B was simply staring at it when JJ gave him a shake of the head. "Dude, what? It's not worth anything." When he commented that it was useless and a waste, Nixie climbed down the railing to have a closer look because she recognised it so well.

"This was my father's." Everyone halted to look at John B. in shock, not knowing just what to say or do next. John B simply looked at it.

"Well fuck...."

_______________
Author's notes

Nixie has seen John B's father's compass before, this is where she starts to dig around to see what she is exactly missing from her past and why a compass is so familiar to her.

Shout out to my favourite people.norasnetflix RuffieRoseStories arsvenal kiesluverr KleeAlise11 andorss

Well that's all from me. I hope to see you in the next update