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𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗧𝗬 𝗦𝗜𝗫
agapenta

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・・・・☆・・・・☆ ・・・・

"Cheese on bread! If one more engine goes out on me, I'm gonna be the one blowing it up next time!" Cleo complained as she tried filling the car up with more gas. They had to make a stop in order to fix it and so that Sarah could purchase more food.

Kyla snorted quietly hearing the girl's exclamations, sitting in the back seat of the car next to her sister and Rhi. She then turned to JJ, who was holding the container of gasoline.

"Hey, JJ...what happened to you being careful before?" Kyla spoke up, looking down at him.

JJ looked up at her before he darted his eyes away. "Not sure what you're talking about there, Ky," he said, trying to act innocent.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," Kyla deadpanned and JJ cleared his throat, scratching the back of his neck. "You don't think it was dangerous just running up on him like that? He had a gun that he could've shot you with."

"Or, he could have shot at you," JJ defended himself. "Look, I promised you I'd be careful, I know. But if there's ever a time where you might be in danger, I'm not gonna sit back and let that happen, all right? I'm gonna protect the homeland," he explained, technically saying that Kyla was his home.

She sighed. "He wasn't gonna shoot me," Kyla shook her head.

"Yeah, well, we don't know that for sure," JJ replied before he began walking toward the street vendor that sold him the gasoline.

"JJ, why do you have a gun in your belt?" Kiara realized and Kyla's eyes widened once she had noticed. JJ just shrugged, wiggling it. "Did you take that from him?"

"Maybe," JJ answered coyly.

"You know, your luck's gonna run out one day," Kiara told him.

"Kie, don't say that!" Kyla immediately scolded, shoving her sister.

"What?! I'm just saying, if he keeps doing stupid shit, there's gonna be consequences!" Kiara argued.

"Just don't say that," Kyla said through clenched teeth, not even wanting to think about what would happen if his luck did run out. "And besides, we honestly might need that gun now," Kyla admitted, shaking her head.

"Yeah, Kie, she's right. Since everyone and their mom seem to have a gun, I think it's good that we have one, too. Just for protection," Rhi spoke up, siding with Kyla.

"See, this is me being careful," JJ said, pointing to himself before he turned to the street vendor. "How much do I owe ya, sir?"

"Alright, she's ready for the road," Cleo said as shut the  hood of the truck. JJ came back, plopping himself down next to Kyla as Pope and Cleo climbed in.

"All right, hey, let's go. Quit lallygagging," Pope urged John B and Sarah.

"John B, I'm tired of driving. Take the wheel," Cleo demanded the Routledge boy. John B gave her a look but got into the driver's seat anyway, Sarah sitting behind him.

He began to drive the truck, driving out of the town and into what seemed like it was part of a cowboy movie. Kyla took in the scenery, never seeing anything like it before in person. It would honestly be a nice destination to visit if mercenaries weren't after them.

"All right, John B, this is the turnoff right here. Looks like there should be a well or something up the road. We can stop for water and then head on to Agapenta," Pope directed as they neared the destination after what felt like hours of driving.

John B drove the down the road, pulling up to a well like Pope said there would be. "Pope, I really hope you're right about this well," John B said to Pope as they all hopped out of the truck.

"No, it's good. It was on the map," Pope assured him before he groaned. "It feels like we've been driving for seven years."

"Thank God there was no parallel parking involved. That would've made this 100 times worse," Kyla added, huffing.

"Ky, you're the only one who can't parallel park," Sarah pointed out. "Remember when you almost hit into Topper's mailbox when you were trying to pick him up that one time?" She reminded her, giggling while the others seemed to also think it was funny.

Kyla narrowed her eyes at the girl. "Oh, ha ha, so funny. Yeah, I remember it because you wouldn't let me live it down for a month!" She responded which had only made Sarah laugh more. Kyla couldn't pretend to act mad about it even more so she had also started to chuckle.

"Yeah, the amount of times Dad had to teach you and you still wouldn't get it was ridiculous," Kiara added on. "You're lucky it's not required in North Carolina."

"What? It's required in Georgia, no fair!" Rhi complained, pouting.

"Yeah, I would've been screwed if it was required," Kyla breathed out.

Once Sarah had stopped laughing, she said, "I'm thirsty."

Kiara grabbed a half-full water jug from the truck, going over to the well. "Is there even any water in this thing?"

"Guess we have to find out," Rhi replied, placing her hands on her hips.

All of a sudden, they heard someone shouting in French coming from the well, making them all pause in confusion. They then slowly made their way over to the well, looking down to see...Groff.

JJ shut his eyes and sighed. "Guess we found Groff, huh?" He said, not even having to look down the well to know who it was. Groff continued yelling for help, not realizing who had been looking down the well since he had been pretty far down. "Just...let me handle this," the blonde told them, making his way over.

The others stepped back and let JJ go up to the well where he peered over. "Who's down there?"

"Help! I'm trapped!"

"Dad?"

"JJ," Groff finally realized. "Is that you?" JJ didn't answer as he shut his eyes again, shaking his head. "Oh, my God. Divine vision!"

"What happened?"

"I'm trapped down here because of that...Rafe!" Groff told him, making Kyla and Sarah share a glance with one another. "But now, my boy, my beautiful boy, is here to rescue me."

JJ released a frustrated breath. "What happened to the scroll?"

"Rafe! He took it and tried to kill me, but I know where it is. I know how to get it back," Groff explained and Kyla swallowed hard. Had she been wrong about Rafe this whole time, or was he only doing this because Groff was the one that screwed him? "We'll go! We'll go together. J-J-Just throw-throw me the rope!" JJ nodded to himself, turning back around to face the Pogues. "JJ?"

JJ looked at them, wanting to hear what they said to say. "I don't think we should trust him, but that kinda goes without saying, huh?" Pope voiced and John B shook his head.

"JJ, it's up to you," Kyla said to the boy, making eye contact with him. However, when she did, she slowly shook her head to signal not to help Groff. They couldn't trust him after he definitely killed Genrette, Hollis, maybe even JJ's mother, and almost JJ himself.

JJ breathed deeply before he turned back around, marching back to the well. "JJ! JJ! J — Ah, did you get the rope? It's just — It's attached to a bucket by the well. Just throw it down to me!" JJ picked up the rope next to him, playing with it in his hands instead of throwing it. "JJ, I need you to throw me the rope!"

"Why? Why should I do that when you tried to kill me?" JJ questioned.

"I snapped. Sorry," Groff apologized and Kyla quietly scoffed, shaking her head angrily. "But I knew you'd...get to shore. And I'm so glad you did. Just get me out of here, JJ, and we will get the crown. Together! Just like we planned."

"You gave me away. You gave me away because you don't want me. You don't want a son. Then you come back into my life acting like you had to do that," JJ spoke, smiling ironically.

"No, of course not. You're my boy. I love you," Groff said, clearly trying to manipulate him.

"I swear to God, I'm gonna—"

"No, Ky," Kiara cut her sister off, grabbing her wrist since she had went to get up and scream at Groff. "Let him do this." Kyla looked back at her sister and sighed in defeat, sitting back down.

"No, don't-don't say that. You don't know what that word means. You don't even know me," JJ told him and Groff couldn't find anything to say. "You never were my father. You never even tried."

"I'm a weak man, JJ. You wouldn't kill me for that, would you? That's not you. You're better than me."

JJ pursed his lips and went over to grab the half-full water jug, bringing it over to him back to the well. "Being better than you isn't really that hard," he said before he dropped the jug down to Groff. "Bye, Dad."

"JJ! JJ, come back here! JJ! JJ, come back here!" Groff  shouted as JJ walked back over to his friends. "It's me. It's your father!"

"I'm sorry, J. You did the right thing," Kyla said to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

JJ nodded slowly. "Yeah," he said, clearly not wanting to talk about it. "He then walked back over to the truck, getting on it following by everyone else. "All right. Let's go get this crown."

・・・・☆・・・・☆ ・・・・

John B drove the truck to Agapenta as they all placed goggles on, which they had bought at one of the street vendors, to block the sand from getting into their eyes.

"Look at that," JJ said, pointing to the orange huts in the distance with a large statue at the very top.

"What does that sign say?" John B asked as he pulled toward the sign, stopping the car. The sign had read 'Agapenta,' making them all take their goggles off in disbelief.

"There it is. Agapenta," Pope breathed out.

"Well, I'll be damned," John B said.

"Honestly, I was starting to get worried this place was made up," Rhi admitted and some of them let out a few laughs.

"It's that way. Keep going," Pope pointed to the direction John B had to drive in to reach Agapenta.

"All right, it's just up ahead. We gotta do the rest on foot," John B said once they reached the entrance before he parked the truck, allowing them all to get out. "Careful, we don't know what we're walking into."

"How the hell are we supposed to find a crown in this place?" Kyla whispered to JJ.

"I don't know. But I'll search all night if I have to," he spoke determinedly, not wanting to waste all their effort they put in to be here just to give up.

"Do you think the mercenaries are here?" Rhi asked no one in particular before a gunshot was heard a short distance away from them. "I-I think that answers my question."

"Shit, come on!" John B whisper-shouted as they picked up the pace, ducking down as they moved across the ground.

"Is that Rafe?" Kiara squeaked out, pointing up ahead to a tall guy holding his hands up with a map in his hand.

"Oh my God, it is," Kyla confirmed, her eyes widening as they made it up to a set of bushes they could hide behind.

"Okay, just take it easy, okay?!" Rafe shouted to the Corsairs that were pointing their guns at him. Kyla had spotted Tara, who had been the only one not pointing her gun at him.

"Don't shoot him!" Tara defended Rafe, clearly not knowing what he had been up to while she was away for two years. If she had...she would have probably blasted his head off along with Sofia's.

"Damn it, damn it," John B cursed.

"I know, I know, I know."

"Tara, shut it! He's not on our side, here," Dalia told her and Tara sent her a death glare, her grip on her pistol tightening. "You keep your hands where we can see them, and we won't have to blast them off, yeah?" Dalia looked back at Rafe.

"Yeah," Rafe complied.

"You want to put it down?"

"Rafe, just listen to her!" Tara pleaded.

"This bitch," Kyla scoffed to herself, not knowing how she was still obsessed with him after all this time.

"I'll put it down slow. Slow," Rafe said as he slowly put the map down next to his foot.

"Shit," Cleo seethed.

Rafe put his hands back up, lens still hanging off of his wrist. "Okay!"

"They're gonna kill him," Cleo voiced.

"Do we care?" Pope replied.

"Yeah, that's a good question, Pope," JJ nodded and Kyla's lips formed in a thin line.

"Yeah, but then they'd take the scroll," Cleo pointed out.

"You're trigger-happy, yeah?" Rafe asked the Corsairs.

"Just a little practice shot," Lightner responded as they continued to aim their guns at him.

"How about no more of those, yeah?" Tara spoke to Lightner, sending him a scary look. He just responded with an eye roll, clearly done with her bullshit.

"Well, of course, we need that little lens as well," Dalia reminded Rafe.

"There's eight of them. They all have rifles," John B slowly said.

"I know. That's why we're gonna need to think outside the box," JJ replied as he pulled the gun out of his belt, checking how many bullets it had left.

"What are you doing?" John B questioned as Kyla's eyes widened.

"Diversion," he said before he placed it back.

"JJ..." Kyla trailed off, tilting and shaking her head at him.

"Dude, you can't be serious. This isn't Call of Duty," Pope scolded.

"Yes, I'm serious. We got four rounds, eight of them. That's half, all right?" JJ explained.

"Four rounds?" Kiara repeated in a high voice.

"Yes. We're gonna hit them heavy, and then we're take their vehicle." All of a sudden, Sarah took the gun out of JJ's belt and turned the safety off. "Hey, whoa."

"Oh, what the fuck?" Rhi blurted out in shock.

Sarah brought the gun up, shutting on eye as she aimed it out toward the Corsairs. "Sarah," Kyla breathed out quietly.

"That's my brother," Sarah said before she shot the gun, blowing up one of their vehicles and sending the Corsairs flying down. "Huh!"

"Nice shootin', Tex," John B complimented as they watched the truck go up in flames the Corsairs start to scramble around.

They watched as Rafe quickly put the lens around his neck and grabbed the scroll, running away as the Corsairs shot at him. "Kill him!" Dalia directed.

"Don't!" Tara barked, following the Corsairs to make sure they didn't shoot him.

"Run. Run," Kiara urged.

"Let's alert them to our location. That's a great idea," Pope spoke sarcastically as they all started running towards Agapenta.

They all ran as fast as they could, the dirt picking up beneath their feet. The Corsairs had been right behind them, trying to get a good shot off.

"We've gotta get to the high ground. Get to the high ground!" JJ yelled before he tripped and fell.

"JJ!" Kyla shrieked before she stopped and pulled him up, not letting him get left behind. The Corsairs started to shoot at them, making her eyes widen. "Let's go!" She yelled as her and JJ started running again, trying to catch up with the group.

JJ let Kyla go ahead of him, making sure they stayed in the same angle so just in case the Corsairs got a shot off, it would hit him instead.

They quickly ran up the stairs, seeing a wide open door. However, just as they were about to reach it, Rafe had popped out and began to close it on them. "Hey! Hey!" Pope bellowed, pushing it back open.

"What are you doing?! Next time we'll just let them shoot you!" Kiara screamed at him.

"You bitch!" Kyla shoved Rafe back, letting her emotions fly out since she had been wrong about him. Rafe held his hands up, giving her an angry look. She then realized JJ wasn't behind her. "JJ? Where's JJ?"

Pope turned around, seeing JJ run up. "JJ! Come on!"

"JJ!" Kyla shouted, realizing he must have slowed down because of his wound. "Hurry!"

"I'm coming! I'm coming!" JJ said as he placed the gun back in the front of his belt. "Oh, shit!" JJ quickly slammed the door when he saw the Corsairs run up, shooting right where he had been if he didn't close the door.

"We gotta move!" Kiara said and they continued running as more gunshots were heard behind them.

They ended up in this room where they had been a bunch of goats, making them all start to bleat. "Barricade the door!" Pope instructed as he, John B, Rhi, and Kiara started to place logs of wood in front of the door. "Come on, wedge them in there tight!"

As Rhi picked up a piece of wood and tried to wedge it into the door, her hand slipped and she accidentally reopened the stitches the doctor had sown into her hand when she cut herself by opening a beer can earlier in the week. "Ah, shit!"

"Are you okay?" Kiara questioned in concern.

Rhi looked down, seeing the blonde dripping from her hand. "I'm-I'm fine!" Rhi said back, trying to ignore the pain as she took a cloth from her pocket and wrapped it around the wound.

"Okay, okay, come on, come on!"

"Go, go, go!"

They continued running through the intricate hallways, not even knowing where they had been heading. "Guys, come on!" JJ said before he groaned in pain, holding his side. "Just keep going!"

"JJ, JJ, what's wrong?" Kyla quickly asked, stopping in front of him and placing her hands on bjs shoulders.

"I'm fine, keep going," he told her.

"No, not without you," she said sternly.

All of a sudden, Cleo pushed past Kyla and said to JJ, "Give me the gun!"

"What?" JJ panted.

"Give me the gun!" Cleo repeated.

"No, no! There's only three shots left!"

"JJ, you're hurt. Come on!"

"Cleo, no!" Kyla said to her, not wanting her to stay back.

"No, no. We should stick together," JJ argued as well.

"Hey, go! She shouldn't be here!" Cleo yelled to the others up ahead since Sarah had slowed down, making them urge the pregnant girl forward.

"No, you're not doing it. No, no, no, no," JJ kept demanding.

"Hey! We got it. We'll hold them off. Let me protect you for once," Pope said to the boy, placing a hand on his shoulder. JJ breathed out, gazing past Pope since he didn't want his friend to do this for him. "Hey, you're not the only one who shot teddy bears."

JJ slowly pulled the gun out of his belt and handed the gun to Pope, patting him on the arm. "Safety off. Believe in it." The two then made their way towards the door, leaving Pope and Cleo behind.

"Don't do anything stupid," Pope warned, making them looked back at him. "Ky?"

"I'll look after him. But you two...stay safe," she said and the Heyward boy nodded. She then looked at JJ. "Come on."

authors note!
yall....theres one chapter left and
then my alternate ending..um...
yeah...i really hope s5 pans out the
way that i want it to so that what i
have thinking up in my brain rn works
out but anyway...i hope u guys enjoyed
this chapter and im honestly so sad i'll be
done writing this book soon. it feels like
i only started writing s4 yesterday :( also
next chapter boutta be long as hell so be
prepared