Chapter Thirty-Nine

Once I came to it, I realised that I was not at home anymore. Heck, I wasn't sure if I was in the Outer Banks anymore. I was in a room lying on a couch. This room is very unfamiliar to me and I felt my chest tighten. Where the heck am I and what the hell happened?

Why can't I remember anything but the wine cellar? What happened after that?

I squint, letting out a soft moan at the sun beaming onto my eyelids. I looked over to see some windows and I saw nothing but blue sky. I woke up completely. Where was Sarah? I heard boat honk—which means we're on a boat.

I've been kidnapped and taken on a boat.

Everything feels like a dream.

I stood up, gripping onto my hair as I paced around the small room, feeling an urge to have another panic attack. What do I do? How does one get out of this situation? I can't exactly jump overboard, can I?

I looked out the window behind me to confirm that I'm out at sea. I saw nothing but blue water and blue sky, making my heart drop. The sun glitters on the water's surface, stretching all the way to the horizon.

I turn away and eyed a tray of food on a nearby table. As much as I would love to eat, I can't trust that. It came back to me now. Rose had given Sarah and I some tea to 'calm' us down. She drugged and kidnapped us, that's what she did.

"What the fuck is wrong with this family?" I stormed over to the door and tried to open it, but of course, it was locked. Why wouldn't it be locked? "Assholes. I can't believe this. Where's my fucking bobble pin when I need one? Take note, Stormy, always wear a bobby pin."

I was fuming at this point as I noticed a little side table and went through a pencil holder, hoping there was anything sharp enough so I could unlock the door. The only thing sharp enough was a butter knife. I walked back over to the door and stuck it between the door in its frame near the handle.

I stopped when it wasn't working and let out a small whimper. This is useless. I then pressed my head against the door when I heard footsteps approaching the door. The door unlocked and I turned away, rolling my eyes.

I turned and froze when I saw Dad standing there. He gave me a shy and awkward smile. "Hi, sweetie." My eyes widened in shock. How is he alive? I watched him explode on The Druthers! I dropped the butter knife. "It's me." I shifted my weight uncomfortably. "I know this is impossible for you, and I'm gonna explain—" I slapped him harshly when he tried to reach me, scowling. "You're right. I'm sorry. I deserve that. I do. I know I do. You and Sarah have been through hell and back, and it's all my fault. And I'm so sorry, I'm so—"

I yanked my arm away from him when he tried to reach me again. "Just stop! Stop with the fake apologies!" I turned towards the window, looking out it again before collapsing onto the couch.

"It's not fake—" His voice cracked. Why is he acting like he's the victim? "I'm so sorry, Stormy. I can promise you that I didn't have any other choice." He gets down on his knees, bending in front of me like I was a child. "I didn't. I don't expect you to understand that now. All I can do is tell you what happened, and I'll answer your questions. Maybe you'll see it was the only way. I know you don't believe that, and I know it's hard to hear. But I—It was my only choice. It was the only way to make sure we were all safe and we were all together. It was the only way to be a family again."

I shook my head. "I left this family a long time ago, and you know that." I hissed slowly. I cried softly, letting out a few sniffles.

"You don't mean that, Stormy," Dad shakes his head. "You're always going to be a Cameron. No matter what."

I shake my head again, denying it. "No. I can't be—You don't even like me. You love Sarah. I'm just the baggage that comes with Sarah, so you're forced to like me. You would've been completely fine without me, let's be honest. But no, you had to drag me into your shit, because Sarah would've had a fit if I wasn't there. She's the only reason why you want me."

"That's not true, Storm," Dad shakes his head. "I love you both equally,"

"Stop lying, Dad." My voice cracked. "I grew up watching you love Sarah more than me. Even after Mum—you still showed more affection towards Sarah. Ask Rafe and Wheeze. They know it's true."

"I love you all equally," Dad continued to say, shaking his head. "I have no favourites." There was no point in trying to convince him, I just shook my head and placed my hands on top of my forehead.

"Just—Just shut up!" I snapped. "This family is giving me a headache. I just want to see Sarah."

"You want to see Sarah?" Dad asked and I nodded my head.

"I want sissy," my heart was hammering. "Please." I need my other half with me to make it feel okay. To make me feel sane.

"I'll be right back with Sarah, okay?" Dad informed me and I nodded my head. I watched him leave and eyed the lock. I heard him lock the door and I rolled my eyes. I leant back, looking up at the dark red ceiling.

I'm living a nightmare.

A few moments later, the silence became incredibly loud for some reason. The voice inside my head was chanting 'out, out, out. JJ, JJ, JJ and Sarah, Sarah, Sarah.' My brain couldn't focus on which one.

The door was then opened, and Sarah was the first to show. "Oh, Storm!" I jumped up and we embraced each other tightly.

We turned to our father, clutching onto each other and he gave us a soft smile. It makes my stomach turn with anger.

"We want answers." I then decided and Dad nodded. He takes a seat—Sarah and I took a seat opposite him.

"I used the scuba gear on the Druthers." Dad began to explain. "I had it all set up in advance, timed to the second. It was touch and go getting off. I almost didn't make it." He chuckled. Just then, Rafe entered the room and fear washed over me. "Guys, what I need you to understand more than anything, is that I never imagined that you both would be there. I wanted to call you guys immediately to tell you I was okay, to explain it all. It broke my heart that I couldn't. But I had to make sure Rafe got away."

I looked up in disbelief. How dysfunctional is this family? "Thank you, Dad," Rafe commented on the other side of the room. "At least one of us is grateful."

"That's psychopathic, both of you." Sarah snapped.

"You want us to be grateful?" I asked in disbelief. "For what? Killing Renfield? Killing Gavin? And dear I say it, Peterkin's?" I scoffed. "Because last time I checked—we didn't tell you guys to do any of that!"

"Okay," Dad sharply spoke, cutting me off. "We've made some mistakes."

"Mistakes?" I yelped.

"But I promised Rafe that he wouldn't go to prison for helping me." Dad continued, brushing off my comment. "I had to make a promise."

"Not that you two care." Rafe quipped. He's right, we wouldn't care.

"Did it look like we didn't care when we thought Dad was dead?" Sarah had snapped back.

"It actually looked like you guys cared about running off with some assholes." Rafe fought back, meaning JJ and John B.

"It looked like all you cared about was the inheritances." I had quickly snapped, getting sick and tired of Rafe's bullshit.

"Yes, you guys cared!" Dad yelled, cutting us off. "You guys cared! That's the point! Anybody on that dock could see how much you guys cared, sweethearts. And I know you're both angry right now and rightfully so. The important thing is that it's all behind us now. It is." I shake my head in disbelief. "We're gonna live a new life, all of us together. Sarah, Stormy, where I'm taking you guys, it's paradise. It's off this place called Guadeloupe. And oh, by the way, all those A's you guys got in French are about to pay off, 'cause they speak French there."

I felt tears streaming down my face at the realisation that I'm stuck with these awful people forever. I'm never gonna see JJ again, the love of my life—I'm never gonna see my friends, John B, Kie, and Pope.

Dad slid papers towards us. Sarah slides them back as I don't even bother to glance at it. "I want to call our friends and I want to call my boyfriend," Sarah told him.

"I would love to call my husband, too, actually," I huffed out and Dad froze at the word husband. I guess this is the first time I've mentioned this to them. I wish I could've taken a photo of his face, it's priceless.

"Husband?" Dad lowly said. "Since when did you guys have a wedding?"

"Since it's none of your business." I snapped. We technically haven't had a wedding yet. We just said we were married. "Can we at least call them to tell them that we're okay?"

"Yes, of course, you guys can. As soon as we get there, Sarah, you can call John B, and Storm you can call JJ," Dad nodded. "They both know you're here, right?"

"No, they don't," I denied, refusing to believe that they would tell either of them what their plans were.

"Yeah, they do." Dad nodded back.

"What are you talking about?" Sarah asked, just as confused as I am.

"When you were getting ready, they came by the house," Dad had stood up and walked near Rafe. "And Rose talked to them. You know the cross you've all been looking for? Rafe was able to get it. Turns out that, I guess, historically, it belongs to the Heywards."

"Really?" I gasped mockingly. "I had no idea, thanks for the heads up, Dad—"

"Yeah, we know," Sarah cuts me off.

"It also turns out that the most important thing to me is you, so I gave John B the cross, for you." He directed this towards Sarah and I knew it. I knew Sarah was the favourite. 'I have no favourites' what bullshit.

"And John B was okay with that? And JJ?" Sarah added, narrowing her eyes.

Dad sat back down. "Well, um, I just gave them both a half-billion-dollar artifact, so, yeah, they seemed pretty okay with it."

I refused to believe it. I shake my head. "I know JJ, that's not—"

"That's the hard truth, Stormy," Dad had cut me off. "Apparently you didn't know him as well as you thought. I don't know what to tell you." I tried to imagine it. I tried to imagine JJ accepting the cross over me. I felt guilty for feeding into his lies, but the back of my mind tells me—what if? Dad sips a drink. "They're Pogues. Rose, Wheezie, come on in."

Rose and Wheezie entered, Wheezie looking clueless. "Hey." Rose gently greeted Rafe.

"Sarah, Stormy, hey." Wheezie flops back into the seat next to me, smiling. "We are going to our very own private island. Isn't that awesome?"

"Yeah, great, Wheeze." I responded sarcastically, wanting to bury myself in a hole. I've lost JJ. I've lost my friends, I've lost my entire life.

"They're not feeling very well right now, sweetheart." Dad smiled as Rose rubs his shoulders. "But they will be. We're all gonna be feeling pretty good soon, huh?"

I buried my head into Sarah's shoulder, feeling the urge to cry. She wrapped an arm around me, resting her head on mine as she does smooth circles on my arm with her thumb to try and calm me down. It doesn't work as effectively as it does when JJ does it.

✫✫✫

While we were all in the same place, it couldn't feel like we were more than apart. Rose was reading a magazine, Wheezie was twirling in a chair, and Sarah was watching an hourglass and I stared off into space, slumped against the seat.

"Do you guys wanna play a war?" Wheezie asked randomly.

"You brought cards?" Sarah asked hopefully.

"Mm-hmm." Wheezie nods.

"Yeah." Sarah responded. "Storm?" I nodded my head.

"I'll go grab them." Wheezie quickly said before dashing off to the exit. She leaves the door ajar. My eyes drift from the door to Rose. Who is focused on her magazine. Sarah and I made quick eye contact.

I rubbed my eyes and stood. "Oh, God." I mumbled out.

"Storm, you okay?" Sarah had played along, rubbing my back.

I shake my head. "For the last hour I've been feeling a little sick." I admitted to her. "Is it just hot in here or is it just me?"

I began to pant a little, acting like it was boiling as I tugged on my t-shirt and I stood up, pacing around the room. Sarah looked at me, concerned. Sarah reaches for me and places a forehead on my head.

"She is a little warm." Sarah lied. I stumbled a little, just to put on a show.

"Oh, Storm," Rose finally looked up from her magazine. "Hey, hey, what's wrong, sweetie?"

"I just think I'm gonna be seasick." I half-lied.

Sarah rubs my back lightly as I leant on a table for support, clenching my eyes shut. "Oh." Rose said. She closes the magazine. "Here. I have just the thing." Rose walked towards the room, falling into our trap.

"Meds?" I glanced over at her. I don't trust her with any medication now.

"Guys, seriously, that was for your own good." Rose defended. "And you know it killed me to do that."

"I was just gonna ask for nondrowsy," I innocently said.

Rose scoffed. "We're all together. Just chill, guys. This is a good thing." Rose exited the door and I run a hand through my hair as she closed the door.

"You're a pretty good actor, Storm," Sarah whispered, grinning as Rose was in the other room where we could see her.

"Not bad yourself, sissy," we do our little handshake. "All right, let's leave before we miss our opportunity."

"Agreed. From now on, follow my lead." Sarah whispered insistently and grabbed my wrist, dragging me towards a hall. I don't say anything. We walked down a hallway and into another room.

Something catches my eye and on the bottom level, I eyed Pope's cross sitting in a big box. Our eyes widen. Dad's such a lying bastard. I clenched my jaw. Sarah and I looked at each other for a split second before we moved again, trying to get as far away from our family as possible.

Which is impossible being trapped in this massive ship.

We emerge onto the ship's deck. "Dad's a lying asshole." I kept it hush.

"I know. Come on, let's get the hell out of here." Sarah runs across the deck, eyeing a staircase that led up. "Up is better than here, let's go."

We climbed up the staircase and investigated a window into the bridge, two men stand inside. One holds a phone to his ear. I spot a satellite phone on a table. I ducked below the window, Sarah joining me.

"We need that phone." I whispered to Sarah, and she nodded. "That's our only ticket of getting out of here."

Something catches Sarah's eyes—a pair of buckets. She moved towards them and I don't question her, I just followed. Sarah peers around a corner and I do, too, and we eyed the bridge.

"This is our distraction." Sarah mumbled to me and kicked down the buckets, the buckets rolling towards the captain's door. It was a bucket of paint, too. We hide when we heard a man exit the room.

Sarah and I entered when the man was distracted and Sarah snatches the phone. We retreat down to the deck and raised the phone's intoner and leans against the wall.

I wait patiently for Sarah to call. "Hello?" Sarah asked. "Hello? My name is Sarah and I'm on a boat called Coastal Venture. Me and my twin sister, we've been kidnapped—"

"Shh!" I jumped when a man retrieving the phone was Sarah, I go rigid beside her. He pins both of us against the wall. The man answers the phone. "Yeah, that was my teenage daughter playing pranks again. I'm sorry." He lowered the phone and I glared heavily at him. "You're in deep shit, kids."

✫✫✫

The Captain and our Dad talked to each other while a crew member kept an eye on Sarah and I outside. I had a cowl on my face as I looked through the window, seeing Dad and the Captain talk.

Dad eventually leaves and comes back to us. I could only imagine what kind of yelling Dad's gonna give us now. I' trying to think of a lie that I could come up with.

I was sick. Sarah went with me to go out and get some fresh air, possibly authorised by Rose? Accidentally kicked over a paint bucket. Sorry.

"Come back here!" Dad yelled as we tried to storm away.

"No!" Sarah declines, continuing to walk away.

"You want them to take you guys?" Dad called out.

"We didn't ask to be here!" I exploded.

"You guys are here!" Dad got up in our faces, absolutely fuming. "And you're staying here! You're my daughters!"

The wind was whipping my hair around my face. Dad gripped onto Sarah's shoulders. "Don't touch me!" She shoved away from him, glaring.

"You want me to carry you both?!" Dad yelled.

"I'd like to see you carry us both!" I retort angrily but Sarah shakes her head at me and storms away, I jog after her. "Sarah!" Dad had easily handcuffed Sarah and I gap in surprise. "What the hell are you doing?!"

"Stormy, run!" Sarah yelled at me. I looked at her, my heart pounding as she was handcuffed. "He can't get both of us, you need to run! I'll be fine!"

I nodded my head. "Stormy Cameron, don't you dare—"

"Bye!" I yelled, running down the deck and slipping into another hallway, trying to run as fast as possible, away from Sarah and Dad.

My heart was pounding, and I couldn't figure out if Dad was chasing after me. I slowed down my quick pacing as I round a corner and stayed hidden behind it for a moment or two, trying to catch my breath, to listen.

I couldn't hear footsteps chasing after me, so I assumed Dad only took Sarah. But that doesn't mean he's not after me. That means I've got a ten-minute head start to get the hell out of here.

I tried not to cry, feeling lost without Sarah. I run a hand over my face, trying to wipe the sweat that clung to it. I paced around for a few minutes, trying to figure out what to do. I had nowhere to go. It's a small ship, if you think about it.

I'm not sure why, but, a scene from the Titanic struck me. JJ and I had watched the movie this summer—he cried, but never showed it—and they had emergency boats attached to the side of the boat. This boat must have it too, right? Isn't it like, mandatory to have them in cases of... Well, emergencies?

Taking a deep breath, I continued to walk down the white creamy wall hallways and made it out to the other side of the deck. It was like the other one, very small, and nothing but rails to stop people from falling off.

I clung onto the rails, stretching my body out, trying to see along the side of the ships for the boats. I run a hand through my messy hair and speed walk across the deck, trying to stay hopefully there'll be a boat.

I felt myself crying, I wanted to be a kid—throw a tantrum.

Then I heard it. "Attention all passengers and crew." It was the Captain over the PA. I stopped for a moment and listened. "Report to the tween forward hull." Another pause. "Attention, all passengers, all crew, report to the tween forward hall. That's an order. Repeat. All hands and all passengers report to the tween forward hull immediately."

Why would the captain want everyone in the tween forward hull?

But I didn't care. That gave me more time to figure out what I'm going to do. I took a moment to take in the view that was ahead of me. The ocean blue, a place where I loved to surf.

I gulped and continued to walk, trying to find a lifeboat. "Come here little lifeboat..." I tried to call it out like it was an animal. I then began to jog, but that didn't last long as I had bumped into someone. I let out a yelp, stumbling back, my heart beating fast. "No, no, no... Shit!"

I didn't want to see who it was. It could be my Dad, or worse, Rafe. "Storm?"

I finally looked, my eyes widening at the sight of my JJ. "JJ?" We stood there, starring at each other in amazement. I felt overwhelmed suddenly as he wrapped me up in a tight hug. I felt safer already. "JJ... What the fuck?"

"We've snuck on the ship," JJ smiled proudly and kissed my lips. I pulled him closer to me. We stopped for some air, our foreheads pressed against each other. "I'm so glad you're safe. What're you doing out here by yourself?"

"My Dad—He's—"

"Alive, I know." JJ nodded and I didn't even bother to ask how he knew. He kissed me one more time. "I didn't get to say it back."

"Say what back?"

"I love you, too, Storm," JJ told me and I smiled a little, pecking his lips.

"You don't need to say it, I know you do, J." I reminded him. "Thank you for rescuing me. You really are my prince in... A plaid t-shirt."

JJ chuckled, pulling away from our closeness. "I'll give you an update. Kie, Cleo, and Pope have kept the captain hostage—"

"That's why there was a weird announcement," I noted, nodding my head. "It makes sense now. Wait—Who's Cleo? Why does she sound familiar?"

"She's the one that helped John B and Sarah out in Nussu." JJ replied and I made a we 'ah' sound. "John B's gone to rescue Sarah and I don't know what's happening anymore, I'm completely lost. I lost Kie, I lost John B, Pope, Cleo—"

"Baby, calm down," I told him gently. "We've got this. We just gotta get to a lifeboat, okay?"

"Yeah... Lifeboat." JJ looked like he remembered something. "Um, John B. He said he'd grab Sarah and a lifeboat and to meet him there—we've just gotta go there."

I nodded, kissing his lips again. "I missed you, JJ. I was so scared. I felt like I was losing my mind with being in that family..."

"It's okay," JJ reassured, rubbing my back softly, gazing down at me. He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear. "After this, you don't have to see your family ever again."

I pursed my lips together, feeling slightly more relaxed as JJ said that. "I would love that, actually."

"Of course, there's more of you!" We were so wrapped up in our moment that we didn't realise that one of the crew members had approached us, a machete in hand. "Get down on your knees."

"Yeah, that's not gonna happen," JJ spoke confidently, grabbing ahold of my hand and pushing me behind him slightly.

"Sorry, I'm already married and quite frankly, you're not my type." I spat back, glaring at the man heavily. The man swung towards JJ and he ducks all while pushing me out of the way. I pushed the man's arm against the wall, and JJ slammed a door in the man's face.

"Where's John B?!" JJ yelled, in a fighting stance. I looked over the side to the lower deck, hoping to find John B.

"John B?!" I called out, desperate to find my crew. The man punches JJ into a wall and the man eyes me as I turned around.

"Storm!" JJ exclaimed and I felt a hard whack across my face, and I let out a gasp. "Stormy!" JJ grabs the man's arm from behind, the man was going to whack me with a machete, if not for JJ. The man elbows JJ, and hits JJ with the machete.

"No!" I screamed, watching as JJ goes overboard. I kicked the man to the floor, my gut twisting and turning all over the place. My mind is only chanting JJ over and over again because my husband is in the water. "JJ!" I placed my hands on the edge and watched as JJ floats face down, emotionless.

With no hesitation, I jumped into the water.

Everything was icy cold, it was beyond freezing but the adrenaline in my body was keeping me warm as I swam over towards JJ. "JJ!" I cried, flipping him over. "J... Please, wake up!" I was panicking now, I wanted so desperately for him to wake up and say it's a prank. This has to be a prank!

I was crying, my tears mixing in with the ocean as the big boat sails slowly past me. "JJ, please!" I was shaking him at this point, my vision was blurry, I couldn't see much but I could see him. I will always see him. "Stay with me, baby, please." I was struggling to keep him up but I fought everything to try and keep him up. I have to. I can't give up on us.

I couldn't call out for help, knowing that people had guns on this ship and would kill us with no hesitation. "Come on, JJ." I cried, even more, the energy was sucked out of me quickly. "Remember the big house? Our house? Dogs? Come on J, live for our future kids if not for me."

I was sobbing at this point. My arms are getting weak and I regret skipping arm day. Who am I kidding, I haven't been to the gym since year 9.

"John B's coming, John B's coming to get us, okay?" I think I was trying to convince myself that John B was actually coming. Not that I have little faith in them—I just don't know. My mind is blurry. "John B! Sarah! Help!" I kissed JJ's shoulder tenderly. "I'm so sorry this happened to you, J."

"There they are!" It was Cleo's voice I recognised and I saw the smaller lifeboat heading towards us with John B on it. Oh, thank God! They were all yelling JJ's name and I tried to swing towards them as they came closer. John B pulls right up beside me, Pope grabbing onto JJ and John B helping him pull him up.

I swim to the edge of the lifeboat. My hands slip as I try to pull myself up, my head goes underwater, I gag at the sea taste, bubbling escaping my mouth. I coughed as soon as I reached the surface again, Pope helping me up along with the help of Sarah.

My legs are jelly as soon as I collapsed onto the boat, breathing heavily. Sarah hugs me tightly. "Sarah! Can't—Can't breathe!" I gasped out, pushing her back and she looked at me, full of concern. Kie is right beside me, a hand on my shoulder.

"No, no, no, no, no." John B spoke as the motor to the boat died.

"John B, what's happening?" Sarah asked, her voice shaking.

"We're stalling out," John B tried to start the engine.

"You serious? We're sitting in ducks!" Pope exclaimed.

"We've gotta go!" Kie also yelled and it was giving me a headache. My eyes are glued on a passed out JJ, my heartbeat racing as I shuffled closer to JJ.

"Please, wake up," I whispered over all the arguing that was going on the boat. Miraculously, John B got the boat working and we started to head off to the sea. "Please, J! Wake up!" I cried out once the boat was quiet since we had gotten away from the ship.

Suddenly, JJ begins to spit out water, his eyes opening. "Yeah, yeah, cough it out, baby," John B told him quickly.

"Hey, buddy, there you go." Pope gently told his friend as JJ coughed's out water.

"Welcome to the land of living, dude." That was the first thing my stupid JJ said.

"No CPR needed, huh?" John B grinned at our alive friend.

JJ looks at me, our eyes connecting and I smiled tearfully. My voice cracks. "Hi."

"'Sup?" JJ told me, I rolled my eyes and pushed his head down playfully. A shit-eating grin was on his face as everyone laughed. I hugged his head, kissing the top of his head.

"Just always looking for attention." John B teases as the tension had completely died down.

"Whatever it takes, right?" JJ chuckled back.

"Attaboy!" John B was taking a hold of driving the boat. It's not like the HMS Pogue, but it will do.

"What the hell happened?" JJ asked as he touched the side of his wounded head.

"The blunt end of a machete," Cleo spoke, sitting on the edge of the boat.

JJ looks up at her, grinning. "A machete?"

"The blunt end." I grabbed JJ's face gently, making him look at me. "Next time, duck."

"I was saving your ass!" JJ defended. "Next time be more self-aware."

My mouth dropped open. "Fine! Next time, I won't save your ass."

We were both grinning at each other because we knew we'd save each other's asses, no matter what.

"This shit ain't over." Pope was looking over at the giant gold cross that was being lifted out from the sea. They had managed to save it.

John B shakes his head. "No, it ain't."

I turned to the boat slightly as the sunset was in front of us. I lifted up my middle finger towards the large fishing ship, giving them a big fuck you.

A/N 

Hey, hi, hello!
 Sorry, it's been like FOREVER since I've updated but I hoped this nice, long and juicy chapter helps make up for it. I've got one more until the end of season two, and then we move on to season three when it comes out. The next part is the actual wedding itself so I hope you enjoy lol.