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"Hey, check it out." Pope says as he opens a drawer. He holds paper up, "Confederate money from the Civil War."

"That means no one's been down here in over 100 years." Charlotte says

"And Blackbeard was here 150 years before that." Pope says shutting the drawer, "Keep pushing."

Charlotte turns with her flashlight, "This makes me feel weird, Pope." Her eyes then land on the brick wall, "Pope, look at this." She gasps as she moves one of the bricks, "Pope. Pope."

"Yeah."

"Look. I think they walled this in."

He steps closer and touches the wall. He then turns away, "Hold on a second." He turns back with an old sword, "Hold this."

She takes his flashlight and mumbles, "That's one way. Okay." As soon as he pokes the bricks, they all fall. Charlotte hums, "Oh. Well, that was easy."

"So, who's going in?"

"Nose goes." Charlotte says quickly before putting her finger on her nose

Pope raises his finger, but lets it fall with a sigh, "Shit." He tosses the sword aside and turns to her, "You wanna stay out here by yourself?"

"You still go first." She shrugs

"Can I have my flashlight?"

"Oh, yeah. Sorry."

"Thank you."

"Okay." She says as he shines the light in the hole before climbing in

Charlotte climbs in after him. They only crawl for a few minutes before she groans, "I can't believe I'm doing this. You guys know I don't like caves, and you know I don't like tunnels. This is bullshit."

"Hold on. Hold on."

"How much further?"

"Unclear. I think we should just keep moving."

"It smells like shit."

"Okay. Do you want to keep complaining?"

"No. I'm not complaining." She snaps, "I'm saying facts."

"Hey, wait, wait, wait. I think I see something." He says. As soon as it goes quiet, Charlotte hears squeaking. She looks around as Pope pants, "It's so cool."

"Pope." She says before she looks back, "Pope?"

"Yeah."

"What is that?"

"What is what?"

"Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"Shh." She says. She then hears more squeaking, "That."

"Yeah. Yeah. What is that?" Pope says as Charlotte's heart begins to race

She gasps as a few mice round the corner, "No, no. No."

"Shit. Don't freak out." Pope tries as she backs into him, "Hey. Don't push me."

"I hate rats." She says pushing at him

"Be careful. You're gonna freak them out." He says. Charlotte screams as they get closer, "You're freaking them out."

Pope grunts as he falls through the hole. Charlotte shines her light down, "Pope! Pope! Pope! Fuck. I'm sorry. Just... Pope!"

The mice continue to run toward her. She grabs her light and shuffles down the opening. She screams out as she jumps down into the puddle, "No! Close it! Close it."

"I'm trying." He says as the two push the door closed

"I told you I hate rats."

Pope turns to her, "Did you hear a lock?"

"What do you mean?" She says as Pope begins pulling at the door handle, "What are you...? What are you...? Move. Move. Move."

"Oh. Okay. Be my guest." He says as he steps out of the way. She grunts as she pulls at the door handle, "Just relax."

"No!" She groans

"There's gotta be another way out of here." Pope says as Charlotte stumbles over to him, "Skulls and femurs. This is a real catacomb. Where the living and the dead collide."

•••

"Coffins." Pope mutters, "I think we're close. These are crypts. Spooky."

"Can you see them?"

"Almost there. Keep going. Just a few more."

"Turn off your flashlight." Pope whispers grabbing her hand. The two quickly turn their flashlights off and Pope climbs up and hides behind a wall while Charlotte crouches down behind a statue.

"I think it's this way."

The lights continue to get brighter as the people get closer. Pope looks to Charlotte and holds his finger up to his mouth.

"Oh my God. All right. Let's get to it."

"You start over there. I'll try to get this one out."

"This one doesn't have a name."

"That's a good sign."

Charlotte tilts her head back with her eyes closed. Her eyes shoot open as Pope groans.

"What was that?"

"What are you stopping for?"

"I thought I heard something."

"It's probably rats."

Charlotte looks over at Pope again and he aggressively motions for her to stay quiet.

"Me?" She mouths incredulously

"This is Sam Bellamy. Teach's navigator."

"Just like you said, Captain."

"You're surprised?" There's more banging before the woman laughs, "Yes."

"Wow."

"Here."

"Held here for 300 years."

"What did I tell you?"

As Charlotte tries to peak over the statue, a rat appears in front of her. She lets out a loud gasp as she drops back down.

"Who's there?"

The two stay quiet as the light flashes around the room.

"Lightner, we've got what we need. Now, come on. Come on, let's go. Now."

"I thought I heard something."

Their footsteps echo and eventually aren't heard. Charlotte looks over at Pope, "Are they gone?"

Pope sighs, "Yeah."

Charlotte stands as Pope jumps down. She follows him back to where the two people just were, "I think they took something. It wasn't a crown, though. It looked like a scroll of some sort. Now how did they get out of here?"

"Probably the way they came." Charlotte says shining her light on a small opening, "I think they went out that way."

Pope huffs before getting down and crawling through. His body soon disappears making Charlotte bend down, "Pope!" She calls out

"Charlotte, there's a ladder back here. It's our way out. Come on."

"Okay." She says. She gets down on her knees and crawls through, " Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew.

"You okay?"

She stands up next to him, "Yes."

Pope points his flashlight up toward the ladder, "All right. This must be how they got out."

"Okay, well, you think that'll hold?"

"It'll do." He shrugs

"That's... sketchy."

"Not the sketchiest thing I've had to climb." He says as he starts climbing

"You okay? You good?"

"Yeah. I just can't see anything."

He climbs a bit more. Charlotte watches him, "You got it."

He then makes it to the top, "Okay."

He lets out a groan as he pushes at the ceiling. Charlotte tilts her head, "Is it moving?"

"It won't budge!" He grunts, "This thing's 1,000 pounds. Help!"

"John B!" They both yell

"Kie!" Charlotte yells

"Cleo!"

"Help!"

"Cleo! Help!" Pope yells, "John B! Hey! Cleo!"

"Kie!"

"Okay, new plan. We go back the way we came and find another way out."

"But that door's locked."

"I know. I know. I can't move this." Pope says, "Okay, I'm coming back down."

When he jumps down, he then gets on his knees and slides under the opening. He gasps as he comes up and Charlotte does the same.

Pope looks around, "Does the water level look higher to you?"

"Obviously."

"How high do you think it goes?"

"I don't know." She breathes, "Is there a waterline? Pope, it's gotta be raining outside. It's really filling up."

Pope looks around and points his flashlight at the wall, "Barnacles. And they go up to the ceiling. This place is gonna fill up."

"Oh shit."

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