______________________________________

"Guys, we're coming up on Freedman's Church." Pope says, "The church Denmark built for all the slaves he freed."

"There it is, Angel Oak." Kie says as they keep driving

"Oh, shit! Tide's coming in."

"Um..."

"Hey, wait a second. Look." Pope says as John B comes to a stop, "They already came through here. Those have to be Limbrey's tire tracks. Guys, we gotta go."

"Mmm, what do you think, chief?" JJ asks

"I'm thinking it's looking a little dicey." John B says

"Yeah, I'm gonna have to agree with that statement."

"Yeah."

"Okay, clearly, they made it. No?" Kie says

"In a two-wheel drive?" JJ says, "I don't know about that."

"Why are y'all acting like you're not gonna do it anyways?" Sarah says causing the two boys to turn to her, "Like when have y'all ever done the safe thing?"

"She's not wrong." Estrella adds. The boys turn to each other before turning to the road.

"She's got a point."

"Speed is your friend here, okay?" JJ says, "So, put her down in second and hammer down, brother."

"Stick to the ground in the middle." Pope says as the girls find something to hold onto.

"All right, ready? Here we go." John B says before stepping on the gas

"Come on. Punch it." JJ says, "Speed is your friend. You're not going fast enough."

"I'm in second."

"It's gonna slide." Kie says

"You're fishtailing already."

"I know." John B says

"Not to put any more pressure on you, but if you don't make it through, we'll be stuck here forever." Pope says

John B blindly as pushes his head back, "Put your head back, okay?"

Estrella lets out a sigh as they make it across. The other teens cheer.

"I told you we'd make it." John B says

"That's my girl. All right, right here. That's good." JJ says as he opens the back door for the teens to jump out, "Angel Oak is right through here. All right, so word to the wise, definitely know that gators nest back here, so keep your eyes peeled, okay? You don't wanna step on a mama gator. That's the last thing you want."

"They have nest ?" Charlotte asks

"Seems like a good place to park." Sarah adds sarcastically

"All right. You don't wanna be a Pat Womack." JJ says as he grabs a stick, "She had her calf chewed off by a gator, right? You know that, right?"

"That's actually not true." Kie says

"Pat Womack was injured in a car accident, but I hear you." Estrella says

"Okay, just live in ignorance." JJ shrugs, "But like, she had her calf chewed off by a mama gator. I know that for a fact. They like the brackish water. Wait. Hold on. I see something."

"What are you doing?" Kie says as JJ slows down. He bends down and slams the stick into the water.

"Right. Wake them up. That's smart." Sarah says

"I was just making sure it wasn't a gator. That's all, all right?" JJ says before continuing on

"Right." Estrella scoffs

They're only walking for a few more seconds with Sarah and John B lingering behind them before they hear talking ahead of them.

"Hey." Pope says before shushing them. They walk up to a bush and see Rafe, Renfield, and Limbrey along with a few workers.

"I don't see shit." Rafe says, "You sure this is the right spot?"

"Hey." JJ whispers waving John B and Sarah over

"It's there." Limbrey says, "The garment will be in the cross, and the cross will be at the foot of the tree."

"Well, whatever we find, I get my cut." Rafe says

"The actual garment. You understand the significance."

"I do, Carla. Completely." Renfield says. Estrella turns to Charlotte beside her who looks to her solemnly.

"One touch of it, and I'll be healed, and this long nightmare will be over."

"Your lips to God's ears."

"I know you don't believe it, but countless stories over millennia prove that miracles happen."

The teens hear wood crunching which causes Limbrey to jump up,"Hey! Wait! Stop! Stop. Please stop. Did you hear it? Hey, get in there, boys. Do it by hand. Oh. This has gotta be the cross."

The men jump in and begin digging by hand.

"It's smaller than I thought." Limbrey chuckles, "It looks like a--"

"Casket." Rafe interrupts

"He put it in a casket. Denmark put it in a casket. Get it up." Limbrey says

"Let's go."

Estrella sighs sadly as she looks at Pope.

"They got the cross?" JJ whispers, "What do we do? What do we do?"

"What can we do?" John B says

"Be careful." Limbrey says as Rafe begins to open it, "Don't touch anything inside!
Don't touch anything inside!"

The men get it open as Limbrey bends down to level with it. The teens try to get a look at what was inside, but to no avail.

"It's just a corpse." Renfield says, "Sorry, Carla."

Estrella can feel her stomach turn at the idea of someone's grave being defiled. Especially by people who were only looking for something to benefit themselves.

"We must have missed something." Limbrey grunts as she stands up

"Of course. Of course, yeah. Of course it's just a dead body. Jesus!" Rafe snaps

"We just got the wrong place. We'll go back to the island room. We're going back!" Limbrey yells, "We're going back! It's not over!"

After a few minutes, Rafe, Limbrey, Renfield, and their crew leave the site. Pope wastes no time in walking over.

"Pope." JJ tries

"Pope, wait. Wait!" Estrella calls out, but follows him, "Shit."

"Wait, wait. Yo." JJ says quietly incase anyone was still around. They stop beside Pope as he looks down at the open casket. The others staying quiet as he walks closer.

"Cecilia Tanny, Denmark's wife." Pope says before looking up at the tree, "He wasn't talking about the cross. He buried her at the foot of the angel."

"The true treasure." Kie says

"His wife." Estrella says softly

Pope turns back around with tears in his eyes as he squats down beside the casket. Estrella quickly sits beside him placing her hand on his shoulder.

"Denmark was hung for burying his wife, and now they defiled her grave." Pope sniffles. He reaches in and grabs a pendant that had Cecilia carved into it.

Sarah grabs a ring that was also in the casket. A soft smile gracing her features, "This must have been from Denmark. Her wedding ring."

Pope places the pendant back in the casket, "We can't leave her like this."

"We won't." John B says quickly

The girls stand up as JJ and John B place the cover back on the casket. Using the hammers left there to close it. Pope quickly grabs a few flowers in the field and places it on top of the casket. He backs up as JJ and John B finishing closing it.

Estrella places a comforting hand on Pope's back. The boy turning to her to give her a small smile. As he turns back, Estrella lays her head gently on his arm.

______________________________________